EX-4.1


 Exhibit 4.1 
 EXECUTION VERSION 
 FIRST AMENDMENT TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT 
 This FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of April 11, 2013 (this
“Amendment”), is by and among CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC., a Texas corporation (the “Borrower”), the Banks (as hereinafter defined) named on the signature pages hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative
agent for the Banks (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”). 
 W I T N E S S E T H: 

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (collectively, the
“Banks”) and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 9, 2011 (as heretofore amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”); 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Banks agree to amend the Credit Agreement, and the Banks and the Administrative Agent are
agreeable to such request upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, for good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: 
 SECTION 1. Definitions. Unless otherwise defined in this Amendment, capitalized terms used in this Amendment which are defined in the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby (the “Amended
Credit Agreement”), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Amended Credit Agreement. The interpretive provisions set forth in Section 1.3 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to this Amendment. 

SECTION 2. Amendments to the Credit Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties herein contained, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows: 
 (a)
Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following defined terms in their appropriate alphabetical order: 
 “Bronco Group” means, collectively, Bronco Midstream Holdings, LLC and Bronco Midstream Holdings II, LLC, each a Delaware limited liability company. 

“CEFS LLC” means CenterPoint Energy Field Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower and CERC. 
 “EH II” means Enogex Holdings II LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company. 
 “Enogex” means Enogex LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company. 
 “Enogex Holdings” means Enogex Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.







 “Master Formation Agreement” means the Master Formation
Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2013, by and among the Borrower, OGE Energy and the Bronco Group, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, but excluding, prior to the consummation of the Midstream MLP/JV Transactions
described in clauses (a) through (g) of the definition thereof, any such amendment, supplement or other modification thereto that is materially adverse to the Banks, unless otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent. 

“Midstream MLP/JV Transactions” means a series of transactions pursuant to which, among other things,
(a) CERC contributes the Capital Stock of certain of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that own midstream field services and interstate pipelines assets, and causes a JV Subsidiary to contribute the Capital Stock of a Joint Venture that owns
midstream field services and interstate pipelines assets, to CEFS LLC, (b) OGE Holdings and Bronco Group restructure their ownership of Enogex Holdings to provide that the Capital Stock of Enogex will be held through EH II, (c) CEFS LLC is
converted to a Delaware limited partnership (such converted and renamed entity, the “Midstream JV”), (d) OGE Holdings contributes all of the management interests in EH II owned by OGE Holdings to the general partner of the
Midstream JV in exchange for membership interests in such general partner, (e) OGE Holdings contributes to the Midstream JV all of the economic interests in EH II in exchange for the issuance by the Midstream JV of limited partnership interests
in the Midstream JV, (f) Bronco Group contributes to the Midstream JV all of its economic interests in EH II in exchange for the issuance by the Midstream JV of limited partnership interests in the Midstream JV, (g) upon completion of and
as a result of the transactions described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f), on the Closing Date (as defined in the Master Formation Agreement), CERC obtains not less than 50% of the limited partner interest in the Midstream JV and not
less than 50% of the GP Management Units (as defined in the Master Formation Agreement) (each transaction described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g) being effected pursuant to the Master Formation Agreement), and (h) the
Midstream JV may consummate an initial public offering as a master limited partnership. 
 “OGE
Energy” means OGE Energy Corp., an Oklahoma corporation. 
 “OGE Holdings” means OGE
Enogex Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of OGE Energy. 
 (b)
Section 7.2(c) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 

“(c) Consolidation, Merger or Disposal of Assets. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Significant Subsidiary to,
(i) merge into or consolidate with any other Person; (ii) liquidate, wind up or dissolve (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); or (iii) sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its Properties to
any Person; provided, however, that (A) the Borrower may merge into, or consolidate with, any Person if the Borrower is the surviving entity; (B) any Significant Subsidiary may consolidate with or merge into (1) the
Borrower if the Borrower is the surviving entity or (2) any other Subsidiary of the Borrower if the surviving entity is such Significant Subsidiary or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary; (C) any Significant Subsidiary may consolidate
with or merge into any Person other 

  
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than the Borrower or another Subsidiary of the Borrower if (1) such Significant Subsidiary is the surviving entity or (2) such other Person is the surviving entity and becomes a
Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary contemporaneously with such consolidation or merger; (D) any Significant Subsidiary may liquidate, wind up or dissolve if the Properties of such Significant Subsidiary are conveyed, transferred or distributed
pursuant to such liquidation, winding up or dissolution to the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary; (E) any Significant Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its Properties to the
Borrower, to another Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary or to a Person that becomes a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary contemporaneously with such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition; (F) the Borrower and any Significant Subsidiary may
transfer assets in connection with the issuance of Securitization Securities; (G) the Borrower and any Significant Subsidiary may make Permitted MLP/JV Asset Transfers and (H) the Borrower and any Significant Subsidiary may effect the
Midstream MLP/JV Transactions; provided that (x) in the case of any transaction described in clauses (A) through (H), immediately before and after giving effect to any such merger or consolidation, dissolution or liquidation, or
sale, transfer, lease or other disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) in the case of any transaction described in foregoing clause (A), (G) or (H) (excluding, in the case of clause
(A), any transaction in which any Subsidiary of the Borrower merges into or consolidates with the Borrower), after giving effect to such transaction, the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with Section 7.2(a).” 

