# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000731802
**File Stem:** 0001193125-23-060230
**Filing Date:** 2023-3
**Character Count:** 311177
**Document Hash:** afbfb31a5b924256f4a1418b93d285f2
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-23-060230.hdr.sgml**: 20230306

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-23-060230

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 14

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230303

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230306

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230303

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** ATMOS ENERGY CORP
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000731802
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 751743247
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** TX
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0930

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-10042
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23706244

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1800 THREE LINCOLN CTR
- **STREET 2:** 5430 LBJ FREEWAY
- **CITY:** DALLAS
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 75240
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 9729349227

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1800 THREE LINCOLN CTR
- **STREET 2:** 5430 LBJ FREEWAY
- **CITY:** DALLAS
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 75240

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** ENERGAS CO
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19881024

?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ? 8-K

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### UNITED STATES

### SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

#### Washington, D.C. 20549

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### Form 8-K

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#### Current Report

#### Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

#### of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

#### March 3, 2023

#### Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

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## ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

#### (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Texas AND Virginia** | **1-10042** | **75-1743247** |
| **(State or Other Jurisdiction**<br> **of Incorporation)** | **(Commission**<br> **File Number)** | **(I.R.S. Employer**<br> **Identification No.)** |

---

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **1800 THREE LINCOLN CENTRE,**<br> **5430 LBJ FREEWAY, DALLAS, Texas** | **75240** |
| **(Address of Principal Executive Offices)** | **(Zip Code)** |

---

(972) 934-9227

#### (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

#### Not Applicable

#### (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Trading<br>Symbol** | **Name of each exchange<br>on which registered** |
| Common stock, No Par Value | ATO | New York Stock Exchange |

---

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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#### Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On March 3, 2023, Atmos Energy Corporation (the "Company") entered into a Term Loan Agreement (the "Term Loan Agreement") with (i) U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"), as the Administrative Agent, (ii) Mizuho Bank, Ltd. ("Mizuho"), as Syndication Agent, (iii) CoBank, ACB ("CoBank"), as Documentation Agent, (iv) U.S. Bank, Mizuho and CoBank, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint-Bookrunners, and (v) the lenders named therein, providing the Company with a $2.02 billion senior unsecured term loan facility (the "Term Loan Facility"). Proceeds of the Term Loan Facility will be used by the Company to repay at maturity the Company's outstanding senior notes that mature on March 9, 2023.

The Term Loan Facility will bear interest at a rate equal to either, at the Company's election, the alternate base rate plus a 0.00% margin or the Term SOFR rate for the applicable interest period plus an applicable margin of 0.95%. The alternate base rate is defined as the highest of (i) zero, (b) a per annum rate of interest equal to the to the prime rate of interest announced by U.S. Bank from time to time, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect at the time of borrowing, plus 0.50% per annum, or (iii) the one-month Term SOFR screen rate for US Dollars plus 1.00%. The Term SOFR rate is the forward-looking term rate based on the secured overnight financing rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Company may elect the Term SOFR rate applicable to one-month, three-month or six-month Interest Periods. The Term Loan Facility is initially accruing interest based on the Term SOFR rate for a three-month interest period, which is an effective total interest rate of 5.955600% per annum.

The Term Loan Facility will mature on December 31, 2023, at which time all outstanding amounts under the Term Loan Facility will be due and payable. The Company is required to prepay the Term Loan Facility prior to maturity upon receiving proceeds from the issuance of certain securities that are part of a utility recovery securitization transaction authorized by the applicable regulatory authorities of the states of Texas and Kansas. The Company may otherwise voluntarily prepay all or any portion of the Term Loan Facility at any time. The Term Loan Facility contains usual and customary covenants for transactions of this type, including covenants limiting liens, substantial asset sales and mergers. In addition, the Term Loan Facility provides that during the term of the facility, the Company's debt to capitalization ratio as of the last day of each of its fiscal quarters shall be less than or equal to 0.70 to 1.00, excluding from the calculation of debt (i) any pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustments recorded in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; and (ii) an amount of hybrid securities, as defined in the Credit Facility (generally, deferrable interest subordinated debt with a maturity of at least 20 years), not to exceed a total of 15% of total capitalization.

In the event of a default by the Company under the Term Loan Facility, including cross-defaults relating to specified other indebtedness of the Company, U.S. Bank may, upon the consent of lenders holding a certain minimum of loans, and shall, upon the request and direction of such lenders, declare the amounts outstanding under the Term Loan Facility, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, payable immediately, and enforce any and all rights and interests created and existing under the Term Loan Facility documents, including, without limitation, all rights of set-off and all other rights available under the law. For certain events of default relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or receivership, the amounts outstanding under the Term Loan Facility automatically become payable immediately.

With respect to the other parties to the Term Loan Facility, the Company also has or may have had customary banking relationships based on the provision of a variety of financial services, including cash management, investment banking, and equipment financing and leasing services, none of which are material individually or in the aggregate with respect to any individual party. The summary of the Term Loan Facility in this report does not purport to be completed and is qualified by reference to the full text of the Term Loan Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.

#### Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information described in Item 1.01 above is incorporated herein by reference.

#### Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) *Exhibits* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Exhibit Number | Description |
| 10.1 | [Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 3, 2023, among Atmos Energy Corporation, U.S. Bank National Association, as the Administrative Agent, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., as Syndication Agent, CoBank, ACB, as Documentation Agent, U.S. Bank National Association, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and CoBank ACB, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint-Bookrunners and the lenders named therein.](d459080dex101.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |

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#### SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION | ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION |
|  | (Registrant) | (Registrant) |
| DATE: March 3, 2023 | By: | /s/ CHRISTOPHER T. FORSYTHE |
|  |  | Christopher T. Forsythe |
|  |  | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

---

## Exhibit 10.1

**Exhibit 10.1** 

**Deal CUSIP 049561AN3** 

**Facility CUSIP 049561AP8** 

**TERM LOAN AGREEMENT** 

**dated as of March 3, 2023** 

among

**ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION,** 

as Borrower,

**THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO** 

and

**U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,** 

as Administrative Agent,

**MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,** 

as Syndication Agent

**COBANK, ACB,** 

as Documentation Agent

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**U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,** 

**MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,** 

and

**COBANK, ACB** 

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint-Bookrunners

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**TABLE OF CONTENTS** 

<u>Page</u>

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  **ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION** | **ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION** | **1** |
|  Section 1.1. | Definitions | 1 |
|  Section 1.2. | Classifications of Loans and Borrowings | 21 |
|  Section 1.3. | Accounting Terms and Determination | 21 |
|  Section 1.4. | Terms Generally | 22 |
|  Section 1.5. | Divisions | 22 |
|  **ARTICLE II AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS** | **ARTICLE II AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS** | **23** |
|  Section 2.1. | General Description of Facility | 23 |
|  Section 2.2. | Loans | 23 |
|  Section 2.3. | Procedure for Borrowings | 23 |
|  Section 2.4. | Funding of Borrowings | 24 |
|  Section 2.5. | Interest Elections | 24 |
|  Section 2.6. | Termination of Commitments | 25 |
|  Section 2.7. | Repayment of Loans | 25 |
|  Section 2.8. | Evidence of Indebtedness | 25 |
|  Section 2.9. | Prepayments | 26 |
|  Section 2.10. | Interest on Loans | 26 |
|  Section 2.11. | Fees | 27 |
|  Section 2.12. | Computation of Interest and Fees | 27 |
|  Section 2.13. | Inability to Determine Interest Rates | 27 |
|  Section 2.14. | Illegality | 29 |
|  Section 2.15. | Increased Costs | 29 |
|  Section 2.16. | Funding Indemnity | 30 |
|  Section 2.17. | Taxes | 31 |
|  Section 2.18. | Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs | 35 |
|  Section 2.19. | Mitigation of Obligations | 36 |
|  Section 2.20. | Replacement of Lenders | 36 |
|  Section 2.21. | [Reserved] | 36 |
|  Section 2.22. | Defaulting Lenders | 36 |
|  **ARTICLE III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS** | **ARTICLE III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS** | **37** |
|  Section 3.1. | Conditions To Effectiveness | 37 |
|  Section 3.2. | [Reserved] | 39 |
|  Section 3.3. | Delivery of Documents | 39 |
|  **ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES** | **ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES** | **39** |
|  Section 4.1. | Organization and Good Standing | 39 |
|  Section 4.2. | Due Authorization | 39 |
|  Section 4.3. | No Conflicts | 39 |
|  Section 4.4. | Consents | 40 |
|  Section 4.5. | Enforceable Obligations | 40 |
|  Section 4.6. | Financial Condition | 40 |
|  Section 4.7. | Intentionally Omitted | 40 |
|  Section 4.8. | No Default | 40 |
|  Section 4.9. | Intentionally Omitted | 40 |
|  Section 4.10. | Taxes | 40 |

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  Section 4.11. | Compliance with Law | 40 |
|  Section 4.12. | [Reserved] | 41 |
|  Section 4.13. | ERISA | 41 |
|  Section 4.14. | Use of Proceeds | 42 |
|  Section 4.15. | Government Regulation | 42 |
|  Section 4.16. | Disclosure | 42 |
|  Section 4.17. | OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws | 42 |
|  Section 4.18. | Insurance | 43 |
|  Section 4.19. | Franchises, Licenses, Etc. | 43 |
|  Section 4.20. | [Reserved] | 43 |
|  Section 4.21. | Subsidiaries | 43 |
|  Section 4.22. | Affected Financial Institution | 43 |
|  Section 4.23. | Beneficial Ownership | 43 |
|  **ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS** | **ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS** | **44** |
|  Section 5.1. | Information Covenants | 44 |
|  Section 5.2. | Debt to Capitalization Ratio | 46 |
|  Section 5.3. | Preservation of Existence, Franchises and Assets | 46 |
|  Section 5.4. | Books and Records | 46 |
|  Section 5.5. | Compliance with Law | 46 |
|  Section 5.6. | Payment of Taxes and Other Claims | 46 |
|  Section 5.7. | Insurance | 46 |
|  Section 5.8. | Use of Proceeds | 46 |
|  Section 5.9. | Audits/Inspections | 47 |
|  **ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS** | **ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS** | **47** |
|  Section 6.1. | Nature of Business | 47 |
|  Section 6.2. | Consolidation and Merger | 47 |
|  Section 6.3. | Sale or Lease of Assets | 47 |
|  Section 6.4. | Arm's-Length Transactions | 48 |
|  Section 6.5. | [Reserved] | 48 |
|  Section 6.6. | Liens | 48 |
|  Section 6.7. | Required Clear Period | 48 |
|  **ARTICLE VII EVENTS OF DEFAULT** | **ARTICLE VII EVENTS OF DEFAULT** | **49** |
|  Section 7.1. | Events of Default | 49 |
|  Section 7.2. | Acceleration; Remedies | 51 |
|  Section 7.3. | Allocation of Payments After Event of Default | 52 |
|  **ARTICLE VIII THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT** | **ARTICLE VIII THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT** | **53** |
|  Section 8.1. | Appointment of Administrative Agent | 53 |
|  Section 8.2. | Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent | 53 |
|  Section 8.3. | Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent | 54 |
|  Section 8.4. | Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent | 54 |
|  Section 8.5. | Reliance by Administrative Agent | 54 |
|  Section 8.6. | The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity | 54 |
|  Section 8.7. | Successor Administrative Agent | 55 |
|  Section 8.8. | Documentation Agent; Syndication Agent | 55 |
|  Section 8.9. | Erroneous Payments | 55 |
|  **ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS** | **ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS** | **57** |
|  Section 9.1. | Notices | 57 |
|  Section 9.2. | Waiver; Amendments | 59 |

---

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  Section 9.3. | Expenses; Indemnification | 60.0 |
|  Section 9.4. | Successors and Assigns | 61.0 |
|  Section 9.5. | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | 65.0 |
|  Section 9.6. | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 66.0 |
|  Section 9.7. | Right of Setoff | 66.0 |
|  Section 9.8. | Counterparts; Integration | 66.0 |
|  Section 9.9. | Survival | 67.0 |
|  Section 9.10. | Severability | 67.0 |
|  Section 9.11. | Confidentiality | 68.0 |
|  Section 9.12. | Interest Rate Limitation | 68.0 |
|  Section 9.13. | Waiver of Effect of Corporate Seal | 68.0 |
|  Section 9.14. | PATRIOT Act | 69.0 |
|  Section 9.15. | No Fiduciary Duty | 69.0 |
|  Section 9.16. | Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 69.0 |
|  Section 9.17. | Certain ERISA Matters | 70.0 |

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<u>Schedules</u> 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
|  Schedule I | Commitment Amounts |
|  Schedule 4.21 | Subsidiaries |

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<u>Exhibits</u> 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
|  Exhibit A | Form of Assignment and Acceptance |
|  Exhibit B-1 | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate |
|  Exhibit B-2 | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate |
|  Exhibit B-3 | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate |
|  Exhibit B-4 | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate |
|  Exhibit 2.3 | Form of Notice of Borrowing |
|  Exhibit 2.5 | Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation |
|  Exhibit 3.1(b)(iii) | Form of Secretary's Certificate |
|  Exhibit 3.1(b)(vi) | Form of Officer's Certificate |
|  Exhibit 5.1(c) | Form of Compliance Certificate |

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**<u>TERM LOAN AGREEMENT</u>**

**THIS TERM LOAN AGREEMENT** (this "<u>Agreement</u>") is made and entered into as of March 3, 2023, by and among ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION, a Texas and Virginia corporation (the "<u>Borrower</u>"), the several banks and other financial institutions and lenders from time to time party hereto (the "<u>Lenders</u>"), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the "<u>Administrative Agent</u>").

