TERM LOAN AGREEMENT among PNM RESOURCES, INC., as the Borrower, THE LENDERS IDENTIFIED HEREIN, AND LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as Administrative Agent DATED AS OF APRIL 18, 2006 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC., as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
EXECUTION
COPY
EXHIBIT
10.4
$480,000,000
among
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.,
as
the
Borrower,
THE
LENDERS IDENTIFIED HEREIN,
AND
XXXXXX
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
as
Administrative Agent
DATED
AS
OF APRIL 18, 2006
XXXXXX
BROTHERS INC.,
as
Sole
Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
Page
|
||
SECTION
1 DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
Definitions.
|
1
|
1.2
|
Computation
of Time Periods and Other Definitional Provisions.
|
14
|
1.3
|
Accounting
Terms/Calculation of Financial Covenants.
|
14
|
1.4
|
Time.
|
14
|
1.5
|
Rounding
of Financial Covenants.
|
14
|
1.6
|
References
to Agreements and Requirement of Laws.
|
14
|
SECTION
2 TERM LOAN
|
15
|
|
2.1
|
Term
Loan Commitments.
|
15
|
2.2
|
Procedure
for Term Loan Borrowing.
|
15
|
2.3
|
Repayment
of Term Loans.
|
15
|
2.4
|
Continuations
and Conversions.
|
15
|
2.5
|
Minimum
Amounts.
|
16
|
2.6
|
Evidence
of Debt.
|
16
|
SECTION
3 GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO TERM LOANS
|
16
|
|
3.1
|
Interest.
|
16
|
3.2
|
Payments
Generally.
|
17
|
3.3
|
Prepayments.
|
17
|
3.4
|
Fees.
|
18
|
3.5
|
Payment
in full at Maturity.
|
18
|
3.6
|
Computations
of Interest and Fees.
|
18
|
3.7
|
Pro
Rata Treatment.
|
19
|
3.8
|
Sharing
of Payments.
|
19
|
3.9
|
Capital
Adequacy.
|
20
|
3.10
|
Eurodollar
Provisions.
|
20
|
3.11
|
Illegality.
|
20
|
3.12
|
Requirements
of Law; Reserves on Eurodollar Loans.
|
21
|
3.13
|
Taxes.
|
21
|
3.14
|
Compensation.
|
24
|
3.15
|
Determination
and Survival of Provisions.
|
24
|
SECTION
4 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
|
24
|
|
4.1
|
Closing
Conditions.
|
24
|
SECTION
5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
27
|
|
5.1
|
Organization
and Good Standing.
|
27
|
5.2
|
Due
Authorization.
|
27
|
5.3
|
No
Conflicts.
|
27
|
5.4
|
Consents.
|
27
|
5.5
|
Enforceable
Obligations.
|
27
|
5.6
|
Financial
Condition.
|
28
|
5.7
|
No
Material Change.
|
28
|
5.8
|
No
Default.
|
28
|
5.9
|
Litigation.
|
28
|
5.10
|
Taxes.
|
28
|
i
5.11
|
Compliance
with Law.
|
29
|
5.12
|
ERISA.
|
29
|
5.13
|
Use
of Proceeds; Margin Stock.
|
30
|
5.14
|
Government
Regulation.
|
30
|
5.15
|
Solvency.
|
30
|
5.16
|
Disclosure.
|
30
|
5.17
|
Environmental
Matters.
|
30
|
5.18
|
Material
Leases.
|
30
|
5.19
|
Material
Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rate.
|
31
|
5.20
|
Certain
Documents.
|
31
|
SECTION
6 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
|
31
|
|
6.1
|
Information
Covenants.
|
31
|
6.2
|
Financial
Covenants.
|
33
|
6.3
|
Preservation
of Existence and Franchises.
|
33
|
6.4
|
Books
and Records.
|
34
|
6.5
|
Compliance
with Law.
|
34
|
6.6
|
Payment
of Taxes and Other Indebtedness.
|
34
|
6.7
|
Insurance.
|
34
|
6.8
|
Performance
of Obligations.
|
34
|
6.9
|
Use
of Proceeds.
|
34
|
6.10
|
Audits/Inspections.
|
34
|
6.11
|
Ownership
of Certain Subsidiaries.
|
35
|
SECTION
7 NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
35
|
|
7.1
|
Nature
of Business.
|
35
|
7.2
|
Consolidation
and Merger.
|
35
|
7.3
|
Sale
or Lease of Assets.
|
35
|
7.4
|
Affiliate
Transactions.
|
36
|
7.5
|
Liens.
|
36
|
7.6
|
Accounting
Changes.
|
37
|
7.7
|
Burdensome
Agreements.
|
37
|
SECTION
8 EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
37
|
|
8.1
|
Events
of Default.
|
37
|
8.2
|
Acceleration;
Remedies.
|
39
|
8.3
|
Allocation
of Payments After Event of Default.
|
40
|
SECTION
9 AGENCY PROVISIONS
|
41
|
|
9.1
|
Appointment
and Authority.
|
41
|
9.2
|
Rights
as a Lender.
|
41
|
9.3
|
Exculpatory
Provisions.
|
41
|
9.4
|
Reliance
by Administrative Agent.
|
42
|
9.5
|
Delegation
of Duties.
|
42
|
9.6
|
Resignation
of Administrative Agent.
|
42
|
9.7
|
Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
|
43
|
9.8
|
No
Other Duties, Etc.
|
43
|
9.9
|
Administrative
Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
|
43
|
SECTION
10 MISCELLANEOUS
|
44
|
|
10.1
|
Notices;
Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
|
44
|
ii
10.2
|
Right
of Set-Off.
|
46
|
10.3
|
Successors
and Assigns.
|
46
|
10.4
|
No
Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.
|
49
|
10.5
|
Attorney
Costs, Expenses, Taxes and Indemnification by Borrowers.
|
49
|
10.6
|
Amendments,
Etc.
|
50
|
10.7
|
Counterparts.
|
51
|
10.8
|
Headings.
|
51
|
10.9
|
Survival
of Indemnification and Representations and Warranties.
|
51
|
10.10
|
Governing
Law; Venue; Service.
|
52
|
10.11
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial; Waiver of Consequential Damages.
|
52
|
10.12
|
Severability.
|
52
|
10.13
|
Further
Assurances.
|
53
|
10.14
|
Confidentiality.
|
53
|
10.15
|
Entirety.
|
53
|
10.16
|
Binding
Effect; Continuing Agreement.
|
53
|
10.17
|
Regulatory
Statement.
|
54
|
10.18
|
USA
Patriot Act Notice.
|
54
|
10.19
|
Acknowledgment.
|
54
|
10.20
|
Replacement
of Lenders.
|
54
|
iii
SCHEDULES
Schedule
1.1
|
Commitments
|
Schedule
5.18
|
Material
Leases
|
Schedule
5.19
|
Material
Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rate
|
Schedule
10.1
|
Notices
|
Schedule
10.3
|
Processing
and Recording Fees
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
2.6(b)
|
Form
of Note
|
Exhibit
2.4
|
Form
of Notice of Continuation/Conversion
|
Exhibit
6.1(c)
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
Exhibit
10.3(b)
|
Form
of Assignment and Assumption
|
iv
EXECUTION
COPY
EXHIBIT
10.4
THIS
TERM
LOAN AGREEMENT (this “Credit
Agreement”)
is
entered into as of April 18, 2006 among PNM RESOURCES, INC., a New Mexico
corporation (the “Borrower”),
the
Lenders party hereto, XXXXXX
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
as
administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative
Agent”),
and
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC., as sole lead arranger and sole book-manager (in such
capacity, the “Arranger”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the
Borrower will enter into a transaction whereby, through a subsidiary, it will
acquire all or substantially all of the assets of Twin Oaks Power and Twin
Oaks
Power III (as defined herein) (collectively, the “Acquired
Business”;
such
transaction, the “Acquisition”).
WHEREAS,
for the
purposes of financing the Acquisition and the payment of related fees and
expenses, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan
facility in an aggregate principal amount of $480,000,000; and
WHEREAS,
the
Lenders party hereto are willing to make such term loan facility available
upon
and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of
the
premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
SECTION
1
DEFINITIONS
AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.1 Definitions.
The
following terms shall have the meanings specified herein unless the context
otherwise requires. Defined terms herein shall include in the singular number
the plural and in the plural the singular:
“Acquired
Business”
has
the
meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Acquisition”
has
the
meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
“Acquisition
Agreement”
means
the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of January 14, 2006, by and among
Twin
Oaks Power, LP, Twin Oaks Power III, LP, Sempra Energy, Altura Power, L.P.
and
PNM Resources, Inc.
“Acquisition
Documentation”
means
collectively, the Acquisition Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, annexes
and
amendments thereto and all side letters and agreements affecting the terms
thereof or entered into in connection therewith, in each case, as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate”
means
the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Percentage.
1
“Administrative
Agent”
means
LCPI or any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to Section
9.6.
“Administrative
Agent’s Office”
means
the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on
Schedule
10.1
or such
other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time
notify the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative
Questionnaire”
means
an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative
Agent.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
(including but not limited to all directors and officers of such Person),
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person.
A
Person shall be deemed to control a corporation if such Person possesses,
directly or indirectly, the power (a) to vote 10% or more of the securities
having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such corporation
or (b) to direct or cause direction of the management and policies of such
corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or
otherwise.
“Agent-Related
Persons”
means
the Administrative Agent, together with its Affiliates and the officers,
directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of the Administrative Agent
and its Affiliates.
“Applicable
Percentage”
means
0.625%; provided, that if at any time the Borrower shall fail to maintain a
Debt
Rating of at least BBB- from S&P and of at least a Baa3 from Xxxxx’x, the
Applicable Percentage shall equal 0.875%.
“Approved
Fund”
means
any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a
Lender,
(b) an
Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an
entity
or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arranger”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
“Assignee
Group”
means
two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or
more
Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment
and Assumption”
means
an assignment and assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit
10.3(b).
“Authorized
Officer”
means
any of the president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer or
officer of treasury of the Borrower.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means
the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified,
succeeded or replaced from time to time.
“Base
Rate”
means
for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16
of 1%) equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and
(b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus½
of
1%.
For purposes hereof: “Prime
Rate”
shall
mean the prime lending rate as set forth on the British Banking Association
Telerate Page 5 (or such other comparable publicly available page as may,
in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent after notice to the
Borrower, replace such page for the purpose of displaying such rate if such
rate
no longer appears on the British Bankers Association Telerate page 5), as
in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not
necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually available. Any change
in
the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate shall
be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change
in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate, respectively.
2
“Base
Rate Loan”
means
any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base
Rate.
“Borrower”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
“Borrower
Obligations”
means,
without duplication, all of the obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders
and
the Administrative Agent, whenever arising, under this Credit Agreement, the
Notes, or any of the other Credit Documents.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which
banking institutions are authorized or required by Law or other governmental
action to close in New York, New York; provided
that in
the case of Eurodollar Loans such day is also a day on which dealings are
conducted by and between banks in the London interbank market.
“Capital
Stock”
means
(a) in the case of a corporation, all classes of capital stock of such
corporation, (b) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether
general or limited), (c) in the case of a limited liability company, membership
interests and (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person
the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions
of
assets of, the issuing Person; including, in each case, all warrants, rights
or
options to purchase any of the foregoing.
“Change
of Control”
means
the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any “person” or “group” (as such
terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its
subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent
or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial
owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial
ownership” of all Capital Stock that such person or group has the right to
acquire (such right, an “option
right”),
whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time), directly or indirectly, of twenty-five (25%) of the Capital Stock of
the
Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent
governing body of the Borrower on a fully diluted basis (and taking into account
all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant
to any option right); (b) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority
of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body
of
the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that
board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose
election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved
by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of
such
election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing
body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent
governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)
above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a
majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case
of
both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination
for,
or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing
body
occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person
or
group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by
or
on behalf of the board of directors); or (c) any Person or two or more Persons
acting in concert shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have
entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation thereof, will
result in its or their acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or
indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the
Borrower, or control over the Voting Stock of the Borrower on a fully-diluted
basis (and taking into account all such Voting Stock that such Person or group
has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right) representing twenty-five
(25%) or more of the combined voting power of such Voting Stock.
3
“Closing
Date”
means
the date of this Credit Agreement, which is the first date all the conditions
precedent in Section 5.1 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section
5.1.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to
time.
“Compliance
Certificate”
means
a
fully completed and duly executed officer’s certificate in the form of
Exhibit
6.1(c),
together with a Covenant Compliance Worksheet.
“Consolidated
Capitalization”
means,
with respect to any Person, the sum of (a) all of the shareholders’ equity or
net worth of such Person and its Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance
with
GAAP plus (b) Consolidated Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries
plus
(c) the outstanding principal amount of Preferred Stock plus (d) 75% of the
outstanding principal amount of Specified Securities of such Person and its
Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated
Indebtedness”
means,
as of any date of determination, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (a) all Indebtedness of such Person
and its Subsidiaries as of such date minus (b) the
outstanding principal amount of stranded cost securitization bonds of such
Person and its Subsidiaries minus (c) an amount equal to the lesser of (i)
75%
of the outstanding principal amount of Specified Securities of such Person
and
its Subsidiaries or (ii) 10% of Consolidated Capitalization (calculated assuming
clause (i) above is applicable).
“Consolidated
Interest Expense”
means,
for any period, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis, an amount equal to total interest expense of such Person
and
its Subsidiaries for such period (including, without limitation, all such
interest expense accrued or capitalized during such period, whether or not
actually paid during such period), as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated
Net Income”
means,
with respect to any Person, the consolidated net income of such Person and
its
Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Constellation
Agreement”
means
that certain Power Supply and Service Agreement dated December 22, 2003 between
First Choice and Constellation Energy, as amended, and any future amendments,
replacements or extensions thereof (so long as such amendments, replacements
or
extensions are not materially less favorable to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries).
“Contingent
Obligation”
means,
with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect liability of such Person
with
respect to any Indebtedness, liability or other obligation (the “primary
obligation”) of another Person (the “primary obligor”), whether or not
contingent, (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary
obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,
(b) to advance or provide funds (i) for the payment or discharge of any such
primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of
the
primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any
balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of the primary
obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the
purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability
of
the primary obligor in respect thereof to make payment of such primary
obligation or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such
primary obligation
4
against
loss or failure or inability to perform in respect thereof; provided,
however,
that,
with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the term Contingent
Obligation shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation of any
Person shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the maximum amount of such
Person’s liability with respect to the stated or determinable amount of the
primary obligation for which such Contingent Obligation is incurred or, if
not
stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect
thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder).
“Covenant
Compliance Worksheet”
shall
mean a fully completed worksheet in the form of Schedule I to Exhibit
6.1(c).
“Credit
Agreement”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.
“Credit
Documents”
means
this Credit Agreement, the Notes, any Notice of Continuation/Conversion, and
any
other document, agreement or instrument entered into or executed in connection
with the foregoing.
“Debt
Rating”
means
the long term unsecured senior non-credit enhanced debt rating of the Borrower
by S&P and Xxxxx’x.
“Debtor
Relief Laws”
means
the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy,
assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement,
receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of
the
United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect
and
affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default”
means
any event, act or condition which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default.
“Default
Rate”
means
an interest rate equal to two percent (2%) plus the rate that otherwise would
be
applicable (or if no rate is applicable, the Base Rate plus two percent (2%)
per
annum).
