Exh 10.1














Exhibit 10.1


EXECUTION VERSION 


Published CUSIP Number: 69349GAE9












$300,000,000


CREDIT AGREEMENT


among


PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
as Borrower,


THE LENDERS IDENTIFIED HEREIN,


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent


UNION BANK, N.A.,
as Syndication Agent


AND


CITIBANK, N.A.
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Co-Documentation Agents


DATED AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2011










WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
UNION BANK, N.A.,
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.
and
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Co-Book Managers











TABLE OF CONTENTS


SECTION 1  DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS                          1
1.1    Definitions.                                          1
1.2    Computation of Time Periods and Other Definitional Provisions.                20
1.3    Accounting Terms/Calculation of Financial Covenant.                    20
1.4    Time.                                            21
1.5    Rounding of Financial Covenant.                            21
1.6    References to Agreements and Requirement of Laws.                    21
1.7    Letter of Credit Amounts.                                21
SECTION 2  CREDIT FACILITY                                    22
2.1    Revolving Loans.                                    22
2.2    Letter of Credit Subfacility.                                24
2.3    Continuations and Conversions.                                32
2.4    Minimum Amounts.                                    32
2.5    Extension Option.                                    32
2.6    Evidence of Debt.                                    33
2.7    Swing Line Loans.                                    33
2.8    Designation of FCP as a Borrower.                            36
SECTION 3  GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS                    36
3.1    Interest.                                            36
3.2    Payments Generally.                                    37
3.3    Prepayments.                                        38
3.4    Fees.                                            39
3.5    Payment in full at Maturity.                                39
3.6    Computations of Interest and Fees.                            39
3.7    Pro Rata Treatment.                                    40
3.8    Sharing of Payments.                                    41
3.9    Capital Adequacy.                                    41
3.10    Eurodollar Provisions.                                    42
3.11    Illegality.                                        42
3.12    Requirements of Law.                                    42
3.13    Taxes.                                            43
3.14    Compensation.                                        46
3.15    Determination and Survival of Provisions.                        46
3.16    Defaulting Lenders.                                    46
SECTION 4  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING                        48
4.1    Closing Conditions.                                    48
SECTION 5  CONDITIONS TO ALL EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT                    50
5.1    Funding Requirements.                                    51
SECTION 6  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES                        51
6.1    Organization and Good Standing.                            51
6.2    Due Authorization.                                    52
6.3    No Conflicts.                                        52





6.4    Consents.                                        52
6.5    Enforceable Obligations.                                52
6.6    Financial Condition.                                    52
6.7    No Material Change.                                    53
6.8    No Default.                                        53
6.9    Litigation.                                        53
6.10    Taxes.                                            53
6.11    Compliance with Law.                                    53
6.12    ERISA.                                            53
6.13    Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock.                                54
6.14    Government Regulation.                                54
6.15    Solvency.                                        54
6.16    Disclosure.                                        55
6.17    Environmental Matters.                                    55
6.18    Material Leases.                                    55
6.19    Material Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rate.                    55
6.20    Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations.                        55
6.21    Compliance with FCPA.                                    55
6.22    Anti-Terrorism Laws.                                    56
SECTION 7  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS                                56
7.1    Information Covenants.                                    56
7.2    Financial Covenant.                                    58
7.3    Preservation of Existence and Franchises.                        58
7.4    Books and Records.                                    59
7.5    Compliance with Law.                                    59
7.6    Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness.                        59
7.7    Insurance.                                        59
7.8    Performance of Obligations.                                59
7.9    Use of Proceeds.                                    60
7.10    Audits/Inspections.                                    60
7.11    Ownership of Certain Subsidiaries.                            60
SECTION 8  NEGATIVE COVENANTS                                60
8.1    Nature of Business.                                    60
8.2    Consolidation and Merger.                                60
8.3    Sale or Lease of Assets.                                    61
8.4    Affiliate Transactions.                                    61
8.5    Liens.                                            61
8.6    Accounting Changes.                                    62
8.7    Burdensome Agreements.                                62
SECTION 9  EVENTS OF DEFAULT                                    63
9.1    Events of Default.                                    63
9.2    Acceleration; Remedies.                                64
9.3    Allocation of Payments After Event of Default.                        65
SECTION 10  AGENCY PROVISIONS                                    66
10.1    Appointment and Authority.                                66
10.2    Rights as a Lender.                                    66
10.3    Exculpatory Provisions.                                    67

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10.4    Reliance by Administrative Agent.                            67
10.5    Delegation of Duties.                                    68
10.6    Resignation of Administrative Agent.                            68
10.7    Non‐Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.                69
10.8    No Other Duties, Etc.                                    69
10.9    Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.                        69
SECTION 11  MISCELLANEOUS                                    70
11.1    Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.                    70
11.2    Right of Set‐Off.                                    72
11.3    Successors and Assigns.                                    72
11.4    No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.                            76
11.5    Attorney Costs, Expenses, Taxes and Indemnification by Borrower.            76
11.6    Amendments, Etc.                                    77
11.7    Counterparts.                                        79
11.8    Headings.                                        79
11.9    Survival of Indemnification and Representations and Warranties.                79
11.10    Governing Law; Venue; Service.                                79
11.11    Waiver of Jury Trial; Waiver of Consequential Damages.                    80
11.12    Severability.                                        80
11.13    Further Assurances.                                    80
11.14    Confidentiality.                                        80
11.15    Entirety.                                        81
11.16    Binding Effect; Continuing Agreement.                            81
11.17    Regulatory Statement.                                    81
11.18    USA Patriot Act Notice.                                    81
11.19    Acknowledgment.                                    82
11.20    Replacement of Lenders.                                82
11.21    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.                        83







iii






SCHEDULES


Schedule 1.1(a)        Pro Rata Shares
Schedule 1.1(c)        Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 6.18        Material Leases
Schedule 6.19        Material Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rate
Schedule 11.1        Notices




EXHIBITS


Exhibit 2.1(b)        Form of Notice of Revolving Borrowing
Exhibit 2.1(e)        Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit 2.3        Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion
Exhibit 2.7        Form of Swing Line Note
Exhibit 2.7(d)        Form of Notice of Swing Line Borrowing
Exhibit 4.1(l)        Form of Account Designation Letter
Exhibit 7.1(c)        Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit 11.3(b)        Form of Assignment and Assumption







iv








CREDIT AGREEMENT




THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Credit Agreement") is entered into as of October 31, 2011 among PNM RESOURCES, INC., a New Mexico corporation, as Borrower, the Lenders and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent.


RECITALS


WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested the Lenders to provide a senior credit facility to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000; and


WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto have agreed to make the requested senior credit facility available to the Borrower on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.


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:


"Account Designation Letter" means the Notice of Account Designation Letter dated the Closing Date from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in substantially the form of Exhibit 4.1(l).


"Adjusted Base Rate" means the Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage.


"Adjusted Eurodollar Rate" means the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Percentage.


"Adjusted LIBOR Market Index Rate" means the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus the Applicable Percentage for Swing Line Loans bearing interest at the LIBOR Market Index Rate.


"Administrative Agent" means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association or any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to Section 10.6.


"Administrative Agent's Office" means the Administrative Agent's address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.1 or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.


"Administrative Fees" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(d).


"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 another Person 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 other Person or (b) to direct or cause direction of the management and policies of such other Person, 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, for Eurodollar Loans, LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loans, L/C Fees, Base Rate Loans and Commitment Fees, the appropriate applicable percentages, in each case (subject to the exception indicated below), corresponding to the Debt Rating in effect as of the most recent Calculation Date as shown below:


	
					
	Pricing Level
	Debt Rating
	Applicable Percentage for Eurodollar Loans, LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loans and L/C Fees
	Applicable Percentage for Base Rate Loans
	Applicable Percentage for Commitment Fees

	I
	BBB+/Baa1
	1.125%
	0.125%
	0.175%

	II
	BBB/Baa2
	1.25%
	0.25%
	0.2%

	III
	BBB‐/Baa3
	1.5%
	0.5%
	0.25%

	IV
	BB+/Ba1
	1.75%
	0.75%
	0.3%

	V
	BB/Ba2
	2%
	1%
	0.35%

	VI
	< BB- or unrated /
Ba3 or unrated
	2.25%
	1.25%
	0.45%






The Applicable Percentage shall be determined and adjusted on the date (each a "Calculation Date") one Business Day after the date on which the Borrower's Debt Rating is upgraded or downgraded in a manner which requires a change in the then applicable Pricing Level set forth above.  If at any time there is a split in the Borrower's Debt Ratings between S&P and Moody's, the Applicable Percentage shall be determined by the higher of the two Debt Ratings (i.e. the lower pricing), provided that if the two Debt Ratings are more than one level apart, the Applicable Percentage shall be based on the Debt Rating which is one level lower than the higher rating.  If the Borrower does not have a Debt Rating from either S&P or Moody's, then, Pricing Level VI shall apply. Each Applicable Percentage shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date.  Any adjustment in the Applicable Percentage shall be applicable to all existing Eurodollar Loans as well as any new Eurodollar Loans made.  The applicable Pricing Level for Applicable Percentage, as of the Closing Date, is Pricing Level V.


"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.



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"Arrangers" means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Union Bank, N.A., Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC together with their successors and/or assigns.


"Assignment and Assumption" means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit 11.3(b).


"Authorized Officer" means any of the president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer or treasurer 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, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) except during any period of time during which a notice delivered to the Borrower under Section 3.10 shall remain in effect, the Eurodollar Base Rate for an Interest Period of one month plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Eurodollar Base Rate.


"Base Rate Loan" means any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.


"Borrower" means PNM Resources, Inc., a New Mexico corporation, together with its successors and permitted assigns.


"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.


"Borrowing" means (a) a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1 or (b) a borrowing consisting of Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.7, as the context may require.


"Business Day" means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in clause (b) below, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in Charlotte, North Carolina and New York, New York, are open for the conduct of their commercial banking business, and (b) with respect to all notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, any Eurodollar Loan, or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) and that is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits 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.



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"Cash Collateralize" means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans, or obligations to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender.  "Cash Collateral" shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.


"Change in Law" means the occurrence, after the date of this Credit Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, promulgation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, (c) the adoption or taking effect of any request, rule, guideline, policy or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority or (d) any change in any request, rule, guideline, policy or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith shall be deemed to be a "Change in Law", regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a "Change in Law", regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.


"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 

4






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.  


"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.


"Commitment" means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 and (b) fund or purchase Participation Interests in L/C Obligations pursuant to Section 2.2 or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.7, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Committed Amount as set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1.1(a) or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Credit Agreement.


"Compensation Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c)(ii).


"Compliance Certificate" means a fully completed and duly executed officer's certificate in the form of Exhibit 7.1(c), together with a Covenant Compliance Worksheet.


"Consolidated Capitalization" means the sum of (a) all of the shareholders' equity or net worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance with GAAP plus (b) Consolidated Indebtedness plus (c) the outstanding principal amount of Preferred Stock plus (d) 75% of the outstanding principal amount of Specified Securities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries minus (e) Securitization Equity.


"Consolidated Indebtedness" means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (a) all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date minus (b) an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 75% of the outstanding principal amount of Specified Securities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (ii) 10% of Consolidated Capitalization (calculated assuming clause (i) above is applicable) minus (c) Non-Recourse Securitization Indebtedness.


"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 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 

5






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 7.1(c).


"Credit Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.


"Credit Documents" means this Credit Agreement, the Notes, any Notice of Borrowing, any Notice of Continuation/Conversion, and any other document, agreement or instrument entered into or executed in connection with the foregoing.


"Credit Exposure" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Required Lenders".


"Credit Extension" means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) a L/C Credit Extension.


"Debt Rating" means the long term unsecured senior non-credit enhanced debt rating of the Borrower by S&P and/or Moody's.


"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).


"Defaulting Lender" means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Revolving Loans, Participation Interests in L/C Obligations or Participation Interests in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender's determination that one or more of the conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder (unless such writing or public statement states that such position is based on such Lender's determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable Default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations 

6






hereunder or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply or has failed to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or (d) has become or is insolvent or has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment.


"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, each L/C Issuer 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.


"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 who together with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.