(c) Section 7.2(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 

“(e) Sale of Significant Subsidiary Stock. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Significant Subsidiary to, sell,
assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 7.2(c) or this Section 7.2(e), (1) the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary may
sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (i) any of the Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower that constitutes a Significant Subsidiary after giving effect to such
transaction and (ii) any of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary that is not a Significant Subsidiary; (2) any Significant Subsidiary shall have the right to issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of for value its preference or
preferred stock in one or more bona fide transactions to any Person; (3) the Borrower and any Significant Subsidiary may make Permitted MLP/JV Asset Transfers and (4) the Borrower and any Significant Subsidiary may effect the Midstream
MLP/JV Transactions; provided that (A) immediately before and after giving effect to any such sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition described in the foregoing clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4), no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) in the case of any such Permitted MLP/JV Asset Transfer permitted under the foregoing clause (3) or the Midstream MLP/JV Transactions permitted under the foregoing clause (4), after giving
effect to such Permitted MLP/JV Asset Transfer or the Midstream MLP/JV Transactions, as applicable, the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with Section 7.2(a).” 

SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties. To induce the other parties hereto to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower
represents and warrants that, as of the date hereof: 
 (a) both immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment,
all 

  
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representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Section 6.1 of the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except to the
extent that any representation or warranty is qualified by materiality in the text thereof, in which case such representation or warranty is true and correct in all respects), except for (i) those representations or warranties or parts thereof
that, by their terms, expressly relate solely to a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of such specific date and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 6.1(j) and (k) of the Credit Agreement; 
 (b) both immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment,
no Default or Event of Default exists or is continuing; 
 (c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this
Amendment are within the Borrower’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action; and 

(d) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. 
 SECTION 4. Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become
effective as of the date first written above when, and only when, each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement): 

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment fully executed and delivered by the Borrower and Banks
constituting the Majority Banks; and 
 (b) the Administrative Agent and the Banks shall have received all fees required to be
paid, and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid for which reasonably detailed invoices have been presented to the Borrower on or before the date that is one Business Day prior to the date hereof. 

SECTION 5. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 SECTION 6. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts (or counterpart signature pages), each of which counterparts shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Amendment by facsimile transmission or
other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. The execution and delivery of this Amendment by any Bank shall be binding upon each of its successors and assigns (including Transferees of
its Commitments and Loans, in whole or in part, prior to the effectiveness hereof) and binding in respect of all of its Commitments and Loans, including any acquired subsequent to its execution and delivery of this Amendment and prior to the
effectiveness hereof. 

  
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 SECTION 7. Effect of Amendment. From and after the effectiveness of this Amendment,
each reference to “hereof”, “hereunder”, “herein” and “hereby” and each other similar reference and each reference to “this Agreement” and each other similar reference contained in the Credit
Agreement shall refer to the Amended Credit Agreement. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Administrative
Agent or the Banks under the Credit Agreement or under any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other
Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. 

SECTION 8. Headings. Section and subsection headings in this Amendment are for convenience of reference only, and are not part of,
and are not to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Amendment. 
 SECTION 9. Entire Agreement. This
Amendment and the other Loan Documents represent the agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Banks with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the
Administrative Agent or any Bank relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents. 
 [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow] 

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

			
	CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC.,
	as the Borrower
		
	By:	 	/s/ Marc Kilbride
	Name:	 	Marc Kilbride
	Title:	 	Vice President and Treasurer



  
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	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
	as Administrative Agent and as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Bridget Killackey
	Name:	 	Bridget Killackey
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ William A. Merritt, III
	Name:	 	William A. Merritt, III
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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	CITIBANK, N.A.,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Maureen P. Maroney
	Name:	 	Maureen P. Maroney
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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	THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Emily Freedman
	Name:	 	Emily Freedman
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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	BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ May Huang
	Name:	 	May Huang
	Title:	 	AVP



  
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	 DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH,
 as a Bank

		
	By:	 	/s/ Philippe Sandmeier
	Name:	 	Philippe Sandmeier
	Title:	 	Managing Director
		
	By:	 	/s/ Ming K. Chu
	Name:	 	Ming K. Chu
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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	 WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
 as a Bank

		
	By:	 	/s/ Sara Olesen
	Name: 	 	Sara Olesen
	Title:	 	Assistant Vice President



  
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	ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Frank Lambrinos
	Name:	 	Frank Lambrinos
	Title:	 	Authorized Signatory



  
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	SUNTRUST BANK,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Andrew Johnson
	Name:	 	Andrew Johnson
	Title:	 	Director



  
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	 THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ,
 LTD., as a Bank

		
	By:	 	/s/ Paul V. Farrell
	Name:	 	Paul V. Farrell
	Title:	 	Director



  
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	UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Lana Gifas
	Name:	 	Lana Gifas
	Title:	 	Director
		
	By:	 	/s/ Joselin Fernandes
	Name:	 	Joselin Fernandes
	Title:	 	Associate Director



  
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	CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Christopher Reo Day
	Name:	 	Christopher Reo Day
	Title:	 	Vice President
		
	By:	 	/s/ Tyler R. Smith
	Name:	 	Tyler R. Smith
	Title:	 	Associate



  
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	GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Michelle Latzoni
	Name:	 	Michelle Latzoni
	Title:	 	Authorized Signatory



  
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	MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK (USA),
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Leon Mo
	Name:	 	Leon Mo
	Title:	 	Senior Vice President



  
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	MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ John Durland
	Name:	 	John Durland
	Title:	 	Authorized Signatory



  
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	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ James O’Shaughnessy
	Name:	 	James O’Shaughnessy
	Title:	 	VP-Portfolio Manager



  
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	COMERICA BANK,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Joey Powell
	Name:	 	Joey Powell
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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	PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ John Bery
	Name:	 	John Bery
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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	THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY,
	as a Bank
		
	By:	 	/s/ Keith L. Burson
	Name:	 	Keith L. Burson
	Title:	 	Vice President



  
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