Document:

exhibit102.htm

 

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

	  
	
 

	  
	  
	
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of November 23, 2010

 

among

 

CLECO POWER LLC,

as Borrower

 

The Lenders Party Hereto

 

CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT

BANK AND KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agents

 

 

JPMORGAN SECURITIES LLC, CRÉDIT AGRICOLE

CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK AND

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Lead Arrangers and Book Runner

 

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Documentation Agents

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

	  
	  

 

  

  

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

	
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS

 

	
1

	
Section 1.1

	
Defined Terms

	
1

	
Section 1.2

	
Classification of Loans and Borrowings

	
19

	
Section 1.3

	
Terms Generally

	
19

	
Section 1.4

	
Accounting Terms; GAAP

	
19

	
Section 1.5

	
Rounding

 

	
20

	
ARTICLE 2. THE CREDITS

 

	
20

	
Section 2.1

	
Commitments

	
20

	
Section 2.2

	
Loans and Borrowings

	
20

	
Section 2.3

	
Requests for Borrowings.

	
21

	
Section 2.4

	
Funding of Borrowings.

	
21

	
Section 2.5

	
Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments

	
22

	
Section 2.6

	
Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

	
24

	
Section 2.7

	
Prepayment of Loans

	
24

	
Section 2.8

	
Letters of Credit

	
25

	
Section 2.9

	
Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

	
28

	
Section 2.10

	
Defaulting Lenders

 

	
30

	
ARTICLE 3. INTEREST, FEES, YIELD PROTECTION, ETC.

 

	
32

	
Section 3.1

	
Interest

	
32

	
Section 3.2

	
Interest Elections Relating to Borrowings

	
32

	
Section 3.3

	
Fees

	
33

	
Section 3.4

	
Alternate Rate of Interest

	
34

	
Section 3.5

	
Increased Costs; Illegality

	
35

	
Section 3.6

	
Break Funding Payments

	
37

	
Section 3.7

	
Taxes

	
37

	
Section 3.8

	
Mitigation Obligations

 

	
40

	
ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

	
41

	
Section 4.1

	
Organization; Powers

	
41

	
Section 4.2

	
Authorization; Enforceability

	
41

	
Section 4.3

	
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

	
41

	
Section 4.4

	
Financial Condition

	
41

	
Section 4.5

	
Litigation

	
42

	
Section 4.6

	
Environmental Matters

	
42

	
Section 4.7

	
Investment Company Status

	
42

	
Section 4.8

	
ERISA

	
42

	
Section 4.9

	
Disclosure

	
43

	
Section 4.10

	
Subsidiaries

	
43

	
Section 4.11

	
Federal Reserve Regulations, etc.

 

	
43

	
ARTICLE 5. CONDITIONS

 

	
43

	
Section 5.1

	
Effective Date

	
43

	
Section 5.2

	
Each Credit Event

 

	
45

	
ARTICLE 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

	
45

	
Section 6.1

	
Financial Statements and Other Information

	
45

	
Section 6.2

	
Notices of Material Events

	
46

	
Section 6.3

	
Legal Existence

	
47

	
Section 6.4

	
Taxes

	
47

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

	
Section 6.5

	
Insurance

	
47

	
Section 6.6

	
Condition of Property

	
48

	
Section 6.7

	
Observance of Legal Requirements

	
48

	
Section 6.8

	
Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions

	
48

	
Section 6.9

	
Nature of Business

	
48

	
Section 6.10

	
Use of Proceeds

 

	
48

	
ARTICLE 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

	
49

	
Section 7.1

	
Liens

	
49

	
Section 7.2

	
Merger; Consolidation; Sale of Assets.

	
51

	
Section 7.3

	
Financial Covenant

 

	
52

	
ARTICLE 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

	
52

	
ARTICLE 9. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

	
54

	
ARTICLE 10. MISCELLANEOUS

 

	
56

	
Section 10.1

	
Notices

	
56

	
Section 10.2

	
Waivers; Amendments

	
57

	
Section 10.3

	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

	
58

	
Section 10.4

	
Successors and Assigns

	
60

	
Section 10.5

	
Survival

	
63

	
Section 10.6

	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

	
63

	
Section 10.7

	
Severability

	
63

	
Section 10.8

	
Right of Set-off

	
64

	
Section 10.9

	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

	
64

	
Section 10.10

	
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

	
64

	
Section 10.11

	
Headings

	
65

	
Section 10.12

	
Interest Rate Limitation

	
65

	
Section 10.13

	
Advertisement

	
65

	
Section 10.14

	
USA Patriot Act Notice

	
65

	
Section 10.15

	
Treatment of Certain Information

	
65

	
Section 10.16

	
No Fiduciary Duty.

	
66

 

  

(ii)

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement

  

 

 

SCHEDULES:

 

	
Schedule 2.1

	
List of Commitments

	
Schedule 4.5/4.6

	
Disclosed Matters

	
Schedule 4.10

	
List of Subsidiaries

EXHIBITS:

	
Exhibit A

	
Form of Assignment and Assumption

	
Exhibit B

	
Form of Credit Request

	
Exhibit C

	
Form of Note

	
Exhibit D

	
Form of Compliance Certificate

	
Exhibit E

	
Form of Increase Supplement

 

 

  

(iii)

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of November 23, 2010, is made by and among CLECO POWER LLC, the Lenders party hereto, CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND INVESTMENT BANK AND KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as syndication agents hereunder, DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as documentation agents hereunder, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as Administrative Agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE 1.

 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

“ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Alternate Base Rate shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be an ABR Loan and not a Eurodollar Loan.

 

“Accountants” means PricewaterhouseCoopers, L.L.P. or another registered public accounting firm of recognized national standing.

 

“Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to (i) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (ii) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

“Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agents and the Documentation Agents.

 

“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%, and(iii) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1% per annum (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page 1 (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day).  Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.

 

“Applicable Margin” means, at all times from and after the Effective Date and during the periods in which the applicable Pricing Level set forth below is in effect: (i) with respect to ABR Borrowings, the percentage set forth in the following table under the heading “ABR Margin”, (ii) with respect to Eurodollar Borrowings and the Letter of Credit participation fee payable under Section 3.3(b)(i), the percentage set forth in the following table under the heading “Eurodollar Margin and LC Fee”, and (iii) with respect to facility fees payable under Section 3.3(a), the percentage set forth in the following table under the heading “Facility Fee”:

 

	
Pricing Level

 

	
ABR Margin

	
Eurodollar Margin

and LC Fee

 

	
 

Facility Fee

	
Pricing Level I

	
0.550%

	
1.550%

	
0.200%

	
Pricing Level II

	
0.750%

	
1.750%

	
0.250%

	
Pricing Level III

	
0.900%

	
1.900%

	
0.350%

	
Pricing Level IV

	
1.050%

	
2.050%

	
0.450%

	
Pricing Level V

	
1.250%

	
2.250%

	
0.500%

	
Pricing Level VI

	
1.875%

	
2.875%

	
0.625%

Changes in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Pricing Level shall become effective on the effective date of any change in the Senior Debt Rating from S&P or Moody’s.  Notwithstanding anything in clause (a) of this definition to the contrary, in the event of a split in the Senior Debt Rating from S&P and Moody’s that would otherwise result in the application of more than one Pricing Level (had the provisions regarding the applicability of other Pricing Levels contained in the definitions thereof not been given effect), then the Applicable Margin shall be determined as follows: (i) in the event of a split in the Senior Debt Rating from S&P and Moody’s by one rating level, then the Applicable Margin shall be determined using the Pricing Level within which the higher of the two rating categories would otherwise fall, and (ii) in the event of a split in the Senior Debt Rating from S&P and Moody’s by more than one rating level, then the Applicable Margin shall be determined using the Pricing Level within which the next highest level above the lower of the two rating categories would otherwise fall.  If the rating system of S&P or Moody’s shall change, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall negotiate in good faith to amend the definition of “Pricing Level” to reflect such changed rating system and, pending the effectiveness of such amendment (which shall require the approval of the Required Lenders), the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change.

 

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment; provided that in the case of Section 2.10 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the total Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitments) represented by such Lender’s Commitments.  If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of such determination.

 

“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in commercial loans, any other fund that invests in commercial loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

 

  

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“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit A or in such other form as shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and, if different, the date of termination of the Commitments.

 

“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person 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 Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

“Borrower” means Cleco Power LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company.

 

“Borrowing” means Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed, provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

 

“Capital Lease Obligations” means with respect to any Person, obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP, provided, however, no power purchase agreement with an independent power producer or a power producer which is not an Affiliate of Borrower shall constitute a Capital Lease Obligation.

 

 “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the consummation of any transaction the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of more than 50% of the total voting power in the aggregate of all classes of the Voting Securities of the Parent then outstanding, or (ii) the occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of 

 

 

 

  

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Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

directors of the Parent by Persons who were neither nominated by the board of directors of the Parent nor appointed by directors so nominated.

 

“Change in Law” means (i) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the Effective Date, (ii) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Effective Date or (iii) compliance by any Credit Party (or, for purposes of Section 3.5(b), by any lending office of such Credit Party or by such Credit Party’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Effective Date; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith shall be deemed to be a Change in Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder in an aggregate outstanding amount not exceeding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment as set forth on Schedule 2.1 plus, the amount of any increase set forth in each Increase Supplement executed and delivered by such Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment in accordance with Section 10.4(b), as applicable, as such Commitment may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 2.5 or pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.4.  The initial aggregate amount of the Commitments on the Effective Date is $300,000,000.

 

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  The terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

“Credit Event” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.2.

 

“Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.

 

“Credit Parties” means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders.

 

“Credit Request” means a Credit Request, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, or in such other form as shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or that upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender, as determined by the Administrative Agent (or if the Administrative Agent is the Defaulting Lender, by the Required Lenders), that (a) has failed, within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such 

 

  

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Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party (based on the reasonable belief that it may not fulfill its funding obligation), acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event.

 

 “Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits, proceedings and environmental matters disclosed in (i) Schedule 4.5/4.6, (ii) the current and periodic reports filed by the Borrower from time to time with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or (iii) disclosed by the Borrower to the Lenders (either directly or indirectly through the Administrative Agent) in writing.

 

“Disqualified Stock” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event, matures (excluding any maturity as a result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the unconditional sole option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests which do not constitute Disqualified Stock), in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is one year after the Maturity Date.  The term “Disqualified Stock” shall also include any options, warrants or other rights that are convertible into Disqualified Stock or that are redeemable at the option of the holder, or required to be redeemed, prior to the date that is 180 days after the Maturity Date.

 

“Documentation Agents” means, collectively, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and U.S. Bank National Association, in their capacities as documentation agents for the Lenders hereunder.

 

“dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

 

“Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1.

 

“Eligible Assignees” means any of the following (i) any commercial banks, finance companies, insurance companies and other financial institutions and funds (whether a corporation, partnership or other entity) engaged generally in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business, provided that such entity has been approved by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of assignment to such entity, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and provided further that any such entity shall be entitled, as of the date such entity becomes a Lender, to receive payments under its Note without deduction or 

 

  

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Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

 

withholding with respect to United States federal income tax, (ii) each of the Lenders and (iii) any Affiliate or Approved Fund of a Lender, and each is an “Eligible Assignee”.