“Dollars”
and
“$”
means
dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Eligible
Assignee”
means
(a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund and (d) any
other Person (other than a natural person) approved by the Administrative Agent
and the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
provided
that (i)
the Borrower’s consent is not required during the existence and continuation of
a Default or an Event of Default, (ii) approval by the Borrower shall be deemed
given if no objection is received by the assigning Lender and the Administrative
Agent from the Borrower within five Business Days after notice of such proposed
assignment has been delivered to the Borrower and (iii) neither the Borrower
nor
any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible
Assignee.
“Environmental
Claims”
means
any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands,
demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of
noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared
by any Person in the ordinary course of its business and not in response to
any
third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way
to
any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law
or
relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such
Environmental Law (collectively, “Claims”),
including, without limitation, (a) any and all Claims by Governmental
Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other
actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental
Law and (b) any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution,
indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting
from
Hazardous Substances or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to
human
health or the environment.
5
“Environmental
Laws”
shall
mean any and all federal, state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules,
regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, rules of common law and orders of
courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to the protection of human health
or occupational safety or the environment, now or hereafter in effect and in
each case as amended from time to time, including, without limitation,
requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing,
permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous Substances.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time, and any successor statute, and all rules and regulations from time to
time
promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any Person (including any trade or business, whether or not incorporated) that
would be deemed to be under “common control” with, or a member of the same
“controlled group” as, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, within the
meaning of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001 of
ERISA.
“ERISA
Event”
means
(a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan, (b)
a
complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or
any
ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, or the receipt by the Borrower,
any
of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of notice from a Multiemployer Plan
that it is in reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245
of
ERISA or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A
of
ERISA, (c) the distribution by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA of a notice of intent
to
terminate any Plan or the taking of any action to terminate any Plan, (d) the
commencement of proceedings by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or
the
receipt by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of
a
notice from any Multiemployer Plan that such action has been taken by the PBGC
with respect to such Multiemployer Plan, (e) the institution of a proceeding
by
any fiduciary of any Multiemployer Plan against the Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate to enforce Section 515 of ERISA, which
is
not dismissed within thirty (30) days, (f) the imposition upon the Borrower,
any
of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV
of
ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007
of
ERISA, or the imposition or threatened imposition of any Lien upon any assets
of
the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate as a result of
any
alleged failure to comply with the Code or ERISA in respect of any Plan, (g)
the
engaging in or otherwise becoming liable for a nonexempt Prohibited Transaction
by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, (h) a violation
of the applicable requirements of Section 404 or 405 of ERISA or the exclusive
benefit rule under Section 401(a) of the Code by any fiduciary of any Plan
for
which the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate may be
directly or indirectly liable, (i) the adoption of an amendment to any Plan
that, pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or Section 307 of ERISA, would
result in the loss of tax-exempt status of the trust of which such Plan is
a
part if the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate fails
to
timely provide security to such Plan in accordance with the provisions of such
sections or (j) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or
any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a play year in which
it
was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan.
6
“Eurodollar
Loan”
means
a
Term Loan bearing interest based at a rate determined by reference to the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar
Rate”
means,
for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum
equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA
LIBOR”),
as
published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing
quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time
to
time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to
the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery
on
the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest
Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the
“Eurodollar Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum
determined by reference to such other comparable publicly available services
for
displaying eurodollar rates as may be reasonably selected by the Administrative
Agent.
“Event
of Default”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to
time.
“Existing
Credit Agreement”
means
the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2005, among
the Borrower, First Choice Power, L.P., the lenders and financial institutions
party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and Wachovia
Bank, National Association, as syndication agent, and Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A. and Union Bank of California, N.A., as co-documentation
agents.
“Federal
Funds Rate”
means,
for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average (rounded upward,
if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight
Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank
on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided
that (a)
if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall
be
such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so
published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so
published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for
such
day shall be the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions
received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by it (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole
multiple of 1/100 of 1%).
“Fee
Letters”
means
(a) the credit facility fee letter, dated January 17, 2006, among the Borrower,
LCPI and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., as amended, modified, supplemented or restated
from time to time and (b) the administrative agent fee letter, dated April
142006, among the Borrower and LCPI, as amended, modified, supplemented or
restated from time to time.
“Financial
Officer”
means
the chief financial officer, vice president-finance, principal accounting
officer or officer of treasury of the Borrower.
“First
Choice”
means
First Choice Power Special Purpose, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, and
its
successors.
“First
Choice Securitization”
means
the accounts receivable securitization effected by the Constellation Agreement,
and any replacements or extensions thereof (so long as such replacements or
extensions are not materially less favorable to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries).
7
“First
Mortgage Bonds”
means
those first mortgage bonds issued pursuant to the FMB Indenture.
“Fiscal
Quarter”
means
each of the calendar quarters ending as of the last day of each March, June,
September and December.
“Fiscal
Year”
means
the calendar year ending December 31.
“FMB
Indenture”
means
the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of June 1, 1947,
between PSNM and The Bank of New York (formerly Irving Trust Company), as
trustee thereunder, as supplemented and amended.
“Foreign
Lender”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.13(f).
“Fund”
means
any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making,
purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar
extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in
the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements
of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions
of
comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession) or
that
are promulgated by any Governmental Authority having appropriate
jurisdiction.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any domestic or foreign nation or government, any state or other political
subdivision thereof and any central bank thereof, any municipal, local, city
or
county government, and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial,
regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government
(including, without limitation, any state dental board) and any corporation
or
other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or
otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
“Hazardous
Substances”
means
any substances or materials (a) that are or become defined as hazardous wastes,
hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants or toxic substances under any
Environmental Law, (b) that are defined by any Environmental Law as toxic,
explosive, corrosive, ignitable, infectious, radioactive, mutagenic or otherwise
hazardous, (c) the presence of which require investigation or response under
any
Environmental Law, (d) that constitute a nuisance, trespass or health or safety
hazard to Persons or neighboring properties, (e) that consist of underground
or
aboveground storage tanks, whether empty, filled or partially filled with any
substance, or (f) that contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated
biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum
derived substances or wastes, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic
gas.
“Hedging
Agreements”
means,
collectively, interest rate protection agreements, equity index agreements,
foreign currency exchange agreements, option agreements or other interest or
exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreements (other than forward
contracts for the delivery of power or gas written by the Borrower to its
jurisdictional and wholesale customers in the ordinary course of
business).
8
“Indebtedness”
means,
with respect to any Person (without duplication), (a) all indebtedness and
obligations of such Person for borrowed money or in respect of loans or advances
of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds,
debentures or similar instruments, (c) all reimbursement obligations of such
Person with respect to surety bonds, letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances
(in each case, whether or not drawn or matured and in the stated amount
thereof), (d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price
of property or services, (e) all indebtedness created or arising under any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property
acquired by such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person as lessee under
leases that are or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as
capital leases, to the extent such obligations are required to be so recorded,
(g) the net termination obligations of such Person under any Hedging Agreements,
calculated as of any date as if such agreement or arrangement were terminated
as
of such date in accordance with the applicable rules under GAAP, (h) all
Contingent Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations and liabilities
of
such Person incurred in connection with any transaction or series of
transactions providing for the financing of assets through one or more
securitizations or in connection with, or pursuant to, any synthetic lease
or
similar off-balance sheet financing, (j) the aggregate amount of uncollected
accounts receivable of such Person subject at the time of determination to
a
sale of receivables (or similar transaction) to the extent such transaction
is
effected with recourse to such Person (whether or not such transaction would
be
reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), (k)
all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, under the Material Leases, (l) all
Specified Securities and (m) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through
(l) above secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by such
Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been
assumed by such Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of such
Person.
“Indemnified
Liabilities”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 10.5(b).
“Indemnitees”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 10.5(b).
“Insured
Series First Mortgage Bonds”
means
First Mortgage Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $65,000,000 pledged
by
PSNM to secure guarantees of $65,000,000 principal amount of pollution control
revenue bonds issued by the City of Farmington, New Mexico, for the benefit
of
PSNM, which pollution control revenue bonds are also supported by a municipal
bond insurance policy issued by AMBAC Indemnity Corporation.
“Interest
Payment Date”
means,
(a) as to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable
to such Eurodollar Loan and the Maturity Date; provided,
however,
that if
any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan exceeds three months, the respective
dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period
shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the
last
Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter and the Maturity Date.
“Interest
Period”
means,
as to each Eurodollar Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar
Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Loan and ending
on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the
Borrower on the Closing Date or in any Notice of Continuation/Conversion;
provided
that:
(a) any
Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business
Day
falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end
on
the next preceding Business Day;
(b) any
Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or
on
a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month
at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the
calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
9
(c) no
Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“Laws”
means,
collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes,
treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative
or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable
administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations
and
permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case
whether or not having the force of law.
“LCPI”
means
Xxxxxx Commercial Paper Inc., together with its successors and
assigns.
“Lender”
means
any of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto and
any Eligible Assignee which may become a Lender by way of assignment in
accordance with the terms hereof, together with their successors and permitted
assigns.
“Lending
Office”
means,
as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in
such
Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a
Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.
“Lien”
means
any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, security interest, lien
(statutory or otherwise), preference, priority, charge or other encumbrance
of
any nature, whether voluntary or involuntary, including, without limitation,
the
interest of any vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, title
retention agreement, capital lease or any other lease or arrangement having
substantially the same effect as any of the foregoing.
“Margin
Stock”
has
the
meaning ascribed to such term in Regulation U.
“Material
Adverse Change”
means
a
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), operations,
business, performance, properties or assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect upon (a) the ability of the Borrower to complete the
Acquisition, (b) the business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent),
operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower
and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (c) the ability of the Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries to perform its obligations under this Credit Agreement or
any
of the other Credit Documents or (d) the legality, validity or enforceability
of
this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or the rights and
remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and
thereunder.
“Material
Lease”
means
any lease by PSNM of its leasehold interests in (i) Unit 1 or Xxxx 0, and
related common facilities, of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station or
(ii)
the electric transmission line, and related facilities, known as the Eastern
Interconnection Project, including, without limitation, any lease set forth
on
Schedule
5.18
hereto.
“Maturity
Date”
means
April 17, 2007.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means
any “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA
to which the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate makes,
is
making or is obligated to make contributions or has made or been obligated
to
make contributions.
10
“Multiple
Employer Plan”
means
a
Single Employer Plan to which the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA
Affiliate and at least one employer other than the Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.
“Net
Cash Proceeds”
means,
in connection with any issuance or sale of equity securities or debt securities
or instruments or the incurrence of loans, the cash proceeds received from
such
issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees,
accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary
fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.
“Note”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.6 (b).
“Notice
of Continuation/Conversion”
means
a
request by the Borrower to continue an existing Eurodollar Loan to a new
Interest Period or to convert a Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan or a Base
Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan, in the form of Exhibit
2.4.
“Other
Taxes”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.13(b).
“PBGC”
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor thereto.
“Participant”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 10.3(d).
“Participation
Interest”
means
the purchase by a Lender of a participation in any Term Loan as provided in
Section 3.8.
“Person”
means
any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability
company, association, trust or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated),
or any Governmental Authority.
“Plan”
means
any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) which
is covered by ERISA and with respect to which the Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at
such
time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer”
within the meaning of Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Preferred
Stock”
means,
with respect to any Person, all preferred Capital Stock issued by such Person
in
which the terms thereof do not require such Capital Stock to be redeemed or
to
make mandatory sinking fund payments.
“Prime
Rate”
has
the
meaning set forth in the definition of Base Rate in this
Section 1.1.
“Pro
Rata Share”
means
as to any Lender at any time, the percentage which the unpaid principal amount
of such Lender’s Term Loans then constitutes of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Term Loans then outstanding.
“Prohibited
Transaction”
means
any transaction described in (a) Section 406 of ERISA that is not exempt by
reason of Section 408 of ERISA or by reason of a Department of Labor prohibited
transaction individual or class exemption or (b) Section 4975(c) of the Code
that is not exempt by reason of Section 4975(c)(2) or 4975(d) of the
Code.
11
“Property”
means
any right, title or interest in or to any property or asset of any kind
whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or
intangible.
“PSNM”
means
Public Service Company of New Mexico, a New Mexico corporation.
“Register”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 10.3(c).
“Regulations
T, U and X”
means
Regulations T, U and X, respectively, of the Federal Reserve Board, and any
successor regulations.
“Reportable
Event”
means
(a) any “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA for
which the notice under Section 4043(a) of ERISA has not been waived by the
PBGC
(including any failure to meet the minimum funding standard of, or timely make
any required installment under, Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA,
regardless of the issuance of any waivers in accordance with Section 412(d)
of
the Code), (b) any such “reportable event” subject to advance notice to the PBGC
under Section 4043(b)(3) of ERISA, (c) any application for a funding waiver
or
an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code,
and
(d) a cessation of operations described in Section 4062(e) of
ERISA.
“Required
Lenders”
means
at any time, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Term Loans then outstanding.
“Requirement
of Law”
means,
with respect to any Person, the organizational documents of such Person and
any
Law applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to
which
such Person or any of its property is subject or otherwise pertaining to any
or
all of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents.
“Responsible
Officer”
means
the president, the chief executive officer, the co-chief executive officer,
the
chief financial officer, any executive officer, vice president-finance,
principal accounting officer or officer of treasury of the Borrower, and any
other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration
of
the obligations of the Borrower in respect of this Credit Agreement and the
other Credit Documents.
“Restricted
Payment”
means,
with respect to any Person, any dividend or other distribution (whether in
cash,
securities or other property) with respect to any Capital Stock of such
Person.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc. and its successors.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Single
Employer Plan”
means
any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a
Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan.
“Solvent”
means,
with respect to any Person as of a particular date, that on such date (a) such
Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, Contingent Obligations
and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (b)
such
Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or
liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities
mature in their ordinary course, (c) such Person is not engaged in a business
or
a transaction, and is not about to
12
engage
in
a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s assets would constitute
unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing
practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or is to engage, (d)
the fair value of the assets of such Person is greater than the total amount
of
liabilities, including, without limitation, Contingent Obligations, of such
Person and (e) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person
is
not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability
of
such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured.
“Specified
Securities”
means,
with respect to any Person, (a) all preferred Capital Stock issued by such
Person and required by the terms thereof to be redeemed or for which mandatory
sinking fund payments are due, (b) all securities issued by such Person that
contain two distinct components, typically medium-term debt and a forward
contract for the issuance of common stock prior to the debt maturity, including
such securities commonly referred to by their tradenames as “FELINE PRIDES”,
“PEPS”, “HITS”, “SPACES” and “DECS” and generally referred to as “equity units”
and (c) all other securities issued by such Person that are similar to those
described in the forgoing clauses (a) and (b).
“Subsidiary”
means,
as to any Person, (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class
or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority
of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the
time, any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting
power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by
such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, and (b) any
partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which such person
directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest
at any time. Any reference to Subsidiary herein, unless otherwise identified,
shall mean a Subsidiary, direct or indirect, of the Borrower. Any reference
to a
Subsidiary of the Borrower herein shall not include any Subsidiary that is
inactive, has minimal or no assets and does not generate revenues.
“Taxes”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 3.13(a).
“Term
Loan”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Term
Loan Commitment”
means
as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a Term Loan
to
the Borrower hereunder in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth
under the heading “Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1
hereto, or, as the case may be, in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to
which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time
to
time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original aggregate amount of the Term
Loan Commitment is $480,000,000.
“TNMP”
means
Texas-New Mexico Power Company, a Texas corporation.
“Total
Assets”
means
all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as shown on its most recent
quarterly consolidated balance sheet, as determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“Twin
Oaks Power”
means
Twin Oaks Power, LP, a Texas limited partnership.