"ERISA Event" means the occurrence of any of the following which, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result, within a reasonable period of time, in liability of the Borrower in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount: (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Single Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan, (b) a 

7






complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan if withdrawal liability is asserted by such 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 Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan or the taking of any action to terminate any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan if the plan assets are not sufficient to pay all plan liabilities, (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 Single Employer 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 determination that any Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 or 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 or 305 of ERISA; (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 Single Employer Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or (g) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan, where the Borrower, a Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate has liability under Section 4062 or 4063 of ERISA.  


"Eurodollar Base Rate" means,


(a)    for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate of interest per annum equal to the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%).  If, for any reason, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page), then the "Eurodollar Base Rate" shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period.  


(b)    for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum equal to the rate for deposits in Dollars in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 for a period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) which appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination, or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%).  If, for any reason, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any applicable successor page) then the "Eurodollar Base Rate" for such Base Rate Loan shall 

8






be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination for a period equal to one month commencing on such date of determination.


Each calculation by the Administrative Agent of the Eurodollar Base Rate shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.


"Eurodollar Loan" means a Revolving Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate. 


"Eurodollar Rate" means a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:


	
		
	Eurodollar Rate =
	Eurodollar Base Rate

	 
	1.00-Eurodollar Reserve Percentage






"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, for any day, the percentage (expressed as a decimal and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) which is in effect for such day as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in respect of eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.


"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.


"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.


 "Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.13(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.13(a) and (d) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.


"Existing Credit Agreement" means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2005, among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, as previously amended, modified or supplemented prior to the Closing Date.



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"Existing Letters of Credit" means the letters of credit set forth on Schedule 1.1(c), including the FCP Letters of Credit.


"FATCA" means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (as of the date hereof) and any regulations or official interpretations thereof (including any Revenue Ruling, Revenue Procedure, Notice or similar guidance issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service thereunder as a precondition to relief or exemption from Taxes under such provisions); provided that FATCA shall also include any amendments to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code if, as amended, FATCA provides a commercially reasonable mechanism to avoid the tax imposed thereunder by satisfying the information reporting and other requirements of FATCA.


"FCP" means First Choice Power, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, and its successors.


"FCP Letters of Credit" means those letters of credit set forth on Schedule 1.1(c) that are identified as "FCP Letters of Credit".


"FCP Sale" means (a) the sale by TNP Enterprises, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower, of all of the issued and outstanding common stock of FCP Enterprises, Inc., the parent company of FCP, as described in the Borrower's September 23, 2011 Form 8-K filing, or (b) any other sale or disposition of the stock of FCP Enterprises, Inc. or all or substantially all of the assets of FCP Enterprises, Inc. and its subsidiaries on terms substantially the same as set forth in clause (a) hereof.


"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day), as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.


"Fee Letters" means those certain letter agreements, each dated as of September 27, 2011, among (a) the Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Union Bank, N.A. and (b) the Borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in each case as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.


"Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of the Borrower.


"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.


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



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"Fronting Exposure" means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the applicable L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lender's Pro Rata Share of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender's Participation Interest has been funded by such Defaulting Lender or reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateral or other credit support acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer has been provided in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender's Pro Rata Share of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender's Participation Interest has been funded by such Defaulting Lender or reallocated to other Lenders, repaid by the Borrower or for which Cash Collateral or other credit support acceptable to the Swing Line Lender has been provided in accordance with the terms hereof. 


"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.


"Government Acts" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(k).


"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 and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.


"Granting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 11.3(h).


"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).



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"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 11.5(b).


"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes and Other Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.


"Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.5(b).


"Initial L/C Issuers" means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Union Bank in their capacity as L/C Issuers. 


"Interest Payment Date" means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such 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, (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter and the Maturity Date, and (c) as to LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loans, the last day of the Interest Period and the Maturity Date.



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"Interest Period" means, (a) 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 in its Notice of Revolving Borrowing or Notice of Continuation/Conversion and (b) with respect to LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loans, a period beginning on the date the Swing Line Loan is made and ending on the date specified for repayment of such LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan, which repayment date shall not be more than 14 days after the date such LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan is made; provided that:


(i)    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;


(ii)    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


(iii)    no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
    
"ISP" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the "International Standby Practices 1998" published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).


"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.


"L/C Borrowing" means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made.


"L/C Commitment" means, (a) with respect to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as an Initial L/C Issuer, its obligation to issue Letters of Credit to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $125,000,000 and (b) with respect to Union Bank, N.A., in its capacity as an Initial L/C Issuer, its obligation to issue Letters of Credit to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $50,000,000, in each case, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Credit Agreement.


"L/C Credit Extension" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof, the extension of the expiry date thereof, the renewal or increase of the amount thereof or any extension of credit resulting from a drawing thereunder that has not been reimbursed.


"L/C Fees" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(c).


"L/C Fronting Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(i).



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"L/C Issuer" means with respect to a particular Letter of Credit, (a) the applicable Initial L/C Issuer in its capacity as issuer of such Letter of Credit and (b) any other Lender that agrees to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, in each case, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. 


 "L/C Obligations" means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.  For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.7.  For all purposes of this Credit Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be "outstanding" in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.


"Lender" means any of the Persons identified as a "Lender" on the signature pages hereto, any Eligible Assignee which may become a Lender by way of assignment in accordance with the terms hereof, and any other Lender which becomes a Lender pursuant to Section 2.1(f), together with their successors and permitted assigns and shall include the Swing Line Lender, as the context requires.


"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.


"Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.


"Letter of Credit Application" means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer.


"Letter of Credit Expiration Date" means the day that is ten days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).


"Letter of Credit Sublimit" means an amount equal to THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($300,000,000).  The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Committed Amount.


"LIBOR Market Index Rate" shall mean, for any day, the one month interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day (or if not so reported, then as determined by the Administrative Agent from another recognized source or interbank quotation)


"LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan" means a Swing Line Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the LIBOR Market Index Rate. 


"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 

14






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.


"Loan" means the collective reference to the Revolving Loans and the Swing Line Loans, and "Loan" means any of such Loans.


"Mandatory Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d).


"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 business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or (c) 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 to PSNM of its leasehold interests in (i) Unit 1 or Unit 2, 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 6.18 hereto.


"Maturity Date" means October 31, 2016 or with respect to some or all of the Lenders if such date is otherwise extended pursuant to Section 2.5, October 31, 2017 and/or October 31, 2018.


"Moody's" means Moody's 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 accruing an obligation to  make contributions or has made or been obligated to make contributions within the preceding seven (7) years.


"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.


"Non-Recourse Securitization Indebtedness" means, as of any date of determination, (a) all Indebtedness related to State Approved Environmental Improvements Securitizations up to a maximum amount of $500,000,000 at any one time and (b) all Indebtedness related to the TNMP Securitization up to a maximum amount of $150,000,000 at any one time; provided that, in each case, such Indebtedness is non-recourse to the Borrower, other than with respect to Standard Securitization Undertakings.


"Nonrenewal Notice Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b)(iii).


"Notes" means (a) the promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each of the Lenders evidencing the Revolving Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.1, individually or collectively, as 

15






appropriate, as such promissory notes may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time and as evidenced in the form of Exhibit 2.1(e) and (b) the promissory note of the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender evidencing the Swing Line Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.7, as such promissory note may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time and as evidenced in the form of Exhibit 2.7.


"Notice of Borrowing" means a Notice of Revolving Borrowing and/or a Notice of Swing Line Borrowing, as applicable.


"Notice of Revolving Borrowing" means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Loan in the form of Exhibit 2.1(b).


"Notice of Swing Line Borrowing" means a request by the Borrower for a Swing Line Loan in the form of Exhibit 2.7(d).


"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 2.3.


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


"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor thereto.


"Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(d).


"Participation Interest" means (a) the purchase by a Lender of a participation in Letters of Credit or L/C Obligations as provided in Section 2.2, (b) the purchase by a Lender of a participation in Swing Line Loans as provided in Section 2.7 or (c) the purchase by a Lender of a participation in any Revolving Loan as provided in Section 3.8.


"PATRIOT Act" means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended.


"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.


"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" means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate.  Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs.  The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.



16






"Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Revolving Committed Amount at such time; provided that if the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 9.2 or otherwise, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on such Lender's percentage ownership of the sum of the aggregate amount of outstanding Loans plus the aggregate amount of outstanding L/C Obligations.  The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.1(a) or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.


"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.


"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 11.3(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, Lenders whose aggregate Credit Exposure (as hereinafter defined) constitutes more than 50% of the Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such time; provided, however, that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time then there shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders the aggregate principal amount of Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "Credit Exposure" as applied to each Lender shall mean (a) at any time prior to the termination of the Commitments, the Pro Rata Share of such Lender of the Revolving Committed Amount multiplied by the Revolving Committed Amount and (b) at any time after the termination of the Commitments, the sum of (i) the principal balance of the outstanding Loans of such Lender plus (ii) such Lender's Participation Interests in the face amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Credit Exposure held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.


"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 

17






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 treasurer 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.


"Revolving Committed Amount" means THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($300,000,000) or such other amount, as it may be reduced from time to time in accordance with Section 2.1(d) or increased pursuant to Section 2.1(f).


"Revolving Loans" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).


"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and its successors.


"Sanctioned Entity" means (a) a country or a government of a country, (b) an agency of the government of a country, (c) an organization directly or indirectly controlled by a country or its government, or (d) a person or entity resident in or determined to be resident in a country, that is subject to a country sanctions program administered and enforced by OFAC.


"Sanctioned Person" means a person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals maintained by OFAC.


"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


"Securitization Equity" means, as of any date of determination, with respect to a Subsidiary of the Borrower formed for the purpose of entering into a State Approved Environmental Improvements Securitization or the TNMP Securitization, all of the equity of such Subsidiary, as determined in accordance with GAAP.


"Single Employer Plan" means any "employee pension benefit plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan and which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has maintained, funded or administered for employees at any time within the preceding seven (7) years.


"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 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 

18






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.


"SPC" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(h).


"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).


"Standard Securitization Undertakings" means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof that are reasonably customary in non-recourse securitization transactions.


"State Approved Environmental Improvements Securitization" means a securitization financing entered into by PSNM pursuant to existing or future New Mexico statutory authority and regulatory approval by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (or any successor commission) (the "NMPRC") for the purpose of financing construction and installation of environmental improvement equipment at qualifying generating facilities in New Mexico.  The approval must be evidenced by a financing order duly issued by the NMPRC.


"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.


"Swing Line Sublimit" means an amount equal to THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS ($30,000,000).  The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Committed Amount.


"Swing Line Lender" means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its capacity as Swing Line lender hereunder or any successor thereto.


"Swing Line Loan" means any Swing Line loan made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.7, and all such Swing Line loans collectively as the context requires.



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"Taxes" means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.


"Threshold Amount" means $20,000,000.


"TNMP" means Texas-New Mexico Power Company, a Texas corporation.


"TNMP First Mortgage Bonds" means those certain first mortgage bonds issued pursuant to the First Mortgage Indenture dated as of March 23, 2009, between TNMP and Union Bank, N.A. (successor to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee thereunder, as it may be supplemented and amended from time to time.


"TNMP Securitization" means a securitization financing entered into by TNMP or a Subsidiary of TNMP relating to regulatory assets, stranded costs, transition property, all rights and property interests (contractual, statutory, regulatory or otherwise) to impose and collect transition charges, including all cash proceeds collected, and accounts receivable arising, therefrom and all rights and interests that may become transition property under the Texas Utilities Code.


"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.


"Type" means, with respect to a Revolving Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.


"Unreimbursed Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(d)(i).


"Unused Revolving Commitment" means, for any date of determination, the amount by which (a) the aggregate Revolving Committed Amount on such date exceeds (b) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations on such date.


"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).


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 Covenant.


(a)    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 covenant set 

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forth in Section 7.2, 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(d).  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 covenant contained in Section 7.2, 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.  


(b)    Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at "fair value", as defined therein, (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and, except as specifically provided in the definitions of "Consolidated Capitalization" and "Consolidated Indebtedness", such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof and (iii) in a manner such that any obligations relating to a lease that was accounted for by a Person as an operating lease as of the Closing Date and any similar lease entered into after the Closing Date by such Person shall be accounted for as obligations relating to an operating lease.


1.4    Time.


All references to time herein shall be references to Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Time, as the case may be, unless specified otherwise.


1.5    Rounding of Financial Covenant.


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.


1.7    Letter of Credit Amounts.


Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be 

21






deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.