 

“Environment” means ambient air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, the workplace or as otherwise defined in any Environmental Law.

 

“Environmental Claim” means any written accusation, allegation, notice of violation, claim, demand, order, directive, cost recovery action or other cause of action by, or on behalf of, any Governmental Authority or any Person for damages, injunctive or equitable relief, personal injury (including sickness, disease or death), Remedial Action costs, tangible or intangible property damage, natural resource damages, nuisance, pollution, any adverse effect on the environment caused by any Hazardous Material, or for fines, penalties or restrictions, resulting from or based upon (i) the existence, or the continuation of the existence, of a Release (including sudden or non-sudden, accidental or non-accidental Releases), (ii) exposure to any Hazardous Material, (iii) the presence, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Material or (iv) the violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit.

 

“Environmental Law” means any and all applicable present and future treaties, laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the presence, management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

“Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, authorization, certificate, license, variance, filing or permission required by or from any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

“Equity Interest” means (i) shares of corporate stock, partnership interests, limited liability company membership interests, and any other interest that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distribution of assets of, the issuing Person, and (ii) all warrants, options or other rights to acquire any Equity Interest set forth in clause (i) of this defined term.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

“ERISA Event” means (i) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (ii) any failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA with respect to any Plan, whether or not waived; (iii) the incurrence by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (iv) the receipt by  the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (v) the incurrence by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or 

 

  

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Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (vi) the receipt by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

“Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Alternate Base Rate shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be an ABR Loan and not a Eurodollar Loan.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article 8.

 

“Evergreen Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit that, by its terms, provides that it shall be automatically renewed or extended for a stated period of time at the end of its then scheduled expiry date unless the Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof prior to such expiry date that the Issuing Bank elects not to renew or extend such Letter of Credit.

 

“Existing Loan Documents” means that certain First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 2, 2006 (as amended, modified or supplemented and as in effect on the Effective Date), among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and WestLB AG, New York Branch, as syndication agents, Keybank National Association, Union Bank of California, N.A., Caylon, New York Branch and CoBank, ACB, as documentation agents, and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as administrative agent thereunder, together with the notes and the documentation in respect of any letters of credit issued in connection therewith.

 

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum (expressed as a decimal, rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if the day for which such rate is to be determined is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

 

“Financial Statements” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.4(a).

 

“Finsubs” means each special purpose bankruptcy-remote Person that is a wholly-owned (directly or indirectly) Subsidiary of the Borrower organized solely for the purpose of engaging in a Securitization Financing authorized by a Securitization Statute and a Securitization Financing Order and activities related thereto, and each is a “Finsub”.

 

  

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Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and in the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statement by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied; provided, however, that in the event Borrower converts to use the International Financial Reporting Standards by the International Accounting Standards Board or other method of accounting, as may hereafter be required or permitted by the SEC, then the term “GAAP” as used in this Agreement shall be deemed to mean and refer to such International Financial Reporting Standards or such other method of accounting instead, which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, commission, exchange, association, board, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation, provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The term “Guaranteed” has a meaning correlative thereto.  The amount of any Guarantee of a Person shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Guarantee) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith, provided that, notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, the amount of any Guarantee of a Person in respect of any Hedge Agreement by any other Person with a counterparty shall be deemed to be the maximum reasonably anticipated liability of such other Person, as determined in good faith by such Person, net of any obligation or liability of such counterparty in respect of any Hedge Agreement with such Person, provided further that the obligations of such other Person under such Hedge Agreement with such counterparty shall be terminable at the election of such other Person in the event of a default by such counterparty in its obligations to such other Person.

 

 

  

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“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and 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.

 

“Hedge Agreement” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest rate, currency exchange rate or commodity price hedge, future, forward, swap, option, cap, floor, collar or similar agreement or arrangement (including both physical and financial settlement transactions).

 

“Increase Supplement” means an increase supplement in the form of Exhibit E.

 

“Increasing Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5(d).

 

“Indebtedness” means as to any Person, at a particular time, all items which constitute, without duplication, (i) indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property (excluding trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business and excluding any such obligations payable solely through the Borrower’s issuance of Equity Interests (other than the Disqualified Stock and Equity Interests convertible into Disqualified Stock)), (ii) indebtedness evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (iii) obligations with respect to any conditional sale or title retention agreement, (iv) indebtedness arising under acceptance facilities and the amount available to be drawn under all letters of credit issued for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder to the extent such Person shall not have reimbursed the issuer in respect of the issuer’s payment of such drafts, (v) all liabilities secured by any Lien on any property owned by such Person even though such Person has not assumed or otherwise become liable for the payment thereof (other than statutory Liens and Liens described in clauses (n), (o), (t) and (u) of the definition “Permitted Encumbrances”), provided that the amount of such liabilities included for purposes of this definition will be the amount equal to the lesser of the fair market value of such property and the amount of the liabilities so secured, (vi) indebtedness in respect of Disqualified Stock valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued dividends, (vii) liabilities in respect of any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, redeem, retire, acquire or make any other payment in respect of any shares of equity securities or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any shares of equity securities, (viii) obligations under Capital Lease Obligations, and (ix) Guarantees of such Person in respect of Indebtedness of others.  Regardless of whether or not any bonds or other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including any Finsub or Receivables SPC) in respect of any Securitization Financing or Receivables Financing constitutes Indebtedness under GAAP, the Indebtedness and other liabilities of such Finsub or Receivables SPC in respect of such bonds or other obligations and any credit enhancement with respect thereto shall be taken into account in calculating Indebtedness.

 

“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.3(b).

 

“Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1988, between the Borrower and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, NA (f/k/a The Bank of New York Trust Company, NA), as trustee.

 

“Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.15.

 

“Intellectual Property” means all copyrights, trademarks, servicemarks, patents, trade names and service names.

 

  

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“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 3.2.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means (i) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December, (ii) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Eurodollar Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and (iii) with respect to all Loans, the Maturity Date.

 

“Interest Period” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect, provided that (i) 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, and (ii) 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.  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.

 

“Issuing Bank” means JPMorgan Chase, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit.

 

“JPMorgan Chase” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, (i) with respect to all of the Lenders, the sum, without duplication, of (x) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (y) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time and (ii) with respect to each Lender, its Applicable Percentage of the amount determined under clause (i).

 

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.1 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption an Increase Supplement, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit (and any successive renewals thereof) issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to the Issuing Bank, the commitment of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder.  The initial amount of the Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment on the Effective Date is $300,000,000.00.

 

“LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate 

 

  

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quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period.  In the event that such rate does not appear on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service (or on any such successor or substitute page, or any successor to or substitute for such Service) at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate of interest per annum, as reported by JPMorgan Chase to the Administrative Agent, quoted by JPMorgan Chase to leading banks in the interbank eurodollar market as the rate at which JPMorgan Chase is offering Dollar deposits in an amount equal approximately to the Eurodollar Loan of JPMorgan Chase to which such Interest Period shall apply for a period equal to such Interest Period, as quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m. two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (i) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (ii) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement relating to such asset and (iii) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

“Loan” means a loan referred to in Section 2.1 and made pursuant to Section 2.4.

 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes and the documentation in respect of each Letter of Credit.

 

“LPSC” means the Louisiana Public Service Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

“LPSC Order” means that certain Order No. U-31299 dated August 27, 2010, issued by the LPSC to the Borrower with respect to Docket No. U-31299, and any renewal or replacement order thereof, together with any supplemental order thereto, authorizing the Borrower to renew its revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $300,000,000.

 

“Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

 

“Material Adverse Change” means a material adverse change in the financial condition, operations, business, prospects or property of (a) the Borrower or (b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the financial condition, operations, business, prospects or property of (a) the Borrower or (b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) the ability of the Credit Parties to enforce their rights and remedies under the Loan Documents.

 

“Material Obligations” means as of any date, Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents) or operating leases of any one or more of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or, in the case of the Borrower only, any Guarantee, in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000,000.  For purposes of determining Material Obligations, the “principal amount” of Indebtedness, operating leases or Guarantees at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount 

 

 

  

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(giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, would be required to pay if such Indebtedness, operating leases or Guarantees became due and payable on such day.

 

“Maturity Date” means November 23, 2014.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

“New Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5(d).

 

“Notes” means, with respect to each Lender, a promissory note evidencing such Lender’s Loans payable to the order of such Lender (or, if required by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

“Other Taxes” means any and all current or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution or delivery of, or performance under, or otherwise with respect to, the Loan Documents.

 

“Parent” means Cleco Corporation, a Louisiana corporation.

 

“Parent Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2010, by and among the Parent, the lenders party thereto, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and KeyBank National Association, as syndication agents thereunder, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agents thereunder, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder.

 

 “Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.4(d).

 

“Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.14.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA.

 

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or similar charges incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.4, provided that enforcement of such Liens is stayed pending such contest;

 

(b) landlords’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, contractors’, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations which are not delinquent or are being contested, provided that enforcement of such Liens is stayed pending such contest;

 

  

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(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations (but not ERISA);

 

(d) pledges and deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, purchase agreements, government contracts, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and other than promissory notes and contracts for the repayment of borrowed money;

 

(e) Liens (including contractual security interests) in favor of a financial institution (including securities firms) encumbering deposit accounts or checks or instruments for collection, commodity accounts or securities accounts (including the right of set-off) at or held by such financial institution in the ordinary course of its commercial business and which secure only liabilities owed to such financial institution arising out of or resulting from its maintenance of such account or otherwise are within the general parameters customary in the financial industry;

 

(f) maritime Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations which are not delinquent or are being contested, provided that enforcement of such Liens is stayed pending such contest;

 

(g) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of custom duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(h) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article 8;

 

(i) any interest of a lessor or licensor in property under an operating lease under which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is lessee or licensee, and any restriction or encumbrance to which the interest of such lessor or licensor is subject;

 

(j) Liens arising from filed UCC-1 financing statements relating solely to leases not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(k) leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(l) licenses of Intellectual Property granted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and not materially interfering with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(m) easements, servitudes (contractual and legal), zoning restrictions, rights of way, encroachments, minor defects and irregularities in title and other similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not render title to such property unmarketable or materially interfere with the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, to utilize their respective properties for their intended purposes;

 

(n) Liens securing obligations, neither assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary nor on account of which the Borrower or any Subsidiary customarily pays interest, upon real estate on which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has a right-of-way, easement, franchise or other 

 

  

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servitude or of which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the lessee, for the purpose of locating transmission and distribution lines and related support structures, pipe lines, substations, measuring stations, tanks, pumping or delivery equipment or similar equipment, or service buildings incidental to any of the foregoing;

 

(o) with respect to properties involved in the production of oil, gas and other minerals, unitization and pooling agreements and orders, operating agreements, royalties, reversionary interests, preferential purchase rights, farmout agreements, gas balancing agreements and other agreements, in each case that are customary in the oil, gas and mineral production business in the general area of such property and that are entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p) Liens in favor of Governmental Authorities encumbering assets acquired in connection with a government grant program, and the right reserved to, or vested in, any Governmental Authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, or permit, or by any provision of law, to purchase, condemn, recapture or designate a purchaser of any property;

 

(q) Liens on Margin Stock to the extent that a prohibition on such Liens would violate Regulation U;

 

(r) Liens on any cash collateral for Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement or for a Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure;

 

(s) customary Liens for the fees and expenses of trustees and escrow agents pursuant to any indenture, escrow agreement or similar agreement establishing a trust or escrow arrangement, and Liens on monies held by trustees in payment or construction accounts under indentures;

 

(t) agreements for and obligations (other than repayment of borrowed money) relating to the joint or common ownership, operation, and use of property, including Liens under joint venture or similar agreements securing obligations incurred in the conduct of operations or consisting of a purchase option, call or right of first refusal with respect to the Equity Interests in such jointly owned Person; and

 

(u) Liens granted on cash or invested funds constituting proceeds of any sale or disposition of property deposited into escrow accounts to secure indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations incurred in connection with such sale or disposition, in an amount not to exceed the amount of gross proceeds received from such sale or disposition.