**<u>W I T N E S S E T H:</u>**

**WHEREAS,** the Borrower has requested that the Lenders establish in favor of the Borrower a $2,020,000,000 term loan facility; and

**WHEREAS**, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders, to the extent of their respective Commitments as defined herein, are willing severally to establish the requested term loan facility in favor of the Borrower.

**NOW, THEREFORE**, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree as follows:

**ARTICLE I** 

**<u>DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION</u>**

**Section 1.1. <u>Definitions</u>**. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

"<u>Administrative Questionnaire</u>" shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.

"<u>Affected Financial Institution</u>" shall mean (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

"<u>Affiliate</u>" shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, 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.

"<u>Alternate Base Rate</u>" means, for any day, a rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) zero, (b) the Prime Rate for such day, (c) the sum of the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day plus 0.50% per annum and (d) the Term SOFR Screen Rate (without giving effect to the Applicable Rate) for a one-month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day or if the Term SOFR Screen Rate for such Business Day is not published due to a holiday or other circumstance that the Administrative Agent deems in its sole discretion to be temporary, the immediately preceding Business Day) for Dollars plus 1.00%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, or the Term SOFR Screen

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Rate shall be effective from the effective date of such change. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used when Term SOFR Borrowings are unavailable pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.5(c)</u> or <u>2.13</u> then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the highest of <u>clauses (a)</u>, <u>(b)</u> and <u>(c)</u> above, without reference to clause (d) above.

"<u>Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Laws</u>" shall mean any applicable laws, rules, or regulations relating to economic or trade sanctions, terrorism, bribery, corruption or money laundering, including without limitation any regulations or sanctions programs administered by OFAC, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, the European Union or any other applicable authority.

"<u>Applicable Lending Office</u>" shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the "Lending Office" of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan in the Administrative Questionnaire submitted by such Lender or such other office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.

"<u>Applicable Rate</u>" means (a) with respect to any Term SOFR Loan, a per annum rate equal to 0.95% and (b) with respect to any Base Rate Loan, a per annum rate equal to 0.00%.

"<u>Approved Fund</u>" shall mean 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 and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

"<u>Assignment and Acceptance</u>" shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by <u>Section</u> <u>9.4(b)</u>) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of <u>Exhibit A</u> attached hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

"<u>Available Tenor</u>" means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement as of such date.

"<u>Bail-In Action</u>" shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.

"<u>Bail-In Legislation</u>" shall mean (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

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"<u>Bankruptcy Code</u>" shall mean the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.

"<u>Base Rate</u>" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to (a) the Alternate Base Rate for such day plus (b) the Applicable Rate for such day, in each case changing when and as the Alternate Base Rate or the Applicable Rate changes.

"<u>Benchmark</u>" means, initially, in the case of Term SOFR Borrowings, the Term SOFR Screen Rate; <u>provided</u> that if a replacement of the Benchmark has occurred pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(b)</u>, then "Benchmark" means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has become effective pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(b)</u>.

"<u>Benchmark Replacement</u>" means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) Daily Simple SOFR plus 0.10% per annum; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by
the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and
(b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to <u>clause (1)</u> or <u>(2)</u> above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

"<u>Benchmark Replacement Adjustment</u>" means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement pursuant to clause (2) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement" for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities.

"<u>Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes</u>" means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of "Term SOFR Borrowings," the definition of "Alternate Base Rate," the definition of "Borrowing," the definition of "Business Day," the definition of "Interest Period," timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing

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requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents).

"<u>Benchmark Replacement Date</u>" means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of "Benchmark Transition Event," the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of "Benchmark Transition Event," the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

"<u>Benchmark Transition Event</u>" means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an

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entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) a public statement or publication of information by any of the entities referenced in clause (2) above announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a Benchmark Transition Event will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

"<u>Benchmark Unavailability Period</u>" means the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(b)</u> and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in accordance with <u>Section</u> <u>2.13</u>.

"<u>Beneficial Ownership Certification</u>" means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

"<u>Beneficial Ownership Regulation</u>" means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

"<u>Benefit Plan</u>" means any of (a) an "employee benefit plan" (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a "plan" as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such "employee benefit plan" or "plan" (provided that such provision regarding prohibited transactions is subject to the source of fund for the loan hereunder not constituting "plan assets").

"<u>Board</u>" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

"<u>Borrowing</u>" shall mean a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and in the case of Term SOFR Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

"<u>Business Day</u>" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in New York City, New York for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities and interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system; <u>provided</u> that, when used in connection with SOFR, Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate, the term "Business Day" excludes any day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

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"<u>Capital Stock</u>" shall mean (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.

"<u>Change in Law</u>" shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation, implementation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) (or, for purposes of <u>Section</u> <u>2.15(b</u>), by the Parent Company of such Lender, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) 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.

"<u>Change of Control</u>" shall mean either of the following events:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) any "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) has become, directly or indirectly, the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 (other than subsection (d) thereof) and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise of 40% or more of the voting power of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis, after giving effect to the conversion and exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and other securities of the Borrower convertible into or exercisable for voting stock of the Borrower (whether or not such securities are then currently convertible or exercisable); or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) during any period of two consecutive calendar years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the board of directors of the Borrower together with any new members of such board of directors whose elections by such board of directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Borrower was approved by a vote of a majority of the members of such board of directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of the Borrower then in office.

"<u>Charges</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>9.12</u>.

"<u>Closing Date</u>" shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>3.1</u> have been satisfied or waived in accordance with <u>Section</u> <u>9.2</u>.

"<u>Code</u>" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

"<u>Commitment</u>" shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on <u>Schedule I</u>.

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"<u>Compliance Certificate</u>" shall mean a certificate from a Financial Officer of the Borrower in the form of, and containing the certifications set forth in, the certificate attached hereto as <u>Exhibit 5.1(c)</u>.

"<u>Connection Income Taxes</u>" means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

"<u>Consolidated Capitalization</u>" shall mean, without duplication, the sum of (a) all of the shareholders' equity or net worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of Preferred Securities plus (c) the aggregate Minority Interests in Subsidiaries plus (d) Consolidated Funded Debt.

"<u>Consolidated Funded Debt</u>" shall mean, without duplication, the sum of (a) all indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money, (b) all purchase money indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than trade accounts payable), (c) the principal portion of all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under capital leases, (d) all commercial letters of credit and all performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers' acceptances created for the account of the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries, including, without duplication, all unreimbursed draws thereunder, (e) all Guaranty Obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to funded indebtedness of another Person of the types listed in clauses (a) through (d), (f) all indebtedness of another entity secured by a Lien on any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (g) all indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture to the extent the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries is legally obligated with respect thereto, net of any assets of such partnership or joint venture and in the case of the Capital Stock of such partnership or joint venture being held by a Subsidiary, limited to the net worth of such Subsidiary, (h) all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of funded indebtedness (including, without limitation, maintenance agreements, comfort letters or similar agreements or arrangements)) and (i) the principal balance outstanding under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product of the Borrower or one of its Material Subsidiaries where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP; <u>provided</u>, <u>however</u>, that for the purposes of calculating the Debt to Capitalization Ratio, Consolidated Funded Debt will exclude (to the extent otherwise included in Consolidated Funded Debt) (i) any pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustments recorded in accordance with GAAP and (ii) an amount of Hybrid Securities not to exceed a total of 15% of Consolidated Capitalization.

"<u>Consolidated Net Property</u>" shall mean the Fixed Assets less, without duplication, the amount of accumulated depreciation and amortization attributable thereto.

"<u>Consolidated Net Worth</u>" shall mean, as of any date, (i) the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that would be reflected on the Borrower's consolidated balance sheet as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries, *<u>minus</u>* (ii) the total liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that would be reflected on the Borrower's consolidated balance sheet as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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"<u>Corresponding Tenor</u>" with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

"<u>Credit Documents</u>" shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to this Agreement, the Fee Letters, all Notices of Borrowing, all Notices of Conversion/Continuation, all Compliance Certificates and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with any of the foregoing.

"<u>Credit Exposure</u>" shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of such Lender's Loans.

"<u>CRR Bonds</u>" shall mean, collectively, the "customer rate relief bonds," "securitized utility tariff bonds" or any other class of securities to be issued for units of the Borrower in connection with any utility cost recovery charge securitization transaction authorized pursuant to (i) that certain Financing Order dated February 8, 2022 approved by the Railroad Commission of Texas and (ii) that certain Settlement Order dated March 24, 2022 approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission.

"<u>Daily Simple SOFR</u>" means, for any day, an interest rate per annum equal to SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining "Daily Simple SOFR" for syndicated business loans; <u>provided</u>, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

"<u>Debt to Capitalization Ratio</u>" shall mean the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt to (b) Consolidated Capitalization.

"<u>Default</u>" shall mean any act, condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

"<u>Defaulting Lender</u>" shall mean, at any time, subject to <u>Section</u> <u>2.22</u>, any Lender that, as determined by the Administrative Agent acting in good faith, (a) has failed to fund any portion of its Commitments required to be funded by it within two Business Days after the date required to be funded by it, unless the subject of a good faith dispute as specified to the Administrative Agent, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it under the Credit Documents within three Business Days after the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute as specified to the Administrative Agent, (c) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent 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 under the Credit Documents unless such notification or public statement relates to such Lender's obligation to fund any portion of its Commitments hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender's determination that a condition precedent to funding cannot be satisfied, (d) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations; <u>provided</u> that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (d) upon receipt of such confirmation by the Administrative Agent, or (e) as to which a Lender Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing.

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"<u>Default Interest</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>2.10(b)</u>.

"<u>Determination Date</u>" has the meaning provided in the definition of "Term SOFR Screen Rate."

"<u>Documentation Agent</u>" shall mean CoBank, ACB.

"<u>Dollar(s)</u>" and the sign "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

"<u>E-SIGN</u>" means the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute, and any regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

"<u>EEA Financial Institution</u>" shall mean (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

"<u>EEA Member Country</u>" shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

"<u>EEA Resolution Authority</u>" shall mean any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

"<u>Environmental Laws</u>" shall mean any current or future legal requirement of any Governmental Authority pertaining to (a) the protection of health, safety, and the indoor or outdoor environment, (b) the conservation, management, or use of natural resources and wildlife, (c) the protection or use of surface water and groundwater or (d) the management, manufacture, possession, presence, use, generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release, threatened release, abatement, removal, remediation or handling of, or exposure to, any hazardous or toxic substance or material or (e) pollution (including any release to land surface water and groundwater) and includes, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 USC 9601 *et seq.*, Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment of 1984, 42 USC 6901 *et seq.*, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 USC 1251 et seq., Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended, 42 USC 7401 *et seq.*, Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, 15 USC 2601 et seq., Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 USC App. 1801 *et seq.*, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 USC 651 *et seq.*, Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 USC 2701 *et seq.*, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 USC 11001 *et seq.*, National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 USC 4321 *et seq.*, Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 USC 300(f) *et seq.*, any analogous implementing or successor law, and any amendment, rule, regulation, order, or directive issued thereunder.

"<u>ERISA</u>" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

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"<u>ERISA Affiliate</u>" shall mean an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common control with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, or is a member of a group which includes the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and which is treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Code.

"<u>Erroneous Payment</u>" has the meaning assigned to it in <u>Section</u> <u>8.9(a)</u>.

"<u>ESRA</u>" means the Electronic Signatures and Records Act as in effect in the State of New York, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute, and any regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

"<u>EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule</u>" shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

"<u>Event of Default</u>" shall have the meaning provided in <u>Section</u> <u>7.1</u>.