“Twin
Oaks Power III”
means
Twin Oaks Power III, LP, a Texas limited partnership.
“Type”
means,
with respect to a Term Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar
Loan.
“Voting
Stock”
means
the Capital Stock of a Person that is then outstanding and normally entitled
to
vote in the election of directors and other securities of such Person
convertible into or exercisable for such Capital Stock (whether or not such
securities are then currently convertible or exercisable).
13
1.2 Computation
of Time Periods and Other Definitional Provisions.
For
purposes of computation of periods of time hereunder, the word “from” means
“from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but
excluding.” References in this Credit Agreement to “Articles”, “Sections”,
“Schedules” or “Exhibits” shall be to Articles, Sections, Schedules or Exhibits
of or to this Credit Agreement unless otherwise specifically
provided.
1.3 Accounting
Terms/Calculation of Financial Covenants.
Except
as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms used herein or
incorporated herein by reference shall be interpreted, and all financial
statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to
be
delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be
prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Credit Agreement, for purposes of calculation
of the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.2, all accounting
determinations and computations thereunder shall be made in accordance with
GAAP
as in effect as of the date of this Credit Agreement applied on a basis
consistent with the application used in preparing the most recent financial
statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 4.1(e). In the event that
any
changes in GAAP after such date are required to be applied to the Borrower
and
would affect the computation of the financial covenants contained in
Section 6.2, such changes shall be followed only from and after the date
this Credit Agreement shall have been amended to take into account any such
changes.
1.4 Time.
All
references to time herein shall be references to Central Standard Time or
Central Daylight Time, as the case may be, unless specified
otherwise.
1.5 Rounding
of Financial Covenants.
Any
financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this
Credit Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component
by
the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number
of
places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or
down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest
number).
1.6 References
to Agreements and Requirement of Laws.
Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein: (a)
references
to organization documents, agreements (including the Credit Documents) and
other
contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments,
restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but
only
to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and
other modifications are not prohibited by any Credit Document and (b) references
to any Requirement of Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions
consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such
Requirement of Law.
14
SECTION
2
TERM
LOAN FACILITY
2.1 Term
Loan Commitments.
Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, the Lenders severally agree to make term
loans (each, a “Term
Loan”)
to the
Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount for each Lender not to exceed the
amount of the Term Loan Commitment of such Lender. The Term Loans may from
time
to time be Eurodollar Loans or Base Rate Loans, as determined by the Borrower
and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and
2.4.
2.2 Procedure
for Term Loan Borrowing.
The
Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a notice (which must be
received by the Administrative Agent prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City
time, one Business Day prior to the anticipated Closing Date) requesting that
the Lenders make the Term Loans on the Closing Date. The Term Loans made on
the
Closing Date shall initially be Eurodollar Loans. Upon receipt of such notice
the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. Not later
than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Closing Date each Lender shall
make available to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office
an amount in immediately available funds equal to the Term Loan to be made
by
such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall make available to the Borrower
the
aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the
Lenders, in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.
2.3 Repayment
of Term Loans.
The
Term
Loan of each Lender shall mature on the Maturity Date and the outstanding
balance of the Term Loans shall be repaid in full on such date. The Borrower
hereby further agrees to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of the
Term
Loans from time to time outstanding from the date hereof until payment in full
thereof at the rates per annum and on the dates set forth in Section
3.1.
2.4 Continuations
and Conversions.
Subject
to the terms below, the Borrower shall have the option, on any Business Day
prior to the Maturity Date, to continue existing Eurodollar Loans for a
subsequent Interest Period, to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans
or
to convert Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate Loans. By no later than 11:00 a.m.
(a) on the date of the requested conversion of a Eurodollar Loan to a Base
Rate
Loan and (b) three Business Days prior to the date of the requested continuation
of a Eurodollar Loan or conversion of a Base Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan,
the
Borrower shall provide telephonic notice to the Administrative Agent, followed
promptly by a written Notice of Continuation/Conversion in the form of
Exhibit
2.4,
setting
forth whether the Borrower wishes to continue or convert such Term Loans.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (A) except as provided in
Section 3.11, Eurodollar Loans may only be continued or converted into Base
Rate
Loans on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (B) Eurodollar
Loans may not be continued nor may Base Rate Loans be converted into Eurodollar
Loans during the existence and continuation of a Default or an Event of Default
and (C) any request to continue a Eurodollar Loan that fails to comply with
the
terms hereof or any failure to request a continuation of a Eurodollar Loan
at
the end of an Interest Period shall be deemed a request to convert such
Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the applicable Interest
Period.
15
2.5 Minimum
Amounts.
Each
request for a borrowing, conversion or continuation shall be subject to the
requirements that (a) each Eurodollar Loan shall be in a minimum amount of
$5,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (b) each
Base Rate Loan shall be in a minimum amount of $3,000,000 and in integral
multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof and (c) no more than five Eurodollar
Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any one time. For the purposes of this
Section 2.5, separate Eurodollar Loans that begin and end on the same date,
as
well as Eurodollar Loans that begin and end on different dates, shall all be
considered as separate Eurodollar Loans.
2.6 Evidence
of Debt.
(a) The
Term
Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records
maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course
of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent
and
each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the
Term
Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.
Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit
or
otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount
owing with respect to its Borrower Obligations. In the event of any conflict
between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts
and
records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts
and
records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest
error.
(b) The
Borrower agrees that, upon the request to the Administrative Agent by any
Lender, the Borrower will promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a
promissory note of the Borrower evidencing any Term Loans of such Lender,
substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.6(b)
(a
“Note”)
with
appropriate insertions as to date and principal amount; provided,
that
delivery of Notes shall not be a condition precedent to the occurrence of the
Closing Date.
SECTION
3
GENERAL
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE
TO
TERM LOANS
3.1 Interest.
(a) Interest
Rate.
Subject
to Sections 3.1(b), (i) all Base Rate Loans shall accrue interest at the Base
Rate and (ii) all Eurodollar Loans shall accrue interest at the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate.
(b) Default
Rate of Interest.
(i) After
the
occurrence, and during the continuation, of an Event of Default pursuant to
Section 8.1(a), the principal of and, to the extent permitted by Law,
interest on the Term Loans and any other amounts owing hereunder or under the
other Credit Documents (including without limitation fees and expenses) shall
bear interest, payable on demand, at the Default Rate.
(ii) After
the
occurrence, and during the continuation, of an Event of Default (other than
an
Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.1(a)), at the request of the Required
Lenders, the principal of and, to the extent permitted by Law, interest on
the
Term Loans and any other amounts owing hereunder or under the other Credit
Documents (including without limitation fees and expenses) shall bear interest,
payable on demand, at the Default Rate.
16
(iii) Interest
Payments.
Interest on Term Loans shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date.
3.2 Payments
Generally.
(a) No
Deductions; Place and Time of Payments.
All
payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction
for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be
made
to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which
such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in
immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified
herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its
Pro
Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in
like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All
payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed
received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or
fee
shall continue to accrue.
(b) Payment
Dates.
Subject
to the definition of “Interest
Period,”
if
any
payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business
Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the
case
may be.
(c) Several
Obligations.
The
obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Term Loans are several and not
joint. The failure of any Lender to make a Term Loan on the Closing Date shall
not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so, and
no
Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make
its
Term Loan.
(d) Funding
Offices.
Nothing
herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Term
Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by
any
Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Term Loan in any
particular place or manner.
3.3 Prepayments.
(a) Voluntary
Prepayments.
The
Borrower shall have the right to prepay its outstanding Term Loans in whole
or
in part from time to time without premium or penalty; provided,
however,
that
(i) all prepayments under this Section 3.3(a) shall be subject to Section 3.14,
(ii) Eurodollar Loans may only be prepaid on three Business Days’ prior written
notice to the Administrative Agent, (iii) each such partial prepayment of
Eurodollar Loans shall be in the minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000,000 and (iv) each such partial prepayment of Base
Rate Loans shall be in the minimum principal amount of $500,000 and integral
multiples of $100,000 or, in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv), if less than
such minimum amounts, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.
(b) Mandatory
Prepayments.
If any
Capital Stock shall be issued (other than issuances pursuant to employee stock
plans), or Indebtedness incurred (other than under the Existing Credit Agreement
or pursuant to the issuance of commercial paper in the ordinary course of
business), by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than PSNM and
TNMP), then on the date of such issuance or incurrence, the Term Loans shall
be
prepaid by an amount equal to the amount of the Net Cash Proceeds of such
issuance or incurrence.
17
3.4 Fees.
(a) To
the
extent that any Term Loans remain outstanding on November 15, 2006, on such
date
the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each
Lender a funding fee equal to 0.50% of the outstanding amount of the Term Loan
of such Lender.
(b) The
Borrower agrees to pay to LCPI and the Arranger, for their own respective
accounts, the fees in the amounts and on the dates previously agreed to in
the
Fee Letters.
3.5 Payment
in full at Maturity.
On
the
Maturity Date, the entire outstanding principal balance of all Term Loans,
together with accrued but unpaid interest and all fees and other sums owing
under the Credit Documents, shall be due and payable in full, unless accelerated
sooner pursuant to Section 8.2; provided
that if
the Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then such principal, interest, fees
and
other sums shall be due and payable in full on the next preceding Business
Day.
3.6 Computations
of Interest and Fees.
(a) Calculation
of Interest and Fees.
Except
for Base Rate Loans that are based upon the Prime Rate, in which case interest
shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a
year
of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, all computations of interest and fees
hereunder shall be made on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over
a
year of 360 days. Interest shall accrue from and including the Closing Date
(or
continuation or conversion) to but excluding the last day occurring in the
period for which such interest is payable. Each determination by the
Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) Usury.
It is
the intent of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform to and contract in strict
compliance with applicable usury Law from time to time in effect. All agreements
between the Lenders and the Borrower are hereby limited by the provisions of
this subsection which shall override and control all such agreements, whether
now existing or hereafter arising and whether written or oral. In no way, nor
in
any event or contingency (including but not limited to prepayment or
acceleration of the maturity of the Borrower Obligations), shall the interest
taken, reserved, contracted for, charged, or received under this Credit
Agreement, under the Notes or otherwise, exceed the maximum nonusurious amount
permissible under applicable Law. If, from any possible construction of any
of
the Credit Documents or any other document, interest would otherwise be payable
in excess of the maximum nonusurious amount, any such construction shall be
subject to the provisions of this subsection and such documents shall be
automatically reduced to the maximum nonusurious amount permitted under
applicable Law, without the necessity of execution of any amendment or new
document. If any Lender shall ever receive anything of value which is
characterized as interest on the Term Loans under applicable Law and which
would, apart from this provision, be in excess of the maximum nonusurious
amount, an amount equal to the amount which would have been excessive interest
shall, without penalty, be applied to the reduction of the principal amount
owing on the Term Loans and not to the payment of interest, or refunded to
the
Borrower or the other payor thereof if and to the extent such amount which
would
have been excessive
18
exceeds
such unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans. The right to demand payment
of
the Term Loans or any other Indebtedness evidenced by any of the Credit
Documents does not include the right to accelerate the payment of any interest
which has not otherwise accrued on the date of such demand, and the Lenders
do
not intend to charge or receive any unearned interest in the event of such
demand. All interest paid or agreed to be paid to the Lenders with respect
to
the Term Loans shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be amortized,
prorated, allocated, and spread throughout the full stated term (including
any
renewal or extension) of the Term Loans so that the amount of interest on
account of the Term Loans does not exceed the maximum nonusurious amount
permitted by applicable Law.
3.7 Pro
Rata Treatment.
Except
to
the extent otherwise provided herein, each payment or prepayment of principal
of
any Term Loan, each payment of interest and each conversion or continuation
of
any Term Loans shall be allocated pro rata among the relevant Lenders in
accordance with their Pro Rata Shares. In the event any principal, interest,
fee
or other amount paid to any Lender pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any
other Credit Document is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the
Administrative Agent, (a) such principal, interest or other amount that had
been
satisfied by such payment shall be revived, reinstated and continued in full
force and effect as if such payment had not occurred and (b) such Lender shall,
upon the request of the Administrative Agent, repay to the Administrative Agent
the amount so paid to such Lender, with interest for the period commencing
on
the date such payment is returned by the Administrative Agent until the date
the
Administrative Agent receives such repayment at a rate per annum equal to the
Federal Funds Rate if repaid within two (2) Business Days after such request
and
thereafter the Base Rate.
3.8 Sharing
of Payments.
The
Lenders agree among themselves that, except to the extent otherwise provided
herein, in the event that any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any
Term
Loan or any other obligation owing to such Lender under this Credit Agreement
through the exercise of a right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim, or
pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of the Bankruptcy Code or other
security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received
by such Lender under any applicable Debtor Relief Law or other similar Law
or
otherwise, or by any other means, in excess of its Pro Rata Share of such
payment as provided for in this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall promptly
pay
in cash or purchase from the other Lenders a participation in such Term Loans
and other obligations in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from
time
to time, as shall be equitable to the end that all Lenders share such payment
in
accordance with their Pro Rata Shares. The Lenders further agree among
themselves that if payment to a Lender obtained by such Lender through the
exercise of a right of setoff, banker’s lien, counterclaim or other event as
aforesaid shall be rescinded or must otherwise be returned, each Lender which
shall have shared the benefit of such payment shall, by payment in cash or
a
repurchase of a participation theretofore sold, return its share of that benefit
(together with its share of any accrued interest payable with respect thereto)
to each Lender whose payment shall have been rescinded or otherwise returned.
The Borrower agrees that (a) any Lender so purchasing such a participation
may,
to the fullest extent permitted by Law, exercise all rights of payment,
including setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim, with respect to such
participation as fully as if such Lender were a holder of such Term Loan or
other obligation in the amount of such participation and (b) the Borrower
Obligations that have been satisfied by a payment that has been rescinded or
otherwise returned shall be revived, reinstated and continued in full force
and
effect as if such payment had not occurred. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Credit Agreement, if any Lender or the Administrative Agent
shall fail to remit to any other Lender an amount payable by such Lender or
the
Administrative Agent to such other Lender pursuant to this Credit Agreement
on
the date when such amount is due, such payments shall be made
19
together
with interest thereon for each date from the date such amount is due until
the
date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent or such other Lender at
a
rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. If under any applicable Debtor
Relief Law or other similar Law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu
of
a setoff to which this Section 3.8 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent
practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner
consistent with the rights of the Lenders under this Section 3.8 to share in
the
benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.
3.9 Capital
Adequacy.
If
any
Lender determines that the introduction after the Closing Date of any Law,
rule
or regulation or other Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or any
change therein or in the interpretation thereof, or compliance by such Lender
(or its Lending Office) therewith, has or would have the effect of reducing
the
rate of return on the capital or assets of such Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder
(taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and
such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of
such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the
Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate
such Lender for such reduction.
3.10 Eurodollar
Provisions.
If
the
Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Borrower) in connection with any request for a Eurodollar
Loan
or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (i) deposits in Dollars are
not
being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for the
applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Loan, (ii) adequate
and
reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for such
Eurodollar Loan, or (iii) the Eurodollar Rate for such Eurodollar Loan does
not
adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding such Eurodollar
Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the
Lenders. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain
Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent revokes
such
notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending Notice
of Continuation/Conversion with respect to Eurodollar Loans or, failing that,
will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a conversion
into a Base Rate Loan in the amount specified therein.