 

 “Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

“Pricing Level” means Pricing Level I, Pricing Level II, Pricing Level III, Pricing Level IV, Pricing Level V or Pricing Level VI, as the context may require.

 

  

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“Pricing Level I” means any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Senior Debt Rating is A- or higher by S&P or A3 or higher by Moody’s.

 

“Pricing Level II” means any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Senior Debt Rating is BBB+ or higher by S&P or Baa1 or higher by Moody’s and (iii) Pricing Level I does not apply.

 

“Pricing Level III” means any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Senior Debt Rating is BBB or higher by S&P or Baa2 or higher by Moody’s and (iii) Pricing Levels I and II do not apply.

 

“Pricing Level IV” means any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Senior Debt Rating is BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s and (iii) Pricing Levels I, II and III do not apply.

 

“Pricing Level V” means any time when (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Senior Debt Rating is (x) BB+ or higher by S&P and Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or (y) BBB- or higher by S&P and Ba1 or higher by Moody’s and (iii) Pricing Levels I, II, III and IV do not apply.

 

“Pricing Level VI” means any time when none of Pricing Levels I, II, III, IV and V is applicable.

 

“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase as its prime rate at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate being effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.  The Prime Rate is not intended to be lowest rate of interest charged by JPMorgan Chase in connection with extensions of credit to borrowers.

 

 “Properties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Receivables” means accounts receivables, payment intangibles, notes receivable, rights to receive future payments and related rights of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and any supporting obligations and other financial assets related thereto (including all collateral securing such accounts receivables or other assets, contracts and contract rights, all guarantees with respect thereto, and all proceeds thereof) which are transferred, or in respect of which security interests are granted, in one or more transactions that are customary for asset securitizations of such Receivables.

 

“Receivables Securitization” means any sale, grant or contribution, or series of related sales, grants or contributions, by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of Receivables or interests therein (or purported sale, grant or contribution) to a limited liability company, business trust or other entity, where (a) the purchase of such Receivables or interests therein is funded in whole or in part by the incurrence or issuance by the purchaser, grantee or any successor entity of Debt or securities that are to receive payments from, or that represent interests in, the cash flow derived primarily from such Receivables or interests therein (provided, however, that “Debt” as used in this clause (a) shall not include Debt incurred by a Receivables SPC owed to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, which Debt represents all or a portion of the purchase price or other consideration paid by the Receivables SPC for such Receivables or interests therein), (b) any representation, warranty, covenant, recourse, repurchase, hold harmless, indemnity or similar obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable (other than the Receivables SPC that is a party to such transaction), in 

 

 

  

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respect of Receivables or interests therein sold, granted or contributed, or payments made in respect thereof, are customary for transactions of this type, and do not prevent the characterization of the transaction as a true sale under applicable laws (including debtor relief laws), and (c) any representation, warranty, covenant, recourse, repurchase, hold harmless, indemnity or similar obligations of a Receivables SPC in respect of Receivables or interests therein sold, granted or contributed, or payments made in respect thereof, are customary for transactions of this type.

 

“Receivables SPC” means a special purpose, bankruptcy-remote Person formed for the sole and exclusive purpose of engaging in activities in connection with the purchase, sale and financing of Receivables in connection with and pursuant to a Receivables Securitization.

 

“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.4(c).

 

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

“Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

“Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

“Remedial Action” means (a) “remedial action” as such term is defined in CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601(24), and (b) all other actions required by any Governmental Authority or voluntarily undertaken to: (i) clean up, remove, treat, abate or in any other way address any Hazardous Material in the environment; (ii) prevent the Release or threat of Release, or minimize the further Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not migrate or endanger or threaten to endanger public health, welfare or the environment; or (iii) perform studies and investigations in connection with, or as a precondition to, (i) or (ii) above.

 

“Required Deposit Amount” means in the event that as a result of the deposit of cash collateral with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.8(i) the Borrower (i) is not required to grant a security interest in such cash collateral to any other Person, an amount equal to the LC Exposure on the date on which cash collateral is required to be deposited, or (ii) is required to grant a security interest in such cash collateral to any other Person, an amount equal to the LC Exposure on the date on which cash collateral is required to be deposited multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of the LC Exposure plus the principal amount of all other obligations to be secured by such cash collateral and the denominator of which is the amount of such LC Exposure.

 

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having unused Commitments, LC Exposure and outstanding Loans representing more than 50% of the sum of the unused Commitments, LC Exposure and outstanding Loans of all Lenders.

 

  

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“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, or any successor thereto.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

“Securitization Financing” means an issuance of any bonds, other evidence of indebtedness or certificates of participation or beneficial interests that, in compliance with Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 2005-62, is (i) issued by a Finsub and (ii) secured by the intangible property right to collect charges for the recovery of specified costs and such other assets, if any, of a Finsub.

 

“Securitization Financing Order” means an order of the applicable regulatory Governmental Authority (such as the LPSC) which allows for a securitization financing by the Borrower and/or a Finsub authorized by a Securitization Statute.

 

“Securitization Statute” means any legislation, including, but not limited to, the Louisiana Electric Utility Storm Recovery Securitization Act and the Louisiana Electric Utility Investment Recovery Securitization Act, that (i) is enacted to facilitate the recovery of certain specified costs incurred by the Borrower; (ii) authorizes the Borrower to apply for, and authorizes the applicable regulatory Governmental Authority to issue, a financing order determining the amount of specified costs the Borrower will be allowed to recover; (iii) provides that pursuant to the financing order, the Borrower acquires an intangible property right to charge, collect, and receive amounts necessary to provide for the full recovery of the specified costs determined to be recoverable, and assures that the charges are non-bypassable; (iv) guarantees that the applicable regulatory Governmental Authority will not rescind or amend the financing order, revise the amount of specified costs, or in any way reduce or impair the value of the intangible property right, except as may be contemplated by periodic adjustments authorized by such legislation; (v) provides procedures assuring that the sale of the intangible property right from the Borrower to a Finsub will be perfected under applicable law as an absolute transfer of the Borrower’s right, title, and interest in the property, and (vi) authorizes the securitization of the intangible property right to recover the fixed amount of specified costs through the issuance of bonds, other evidences of indebtedness, or certificates of participation or beneficial interest that are issued pursuant to an indenture, contract or other agreement of the Borrower or a Finsub.

 

“Senior Debt Rating” means at any date, the credit rating identified by S&P or Moody’s as the credit rating which (i) it has assigned to long term unsecured senior debt of the Borrower or (ii) would assign to long term unsecured senior debt of the Borrower were the Borrower to issue or have outstanding any long term unsecured senior debt on such date.  If either (but not both) Moody’s or S&P shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Pricing Levels shall be determined on the basis of the ratings provided by the other rating agency.

 

“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages, if any, (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which member banks of the United States Federal Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding $250,000,000 are subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D).  Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D.  Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without 

 

 

  

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benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business entity of which such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person, directly or indirectly, either (i) in respect of a corporation, owns or controls more than 50% of the outstanding Equity Interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar managing body, irrespective of whether a class or classes shall or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, or (ii) in respect of an association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity, is entitled to share in more than 50% of the profits and losses, however determined.  Unless the context otherwise requires, references to a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be references to a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

“Syndication Agents” means, collectively, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and KeyBank National Association, in their capacities as syndication agents for the Lenders hereunder.

 

 “Tax” means any present or future tax, levy, assessment, impost, duty, charge, fee, deduction or withholding of any nature, and whatever called, by a Governmental Authority, on whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed.

 

“Tax on the Overall Net Income” means, as to any Person, a Tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that Person’s principal office (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office in the United States of America designated in its Administrative Questionnaire or such other office as such Lender may designate in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) is located, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, or in which that Person is deemed to be doing business, except to the extent such Person is doing business solely as a result of negotiation, execution, delivery or performance of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, imposed on (or measured by) all or part of the net income, profits or gains of that Person (whether worldwide, or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered to arise in or to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise).

 

“Total Capitalization” means, at any time, the difference between (i) the sum of each of the following at such time with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP: (a) preferred Equity Interests, plus (b) common Equity Interests and any premium on Equity Interests thereon (as such term is used in the Financial Statements), excluding accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, plus (c) retained earnings, plus (d) Total Indebtedness, and (ii) stock of the Borrower acquired by the Borrower and stock of a Subsidiary acquired by such Subsidiary, in each case at such time, as applicable, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Total Indebtedness” means at any time, all Indebtedness (net of unamortized premium and discount (as such term is used in the Financial Statements)) at such time of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.  Regardless of whether or not any bonds issued in connection with a Securitization Financing, Receivables Securitization or other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including any Finsub and Receivables SPC) in respect of a Securitization Financing or Receivables Securitization constitutes Indebtedness under GAAP, the Indebtedness and other liabilities of such Finsub or Receivables SPC

 

  

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 in respect of such bonds and any credit enhancement with respect thereto shall be taken into account in calculating Total Indebtedness.

 

“Transactions” means (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document to which it is a party, (ii) the borrowing of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit and (iii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit.

 

“Type”, when used in reference to any 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 (i) the Adjusted LIBO Rate or (ii) the Alternate Base Rate.  For the avoidance of doubt, a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Alternate Base Rate shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be deemed to be an ABR Loan and not a Eurodollar Loan.

 

“Utility Mortgage” means the Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of July 1, 1950, made by the Borrower to Bank One Trust Company, NA, as Trustee.

 

“Voting Security” means a security which ordinarily has voting power for the election of the board of directors (or other governing body), whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of Equity Interests has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Section 1.2 Classification of Loans and Borrowings.  For purposes of this Agreement, (i) Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) and (ii) Borrowings may also be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”).