"<u>Exchange Act</u>" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

"<u>Excluded Taxes</u>*"* ****shall mean any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under <u>Section</u> <u>2.20</u>) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender's assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient's failure to comply with <u>Sections 2.17(e)</u> and <u>2.17(f)</u> and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

"<u>FATCA</u>" means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.

"<u>Federal Funds Effective Rate</u>" means, for any day, the greater of (a) zero and (b) the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day's federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published

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on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Central time) on such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

"<u>Fee Letters</u>" shall mean, collectively, (i) that certain fee letter, dated as of March 3, 2023, executed by the Administrative Agent and accepted by the Borrower, (ii) that certain fee letter, dated as of March 3, 2023, executed by Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and accepted by the Borrower and (iii) that certain fee letter, dated as of March 3, 2023, executed by CoBank, ACB and accepted by the Borrower.

"<u>Financial Officer</u>" shall mean any one of the chief financial officer, the controller or the treasurer of the Borrower.

"<u>Five-Year Facility</u>" means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2021, by and among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as administrative agent for the lenders, pursuant to which revolving commitments for an initial term of five years are established.

"<u>Fixed Assets</u>" shall mean the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries constituting "net property, plant and equipment" on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

"<u>Floor</u>" means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Term SOFR Screen Rate.

"<u>Foreign Lender</u>" ****shall mean any Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

"<u>GAAP</u>" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to <u>Section</u> <u>1.3</u>.

"<u>Governmental Authority</u>" shall mean any Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

"<u>Guaranty Obligations</u>" shall mean, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing any indebtedness for borrowed money of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such indebtedness or other obligation or any property constituting security therefor, (b) to lease or purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or (c) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the owner of such indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of the indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made.

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"<u>Hazardous Materials</u>" shall mean all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

"<u>Hedging Obligations</u>" shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.

"<u>Hedging Transaction</u>" shall mean any transaction (including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collateral transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.

"<u>Hybrid Securities</u>" shall mean any trust preferred securities, or deferrable interest subordinated debt with a maturity of at least 20 years, which provides for the optional or mandatory deferral of interest or distributions, issued by the Borrower, or any business trusts, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or similar entities (i) substantially all of the common equity, general partner or similar interests of which are owned (either directly or indirectly through one or more wholly owned subsidiaries) at all times by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) that have been formed for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities or deferrable interest subordinated debt, and (iii) substantially all the assets of which consist of (A) subordinated debt of the Borrower or a subsidiary of the Borrower, and (B) payments made from time to time on the subordinated debt.

"<u>Indemnified Taxes</u>" shall mean (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Credit Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in <u>clause (a)</u>, Other Taxes.

"<u>Interest Differential</u>" shall have the meaning assigned provided in <u>Section</u> <u>2.16</u>.

"<u>Interest Period</u>" means with respect to any Term SOFR Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; <u>provided</u>, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period, (c) no Interest Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date, and (d) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(e)</u> shall be available for specification in such Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

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"<u>IRS</u>" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

"<u>Joint Lead Arrangers</u>" shall mean, collectively, U.S. Bank National Association, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and CoBank, ACB.

"<u>Lender Insolvency Event</u>" shall mean that (i) a Lender or its Parent Company is, or has been, adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) a Lender or its Parent Company is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, custodian or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity, has been appointed for such Lender or its Parent Company, or such Lender or its Parent Company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, (iii) a Lender or its Parent Company has become the subject of a Bail-In Action; <u>provided</u> that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Lender Insolvency Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in or control of a Lender or a Parent Company thereof by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership or acquisition does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

"<u>Lenders</u>" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

"<u>Lien</u>" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind.

"<u>Loan</u>" shall mean a loan made by a Lender to the Borrower under its Commitment, which may either be a Base Rate Loan or a Term SOFR Loan.

"<u>Material Adverse Effect</u>" shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents, or the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

"<u>Material Indebtedness</u>" shall mean any indebtedness of the Borrower in excess of $100,000,000 (other than indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement or Non-Recourse Indebtedness).

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"<u>Material Subsidiary</u>" shall mean, at any date, a Subsidiary of the Borrower whose aggregate assets properly included under the category "property, plant and equipment" on the balance sheet of such Subsidiary, less the amount of depreciation and amortization attributable thereto, constitutes at least 10% of Consolidated Net Property as of such date; <u>provided</u> that if at any time the Borrower has Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries whose total aggregate assets under the category "property, plant and equipment" on the balance sheet of such Subsidiaries, less the amount of depreciation and amortization attributable thereto, constitute more than 20% of Consolidated Net Property as of such date the Borrower shall designate one or more of such Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries for the purposes of this Agreement in order that all Subsidiaries of the Borrower, other than Material Subsidiaries, own not more than 20% of Consolidated Net Property.

"<u>Maturity Date</u>" shall mean the earliest of (i) December 31, 2023 or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day and (ii) the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been declared or have automatically become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

"<u>Maximum Rate</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>9.12</u>.

"<u>Minority Interests</u>" shall mean interests owned by Persons (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower) in a Subsidiary of the Borrower in which less than 100% of all classes of the voting securities are owned by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

"<u>MNPI"</u> means material information concerning the Borrower or the securities of any of the foregoing that could reasonably be expected to be material for purposes of the United States federal and state securities laws and that has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

"<u>Moody's</u>" shall mean Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business of rating securities.

"<u>Multiemployer Plan</u>" shall mean a Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

"<u>Multiple Employer Plan</u>" shall mean a Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.

"<u>Net Bond Proceeds</u>" means the aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the CRR Bonds or similar securities less the costs of issuance (including, without limitation, investment banking fees, attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, underwriting fees and discounts, commissions, costs and other customary expenses), capitalized interest or reserve funds.

"<u>1998 Indenture</u>" shall mean, collectively, that certain Indenture, dated as of July 15, 1998, granted by the Borrower to US Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee, and all Supplemental Indentures thereto.

"<u>Non-Defaulting Lender</u>" shall mean, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.

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"<u>Non-Recourse Indebtedness</u>" shall mean, at any time, indebtedness incurred after the date hereof by the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of property or assets by the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary or the financing of the construction of or improvements on property, whenever acquired, that, under the terms of such indebtedness and pursuant to applicable law, the recourse at such time and thereafter of the lenders with respect to such indebtedness is limited solely to the assets and equity interests of the special purpose vehicle that incurred such indebtedness or to the property or assets so acquired, or such construction or improvements, and any accession or additions thereto and proceeds thereof, including indebtedness as to which a performance or completion guarantee or similar undertaking was initially applicable to such indebtedness or the related property or assets if such guarantee or similar undertaking has been satisfied and is no longer in effect at such time. Indebtedness which is otherwise Non-Recourse Indebtedness will not lose its character as Non-Recourse Indebtedness because there is recourse to the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary, any guarantor or any other Person for (a) environmental representations, warranties or indemnities or (b) indemnities for and liabilities arising from (i) fraud, (ii) misrepresentation, (iii) misapplication or non-payment of rents, profits, insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually received from secured assets to be paid to the lender, (iv) waste, (v) materialmen's and mechanics' liens or (vi) similar matters or (c) equity commitments that are customary and of a type consistent with other limited recourse project financings, and other limited guarantees and other contractual carve-outs to the non-recourse nature of such indebtedness that are customary and consistent with other limited recourse project financings, in each case as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Borrower.

"<u>Notice of Borrowing</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>2.3</u>.

"<u>Notice of Conversion/Continuation</u>" shall mean the notice given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in respect of the conversion or continuation of an outstanding Borrowing as provided in <u>Section</u> <u>2.5(b</u>).

"<u>Obligations</u>" shall mean all amounts owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document, including without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all reimbursement obligations, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent and any Lender incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Credit Document), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, and all Hedging Obligations owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their Affiliates incurred in order to limit interest rate or fee fluctuation with respect to the Loans, and all obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with collecting and enforcing the foregoing, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings thereof.

"<u>OFAC</u>" shall mean the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, and any successor thereto.

"<u>Other Connection Taxes</u>" means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Credit Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Credit Document).

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"<u>Other Taxes</u>" shall mean all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.20</u>).

"<u>Parent Company</u>" shall mean, with respect to a Lender, the bank holding company (as defined in Federal Reserve Board Regulation Y), if any, of such Lender, and/or any Person owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares of such Lender.

"<u>Participant</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>9.4(d</u>).

"<u>Participant Register</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>9.4(e</u>).

"<u>PATRIOT Act</u>" means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

"<u>Payment Office</u>" shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55402, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders.

"<u>Payment Recipient</u>" has the meaning assigned to it in <u>Section</u> <u>8.9(a)</u>.

"<u>PBGC</u>" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA and any successor thereto.

"<u>Permitted Lien</u>" shall mean, with respect to any asset, the Liens permitted to exist on such asset under <u>Section</u> <u>6.6</u>.

"<u>Person</u>" shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, association, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated), or any government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

"<u>Physical Trade Contract</u>" shall mean any agreement that is for the purchase, sale, transfer or exchange of natural gas or any other similar transaction (including any option to enter into any of the foregoing) or any combination of the foregoing and any master agreement relating to or governing any or all of the foregoing, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business.

"<u>Physical Trade Obligations</u>" shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Physical Trade Contracts, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Physical Trade Contracts and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Physical Trade Contracts and any and all substitutions for any Physical Trade Contracts.

"<u>Plan</u>" shall mean any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is covered by ERISA and with respect to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" within the meaning of Section 3(5) of ERISA.

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"<u>Preferred Securities</u>" shall mean, at any date, any equity interests in the Borrower, in a Special Purpose Financing Subsidiary of the Borrower or in any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (such as those known as "TECONS", "MIPS" or "RHINOS"): (a) that are not (i) required to be redeemed or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to the fifth anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Five-Year Facility as of the date of this Agreement) or (ii) convertible into or exchangeable for (unless solely at the option of the Borrower or such Subsidiary of the Borrower) equity interests referred to in clause (i) above or indebtedness having a scheduled maturity, or requiring any repayments or prepayments of principal or any sinking fund or similar payments in respect of principal or providing for any such repayment, prepayment, sinking fund or other payment at the option of the holder thereof prior to the fifth anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Five-Year Facility as of the date of this Agreement) and (b) as to which, at such date, the Borrower or such Subsidiary of the Borrower has the right to defer the payment of all dividends and other distributions in respect thereof for the period of at least 19 consecutive quarters beginning at such date.

"<u>Prime Rate</u>" means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of interest announced from time to time by U.S. Bank National Association or its parent (which is not necessarily the lowest rate charged to any customer), changing when and as such prime rate changes.

"<u>Pro Rata Share</u>" shall mean with respect to any Commitment of any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lender's Commitment (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lender's Credit Exposure), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of such Commitments of all Lenders (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Credit Exposure of all Lenders).

"<u>PTE</u>" means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

"<u>Recipient</u>" shall mean the Administrative Agent, any Lender and any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Credit Document.

"<u>Reference Time</u>" means the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

"<u>Register</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>9.4(c)</u>.

"<u>Regulation T, U, or X</u>" shall mean Regulation T, U or X, respectively, of the Board (or any successor body) as from time to time in effect, any amendment thereto and any successor to all or a portion thereof.

"<u>Related Parties</u>" shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, partners, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.

"<u>Release</u>" shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.

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"<u>Relevant Governmental Body</u>" ****means the Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

"<u>Reportable Event</u>" shall mean a "reportable event" as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA with respect to which the notice requirements to the PBGC have not been waived.

"<u>Required Lenders</u>" shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Commitments of the Lenders at such time or if the Lenders have no Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding more than 50% of the Credit Exposure of the Lenders; provided however, that to the extent that any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Commitments and Credit Exposure shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Lenders.

"<u>Requirement of Law</u>" for any Person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership certificate and agreement, or limited liability company certificate of organization and agreement, as the case may be, and other organizational and governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

"<u>Resolution Authority</u>" shall mean an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

"<u>S&P</u>" shall mean Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC business, or any successor or assignee of the business of such division in the business of rating securities.

"<u>Sanctions Lists</u>" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.8(b).

"<u>Screen</u>" has the meaning provided in the definition of Term SOFR Screen Rate.

"<u>SEC</u>" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

"<u>Senior Credit Facility</u>" means any senior credit facility or senior term loan of the Borrower that is pari passu with the Obligations, including, for the avoidance of doubt the Three-Year Facility and the Five-Year Facility.