SECTION 2


CREDIT FACILITY


2.1    Revolving Loans.


(a)    Revolving Loan Commitment.   Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make revolving loans (each a "Revolving Loan" and collectively the "Revolving Loans") in Dollars to the Borrower, at any time and from time to time, during the period from and including the Closing Date to but not including the Maturity Date (or such earlier date if the Commitments have been terminated as provided herein); provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing (i) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount and (ii) with respect to each individual Lender, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans of such Lender plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment.  Subject to the terms of this Credit Agreement (including Section 3.3), the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Loans.


(b)    Method of Borrowing for Revolving Loans.  By no later than (i) 12:00 noon on the date of the requested Borrowing of Revolving Loans that will be Base Rate Loans and (ii) 12:00 noon three Business Days prior to the date of the requested Borrowing of Revolving Loans that will be Eurodollar Loans, the Borrower shall submit a written Notice of Revolving Borrowing in the form of Exhibit 2.1(b) to the Administrative Agent setting forth (A) the amount requested, (B) the date of the requested Borrowing, (C) the Type of Revolving Loan, (D) with respect to Revolving Loans that will be Eurodollar Loans, the Interest Period applicable thereto, and (E) certification that the Borrower has complied in all respects with Section 5.  If the Borrower shall fail to specify (1) an Interest Period in the case of a Eurodollar Loan, then such Eurodollar Loan shall be deemed to have an Interest Period of one month or (2) the Type of Revolving Loan requested, then such Revolving Loan shall be deemed to be a Base Rate Loan.  All Revolving Loans made on the Closing Date shall be Base Rate Loans.  Thereafter, all or any portion of the Revolving Loans (other than Swing Line Loans) may be converted into Eurodollar Loans in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3.


(c)    Funding of Revolving Loans.  Upon receipt of a Notice of Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly inform the Lenders as to the terms thereof.  Each such Lender shall make its Pro Rata Share of the requested Revolving Loans available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Notice of Revolving Borrowing.  Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5, the amount of the requested Revolving Loans will then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.



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(d)    Reductions of Revolving Committed Amount.  Upon at least three Business Days' notice, the Borrower shall have the right to permanently terminate or reduce the aggregate unused amount of the Revolving Committed Amount at any time or from time to time; provided that (i) each partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount at least equal to $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 above such amount and (ii) no reduction shall be made which would reduce the Revolving Committed Amount to an amount less than the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations.  Any reduction in (or termination of) the Revolving Committed Amount shall be permanent and may not be reinstated.


(e)    Revolving Notes.  At the request of any Lender, the Revolving Loans made by such Lender shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower to such Lender in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.1(e).


(f)    Increases of the Revolving Committed Amount.  The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least fifteen (15) Business Days' prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, to increase the Revolving Committed Amount, in one or more increases, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, subject, however, in any such case, to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:


(i)    no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date on which such increase is to become effective;


(ii)    after giving effect to such increase, the Revolving Committed Amount shall not exceed $400,000,000;


(iii)    the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date on which such increase is to become effective;


(iv)    such increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;


(v)    such requested increase shall only be effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of (A) additional commitments in a corresponding amount of such requested increase from either existing Lenders and/or one or more other institutions that qualify as an Eligible Assignee (it being understood and agreed that no existing Lender shall be required to provide an additional commitment) and (B) documentation from each institution providing an additional commitment evidencing its commitment and its obligations under this Credit Agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent; 


(vi)    the Administrative Agent shall have received all documents (including resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower and applicable opinions) it may reasonably request relating to the corporate or other necessary authority for and the validity of such increase in the Revolving Committed Amount, and any other matters relevant thereto, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; 



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(vii)    if any Revolving Loans are outstanding at the time of the increase in the Revolving Committed Amount, the Borrower shall, if applicable, prepay one or more existing Revolving Loans (such prepayment to be subject to Section 3.14) in an amount necessary such that after giving effect to the increase in the Revolving Committed Amount, each Lender will hold its pro rata share (based on its Pro Rata Share of the increased Revolving Committed Amount) of outstanding Revolving Loans; and 


(viii)    the Borrower shall pay such fees to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders providing such additional commitments, as determined at the time of such increase.


2.2    Letter of Credit Subfacility.


(a)    The Letter of Credit Commitment.


(i)    Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and other terms and conditions that the applicable L/C Issuer may reasonably require, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.2, from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue standby Letters of Credit in Dollars for the account of the Borrower or FCP if FCP becomes a borrower hereunder pursuant to Section 2.8 (or as otherwise permitted by Section 2.2(m)) and to amend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in each case in accordance with subsection (b) below and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in such Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or FCP if FCP becomes a borrower hereunder pursuant to Section 2.8; provided, however, that after giving effect to the issuance of any Letter of Credit (1) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations plus the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount, (2) with respect to each individual Lender, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans of such Lender plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment, (3) the aggregate amount of L/C Obligations shall not at any time exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (4) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations of any Initial L/C Issuer shall not exceed such Initial L/C Issuer's L/C Commitment.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.


(ii)    An L/C Issuer shall not issue or amend any Letter of Credit if:


(A)    the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date; provided that, subject to the agreement of the Borrower set forth below in this clause (C), an L/C Issuer may issue Letters of Credit with an expiry date of up to one year after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date (but no L/C Issuer shall have an obligation to issue such Letter of Credit).  The Borrower hereby agrees that on or before 90 days prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date it shall Cash Collateralize any Letter of Credit existing on such date with an 

24






expiry date after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date in an amount equal to at least 110% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit;  or


(B)    such Letter of Credit is to be used for a purpose other than as permitted by Section 7.9, or is denominated in a currency other than Dollars.


(iii)    An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue or amend any Letter of Credit if:


(A)    any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law applicable to such L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that such L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;


(B)    the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;


(C)    the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such L/C Issuer; 


(D)    such Letter of Credit is in an initial amount less than $100,000 (unless otherwise agreed to by such L/C Issuer); or


(E)    a default of any Lender's obligations to fund under Section 2.2(d) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the applicable L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer's risk with respect to such Lender.


(iv)    An L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.


(v)    Defaulting Lenders.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.2, no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit at a time when any other Lender is a Defaulting Lender, unless the applicable L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements (which may include the delivery of Cash Collateral) with the Borrower or such Defaulting Lender which are satisfactory to such L/C Issuer to eliminate such L/C Issuer's Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 3.16(c)) with respect to any such Defaulting Lender.



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(b)    Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit.


(i)    Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to a L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  The Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as applicable.  In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day), (B) the amount thereof, (C) the expiry date thereof, (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder, (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder and (G) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended, (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day), (3) the nature of the proposed amendment and (4) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require.


(ii)    Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.  Upon receipt by the applicable L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer's usual and customary business practices.


(iii)    If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an "Auto‐Renewal Letter of Credit"); provided that any such Auto‐Renewal Letter of Credit must permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve‐month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the "Nonrenewal Notice Date") in each such twelve‐month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such renewal.  Once an Auto‐Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that such L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) such L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.2(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone 

26






or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5 is not then satisfied.


(iv)    Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.


(c)    Participations.


(i)    On the Closing Date, each Lender shall be deemed to have purchased without recourse a risk participation from the applicable L/C Issuer in each Existing Letter of Credit and the obligations arising thereunder and any collateral relating thereto, in each case in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the obligations under such Existing Letter of Credit, and shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume, as primary obligor and not as surety, and be obligated to pay to such L/C Issuer therefor and discharge when due, its Pro Rata Share of the obligations arising under such Existing Letter of Credit.


(ii)    Each Lender, upon issuance of a Letter of Credit, shall be deemed to have purchased without recourse a risk participation from the applicable L/C Issuer in such Letter of Credit and the obligations arising thereunder and any collateral relating thereto, in each case in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the obligations under such Letter of Credit, and shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume, as primary obligor and not as surety, and be obligated to pay to such L/C Issuer therefor and discharge when due, its Pro Rata Share of the obligations arising under such Letter of Credit.


(d)    Reimbursement.


(i)    In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer will promptly notify the Borrower.  The Borrower shall reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer on the day of drawing under any Letter of Credit either with the proceeds of a Revolving Loan obtained hereunder or otherwise in immediately available funds.  If the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer as provided hereinabove (the "Unreimbursed Amount"), the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Base Rate plus two percent (2%).


(ii)    Subsequent to a drawing under any Letter of Credit, unless the Borrower shall immediately notify the applicable L/C Issuer of its intent to otherwise reimburse such L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Base Rate Loan in the amount of the drawing as described herein, the proceeds of which will be used to satisfy the reimbursement obligations.  On any day on which the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Loan borrowing to reimburse a drawing under a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Lenders that a Revolving Loan has been deemed requested in connection with a drawing under a Letter of Credit, in which case a Revolving Loan borrowing comprised solely of Base Rate Loans (each such borrowing, a "Mandatory Borrowing") shall be immediately made from all Lenders 

27






(without giving effect to any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 9.2 or otherwise) pro rata based on each Lender's respective Pro Rata Share and the proceeds thereof shall be paid directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for application to the respective L/C Obligations.  Each Lender hereby irrevocably agrees to make such Revolving Loans immediately upon any such request or deemed request on account of each such Mandatory Borrowing in the amount and in the manner specified in the preceding sentence and on the same such date notwithstanding (A) the amount of Mandatory Borrowing may not comply with the minimum amount for borrowings of Revolving Loans otherwise required hereunder, (B) the failure of any conditions specified in Section 5.1 to have been satisfied, (C) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default, (D) the failure of any such request or deemed request for Revolving Loans to be made by the time otherwise required hereunder, (E) the date of such Mandatory Borrowing, or (F) any reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount or any termination of the Commitments.  


(iii)    In the event that any Mandatory Borrowing cannot for any reason be made on the date otherwise required above (including, without limitation, as a result of the commencement of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the Borrower), then each such Lender hereby agrees that it shall forthwith fund (as of the date the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, but adjusted for any payments received from the Borrower on or after such date and prior to such purchase) its Pro Rata Share in the outstanding L/C Obligations; provided, that in the event any Lender shall fail to fund its Pro Rata Share on the day the Mandatory Borrowing would otherwise have occurred, then the amount of such Lender's unfunded participation interest therein shall bear interest payable to the applicable L/C Issuer upon demand, at the rate equal to, if paid within two Business Days of such date, the Federal Funds Rate, and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate.  Simultaneously with the making of each such payment by a Lender to such L/C Issuer, such Lender shall, automatically and without any further action on the part of such L/C Issuer or such Lender, acquire a participation in an amount equal to such payment (excluding the portion of such payment constituting interest owing to such L/C Issuer) in the related unreimbursed drawing portion of the L/C Obligation and in the interest thereon and shall have a claim against the Borrower with respect thereto.  Any payment by the Lenders pursuant to this clause (iii) shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligations of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit.


(e)    Obligations Absolute.  The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:


(i)    any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Credit Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;


(ii)    the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set‐off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), such L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Credit Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;



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(iii)    any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;


(iv)    any payment by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor‐in‐possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or


(v)    any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower.


The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower's instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the applicable L/C Issuer.  The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the applicable L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.


(f)    Role of L/C Issuers.  Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent‐Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuers shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application.  The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower's pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the L/C Issuers, any Agent‐Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuers, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.2(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against a L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such L/C Issuer's willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer's willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, a L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation and such L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning 

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or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.


(g)    Cash Collateral.  If, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit for any reason remains outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the then aggregate principal amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such aggregate principal amount determined as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date).  The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing.  Cash collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non‐interest bearing deposit accounts at the Administrative Agent.


(h)    Applicability of ISP.  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.


(i)    Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers.  The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit at the rate per annum agreed to by the Borrower and the applicable L/C Issuer in writing, computed on the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (the "L/C Fronting Fee").  The L/C Fronting Fee shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears and shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter (as well as on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date) for the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) then ending, beginning with the first of such dates to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect.  Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.


(j)    Conflict with Letter of Credit Application.  In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.


(k)    Indemnification of L/C Issuers.


(i)    In addition to its other obligations under this Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and hold each L/C Issuer harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that such L/C Issuer may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (A) the issuance of any Letter of Credit or (B) the failure of such L/C Issuer to honor a drawing under a Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority (all such acts or omissions, herein called "Government Acts").