 

Section 1.3 Terms Generally.  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”.  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 from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, (ii) any definition of or reference to any law shall be construed as referring to such law as from time to time amended and any successor thereto and the rules and regulations promulgated from time to time thereunder, (iii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iv) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (v) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

Section 1.4 Accounting Terms; GAAP.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, as used in the Loan Documents and in any certificate, opinion or other document made or delivered pursuant thereto, accounting terms not defined in Section 1.1, and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.  

 

  

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If at any time any change in GAAP (including any change to the International Financial Reporting Standards by the International Accounting Standards Board or other method of accounting, as may hereafter be required or permitted by the SEC) would affect the computation of any financial requirement set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such requirement to reflect such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders), provided that, until so amended, (i) such requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Credit Parties financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

Section 1.5 Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

 

ARTICLE 2.

 

 

THE CREDITS

 

Section 2.1 Commitments.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make Loans to the Borrower in dollars from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Loans.

 

Section 2.2 Loans and Borrowings.

 

(a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder, provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several, and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

 

(b) Subject to Section 3.4, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as applicable, in each case as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith.  Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan (and any ABR Loan, the interest on which is determined pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Alternate Base Rate) by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan, provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000.  At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000, provided that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the 

 

  

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total Commitments or in an aggregate amount that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.8(e).  Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time, provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of five Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

Section 2.3 Requests for Borrowings.

 

(a) To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall deliver a Credit Request to the Administrative Agent by hand or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, pursuant to arrangements for doing so approved by the Administrative Agent) or notify the Administrative Agent by telephone, in each case to be promptly confirmed by the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a signed Credit Request (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (ii) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:30 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Each such Credit Request (including each such telephonic request) shall be irrevocable (except as otherwise provided in Section 3.4) and shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

 

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

 

(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 

(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.4.

 

(b) If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing.  If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.  Promptly following receipt of a Credit Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

Section 2.4 Funding of Borrowings.

 

(a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders.  Subject to Section 5.2, the Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting or otherwise transferring the amounts so received, in 

 

  

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like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Credit Request, provided that ABR Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.8(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

 

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.4(a) or Section 2.8(e) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, 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 or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate that would be otherwise applicable to such Borrowing.  Such payment by the Borrower, however, shall be without prejudice to its rights against such Lender.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

Section 2.5 Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments.

 

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments, provided that (i) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment or repayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.7, the sum of the Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments, (ii) each such reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (iii) any reduction of the Commitments to an amount below the LC Commitment shall be automatically reduce the LC Commitment on a dollar for dollar basis.

 

(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof.  Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable, provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.  Each reduction, and any termination, of the Commitments shall be permanent and each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

 

(d) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prior to the Maturity Date, at its sole cost, expense and effort, request any one or more of the Lenders to increase its 

 

  

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Commitment (the decision to increase the Commitment of a Lender to be within the sole and absolute discretion of such Lender), or any other Person reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank to provide a new Commitment, by submitting to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank an Increase Supplement duly executed by the Borrower and each such Lender or other Person, as the case may be.  If such Increase Supplement is in all respects reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent shall execute such Increase Supplement and the Administrative Agent shall deliver a copy thereof to the Borrower and each such Lender or other Person, as the case may be.  Upon execution and delivery of such Increase Supplement by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, (x) in the case of each such Lender (an “Increasing Lender”), its Commitment shall be increased to the amount set forth in such Increase Supplement, (y) in the case of each such other Person (a “New Lender”), such New Lender shall become a party hereto and have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents and its Commitment shall be as set forth in such Increase Supplement; provided that:

 

(i) immediately after giving effect thereto, the sum of all increases (other than any increase in any Lender’s Commitment in order to replace another Lender pursuant to Section 3.8(b)) in the aggregate Commitments made pursuant to this Section 2.5(d) shall not exceed the sum of (x) $100,000,000 plus (y) the amount of the Commitment of each Lender that becomes a Defaulting Lender;

 

(ii) each such increase of the aggregate Commitments shall be in an amount not less than $10,000,000 or such amount plus an integral multiple of $1,000,000;

 

(iii) if Loans would be outstanding immediately after giving effect to any such increase, then simultaneously with such increase (1) each such Increasing Lender, each New Lender and each other Lender shall be deemed to have entered into a master assignment and assumption, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A, pursuant to which each such other Lender shall have assigned to each such Increasing Lender and each such New Lender a portion of its Commitment, Loans and LC Exposure necessary to reflect proportionately the Commitments as adjusted in accordance with this subsection (d), and (2) in connection with such assignment, each such Increasing Lender and each such New Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each such other Lender, such amount as shall be necessary to reflect the assignment to it of Loans, and in connection with such master assignment each such other Lender may treat the assignment of Eurodollar Borrowings as a prepayment of such Eurodollar Borrowings for purposes of Section 3.6;

 

(iv) each such other Person shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower all forms, if any, that are required to be delivered by such other Person pursuant to Section 3.7; and

 

(v) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies for each Lender a certificate of a Financial Officer demonstrating pro forma compliance with the terms of this Agreement through the Maturity Date and the Administrative Agent shall have received such certificates and other items as it shall reasonably request in connection with such increase.

 

  

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Section 2.6 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on the Maturity Date.

 

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the debt of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period, if any, applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) or (c) of this Section shall, to the extent not inconsistent with any entries made in the Notes, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein, provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(e) The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by a Note payable to the order of such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

Section 2.7 Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a) Voluntary Prepayments.  The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this Section.

 

(b) Prepayments Resulting from the Reduction of the Total Commitments.  In the event of any partial reduction or termination of the Commitments, then (i) at or prior to the date of such reduction or termination, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the sum of the Credit Exposures after giving effect thereto and (ii) if such sum would exceed the total Commitments after giving effect to such reduction or termination, then the Borrower shall, on the date of such reduction or termination, prepay Borrowings in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

 

(c) Notice of Prepayment; Application of Prepayments.  The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder, (i) in the case of a prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid, provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.5, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.5.  Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, 

 

  

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the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing under Section 2.7(a) shall, when added to the amount of each concurrent reduction of the Commitments and prepayment of Borrowings under such Sections, be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (or, if the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans is less than such minimum amount, then such lesser outstanding principal balance, as the case may be).  Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 3.1.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 2.7(c) to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

 

Section 2.8 Letters of Credit.

 

(a) General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in dollars for its own account, in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the period from the Effective Date to the tenth Business Day preceding the last day of the Availability Period.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

 

(b) Notice of Issuance; Amendment; Renewal; Extension; Certain Conditions.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, pursuant to arrangements for doing so approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (not later than three Business Days before the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a Credit Request requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit, provided that no such notice shall be required in connection with the extension of an Evergreen Letter of Credit.  If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and, upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment and (ii) the total Credit Exposures shall not exceed the total Commitments.

 

(c) Expiration Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date that is one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension), and (ii) the date that is ten Business Days prior to the Maturity Date, provided that any Letter of Credit may provide for the automatic renewal thereof for any period (unless the Issuing Bank elects not to extend) so long as such period ends (x) ten Business Days prior to the Maturity Date or (y) if the Borrower shall have deposited cash collateral with the Administrative Agent as required by Section 2.8(i), ten Business Days prior to the date that is one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter 

 

  

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of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension).

 

(d) Participations.  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender and each Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each such Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason.  Each such Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever; provided that no Lender shall be obligated to make any payment to the Administrative Agent for any wrongful LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank as a result of acts or omissions constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Issuing Bank.

 

(e) Reimbursement.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, then the Issuing Bank shall either (i) notify the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Bank therefor, in which case the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement and any accrued interest thereon not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 11:00 a.m. on such date, or if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, provided that, if the LC Disbursement is equal to or greater than $1,000,000, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions of borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.3 or this Section 2.8 that such payment be financed with an ABR Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Borrowing, and/or (ii) notify the Administrative Agent that the Issuing Bank is requesting that the Lenders make an ABR Borrowing in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement and any accrued interest thereon, in which case (A) the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of such ABR Borrowing, and (B) each Lender shall, whether or not any Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any representation or warranty shall be accurate, any condition to the making of any Loan hereunder shall have been fulfilled, or any other matter whatsoever, make the Loan to be made by it under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders on (1) the Business Day that such Lender receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of receipt or (2) the Business Day immediately following the day that such Lender receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt.  Such Loans shall, for all purposes hereof, be deemed to be an ABR Borrowing referred to in Section 2.2(a) and made pursuant to Section 2.3, and the Lenders obligations to make such Loans shall be absolute and unconditional.  The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Issuing 

 

  

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Bank by promptly crediting or otherwise transferring the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Issuing Bank for the purpose of repaying in full the LC Disbursement and all accrued interest thereon.

 

(f) Obligations Absolute.  The Borrower’s obligations to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, insufficient or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (iv) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the provisions of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document, (v) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower, any other party guaranteeing, or otherwise obligated with, such Borrower, any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof or any other Person may at any time have against the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, any Credit Party or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other related or unrelated agreement or transaction, or (vi) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind of any Credit Party or any other Person or any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of set-off against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.  Neither any Credit Party nor any of their respective Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.  In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

(g) Disbursement Procedures.  The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit.  The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify (which may include telephonic notice, promptly confirmed by facsimile) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

 

  

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(h) Interim Interest.  If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 3.1(b) shall apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i) Cash Collateral.  In the event that (i) an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing or (ii) any Letters of Credit are outstanding on or after the tenth Business Day prior to the Maturity Date (or any LC Disbursements remain unreimbursed on or after such date), the Borrower shall deposit with the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds on the Business Day on which it receives notice from the Administrative Agent or Required Lenders demanding the deposit of cash collateral in the case of clause (i), or on or before the tenth Business Day prior to the Maturity Date in the case of clause (ii), an amount equal to the Required Deposit Amount, which amount shall be held by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders as cash collateral pursuant to a cash collateral agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank to secure the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations with respect to LC Disbursements; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in clause (i) or (j) of Article 8.  Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.  The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account.  Such deposit shall not bear interest, nor shall the Administrative Agent be under any obligation whatsoever to invest the same, provided that, at the request of the Borrower, such deposit shall be invested by the Administrative Agent in direct short term obligations of, or short term obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America, in each case maturing no later than the expiry date of the Letter of Credit giving rise to the relevant LC Exposure.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account.  Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.  If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.  If the Borrower is required to provide cash collateral hereunder as a result of clause (ii) of the first sentence of this subsection, the amount thereof (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower when the LC Exposure is zero and all Letters of Credit shall have been returned to the Issuing Bank and shall have been cancelled.

 

(j) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 2.8 to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

 

Section 2.9 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

 

  

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(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether of principal of Loans, LC Disbursements, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 or 10.3, or otherwise) prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.  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 its office at 10 S. Dearborn, Chicago, Illinois, or such other office as to which the Administrative Agent may notify the other parties hereto, except that payments pursuant to Sections 3.3(b) (with respect to the fronting fee and other amounts payable to the Issuing Bank), 3.3(c), 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 10.3 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 payable for the period of such extension.  All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

 

(b) Each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of fees, each reduction of the Commitments and each conversion of any Borrowing to or continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments (or, if such Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans).  Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.  If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal of Loans, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest, fees and commissions then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest, fees and commissions then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest, fees and commissions then due to such parties and (ii) second, towards payment of principal of Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal of Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.