"<u>Senior Note Indenture</u>" means any indenture or similar agreement pursuant to which the Borrower issues any senior notes that are pari passu with the Obligations.

"<u>Senior Notes</u>" means, collectively, those certain 0.625% Senior Notes and Floating Rate Senior Notes issued by the Borrower due March 9, 2023 in the original aggregate principal amount of $2,200,000,000.

"<u>Single Employer Plan</u>" shall mean any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

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"<u>SOFR</u>" means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator's Website.

"<u>SOFR Administrator</u>" means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

"<u>SOFR Administrator's Website</u>" means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

"<u>Special Purpose Financing Subsidiary</u>" shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower that has no direct or indirect interest in the business of the Borrower and its other Subsidiaries and was formed solely for the purpose of issuing Preferred Securities.

"<u>Subsidiary</u>" shall mean, 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, limited liability company or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than 50% voting equity interest at any time.

"<u>Syndication Agent</u>" shall mean Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

"<u>Taxes</u>" shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges, assessments, fees or withholdings (including backup withholding) imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

"<u>Term SOFR</u>" means the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

"<u>Term SOFR Administrator</u>" means CME Group Benchmark Administration Ltd. (or a successor administrator of Term SOFR).

"<u>Term SOFR Administrator's Website</u>" means https://www.cmegroup.com/market-data/cme-group-benchmark-administration/term-sofr.html, or any successor source for Term SOFR identified as such by the Term SOFR Administrator from time to time.

"<u>Term SOFR Borrowing</u>" means a Borrowing that, except as otherwise provided in <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(c)</u>, bears interest at the applicable Term SOFR Rate.

"<u>Term SOFR Screen Rate</u>" means, for the relevant Interest Period, the higher of (a) zero and (b) the Term SOFR rate quoted by the Administrative Agent from the Term SOFR Administrator's Website or the applicable Bloomberg screen (or other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (the "<u>Screen</u>") for such Interest Period, which shall be the Term SOFR rate published two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period (such Business Day, the "<u>Determination</u> 

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 <u>Date</u>"). If as of 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Determination Date, the Term SOFR rate has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator or on the Screen, then the rate used will be that as published by the Term SOFR Administrator or on the Screen for the first preceding Business Day for which such rate was published on such Screen so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than three (3) Business Days prior to such Determination Date.

"<u>Term SOFR Loan</u>" means a Loan that, except as otherwise provided in <u>Section</u> <u>2.13</u>, bears interest at the applicable Term SOFR Rate other than pursuant to <u>clause (d)</u> of the definition of "Alternate Base Rate."

"<u>Term SOFR Rate</u>" means, for the relevant Interest Period, the sum of (a) the Term SOFR Screen Rate applicable to such Interest Period, plus (b) the Applicable Rate, plus, (c) 0.10% per annum.

"<u>Termination Event</u>" shall mean (a) with respect to any Single Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of ERISA), (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan, (c) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, (e) any event or condition which might reasonably constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or (f) the complete or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.

"<u>Three-Year Facility</u>" means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2021, by and among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as administrative agent for the lenders, pursuant to which revolving commitments for an initial term of three years are established.

"<u>Total Assets</u>" shall mean all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as shown on its most recent quarterly consolidated balance sheet, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

"<u>2001 Indenture</u>" shall mean, collectively, that certain Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2001, granted by the Borrower to SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as Trustee, and all Supplemental Indentures thereto.

"<u>2009 Indenture</u>" shall mean, collectively, that certain Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2009, granted by the Borrower to U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, and all Supplemental Indentures, if any, thereto.

"<u>Type</u>", when used in reference to a Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Term SOFR Rate or the Base Rate.

"<u>UK Financial Institution</u>" shall mean any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

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"<u>UK Resolution Authority</u>" shall mean the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

"<u>Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement</u>" means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

"<u>U.S. Borrower</u>" means any Borrower that is a U.S. Person.

"<u>U.S. Person</u>" means any Person that is a "United States person" as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

"<u>U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate</u>" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(3).

"<u>Withholding Agent</u>" shall mean the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

"<u>Write-Down and Conversion Powers</u>" means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

**Section 1.2. <u>Classifications of Loans and Borrowings</u>**. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g. a "Term SOFR Loan", or "Base Rate Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g. "Term SOFR Borrowing").

**Section 1.3. <u>Accounting Terms and Determination</u>**. Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>5.1(a</u>); <u>provided</u>, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend the covenant in <u>Section</u> <u>5.2</u> to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend <u>Section</u> <u>5.2</u> for such purpose), then the Borrower's compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders. 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, without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification Section 825-10 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Consolidated Funded Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower at "fair value", as defined therein.

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**Section 1.4. <u>Terms Generally</u>**. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation". The word "will" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall". In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the word "to" means "to but excluding". Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference to a statute, law, regulation, and rule shall be deemed to refer to such statute, law, regulation, and rule as in effect from time to time, including any amendments of the same and any successor statute, law, regulation, and rule, unless any such reference is expressly limited to refer to any statute, act, law, regulation, or rule "as in effect on" a specified date, (iii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and permitted assigns, (iv) the words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision hereof, (v) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (vi) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and state of the Administrative Agent's principal office, unless otherwise indicated. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, references to statutes, legislative acts, laws, regulations, and rules shall be deemed to refer to such statutes, acts, laws, regulations, and rules as in effect from time to time, including any amendments of the same and any successor statutes, acts, laws, regulations, and rules, unless any such reference is expressly limited to refer to any statute, act, law, regulation, or rule "as in effect on" a specified date.

**Section 1.5. <u>Interest Rates</u>**. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definitions of "Term SOFR Screen Rate" and "Alternate Base Rate," as applicable, or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate therefor.

**Section 1.6. <u>Term SOFR Notification</u>.** The interest rate on Term SOFR Borrowings is determined by reference to the Term SOFR Screen Rate, which is derived from Term SOFR. <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(b)</u> provides a mechanism for (a) determining an alternative rate of interest if Term SOFR is no longer available or in the other circumstances set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(b)</u>, and (b) modifying this Agreement to give effect to such alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to Term SOFR or other rates in the definition of Term SOFR Screen Rate or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof (including any Benchmark Replacement), including without limitation, whether any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(b)</u>, will have the same value as, or be economically equivalent to, Term SOFR Screen Rate. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of Alternate Base Rate, Term SOFR, the Term SOFR Screen Rate, any alternative, successor or

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replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Alternate Base Rate, the Term SOFR Screen Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

**Section 1.7. <u>Divisions</u>**. For all purposes under the Credit Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction's laws), if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person.

**ARTICLE II** 

**<u>AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS</u>**

**Section 2.1. <u>[Reserved</u>].**

**Section 2.2. <u>Loans</u>**. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make a term loan in Dollars, ratably in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, to the Borrower, on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount outstanding equal to such Lender's Commitment. The Borrower may not reborrow any Loans that are repaid.

**Section 2.3. <u>Procedure for Borrowings</u>**. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of the initial Borrowing on the Closing Date substantially in the form of <u>Exhibit 2.3</u> (a "<u>Notice of Borrowing</u>") (x) prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York time) on the Closing Date if such Borrower is requested as a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date if such Borrowing is requested as a Term SOFR Borrowing. The Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Loan comprising such Borrowing and (iv) in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period). Each Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as the Borrower may request. The aggregate principal amount of each Term SOFR Borrowing shall be not less than $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, and the aggregate principal amount of each Base Rate Borrowing shall not be less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000; <u>provided</u>, that Base Rate Loans made pursuant to Section 2.4 may be made in lesser amounts as provided therein. At no time shall the total number of Interest Periods with respect to Term SOFR Borrowings outstanding exceed six. Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

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**Section 2.4. <u>Funding of Borrowings</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Each Lender will make available each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the Closing Date by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 12:00 noon (New York time) to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by the close of business on the Closing Date, to an account maintained by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or at the Borrower's option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for the Loans. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of the Borrowing on the Closing Date hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) All Borrowings shall be funded by the Lenders severally on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Loans hereunder.

**Section 2.5. <u>Interest Elections</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Borrowing on the Closing Date shall be of the Type specified in the Notice of Borrowing, and in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing into a different Type or to continue such Borrowing, and in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this <u>Section</u> <u>2.5</u>. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) To make an election pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.5</u>, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of <u>Exhibit 2.5</u> attached hereto (a "<u>Notice of Conversion/Continuation</u>") that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a Term SOFR Borrowing. Each such Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Conversion/Continuation applies and if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof that are to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) shall be specified

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for each resulting Borrowing); (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Conversion/Continuation, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Term SOFR Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Term SOFR Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of "Interest Period". If any such Notice of Conversion/Continuation requests a Term SOFR Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for Term SOFR Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>2.3</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any Term SOFR Borrowing, the Borrower shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted into, or continued as, a Term SOFR Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any Term SOFR Loans shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Upon receipt of any Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing.

**Section 2.6. <u>Termination of Commitments.</u>** All Commitments shall terminate on the Closing Date upon funding of the Loans; <u>provided</u> that, to the extent any Commitments in excess of the aggregate principal amount specified in the Notice of Borrowing delivered in respect of the Closing Date shall not have been funded by 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Closing Date, all such unfunded Commitments shall terminate at such time.

**Section 2.7. <u>Repayment of Loans</u>.** The outstanding principal amount of all Loans shall be due and payable in full (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Maturity Date.

**Section 2.8. <u>Evidence of Indebtedness</u>**.

(a)Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain appropriate records in which shall be recorded (i) the Commitment of each Lender, (ii) the amount of each Loan made hereunder by each Lender, the Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the date of each continuation thereof pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.5</u>, (iv) the date of each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.5</u>, (v) the date and amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder in respect of such Loans and (vi) both the date and amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Loans and each Lender's Pro Rata Share thereof. The entries made in such records shall be *prima facie* evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; <u>provided</u>, that the failure or delay of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in maintaining or making entries into any such record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans (both principal and unpaid accrued interest) of such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) This Agreement evidences the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and is being executed as a "noteless" credit agreement. However, at the request of any Lender at any time, the Borrower agrees that it will prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment permitted hereunder) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

**Section 2.9. <u>Prepayments</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)<u>Optional Prepayments</u>. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving irrevocable written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent no later than (i) in the case of prepayment of any Term SOFR Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. (New York time) not less than three (3) Business Days prior to any such prepayment, and (ii) in the case of any prepayment of any Base Rate Borrowing, not less than one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of any such prepayment. If such notice is given, the aggregate amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with <u>Section</u> <u>2.10(c</u>); <u>provided</u>, that if a Term SOFR Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.16</u>. Each partial prepayment of any Loan shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.3</u>. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) <u>Mandatory Prepayment</u>. The Borrower shall promptly, and in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days from the Borrower's receipt of any Net Bond Proceeds, prepay the outstanding Obligations.

**Section 2.10. <u>Interest on Loans</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Borrower shall pay interest on each Base Rate Loan at the Base Rate in effect from time to time and on each Term SOFR Loan at the Term SOFR Rate for the applicable Interest Period in effect for such Loan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Upon the occurrence, and during the continuation, of an Event of Default under <u>Section</u> <u>7.1(a)</u> or <u>(e)</u> or, at the option of the Required Lenders, any other Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay interest ("<u>Default Interest</u>") with respect to all Term SOFR Loans at the rate otherwise applicable for the then-current Interest Period *plus* an additional 2% per annum until the last day of such Interest Period, and thereafter, and with respect to all Base Rate Loans and all other Obligations hereunder (other than Loans), at an all-in rate in effect for Base Rate Loans, *plus* an additional 2% per annum.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Interest on the principal amount of all Loans shall accrue from and including the date such Loans are made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all outstanding Base Rate Loans shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the Maturity Date. Interest on all outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and, in the case of any Term SOFR Loans having an Interest Period in excess of three months, on each day which occurs every three months after the initial date of such Interest Period, and on the Maturity Date. Interest on any Loan which is converted into a Loan of another Type or which is repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such conversion or on the date of any such repayment or prepayment (on the amount repaid or prepaid) thereof. All Default Interest shall be payable on demand.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans hereunder and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of such rate in writing (or by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing). Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

**Section 2.11. <u>Fees</u>**. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account and for the ratable benefit of each Lender those fees in the amounts and times agreed upon in the Fee Letters.

**Section 2.12. <u>Computation of Interest and Fees</u>.** Interest hereunder based on the Base Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All other interest and all fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day) Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest amount or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.