3.11 Illegality.
If
any
Lender determines that any Requirement of Law has made it unlawful, or that
any
Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or
its
applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Loans, or
materially restricts the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to
take deposits of Dollars in the London interbank market, or to determine or
charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, then, on notice thereof
by
such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation
of
such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans
to Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to
such
determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall,
upon demand to the Borrower from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Loans of such Lender
to
Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period thereof, if
such
Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day,
or
immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such
Eurodollar Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall
also pay interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any
amounts due with respect thereto pursuant to Section
3.14.
20
3.12 Requirements
of Law; Reserves on Eurodollar Loans.
(a) Changes
in Law.
If any
Lender determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in,
or
in the interpretation of, any Requirement of Law, or such Lender’s compliance
therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing
to
make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Loans, or a reduction in
the
amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the
foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.12 any such increased costs
or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which
Section
3.13
shall govern) and (ii) reserve requirements contemplated by subsection (b)
below), then from time to time, upon demand of such Lender (through the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional
amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction
in
yield.
(b) Reserves.
The
Borrower shall pay to each Lender (to the extent such Lender has not otherwise
been compensated therefore hereunder), as long as such Lender shall be required
to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or
including Eurodollar funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurodollar
liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
Eurodollar Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such
Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which
determination shall be conclusive absent demonstrable error), which, shall
be
due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan;
provided
that the
Borrower shall have received at least 15 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender
fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such
additional interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such
notice.
3.13 Taxes.
(a) Payment
of Taxes.
Any and
all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of the Administrative Agent
or any Lender under any Credit Document shall be made free and clear of and
without deduction for any and all present or future income, stamp or other
taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings
or
similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, but excluding, in
the
case of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on or measured
by its net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income
taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the
Laws of which the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be,
is
organized or maintains its Lending Office (all such non-excluded present or
future income, stamp or other taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions,
assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being
hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”).
If
the Borrower shall be required by any Requirement of Law to deduct any Taxes
from or in respect of any sum payable under any Credit Document to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable shall be increased
as
necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section
3.13(a)),
the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount
equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii)
the Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law, and (iv) within
30
days after the date of such payment, the Borrower shall furnish to the
Administrative Agent (which shall forward the same to such Lender, if
applicable) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment
thereof, to the extent such receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof
of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent.
21
(b) Additional
Taxes.
In
addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court
or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or
similar levies which arise from any payment made under any Credit Document
or
from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of,
or
otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document (hereinafter referred to as
“Other
Taxes”).
(c) No
Deduction for Taxes.
If the
Borrower shall be required to deduct or pay any Taxes or Other Taxes from or
in
respect of any sum payable under any Credit Document to the Administrative
Agent
or any Lender, the Borrower shall also pay to the Administrative Agent (for
the
account of such Lender) or to such Lender, at the time interest is paid, such
additional amount that such Lender specifies as necessary to preserve the
after-tax yield (after factoring in all taxes, including taxes imposed on or
measured by net income) such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other
Taxes had not been imposed.
(d) Indemnification.
The
Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for (i)
the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes
imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this
Section
3.13(d))
paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender, and (ii) any liability
(including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto.
(e) Exemption
from Taxes.
In the
case of any payment hereunder or under any other Credit Document by or on behalf
of the Borrower through an account or branch outside the United States, or
on
behalf of the Borrower by a payor that is not a United States person, if the
Borrower determines that no taxes are payable in respect thereof, the Borrower
shall furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish, to the Administrative
Agent, an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent
stating that such payment is exempt from Taxes. For purposes of this subsection
(e), the terms “United States” and “United States person” shall have the
meanings specified in Section 7701 of the Code.
(f) Foreign
Lenders.
Each
Lender that is a foreign corporation, foreign partnership or foreign trust
within the meaning of the Code (a “Foreign
Lender”)
shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject
to
withholding under the Code, two duly signed completed copies of either IRS
Form
W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Lender and entitling it to
an
exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made
to
such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Credit Agreement), as appropriate,
or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be
made
to such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Credit Agreement) or such other
evidence satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such
Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, United States
withholding tax. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Lender shall (i)
promptly submit to the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed
and
signed copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted
from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities), as
appropriate, as may reasonably be requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent and then be available under then current United States
Laws
and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from or reduction of,
United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such
Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Credit Agreement, (ii) promptly notify
the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify
or
render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (iii) take such steps
as
shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of
such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation
of
its Lending Office) to avoid any Requirement of Law that the Borrower make
22
any
deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender. If
the
forms or other evidence provided by such Lender at the time such Lender first
becomes a party to this Credit Agreement indicate a United States interest
withholding tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall
be
considered excluded from Taxes unless and until such Lender provides the
appropriate forms certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding
tax at such lesser rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods
governed by such forms; provided, however, that, if at the date of any
assignment pursuant to which a Lender becomes a party to this Credit Agreement,
the assignor Lender was entitled to payments under Section
3.13(a)
in respect of United States withholding tax with respect to interest paid at
such date, then, to such extent, the term Taxes shall include (in addition
to
withholding taxes that may be imposed in the future or other amounts otherwise
includable in Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any, applicable with
respect to the assignee Lender on such date. If such Lender fails to deliver
the
above forms or other evidence, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from
any interest payment to such Lender an amount equal to the applicable
withholding tax imposed by Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code, without
reduction. If any Governmental Authority asserts that the Administrative Agent
did not properly withhold any tax or other amount from payments made in respect
of such Lender, such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent therefor,
including all penalties and interest, any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction
on
the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section
3.13(f),
and costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal
counsel) of the Administrative Agent. For any period with respect to which
a
Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with the above forms or other evidence
(other than if such failure is due to a change in the applicable Law, or in
the
interpretation or application thereof, occurring after the date on which such
form or other evidence originally was required to be provided or if such form
or
other evidence otherwise is not required), such Lender shall not be entitled
to
indemnification under subsection
(a)
or (c)
of this Section
3.13
with
respect to Taxes imposed by the United States by reason of such failure;
provided, however, that should a Lender become subject to Taxes because of
its
failure to deliver such form or other evidence required hereunder, the Borrower
shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request to assist such
Lender in recovering such Taxes. The obligation of the Lenders under this
Section
3.13(f)
shall survive the payment of all Borrower Obligations and the resignation or
replacement of the Administrative Agent.
(g) Reimbursement.
In the
event that an additional payment is made under Section
3.13(a)
or (c) for the account of any Lender and such Lender, in its reasonable
judgment, determines that it has finally and irrevocably received or been
granted a credit against or release or remission for, or repayment of, any
tax
paid or payable by it in respect of or calculated with reference to the
deduction or withholding giving rise to such payment, such Lender shall, to
the
extent that it determines that it can do so without prejudice to the retention
of the amount of such credit, relief, remission or repayment, pay to the
Borrower such amount as such Lender shall, in its reasonable judgment, have
determined to be attributable to such deduction or withholding and which will
leave such Lender (after such payment) in no worse position than it would have
been in if the Borrower had not been required to make such deduction or
withholding. Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of a Lender
to arrange its tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit nor oblige any
Lender to claim any tax credit or to disclose any information relating to its
tax affairs or any computations in respect thereof or require any Lender to
do
anything that would prejudice its ability to benefit from any other credits,
reliefs, remissions or repayments to which it may be entitled.
23
3.14 Compensation.
Upon
the
written demand of any Lender, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender
for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by
it
as a result of:
(a) any
continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan of the
Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such
Eurodollar Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of
acceleration, or otherwise); or
(b) any
failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender
to
make a Eurodollar Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurodollar
Loan on the date or in the amount previously requested by the
Borrower.
The
amount each such Lender shall be compensated pursuant to this Section 3.14
shall include, without limitation, (i) any loss incurred by such Lender in
connection with the re-employment of funds prepaid, repaid, not borrowed or
paid, as the case may be and (ii) any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) incurred and
reasonably attributable thereto.
For
purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under
this Section 3.14,
each Lender
shall be
deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate
for
such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank
market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not
such
Eurodollar Loan was in fact so funded.
3.15 Determination
and Survival of Provisions.
All
determinations by the Administrative Agent or a Lender of amounts owing under
Sections 3.9 through 3.14, inclusive, shall, absent manifest error, be
conclusive and binding on the parties hereto and all amounts owing thereunder
shall be due and payable within ten Business Days of demand therefor. In
determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may use any
reasonable averaging and attribution methods. Section
3.9
through 3.14, inclusive, shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement
and the payment of all Borrower Obligations.
SECTION
4
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
4.1 Closing
Conditions.
The
obligation of the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and make the
Term
Loans is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) Executed
Credit Documents.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of duly executed copies of: (i) this Credit
Agreement, (ii) the requested Notes and (iii) all other Credit Documents, each
in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lenders in their sole
discretion.
(b) Acquisition.
The
Acquisition shall have been consummated pursuant to the Acquisition
Documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders,
and
no provision thereof shall have been waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified in a manner which adversely affects the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders without the consent of the Lenders.
24
(c) Authority
Documents.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of the following:
(i) Organizational
Documents.
Copies
of the articles of incorporation of the Borrower, certified to be true and
complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the
state or other jurisdiction of its formation and copies of the bylaws of the
Borrower, certified by a secretary or assistant secretary (or the equivalent)
of
the Borrower to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.
(ii) Resolutions.
Copies
of resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower approving and adopting
this Credit Agreement, the Acquisition Documentation and the other Credit
Documents to which it is a party, the transactions contemplated herein and
therein and authorizing execution and delivery hereof and thereof, certified
by
a secretary or assistant secretary (or the equivalent) of the Borrower to be
true and correct and in full force and effect as of the Closing
Date.
(iii) Good
Standing.
Copies
of certificates of good standing, existence or its equivalent with respect
to
the Borrower certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental
Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its formation.
(iv) Incumbency.
An
incumbency certificate of the Borrower and certified by a secretary or assistant
secretary (or the equivalent) of the Borrower to be true and correct as of
the
Closing Date.
(d) Opinions
of Counsel.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of opinions of counsel from outside counsel to
the
Borrower, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent,
addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Closing
Date.
(e) Financial
Statements.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of a copy of (i) the annual consolidated financial
statements (including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow
statements) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for Fiscal Years 2004 and
2005,
audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and
(ii) such other financial information regarding the Borrower as the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
(f)
Material Adverse Effect.
Since
December
31,
2005,
there shall have been no development or event relating to or affecting the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that has had or could be reasonably expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect and no Material Adverse Change in the facts
and information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as represented
to
date.
(g) Litigation.
There
shall not exist any material order, decree, judgment, ruling or injunction
or
any material pending or threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding
against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries except as represented to date.
(h) Consents.
All
consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings and other actions by or
with any Governmental Authority or other Person necessary in connection with
the
Acquisition, the financing contemplated hereby, and the continuing operations
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Acquired Business shall have been
obtained or made and be in full force and effect.
25
(i) Officer’s
Certificates.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of a certificate or certificates executed by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower as of the Closing Date stating that (i)
the
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects
with all existing material financial obligations and all material Requirements
of Law, (ii) there does not
exist
any material order, decree, judgment, ruling or injunction or any material
pending or threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding against the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
(iii)
the financial statements and information delivered to the Administrative Agent
on or before the Closing Date were prepared in good faith and in accordance
with
GAAP and
(iv)
immediately after giving effect to this Credit Agreement, the other Credit
Documents, all the transactions contemplated herein or therein to occur on
such
date and to the Acquisition, (A) the Borrower is Solvent, (B) no Default or
Event of Default exists, (C) no default or event of default exists under the
Existing Credit Agreement or under any other material Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (D) all representations and warranties
contained herein and in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in
all
material respects, (E) since
December
31,
2005,
there has been no development or event relating to or affecting the Borrower
or
any of its Subsidiaries that has had or could be reasonably expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect and there exists no event, condition or state of facts
that could result in or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change
and (F)
the Borrower is in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth
in
Section 6.2, as of December 31, 2005, as demonstrated in the Covenant Compliance
Worksheet attached to such certificate.
(j) Fees
and Expenses.
Unless
waived by the Person entitled thereto, payment by the Borrower of all fees
and
expenses owed by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or the Arranger on
or
before the Closing Date, including, without limitation, as set forth in the
Fee
Letters.
(k) Debt
Rating.
The
Borrower’s Debt Rating on the Closing Date shall be BBB- or better by S&P
and Baa3 or better
by
Xxxxx’x.
(l) PATRIOT
Act.
The
Lenders shall have received, sufficiently in advance of the Closing Date, all
documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities
under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and
regulations, including without limitation the United States PATRIOT
Act.
(m) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties made by the Borrower in any Credit Document
are
true and correct in all material respects at and as if made as of such date.
(n) No
Default.
There
shall not exist any Default or Event of Default under this Credit Agreement
and
no default or event of default shall exist under the Existing Credit Agreement
or under any other material indebtedness or agreement of the Borrower, any
of
its Subsidiaries or in any way in connection with the Acquired Business.
26
SECTION
5
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
To
induce
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement
and
to induce the Lenders to make the Term Loans, the Borrower represents and
warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:
5.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
Each
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) is
duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign entity authorized to do
business in every other jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would
have
a Material Adverse Effect and (c) has the requisite power and authority to
own
its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed
to
be conducted.
5.2 Due
Authorization.
The
Borrower (a) has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is
a
party, to incur the obligations herein and therein provided for and to
consummate the Acquisition and (b) has been authorized by all necessary action
to execute, deliver and perform this Credit Agreement, the other Credit
Documents to which it is a party and the Acquisition Documentation.
5.3 No
Conflicts.
Neither
the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit
Documents, nor the consummation of the financing herein or therein, nor
performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof
by the Borrower, nor the consummation of the Acquisition contemplated by the
Acquisition Documentation will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of
its
organizational documents, (b) violate, contravene or conflict with any law
(including without limitation, the Federal Power Act, as amended), regulation
(including without limitation, Regulation U and Regulation X), order, writ,
judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (c) violate, contravene
or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under,
any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound,
the
violation of which would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or (d) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or
with
respect to its properties.
5.4 Consents.
No
consent, approval, authorization, order, or filing, registration, qualification
or other action by or with any court or other Governmental Authority or other
Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance
of
this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents or any of the Acquisition
Documentation that has not been obtained or made and is in full force and
effect.
5.5 Enforceable
Obligations.
This
Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party have
been
duly executed and delivered and constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance
with
their respective terms, except as may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable
principles.
27
5.6 Financial
Condition.
The
financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.1(e)
and pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) and (b): (i) have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP except
that the quarterly financial statements are subject to year-end adjustments
and
have fewer footnotes than annual statements
and (ii)
present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods. No
opinion provided with respect to the Borrower’s financial statements pursuant to
Section 6.1 (or as to any prior annual financial statements) has been
withdrawn.
5.7 No
Material Change.
(a) Since
December 31, 2005, there has been no development or event relating to or
affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which would have or would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Since
December 31, 2005, there has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by
the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any material part of its business or
property, and no purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of any business or property (including the Capital Stock of any
other Person) material in relation to the financial condition of the Borrower
or
any of its Subsidiaries, in each case which is not (i) reflected in the most
recent financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to
Section 4.1(e) or 6.1 or in the notes thereto or (ii) otherwise permitted
by the terms of this Credit Agreement and communicated to the
Lenders.
5.8 No
Default.
Neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in any respect under
any
contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or
other agreement or obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its
properties is bound which default would have or would reasonably be expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default presently exists
and is continuing. No default or event of default exists under the Existing
Credit Agreement or under any material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries.
5.9 Litigation.
There
are
no actions, suits, investigations or legal, equitable, arbitration or
administrative proceedings, pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which would have
or
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Taxes.