 

(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 or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements 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 and participations in LC Disbursements 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 and participations in LC Disbursements, provided 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 or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this 

 

  

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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.

 

(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 applicable Credit Parties 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 such Credit Parties the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each such Credit Party severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Credit Party 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.

 

(e) If any Credit Party shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 2.8(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Credit Party to satisfy such Credit Party’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 2.9 to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

 

Section 2.10 Defaulting Lenders.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

(a) Fees pursuant to Section 3.3(a) shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender.

 

(b) If any LC Exposure exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

(i) All or any part of such LC Exposure shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 are satisfied at such time;

 

(ii) If the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within two (2) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.8(i) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

  

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(iii) If the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.3(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

 

(iv) If the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 3.3(a) and 3.3(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages;

 

(v) If any Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to this Section 2.10(c), then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 3.3(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until such LC Exposure is cash collateralized and/or reallocated; and

 

(vi) If and so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 2.10(c), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.10(c)(i) (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein).

 

(c) The Commitments and Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have voted or taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, modification or waiver pursuant to Section 10.2); provided that (i) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (ii) any amendment or modification that increases, or extends the maturity of, such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment or reduces the principal amount of, or rate of interest on, any Loan made by such Defaulting Lender, shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

 

(d) In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitments and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, and all cash collateral and accrued interest thereon held by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank shall be returned to the Borrower forthwith.

 

  

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ARTICLE 3.

 

 

INTEREST, FEES, YIELD PROTECTION, ETC.

 

Section 3.1 Interest.

 

(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.  The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan, any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraph of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Borrowings as provided in the preceding paragraph of this Section.

 

(c) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan, provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment, and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(d) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error.  The Administrative Agent shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the effective date and the amount of each change in the Prime Rate or ABR, but any failure to so notify shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to pay interest on the Loans in the amounts and on the dates required.

 

Section 3.2 Interest Elections Relating to Borrowings.

 

(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Credit Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Credit Request.  Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section.  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 the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

 

  

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(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent (or notify the Administrative Agent by telephone, to be promptly confirmed by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a signed Interest Election Request) by the time that a Credit Request would be required under Section 2.3 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.

 

(c) Each such telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable (except as otherwise provided in Section 3.4) and shall specify the following information:

 

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) of this paragraph shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

 

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

 

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing, (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

Section 3.3 Fees.

 

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender, a facility fee, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin on the daily amount of the Commitment of such Lender (regardless of usage) during the period from and including the date on which this Agreement becomes effective pursuant to Section 10.6 to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to 

 

  

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accrue on the daily amount of such Lender’s Credit Exposure from and including the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Credit Exposure.  Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year, each date on which the Commitments are permanently reduced and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date, provided that all unpaid facility fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and provided further that facility fees which accrue after the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and (ii) to the Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate or rates per annum separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.  Accrued participation fees and fronting fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand.  Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten days after demand.  All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Credit Party, for its own account, fees and other amounts payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon in writing between the Borrower and such Credit Party.

 

(d) All fees and other amounts payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds.  Fees and other amounts paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances other than clearly demonstrable error.

 

Section 3.4 Alternate Rate of Interest.  If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

 

  

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(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Credit Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower shall have submitted a Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing and the Administrative Agent shall have notified the Borrower in accordance with the preceding sentence that such Borrowing will be made as an ABR Borrowing, the Borrower shall have the right, prior to the time by which it would have had to submit a Request for an ABR Borrowing to be made on the same date, to withdraw such Request.

 

Section 3.5 Increased Costs; Illegality.

 

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Credit Party (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

 

(ii) impose on any Credit Party or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement, any Eurodollar Loans made by such Credit Party or any participation therein or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Credit Party of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or the cost to such Credit Party of issuing, participating in or maintaining any Letter of Credit hereunder or to increase the cost to such Credit Party or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Credit Party hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Credit Party such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Credit Party for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b) If any Credit Party determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Credit Party’s capital or on the capital of such Credit Party’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made, the Letters of Credit issued or the participations therein held, by such Credit Party to a level below that which such Credit Party or such Credit Party’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Credit Party’s policies and the policies of such Credit Party’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Credit Party such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Credit Party or such Credit Party’s holding company for any such reduction suffered. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 3.5(b), Change in Law shall include all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy issued in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives 

 

  

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concerning capital adequacy promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States financial regulatory authorities, regardless of the date adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.

 

(c) A certificate of a Credit Party setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Credit Party or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Credit Party the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Credit Party to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Credit Party’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Credit Party pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 90 days prior to the date that such Credit Party notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Credit Party’s intention to claim compensation therefor; and provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 90 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof but not to exceed a period of 365 days.

 

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if, after the Effective Date, any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i) such Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods) and ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such duration) be converted into Eurodollar Loans, whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing or to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a Eurodollar Borrowing, as applicable, for an additional Interest Period shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to convert a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as applicable), unless such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

 

(ii) such Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans, as of the effective date of such notice as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph.

 

In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of, such Eurodollar Loans, as applicable.  For purposes of this paragraph, a notice to the Borrower by any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period currently applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrower.

 

  

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Section 3.6 Break Funding Payments.  In the event of (a) the payment or prepayment (voluntary or otherwise) of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.7(c) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period or maturity date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.8, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.  In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.  A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 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 3.7 Taxes.

 

(a) Payments to be Free and Clear.  Provided that all documentation, if any, then required to be delivered by any Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.7(c) has been delivered, all sums payable by the Borrower under the Loan Documents shall be paid free and clear of and (except to the extent required by law) without any deduction or withholding on account of any Tax (other than a Tax on the Overall Net Income of any Lender (for which payment need not be free and clear, but no deduction or withholding shall be made unless then required by applicable law)) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or within the United States or any political subdivision in or of the United States or any other jurisdiction from or to which a payment is made by or on behalf of the Borrower or by any federation or organization of which the United States or any such jurisdiction is a member at the time of payment.

 

(b) Grossing up of Payments.  If the Borrower or any other Person is required by law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any such Tax from any sum paid or payable by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any of the Loan Documents:

 

(i) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and such Lender of any such requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as the Borrower becomes aware of it;

 

(ii) the Borrower shall pay any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on the Borrower) for its own account or (if that liability is imposed on the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be) on behalf of and in the name of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be;

 

  

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(iii) the sum payable by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or a Lender in respect of which the relevant deduction, withholding or payment is required shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of that deduction, withholding or payment, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, receives on the due date therefor a net sum equal to what it would have received had no such deduction, withholding or payment been required or made, provided that no amount shall be required to be paid to any Foreign Lender for any Tax imposed as a result of such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with the reporting requirements as set forth in Sections 1471 and 1472 of the Code (or regulation or administrative guidance promulgated thereunder) except to the extent that such compliance would cause a Foreign Lender to be in violation of any applicable law;

 

(iv) within 30 days after paying any sum from which it is required by law to make any deduction or withholding, and within 30 days after the due date of payment of any Tax which it is required by clause (ii) above to pay, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender evidence satisfactory to the other affected parties of such deduction, withholding or payment and of the remittance thereof to the relevant Governmental Authority; and

 

(v) provided that no additional amount shall be required to be paid to any Lender under clause (iii) above except to the extent that any change after the Effective Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof) or after the date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender (in the case of each other Lender) if any such requirement for a deduction, withholding or payment as is mentioned therein shall result in an increase in the rate of such deduction, withholding or payment from that in effect at the date of this Agreement or at the date of such Assignment and Assumption, as the case may be, in respect of payments to such Lender, and provided further that any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office or take other appropriate action if the making of such a change or the taking of such action, as the case may be, would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

 

(c) Tax Certificates.  Each Foreign Lender listed on the signature pages hereof that has not done so on or before the Effective Date shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), on or prior to the Effective Date (in the case of each Foreign Lender listed on the signature pages hereof) or on the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Foreign Lender), and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), including upon the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent counterpart of any form set forth below previously delivered by such Foreign Lender to the Borrower, such certificates, documents or other evidence, properly completed and duly executed by such Foreign Lender including (i) two accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W8-BEN or Form W8-ECI, or successor applicable form and (ii) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9 (or any other certificate or statement of exemption required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.1441 4(a) or Section 1.1441 6(c) or any successor thereto) to establish that such Foreign Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income 

 

  

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tax under Section 1441 or 1442 of the Code or otherwise (or under any comparable provisions of any successor statute) with respect to any payments to such Foreign Lender of principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Loan Documents.  The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount to any such Foreign Lender under Section 3.7(b)(iii) if such Foreign Lender shall have failed to satisfy the requirements of the immediately preceding sentence; provided that if such Foreign Lender shall have satisfied such requirements on the Effective Date (in the case of each Foreign Lender listed on the signature pages hereof) or on the effective date of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Foreign Lender), nothing in this Section shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any additional amounts pursuant to Section 3.7(b)(iii) in the event that, as a result of any change in applicable law, such Foreign Lender is no longer properly entitled to deliver certificates, documents or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Foreign Lender is not subject to withholding as described in the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(d) Other Taxes.

 

(i) The Borrower shall pay Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law; and

 

(ii) the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within 30 days after written demand thereof, for the full amount of any Taxes (other than Taxes on the Overall Net Income) or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Taxes, other than Taxes on the Overall Net Income, or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and (unless caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such party) any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes, other than Taxes on the Overall Net Income, or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Government Authority. A certificate as to the amount such of payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(e) Tax Refunds.  If the Administrative Agent or Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.7, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.7 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest, or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to cooperate with any reasonable request made by the Borrower in respect of a claim of a refund in respect of any Taxes paid by the Borrower or by such Lender for an on account of the Borrower if (i) the Borrower has agreed in writing to pay all of the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s or such Lender’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses relating 

 

  

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to such claim, (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank or such Lender determines, in its good faith judgment, that it would not be disadvantaged, unduly burdened or prejudiced as a result of such claim, and (iii) the Borrower furnishes, upon request of the Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or such Lender, an opinion of tax counsel (such opinion, which can be reasoned, and such counsel to be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender) that the Borrower is likely to receive a refund or credit.  This Section shall not be construed to require any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems confidential) to either the Borrower or any other Person.

 

Section 3.8 Mitigation Obligations.

 

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office.  In the event that the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts to any Lender (or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender) pursuant to Section 3.5, Section 3.6 or Section 3.7, 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 judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.5, Section 3.6 or Section 3.7, 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 any such designation or assignment.