**Section 2.13. <u>Inability to Determine Interest Rates</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Credit Document, but subject to <u>Section</u> <u>2.13(b)</u>, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have determined, that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) for any reason in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Borrowing or a conversion or continuation thereof that the Term SOFR Screen Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Borrowing does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of the funding such Loans, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) the interest rate applicable to Term SOFR Borrowing for any requested Interest Period is not ascertainable or available (including, without limitation, because the applicable Screen (or on any successor or substitute page on such screen) is unavailable) and such inability to ascertain or unavailability is not expected to be permanent,

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the Administrative Agent shall give written notice (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. Until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Term SOFR Loans or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended and (ii) all such affected Loans shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto unless the Borrower prepays such Loans in accordance with this Agreement. Unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before the date of any Term SOFR Borrowing for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on such date, then such Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement" for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement" for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Credit Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (B) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.13</u>, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Credit Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.13</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Screen Rate or Term SOFR) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information

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announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of "Interest Period" (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove any tenor of such Benchmark that is unavailable or non-representative for any Benchmark settings and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of "Interest Period" (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) Upon notice to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent in accordance with <u>Section</u> <u>9.1</u> of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period and until a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with this <u>Section</u> <u>2.13</u>, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term SOFR Borrowing, or any request for the conversion or continuation of a Term SOFR Borrowing to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period at the end of the applicable Interest Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request at the end of the applicable Interest Period into a request for a Base Rate Borrowing or conversion to a Base Rate Borrowing. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Alternate Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Alternate Base Rate.

**Section 2.14. <u>Illegality</u>.** If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender to make, maintain or fund any Term SOFR Loan and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the other Lenders, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Lender to make Term SOFR Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Term SOFR Loans, shall be suspended. In the case of the making of a Term SOFR Borrowing, such Lender's Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan as part of the same Borrowing for the same Interest Period and if the affected Term SOFR Loan is then outstanding, such Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (i) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Term SOFR Loan if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loan to such date or (ii) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loan to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affected Lender shall, prior to giving such notice to the Administrative Agent, designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation would avoid the need for giving such notice and if such designation would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

**Section 2.15. <u>Increased Costs</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) If any Change in Law shall:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement that is not otherwise included in the determination of the Term SOFR Rate hereunder against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Term SOFR Rate); or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) impose on any Lender or any applicable interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or any Term SOFR Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of either of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining a Term SOFR Loan or to reduce the amount received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then the Borrower shall promptly pay, upon written notice from and demand by such Lender on the Borrower (with a copy of such notice and demand to the Administrative Agent), to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, within five Business Days after the date of such notice and demand, additional amount or amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes, in each case, imposed on such Lender as a result of a Change in Law).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) If any Lender shall have determined that on or after the date of this Agreement any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's capital (or on the capital of the Parent Company of such Lender) as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or the Parent Company of such Lender could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's policies or the policies of the Parent Company of such Lender with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity) then, from time to time, within five (5) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of written demand by such Lender (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Parent Company of such Lender for any such reduction suffered.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Parent Company of such Lender, as the case may be, specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u> shall be delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay any such Lender such amount or amounts within 10 days after receipt thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u> shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender's right to demand such compensation.

**Section 2.16. <u>Funding Indemnity</u>**. If (a) any payment of a Term SOFR Borrowing occurs on a date that is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period, whether because of acceleration, prepayment or otherwise; (b) a Term SOFR Borrowing is not made on the date specified by the Borrower for any reason other than default by a Lender; (c) a Term SOFR Borrowing is converted other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto; (d) the Borrower fails to borrow, convert, continue or prepay a Term SOFR Borrowing on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto; or (e) a Term SOFR Borrowing is assigned other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.20</u>; then the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender for such Lender's reasonable costs, expenses and Interest Differential (as reasonably determined by such Lender) incurred as a result of such prepayment. The term "Interest Differential" means the greater of zero and the financial loss incurred by the Lender resulting from prepayment, calculated as the difference between (x) the amount of interest such Lender would have earned had prepayment of the applicable Term SOFR Borrowing not occurred and (y) the amount of interest such Lender

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would earn if funds from such Term SOFR Borrowing were redeployed from the date of prepayment in a like investment. Because of the short-term duration of any Interest Period, the Borrower agrees that the Interest Differential shall not be discounted to its present value. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the Borrower shall be required to pay Interest Differential with respect to any portion of the principal balance accelerated or paid before the end of the Interest Period for such Term SOFR Borrowing, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or otherwise, including without limitation any principal payment required upon maturity when the Borrower has elected an Interest Period that extends beyond the scheduled maturity date of such Loan and any principal payment required following default, demand for payment, acceleration, collection proceedings, foreclosure, sale or other disposition of collateral, bankruptcy or other insolvency proceedings, eminent domain, condemnation, application of insurance proceeds, or otherwise. Such Interest Differential shall at all times be an Obligation as well as an undertaking by the Borrower to the Lenders whether arising out of a voluntary or mandatory prepayment. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.16</u> shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

Section 2.17. <u>Taxes</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law (including FATCA). If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, within ten (10) Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified 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 the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) 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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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Credit Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably 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 such documentation set forth in paragraphs (f)(i), (f)(ii) and (f)(iv) of this Section) 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 such Lender.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) Without limiting the generality of <u>Section</u> <u>2.17(e)</u>, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Borrower,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

1) In the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Credit Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the "interest" article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the "business profits" or "other income" article of such tax treaty; 

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2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

3) 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 substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a "bank" within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a "10 percent shareholder" of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a "controlled foreign corporation" related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a "<u>U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate</u>") and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W 8BEN-E; or 

4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W 8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 or Exhibit B-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) 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 were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the

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Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender's obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (iv), "FATCA" shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within five (5) Business Days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender's failure to comply with the provisions of <u>Section</u> <u>9.4(e)</u> relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Credit Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such 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 hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Credit Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (g).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u> (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) Each party's obligations under this <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u> shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Credit Document.

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**Section 2.18. <u>Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs</u>.** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, or amounts payable under <u>Sections 2.15</u>, <u>2.16</u> or <u>2.17</u>, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon (New York time) on the date when due, in immediately available funds, free and clear of any defenses, rights of set-off, counterclaim, or withholding or deduction of taxes. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office, except that payments pursuant to <u>Sections 2.15</u>, <u>2.16</u> and <u>2.17</u> and <u>9.3</u> shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans that would result in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; <u>provided</u>, that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount or amounts due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

**Section 2.19. <u>Mitigation of Obligations.</u>** If any Lender requests compensation under <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u>, <u>Section</u> <u>2.16</u>, or <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the sole judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable under <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u> or <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with such designation or assignment.

**Section 2.20. <u>Replacement of Lenders</u>**. If any Lender requests compensation under <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u>, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority of the account of any Lender pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>, or if 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 set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>9.4(b</u>)) all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender); <u>provided</u>, that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Loans owed to it, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (in the case of such outstanding principal and accrued interest) and from the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of a claim for compensation under <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u> or payments required to be made pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u>, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

**Section 2.21. <u>[Reserved]</u>.** 

**Section 2.22. <u>Defaulting Lenders</u>.** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this 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 Requirement of Law:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) <u>Waivers and Amendments</u>. Such Defaulting Lender's right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders and in <u>Section</u> <u>9.2</u>.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) <u>Defaulting Lender Waterfall</u>. 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, pursuant to <u>Article VII</u> or otherwise) 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*, [reserved]; *third*, [reserved]; *fourth*, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any then final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement; *fifth*, 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 the final and non-appealable 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 Agreement; and *sixth*, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; <u>provided</u> that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in <u>Section</u> <u>3.2</u> were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to <u>Section</u> <u>2.18</u>. 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 pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>2.22(ii)</u> shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.<u> </u>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; <u>provided</u> that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and <u>provided</u>, <u>further</u>, 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 that Lender's having been a Defaulting Lender.

**ARTICLE III** 

**<u>CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS</u>**

**Section 3.1. <u>Conditions To Effectiveness</u>**. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with <u>Section</u> <u>9.2</u>).

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Credit Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent or the Joint Lead Arrangers.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of each party hereto or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or .pdf transmission of an executed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) [Reserved];

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower in the form of <u>Exhibit 3.1(b)(iii)</u>, attaching and certifying copies of its bylaws and of the resolutions of its boards of directors, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of the Borrower executing the Credit Documents;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) certified copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation of the Borrower, together with certificates of good standing or existence, as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdictions of organization of the Borrower;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) a favorable written opinion of inside or outside counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Borrower, the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated therein as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably request;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vi) a certificate in the form of <u>Exhibit 3.1(b)(vi)</u>, dated the Closing Date and signed by a Financial Officer, certifying that (A) no Default or Event of Default exists, (B) all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects (or, if already qualified by "materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or similar phrases, in all respects (after giving effect to such qualification)) and (C) since September 30, 2022, there shall have been no material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), properties or prospects of the Borrower and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vii) a duly executed Notice of Borrowing; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(viii) copies of (A) the quarterly financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the fiscal quarter ending on December 31, 2022 and (B) the audited consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022 (it being agreed that this clause (viii) is satisfied by the Borrower's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the date hereof).

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) To the extent requested by the Administrative Agent in writing not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received, not later than two (2) calendar days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information with respect to the Borrower that the Administrative Agent reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable "know-your-customer" and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) At least five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a "legal entity customer" under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, the Borrower shall deliver a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower.

**Section 3.2. <u>[Reserved]</u>**<u>.</u>

**Section 3.3. <u>Delivery of Documents</u>**. All of the Credit Documents, certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this Article III, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of each of the Lenders and, except for any promissory notes, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in sufficient counterparts or copies for each of the Lenders, and shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

**ARTICLE IV** 

**<u>REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES</u>**

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:

**Section 4.1. <u>Organization and Good Standing.</u>** The Borrower (a) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdictions of its incorporation, (b) is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in every jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

**Section 4.2. <u>Due Authorization</u>**. The Borrower (a) has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to incur the obligations herein and therein provided for and (b) has been authorized by all necessary corporate action, to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

**Section 4.3. <u>No Conflicts</u>**. Neither the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by the Borrower will (a) violate or conflict with, in any material respect, any provision of its articles of incorporation or bylaws, (b) violate, contravene or conflict with, in any material respect, any law, regulation (including without limitation, Regulation U, Regulation X or any regulation promulgated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (c) except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, 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 or its properties may be bound, or (d) in any material respect, result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with respect to its properties, other than a Permitted Lien.

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**Section 4.4. <u>Consents</u>**. 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 Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except any such consent, approval, authorization, order, filing, registration or qualification as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

**Section 4.5. <u>Enforceable Obligations</u>**. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents have been duly executed and delivered and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.

**Section 4.6. <u>Financial Condition</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The consolidated financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>3.1(b)(viii)</u> and pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>5.1(a)</u> and <u>(b)</u>: (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to the provisions of <u>Section</u> <u>1.3</u>) and (ii) present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Since September 30, 2022, there has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower of any material part of the business or property of the Borrower, and no purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower of any business or property (including any Capital Stock of any other Person) material in relation to the financial condition of the Borrower, in each case which is not (i) reflected in the most recent financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>3.1(b)(viii)</u> and pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>5.1</u> or in the notes thereto or (ii) otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement and communicated to the Administrative Agent.

**Section 4.7. <u>[Reserved]</u>** .

**Section 4.8. <u>No Default</u>**. No Default or Event of Default presently exists and is continuing.

**Section 4.9. <u>[Reserved]</u>**.

**Section 4.10. <u>Taxes</u>**. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have 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 thereon to be due and have paid all other material Taxes owing by them, except (a) 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 or (b) to the extent that the failure to make such payments or filings would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

**Section 4.11. <u>Compliance with Law</u>**. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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**Section 4.12. <u>[Reserved</u>**].

**Section 4.13. <u>ERISA</u>**. Except as would not result or be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) During the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made: (i) no Termination Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any Termination Event is reasonably expected to occur, with respect to any Plan; (ii) no "accumulated funding deficiency," as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan has been maintained, operated, and funded in material compliance with its own terms and in material compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable federal or state laws; and (iv) no Lien in favor or the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably expected to arise on account of any Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) No liability has been or is reasonably expected by the Borrower to be incurred under Sections 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA with respect to any Single Employer Plan by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which has or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The actuarial present value of all "benefit liabilities" under each Single Employer Plan (determined within the meaning of Section 401(a)(2) of the Code, utilizing the actuarial assumptions used to fund such Plans), whether or not vested, did not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made, exceed the current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued liabilities, except as disclosed in the Borrower's financial statements.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, is reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, reasonably expected to be in reorganization, insolvent, or terminated.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) No prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a Plan which has subjected or is reasonably likely to subject the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 407, 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) The present value (determined using actuarial and other assumptions which are reasonable with respect to the benefits provided and the employees participating) of the liability of the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate for post-retirement welfare benefits to be provided to their current and former employees under Plans which are welfare benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), net of all assets under all such Plans allocable to such benefits, are reflected on the financial statements referenced in <u>Section</u> <u>5.1</u> in accordance with FASB 106.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) Each Plan which is a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections 601-609 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code apply has been administered in compliance in all material respects with such sections.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold "plan assets" (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise), and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the making of any Loan hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

**Section 4.14. <u>Use of Proceeds</u>**. The proceeds of the Loans hereunder will be used solely for the purposes specified in <u>Section</u> <u>5.8</u>. None of such proceeds will be used 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.