(ii)    As between the Borrower and the L/C Issuers, the Borrower shall assume all risks of the acts, omissions or misuse of any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof.  In the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, no L/C Issuer shall be responsible for:  (A) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects 

30






invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (B) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (C) failure of the beneficiary of a Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon a Letter of Credit; (D) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (E) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (F) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under a Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; and (G) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of such L/C Issuer, including, without limitation, any Government Acts.  None of the above shall affect, impair, or prevent the vesting of a L/C Issuer's rights or powers hereunder.


(iii)    In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions hereinabove set forth, any action taken or omitted by a L/C Issuer, under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the related certificates, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not put such L/C Issuer under any resulting liability to the Borrower.  It is the intention of the parties that this Credit Agreement shall be construed and applied to protect and indemnify the L/C Issuers against any and all risks involved in the issuance of the Letters of Credit, all of which risks are hereby assumed by the Borrower, including, without limitation, any and all risks of the acts or omissions, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future Government Acts.  No L/C Issuer shall, in any way, be liable for any failure by such L/C Issuer or anyone else to pay any drawing under any Letter of Credit as a result of any Government Acts or any other cause beyond the control of such L/C Issuer.


(iv)    Nothing in this subsection (k) is intended to limit the reimbursement obligation of the Borrower contained in this Section 2.2.  The obligations of the Borrower under this subsection (k) shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement.  No act or omission of any current or prior beneficiary of a Letter of Credit shall in any way affect or impair the rights of the applicable L/C Issuer to enforce any right, power or benefit under this Credit Agreement.


(l)    Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Application therefor, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at such time.


(m)    FCP Letters of Credit.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the FCP Letters of Credit shall constitute Letters of Credit under this Credit Agreement and the provisions set forth in this Section 2.2 shall apply to all FCP Letters of Credit.  The Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any drawings under the FCP Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.2(d).  No L/C Issuer shall amend, extend or otherwise modify any FCP Letter of Credit; provided that, prior to the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, the FCP Letters of Credit may be increased by up to $25,000,000 in the aggregate. 



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2.3    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 (other than Swing Line Loans) into Eurodollar Loans or to convert Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate Loans.  By no later than 12:00 noon (a) two Business Days prior to 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 a written Notice of Continuation/Conversion in the form of Exhibit 2.3, setting forth whether the Borrower wishes to continue or convert such Revolving 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.  


2.4    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 $3,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (b) each Base Rate Loan shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof (or the remaining amount of outstanding Revolving Loans) and (c) no more than seven Eurodollar Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any one time.  For the purposes of this Section 2.4, 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.


2.5    Extension Option.


(a)    Request for Extensions.  At any time prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrower may, on a one-time basis, by notice to the Lenders, request that the Lenders extend the Maturity Date for one additional year.  At any time after the first anniversary of the Closing Date but prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrower may, on a one-time basis, by notice to the Lenders, request that the Lenders extend the then current Maturity Date for one additional year.  Each Lender shall, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent not later than the 30th day following the date of any such request from the Borrower, advise the Borrower whether or not it agrees to extend the Maturity Date as requested.   Each decision by a Lender shall be in the sole discretion of such Lender, and any Lender that has not so advised the Administrative Agent by the 30th day following the date of such request from the Borrower shall be deemed to have declined to agree to such extension.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that no Lender shall be obligated to extend the Maturity Date pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.5.  Any Lender who fails to agree to the extension request of the Borrower, as set forth herein, shall be referred to, for purposes of this Section, as a "Non-Extending Lender".


(b)    Extension.  If Lenders holding Commitments representing at least 50% of the Revolving Committed Amount agree to any such request for extension of the Maturity Date (collectively, the "Approving Lenders"), then the Borrower may, subject to receipt of all approvals with respect thereto, if any, extend the Maturity Date for an additional year solely as to the Approving Lenders with a Revolving Committed Amount equal to the aggregate Commitments of the Approving Lenders during such extension period; provided that the Maturity Date shall never extend beyond any date for which the Borrower does not have approval.  If Non-Extending Lenders hold Commitments representing more than 50% of the Revolving 

32






Committed Amount, then the Borrower shall withdraw its extension request and the Maturity Date will remain unchanged.  With respect to the Non-Extending Lenders, it is understood and agreed that the Maturity Date relating to the Non-Extending Lenders shall remain unchanged and the repayment of all obligations owed to them and the termination of their Commitments shall occur on the then existing Maturity Date without giving effect to such extension request.


2.6    Evidence of Debt.


(a)    The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to 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)    In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a) above, each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.


2.7    Swing Line Loans. 


(a)    Availability.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement, the Swing Line Lender shall make Swing Line Loans to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date through, but not including, the Maturity Date; provided that after giving effect to any amount requested, (i) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations plus the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount, (ii) with respect to each individual Lender, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans of such Lender plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Commitment and (iii) the aggregate amount of Swing Line Loans shall not at any time exceed the Swing Line Sublimit.  Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Swing Line Lender shall not be under any obligation to issue a Swing Line Loan if any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the Swing Line Lender has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the Swing Line Lender's actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 3.16(c)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from the Swing Line Loan then proposed to be made and all other Swing Line Loans as to which the Swing Line Lender has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.


(b)    Refunding.


(i)    Swing Line Loans shall be refunded by the Lenders on demand by the Swing Line Lender.  Such refundings shall be made by the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares and shall thereafter be reflected as Revolving Loans of the Lenders on the books and records of the Administrative Agent.  Each Lender shall fund its respective Pro Rata Share of 

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Revolving Loans as required to repay Swing Line Loans outstanding to the Swing Line Lender upon demand by the Swing Line Lender but in no event later than 1:00 p.m. on the next succeeding Business Day after such demand is made.  No Lender's obligation to fund its respective Pro Rata Share of a Swing Line Loan shall be affected by any other Lender's failure to fund its Pro Rata Share of a Swing Line Loan, nor shall any Lender's Pro Rata Share be increased as a result of any such failure of any other Lender to fund its Pro Rata Share of a Swing Line Loan.


(ii)    The Borrower shall pay to the Swing Line Lender on demand the amount of such Swing Line Loans to the extent amounts received from the Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swing Line Loans requested or required to be refunded.  In addition, the Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge any account maintained by the Borrower with the Swing Line Lender (up to the amount available therein) in order to immediately pay the Swing Line Lender the amount of such Swing Line Loans to the extent amounts received from the Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swing Line Loans requested or required to be refunded.  If any portion of any such amount paid to the Swing Line Lender shall be recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower from the Swing Line Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (unless the amounts so recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower pertain to a Swing Line Loan extended after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the Administrative Agent has received notice in the manner required pursuant to Section 11.1 and which such Event of Default has not been waived by the Required Lenders or the Lenders, as applicable).


(iii)    Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to refund Swing Line Loans in accordance with the terms of this Section is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 5.  Further, each Lender agrees and acknowledges that if prior to the refunding of any outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section, one of the events described in Section 9.1(e) shall have occurred, each Lender will, on the date the applicable Revolving Loan would have been made, purchase an undivided Participating Interest in the Swing Line Loan to be refunded in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount of such Swing Line Loan.  Each Lender will immediately transfer to the Swing Line Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its Participation Interest and upon receipt thereof the Swing Line Lender will deliver to such Lender a certificate evidencing such Participation Interest dated the date of receipt of such funds and for such amount.  Whenever, at any time after the Swing Line Lender has received from any Lender such Lender's Participation Interest in a Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account thereof, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Participation Interest in such amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender's Participation Interest was outstanding and funded).


(c)    Defaulting Lenders.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.7, the Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loan at a time when any other Lender is a Defaulting Lender, unless the Swing Line Lender has entered into arrangements (which may include the delivery of Cash Collateral) with the Borrower or such Defaulting Lender which are satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender to eliminate the Swing Line Lender's Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 3.16(c)) with respect to such Defaulting Lender.

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 (d)    Requests for Borrowing of Swing Line Loans.  The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.7(d) (a "Notice of Swing Line Borrowing") not later than 12:00 noon on the same Business Day as each Swing Line Loan, of its intention to borrow, specifying (i) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (ii) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (iii) whether such Swing Line Loan will accrue interest at the Adjusted Base Rate or the Adjusted LIBOR Market Index Rate.  A Notice of Swing Line Borrowing received after 12:00 noon shall be deemed received on the next Business Day.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of each Notice of Swing Line Borrowing.


(e)    Disbursement of Swing Line Loans.  Not later than 1:00 p.m. on the proposed borrowing date, the Swing Line Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Loans to be made on such borrowing date.  The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section in immediately available funds by wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower identified in the most recent Account Designation Letter delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time.


(f)    Repayment of Swing Line Loans and Participations.  
    
(i)    If outstanding Swing Line Loans have not been refinanced with Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.7(b) hereof, Swing Line Loans shall be due and payable within fourteen (14) days following the making of such Swing Line Loan.


(ii)    At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, such Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof in the same funds as those received by such Swing Line Lender.


(iii)    If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by such Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in this Credit Agreement (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to such Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Borrower Obligations and the termination of this Credit Agreement.


(g)    Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender.  The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans.  Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.7 to refinance such Lender's Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

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(h)    Payments Directly to Swing Line Lenders.  The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.


(i)    Swing Line Note.  At the request of the Swing Line Lender, any Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower to the Swing Line Lender in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.7.


2.8    Designation of FCP as a Borrower. 


The Borrower may at any time, upon not less than five (5) Business Days' written notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent (or, if requested by the Borrower, such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) request that FCP become a borrower hereunder.  The Lenders agree that (i) FCP may become a borrower hereunder, so long as FCP is an Affiliate of the Borrower, in accordance with such request and (ii) the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and FCP shall be permitted to amend this Credit Agreement, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to the Credit Documents, to the extent necessary to add FCP as a borrower hereunder (such amendment is the "FCP Amendment"); provided that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists at the time of the FCP Amendment and (ii) the Borrower unconditionally guarantees all obligations of FCP as a borrower pursuant to documentation in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent.






SECTION 3


GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE
TO LOANS


3.1    Interest.


(a)    Interest Rate.  Subject to Sections 3.1(b), (i) all Base Rate Loans shall accrue interest at the Adjusted Base Rate, (ii) all Eurodollar Loans shall accrue interest at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate and (iii) all Swing Line Loans shall bear interest at the Adjusted Base Rate or the Adjusted LIBOR Market Index Rate, as requested by the Borrower.


(b)    Default Rate of Interest.  


(i) After the occurrence, and during the continuation, of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.1(a), the principal of and, to the extent permitted by Law, interest on the 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 9.1(a)), at the request of the Required Lenders, the principal of and, to the extent permitted by Law, interest on the 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.

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(c)    Interest Payments.  Interest on 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.  Each payment to the Administrative Agent on account of the principal of or interest on the Swing Line Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts payable to the Swing Line Lender shall be made in like manner, but for the account of the Swing Line Lender.  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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists a Defaulting Lender, each payment by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall be applied in accordance with Section 3.16(b).


(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)    Advances by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the time any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto.  If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then:


(i)    if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect; and


(ii)    if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the "Compensation Period") at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's 

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Loan included in the applicable Borrowing.  If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to such Borrowing.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.


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


(d)    Several Obligations.  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Loans and to fund or purchase Participation Interests are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Revolving Loan or to fund or purchase any Participation Interest on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Revolving Loan or fund or purchase its Participation Interest.


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


3.3    Prepayments.


(a)    Voluntary Prepayments.  The Borrower shall have the right to prepay the Revolving Loans or Swing Line 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 $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 (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, (v) each such partial prepayment of Swing Line Loans shall be in the minimum principal amount of $100,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 or, in the case of clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), if less than such minimum amounts, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.  Amounts prepaid pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) shall be applied as the Borrower may elect based on the Lenders' Pro Rata Shares; provided, however, if the Borrower fails to specify, such prepayment shall be applied by the Administrative Agent, subject to Section 3.7, in such manner as it deems reasonably appropriate. 