Each
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has filed, or caused to be filed, all material
tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid
all amounts of taxes shown to be due (including interest and penalties) and
has
paid all other taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges
(including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangibles
taxes) owed by it, except for such taxes which are not yet delinquent or that
are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings, and against which
adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.
28
5.11 Compliance
with Law.
Each
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, rules,
regulations, orders and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, unless
such failure to comply would not have or would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.12 ERISA.
Except
as
would not result or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect:
(a) During
the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made
or
deemed made: (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of
the
Borrower, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which
any
ERISA Event would be reasonably expected to occur, with respect to any Plan;
(ii) no “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302
of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has occurred with
respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan has been maintained, operated, and funded
in compliance with its own terms and in material compliance with the provisions
of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable federal or state laws; and (iv)
no
Lien in favor or the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably likely to arise
on account of any Plan.
(b) The
actuarial present value of all “benefit liabilities” under each Single Employer
Plan (determined within the meaning of Section 401(a)(2) of the Code, utilizing
the actuarial assumptions used to fund such Plans), whether or not vested,
did
not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this
representation is made or deemed made, exceed the current value of the assets
of
such Plan allocable to such accrued liabilities, except as disclosed in the
Borrower’s financial statements.
(c) Neither
the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge
of
the Borrower, is reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability under
ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. Neither the Borrower
nor any ERISA Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer
Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is
insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated
(within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to
the
best knowledge of the Borrower, reasonably expected to be in reorganization,
insolvent, or terminated.
(d) No
prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section
4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with
respect to a Plan which has subjected or would be reasonably likely to subject
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409,
502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement
or other instrument pursuant to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has
agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such
liability.
(e) The
present value (determined using actuarial and other assumptions which are
reasonable with respect to the benefits provided and the employees
participating) of the liability of the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate for
post-retirement welfare benefits to be provided to their current and former
employees under Plans which are welfare benefit plans (as defined in Section
3(1) of ERISA), net of all assets under all such Plans allocable to such
benefits, are reflected on the financial statements referenced in Section 6.1
in
accordance with FASB 106.
29
(f) Each
Plan
which is a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections
601-609 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code apply has been administered
in
compliance in all material respects with such sections.
5.13 Use
of Proceeds; Margin Stock.
The
proceeds of the Term Loans will be used solely for the purposes specified in
Section 6.9. None of such proceeds will be used for the purpose of (a) (i)
purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or (ii) reducing or retiring any
Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock,
or
(iii) for any other purpose that might constitute this transaction a “purpose
credit” within the meaning of Regulation U or (b) for the acquisition of another
Person unless the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) or
stockholders, as appropriate, of such Person has approved such
acquisition.
5.14 Investment
Company Act.
The
Borrower is not an “investment company” registered or required to be registered
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or controlled by such
a
company.
5.15 Solvency.
The
Borrower is and, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this
Credit Agreement and by the Acquisition Documentation, will be
Solvent.
5.16 Disclosure.
Neither
this Credit Agreement, the Acquisition Documentation nor any financial
statements delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders nor any other
document, certificate or statement furnished to the Administrative Agent or
the
Lenders by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
therein or herein, taken as a whole, not misleading.
5.17 Environmental
Matters.
Except
as
would not result or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect: (a) each of the properties of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries
(the
“Properties”)
and
all operations at the Properties are in substantial compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws, (b) there is no undocumented or unreported
violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the
businesses operated by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries
(the
“Businesses”)
that
the Borrower is aware of, and (c) there are no conditions relating to the
Businesses or Properties that have given rise to or would reasonably be expected
to give rise to a liability under any applicable Environmental
Laws.
5.18 Material
Leases.
Set
forth
on Schedule
5.18
hereto
is a complete and accurate list of the Material Leases on the date hereof,
showing the expiration date and annual rental cost thereof. PSNM is entitled
to
exercise all of the rights of lessee purported to be granted to PSNM under
each
such Material Lease.
30
5.19 Material
Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rate.
Schedule
5.19
hereto,
as most recently provided to the Administrative Agent, sets forth the same
(a)
amounts with respect to the interest portion of payments under the Material
Leases of PSNM and (b) discount rate used to calculate the net present value
of
all amounts payable under the Material Leases as have been most recently
provided (or that PSNM intends to provide shortly) to Xxxxx’x and S&P or as
have otherwise been agreed
to
by the Required Lenders.
5.20 Certain
Documents.
The
Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a complete and correct copy
of the Acquisition Documentation, including any amendments, supplements or
modifications with respect thereto.
SECTION
6
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
The
Borrower covenants and agrees that until the payment in full of all of its
Borrower Obligations:
6.1 Information
Covenants.
The
Borrower will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Lenders:
(a) Annual
Financial Statements.
As soon
as available, and in any event within 120 days after the close of each Fiscal
Year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of such Fiscal Year, together
with
the related consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for such Fiscal
Year, setting forth in comparative form figures for the preceding Fiscal Year,
all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and
detail and, in each case, audited by independent certified public accountants
of
recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders
and
whose opinion shall be furnished to the Lenders, and shall be to the effect
that
such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except
for
changes with which such accountants concur) and shall not be limited as to
the
scope of the audit or qualified in any respect.
(b) Quarterly
Financial Statements.
As soon
as available, and in any event within 60 days after the close of each Fiscal
Quarter of the Borrower (other than the fourth Fiscal Quarter), a consolidated
balance sheet and income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
of
the end of such Fiscal Quarter, together with the related consolidated statement
of income for such Fiscal Quarter and a year to date statement of cash flows,
in
each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the corresponding period
of the preceding Fiscal Year, all such financial information described above
to
be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Required
Lenders, and, in each case, accompanied by a certificate of a Financial Officer
of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly financial statements fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition of such Person and
have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit
and normal year-end audit adjustments and except that the quarterly financial
statements have fewer footnotes than annual statements.
31
(c) Officer’s
Certificate.
At the
time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in
Sections 6.1(a) and 6.1(b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer
substantially in the form of Exhibit 6.1(c):
(i) setting forth calculations demonstrating compliance by the Borrower
with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.2 as of the end of such
fiscal period and (ii) stating that no Default or Event of Default exists,
or if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and
extent thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect
thereto.
(d) Reports.
Notice
of the filing by the Borrower of any Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or Form 8-K with
the
SEC promptly upon the filing thereof and copies of all financial statements,
proxy statements, notices and reports as the Borrower shall send to its
shareholders concurrently with the mailing of any such statements, notices
or
reports to its shareholders.
(e) Notices.
Upon
the Borrower obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written notice
to the Administrative Agent within ten days of (i) the occurrence of a Default
or Event of Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and what action
the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) the occurrence
of
any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
(A)
the pendency or commencement of any litigation, arbitration or governmental
proceeding against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which, if adversely
determined, would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, (B) one or more judgments, orders, or decrees shall be entered
against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving a liability of
$5,000,000 or more, in the aggregate or (C) the institution of any proceedings
against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to, or the receipt
of notice by such Person of potential liability or responsibility for violation
or alleged violation of, any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation
(including, without limitation, any Environmental Law), the violation of which
would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(f) ERISA.
Upon
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower
will give written notice to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event
within ten days) of any of the following which would result in or reasonably
would be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) any event or
condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable Event, that
constitutes, or would be reasonably expected to lead to, an ERISA Event; (ii)
with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the receipt of notice as prescribed
in
ERISA or otherwise of any withdrawal liability assessed against the Borrower
or
any of its ERISA Affiliates, or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan
is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of
ERISA); (iii) the failure to make full payment on or before the due date
(including extensions) thereof of all amounts which the Borrower or any of
its
Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates is required to contribute to each Plan pursuant
to its terms and as required to meet the minimum funding standard set forth
in
ERISA and the Code with respect thereto; or (iv) a change in the funding status
of any Plan, in each case together with a description of any such event or
condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by an officer of the
Borrower briefly setting forth the details regarding such event, condition,
or
notice, and the action, if any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed
to be taken with respect thereto. Promptly upon request, the Borrower shall
furnish the Lenders with such additional information concerning any Plan as
may
be reasonably requested, including, but not limited to, copies of each annual
report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all schedules and attachments
thereto required to be filed with the Department of Labor and/or the Internal
Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each “plan
year” (within the meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).
32
(g) Debt
Ratings.
Prompt
notice of any change in the Debt Ratings of the Borrower.
(h) Other
Information.
With
reasonable promptness upon any such request, such other information regarding
the business, properties or financial condition of the Borrower as the Lenders
may reasonably request.
Documents
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a), (b) or (d) (to the extent
any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered,
shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower
posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on
the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.1;
or (ii)
on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or
intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent
have
access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the
Administrative Agent); provided
that:
(A) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such
paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given
by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (B) the Borrower shall notify
the
Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of
the
posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by
electronic mail electronic versions (i.e.,
soft
copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every
instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Officer’s
Certificate required by Section 6.1(c) to the Administrative Agent. Except
for
such Officer’s Certificate, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to
request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above,
and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the
Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely
responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such
documents.
6.2 Financial
Covenants.
(a) Debt
Capitalization .
At
all
times the ratio of (i) Consolidated Indebtedness of the Borrower to
(ii) Consolidated Capitalization of the Borrower shall be less than or
equal to 0.65 to 1.0. For purposes of such calculation, the portion of
Consolidated Indebtedness of the Borrower attributable to obligations under
Material Leases shall be the net present value (using (i) the discount rate
(A)
set forth in Schedule 5.19,
so long
as Schedule 5.19
specifies the same relevant discount rate as is used in calculating such net
present value provided to Xxxxx’x and S&P or (B) the discount rate used in
calculating such net present value provided to Xxxxx’x and S&P or (ii) any
such other rate as shall be proposed by the Borrower (and agreed upon by the
Required Lenders)) of all amounts payable under the Material Leases.
6.3 Preservation
of Existence and Franchises.
(a) Except
in
a transaction permitted by Section 7.2, the Borrower will do (and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to do) all things necessary to preserve and keep in
full force and effect its existence and rights, franchises and authority.
(b) The
Borrower will maintain (and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain)
its
properties in good condition and not waste or otherwise permit such properties
to deteriorate, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
33
6.4 Books
and Records.
The
Borrower will keep (and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep) complete
and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance with good
accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the establishment and
maintenance of appropriate reserves).
6.5 Compliance
with Law.
The
Borrower will comply (and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply) with
all laws (including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws and ERISA laws),
rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by all
Governmental Authorities, applicable to it and its properties, if the failure
to
comply would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.6 Payment
of Taxes and Other Indebtedness.
The
Borrower will (and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to) pay, settle or
discharge (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed
upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before
they shall become delinquent, (b) all lawful claims (including claims for labor,
materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon any
of
its properties, and (c) all of its other Indebtedness as it shall become due
(to
the extent such repayment is not otherwise prohibited by this Credit Agreement);
provided,
however,
that
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to pay any such tax,
assessment, charge, levy, claim or Indebtedness which is being contested in
good
faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves therefor
have
been established in accordance with GAAP, unless the failure to make any such
payment (i) would give rise to an immediate right to foreclose or collect on
a
Lien securing such amounts or (ii) would have or would be reasonably expected
to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.7 Insurance.
The
Borrower will (and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to) at all times maintain
in full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance
and general liability insurance) in such amounts, covering such risks and
liabilities and with such deductibles or self-insurance retentions as are in
accordance with normal industry practice.
6.8 Performance
of Obligations.
The
Borrower will perform (and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform)
in
all material respects all of its obligations under the terms of all material
agreements, indentures, mortgages, security agreements or other debt instruments
to which it is a party or by which it is bound.
6.9 Use
of Proceeds.
The
proceeds of the Term Loan may be used solely to finance the Acquisition and
to
pay related fees and expenses.
6.10 Audits/Inspections.
Upon
reasonable notice and during normal business hours, the Borrower will permit
representatives appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, including,
without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys, and appraisers
to visit and inspect the Borrower’s property, including its books and records,
its accounts receivable and inventory, the Borrower’s facilities and its
34
other
business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof and to write
down and record any information such representative obtains and shall permit
the
Administrative Agent or such Lender or its representatives to investigate and
verify the accuracy of information provided to it and to discuss all such
matters with the officers, employees and representatives of the Borrower;
provided, that an officer or authorized agent of the Borrower shall be present
during any such discussions between the officers, employees or representatives
of the Borrower and the representatives of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender.
6.11 Ownership
of Certain Subsidiaries.
The
Borrower shall (a) at all times, own and control 100% of the Voting Stock of
PSNM and (b) at all times, own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% of
the
Voting Stock of TNMP.
SECTION
7
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Unless
otherwise approved in writing by the Required Lenders, the Borrower covenants
and agrees that until the payment in full of its Borrower
Obligations:
7.1 Nature
of Business.
The
Borrower will not materially alter the character of its business from that
conducted as of the Closing Date.
7.2 Consolidation
and Merger.
The
Borrower will not (a) enter into any transaction of merger or (b) consolidate,
liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or
dissolution); provided
that, so
long as no Default or Event of Default shall exist or be caused thereby a Person
may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower so long as the Borrower
shall be the continuing or surviving Person.
7.3 Sale
or Lease of Assets.
The
Borrower will not (nor will it permit its Subsidiaries
to)
sell,
lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets (including, without
limitation, all or substantially all of its assets, whether in one transaction
or a series of related transactions) except (a) with respect to the Borrower,
sales of accounts receivable and energy services contract revenues by PSNM
in
connection with sales of accounts receivable and energy services contract
revenues so long as such other sales are non-recourse to the Borrower and are
otherwise on customary market terms; (b) with respect to First Choice, the
sales
of accounts receivable in connection with the First Choice Securitization,
(c)
with respect to the Borrower, transfers of assets to PNMR Services Company,
a
wholly-owned operational services Borrower, in the ordinary course of business,
(d) sales of assets (excluding those permitted in clauses (a), (b) and (c)
hereof) for fair value, if the aggregate value of all such transactions in
any
calendar year, does not exceed 25% of
the
book value of Total Assets of the Borrower, as calculated as of the end of
the
most recent Fiscal Quarter,
and (e) sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, at less than fair
value, of any other assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, provided
that the
aggregate book value of such assets shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any calendar
year.
35
7.4 Affiliate
Transactions.
The
Borrower will not enter into any transaction or series of transactions, whether
or not in the ordinary course of business, with any Affiliate other than on
terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would be obtainable in a
comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an
Affiliate.