**Section 4.15. <u>Government Regulation</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) No proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" within the meaning of Regulation U, or for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any securities. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U. No indebtedness being reduced or retired out of the proceeds of the Loans was or will be incurred for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U or any "margin security" within the meaning of Regulation T. "Margin stock" within the meaning of Regulation U does not constitute more than 25% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an "investment company" registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not controlled by an "investment company".

**Section 4.16. <u>Disclosure</u>**. Neither this Agreement nor any financial statements delivered to the Lenders nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to the Lenders by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) 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; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that the projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Borrower's control, and that no assurance can be given that any projections will be realized).

**Section 4.17. <u>OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to its knowledge any of its or their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents or representatives, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly

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or indirectly, to any "government official" (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to improperly influence official action or secure an improper advantage for the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any of its Affiliates where such actions would constitute a material breach of Anti-Corruption Laws; and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates have conducted their businesses in material compliance with applicable Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintain and will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to its knowledge any of its or their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, or employees, agents or representatives, is (i) named on any Sanctions List, (ii)(A) an agency of the government of a country, or (B) an organization controlled by a country, (iii) a Person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on any Sanctions List (each a "<u>Listed Country</u>"), or, if a resident in a Listed Country, that residency and the operations of that Person relating to that Listed Country are in compliance with all Anti-Terrorism Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects or (iv) directly conducting business or engaged in any transaction with any Persons named on any Sanctions List or resident in a Listed Country.

**Section 4.18. <u>Insurance</u>**. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar business and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries operate and/or maintain a system or systems of self-insurance or assumption of risk which accords with the practices of similar businesses.

**Section 4.19. <u>Franchises, Licenses, Etc</u>**. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries possess (a) good title to, or the legal right to use, all properties and assets and (b) all franchises, certificates, licenses, permits and other authorizations, in each case as are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, except to the extent the failure to possess any of the foregoing would not and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

**Section 4.20. <u>[Reserved</u>**].

**Section 4.21. <u>Subsidiaries</u>**. As of the Closing Date, all Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the designation as to which such Subsidiaries are Material Subsidiaries are set forth on <u>Schedule 4.21</u>.

**Section 4.22. <u>Affected Financial Institution</u>**. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an Affected Financial Institution.

**Section 4.23. <u>Beneficial Ownership</u>**. As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

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**ARTICLE V** 

**<u>AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS</u>**

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or any Obligation remains unpaid or outstanding:

**Section 5.1. <u>Information Covenants</u>**. The Borrower will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Administrative Agent (who shall forward copies thereof to each Lender):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) <u>Annual Financial Statements</u>. As soon as available, and in any event within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of such fiscal year, together with retained earnings and a consolidated statement 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 audited by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing and whose opinion shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent, 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 by a going concern or similar qualification.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) <u>Quarterly Financial Statements</u>. As soon as available, and in any event within 65 days after the close of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (other than the fourth fiscal quarter) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023) a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of such fiscal quarter, together with a related consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal quarter in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and 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 the Borrower and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments and absence of notes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) <u>Officer's Certificate</u>. At the time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in <u>Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b)</u> above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of <u>Exhibit 5.1(c)</u>, (i) demonstrating compliance with <u>Section</u> <u>5.2</u> by calculation thereof as of the end of each such fiscal period, (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 and (iii) setting forth any Subsidiaries that have become Material Subsidiaries during such fiscal period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) <u>Reports</u>. Promptly after the same are available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) <u>Notices</u>. Upon the Borrower obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written notice to the Administrative Agent promptly of (i) the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and existence thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) any change in any rating from S&P or Moody's and/or any loss of rating from S&P or Moody's (it being agreed that any notice requirement of the Borrower shall be deemed satisfied upon the public announcement by such ratings agencies), (iii) the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary: (A) the pendency or commencement of any litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding against the Borrower or such Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, would have or would be reasonably

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expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) the institution of any proceedings against the Borrower or such Subsidiary 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 be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and/or (iv) any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in parts (c) or (d) of such certification.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) <u>ERISA</u>. Upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written notice to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) of: (i) any event or condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable Event, that constitutes, or would be reasonably expected to lead to, a Termination Event; (ii) any communication from the PBGC stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan together with a statement of the amount of liability, if any, incurred or expected to be incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection therewith; (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 ERISA Affiliate, or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (iv) the failure to make full payment on or before the due date (including extensions) thereof of all amounts which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates is required to contribute to each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA pursuant to its terms and as required to meet the minimum funding standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with respect thereto; or (v) any change in the funding status of any Plan that would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; together, with a description of any such event or condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by an officer of the Borrower briefly setting forth the details regarding such event, condition, or notice, and the action, if any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed to be taken by the Borrower with respect thereto. Promptly upon request, the Borrower shall furnish the Administrative Agent with such additional information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including, but not limited to, copies of each annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all schedules and attachments thereto required to be filed with the Department of Labor and/or the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each "plan year" (within the meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) <u>Other Information</u>. With reasonable promptness upon any such request, such other information regarding the business, properties or financial condition of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) <u>Delivery of Information</u>. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) 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 www.atmosenergy.com; 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 sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly forward to the Lenders). Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper or facsimile copies of the officer's certificates required by <u>Section</u> <u>5.1(c)</u> to the Administrative Agent. Except for such officer's certificates, 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 maintaining its copies of such documents.

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**Section 5.2. <u>Debt to Capitalization Ratio</u>**. As of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the Debt to Capitalization Ratio shall be less than or equal to 0.70 to 1.0.

**Section 5.3. <u>Preservation of Existence, Franchises and Assets</u>**. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights, franchises and authority, except where failure to do so would not or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, generally maintain its properties, real and personal, in good condition, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not waste or otherwise permit such properties to deteriorate, reasonable wear and tear excepted, except, in each case, where failure to do so would not or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

**Section 5.4. <u>Books and Records</u>**. The Borrower will, and will cause 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).

**Section 5.5. <u>Compliance with Law</u>**.

The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, comply with, and obtain all permits and licenses required by, 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 property, if the failure to comply would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to, comply with, and not act in any manner that would result in a violation by any Person (including Lender) of, Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Laws.

**Section 5.6. <u>Payment of Taxes</u>**. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, pay, settle or discharge all material Taxes before they shall become delinquent which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon any of its properties; <u>provided</u>, <u>however</u>, that the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such Tax which is being contested in good faith by appropriate action and as to which adequate reserves therefor, if required, 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 reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

**Section 5.7. <u>Insurance</u>**. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker's compensation insurance, liability insurance and casualty insurance) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar business and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries operate and/or maintain a system or systems of self-insurance or assumption of risk which accords with the practices of similar businesses.

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**Section 5.8. <u>Use of Proceeds</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The proceeds of the Loans may be used solely (a) to refinance the indebtedness under the Senior Notes pursuant to the terms thereof on or prior to their March 9, 2023 maturity date and to pay related fees and expenses, (b) to fund future acquisitions permitted by <u>Section</u> <u>4.14</u> and (c) for working capital, capital expenditures and other lawful corporate purposes of the Borrower.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The proceeds of the Loans hereunder shall not be used, wholly, partially, directly or indirectly to finance any transaction relating to a client, customer, importer, exporter or any other Person who appears on any list of OFAC, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering or on any control list of a similar nature of any governmental authority (collectively, the "<u>Sanctions Lists</u>") or in violation of any Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Corruption Law.

**Section 5.9. <u>Audits/Inspections</u>**. Upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours and no more frequently than once during any fiscal year upon reasonable advance notice through the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the Borrower will permit representatives appointed by the Administrative Agent, including, without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys, and appraisers to visit and inspect the Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' property, including their books and records, their accounts receivable and inventory, the Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' facilities and their 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 its representatives to discuss all such matters with the officers, employees and representatives of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; <u>provided</u>, <u>however</u>, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours.

**ARTICLE VI** 

**<u>NEGATIVE COVENANTS</u>**

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or any Obligation remains outstanding:

**Section 6.1. <u>Nature of Business</u>**. The Borrower will not materially alter the character of its business from that conducted as of the Closing Date.

**Section 6.2. <u>Consolidation and Merger</u>**. 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) unless (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such proposed transaction or would result therefrom, and (ii) if the successor entity is a Person other than the Borrower, (A) such successor entity assumes, pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, all obligations and liabilities of the Borrower under the Credit Documents, (B) such successor entity is a corporation or limited liability company formed under the laws of the United States of America, one of the states thereof or the District of Columbia, (C) the Borrower provides notice of such transaction at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the consummation thereof, and (D) the Lenders shall have received, and be reasonably satisfied with, all documentation and other information with respect to such successor that the Administrative Agent reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable "know your customer" and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act, to the extent such documentation or information is requested by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders prior to the date of such proposed transaction.

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**Section 6.3. <u>Sale or Lease of Assets</u>**. Within any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of assets, business or operations (excluding the sale of assets in the ordinary course of business) with a net book value in excess of 25% of Total Assets as calculated as of the end of the most recent such fiscal quarter.

**Section 6.4. <u>Arm's-Length Transactions</u>**. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, 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; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (i) intercompany transactions between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or between Subsidiaries and (ii) the payment or grant of reasonable compensation, benefits and indemnities to any director, officer, employee or agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

**Section 6.5. <u>[Reserved</u>**].

**Section 6.6. <u>Liens</u>**. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Material 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 after acquired, except for the following: (a) Liens securing Obligations, (b) Liens for Taxes not yet due or Liens for Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves, if required, 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 action and for which adequate reserves, if required, 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 or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments, (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 on any assets securing indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring, developing, operating, constructing, altering, repairing or improving all or part of such assets; provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof, completion of construction, improvement or repair, or commencement of commercial operation of such assets, (k) any Lien on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and not created in contemplation of such event, (l) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and not created in

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**ARTICLE VII** 

**<u>EVENTS OF DEFAULT</u>**

**Section 7.1. <u>Events of Default</u>.** An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an "<u>Event of Default</u>"):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) <u>Payment</u>. The Borrower shall default in the payment (i) when due of any principal of any of the Loans or (ii) within three Business Days of when due of any interest on the Loans or of any fees owing hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents or (iii) within ten days of when due of any other amounts owing hereunder, under any of the other Credit Documents or in connection herewith.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) <u>Representations</u>. 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 (including without limitation the certificate delivered pursuant to <u>Section</u> <u>3.1(b)(vi))</u> shall prove untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was deemed to have been made.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) <u>Covenants</u>. The Borrower shall:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in <u>Sections 5.2</u>, <u>5.3</u> (as to maintenance of existence of the Borrower only), <u>5.8(b)</u> or <u>6.1</u> through <u>6.6</u> inclusive; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in <u>Section</u> <u>5.1</u> and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days after the earlier of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the Administrative Agent; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b), (c)(i), or (c)(ii) of this <u>Section</u> <u>7.1</u>) contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the earlier of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the Administrative Agent.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) <u>Credit Documents</u>. The Borrower shall default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement in any of the other Credit Documents and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the earlier of (i) the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the Administrative Agent or (ii) any Credit Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or the Borrower shall so assert.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) <u>Bankruptcy, etc</u>. The occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any of its Material 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 Material Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar 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 Material Subsidiaries or for any substantial part of its property or order the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or (ii) an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect is commenced against the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries and such petition remains unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or any substantial part of its property or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or any action shall be taken by such Person in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) <u>Defaults under Other Agreements</u>. With respect to Material Indebtedness (A) the Borrower shall (1) default in any payment (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) with respect to any such indebtedness, or (2) 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 of the holders of such indebtedness (or trustee or agent on behalf of such holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice or lapse of time is required) any such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (B) any such indebtedness shall be declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment, or by a mandatory prepayment upon specified events or conditions, in each case, prior to the stated maturity thereof; or (C) any such indebtedness shall mature and remain unpaid.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) <u>Judgments</u>. One or more final judgments, orders, or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower involving a liability of $100,000,000 or more, in the aggregate (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by a carrier who has acknowledged coverage) and such judgments, orders or decrees shall continue unsatisfied, undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 days; provided that if such judgment, order or decree provides for periodic payments over time then the Borrower shall have a grace period of 30 days with respect to each such periodic payment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) <u>ERISA</u>. The occurrence of any of the following events or conditions if any of the same would be reasonably expected to result in a liability of an amount greater than or equal to $20,000,000: (A) any "accumulated funding deficiency," as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any lien shall arise on the assets of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (B) a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (C) a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in (i) the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (D) any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which would be reasonably expected to subject the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) <u>Change of Control</u>. The occurrence of any Change of Control.