 

(b) Replacement of Lenders. In the event that (i) the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts to any Lender (or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender) pursuant to Section 3.5, Section 3.6 or Section 3.7, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or (iii) if any Lender has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that under Section 10.2 requires the consent of all the Lenders and with respect to which the Required Lenders shall have granted their consent, then the Borrower may, at its sole cost and expense, within 60 days of the demand by such Lender for such additional amounts or the relevant default or action by such Lender, as the case may be, and subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.4 (with the Borrower obligated to pay any applicable processing and recordation fee), designate an Eligible Assignee (acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank) to purchase and assume all of such Lender’s interests, rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, without recourse to or warranty by or expense to, such Lender, for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans plus any accrued but unpaid interest thereon and accrued but unpaid facility fees, utilization fees and letter of credit fees in respect of such Lender’s Commitment and any other amounts payable to such Lender hereunder, and to assume all the obligations of such Lender hereunder, and, upon such purchase, such Lender shall no longer be a party hereto or have any rights hereunder (except those that survive full repayment hereunder) and shall be relieved from all obligations to the Borrower hereunder, and the Eligible Assignee shall succeed to the rights and obligations of such Lender hereunder.  No replacement of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 3.8 shall be deemed to be a waiver of any right that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.  The Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Eligible Assignee a Note.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that a Lender is replaced pursuant to this Section 3.8 as a result of the Borrower becoming obligated to pay additional amounts to such Lender (or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender) pursuant to Section 3.5, Section 3.6 or Section 3.7, such Lender shall be entitled to receive such additional amounts as if it had not been so replaced, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.10 if such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender.

 

  

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ARTICLE 4.

 

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Credit Parties that:

 

Section 4.1 Organization; Powers.  Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

 

Section 4.2 Authorization; Enforceability.  The Transactions are within the corporate powers of the Borrower and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, equity holder action.  Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation thereof, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

 

Section 4.3 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.

 

(a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Loan Documents and the borrowing of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except for (x) information filings to be made in the ordinary course of business, which filings are not a condition to the Borrower’s performance under the Loan Documents and (y) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and not subject to any appeals period.

 

(b) The Transactions (i) will not violate the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower, (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or any order of any Governmental Authority, (iii) will not violate or result in a default under any material indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower, and (iv) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower (other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.1).

 

Section 4.4 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a) The Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Credit Parties copies of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, containing the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and the related consolidated statements of income, members’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2009, December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 (with the applicable related notes and schedules, the “Financial Statements”).  The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition and results of the operations of the Borrower as of the dates and for the periods indicated therein.

 

  

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(b) Since December 31, 2009, each of the Borrower and the Utility has conducted its business only in the ordinary course, and there has been no Material Adverse Change.

 

Section 4.5 Litigation  There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) that, if adversely determined (and provided that there exists a reasonable possibility of such adverse determination), would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, except for any Disclosed Matters, and except that the commencement by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any Governmental Authority of a rate proceeding, fuel adjustment clause audit or earnings review before such Governmental Authority shall not constitute such a pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding unless and until such Governmental Authority has made a final determination thereunder that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions.

 

Section 4.6 Environmental Matters.  Except for the Disclosed Matters, to the knowledge of the Borrower:

 

(a) the properties owned, leased or operated by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (the “Properties”) do not contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute a violation of, (ii) require Remedial Action under, or (iii) could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which violations, Remedial Actions and liabilities, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,

 

(b) neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) have failed to comply in any material respect with any Environmental Laws or to obtain, maintain or comply with any necessary Environmental Permits, which non-compliance or failure, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) have received any notice of an Environmental Claim in connection with the Properties or the current or former operations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or with regard to any Person whose liabilities for environmental matters the Borrower or its Subsidiaries has retained or assumed, in whole or in part, contractually, by operation of law or otherwise, which, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,

 

(c) Hazardous Materials have not been transported from the Properties, nor have Hazardous Materials been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties, in a manner inconsistent with prudent industry practice or applicable Environmental Law that would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under any Environmental Law, which transportation, generation, treatment, storage or disposal, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and

 

(d) the Borrower or its Subsidiaries have not retained or assumed any liability, contractually, by operation of law or otherwise, with respect to the generation, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Materials, which retained or assumed liabilities, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.7 Investment Company Status.  Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” as defined in, or is otherwise subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Section 4.8 ERISA.  Each of the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and 

 

 

  

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published interpretations thereunder except for any such failure that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.9 Disclosure.  None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Credit Party in connection with the negotiation of the Loan Documents or delivered thereunder when taken as a whole (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished, including the information contained in the Borrower’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in Borrower’s reports filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading, provided that, to the extent any such reports, financial statements, certificates or other information was based upon or constitutes a forecast or a projection (including statements concerning future financial performance, ongoing business strategies or prospects or possible future actions, and other forward-looking statements), the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

Section 4.10 Subsidiaries.  As of the Effective Date, the Borrower has only the Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 4.10, which Schedule sets forth with respect to each Subsidiary, the identity of each Person which owns Equity Interests in such Subsidiary and the percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by each such Person.  The shares of each corporate Subsidiary are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non assessable and are owned free and clear of any Liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.1. The interest of the Borrower in each non-corporate Subsidiary is owned free and clear of any Liens, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.1.  As of the Effective Date, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has issued any Disqualified Stock.

 

Section 4.11 Federal Reserve Regulations, etc.

 

(a) Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of their important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock.  Immediately before and after giving effect to the making of each Loan and the issuance of each Letter of Credit, Margin Stock will constitute less than 25% of the Borrower’s assets as determined in accordance with Regulation U.

 

(b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase, acquire or carry any Margin Stock or for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the regulations of the Board, including Regulation T, U or X or (ii) to fund a personal loan to or for the benefit of a director or executive officer of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

  

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ARTICLE 5.

 

 

CONDITIONS

 

Section 5.1 Effective Date.  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date (the “Effective Date”) on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2):

 

(a) Credit Agreement.  The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

 

(b) Notes.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a Note for each Lender, signed on behalf of the Borrower.

 

(c) Legal Opinion.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Credit Parties and dated the Effective Date) from Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P., special counsel to the Borrower, covering such matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan Documents and the Transactions as the Required Lenders may reasonably request.  The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.

 

(d) Organizational Documents, etc.  The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to (i) the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower (including (x) a certificate of organization of the Borrower, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of its organization, and (y) certificates of good standing (or comparable certificates) for the Borrower, certified as of a recent date prior to the Effective Date, by the Secretaries of State (or comparable official) of the jurisdiction of its organization and each other jurisdiction in which it is qualified to do business, (ii) the authorization of the Transactions, (iii) the incumbency of its officer or officers who may sign the Loan Documents, including therein a signature specimen of such officer or officers, and (iv) any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(e) Officer’s Certificate.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, dated the Effective Date and signed by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Borrower (or other Financial Officer acceptable to the Administrative Agent), confirming (i) the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct and (ii) there exists no Default.

 

(f) No Material Adverse Change. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Financial Officer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrate Agent, dated as of the Effective Date, to the effect that since December 31, 2009, no Material Adverse Change has occurred.

 

  

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(g) Existing Loan Documents.  Evidence that the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 2, 2006, among the Borrower, various financial institutions and The Bank of New York Mellon as administrative agent, has been terminated and all amounts payable thereunder (other than contingent indemnity obligations) have been paid in full.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify each of the Borrower and the Credit Parties of the Effective Date, and each such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

 

Section 5.2 Each Credit Event.  The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, increase, amend, renew or extend a Letter of Credit, (each such event being called a “Credit Event”) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents (other than the representations and warranties in Section 4.4(b), Section 4.5 and Section 4.6 of this Agreement) shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of such issuance, increase, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct on and as of such earlier date.

 

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or such issuance, increase, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Credit Request and such other documentation and assurances as shall be reasonably required by it in connection herewith.

 

(d) Such Loan or Letter of Credit shall not be prohibited by any applicable law, rule or regulation.

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, increase, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

 

 

ARTICLE 6.

 

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired and all LC Disbursements have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Credit Parties that:

 

Section 6.1 Financial Statements and Other Information.  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a) As soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, (i) a copy of the Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K in respect of such fiscal year required to be filed by the Borrower with the SEC, together with the financial statements attached 

 

  

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thereto, and (ii) the Borrower’s audited consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by the Accountants (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial conditions and results of operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during such fiscal year;

 

(b) As soon as available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, (i) a copy of the Borrower’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in respect of such fiscal quarter required to be filed by the Borrower with the SEC, together with the financial statements attached thereto, and (ii) the Borrower’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a duly authorized Financial Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial conditions and results of operations of the Borrower on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c) Within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters and within 120 days after the end of the last fiscal quarter, a Compliance Certificate, signed by a Financial Officer (or such other officer as shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) as to the Borrower’s compliance, as of such fiscal quarter ending date, with Section 7.3, and as to the absence of any Default as of such fiscal quarter ending date and the date of such certificate (or if a Default existed or exists, the nature thereof); and

 

(d) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as any Credit Party may reasonably request.

 

Section 6.2 Notices of Material Events.  The Borrower will furnish the following to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a) Prompt written notice of the occurrence of any Default, specifying the nature thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

 

(b) Promptly upon becoming available, copies of all (i) regular, periodic or special reports, schedules and other material which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may be required to file with or deliver to any securities exchange or the SEC, or any other Governmental Authority succeeding to the functions thereof, and (ii) upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, reports that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries sends to or files with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the LPSC or any Governmental Authority succeeding to the functions thereof, or any similar state or local Governmental Authority;

 

(c) Prompt written notice of (i) any material citation, summons, subpoena, order, notice, claim or proceeding received by, or brought against, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, with respect to (x) any proceeding before any Governmental Authority (other than proceedings in the ordinary course of business before the LPSC), or (y) any real property under any 

 

 

  

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Environmental Law, and (ii) any lapse or other termination of, or refusal to renew or extend, any material franchise or other authorization issued to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority (other than in the ordinary course of business), provided that any of the foregoing set forth in this subsection would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(d) Prompt written notice of any change by either Moody’s or S&P in the Senior Debt Rating.

 

Each notice delivered under Section 6.2(a) or (c) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b) or Section 6.2(b) or (c) (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 listed in Section 10.1; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent), provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.1(c) to the Administrative Agent.  Except for such Compliance 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 requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

Section 6.3 Legal Existence.  Except as permitted under Section 7.2, the Borrower shall maintain its legal existence in good standing in the jurisdiction of its organization or formation and in each other jurisdiction in which the failure so to do would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and cause each of the Subsidiaries to maintain its qualification to do business and good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure so to do would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  It is understood that this covenant shall not be construed to prohibit the Borrower from dissolving or terminating the corporate existence of any Subsidiary which is inactive or whose preservation otherwise is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries considered as a whole.

 

Section 6.4 Taxes.  The Borrower shall pay and discharge when due, and cause each of the Subsidiaries so to do, all Taxes imposed upon it or upon its property, which if unpaid would, individually or collectively, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or become a Lien on the property of the Borrower or such Subsidiary (other than a Lien described in clause (a) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances), as the case may be, unless and to the extent only that such Taxes shall be contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

 

  

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Section 6.5 Insurance.  The Borrower shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business, provided, however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may self-insure to the same extent as other companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates and to the extent consistent with prudent business practice.  The Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, upon written request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, full information as to the insurance carried.