(b)    Mandatory Prepayments.  If at any time (i) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding plus the aggregate principal amount of L/C Obligations outstanding plus the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans outstanding exceeds the Revolving Committed Amount, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of L/C Obligations outstanding exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans outstanding exceeds the Swing Line Sublimit, the Borrower shall immediately make a principal payment on the Loans to the Administrative Agent and/or Cash Collateralize outstanding L/C Obligations in a manner, in an amount and in Dollars as is necessary to be in compliance with Sections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.7, as applicable, and as directed by the Administrative Agent.  All amounts required to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) shall be applied first to 

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Swing Line Loans pro rata among all outstanding Swing Line Loans (first to Base Rate Loans and then to LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loans), second to Base Rate Loans, third to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities and fourth to Cash Collateralize outstanding L/C Obligations.  All prepayments pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) shall be subject to Section 3.14.


3.4    Fees.


(a)    Commitment Fees.  In consideration of the Revolving Committed Amount being made available by the Lenders hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the pro rata benefit of each Lender (other than the Defaulting Lenders, if any) based on its Pro Rata Share, a per annum fee equal to the daily average sum of the Applicable Percentage for Commitment Fees for each day during the period of determination multiplied by the Unused Revolving Commitment for each such day (the "Commitment Fees").  The Commitment Fees shall commence to accrue on the Closing Date and shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter (as well as on the Maturity Date and on any date that the Revolving Committed Amount is reduced) for the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) then ending, beginning with the first of such dates to occur after the Closing Date.  For purposes of clarification, Swing Line Loans shall not be considered usage of the Revolving Committed Amount for the purpose of calculating the Commitment Fees.


(b)    [Reserved]. 


(c)    L/C Fees.  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share a fee for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Percentage for L/C Fees times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (the "L/C Fees").  The L/C Fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears and shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter (as well as on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date) for the Fiscal Quarter (or portion thereof) then ending, beginning with the first of such dates to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit and continuing until each such Letter of Credit has expired.  


(d)    Administrative Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, an annual fee as agreed to between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Fees") in the Fee Letters.


3.5    Payment in full at Maturity.


Subject to the terms of Section 2.5, on the Maturity Date, the entire outstanding principal balance of all 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 9.2; 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 first date of Borrowing (or continuation or conversion) to 

39






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 any Borrower Obligation), 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 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 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 exceeds such unpaid principal amount of the Loans.  The right to demand payment of the 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 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 Loans so that the amount of interest on account of the 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 Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Loan, each L/C Credit Extension, each payment of interest, each payment of fees (other than administrative fees paid to the Administrative Agent and fronting, documentary and processing fees paid to the L/C Issuers), each conversion or continuation of any Revolving Loans and each reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount, shall be allocated pro rata among the relevant Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares; provided that, if any Lender shall have failed to pay its Pro Rata Share of any Revolving Loan or fund or purchase its Participation Interest, then any amount to which such Lender would otherwise be entitled pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall instead be payable to the Administrative Agent until the share of such Revolving Loan or such Participation Interest not funded or purchased by such Lender has been repaid.  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, fee 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.



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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 Revolving Loan, any Swing Line Loan, any L/C Obligations 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 Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans, L/C Obligations 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 Revolving Loan, Swing Line Loan, L/C Obligations 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 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.


Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists a Defaulting Lender, all amounts received by such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall be applied in accordance with Section 3.16(b).


3.9    Capital Adequacy.


If any Lender determines that any Change in Law 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, liquidity requirements 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; provided that, in determining to charge such additional amounts to the Borrower, such Lender treats the Borrower substantially the same as other similarly situated borrowers from such Lender.



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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 or a LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan 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 or such LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan, (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for such Eurodollar Loan or the LIBOR Market Index Rate for such LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan, or (iii) the Eurodollar Rate for such Eurodollar Loan or the LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding such Eurodollar Loan or such LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders.  Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans or LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Continuation/Conversion with respect to Eurodollar Loans or LIBOR Market Index Rate Swing Line Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of or, to the extent permitted hereunder, 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 Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, 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 Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate 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 as to which the interest rate is not determined with reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate, 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.


3.12    Requirements of Law.


If any Lender determines that as a result of any Change in Law, 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 (a) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.13 and the imposition of or change in the rate of any Excluded Taxes and (b) the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage covered by the definition of Eurodollar Rate), 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; provided that, in determining to charge such additional 

42






amounts to the Borrower, such Lender treats the Borrower substantially the same as other similarly situated borrowers from such Lender.


3.13    Taxes. 


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


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


(c)    Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided that the Borrower shall not be obligated to indemnify the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer for any amount in respect of any such penalties, interest or reasonable expenses if written demand therefor was not made by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer within 180 days from the date on which such party makes payment for such penalties, interest or expenses; provided further that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any such penalties, interest or reasonable expenses arising out of the retroactive application of any such Indemnified Tax or Other Tax.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or a L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or a L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  In addition, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for any incremental Taxes that may become payable by such Administrative Agent, Lender (or its beneficial owners) or L/C Issuer as a result of any failure of the Borrower to pay any Taxes when due to the appropriate Governmental Authority or to deliver to such Administrative Agent, pursuant to clause (d), documentation evidencing the payment of Taxes.


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

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(e)    Status of Lenders.  Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than the documentation described below) shall not be required if in the Lender's reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of the Lender.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Credit Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:


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


(ii)    duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;


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


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


If a payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. Federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender fails to comply with any requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall (A) enter into such agreements with the IRS as necessary to establish an exemption from withholding under FATCA; (B) comply with any certification, documentation, information, reporting or other requirement necessary to establish an exemption from withholding under FATCA; (C) provide any documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent sufficient for the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to comply with their respective obligations, if any, under FATCA and to determine that such 

44






Lender has complied with such applicable requirements; and (D) provide a certification signed by the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such Lender certifying that such Lender has complied with any necessary requirements to establish an exemption from withholding under FATCA.  To the extent that the relevant documentation provided pursuant to this paragraph is rendered obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect as a result of changes in circumstances with respect to the status of a Lender or a L/C Issuer, such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent revised and/or updated documentation sufficient for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to confirm such Lender's or such L/C Issuer's compliance with their respective obligations under FATCA.


(f)    Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section (including additional amounts paid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section), it shall pay to the applicable indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the applicable indemnifying party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over pursuant to this Section (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Lender would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.


(g)    Indemnification of the Administrative Agent.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer shall indemnify the Administrative Agent within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or such L/C Issuer that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent, and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Excluded Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under any Credit Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (g).  The agreements in this paragraph (g) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent.


(h)    Survival.  Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section shall survive the payment in full of the Borrower Obligations and the termination of the Commitment.



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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 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.


3.16    Defaulting Lenders. 


Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Credit Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:


(a)    Waivers and Amendments.  Such Defaulting Lender's right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Credit Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 11.6.


(b)    Reallocation of Payments.  Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.2), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the applicable L/C Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender 

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hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the applicable L/C Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of such Defaulting Lender of any Participation Interest in any Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Credit Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Credit Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the applicable L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Credit Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Credit Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (i) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Revolving Loans or funded Participation Interests in Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (ii) such Revolving Loans or funded Participation Interests in Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 5 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Revolving Loans of, and funded Participation Interests in Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Revolving Loans of, or funded Participation Interests in Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit owed to, such Defaulting Lender.  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 3.16(b) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.


(c)    Reallocation of Pro Rata Shares to Reduce Fronting Exposure.  During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund Participation Interests in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.2(c) and Section 2.7(b), the "Pro Rata Share" of each Non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender; provided that (i) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default exists and (ii) the aggregate obligation of each Non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund reallocated Participation Interests in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (A) the Commitment of that Non-Defaulting Lender minus (B) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender's Loans and Participation Interests (without regard to any such reallocation) in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans.


(d)    Cash Collateral for Letters of Credit.  Promptly on demand by any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent from time to time, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure with respect to such L/C Issuer (after giving effect to Section 3.16(c)) on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer (and such Cash Collateral shall be in Dollars).  Any such Cash Collateral shall be deposited in a separate account with the Administrative Agent, subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, as collateral (solely for the benefit of such L/C Issuer) for the payment and performance of each Defaulting Lender's Pro Rata Share of outstanding L/C Obligations.  Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer immediately for each Defaulting Lender's Pro Rata Share of any drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not otherwise been reimbursed by the Borrower or such Defaulting Lender.

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(e)    Prepayment of Swing Line Loans.  Promptly on demand by the Swing Line Lender or the Administrative Agent from time to time, the Borrower shall prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount of all Fronting Exposure with respect to the Swing Line Lender (after giving effect to Section 3.16(c)).


(f)    Certain Fees.  For any period during which such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender (i) shall not be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee pursuant to Section 3.4 (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender) and (ii) shall not be entitled to receive any L/C Fees pursuant to Section 3.4(c) otherwise payable to the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral or other credit support arrangements satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.16(d), but instead, the Borrower shall pay to the Non-Defaulting Lenders the amount of such L/C Fees in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Pro Rata Shares allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 3.16(c), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account.


(g)    Defaulting Lender Cure.  If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Revolving Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Loans and funded and unfunded Participation Interests in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares (without giving effect to Section 3.16(c)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender's having been a Defaulting Lender.


SECTION 4


CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING


4.1    Closing Conditions.


The obligation of the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and make the initial 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 Notes, and (iii) all other Credit Documents, each in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Lenders in their sole discretion.


(b)    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.

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(ii)    Resolutions.  Copies of resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower approving and adopting this Credit Agreement 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 certified by a secretary or assistant secretary (or the equivalent) of the Borrower to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.


(c)    Opinions of Counsel.   Receipt by the Administrative Agent of opinions of counsel from counsel to the Borrower (which may include in-house counsel with respect to matters of New Mexico law), in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated as of the Closing Date.


(d)    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 2009 and 2010, audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing, (ii) the consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2011, together with the related consolidated statement of income for such Fiscal Quarter and a year to date statement of cash flows and (iii) such other financial information regarding the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.


(e)    Due Diligence.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have completed all due diligence with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, in scope and determination reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.


(f)    Material Adverse Effect.  Since December 31, 2010, 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)    Absence of Market Disruption.  There shall not have occurred a material adverse change in or material disruption of conditions in the financial, banking or capital markets which the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, in their sole discretion, deem material in connection with the syndication of the Credit Agreement.


(h)    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. 

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(i)    Consents.  All necessary governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals, if any, with respect to this Credit Agreement and the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein have been received and no condition or Requirement of Law exists which would reasonably be likely to restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse conditions on the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Credit Documents.


(j)    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 and all the transactions contemplated herein or therein to occur on such date, (A) the Borrower is Solvent, (B) no Default or Event of Default exists, (C) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects, (D) since December 31, 2010, 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 (E) the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.2, as of June 30, 2011, as demonstrated in the Covenant Compliance Worksheet attached to such certificate.


(k)    Existing Credit Agreement.  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of evidence that all amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement have been paid in full and the commitments thereunder terminated or that such payments will be made and commitments terminated simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents.


(l)    Account Designation Letter.  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of an executed counterpart of the Account Designation Letter.


(m)     PATRIOT Act.  The Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to comply with requirements of the PATRIOT Act. 


(n)    Fees and Expenses.  Unless waived by the Person entitled thereto, payment by the Borrower of all fees and expenses owed by them to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders on or before the Closing Date, including, without limitation, as set forth in the Fee Letters.


(o)    Other.  Receipt by the Lenders of such other documents, instruments, agreements or information as reasonably requested by any Lender.




SECTION 5


CONDITIONS TO ALL EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT



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5.1    Funding Requirements.


In addition to the conditions precedent stated elsewhere herein, the Lenders shall not be obligated to make Loans and the L/C Issuers shall not be obligated to issue Letters of Credit unless:


(a)    Notice. The Borrower shall have delivered (i) in the case of any new Revolving Loan, a Notice of Revolving Borrowing, duly executed and completed, by the time specified in Section 2.1, (ii) in the case of any Letter of Credit, a Letter of Credit Application, duly executed and completed, by the time specified in Section 2.2 and (iii) in the case of any new Swing Line Loan, a Notice of Swing Line Borrowing, duly executed and completed, by the time specified in Section 2.7.


(b)    Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties made by the Borrower in any Credit Document (other than the representation and warranties in Section 6.7(a) (but only with respect to clause (a) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect) and Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement) are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent that any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as if made as of such date except to the extent they expressly and exclusively relate to an earlier date.  


(c)    No Default.  No Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing either prior to or after giving effect to such Credit Extension.