**Section 7.2. <u>Acceleration; Remedies</u>**. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, and shall, upon the request and direction of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower take any of 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:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) <u>Termination of Commitments</u>. Declare the Commitments terminated whereupon the Commitments shall be immediately terminated.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) <u>Acceleration of Loans</u>. Declare the unpaid amount of all Obligations 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) <u>Enforcement of Rights</u>. Enforce any and all rights and interests created and existing under the Credit Documents or otherwise available at law or in equity, including, without limitation, all rights of set-off.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in <u>Section</u> <u>7.1(e)</u> shall occur, then the Commitments shall automatically terminate and all Loans, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid fees and other indebtedness or obligations owing to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereunder shall immediately become due and payable without the giving of any notice or other action by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

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.

**Section 7.3. <u>Allocation of Payments After Event of Default</u>**.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, but subject in all respects to <u>Section</u> <u>2.22</u>, after the occurrence 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 without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees) of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders in connection with enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit Documents, pro rata as set forth below;

SECOND, to payment of any fees owed to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, pro rata as set forth below;

THIRD, to the payment of all accrued interest payable to the Lenders hereunder, pro rata as set forth below;

FOURTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans, pro rata as set forth below;

FIFTH, to all other obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents and not repaid pursuant to clauses "FIRST" through "FOURTH" above; and

SIXTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

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In carrying out the foregoing, (a) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category and (b) each of the Lenders shall receive an amount equal to its pro rata share (based on the proportion that the then outstanding Loans held by such Lender bears to the aggregate then outstanding Loans) of amounts available to be applied.

**ARTICLE VIII** 

**THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT** 

**Section 8.1. <u>Appointment of Administrative Agent</u>**. Each Lender irrevocably appoints Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank as the Administrative Agent and authorizes it to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with all such actions and powers that are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by or through any one or more sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions set forth in this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact and the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent, any such sub-agent and any such attorney-in-fact 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.

**Section 8.2. <u>Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent</u>**. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except those discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Credit Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in <u>Section</u> <u>9.2</u>), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Credit Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by 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, its sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in <u>Section</u> <u>9.2</u>) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (which notice shall include an express reference to such event being a "Default" or "Event of Default" hereunder) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or any Lender, and 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 any Credit Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document

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delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements, or other terms and conditions set forth in any Credit Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Credit Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in <u>Article III</u> or elsewhere in any Credit Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower) concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.

**Section 8.3. <u>Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent</u>**. Each of the Lenders acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each of the Lenders also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking of any action under or based on this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

**Section 8.4. <u>Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent</u>**. If the Administrative Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act, unless and until it shall have received instructions from such Lenders; and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders where required by the terms of this Agreement.

**Section 8.5. <u>Reliance by Administrative Agent</u>**. 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 believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public 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 such counsel, accountants or experts.

**Section 8.6. <u>The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity</u>**. The bank serving as the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and any other Credit Document in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the terms "Lenders", "Required Lenders" or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity. The bank acting as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

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**Section 8.7. <u>Successor Administrative Agent</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to the approval by the Borrower provided that no Default or Event of Default shall exist at such time. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or a bank which maintains an office in the United States, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Upon the acceptance of its appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. If within 45 days after written notice is given of the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation under this <u>Section</u> <u>8.7</u> no successor Administrative Agent shall have been appointed and shall have accepted such appointment, then on such 45<sup>th</sup> day (i) the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation shall become effective, (ii) the retiring Administrative Agent shall thereupon be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Credit Documents and (iii) the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all duties of the retiring Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent and its representatives and agents in respect of any actions taken or not taken by any of them while it was serving as the Administrative Agent.

**Section 8.8. <u>Documentation Agent; Syndication Agent</u>**. Each of the Lenders and the Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Documentation Agent and the Syndication Agent shall have no duties or obligations under any Credit Documents to any Lender or the Borrower.

**Section 8.9. <u>Erroneous Payments</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender or other holder of any Obligations (each, a "<u>Lender Party</u>") or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender Party (any such Lender Party or other recipient, a "<u>Payment Recipient</u>") that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under <u>Section</u> <u>8.9(b)</u>) that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to any Payment Recipient) (any such funds, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an "<u>Erroneous Payment</u>") and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and such Payment Recipient shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to

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the Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this <u>clause (a)</u> shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Without limiting <u>Section</u> <u>8.9(a)</u>, if any Payment Recipient receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) that (x) is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, (y) was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) in each case.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) (A) in the case of immediately preceding <u>clauses (x)</u> or <u>(y)</u>, an error shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) an error has been made (in the case of immediately preceding <u>clause (z)</u>), in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) such Payment Recipient shall (and shall cause any other recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf to) promptly (and, in all events, within one Business Day of its knowledge of such error) notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this <u>Section</u> <u>8.9(b)</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Each Lender Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender Party under any Credit Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender Party from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding <u>clause (a)</u> or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The parties hereto agree that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on "discharge for value" or any similar doctrine.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) Each party's obligations, agreements and waivers under this <u>Section</u> <u>8.9</u> shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Credit Document.

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**ARTICLE IX** 

<u>MISCELLANEOUS</u> 

**Section 9.1. <u>Notices</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail, sent by telecopy or to the extent permitted below, by email as follows:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| To the Borrower: | Atmos Energy Corporation |
|  | Three Lincoln Centre, Suite 1800<br> 5430 LBJ Freeway |
|  | Dallas, Texas 75240 |
|  | Attention: Chief Financial Officer |
|  | Telecopy Number: (972) 855-3793 |
|  | Email Address:<br> Chris.Forsythe@atmosenergy.com |
| With a copy to: | Atmos Energy Corporation |
|  | 700 Three Lincoln Centre<br> 5430 LBJ Freeway |
|  | Dallas, Texas 75240 |
|  | Attention: Treasurer |
|  | Telecopy Number: (214) 550-9326 |
|  | Email Address:<br> <u>daniel.meziere@atmosenergy.com</u><br>|
| and | Atmos Energy Corporation |
|  | Three Lincoln Centre, Suite 1800<br> 5430 LBJ Freeway |
|  | Dallas, Texas 75240 |
|  | Attention: General Counsel |
|  | Telecopy Number: (972) 855-3080 |
|  | Email address:<br> <u>Karen.Hartsfield@atmosenergy.com</u><br>|
| To the Administrative Agent: | U.S. Bank National Association |
|  | 1095 Avenue of the Americas<br> 15th Floor |
|  | New York, NY 10036 |
|  | Attention: Ann Marie Griffiths |
|  | Email Addresses: |
|  | <u>annmarie.gordon@usbank.com;</u><br> <u>agencyserviceslcmshared@usbank.com</u> |
|  | Tel: (917) 326-3990 |

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To any other Lender: the address set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire or the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such Lender

Notices and other communications hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to <u>Article II</u> if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender's receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the "return receipt requested" function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mail or if delivered, upon delivery; provided, that notices delivered to the Administrative Agent shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this <u>Section</u> <u>9.1</u> during normal business hours for such Person, or if received after normal business hours for such Person, such notice shall be effective on the next Business Day.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Any agreement of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Borrower to give such notice and the Administrative Agent and Lenders shall not have any liability to the Borrower or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and all other Obligations hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to extend, convert or continue Loans and to transfer funds based on oral or written requests, including Notices of Borrowing and Notices of Conversion/Continuation via telephone. The Administrative Agent may rely upon, and shall incur no liability for relying upon, any oral or written requests that

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the Administrative Agent believes to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by an authorized person. Upon request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall promptly confirm each oral notice in writing (which may include email), authenticated by a Financial Officer. If the written confirmation differs in any material respect from the action taken by the Administrative Agent, the records of the Administrative Agent shall govern absent manifest error.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the "<u>Platform</u>"). The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available". The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, 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 Communications of the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the "<u>Agent Parties</u>") have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of Borrower's or the Administrative Agent's transmission of Communications through the Platform. "<u>Communications</u>" means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material that the Borrower provides to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Credit Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through the Platform.

**Section 9.2. <u>Waiver; Amendments</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or 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 such right or power or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.2</u>, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents (excluding (i) amendments made pursuant to and in accordance with Section 2.13(b) and (ii) amendments or waivers of provisions of the Fee Letters, each of which may be amended by written agreement executed by each of the parties thereto), nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders and then such waiver or consent

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shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; <u>provided</u>, that no amendment or waiver shall: (i) increase or reinstate the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change the definition of "Pro Rata Share" or <u>Section</u> <u>2.18(b)</u> or <u>(c)</u> in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.2</u> or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender; (vi) release any guarantor or limit the liability of any such guarantor under any guaranty agreement, without the written consent of each Lender other than Defaulting Lenders; (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations, without the written consent of each Lender other than Defaulting Lenders; <u>provided further</u>, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Administrative Agent without the prior written consent of such Person. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated (but such Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of <u>Sections 2.15</u>, <u>2.16</u>, <u>2.17</u> and <u>9.3</u>), such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.

**Section 9.3. <u>Expenses; Indemnification</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates**,** including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Credit Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be consummated), and (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel and the allocated cost of inside counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this <u>Section</u> <u>9.3</u>, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Joint Lead Arrangers, each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an "<u>Indemnitee</u>") against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Credit

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Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any liability arising under the Environmental Laws related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (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, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, <u>provided</u> that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) 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 or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee's obligations hereunder or under any other Credit Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 9.3 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) [Reserved].

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid to the Administrative Agent under clauses (a), (b) or (c) hereof, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such Lender's Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; <u>provided</u>, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified payment, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Joint Lead Arrangers, each Lender and each Related Person of any of the foregoing, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, any Loan or the use of proceeds thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) All amounts due under this <u>Section</u> <u>9.3</u> shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

**Section 9.4. <u>Successors and Assigns</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The provisions of this 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 assignee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing

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in this 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 paragraph (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); <u>provided</u> that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) <u>Minimum Amounts</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(A) 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, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(B) in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans and Credit Exposure outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans and Credit Exposure of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if "Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Acceptance, as of the "Trade Date") shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) <u>Proportionate Amounts</u>. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans, Credit Exposure or the Commitment assigned.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) <u>Required Consents</u>. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) 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; <u>provided</u> that, the Borrower will be deemed to have provided consent if it fails to approve or disapprove of such assignment within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which it receives notice thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) <u>Assignment and Acceptance</u>. The parties to each assignment shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) a duly executed Assignment and Acceptance, (B) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (unless waived by the Administrative Agent), (C) an Administrative Questionnaire unless the assignee is already a Lender and (D) the documents required under <u>Sections 2.17(e)</u> and <u>2.17(f)</u> if such assignee is a Foreign Lender.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) <u>No Assignment to Borrower</u>. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vi) <u>No Assignment to Natural Persons or Defaulting Lender</u>. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person (or an investment vehicle or trust for the primary benefit of a natural person or relatives of a natural person) or a Defaulting Lender or an Affiliate thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vii) <u>Certain Additional Payments</u>. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.4</u>, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections <u>2.15</u>, <u>2.16</u>, <u>2.17</u> and <u>9.3</u> with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.4</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and Credit Exposure owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "<u>Register</u>"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, 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 Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender (as to its commitment only), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) 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 an investment vehicle or trust for the primary benefit of a natural person or relatives of a natural person), the Borrower, any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries or any Defaulting Lender) (each, a "<u>Participant</u>") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); <u>provided</u> that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) 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 Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; <u>provided</u> that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to the following to the extent affecting such Participant: (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change <u>Section</u> <u>2.18(b)</u> or <u>(c)</u> in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.4</u> or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender; (vi) release any guarantor or limit the liability of any such guarantor under any guaranty agreement without the written consent of each Lender except to the extent such release is expressly provided under the terms of this Agreement or such guaranty agreement; or (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations. Subject to paragraph (e) of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.4</u>, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections <u>2.15</u>, <u>2.16</u>, and <u>2.17</u> to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.4</u>, <u>provided</u>, that such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of <u>Sections 2.19</u> and <u>2.20</u> as if it were an assignee hereunder, further, to the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of <u>Section</u> <u>9.7</u> as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u> as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary 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 this Agreement and other Credit Documents (the "<u>Participant Register</u>"); *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 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,

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Loan 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under <u>Section</u> <u>2.15</u> and <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u> 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 <u>Section</u> <u>2.17</u> 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 <u>Sections 2.17(e)</u> and <u>2.17(f)</u> as though it were a Lender.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any other central bank or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any Lender or its parent; <u>provided</u> 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.