 

Section 6.6 Condition of Property.  The Borrower shall at all times maintain, protect and keep in good repair, working order and condition in all material respects (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and cause each of its Subsidiaries so to do, all material property necessary to the operation of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s, as the case may be, material businesses, provided, however, that nothing shall prevent the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as appropriate, from discontinuing the maintenance or operation of any property if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.  It is understood that this covenant relates only to working order and condition of such property in accordance with prudent industry practices and shall not be construed as a covenant not to dispose of property.

 

Section 6.7 Observance of Legal Requirements.  The Borrower shall observe and comply in all material respects, and cause each of its Subsidiaries so to do, with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority which now or at any time hereafter may be applicable to it, including ERISA and all Environmental Laws, a violation of which would individually or collectively reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except such thereof as shall be contested in good faith and, if applicable, by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted by it.

 

Section 6.8 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions.  The Borrower shall keep proper books of record and account in conformity with GAAP and all requirements of law.  The Borrower shall permit representatives of the Administrative Agent and any Lender to visit its offices, to inspect any of its property (subject to reasonable procedures relating to safety and security) and examine and make copies or abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired, and to discuss the business, operations, prospects, property and financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with the officers thereof and the Accountants; provided that none of the Administrative Agent, its agents, its representatives or the Lenders shall be entitled to examine or make copies or abstracts of, or otherwise obtain information with respect to, the Borrower’s records relating to pending or threatened litigation if any such disclosure by the Borrower would reasonably be expected (i) to give rise to a waiver of any attorney/client privilege of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to such information or (ii) to be otherwise materially disadvantageous to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the defense of such litigation; and provided further that in the case of any discussion with the Accountants, only if the Borrower has been given the opportunity to participate in the discussion.

 

Section 6.9 Nature of Business.  The Borrower shall only engage, and only permit its Subsidiaries to engage, to any material extent in lines of business which are not substantially different from the businesses engaged in by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof reasonable extensions thereof and activities reasonably related or ancillary thereto. It is understood that this covenant shall not be construed to prohibit the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from engaging in fields of enterprise in support of or in preparation for electric power generation, transmission or distribution, 

 

  

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energy development, energy trading, hedging, cogeneration, and related thermal uses, and energy management and consulting services, including oil, gas, coal and other fuel production, transportation or storage.

 

Section 6.10 Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit may be used only as follows: (i) to refinance the Indebtedness under the Existing Loan Documents, (ii) to reimburse the Issuing Bank in respect of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, (iii) to pay transaction fees and expenses and (iv) for general corporate purposes not inconsistent with the terms hereof including commercial paper backup and the making of acquisitions.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to (x) purchase, acquire or carry any Margin Stock, (y) for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X, or (z) to fund a personal loan to or for the benefit of a director or executive officer of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

 

ARTICLE 7.

 

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired and all LC Disbursements have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Credit Parties that:

 

Section 7.1 Liens.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

 

(a) Liens now existing or hereafter arising in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

(b) Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or existing on any property of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or that is merged with or into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary prior to such merger or consolidation, provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such merger, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations and liabilities that it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or such merger, as the case may be, and any extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding amount thereof;

 

(d) Liens (including precautionary Liens in connection with Capital Lease Obligations) on fixed or capital assets and other property (including any natural gas, oil or other mineral assets, pollution control facilities, electrical generating plants, equipment and machinery, and related accounts, financial assets, contracts and general intangibles) acquired, constructed, explored, 

 

  

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drilled, developed, improved, repaired or serviced (including in connection with the financing of working capital and ongoing maintenance) by the Borrower, provided that (i) such security interests and the obligations and liabilities secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 270 days after the acquisition of the relevant asset or the completion of the relevant construction, exploration, drilling, development, improvement, repair or servicing (including the relevant financing of working capital and ongoing maintenance), or within 270 days after the extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of the obligations and liabilities secured thereby, as the case may be, (ii) the obligations and liabilities secured thereby do not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing, exploring, drilling, developing, improving, repairing or servicing (including the financing of working capital and ongoing maintenance in respect of) the relevant assets, and (iii) such security interests shall not apply to any other property beyond the relevant property set forth in this subsection (d) (and in the case of construction or improvement, any theretofore unimproved real property on which the property so constructed or the improvement is located) and subsection (e), as applicable, of the Borrower;

 

(e) Liens on any Equity Interest owned or otherwise held by or on behalf of the Borrower created in connection with any project financing;

 

(f) Liens securing the payment of Indebtedness of the Borrower to a state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof issued in a transaction in which such state or political subdivision issued industrial revenue bonds or other obligations, the interest on which is excludable from gross income by the holders thereof pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as in effect at the time of the issuance of such obligations, and Indebtedness to the issuer of a letter of credit, bond insurance or guaranty to support any such obligations to the extent the Borrower is required to reimburse such issuer for drawings under such letter of credit, bond insurance or guaranty with respect to the principal of or interest on such obligations, including Liens arising pursuant to a pledge of the Borrower's mortgage bonds issued under the Utility Mortgage; provided that such pledged bonds shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 at any time;

 

(g) Liens created to secure Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to any of the Borrower’s other Subsidiaries;

 

(h) Liens created by any Receivables SPC in connection with a Receivables Securitization and Liens created to secure other sales or factoring of accounts receivables and other receivables, which together with  Liens  permitted under Section 7.2(h) of the Parent Credit Agreement, shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $50,000,000 at any time;

 

(i) the Lien evidenced by the Utility Mortgage as renewed or replaced from time to time; provided, however, that such Lien shall not extend to or over any property of a character not subject on the Effective Date to the Lien granted under the Utility Mortgage;

 

(j) “permitted liens” as defined under Section 1.04 of the Utility Mortgage, as in effect on the Effective Date, other than “funded liens” described in clause (ix) of said Section 1.04, and other Liens not otherwise prohibited by Section 5.05 of the Utility Mortgage as in effect on the Effective Date, and in the event the Utility Mortgage is terminated, Liens of the same type and nature as the foregoing Liens referred to in this clause (j), provided that the amounts secured by such other Liens shall not exceed the amounts that may be secured by such foregoing Liens as of the last day on which the Utility Mortgage was in effect;

 

  

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(k) Liens to secure obligations of the Borrower in respect of Hedge Agreements with counterparties, provided that the aggregate amount secured under this clause (k) shall not exceed $100,000,000.00 at any time;

 

(l) Liens created for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or in part Indebtedness secured by any lien, mortgage or security interest referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (k), provided, however, that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement, as the case may be, shall be limited to all or a part of the property or indebtedness that secured the lien or mortgage so extended, renewed or replaced (and any improvements on such property);

 

(m) Liens created by any Finsub for any Securitization Financing pursuant to any Securitization Financing Order; and

 

(n) Liens on cash or invested funds used to make a defeasance, covenant defeasance or in substance defeasance of any Indebtedness pursuant to an express contractual provision in the agreements governing such Indebtedness or GAAP, provided that immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the making of such defeasance, no Default or Event of Default shall exist.

 

Section 7.2 Merger; Consolidation; Sale of Assets.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary, to:

 

(a) Sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person;

 

(b) Consolidate with or merge into any other Person (other than a merger of a Subsidiary into, or a consolidation of a Subsidiary with, the Borrower), unless:

 

(i) immediately before and after giving effect thereto, no Change in Control shall have occurred and no Default or Event of Default shall exist;

 

(ii) immediately before and after giving effect thereto, all of the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct except as the context thereof otherwise requires and except for those representations and warranties which by their terms or by necessary implication are expressly limited to a state of facts existing at a time prior to such merger, consolidation or acquisition, as the case may be, or such other matters relating thereto as are identified in a writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;

 

(iii) the Borrower shall be the surviving entity thereof or, in the event the Borrower shall not be the surviving entity thereof, each of the following conditions shall be satisfied: (1) such surviving entity shall be organized in a State of the United States with substantially all of its assets and businesses located and conducted in the United States and (2) the Administrative Agent shall have received (A) a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (x) attaching a true and complete copy of each agreement, instrument or other document effecting such merger, consolidation or 

 

  

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acquisition, together with an agreement signed on behalf of such surviving entity pursuant to which such surviving entity shall have expressly assumed all of the indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations of the Borrower under and in accordance with the Loan Documents, and (y) certifying that such merger, consolidation or acquisition has been consummated in accordance with such agreements, instruments or other documents referred to in the immediately preceding clause (x), and (B) such documents, legal opinions and certificates as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and, if applicable, good standing of such surviving entity, the authorization of such merger, consolidation or acquisition and any other legal matters relating to such surviving entity, the assumption agreement referred to in the immediately preceding clause (x) or such merger, consolidation or acquisition; and

 

(iv) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower identifying the Person to be merged with or into, consolidated with, or acquired by, the Borrower, and certifying as to each of the matters set forth in subclauses (i) through (iii) of this clause (b).

 

Section 7.3 Financial Covenant.  The Borrower will not permit its Total Indebtedness to be greater than 65% of Total Capitalization as of the end of any fiscal quarter or fiscal year end.

 

 

ARTICLE 8.

 

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

If any of the following events (each an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 

(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or on any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or any fee, commission or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

 

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 6.3 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence), Section 6.10, Section 7.2 or Section 7.3;

 

  

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(e) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 7.1 and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of ten (10) days after the Borrower shall have obtained knowledge thereof;

 

(f) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document to which it is a party (other than those specified in clause (a), (b), (d) or (e) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the Borrower shall have obtained knowledge thereof;

 

(g) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect to any Material Obligations, when and as the same shall become due and payable and after the expiration of any applicable grace period, provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to any Indebtedness of a Finsub or a Receivables SPC so long as there is no recourse with respect to such Indebtedness to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(h) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Obligations becoming due prior to their scheduled maturity or payment date, or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Obligations or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Obligations to become due prior to their scheduled maturity or payment date or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof prior to their scheduled maturity or payment date (in each case after giving effect to any applicable cure period), provided that this clause (h) shall not apply to (i) Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a notice of voluntary prepayment or redemption delivered by the Borrower or a Subsidiary, (ii) secured Indebtedness that becomes due solely as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iii) intercompany indebtedness, (iv) the exercise of any contractual right to cause the prepayment of any Material Obligations (other than the exercise of a remedy for an event of default under the applicable contract or agreement), or (v) any Indebtedness of a Finsub or a Receivables SPC so long as there is no recourse with respect to such Indebtedness to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(i) except as permitted by Section 6.3 with respect to Subsidiaries, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) suspend or discontinue its business, (ii) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iii) generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, (iv) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, (v) file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, (vi) become insolvent (however such insolvency shall be evidenced), (vii) file any petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment of debt, liquidation or dissolution or similar relief under any present or future statute, law or regulation of any jurisdiction, (viii) petition or apply to any tribunal for any receiver, custodian or any trustee for any substantial part of its property, (ix) be the subject of any such proceeding filed against it which remains undismissed for a period of 45 days, (x) file any answer admitting or not contesting the material allegations of any such petition filed against it or any order, judgment or decree approving such petition in any such proceeding, (xi) seek, approve, consent to, or acquiesce in any such proceeding, or in the appointment of any trustee, receiver, sequestrator, custodian, liquidator, or fiscal agent for it, or any substantial part of its property, or an order is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or fiscal agent and such order remains in effect for 45 days, or (xii) take any formal action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing or looking to the liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(j) an order for relief is entered under the United States bankruptcy laws or any other decree or order is entered by a court having jurisdiction (i) adjudging the Borrower or any of its 