(d)    Availability.  Immediately after giving effect to such Credit Extension (and the application of the proceeds thereof), (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount, (ii) with respect to each individual Lender, the sum of outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans of such Lender plus such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the outstanding principal amount of L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Committed Amount, (iii) the aggregate amount of L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (iv) the aggregate amount of Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Swing Line Sublimit.


The delivery of each Notice of Borrowing or a Letter of Credit Application shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower of the correctness of the matters specified in subsections (b), (c) and (d) above.




SECTION 6


REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to extend the credit contemplated hereby, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:


6.1    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 

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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.


6.2    Due Authorization.


The Borrower (a) has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to incur the obligations herein and therein provided for and (b) has been authorized by all necessary action to execute, deliver and perform this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents.


6.3    No Conflicts.


Neither the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof by the Borrower will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of its organizational documents, (b) violate, contravene or conflict with any law, 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.


6.4    Consents.


No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents that has not been obtained or completed.


6.5    Enforceable Obligations.


This Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents 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.


6.6    Financial Condition.


The financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.1(d) and pursuant to Sections 7.1(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 7.1 (or as to any prior annual financial statements) has been withdrawn.



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6.7    No Material Change.


(a)    Since December 31, 2010, 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, 2010, 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 (other than the disposition of substantially all of its interests in Optim Energy LLC), 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(d) or 7.1 or in the notes thereto or (ii) otherwise permitted by the terms of this Credit Agreement and communicated to the Lenders.


6.8    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.


6.9    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.


6.10    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.  


6.11    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.


6.12    ERISA. 


Except as would not result or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: 


(a)    Each Single Employer 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, regulations and published interpretations thereunder, except for any required amendments for which the remedial amendment period as 

53






defined in Section 401(b) of the Code has not yet expired.  Each Single Employer Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified, and each trust related to such plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code except for such plans that have not yet received determination letters but for which the remedial amendment period for submitting a determination letter has not yet expired.  No liability has been incurred by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate which remains unsatisfied for any taxes or penalties assessed with respect to any Single Employer Plan or any Multiemployer Plan except for a liability that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;


(b)    No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; 


(c)    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 Single Employer 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.


(d)    No proceeding, claim (other than a benefits claim in the ordinary course of business), lawsuit and/or investigation is existing or, to the best of the knowledge of the Borrower after due inquiry, threatened concerning or involving (i) any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) currently maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (a "Welfare Plan"), (ii) any Single Employer Plan or (iii) any Multiemployer Plan.


(e)    Each Welfare Plan 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.


6.13    Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock.


The proceeds of the Credit Extensions hereunder will be used solely for the purposes specified in  Section 7.9.  None of such proceeds will be used (a)(i) for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or (ii) for the purpose of 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.


6.14    Government Regulation.


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.


6.15    Solvency.


The Borrower is and, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement, will be Solvent.



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6.16    Disclosure.


Neither this Credit Agreement 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.


6.17    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 or to any Environmental Claim.


6.18    Material Leases.


Set forth on Schedule 6.18 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.


6.19    Material Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rate.


Schedule 6.19 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 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 Moody's and S&P or as have otherwise been agreed to by the Required Lenders.


6.20    Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations.


(a)    To the knowledge of the Borrower, none of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates is in violation of (or will take any action that would violate) any of the country or list based economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by OFAC that are described or referenced at http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/ or as otherwise published from time to time.


(b)    None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates (i) is a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, (ii) has more than 10% of its assets located in Sanctioned Entities, or (iii) derives more than 10% of its operating income from investments in, or transactions with Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Entities.  No proceeds of any Loan will be used nor have any been used to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity.


6.21    Compliance with FCPA.

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To the knowledge of the Borrower, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq., and any foreign counterpart thereto.  To the knowledge of the Borrower, none of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries has made a payment, offering, or promise to pay, or authorized the payment of, money or anything of value (a) in order to assist in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any foreign official, foreign political party, party official or candidate for foreign political office, (b) to a foreign official, foreign political party or party official or any candidate for foreign political office, and (c) with the intent to induce the recipient to misuse his or her official position to direct business wrongfully to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or to any other Person, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq. 


6.22    Anti-Terrorism Laws.


Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an "enemy" or an "ally of the enemy" within the meaning of Section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States of America (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.) (the "Trading with the Enemy Act").  Neither any of the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Borrower, is in violation of (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, (b) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or (c) the Act.  None of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (i) is a blocked person described in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) to the best of its knowledge, engages in any dealings or transactions, or is otherwise associated, with any such blocked person.


SECTION 7


AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS


The Borrower covenants and agrees that, until the termination of the Commitments, the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit and the payment in full of all Borrower Obligations:


7.1    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, 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 (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 

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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.


(c)    Officer's Certificate.  At the time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.1(c): (i) setting forth calculations demonstrating compliance by the Borrower with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.2 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 unfavorable determination letter from the IRS regarding the qualification of a Single Employer Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof), (ii) all notices received by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC's intent to terminate any Single Employer Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Single Employer Plan, (iii) 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); or (iv) the Borrower obtaining knowledge or reason to know that the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Single Employer Plan under a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA.  Promptly upon request, the Borrower shall furnish the Lenders with such additional information concerning any Single Employer 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 

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Internal Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each "plan year" (within the meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).


(g)    Debt Ratings.   Prompt notice of any change in its Debt Ratings.


(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 7.1(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 11.1; 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 7.1(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.


7.2    Financial Covenant.  


The ratio of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness to (b) Consolidated Capitalization shall be less than or equal to 0.65 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 6.19, so long as Schedule 6.19 specifies the same relevant discount rate as is used in calculating such net present value provided to Moody's and S&P or (B) the discount rate used in calculating such net present value provided to Moody's 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.


7.3    Preservation of Existence and Franchises.


(a)    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; provided that the FCP Sale will not constitute a default in the performance or observance of or a violation of this Section 7.3(a).  


(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.



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7.4    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).  


7.5    Compliance with Law.


(a)    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. 


(b)    Without limiting clause (a) above, the Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, ensure that no person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or shall be (i) listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), Department of the Treasury, and/or any other similar lists maintained by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute, Executive Order or regulation or (ii) a person designated under Section 1(b), (c) or (d) of Executive Order No. 13224 (September 23, 2001), any related enabling legislation or any other similar Executive Orders.


(c)    Without limiting clause (a) above, the Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA") and all other applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations.


7.6    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.


7.7    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.


7.8    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.



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7.9    Use of Proceeds.


The proceeds of the Credit Extensions may be used solely (a) to repay amounts under the Existing Credit Agreement, (b) to pay fees and expenses required by the Credit Documents, (c) for letters of credit, and (d) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower (including, but not limited to, working capital, commercial paper and capital expenditures).


7.10    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 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. 


7.11    Ownership of Certain Subsidiaries.


The Borrower shall at all times, (a) own and control 100% of the Voting Stock of PSNM and (b) own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Voting Stock of TNMP.






SECTION 8


NEGATIVE COVENANTS


Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Required Lenders, the Borrower covenants and agrees that, until the termination of the Commitments, the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit and the payment in full of all Borrower Obligations:


8.1    Nature of Business.


The Borrower will not materially alter the character of its business from that conducted as of the Closing Date; provided that the FCP Sale will not constitute a default in the performance or observance of or a violation of this Section 8.1.


8.2    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.



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8.3    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) the FCP Sale; (b) sales or transfers of accounts receivable and related rights to payment in connection with a State Approved Environmental Improvements Securitization, sales or transfers of stranded costs and related rights to payment in connection with a TNMP Securitization  and other sales and transfers of accounts receivable and related rights to payment so long as such other sales and transfers are non-recourse to the Borrower (other than with respect to Standard Securitization Undertakings) and are otherwise on commercially reasonable terms; (c) sales of assets (excluding those permitted in clauses (a) and (b) 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, as calculated as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Quarter; and (d) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition, at less than fair value, of any other assets, provided that the aggregate book value of such assets shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any calendar year.


8.4    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.


8.5    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, including Liens on cash or deposits granted in favor of the Swing Line Lender or a L/C Issuer to Cash Collateralize any Defaulting Lender's participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans, (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 

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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 secured by such Liens shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding, (k) any Lien on Margin Stock, (l) the assignment of, or Liens on, accounts receivable, stranded costs and related rights to payment in connection with (i) a State Approved Environmental Improvements Securitization, (ii) the TNMP Securitization and (iii) any other accounts receivable securitization so long as such other securitization is non-recourse to the Borrower (other than with respect to Standard Securitization Undertakings) and is otherwise on commercially reasonable terms, and the filing of related financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdictions, (m) 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, (n) Liens on assets of TNMP securing the TNMP First Mortgage Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $400,000,000 at any time, (o) any extension, renewal or replacement (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 and (s) Liens on Property, in addition to those otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (r) above, securing, directly or indirectly, Indebtedness or obligations 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.


8.6    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.


8.7    Burdensome Agreements.


The Borrower will not (nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to) enter into any contractual obligation that prohibits 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, other than (i) any such contractual obligation contained in the Credit Documents, (ii) 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, and (iii) restrictions entered into in connection with or relating to any State Approved Environmental Improvements Securitization, TNMP Securitization or other accounts receivable securitization so long as such other securitization is non-resource to the Borrower (other than with respect to Standard Securitization Undertakings) and is otherwise on commercially reasonable terms.

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SECTION 9


EVENTS OF DEFAULT


9.1    Events of Default.


An Event of Default 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 the Loans or L/C Obligations; or (ii) default, and such default shall continue for three or more Business Days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or L/C Obligations or of any fees or other amounts owing 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.


(c)    Covenants.  The Borrower shall:


(i)    default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.1(e)(i), 7.2, 7.3(a) (solely with respect to the existence of the Borrower), 7.9, 7.10, 7.11 or 8.1 through 8.7 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 9.1) 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 

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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 such Subsidiary 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 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 (i) an ERISA Event or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Single Employer Plan or Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto and which are in excess of the Threshold Amount.


(i)    Change of Control.  There shall occur a Change of Control.


9.2    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:

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(a)    Termination of Commitments.  Declare the Commitments and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions terminated whereupon the Commitments and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall be immediately terminated.


(b)    Acceleration of Loans.  Declare the unpaid principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans, all L/C Obligations 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.


(c)    Cash Collateral.  Direct the Borrower to Cash Collateralize (and the Borrower agrees that upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(e), it will immediately Cash Collateralize) L/C Obligations in respect of subsequent drawings under all then outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the then outstanding principal amount of L/C Obligations.


(d)    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 9.1(e) shall occur, then the Commitments and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate and all Loans, all L/C Obligations, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid fees and other Borrower Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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.


9.3    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 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, the L/C Issuers or any of the Lenders in connection with enforcing the rights of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders under the Credit Documents, 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, the Swing Line Lender, the L/C Issuers or any Lender, ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause "SECOND" payable to them;

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THIRD, to the payment of all accrued interest payable to the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuers 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 Revolving Loans, the Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations, ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause "FOURTH" payable to them;


FIFTH, to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of the L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit;


SIXTH, to all other Borrower Obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents and not repaid pursuant to clauses "FIRST" through "FIFTH" above, ratably among the holders of such Borrower Obligations in proportion to the amounts described in this clause "SIXTH" payable to them; and


SEVENTH, the payment of the surplus, if any, to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.


Amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause "FIFTH" above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Borrower Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.




SECTION 10


AGENCY PROVISIONS


10.1    Appointment and Authority.


Each of the Lenders and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo Bank, National Association 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, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.


10.2    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.



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10.3    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 circumstances as provided in Sections 11.6 and 9.2) 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, a Lender or a L/C Issuer.


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 Credit 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 Section 5 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.


10.4    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 Loan, or the issuance of a Letter 

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of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or a L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  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.


10.5    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 Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Section shall apply to any such sub‐agent and to the Agent-Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub‐agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.


10.6    Resignation of Administrative Agent.


The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers 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 and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (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 and the L/C Issuers 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 11.5 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.


Any resignation by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as a L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.  Upon the acceptance of a successor's appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C 

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Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents, and (iii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.


10.7    Non‐Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.


Each Lender and each L/C Issuer 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 Credit Agreement.  Each Lender and each L/C Issuer 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 Credit Agreement, any other Credit Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.


10.8    No Other Duties, Etc.


Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers or agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a L/C Issuer hereunder.