**Section 9.5. <u>Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process</u>.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) This Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof, except for Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law) of the State of New York**.** 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and of any state court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in paragraph (b) of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.5</u> and brought in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.5</u>. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in <u>Section</u> <u>9.1</u>, provided that such service of process is delivered only by overnight courier, signature required. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Credit Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

**Section 9.6. <u>WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL</u>**. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

**Section 9.7. <u>Right of Setoff</u>**. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Lender shall have the right, at any time or from time to time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without prior notice to the Borrower, with the prior consent of the Administrative Agent, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply against all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of the Borrower at any time held or other obligations at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations held by such Lender irrespective of whether such Lender shall have made demand hereunder and although such Obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower after any such set-off and any application made by such Lender; <u>provided</u>, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. Each Lender agrees to apply all amounts collected from any such set-off to the Obligations before applying such amounts to any other indebtedness or other obligations owed by the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries to such Lender.

**Section 9.8. <u>Counterparts; Integration; Document Imaging; Telecopy and PDF Signatures; Electronic Signatures</u>**.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement or any other Credit Document by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail in pdf format shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) This Agreement, the Fee Letters, the other Credit Documents, and any separate letter agreement(s) relating to any fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matters.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Each party agrees that the electronic signatures, whether digital or encrypted, of the parties included in this Agreement are intended to authenticate this writing and to have the same force and effect as manual signatures. Electronic signature and, when used elsewhere in this Agreement, "electronic transmission," means any electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed and adopted by a party with the intent to sign such record, including facsimile or email electronic signatures.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Without notice to or consent of the Borrower, the Administrative may create electronic images of any Credit Documents and destroy paper originals of any such imaged documents. Such images have the same legal force and effect as the paper originals and are enforceable against the Borrower and any other parties thereto. If the Administrative Agent agrees, in its sole discretion, to accept delivery by telecopy or PDF of an executed counterpart of a signature page of any Credit Document or other document required to be delivered under the Credit Documents, such delivery will be valid and effective as delivery of an original manually executed counterpart of such document for all purposes. If the Administrative Agent agrees, in its sole discretion, to accept any electronic signatures of any Credit Document or other document required to be delivered under the Credit Documents, the words "execution," "signed," and "signature," and words of like import, in or referring to any document so signed will deemed to include electronic signatures and/or the keeping of records in electronic form, which will be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature and/or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including ESRA, E-SIGN, or any other state laws based on, or similar in effect to, such acts. The Administrative Agent may rely on any such electronic signatures without further inquiry.

**Section 9.9. <u>Survival</u>**. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of <u>Sections 2.15</u>, <u>2.16</u>, <u>2.17</u>, and <u>9.3</u> and <u>Article VIII</u> shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. All representations and warranties made herein, in the certificates, reports, notices, and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and the making of the Loans.

**Section 9.10. <u>Severability</u>**. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

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**Section 9.11. <u>Confidentiality</u>**. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of any Information, except that such Information may be disclosed (i) to any Related Party of the Administrative Agent or any such Lender, including without limitation accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, (ii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iii) to the extent requested by any regulatory agency or authority or self-regulatory organization, (iv) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.11</u>, or which becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (vi) subject to provisions substantially similar to this <u>Section</u> <u>9.11</u>, to any actual or prospective assignee or Participant, or to any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap or derivative transaction or any credit insurance provider, in each case, relating to Borrower and its obligations, (vii) on a confidential basis to (a) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or the facilities or (b) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the facilities, or (viii) with the consent of the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of any information as provided for in this <u>Section</u> <u>9.11</u> 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 its own confidential information. For the purposes of this Section, "<u>Information</u>" means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; <u>provided</u> that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Each Lender acknowledges that all information, including requests for waivers and amendments, furnished by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to or in connection with, or in the course of administering, this Agreement will be syndicate-level information, which may contain MNPI. Each Lender represents to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that (a) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of MNPI and that it will handle MNPI in accordance with such procedures and applicable law, including Federal, state and foreign securities laws, and (b) it has identified in its administrative questionnaire a credit contact who may receive information that may contain MNPI in accordance with its compliance procedures and applicable law, including Federal, state and foreign securities laws.

**Section 9.12. <u>Interest Rate Limitation</u>**. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which may be treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the "<u>Charges</u>"), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate of interest (the "<u>Maximum Rate"</u>) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by a Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this <u>Section</u> <u>9.12</u> shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

**Section 9.13. <u>Waiver of Effect of Corporate Seal</u>**<u>.</u> The Borrower represents and warrants that it is not required to affix its corporate seal to this Agreement or any other Credit Document pursuant to any requirement of law or regulation, agrees that this Agreement is delivered by Borrower under seal and waives any shortening of the statute of limitations that may result from not affixing the corporate seal to this Agreement or such other Credit Documents.

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**Section 9.14. <u>PATRIOT Act</u>.** 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 the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, provide to the extent commercially reasonable, such information and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to assist the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the PATRIOT Act.**<u> </u>**

**Section 9.15. <u>No Fiduciary Duty</u>.** The Administrative Agent, the Documentation Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the "<u>Lenders</u>"), may have economic interests that conflict with those of Borrower. Borrower agrees that nothing in the Credit Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Lenders and Borrower, its stockholders or its affiliates. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents are arm's-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and Borrower, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each of the Lenders is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of Borrower, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other person, (iii) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender or any of its affiliates has advised or is currently advising Borrower on other matters) or any other obligation to Borrower except the obligations expressly set forth in the Credit Documents and (iv) Borrower has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. Borrower further acknowledges and agrees that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. Borrower agrees that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to Borrower, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

**Section 9.16. <u>Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions</u>**. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Credit Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Credit Document; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

**Section 9.17. <u>Certain ERISA Matters</u>**. (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) such Lender is not using "plan assets" (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender's entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender's entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a "Qualified Professional Asset Manager" (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender's entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender's entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Credit Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

**Section 9.18. <u>Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs</u>**. To the extent that the Credit Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedging Transactions or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, "<u>QFC Credit Support</u>" and each such QFC a "<u>Supported QFC</u>"), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the "<u>U.S. Special Resolution Regimes</u>") in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Credit Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a "<u>Covered Party</u>") becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Credit Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Credit Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) As used in this <u>Section</u> <u>9.18</u>, the following terms have the following meanings:

"<u>BHC Act Affiliate</u>" of a party means an "affiliate" (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.

"<u>Covered Entity</u>" means any of the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) a "covered entity" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b)

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) a "covered bank" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) a "covered FSI" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). "<u>Default Right</u>" has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. "<u>QFC</u>" has the meaning assigned to the term "qualified financial contract" in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

*(remainder of page left intentionally blank)* 

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**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION**, as Borrower | **ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION**, as Borrower |
| By: | /s/ Christopher T. Forsythe |
| Name: | Christopher T. Forsythe |
| Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]*

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **U.S. BANK NATIONAL BANK,**<br> as Administrative Agent and as a Lender | **U.S. BANK NATIONAL BANK,**<br> as Administrative Agent and as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ John M. Eyerman |
|  | Name: John M. Eyerman |
|  | Title: Senior Vice President |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,**<br> as a Lender | **MIZUHO BANK, LTD.,**<br> as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Edward Sacks |
|  | Name: Edward Sacks |
|  | Title: Authorized Signatory |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **COBANK, ACB**, as a Lender | **COBANK, ACB**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Ken Krebs |
|  | Name: Ken Krebs |
|  | Title: Managing Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK**, as a Lender | **CREDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Page Dillehunt |
|  | Name: Page Dillehunt |
|  | Title: Managing Director |
| By: | /s/ Dixon Schultz |
|  | Name: Dixon Schultz |
|  | Title: Managing Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **BNP PARIBAS**, as a Lender | **BNP PARIBAS**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Denis O'Meara |
|  | Name: Denis O'Meara |
|  | Title: Managing Director |
| By: | /s/ Victor Padilla |
|  | Name: Victor Padilla |
|  | Title: Vice President |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, NEW YORK BRANCH**, as a Lender | **CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, NEW YORK BRANCH**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Ann Abraham |
|  | Name: Ann Abraham |
|  | Title: Executive Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A**., as a Lender | **JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A**., as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Nancy R. Barwig |
|  | Name: Nancy R. Barwig |
|  | Title: Executive Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **MUFG BANK, LTD**., as a Lender | **MUFG BANK, LTD**., as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Ricky Vargas |
|  | Name: Ricky Vargas |
|  | Title: Vice President |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **TRUIST BANK**, as a Lender | **TRUIST BANK**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Justin Lien |
|  | Name: Justin Lien |
|  | Title: Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **REGIONS BANK**, as a Lender | **REGIONS BANK**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Tedrick Tarver |
|  | Name: Tedrick Tarver |
|  | Title: Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH**, as a Lender | **THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Liana Chernysheva |
|  | Name: Liana Chernysheva |
|  | Title: Authorized Signatory |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION**, as a Lender | **WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION**, as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Jesse Tannuzo |
|  | Name: Jesse Tannuzo |
|  | Title: Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **BANK OF AMERICA, N.A**., as a Lender | **BANK OF AMERICA, N.A**., as a Lender |
| By: | /s/ Christopher J. Heitker |
|  | Name: Christopher J. Heitker |
|  | Title: Director |

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*[Signature Page to Term Loan Agreement]* 

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**Schedule I** 

**<u>COMMITMENT AMOUNTS</u>**

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Lender** | **Commitment Amount** |
|  U.S. Bank National Association | $225000000 |
|  Mizuho Bank, Ltd. | $225000000 |
|  CoBank, ACB | $400000000 |
|  Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank | $175000000 |
|  BNP Paribas | $115000000 |
|  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, New York Branch | $115000000 |
|  JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | $115000000 |
|  MUFG Bank, Ltd. | $115000000 |
|  Regions Bank | $115000000 |
|  The Toronto-Dominion Bank, New York Branch | $115000000 |
|  Truist Bank | $115000000 |
|  Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | $115000000 |
|  Bank of America, N.A. | $75000000 |
|  **TOTAL** | $**2020000000** |

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**[SCHEDULE I]** 

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**SCHEDULE 4.21** 

**SUBSIDIARIES<sup>(1)</sup>** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Name** | **State or Country of<br>Formation** |
| BLUE FLAME INSURANCE SERVICES, LTD | Bermuda |
| (wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy Corporation) |  |
| ATMOS ENERGY KANSAS SECURITIZATION I, LLC | Delaware |
| (wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy Corporation) |  |
| ATMOS ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC. | Delaware |
| (wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy Corporation) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ATMOS ENERGY SERVICES, LLC | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a limited liability company, wholly-owned by Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ATMOS ENERGY LOUISIANA INDUSTRIAL GAS, LLC | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a limited liability company, wholly-owned by Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; EGASCO, LLC | Texas |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a limited liability company, wholly-owned by Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ATMOS POWER SYSTEMS, INC. | Georgia |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ATMOS PIPELINE AND STORAGE, LLC | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a limited liability company, wholly-owned by Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; UCG STORAGE, INC. | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (wholly-owned by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; WKG STORAGE, INC. | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (wholly-owned by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ATMOS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION, INC. | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (wholly-owned by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TRANS LOUISIANA GAS PIPELINE, INC. | Louisiana |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (wholly-owned by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC) |  |

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**[SCHEDULE 4.21]** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TRANS LOUISIANA GAS STORAGE, INC. | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (wholly-owned by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; FORT NECESSITY GAS STORAGE, LLC | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a limited liability company, wholly-owned by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ATMOS GATHERING COMPANY, LLC | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (a limited liability company, wholly-owned by Atmos Pipeline and Storage, LLC) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; PHOENIX GAS GATHERING COMPANY | Delaware |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (wholly-owned by Atmos Gathering Company, LLC) |  |

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<sup>(1)</sup> No Subsidiary of the Borrower currently qualifies as a Material Subsidiary as that term is defined in the Agreement.

**[SCHEDULE 4.21]**