7.5 Liens.
The
Borrower will not (nor
will
it
permit
its Subsidiaries to) contract,
create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its
property or assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or
intangible), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, securing any Indebtedness
other than the following: (a)
Liens
securing Borrower Obligations, (b) Liens
for taxes not yet due or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance
with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject to any
such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof),
(c) Liens
in respect of property imposed by law arising in the ordinary course of business
such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, warehousemen’s, carrier’s, landlords’ and
other nonconsensual statutory Liens which are not yet due and payable, which
have been in existence less than 90 days or which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in
accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject
to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account
thereof), (d) pledges
or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of
worker’s compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, pensions or social
security programs, (e) Liens
arising from good faith deposits in connection with or to secure performance
of
tenders, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money
bonds and other similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business
(other than obligations in respect of the payment of borrowed money),
(f) Liens
arising from good faith deposits in connection with or to secure performance
of
statutory obligations and surety and appeal bonds, (g) easements,
rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects
or
irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not, in any
material respect, impairing the use of the encumbered property for its intended
purposes, (h) judgment
Liens that would not constitute an Event of Default, (i) Liens
arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s
liens, rights of setoff or similar rights as to deposit accounts or other funds
maintained with a creditor depository institution, (j) any
Lien created or arising over any property which is acquired, constructed or
created by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries,
but
only if (i) such Lien secures only principal amounts (not exceeding the
cost of such acquisition, construction or creation) raised for the purposes
of
such acquisition, construction or creation, together with any costs, expenses,
interest and fees incurred in relation thereto or a guarantee given in respect
thereof, (ii) such Lien is created or arises on or before 180 days after
the completion of such acquisition, construction or creation, (iii) such
Lien is confined solely to the property so acquired, constructed or created
and
any improvements thereto and (iv) the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness at any one time outstanding that is secured by such Liens shall
not
exceed $50,000,000 (k) any
Lien on Margin Stock, (l)
Liens with respect to the Indebtedness evidenced by the FMB Indenture, but
only
to the extent of the Insured Series First Mortgage Bonds, and the
“permitted encumbrances” under the FMB Indenture, (m) with respect to
First Choice, (i) the assignment of, or Liens on, accounts receivable in
connection with First Choice Securitization and the filing of related financing
statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdictions
and
(ii) other Liens in connection with the Constellation Agreement, (n) the
assignment of, or Liens on, demand, energy or wheeling revenues, or on capacity
reservation or option fees, payable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
with respect to any wholesale electric service or transmission agreements,
the
assignment of, or Liens on, revenues from energy services contracts, and the
assignment of, or Liens on, capacity reservation or option fees payable to
the
Borrower or such Subsidiary with respect to asset sales permitted herein,
(o) any extension, renewal or replacement
36
(or
successive extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or in part, of
any
Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (n), for amounts not
exceeding the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by the Lien so
extended, renewed or replaced, provided that such extension, renewal or
replacement Lien is limited to all or a part of the same property or assets
that
were covered by the Lien extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on
such property or assets), (p) Liens on Property that is subject to a Material
Lease that is classified as an operating lease as of the Closing Date but which
is subsequently converted into a capital lease, (q) Liens securing obligations
under Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and
not
for speculative purposes, (r) Liens granted by bankruptcy-remote special purpose
Subsidiaries to secure stranded cost securitization bonds, (s) Liens upon any
property in favor of the administrative agent for the benefit of the lenders
under the Existing Credit Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time) securing Indebtedness thereunder and
(t) Liens on Property, in addition to those otherwise permitted by
clauses (a) through (s) above, securing, directly or indirectly,
Indebtedness or obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries arising
pursuant to other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business
which do not exceed, in the aggregate at any one time outstanding,
$50,000,000.
7.6 Accounting
Changes.
The
Borrower will not (nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries
to)
make
or permit any change in accounting policies or reporting practices, except
as
required by GAAP, or as permitted by GAAP, if the amounts involved are not
material.
7.7 Burdensome
Agreements.
The
Borrower will not (nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries
to)
enter
into any contractual obligation (other than (i) the Credit Documents, (ii)
the
Constellation Agreement and related agreements, (iii) with respect to clause
(b)
only, restrictions on pledges of Capital Stock of any utility Subsidiary or
significant Subsidiary contained in the indentures, if any, executed in
connection with the issuance of Specified Securities by the Borrower pursuant
to
commitments with Cascade Investment, L.L.C. and (iv) the Existing Credit
Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to
time)) that limits the ability (a) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to make
Restricted Payments to the Borrower or to otherwise transfer property to the
Borrower or (b) of the Borrower to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
Liens on its property in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit
of
the Lenders.
SECTION
8
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
8.1 Events
of Default.
An
Event
of Default with respect to the Borrower shall exist upon the occurrence of
any
of the following specified events (each an “Event
of Default”):
(a) Payment.
The
Borrower shall: (i) default in the payment when due of any principal of any
of
its Term Loans; or (ii) default, and such default shall continue for three
or
more Business Days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Term Loans
or
of any fees or other amounts owing by it hereunder, under any of the other
Credit Documents or in connection herewith or therewith.
(b) Representations.
Any
representation, warranty or statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower
herein, in any of the other Credit Documents, or in any statement or certificate
delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove
untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was deemed to have
been made.
37
(c) Covenants.
The
Borrower shall:
(i) default
in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement
contained in Sections 6.1(e)(i), 6.2, 6.3(a) (solely with respect to the
existence of the Borrower), 6.9, 6.10, 6.11 or 7.1 through 7.7, inclusive;
or
(ii) default
in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement
(other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b) or (c)(i) of this Section
8.1) contained in this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document and such
default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 10 days after the
earlier of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given
by the Administrative Agent.
(d) Credit
Documents.
Any
Credit Document shall fail to be in force and effect or the Borrower shall
so
assert or any Credit Document shall fail to give the Administrative Agent or
the
Lenders the rights, powers, liens and privileges purported to be created
thereby.
(e) Bankruptcy,
etc.
The
occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the
premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower
or
any of its Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under any applicable Debtor
Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, or appoint a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries or for any substantial part of their property or
ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or (ii) an
involuntary case under any applicable Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in
effect is commenced against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and such
petition remains unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;
or
(iii) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary
case under any applicable Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, or
consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any
such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official
of
such Person or any substantial part of its property or make any general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they
become due or any action shall be taken by any Person in furtherance of any
of
the aforesaid purposes.
(f) Defaults
under Other Agreements.
(i) The
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall default in the due performance or
observance (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto) of any
material obligation or condition of any contract or lease to which it is a
party, if such default would have or would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) With
respect to any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than Indebtedness outstanding under this Credit Agreement) in excess of
$20,000,000 in
the
aggregate (A) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (x) default in
any payment (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any)
with respect to such Indebtedness, or (y) default (after giving effect to any
applicable grace period) in the observance or performance of any covenant or
agreement relating to such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or
agreement evidencing, securing or
38
relating
thereto, or any other event or condition shall occur or condition exist, the
effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause or permit the
holder or the holders of such Indebtedness (or any trustee or agent on behalf
of
such holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice or
lapse
of time is required) such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated
maturity; or (B) such Indebtedness shall be declared due and payable, or
required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment
prior to the stated maturity thereof; or (C) such Indebtedness shall mature
and remain unpaid.
(g) Judgments.
Any
judgment, order or decree involving a liability of $20,000,000 or more, or
one
or more judgments, orders, or decrees involving a liability of $40,000,000
or
more, in the aggregate, shall be entered against the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries and such judgments, orders or decrees shall continue unsatisfied,
undischarged and unstayed for a period ending on the first to occur of (i)
the
last day on which such judgment, order or decree becomes final and unappealable
and, where applicable, with the status of a judicial lien or (ii) 60 days;
provided
that if
such judgment, order or decree provides for periodic payments over time then
the
Borrower or such Subsidiary shall have a grace period of 30 days with respect
to
each such periodic payment.
(h) ERISA.
The
occurrence of any of the following events or conditions if any of the same
would
have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i)
any
“accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of
ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, shall exist with
respect to any Plan, or any lien shall arise on the assets of the Borrower
or
any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (ii) an ERISA Event shall
occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan which is, in the reasonable opinion
of the Required Lenders, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for
purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (iii) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect
to
a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan which is, in the reasonable
opinion of the Required Lenders, likely to result in (A) the termination of
such
Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (B) the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from,
reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency
(within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (iv) any
prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section
4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which would
be reasonably expected to subject the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to any
liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975
of
the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any
person against any such liability.
(i) Change
of Control.
There
shall occur a Change of Control.
8.2 Acceleration;
Remedies.
Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the
Administrative Agent may or, upon the request and direction of the Required
Lenders, shall take the following actions without prejudice to the rights of
the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower,
except as otherwise specifically provided for herein:
(a) Acceleration
of Term Loans.
Declare
the unpaid principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Term Loans
and any and all other Borrower Obligations of any and every kind owing by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Credit Documents
to be due, whereupon the same shall be immediately due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Borrower.
39
(b) Enforcement
of Rights.
To the
extent permitted by Law enforce any and all rights and interests created and
existing under applicable Law and under the Credit Documents, including, without
limitation, all rights of set-off.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 8.1(e) shall occur,
then all Term Loans, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and
unpaid fees and other Borrower Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent
and
the Lenders by the Borrower hereunder shall immediately become due and payable
without the giving of any notice or other action by the Administrative Agent
or
the Lenders, which notice or other action is expressly waived by the
Borrower.
Notwithstanding
the fact that enforcement
powers
reside primarily with the Administrative Agent, each Lender has, to the extent
permitted by Law, a separate right of payment and shall be considered a separate
“creditor” holding a separate “claim” within the meaning of Section 101(5) of
the Bankruptcy Code or any other insolvency statute.
8.3 Allocation
of Payments After Event of Default.
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Credit Agreement, after the occurrence and during
the continuation of an Event of Default, all amounts collected or received
by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries on account of amounts outstanding under any of the Credit Documents
shall be paid over or delivered as follows:
FIRST,
to
the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the
reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) of the Administrative Agent
or
any of the Lenders in connection with enforcing the rights of the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Documents against the Borrower, ratably
among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause “FIRST” payable
to them;
SECOND,
to payment of any fees owed to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, ratably
among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause “SECOND”
payable to them;
THIRD,
to
the payment of all accrued interest payable to the Lenders hereunder, ratably
among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause “THIRD” payable
to them;
FOURTH,
to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans, ratably
among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause “FOURTH”
payable to them;
FIFTH,
to
all other Borrower Obligations which shall have become due and payable under
the
Credit Documents and not repaid pursuant to clauses “FIRST” through “FOURTH”
above, ratably among the holders of the Borrower Obligations in proportion
to
the amounts described in this clause “FIFTH” payable to them; and
SIXTH,
the payment of the surplus, if any, to whomever may be lawfully entitled to
receive such surplus.
40
SECTION
9
AGENCY
PROVISIONS
9.1 Appointment
and Authority.
Each
of
the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints LCPI to act on its behalf as the
Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and
authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and
to
exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms
hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto. The provisions of this Section are solely for the
benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall
not
have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.2 Rights
as a Lender.
The
Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights
and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise
the
same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or
“Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context
otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent
hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept
deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other
advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were
not
the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor
to
the Lenders.
9.3 Exculpatory
Provisions.
The
Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those
expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall
not
be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether
a
Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall
not
have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary
powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby
or
by the other Credit Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to
exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number
or
percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the
other Credit Documents), provided
that the
Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its
opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent
to
liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law;
and
(c) shall
not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents,
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose,
any information relating to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of its
Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the
Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The
Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken
by it
(a) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other
number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the
Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under
the
41
circumstances
as provided in Sections 10.6
and
8.2)
or (b)
in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless
and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent
by
the Borrower or a Lender.
The
Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain
or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in
connection with this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document, (ii) the
contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or
thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or
observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions
set
forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity,
enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Credit
Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction
of any condition set forth in Section
4 or
elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required
to
be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.4 Reliance
by Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any
liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent,
statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic
message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed
by
it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by
the
proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made
to
it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper
Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining
compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Term Loan that by
its
terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative
Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless
the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender
prior to the making of such Term Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult
with
legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants
and
other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken
or
not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants
or experts.
9.5 Delegation
of Duties.
The
Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its
rights and powers hereunder or under any other Credit Document by or through
any
one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative
Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise
its rights and powers by or through their respective Agent-Related Persons.
The
exculpatory provisions of this Section shall apply to any such sub-agent
and to the Agent-Related Persons of the Administrative Agent and any such
sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with
the
syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities
as Administrative Agent.
9.6 Resignation
of Administrative Agent.
The
Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the
Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the
Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to
appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States,
or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no
such
successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have
accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative
Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent
may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent
meeting
42
the
qualifications set forth above; provided
that if
the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no
qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall
nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the
retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and (b) all
payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or
through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender
directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance
of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor
shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges
and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations
hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (if not already discharged
therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower
to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its
predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.
After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Section and Section 10.5
shall
continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its
sub-agents and their respective Agent Related Persons in respect of any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative
Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
9.7 Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
Each
Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Agent-Related Persons
and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender
also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Agent-Related Persons
and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem
appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action
under or based upon this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any related
agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.8 No
Other Duties, Etc.
Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunner, arranger or
agent listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or
responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents,
except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender
hereunder.
9.9 Administrative
Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
In
case
of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial
proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective
of
whether the principal of any Term Loan shall then be due and payable as herein
expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the
Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be
entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise
(a) to
file
and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing
and
unpaid in respect of the Term Loans and all other Borrower Obligations that
are
owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative
Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and
their
respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent under Sections 3.4 and 10.5) allowed in such judicial
proceeding; and
43
(b) to
collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on
any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and
any
custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other
similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event
that
the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly
to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due
the
Administrative Agent under Sections 3.4 and 10.5.
Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan
of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Borrower
Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative
Agent
to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such
proceeding.
SECTION
10
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Notices;
Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices
Generally.
Except
in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given
by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all
notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and
shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified
or
registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other
communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall
be
made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if
to the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, telecopier number,
electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on
Schedule 10.1;
and
(ii) if
to any
other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or
telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices
sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered
mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by
telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not
given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have
been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the
recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent
provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such
subsection (b).
(b) Electronic
Communications.
Notices
and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished
by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites)
pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided
that the
foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Section 2
if such
Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving
notices under such
44
Section by
electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in
its
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder
by
electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided
that
approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or
communications.
Unless
the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other
communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the
sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by
the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other
written acknowledgement), provided
that if
such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours
of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been
sent
at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and
(ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website
shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient
at
its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification
that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website
address therefor.
(c) Borrower
Materials/The Platform.
The
Borrower hereby acknowledges that (i) the Administrative Agent and/or the
Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information
provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower
Materials”)
by
posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic
system (the “Platform”).
THE
PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED
BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS
OR
THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN
OR
OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED
OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM
VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH
THE
BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent
or any of its Agent-Related Persons (collectively, the “Agent
Parties”)
have
any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract
or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s
transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent
that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by
a
court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party;
provided,
however,
that in
no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender
or
any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive
damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change
of Address, Etc.
Each of
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier
or
telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to
the
other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier
or
telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to
the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify
the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative
Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number,
telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other
communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such
Lender.
45
(e) Reliance
by Administrative Agent and Lenders.
The
Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon
any
notices purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such
notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were
not
preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii)
the
terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation
thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender
and
the Agent-Related Persons of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses
and
liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice
purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to
and
other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded
by
the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to
such
recording.
10.2 Right
of Set-Off.
In
addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable Law or
otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence
of an Event of Default and the commencement of remedies described in Section
8.2, each Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (all of which rights
being hereby expressly waived), to set-off and to appropriate and apply any
and
all deposits (general or special) and any other indebtedness at any time held
or
owing by such Lender (including, without limitation, branches, agencies or
Affiliates of such Lender wherever located) to or for the credit or the account
of the Borrower against obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the
Lenders hereunder, under the Notes, the other Credit Documents or otherwise,
irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall have
made
any demand hereunder and although such obligations, liabilities or claims,
or
any of them, may be contingent or unmatured, and any such set-off shall be
deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
even though such charge is made or entered on the books of such Lender
subsequent thereto. The Borrower hereby agrees that any Person purchasing a
participation in the Term Loans hereunder pursuant to Sections 3.8 or 10.3(d)
may exercise all rights of set-off with respect to its participation interest
as
fully as if such Person were a Lender hereunder.