10.9    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 Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise


(a)    to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations 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, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.2(i) and (k), 3.4 and 11.5) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and


(b)    to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;


and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuers 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 and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any 

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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 11.5.


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 or the L/C Issuers 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 11


MISCELLANEOUS


11.1    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, the Administrative Agent or a L/C Issuer, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.1; 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 and the L/C Issuers 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 or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2 if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such 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 

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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 Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers 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 Parties (collectively, the "Agent Parties") have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer 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, any L/C Issuer 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, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers 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, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuers.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.


(e)    Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Lenders.  The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Notices of Borrowing) 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, the L/C Issuers, each Lender and the Agent-Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.



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11.2    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 9.2, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line 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, such L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (including, without limitation, branches, agencies or Affiliates of such Lender, such L/C Issuer or the Swing Line 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, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender 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 Revolving Loans and Commitments hereunder pursuant to Sections 3.8 or 11.3(d) may exercise all rights of set‐off with respect to its participation interest as fully as if such Person were a Lender hereunder.


11.3    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 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, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  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 Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers 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 Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations) at the time owing to it); provided that


(i)    except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if "Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, 

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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 Loans or the Commitment assigned;


 (iii)    no consent shall be required for any assignment to an Eligible Assignee except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i) of this Section and, in addition:


(A)    the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;


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


(C)    the consents of the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.


(iv)    Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 for each assignment (provided, that only one such fee will be payable in connection with simultaneous assignments to two or more Approved Funds by a Lender), and the assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.


(v)    No Assignment to Certain Persons.  No such assignment shall be made to (x) the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (y) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries. 


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


Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the 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 

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benefits of Sections 3.9, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, and 11.5(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 the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations 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 and the L/C Issuers 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.


(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 Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender's participations in L/C Obligations) owing to it); 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, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant's interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Credit Documents (the "Participant Register"); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant's interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Credit Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.


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 11.6 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 

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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(e) as though it were a Lender.


(f)    Certain Pledges.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this 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.


(h)    Special Purpose Funding Vehicles.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an "SPC") the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Credit Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof.  Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Credit Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.9, 3.12, 3.12 and 3.14), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Credit Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Credit Document, remain the lender of record hereunder.  The making of a Committed Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Credit Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (A) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee in the amount of $2,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (B) disclose on a confidential basis 

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any non‐public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.


11.4    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.


11.5    Attorney Costs, Expenses, Taxes and Indemnification by Borrower.


(a)    The Borrower agrees (i) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers 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 (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 Arrangers and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or any Lender.  Other than costs and expenses payable in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.5(a) (which shall be payable on the Closing Date unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers), all amounts due under this Section 11.5 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Commitments and repayment of all other 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 

76






thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by a L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), or (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Substances on or from any property 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), whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto or (v) any civil penalty or fine assessed by 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 special, punitive, 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), a L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Agent-Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub‐agent), such L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or such Agent-Related Party, 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), such L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Agent-Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub‐agent), such L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 3.2(d).


All amounts due under this Section 11.5 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, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Borrower Obligations.


11.6    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 

77






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 Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 9.2) without the written consent of such Lender;


(c)    postpone any date fixed by this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Revolving Committed Amount 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 Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (v) of the second proviso to this Section 11.6) 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 or L/C Fees at the Default Rate;


(e)    change Section 3.8 or Section 9.3 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; or


(g)    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 applicable L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of a L/C Issuer under this Credit Agreement or any other agreement relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) 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; (iii) Section 11.3(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; (iv) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Credit Agreement, (v) a Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto and (vi) the FCP Amendment shall be effective if executed by the Borrower, FCP and the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.



78






11.7    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.  Delivery of an executed signature page of this Credit Agreement by facsimile transmission or other secure electronic format (.pdf) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.    


11.8    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.


11.9    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, the making of any Credit Extension and the repayment of the Loans and other Borrower Obligations and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.


(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 Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Borrower Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.


11.10    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, BUT EXCLUDING ALL OTHER CHOICE OF LAW AND CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES).  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 appellate courts thereof, 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 11.1, 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. 



79






11.11    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.


11.12    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.


11.13    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.


11.14    Confidentiality.


Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each L/C Issuer 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, or required to be disclosed to, any rating agency or regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it or an Affiliate (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, any L/C Issuer 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, any Lender or any L/C Issuer 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 

80






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.


11.15    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.


11.16    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.


(b)    This Credit Agreement shall be a continuing agreement and shall remain in full force and effect until all Loans, interest, fees and other Borrower Obligations have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit and Commitments have been terminated.  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.


11.17    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 and PSNM 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; 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.


11.18    USA Patriot Act Notice.  


The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies 

81






the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.


11.19    Acknowledgment.  


Section 7 and Section 8 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.


11.20    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 the Required Lenders as provided in Section 11.6 but requires unanimous consent of all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby (as applicable) or (d) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, 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 11.3), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Credit 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 11.3(b);


(ii)    such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Obligations, 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 Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Non-Consenting Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.



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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.


11.21    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. 


In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Credit Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders are arm's-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Credit Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents; and (iii) each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.






[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]



83








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/  Terry R. Horn                                
Name:    Terry R. Horn                                
Title:    Vice President and Treasurer                            













Signature Page to Credit Agreement
PNM Resources, Inc.




LENDERS:


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
individually in its capacity as a Lender and in its capacity as Administrative Agent and a L/C Issuer




By:    /s/  Yann Blindert                        
Name:    Yann Blindert                                
Title:    Vice President                                











UNION BANK, N.A.






By:    /s/  Robert Cole                            
Name:  Robert Cole
Title:    Vice President









CITIBANK, N.A.






By:    /s/  Amit Vasani                            
Name:    Amit Vasani                            
Title:    Vice President                            











JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.






By:    /s/  Helen D. Davis                        
Name:    Helen D. Davis                                
Title:    Vice President                                













MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.






By:    /s/  Michael King                        
Name:    Michael King                                    
Title:    Authorized Signatory                        











KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION






By:    /s/  Keven D. Smith                            
Name:    Keven D. Smith    
Title:    Senior Vice President











ROYAL BANK OF CANADA






By:    /s/  Thomas Casey                        
Name:    Thomas Casey
Title:    Authorized Signatory











U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION






By:    /s/  Raymond J. Palmer                                
Name:    Raymond J. Palmer                                
Title:    Senior Vice President                                











THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON






By:    /s/  Mark W. Rogers                            
Name:    Mark W. Rogers                                
Title:    Vice President                                    













BOKF, NA dba BANK OF ALBUQUERQUE






By:    /s/  John M. Valentine                            
Name:    John M. Valentine
Title:    Senior Vice President













SUNTRUST BANK






By:    /s/  Andrew Johnson                        
Name:    Andrew Johnson                        
Title:    Director                                    




                    





















SCHEDULE 1.1(a)


PRO RATA SHARES


	
			
	Lender
	Revolving Committed Amount
	Pro Rata Share of 
Revolving Committed Amount

	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
	$43,035,714.29
	14.345238097%

	Union Bank, N.A.
	$43,035,714.29
	14.345238097%

	Citibank, N.A.
	$43,035,714.29
	14.345238097%

	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
	$43,035,714.29
	14.345238097%

	Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.
	$27,857,142.84
	9.285714280%

	KeyBank National Association
	$21,428,571.43
	7.142857143%

	Royal Bank of Canada
	$21,428,571.43
	7.142857143%

	U.S. Bank National Association
	$21,428,571.43
	7.142857143%

	The Bank of New York Mellon
	$15,000,000.00
	5.000000000%

	Bank of Albuquerque
	$10,714,285.71
	3.571428570%

	SunTrust Bank
	$10,000,000.00
	3.333333333%

	TOTALS
	$300,000,000.00
	100.000000000%













SCHEDULE 1.1(c)


EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT


PNM RESOURCES, INC. LETTERS OF CREDIT
	
					
	LOC Beneficiary:
	LOC NUMBER
	Issuing Bank
	 LOC Amount:
	LOC Expiry

	ACE American Insurance
	SM221498W
	Wachovia
	$6,484,033.00
	6/1/2012

	Reliance Ins. Co.
	SM216934W
	Wachovia
	$326,258.00
	11/20/2011

	NM Self-Insurer's General Fund
	SM232293W
	Wachovia
	$3,000,000.00
	4/14/2012

	Zurich American Insurance Company
	SM237493W
	Wachovia
	$1,315,000.00
	6/1/2012

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	Total LOCs PNMR
	$11,125,291.00
	 






FCP LETTERS OF CREDIT
	
					
	LOC Beneficiary:
	LOC NUMBER
	Issuing Bank
	 LOC Amount:
	LOC Expiry

	ERCOT
	SM217961W
	Wachovia
	$31,000,000.00
	1/20/2012

	*BP Energy
	SM226755W
	Wachovia
	$1.00
	1/10/2012

	*Merrill Lynch Commodities
	SM230355W
	Wachovia
	$100,000.00
	3/4/2012

	Morgan Stanley
	SM230577W
	Wachovia
	$1,000,000.00
	3/20/2012

	J. Aron
	SM232362W
	Wachovia
	$1,000,000.00
	8/5/2012

	Fifth Third Bank
	SM224206W
	Wachovia
	$600,000.00
	8/1/2012

	Constellation Commodities
	SM232770W
	Wachovia
	$700,001.00
	3/18/2012

	Shell 1 - ISDA
	SM233576W
	Wachovia
	$100,000.00
	12/17/2011

	Shell 2 - EEI
	SM233577W
	Wachovia
	$2,000,000.00
	12/17/2011

	*NRG Power Marketing LLC
	SM235978W
	Wachovia
	$500,001.00
	8/1/2012

	Tenaska Power Services Co.
	SM234309W
	Wachovia
	$300,000.00
	3/19/2012

	CitiGroup Energy Inc
	SM234927W
	Wachovia
	$4,500,000.00
	6/10/2011

	Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
	SM237671W
	Wachovia
	$117,000.00
	6/1/2012

	*EDF Trading North America, LLC
	SM237730W
	Wachovia
	$4,000,001.00
	8/1/2012

	*Luminant Energy
	SM238083W
	Wachovia
	$1.00
	10/26/2011

	JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation
	IS0002112
	Wachovia
	$1,000,000.00
	8/4/2012

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	Total LOCs FCP LP
	$46,917,005.00
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 











	
					
	CenterPoint/Deutsche Bank (TC II)
	SM236721W
	Wachovia
	$460,000.00
	2/26/2012

	CenterPoint/Deutsche Bank
	SM236248W
	Wachovia
	$220,000.00
	12/1/2011

	Bank of NY/AEP Tex. Central
	SM226948W
	Wachovia
	$960,582.54
	7/20/2011

	Public Utility Commission of Texas
	SM236703W
	Wachovia
	$500,000.00
	2/23/2012

	Public Utility Commission of Texas
	SM236702W
	Wachovia
	$10,000,000.00
	2/23/2012

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	Total LOCs FCP SP
	$12,140,582.54
	 






* In the process of being terminated.





SCHEDULE 6.18


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 Citicorp
Buffalo Basin, Inc. (successor to Cypress PV Partnership, successor
to 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 
DaimlerChrysler Capital Services (debis) (ultimate 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 to
Chase Manhattan Realty Leasing Corporation), as Owner
Participant , 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 to
Chase Manhattan Realty Leasing Corporation), as Owner
Participant, as amended.




Total - Unit 1                                        $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 
Cypress PV Partnership ( successor to 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 PNM (successor to
PNMR Development and Management Corp., successor to Palo Verde
Leasing Corporation, successor 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 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 -Unit 2                                        $33,285,763.44







Description                            Expiration        Annual Rent


Eastern Interconnection Project (EIP)


Amended and Restated Lease dated as of 
September 1, 1993 between                    4/1/2015            $ 2,675,739.30*
 PNM as Lessee, and U.S. Bank National                            $ 2,844,913.50
Association (successor toState Street Bank
and Trust Company, successor to The First National
Bank of Boston), as Owner Trustee under a Trust
Agreement dated as of January 2, 1985, with 
Tortoise Capital Resources Corp. (successor to General
Foods Credit Corporation), as Lessor.


