ex10-1.htm






Exhibit 10.1









FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

    THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Fourth Amendment”) is made and entered into as of August 3, 2009, by and between THE LACLEDE GROUP, INC.,
a Missouri corporation (“Borrower”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (“Lender”), and has reference to the following facts and circumstances (the “Recitals”):

 

    A.          Borrower and Lender executed the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 2005 (the “2005 Agreement”).

 

    B.          The 2005 Agreement was previously amended as provided in the First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 31, 2008, the Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 2008, and
the Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2008 (the 2005 Agreement as amended thereby, hereafter referred to as the “Agreement”; all capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Fourth Amendment shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement).

 

    C.          Borrower and Lender desire to further amend the Agreement, in the manner hereinafter set forth.

   

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower and Lender hereby agree as follows:

 

    1.          Recitals.  The Recitals are true and correct, and, together
with the defined terms set forth therein, are incorporated herein by this reference.

 

    2.          Amendment to Agreement.  The definitions of “Applicable
Commitment Fee Rate”, “Applicable LIBOR Margin”, and “Revolving Credit Period” in Section 1.01 of the Agreement are deleted and replaced with the following:

 

       “Applicable Commitment Fee Rate shall mean an annual rate equal to 35/100 Percent (0.35%).”

 

       “Applicable LIBOR Margin shall mean an annual rate equal to Two and 25/100 Percent (2.25%).”

 

       “Revolving Credit Period shall mean the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending October 3, 2009; provided, however, that the Revolving Credit Period
shall end on the date the Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment is terminated pursuant to Section 6 or otherwise.”

 

    3.          Costs and Expenses.  Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse
Lender upon demand for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by Lender in the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Fourth Amendment and any and all other agreements, documents, instruments and/or certificates relating to this Fourth Amendment, as well as a loan amendment fee in the amount of $20,000 (the “Fourth Amendment Fee”).  All
of the obligations of Borrower under this paragraph shall survive the payment of Borrower’s Obligations and the termination of the Agreement as amended hereby.

 

    4.          References to Agreement.  All references in the Agreement
to “this Agreement” and any other references of similar import shall on and after August 3, 2009 henceforth mean the Agreement as amended by this Fourth Amendment.

 

 



 



 

 



 



 

    5.          Full Force and Effect.  Except to the extent specifically
amended by this Fourth Amendment, all of the terms, provisions, conditions, covenants, representations and warranties contained in the Agreement and the Note shall be and remain in full force and effect and the same are hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

    6.          Benefit.  This Fourth Amendment shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of Borrower and Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrower may not assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under the Agreement as amended by this Fourth Amendment.

 

    7.          Representations and Warranties.  Borrower hereby represents
and warrants to Lender that:

 


	
   
	
 (a)         the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Fourth Amendment are within the corporate powers of Borrower, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and require no action by or in respect of, consent of or filing or recording with, any governmental
or regulatory body, instrumentality, authority, agency or official or any other Person;




 


	
   
	
 (b)         the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Fourth Amendment do not conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under or result in any violation of, the terms of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Borrower,
any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory body, instrumentality authority, agency or official or any agreement, document or instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or any of its property is bound or to which Borrower or any of its property is subject;




 


	
   
	
 (c)         this Fourth Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrower enforceable against Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);




 


	
   
	
 (d)         all of the representations and warranties made by Borrower in the Agreement and/or in any of the other Transaction Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of this Fourth Amendment as if made on and as of the date of this Fourth Amendment; and




 


	
   
	
 (e)         as of the date of this Fourth Amendment, no Default or Event of Default under or within the meaning of the Agreement has occurred and is continuing.




 

    8.          Release.  Borrower hereby unconditionally releases,
acquits, waives, and forever discharges Lender and its successors, assigns, directors, officers, agents, employees, representatives and attorneys from any and all liabilities, claims, causes of action or defenses, if any, and for any action taken or for any failure to take any action, existing at any time prior to the execution of this Fourth Amendment.

 

    9.          Inconsistency.  In the event of any inconsistency
or conflict between this Fourth Amendment and the Agreement, the terms, provisions and conditions contained in this Fourth Amendment shall govern and control.

 

    10.        Missouri Law.  This Fourth Amendment shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Missouri (without reference to conflict of law principles).

 

 



 



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    11.        Notice Required by Section 432.047 R.S. Mo.  ORAL AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT OR TO FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES
TO EXTEND OR RENEW SUCH DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY UPON WHICH IT IS BASED THAT IS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.  TO PROTECT YOU (BORROWER(S)) AND US (CREDITOR) FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENTS WE REACH COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY IT.

 

    12.        Conditions Precedent.  Notwithstanding any provision contained
in this Fourth Amendment to the contrary, this Fourth Amendment shall not be effective unless and until Lender shall have received the following, all in form and substance acceptable to Lender:

 

    (a)         this Fourth Amendment, duly executed by Borrower;

 

    (b)         the Consent of Guarantor duly executed by Laclede Energy;

 


	
   
	
 (c)         the following organizational documents of Borrower:  (i) a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors of Borrower, duly adopted, which authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment; (ii) an incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary of Borrower,
which shall identify by name and title and bear the signatures of all of the officers of Borrower executing this Fourth Amendment; and (iii) a certificate of corporate good standing of Borrower issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri, or other evidence of good standing satisfactory to Lender;




 


	
   
	
 (d)         the following organizational documents of Laclede Energy:  (i) a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors of Laclede Energy, duly adopted, which authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Consent of Guarantor; (ii) an incumbency certificate, executed by
the Secretary of Laclede Energy, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signatures of all of the officers of Borrower executing the Consent of Guarantor; and (iii) a certificate of corporate good standing of Laclede Energy issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri, or other evidence of good standing satisfactory to Lender;




 

    (e)         the Fourth Amendment Fee; and

 

    (f)         such other documents and information as reasonably requested by Lender.

 

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower and Lender have executed this Fourth Amendment as of the day and year first above written.





















(SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE)





  



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SIGNATURE PAGE-

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT













   
	
                       Borrower:

	  
	
                       THE
LACLEDE GROUP, INC.

	  	  
	
                       By:    
	
/s/ Lynn D. Rawlings
	  
	  	
Lynn D. Rawlings, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

	  	  
	  	  
	  	  
	  	  
	
                       Lender:

	  	  
	
                       U.S.
BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

	  	  
	
                       By:
	
/s/ Karen Meyer
	  
	  	
Karen Meyer, Vice President

	  	  















  



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