10.3 Successors
and Assigns.
(a) Successors
and Assigns Generally.
The
provisions of this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer
any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of
the Administrative Agent and each Lender (except as contemplated by Section
7.2), and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with
the
provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation
in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or
(iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the
restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section. Nothing in this Credit
Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person
(other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of
this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the
Agent-Related Persons of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders)
any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Credit
Agreement.
(b) Assignments
by Lenders.
Any
Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion
of its rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all or
a
portion of its Term Loans at the time owing to it); provided
that
46
(i) except
in
the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning
Lender’s Term Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a
Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender,
the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject
to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption
with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or,
if
“Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade
Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless
each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided,
however,
that
concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent
assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee
(or
to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated
as a
single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has
been met;
(ii) each
partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of
all
the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement with
respect to the Term Loans assigned;
(iii) the
parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent
an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee
in
the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 10.3,
and the
Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
Subject
to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be
a
party to this Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned
by
such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender
under this Credit Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to
the
extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released
from its obligations under this Credit Agreement (and, in the case of an
Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and
obligations under this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party
hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.9,
3.12,
3.13,
3.14,
and
10.5(b)
with
respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of
such
assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and
deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender
of
rights or obligations under this Credit Agreement that does not comply with
this
subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Credit Agreement as a sale
by
such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance
with
subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register.
The
Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the
Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each
Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation
of
the names and addresses of the Lenders and principal amounts of the Term Loans
owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the
“Register”).
The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is
recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder
for
all purposes of this Credit Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.
The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower at any reasonable
time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In addition, at any
time that a request for a consent for a material or substantive change to the
Credit Documents is pending, any Lender may request and receive from the
Administrative Agent a copy of the Register.
47
(d) Participations.
Any
Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower
or
the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a
natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or
Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”)
in all
or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Credit
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Term Loans); provided
that
(i) such Lender’s obligations under this Credit Agreement shall remain
unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely
and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and
obligations under this Credit Agreement.
Any
agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation
shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this
Credit Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any
provision of this Credit Agreement; provided
that
such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without
the
consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification
described in the first proviso to Section 10.6
that
affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the
Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of
Sections 3.9,
3.12 3.13
and
3.14 to
the
same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by Law,
each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.7 as
though
it were a Lender, provided
such
Participant agrees to be subject to Section 3.8
as
though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations
upon Participant Rights.
A
Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under
Section 3.9,
3.12,
3.13,
or
3.14 than
the
applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the
participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation
to
such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A
Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be
entitled to the benefits of Section 3.13
unless
the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and
such
Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.13(f)
as
though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain
Pledges.
Any
Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Credit Agreement (including under its Note,
if
any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment
to
secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided
that no
such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party
hereto.
(g) Electronic
Execution of Assignments.
The
words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any
Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures
or
the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same
legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or
the
use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent
and
as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic
Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform
Electronic Transactions Act.
48
10.4 No
Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.
No
failure or delay on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit
Document and no course of dealing between the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent or any Lender shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single
or
partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other
Credit Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder. The rights
and
remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or
remedies which the Administrative Agent or any Lender would otherwise have.
No
notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower
to
any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or
constitute a waiver of the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders
to
any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or
demand.
10.5 Attorney
Costs, Expenses, Taxes and Indemnification by Borrowers.
(a) The
Borrower agrees (i) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the
Arranger for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development,
preparation, negotiation and execution of this Credit Agreement and the other
Credit Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of
the
provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration
of
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all reasonable
fees
and expenses of legal counsel and all charges of Intralinks, and (ii) to pay
or
reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or
preservation of any rights or remedies under this Credit Agreement or the other
Credit Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any
“workout” or restructuring in respect of the Borrower Obligations and during any
legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law),
including all reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel. The foregoing
costs
and expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, and appraisal charges
and fees and taxes related thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by
the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and the cost of independent public
accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent,
the
Arranger or any Lender. Other than costs and expenses payable in connection
with
the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement pursuant
to Section 10.5(a) (which shall be payable on the Closing Date unless otherwise
agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger), all amounts due under
this
Section 10.5 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor.
The agreements in this Section shall survive the repayment of all Borrower
Obligations.
(b) Whether
or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall
indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their
respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and
attorneys-in-fact (collectively the “Indemnitees”)
from
and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements
(including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) of any kind or
nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in
connection with (i) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or
administration of any Credit Document or any other agreement, letter or
instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby
or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby or in connection
with
the Acquisition, (ii) any Term Loan Commitment, Term Loan or the use of the
proceeds therefrom, or (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of
Hazardous Substances on or from any property
49
currently
or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower,
or any Environmental Claim related in any way to the Borrower or any Subsidiary
of the Borrower, (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation
or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract,
tort
or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense
of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding)
and
regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto or (v) any civil penalty
or fine assessed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (the “OFAC”)
against, and all reasonable costs and expenses (including counsel fees and
disbursements) incurred in connection with defense thereof, by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of conduct of the Borrower that
violates a sanction enforced by OFAC (all the foregoing, collectively, the
“Indemnified
Liabilities”),
in
all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of
the
negligence of the Indemnitee; provided
that
such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
that
such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements are determined
by a
court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
No
Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of
any
information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar
information transmission systems in connection with this Credit Agreement,
nor
shall any Indemnitee have any liability for any indirect or consequential
damages relating to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document or
arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether
before or after the Closing Date).
(c) To
the
extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount
required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid
by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any
Agent-Related Persons of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees
to
pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Agent-Related
Persons, as the case may be, such Lender’s Pro
Rata
Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or
indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided
that the
unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related
expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against
any Agent-Related Persons of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative
Agent (or any such sub-agent).
All
amounts due under this Section 10.5 shall be payable within ten Business Days
after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section shall survive the
resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender and
the
repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the Borrower
Obligations.
10.6 Amendments,
Etc.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Credit Agreement or any other
Credit Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom,
shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the
Borrower, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver
or
consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given; provided,
however,
that no
such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive
any
condition set forth in Section 4.1
without
the written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend
or
increase the Term Loan Commitment of any Lender without the written consent
of
such Lender;
50
(c) postpone
any date fixed by this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document for any
payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest or fees or
other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other
Credit Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected
thereby;
(d) reduce
the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Term Loans
or
(subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.6)
any
fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document
without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
provided,
however,
that
only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the
definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation to pay interest at the
Default Rate;
(e) change
Section 3.8
or
Section 8.3
in a
manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby
without the written consent of each Lender;
(f) change
any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or
any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders
required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any
determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of
each
Lender;
(g) change
Section 10.3 in any manner without the written consent of each Lender;
or
(h) release
the Borrower from its obligations, or consent to the assignment or transfer
by
the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under (or in respect of)
the
Credit Documents without the written consent of each Lender.
and,
provided further,
that
(i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by
the
Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the
rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Credit Agreement or
any
other Credit Document and (ii) the Fee Letters may be amended, or rights or
privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.
10.7 Counterparts.
This
Credit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
10.8 Headings.
The
headings of the sections and subsections hereof are provided for convenience
only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any
provision of this Credit Agreement.
10.9 Survival
of Indemnification and Representations and Warranties.
(a) Survival
of Indemnification.
All
indemnities set forth herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Credit Agreement and the making of any Term Loans and the repayment of the
Term
Loans and other Borrower Obligations.
51
(b) Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
All
representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Credit Document
or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith
or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such
representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made
by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding
that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge
of
any Default or Event of Default at the time of any Term Loans, and shall
continue in full force and effect as long as any Term Loan or any other Borrower
Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
10.10 Governing
Law; Venue; Service.
(a) THIS
CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING
SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). Any legal
action or proceeding with respect to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit
Document may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or of the United
States for the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and delivery
of
this Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and
in
respect of its Property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of
such
courts.
(b) The
Borrower irrevocably consents to the service of process in any action or
proceeding with respect to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document
by
the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
to it at the address for notices pursuant to Section 10.1, such service to
become effective ten days after such mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the
right of a Lender to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.
10.11 Waiver
of Jury Trial; Waiver of Consequential Damages.
EACH
OF
THE PARTIES TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY. Each of the parties to this Credit
Agreement agrees not to assert any claim against any other party hereto,
Administrative Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates, or any of their
respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys or agents, on any theory
of
liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising
out
of or otherwise relating to any of the transactions contemplated herein and
in
the other Credit Documents.
10.12 Severability.
If
any
provision of any of the Credit Documents is determined to be illegal, invalid
or
unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining
provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without
giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.
52
10.13 Further
Assurances.
The
Borrower agrees, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, to promptly
take
such actions, as reasonably requested, as is necessary to carry out the intent
of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents.
10.14 Confidentiality.
Each
of
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality
of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed
(a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners,
directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being
understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed
of
the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such
Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory
authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory
authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners),
(c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any
subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto,
(e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any
other Credit Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Credit
Agreement or any other Credit Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder
or
thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially
the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant
in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or
obligations under this Credit Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective
counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating
to
the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or
(h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available
other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available
to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any of their respective Affiliates
on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
For
purposes of this Section, “Information”
means
all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their
respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to
the
Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to
disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided
that, in
the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after
the
date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery
as
confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information
as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its
obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to
maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord
to
its own confidential information.
10.15 Entirety.
This
Credit Agreement together with the other Credit Documents and the Fee Letters
represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including
any
commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Credit Documents or the
transactions contemplated herein and therein.
10.16 Binding
Effect; Continuing Agreement.
(a) This
Credit Agreement shall become effective at such time when all of the conditions
set forth in Section 4.1 have been satisfied or waived by the Lenders and it
shall have been executed by the Borrower and
the
Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall have received copies
hereof (telefaxed or otherwise) which, when taken together, bear the signatures
of each Lender, and thereafter this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon
and
inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent
and each
Lender and their respective successors and assigns.
53
(b) This
Credit Agreement shall be a continuing agreement and shall remain in full force
and effect until all Term Loans, interest, fees and other Borrower Obligations
have been paid in full. Upon termination, the Borrower shall have no further
obligations (other than the indemnification provisions and other provisions
that
by their terms survive) under the Credit Documents; provided
that
should any payment, in whole or in part, of the Borrower Obligations be
rescinded or otherwise required to be restored or returned by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or
reorganization or otherwise, then the Credit Documents shall automatically
be
reinstated and all amounts required to be restored or returned and all costs
and
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection
therewith shall be deemed included as part of the Borrower
Obligations.
10.17 Regulatory
Statement.
Pursuant
to the terms of an order issued by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
and a stipulation that has been approved by the New Mexico Public Regulation
Commission, the Borrower is required to include the following separateness
covenants in any debt instrument:
The
Borrower, PSNM and TNMP are being operated as separate corporate and legal
entities. In agreeing to make loans to the Borrower, the Borrower’s
lenders are
relying solely on the creditworthiness of the Borrower based on the assets
owned
by the Borrower, and the repayment of the loan will be made solely from the
assets of the Borrower and not from any assets of PSNM or TNMP; and the
Borrower’s lenders will
not
take any steps for the purpose of procuring the appointment of an administrative
receiver or the making of an administrative order for instituting any
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, wind up or liquidation or any like
proceeding under applicable law in respect of PSNM or TNMP.
10.18 USA
Patriot Act Notice.
Each
Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and
not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to
the
requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into
law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”),
it is
required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower,
which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other
information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the
Act.
10.19 Acknowledgment.
Section
6
and Section 7
of this
Credit Agreement contain affirmative and negative covenants applicable to the
Borrower. Each
of
the parties to this Credit Agreement acknowledges and agrees that any such
covenants that require the Borrower to cause any of its Subsidiaries to take
or
to refrain from taking specified actions will be enforceable unless prohibited
by applicable law or regulatory requirement.
10.20 Replacement
of Lenders.
If
(a)
any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.12, (b) the Borrower is
required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.13 or (c) a Lender
(a “Non-Consenting Lender”) does not consent to a proposed change, waiver,
discharge or termination with respect to any Credit Document that has been
approved by
54
the
Required Lenders as provided in Section 10.6 but requires unanimous consent
of
all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby (as applicable), then
the
Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and
the
Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without
recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in,
and
consents required by, Section 10.3), all of its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the related Credit Documents to an assignee
that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if
a
Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(i) the
Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee
specified in Section 10.3(b);
(ii) such
Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Term Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all
other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Credit Documents
(including any amounts under Section 3.14) from the assignee (to the extent
of
such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in
the case of all other amounts);
(iii) in
the
case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.13, such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments
thereafter;
(iv) such
assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and
(v) in
the
case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lender’s failure to
consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect
to
any Credit Document, the applicable replacement bank, financial institution
or
Fund consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination; provided
that the failure by such Non-Consenting Lender to execute and deliver an
Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such
Non-Consenting Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Non-Consenting
Lender’s outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section shall nevertheless be
effective without the execution by such Non-Consenting Lender of an Assignment
and Assumption.
A
Lender
shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior
thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances
entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to
apply.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
55
Each
of
the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Credit Agreement to be
duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
BORROWER:
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.
a
New
Mexico corporation
By: /s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:
Vice President, Treasury and Taxation
S-1
Signature
Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
PNM
Resources, Inc.
LENDERS:
XXXXXX
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
individually
in its capacity as a Lender and in capacity as Administrative Agent
By: /s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
Authorized Signatory
S-2
Signature
Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
PNM
Resources, Inc.
LENDERS:
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.
As
a
Lender
By: /s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title:
Senior Vice President
S-3
Signature
Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
PNM
Resources, Inc.
LENDERS:
CITICORP
NORTH AMERICA, INC.
As
a
Lender
By: /s/
Xxxxxx X. Gleu
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Gleu
Title:
Director
S-4
Signature
Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
PNM
Resources, Inc.
LENDERS:
XXXXXXX
LUNCH BANK USA,
As
a
Lender
By: /s/
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title:
Director
S-5
Signature
Page to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
PNM
Resources, Inc.
LENDERS:
XXXXXX
XXXXXXX BANK.
As
a
Lender
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Vice President
S-6
SCHEDULE
1.1 (a)
COMMITMENTS
Lender
|
Commitment
|
Xxxxxx
Commercial Paper Inc.
|
$160,000,000.00
|
Bank
of America, N.A.
|
$
80,000,000.00
|
Citigroup
Global Markets, Inc.
|
$
80,000,000.00
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Bank USA
|
$
80,000,000.00
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Bank
|
$
80,000,000.00
|
Total
|
$480,000,000.00
|
SCHEDULE
5.18
MATERIAL
LEASES
Description
Expiration
Annual
Rent
Palo
Verde Unit 1
Facility
Lease dated as of December 16, 1985 between
1/15/2015
$
5,580,122.54
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of December 16, 1985, with MFS
Leasing
Corp. as Owner Participant, as amended.
Facility
Lease dated as of December 16, 1985 between
1/15/2015
$
15,693,862.76
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of December 16, 1985, with Daimler
Chrysler
Services North America LLC (as successor to Chrysler
Financial
Corporation), as Owner Participant, as amended.
Facility
Lease dated as of December 15, 1986 between
1/15/2015
$
4,757,769.00
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of December 15, 1986, with Palo
Verde
1-
PNM [December 75] Corporation (successor-in-interest
to
Chase
Manhattan Realty Leasing Corporation), as Owner
Participant
(Unit 1), as amended.
Facility
Lease dated as of July 31, 1986 between
1/15/2015
$
6,974,313.00
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of July 31, 1986, with Palo
Verde
1-
PNM [August 50] Corporation (successor-in-interest
to
Chase
Manhattan Realty Leasing Corporation), as Owner
Participant
(Unit 1), as amended.