Total                                            $ 2,675,739.30*
$ 2,844,913.50


* 1994 Only







	
													
	Schedule 6.19
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Material Lease Interest Payments and Discount Rates
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Easter Interconnection Project: EIP
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Discount Rate: 12.85%
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Date
	Interest Payment
	Principal Payment
	 Total Payment
	Loan Balance EoY

	12/31/2011
	$
	56,485
	

	$
	(2,495
	)
	$
	53,990
	

	$
	441,586
	


	12/31/2012
	$
	56,811
	

	$
	441,586
	

	$
	498,398
	

	

	$0
	


	 
	$
	2,158,879
	

	$
	4,638,915
	

	$
	6,797,794
	

	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	PVNGS
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Discount Rate:
	10.25%
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Date
	Interest Payment
	Principal Payment
	 Total Payment
	Loan Balance EoY

	12/31/2011
	$
	8,959,529
	

	$
	4,475,002
	

	$
	13,434,530
	

	$
	82,935,034
	


	12/31/2012
	$
	8,500,841
	

	$
	16,577,255
	

	$
	25,078,096
	

	$
	66,357,779
	


	12/31/2013
	$
	6,801,672
	

	$
	20,625,202
	

	$
	27,426,874
	

	$
	45,732,577
	


	12/31/2014
	$
	4,687,589
	

	$
	27,548,271
	

	$
	32,235,860
	

	$
	18,184,306
	


	12/31/2015
	$
	1,863,891
	

	$
	15,218,064
	

	$
	17,081,955
	

	$
	2,966,242
	


	12/31/2016
	$
	304,040
	

	$
	2,966,242
	

	$
	3,270,281
	

	($0)
	












Schedule 11.1


Notices


Borrower:


PNM Resources, Inc.
Alvarado Square
Albuquerque, NM  87158
Attention:  Terry Horn, Treasurer
Telephone No.:  (505) 241-2119
Telecopy No.:  (704) 241-4386
E-mail:  terry.horn@pnmresources.com


Address for notices as Administrative Agent:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Mail Code:  D1109-019
Charlotte, NC  28262
Attention:  Syndication Agency Services
Telephone No.:  (704) 590-2706
Telecopy No.:  (704) 590-2790
E-mail:  agencyservices.requests@wachovia.com


Address for notices as LC Issuer, Swingline Lender and Credit Contact:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
Corporate Banking - Utility and Power Group
1300 SW 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
Mail Code: MAC P6101-076
Portland, OR 97201
Attention:  Yann Blindert
Telephone No.:  (503) 886-2215
Telecopy No.:  (503) 886-2211
E-mail:  yann.blindert@wellsfargo.com













EXHIBIT 2.1(b)


FORM OF
NOTICE OF REVOLVING BORROWING




TO:        WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent


		
	RE:
	Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2011 among PNM Resources, Inc. (the "Borrower"), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (the “Administrative Agent”), and the Lenders identified therein (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")




DATE:        _____________, 201__




		
	1.
	This Notice of Revolving Borrowing 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 the Borrower is requesting Revolving Loans on the terms set forth below:




		
	(a)
	Principal amount of requested


		
	Revolving Loans
	$___________________




		
	(b)
	Date of requested Revolving


		
	Loans
	                     ____________________




		
	(c)
	Interest rate applicable to the


requested Revolving Loans:


(i)    ________    Adjusted Base Rate


(ii)    ________    Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of:                 


________ one month
________ two months
________ three months
________ six months


		
	3.
	The representations and warranties made by the undersigned in any Credit Document (other than the representation and warranties in Section 6.7(a) (but only with respect to clause (a) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect) and Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement) are true and correct in all material respects at and as if made on the date of the requested Revolving Loans except to the extent they expressly and exclusively relate to an earlier date.  




		
	4.
	No Default or Event of Default exists or shall be continuing either prior to or after giving effect to the Revolving Loans made pursuant to this Notice of Borrowing.  





1






		
	5.
	Subsequent to the funding of the requested Revolving Loans, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swing Line Loans will be $________________, which is less than or equal to the Revolving Committed Amount.  








PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation




By: ___________________________________                        
Name:_________________________________                         
Title:__________________________________                         





2






Exhibit 2.1(e)


FORM OF REVOLVING NOTE




Lender:  ______________                            _____________, 201__




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 Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2011 (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto (including the Lender) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, 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 Revolving Loans 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 (but, in any event, no later than the Maturity Date), and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan made by the Lender, at such office, in like money and funds, for the period commencing on the date of each Revolving Loan until each Revolving Loan shall be paid in full, 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 Revolving 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 Revolving Loans evidenced by this Note upon the occurrence of certain events (and for payment of collection costs in connection therewith) and for prepayments of Revolving 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 each Revolving 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 Revolving Loans 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 11.3(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.


[signature page follows]





IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Revolving Note to be executed as of the date first above written.




PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation




By:________________________________                         
Name:______________________________                         
Title:_______________________________                         











EXHIBIT 2.3
        
FORM OF
NOTICE OF CONTINUATION/CONVERSION




TO:        WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent


		
	RE:
	Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2011 among PNM Resources, Inc. (the "Borrower"), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (the “Administrative Agent”), and the Lenders identified therein (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")




		
	DATE:
	_____________, 201_


_________________________________________________________________


		
	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 the Borrower is requesting that a portion of the current outstanding Revolving Loans in the amount of $            , currently accruing interest at             , be extended or converted as of         , 201__ 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 Revolving Loans referenced above shall be:  




a.    ________    the Adjusted Base Rate


		
	b.
	________    the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of:




________ one month
________ two months
________ three months 
________ six months


		
	1.
	As of the date hereof, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.




[signature page follows]







PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation




By:                         
Name:                         
Title:                         







EXHIBIT 2.7


FORM OF SWING LINE NOTE


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, PNM RESOURCES, INC., a New Mexico corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Swing Line Lender”) and its registered assigns, at the office of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Administrative Agent”) as set forth in that certain Credit Agreement (as amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto (including the Swing Line Lender) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, the principal amount of the Swing Line Sublimit (or such lesser amount as shall equal the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line 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 such Swing Line Loan, at such office, in like money and funds, for the period commencing on the date of such Swing Line Loan until such Swing Line Loan shall be paid in full, at the rates per annum and on the dates provided in the Credit Agreement.


This Note is the Swing Line Note referred to in the Credit Agreement and evidences the Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender thereunder.  All capitalized terms used in this Swing Line Note and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided 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 Swing Line Loans evidenced by this Swing Line Note upon the occurrence of certain events (and for payment of collection costs in connection therewith) and for prepayments of such Swing Line Loans upon the terms and conditions specified therein.  In the event this Swing Line Note is not paid when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including reasonable attorney fees.


The date, amount, type and interest rate of the Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Swing Line Lender on its books; provided that the failure of the Swing Line 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 hereunder or under this Swing Line Note in respect of the Swing Line Loans to be evidenced by this Swing Line Note, and each such recordation or endorsement shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.


This Swing Line Note and the Swing Line Loans evidenced hereby may be transferred in whole or in part only as provided in Section 11.3(b) of the Credit Agreement and by registration of such transfer on the Register maintained for such purpose by or on behalf of the Borrower as provided in Section 11.3(c) of the Credit Agreement.


THIS SWING LINE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


[signature page follows]
    





IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Swing Line Note to be executed as of the date first above written.




PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation


By:____________________________________
Name:__________________________________
Title:___________________________________























































































EXHIBIT 2.7(d)


FORM OF NOTICE OF SWING LINE BORROWING




TO:        WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent


		
	RE:
	Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2011 among PNM Resources, Inc. (the "Borrower"), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (the “Administrative Agent”), and the Lenders identified therein (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")




		
	DATE:
	_____________, 201__




___________________________________________________________________________________________                                                    


1.    This Notice of Swing Line Borrowing is made pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.  All capitalized terms used herein unless otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.


2.    Please be advised that the Borrower is requesting a Swing Line Loan on the terms set forth below:


		
	(a)
	Principal amount of requested


		
	Swing Line Loan
	$___________________




		
	(b)
	Date of requested Swing Line


		
	Loan
	                     ____________________




		
	(c)
	Interest rate applicable to the


requested Swing Line Loan:


(i)    ________    Adjusted Base Rate


(ii)    ________    Adjusted LIBOR Market Index Rate


3.    Subsequent to the funding of the requested Swing Line Loan, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding L/C Obligations plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swing Line Loans will be $_____________, which is less than or equal to the Revolving Committed Amount.


4.    Subsequent to the funding of the requested Swing Line Loan, the aggregate amount of Swing Line Loans will be $______________, which is less than or equal to the Swing Line Sublimit.






[continues on next page]











5.    The representations and warranties made by the undersigned in any Credit Document (other than the representation and warranties in Section 6.7(a) (but only with respect to clause (a) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect) and Section 6.9 of the Credit Agreement) are true and correct in all material respects at and as if made on the date of the requested Swing Line Loans except to the extent they expressly and exclusively relate to an earlier date.  


6.    No Default or Event of Default exists or shall be continuing either prior to or after giving effect to the Swing Line Loans made pursuant to this Swing Line Borrowing.  




PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation


By:________________________________
Name:______________________________
Title:_______________________________











































































EXHIBIT 4.1(l)
        
FORM OF
ACCOUNT DESIGNATION LETTER




[Date]






Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
[address]
Attention:  Syndication Agency Services


Ladies and Gentlemen:


This Account Designation Letter is delivered to you by PNM RESOURCES, INC. (the “Borrower”), a New Mexico corporation, under Section 4.1(l) of the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2011 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”).


The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to disburse all Loan proceeds into the following account, unless the Company shall designate, in writing to the Administrative Agent, one or more other accounts:


A/C# ______
ABA _______
Reference:  


Notwithstanding the foregoing, on the effective date of the Credit Agreement, funds borrowed under the Credit Agreement shall be sent to the institutions and/or persons designated on the attached payment instructions.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Account Designation Letter this [__] day of October, 2011.


PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation




By:_______________________________
Name:  
Title:  





EXHIBIT 7.1(c)


FORM OF
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE




TO:        WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent


		
	RE:
	Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2011 among PNM Resources, Inc. (the "Borrower"), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, (the “Administrative Agent”), and the Lenders identified therein (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")




		
	DATE:
	_____________, 201__




_________________________________________________________________________________            


Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, I, ______________, Chief Financial Officer of PNM Resources, Inc., hereby certify on behalf of the Borrower that, as of the quarter ending ________, 201__, 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 covenant contained in Section 7.2 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 __________, 201__ 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.


[signature page follows]





PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation




By:____________________________________
Name: _________________________________
Title: __________________________________


    











SCHEDULE 1 
TO EXHIBIT 7.1(c)


FINANCIAL COVENANT CALCULATIONS


	
			
	A.
	Debt Capitalization
	 

	 
	1.Consolidated Indebtedness of the Borrower1 
	$_______________

	 
	2.Consolidated Capitalization of the Borrower
	$_______________

	 
	3.Debt to Capitalization Ratio (Line A1 ÷  A2)
	________ to 1.0

	 
	Maximum Permitted
	.65 to 1.0

	 
	 
	 








































































_________________________
1For 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 6.19 of the Credit Agreement, so long as such Schedule 6.19 specifies the same relevant discount rate as is used in calculating such net present value provided to Moody's and S&P or (B) the discount rate used in calculating such net present value provided to Moody's 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 11.3(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., a New Mexico   


                                                                 corporation


		
	4.
	Administrative Agent:    Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement









		
	5.
	Credit Agreement:    Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2011 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders identified therein.




		
	6.
	Assigned Interest:    




	
			
	Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders
	Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned
	Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans

	$
	$
	%






7.    After giving effect to the foregoing assignment, the Assignor and the Assignee shall have the following Commitments, Pro Rata Shares, outstanding Loans and Participation Interests:


	
					
	 
	Commitments
	Pro Rata Share
	Outstanding
Revolving
Loans
	Participation Interests in 
Letters of Credit

	Assignor
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Assignee
	 
	 
	 
	 






8.    Trade Date:        ______________


Effective Date:   _____________ ___, 201__ 







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:


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer


By:___________________________                    
Name:_________________________                    
Title:__________________________                    




Consented to if applicable:


PNM RESOURCES, INC.,
a New Mexico corporation


By:___________________________        
Name:_________________________                    
Title:__________________________        













SCHEDULE 1
TO EXHIBIT 11.3(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 7.1 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.