Total
-
Xxxx 0
$
33,006.067.10
Description
Expiration
Annual
Rent
Palo
Verde Unit 2
Facility
Lease dated as of August 12, 1986 between
1/15/2016
$ 5,742,
060.00
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of August 12, 1986, with MFS
Leasing
Corp. as Owner Participant, as amended.
Facility
Lease dated as of August 12, 1986 between
1/15/2016
$
9,958,478.04
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of August 12, 1986, with CGI
Capital,
Inc., as Owner Participant, as amended.
Facility
Lease dated as of August 12, 1986 between
1/15/2016
$
9,569,653.00
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of August 12, 1986, with Palo Verde
Leasing
Corporation (successor-in-interest to First Chicago Lease
Holdings,
Inc.) as Owner Participant, as amended.
Facility
Lease dated as of August 12, 1986 between
1/15/2016
$
4,743,012.00
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of August 12, 1986, with MFS Leasing
Corp.
(successor-in-interest to Beneficial Leasing Group, Inc.),
as
Owner
Participant, as amended.
Facility
Lease dated as of December 15, 1986 between
1/15/2016
$
3,272,560.40
PNM
and
U.S. Bank National Association (successor to
State
Street Bank and Trust Company, successor
to
The
First National Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under
a
Trust
Agreement dated as of December 15, 1986, with Palo
Verde
2-
PNM [December 35] Corporation (successor-in-interest
to
Chase
Manhattan Realty Leasing Corporation), as Owner
Participant
(Unit 2), as amended.
Total
-
Xxxx 0
$
33,285.763.44
Description Expiration
Annual
Rent
Eastern
Interconnection Project (EIP)
Amended
and Restated Lease dated as of September 1, 4/1/2015
$
2,675,739.30*
1993,
between PNM as Lessee, and U.S. Bank National $
2,844,913.50
Association
(successor to State Street Bank
and
Trust
Company,( as successor to The First National
Bank
of
Boston), as Owner Trustee under a Trust
Agreement
dated as of January 2, 1985, with General
Foods
Credit Corporation, as Lessor.
Total
EIP $
2,675,739.30*
$
2,844,913.50
*
1994
Only
SCHEDULE
5.19
MATERIAL
LEASE INTEREST PAYMENTS AND DISCOUNT RATE
Schedule
5.19
Material
Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rates
(Numbers
in $000)
EIP
(Discount Rate 12.85%)
Date
|
Total
Payment
|
Interest
Payment
|
Principal
Payment
|
Loan
Balance EoY
|
2005
|
1,299,597
|
328,435
|
971,162
|
1,890,229
|
2006
|
608,408
|
231,380
|
377,028
|
1,513,201
|
2007
|
642,648
|
180,402
|
462,245
|
1,050,955
|
2008
|
683,422
|
117,815
|
565,607
|
485,348
|
2009
|
58,795
|
62,474
|
-3,678
|
489,027
|
2010
|
112,898
|
62,962
|
49,936
|
439,091
|
2011
|
53,990
|
56,485
|
-2,495
|
441,586
|
2012
|
498,398
|
56,811
|
441,586
|
0
|
2013
|
||||
2014
|
||||
2015
|
||||
2016
|
||||
2017
|
||||
2018
|
||||
2019
|
||||
Total
|
3,958,155
|
1,096,764
|
2,861,390
|
PVNGS
(Discount Rate 10.25%)
Date
|
Total
Payment
|
Interest
Payment
|
Principal
Payment
|
Loan
Balance EoY
|
2005
|
14,380,430
|
12,148,338
|
2,232,092
|
116,288,282
|
2006
|
15,239,058
|
11,919,549
|
3,319,509
|
112,968,773
|
2007
|
16,147,881
|
11,579,299
|
4,568,582
|
108,400,191
|
2008
|
17,117,049
|
11,111,020
|
6,006,029
|
102,394,162
|
2009
|
14,895,517
|
10,495,402
|
4,400,115
|
97,994,046
|
2010
|
13,670,429
|
10,044,390
|
3,626,039
|
94,368,007
|
2011
|
14,513,604
|
9,672,721
|
4,840,883
|
89,527,124
|
2012
|
26,655,935
|
9,176,530
|
17,479,405
|
72,047,719
|
2013
|
29,233,436
|
7,384,891
|
21,848,545
|
50,199,174
|
2014
|
34,358,781
|
5,145,415
|
29,213,366
|
20,985,809
|
2015
|
19,428,445
|
2,151,045
|
17,277,400
|
3,708,409
|
2016
|
4,088,521
|
380,112
|
3,708,409
|
0
|
2017
|
||||
2018
|
||||
2019
|
||||
Total
|
219,729,086
|
101,208,712
|
118,520,374
|
SCHEDULE
10.1
NOTICES
COMPANY:
PNM
Resources, Inc.
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Treasurer
Telephone:
000.000.0000
Telecopier:
505.241.2369
Electronic
Mail:
xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Website
Address: xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT:
Administrative
Agent’s Office
(for
payments and Requests for Credit Extensions):
Xxxxxx
Brothers, Inc..
000
0xx
Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX
Mail
Code: 10019
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Telecopier:
646-758-5015
Electronic
Mail:
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
ABA#:
000-0000-00
A/C#:
30434141
A/C
Name:
LCPI Bank Loans Agency
Ref:
PNM
Resources
Other
Notices as Administrative Agent:
Xxxxxx
Commercial Paper Inc.
000
0xx
Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX
Mail
Code: 10019
Attention:
Xxxxx X. XxXxxxx
Telephone:
000-000-0000
Telecopier:
917-522-0592
Electronic
Mail:
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
SCHEDULE
10.3
PROCESSING
AND RECORDING FEES
The
Administrative Agent will charge a processing and recordation fee (an
“Assignment
Fee”)
in the
amount of $2,500 for each assignment; provided,
however,
that in
the event of two or more concurrent assignments to members of the same Assignee
Group (which may be effected by a suballocation of an assigned amount among
members of such Assignee Group) or two or more concurrent assignments by
members
of the same Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible
Assignee and members of its Assignee Group), the Assignment Fee will be $2,500
plus the amount set forth below:
Transaction
|
Assignment
Fee
|
First
four concurrent assignments or suballocations to members of an
Assignee
Group (or from members of an Assignee Group, as applicable)
|
-0-
|
Each
additional concurrent assignment or suballocation to a member of
such
Assignee Group (or from a member of such Assignee Group, as
applicable)
|
$500
|
EXHIBIT
2.6(b)
FORM
OF NOTE
Lender:
__________________________,
200_
FOR
VALUE
RECEIVED, PNM RESOURCES, INC., a New Mexico corporation (the “Borrower”),
hereby promises to pay to the order of the Lender referenced above (the
“Lender”),
at
the Administrative Agent’s Office set forth in that certain Term Loan Agreement
dated as of April 18, 2006 (as amended, modified, extended or restated from
time
to time, the “Credit
Agreement”)
among
the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto (including the Lender), Xxxxxx Brothers
Inc. as sole lead arranger and sole book-manager and Xxxxxx Commercial Paper
Inc., as administrative agent (the “Administrative
Agent”)
(or at
such other place or places as the holder of this Note may designate), the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan made by the Lender to
the
Borrower under the Credit Agreement, in lawful money and in immediately
available funds, on the dates and in the principal amounts provided in the
Credit Agreement, and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
Term Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower, at such office, in like money
and
funds, at the rates per annum and on the dates provided in the Credit
Agreement.
This
Note
is one of the Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement and evidences the
Term
Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower thereunder. Capitalized terms used
in
this Note have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement
and the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement are expressly incorporated
herein and made a part hereof.
The
Credit Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of the Term
Loans
evidenced by this Note upon the occurrence of certain events (and for payment
of
collection costs in connection therewith) and for prepayments of Term Loans
upon
the terms and conditions specified therein. In the event this Note is not
paid
when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay,
in
addition to principal and interest, all costs of collection, including
reasonable attorney fees.
The
date,
amount, type, interest rate and duration of Interest Period (if applicable)
of
the Term Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on
account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender on its
books;
provided
that the
failure of the Lender to make any such recordation or endorsement shall not
affect the obligations of the Borrower to make a payment when due of any
amount
owing under the Credit Agreement or under this Note in respect of the Term
Loan
to be evidenced by this Note, and each such recordation or endorsement shall
be
prima facie evidence of such information, absent manifest error.
Except
as
permitted by Section 10.3(b) of the Credit Agreement, this Note may not be
assigned by the Lender to any other Person.
THIS
NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF
THE
STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL
OBLIGATIONS LAW.)
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Note to be executed as of the
date
first above written.
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
2.4
FORM
OF
NOTICE
OF CONTINUATION/CONVERSION
TO: XXXXXX
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as Administrative Agent
RE: Term
Loan
Agreement dated as of April 18, 2006 among PNM Resources, Inc. (the
“Borrower”),
Xxxxxx Commercial Paper Inc., as Administrative Agent, the Lenders named
therein
and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. as sole lead arranger and sole book-manager (as
the
same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the
“Credit
Agreement”)
DATE: ___________,
200_
1. |
This
Notice of Continuation/Conversion is made pursuant to the terms of
the
Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein unless otherwise
defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit
Agreement.
|
2. |
Please
be advised that Borrower is requesting that a portion of the current
outstanding Term Loans advanced to it in the amount of $___________,
currently accruing interest at ____________, be extended or converted
as
of ________, 200__ at the interest rate option set forth in paragraph
3
below.
|
3. |
The
interest rate option applicable to the extension or conversion of
all or
part of the existing Term Loans referenced above shall
be:
|
a. |
________the
Base Rate
|
b. |
________the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period
of:
|
________
one month
________
two months
________
three months
________
six months
4. |
As
of the date hereof, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing.
|
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
6.1(c)
FORM
OF
COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATE
TO: XXXXXX
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as Administrative Agent
RE: Term
Loan
Agreement dated as of April 18, 2006 among PNM Resources, Inc. (the
“Borrower”),
Xxxxxx Commercial Paper Inc., as Administrative Agent, the Lenders named
therein
and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. as sole lead arranger and sole book-manager (as
the
same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the
“Credit
Agreement”)
DATE:
_____________,
200__
Pursuant
to the terms of the Credit Agreement, I, ________________, a Financial Officer
of the Borrower hereby certify on behalf of the Borrower that, as of the
quarter
ending ___________, 200__, the statements below are accurate and complete
in all
respects (all capitalized terms used below shall have the meanings set forth
in
the Credit Agreement):
a. |
Attached
hereto as Schedule
1
are calculations (calculated as of the date of the financial statements
referred to in paragraph c. below) demonstrating compliance by the
Borrower with the financial covenants contained in Section 6.2 of
the
Credit Agreement.
|
b. |
No
Default or Event of Default exists under the Credit Agreement, except
as
indicated on a separate page attached hereto, together with an explanation
of the action taken or proposed to be taken by the Borrower with
respect
thereto.
|
c. |
The
quarterly/annual financial statements for the fiscal quarter/year
ended
___________, 200_ which accompany this certificate fairly present
in all
material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject
to
changes resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments and except
that
the quarterly financial statements have fewer footnotes than annual
statements.
|
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE
1
TO
EXHIBIT 6.1(c)
FINANCIAL
COVENANT CALCULATIONS
A. |
Debt
Capitalization
|
1. Consolidated
Indebtedness of the Borrower*
|
$
|
2. Consolidated
Capitalization of the Borrower
|
$
|
3. Debt
to Capitalization Ratio (Line A1 ¸
A2)
|
___________
to 1.0
|
Maximum
Permitted
|
.65
to 1.0
|
* For
purposes of such calculation, the portion of Consolidated Indebtedness
attributable to obligations under Material Leases shall be the net present
value
(using (i) the discount rate (A) set forth in Schedule
5.19
of the
Credit Agreement, so long as such Schedule
5.19
specifies the same relevant discount rate as is used in calculating such
net
present value provided to Xxxxx’x and S&P or (B) the discount rate used in
calculating such net present value provided to Xxxxx’x and S&P or (ii) any
such other rate as shall be proposed by the Borrower (and agreed upon
by the
Required Lenders) of all amounts payable under the Material Leases.
EXHIBIT
10.3(b)
FORM
OF
ASSIGNMENT
AND ASSUMPTION
This
Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment
and Assumption”)
is
dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and
between ____________ (the “Assignor”)
and
_________________ (the “Assignee”).
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given
to
them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, the “Credit
Agreement”),
receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard
Terms and Conditions set forth in Schedule 1 attached hereto (the “Standard
Terms and Conditions”)
are
hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of
this
Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For
an
agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to
the
Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from
the
Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions
and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the
Administrative Agent as contemplated below (a) all of the Assignor’s rights and
obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any
other
documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related
to the
amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding
rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities
identified below (including, without limitation, any Letters of Credit,
guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (b) to the
extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits,
causes
of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)
against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection
with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant
thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on
or
related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract
claims,
tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at
law or
in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant
to
clause (a) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to
clauses (a) and (b) above being referred to herein collectively as, the
“Assigned
Interest”).
Such
sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly
provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty
by the Assignor.
1. Assignor:
|
__________________________________ |
2. Assignee:
|
___________________________________
and
is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of __________________
|
3. Borrower:
|
PNM
Resources, Inc.
|
4. Administrative
Agent:
|
Xxxxxx
Commercial Paper Inc. as the Administrative Agent under the Credit
Agreement
|
5. Credit
Agreement:
|
Term
Loan Agreement dated as of April 18,
2006 among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, Xxxxxx Brothers
Inc.
as sole lead arranger and sole book-manager and the Administrative
Agent.
|
6. Assigned
Interest:
Aggregate
Amount of
Term
Loans for
all
Lenders
|
Amount
of
Term
Loans
Assigned
|
Percentage
Assigned of
Term
Loans
|
$
|
$
|
%
|
7. After
giving effect to the foregoing assignment, the Assignor and the Assignee
shall
have the following Pro Rata Shares and outstanding Loans:
Pro
Rata Share
|
Outstanding
Term Loans
|
|
Assignor
|
||
Assignee
|
8. Trade
Date: ______________
Effective
Date: __________ __, 200__
The
terms
set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR
[NAME
OF
ASSIGNOR]
By:
Name:
Title:
ASSIGNEE
[NAME
OF
ASSIGNEE]
By:
Name:
Title:
Consented
to and Accepted if applicable:
XXXXXX
COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.,
as
Administrative Agent
By:
Name:
Title:
Consented
to if applicable:
PNM
RESOURCES, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE
1
TO
EXHIBIT 10.3(b)
TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT
AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations
and Warranties.
1.1. Assignor.
The
Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial
owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear
of
any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power
and
authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this
Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements,
warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement
or any other Credit Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Documents
or any
collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any
of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any
Credit Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any
of
its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective
obligations under any Credit Document.
1.2. Assignee.
The
Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority,
and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment
and
Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to
become
a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements of an
Eligible Assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to receipt of such
consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after
the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement
as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall
have
the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the
Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements
delivered pursuant to Section 6.1 thereof, as applicable, 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 Assumption and to
purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis
and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent
or
any other Lender, and (v) if it is a foreign lender, attached to the Assignment
and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant
to
the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee;
and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on 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
Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of
the
obligations which by the terms of the Credit Documents are required to be
performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments.
From
and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments
in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest,
fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to
but
excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued
from and after the Effective Date.
3. General
Provisions.
This
Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit
of,
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment
and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together
shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a
signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and
Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.