 

  

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Subsidiaries bankrupt or insolvent, (ii) approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, liquidation, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under the United States bankruptcy laws or any other applicable Federal or state law, (iii) appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or of any substantial part of the property thereof, or (iv) ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and any such decree or order continues unstayed and in effect for a period of 45 days;

 

(k) one or more judgments or decrees against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any combination thereof aggregating in excess of $50,000,000, which judgment or decree (i) shall not be fully covered by insurance after taking into account any applicable deductibles and (ii) shall remain unpaid, unstayed on appeal, undischarged, unbonded or undismissed for a period of at least 30 consecutive days;

 

(l) any Loan Document shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or the Borrower shall so assert in writing or shall disavow any of its obligations thereunder;

 

(m) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(n) any authorization or approval or other action by any Governmental Authority required for the execution, delivery or performance of any Loan Document shall be terminated, revoked or rescinded or shall otherwise no longer be in full force and effect; or

 

(o) a Change in Control shall occur or a change in control, fundamental change or any similar circumstance which, under the Indenture (including any supplemental indentures thereto but in each case only to the extent that it is in full force and effect on the relevant date) results in an obligation of the Borrower to prepay, purchase, offer to purchase, redeem or defease in excess of $50,000,000 of Indebtedness thereunder.

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event described in clause (i) or (j) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions (whether before or after the Effective Date), at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued under the Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event described in clause (i) or (j) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate (whether  before or after the Effective Date) and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued under the Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

 

 

  

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ARTICLE 9.

 

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such Person 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 other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Credit Parties as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2), and (iii) except as expressly set forth herein, 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 the Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as 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 with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Credit Parties as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Credit Party (and, promptly after its receipt of any such notice, it shall give each Credit Party and the Borrower notice thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (a) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (b) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (c) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth therein, (d) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness thereof or any other agreement, instrument or other document or (e) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 5 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

  

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The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent, provided that no such delegation shall serve as a release of the Administrative Agent or waiver by the Borrower of any rights hereunder.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Credit Parties and the Borrower.  Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld and not to be required during the existence of an Event of Default), to appoint a successor, which successor Administrative Agent shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof and having a combined capital, surplus, and undivided profits of at least $100,000,000. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Credit Parties, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank.  Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall 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 hereunder.  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.3 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Each Credit Party acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Credit Party 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 Credit Party also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Credit Party and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon any Loan Document, any related agreement or any document furnished thereunder.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Runner, Arrangers or Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder.

 

  

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ARTICLE 10.

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.1 Notices.

 

(i) Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile (or e-mail in accordance with Section 10.1(b) below) as follows:

 

(ii) if to the Borrower, to it at 2030 Donahue Ferry Road, Pineville, LA 71360 5226; Attention: Michael Sawrie (Telephone: (318) 484-7589; Facsimile: (318) 484-7697; e-mail: mike.sawrie@cleco.com), website www.cleco.com;

 

(iii) if to the Administrative Agent, or JPMorgan Chase as Issuing Bank, to it at its Loan and Agency Services Group, 10 S. Dearborn Street, Floor 07, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of: Teresita Siao (Telephone No. 312-385-7051; Facsimile No. 312-385-7096, with a copy to (888) 208-7168), e-mail: jpm.agency.servicing.6@jpmchase.com); and

 

(iv) if to any other Credit Party, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

(b) Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Credit Parties 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 Credit Party pursuant to Article 2 if such Credit Party 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 

 

  

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for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

(c) Change of Address, Etc.  Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

Section 10.2 Waivers; Amendments.

 

(a) No failure or delay by any Credit Party in exercising any right or power under any Loan Document 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 a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of the Credit Parties under the Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of any Loan 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 Section, 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 and/or the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

(b) Neither any Loan Document nor any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender or increase the Letter of Credit Commitment without the consent of the Issuing Bank, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation with respect to a LC Disbursement, or reduce the rate of any interest (other than under Section 3.1(b)), or reduce any fees, payable under the Loan Documents, without the written consent of each Credit Party affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date of payment at stated maturity of any Loan or the date of payment of any reimbursement obligation with respect to an LC Disbursement, or the date of any interest or any fees payable under the Loan Documents, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the stated termination or expiration of the Commitments without the written consent of each Credit Party affected thereby, (iv) change any provision hereof in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required by Section 2.9(b) or 2.9(c) or the pro rata reduction of Commitments required by Section 2.5(c), without the written consent of each Credit Party affected thereby, and (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, or change the currency in which Loans are to be made, Letters of Credit are to be issued or payment under the Loan Documents is to be made, or add additional borrowers, without the written consent of each Lender, and provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable.

 

 

  

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Section 10.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a) Cost and Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of each Loan Document or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Credit Party, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Credit Party and any consultant or expert witness fees and expenses, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify each Credit Party and each Related Party thereof (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) 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, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties to the Loan Documents of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof including any refusal of the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (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 the Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of the 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 and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses 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 a breach in bad faith by such Indemnitee or arising solely from claims between or among one or more Indemnitees.

 

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section (and without limiting the Borrower’s obligation to do so), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, an amount equal to the product of such unpaid amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of such Lender’s unused Commitment plus the outstanding principal balance of such Lender’s Loans and such Lender’s LC Exposure and the denominator of which is the sum of the unused Commitments plus the outstanding principal balance of all Lenders Loans and the LC Exposure of all Lenders (in each case determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought or, in the event that no Lender shall have any unused Commitments, outstanding Loans or LC Exposure at such time, as of the last time at which any Lender had any unused Commitments, outstanding Loans or 

 

  

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LC Exposure), provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as applicable, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, in its capacity as such.

 

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct and actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, any Loan Document or any agreement, instrument or other document contemplated thereby, the Transactions or any Loan or any Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

(e) Payments.  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly but in no event later than ten days after written demand therefor.

 

Section 10.4 Successors and Assigns

 

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally.  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 Eligible 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 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 Credit Party) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b) Assignments by Lenders.  Any Lender may (and if demanded by Borrower pursuant to Section 3.8 shall to the extent required thereby) at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans and obligations in respect of its LC Exposure at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i) Minimum Amounts.

 

(A) In the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments and the Loans and obligations in respect of its LC Exposure 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

 

(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 outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as 

 

  

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of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $10,000,000 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).

 

(ii) Proportionate Amounts.  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 Loan or the Commitment assigned.

 

(iii) Required Consents.  For each such assignment:

 

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

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

 

(C) the consent of the Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding).

 

(iv) Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the Eligible Assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v) No Assignment to Borrower.  No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, 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 Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption 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 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 10.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of 

 

  

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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 Section.

 

(c) Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in New York, New York a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d) Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, but with notice to, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (provided that any failure to give such notice shall not impair the effectiveness of such participation except as expressly provided in paragraph (e) of this Section), sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided 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, (iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any Note for all purposes of this Agreement and (iv) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Credit Party shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may a participation be granted to any entity which is not a commercial bank, finance company, insurance company or other financial institution or fund (whether a corporation, partnership or other entity) engaged generally in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business without the express prior written consent of the Borrower.

 

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; provided 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 matters described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first proviso in Section 10.2(b) that directly affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section but (x) shall not be entitled to recover greater amounts under any such Section than the selling Lender would be entitled to recover and (y) shall be subject to replacement by the Borrower under Section 3.8 to the same extent as if it were a Lender; provided that such replacement Participant shall be a commercial bank, finance company, insurance company or other financial institution or fund (whether a corporation, partnership or other entity) engaged generally in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.8 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.10(c) as though it were a Lender.

 

 

  

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Each Lender that sells a participating interest in any Loan or other interest to a Participant shall, as agent of the Borrower solely for the purpose of this Section 10.4, record in book entries maintained by such Lender the name and the amount of the participating interest of each Participant entitled to receive payments in respect of such participating interests; provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of such participant register to the Borrower or any other Person (other than the identity of any Participant pursuant to the first paragraph of this subsection (d), but including any information relating to a Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that the Loans are in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

 

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.5 or 3.7 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.7 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.7(c) as though it were a Lender.

 

(f) Certain Pledges.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(g) Notwithstanding any provision in this Section 10.4 to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the provisions of Section 2.10 shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

 

Section 10.5 Survival.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of any Loan Document and the making of any Loans and the issuance of any Letter of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that any Credit Party 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 LC Disbursement or any fee or any other amount payable under the Loan Documents is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 10.3, 10.9, 10.10 and Article 9 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and the LC Disbursements, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

Section 10.6 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to any Credit Party or the syndication of the credit facility established hereunder constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to 

 

  

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the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 5.1, this Agreement shall become effective as of the date set forth in the preamble to this Agreement when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.7 Severability.  In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction).  The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

Section 10.8 Right of Set-off.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and the acceleration of the obligations owing in connection with the Loan Documents, or at any time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under clause (a) of Article 8, each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set-off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by it to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents held by it, irrespective of whether or not it shall have made any demand therefor and although such obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that it may have.  Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set off and application.

 

Section 10.9 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

 

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

(b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 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, in 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 shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any other 

 

 

  

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Credit Party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents against the Borrower, or any of its property, in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section.  Each of the parties hereto hereby 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.

 

(d) The Borrower irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1.  Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

Section 10.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY 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, UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (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 CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 10.11 Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 10.12 Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or LC Disbursement, together with all fees, charges and other amounts that are treated as interest thereon under applicable law (collectively the “charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “maximum rate”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding an interest in such Loan or LC Disbursement in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan or LC Disbursement hereunder, together with all of the charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the maximum rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and the charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan or LC Disbursement but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated, and the interest and the charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or LC Disbursements or periods shall be increased (but not above the maximum rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

Section 10.13 Advertisement.  The Borrower hereby authorizes each of JPMorgan Chase to publish the name of the Borrower and the amount of the financing evidenced hereby in any “tombstone” or comparable advertisement which JPMorgan Chase elects to publish.  In addition, the 

 

 

  

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Borrower agrees that JPMorgan Chase may provide lending industry trade organizations with information necessary and customary for inclusion in league table measurements after the Effective Date.

 

Section 10.14 USA Patriot Act Notice.  Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “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.

 

Section 10.15 Treatment of Certain Information.  Each Credit Party agrees to use reasonable precautions to keep confidential, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information of the same nature, all confidential, proprietary or non-public information supplied by the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement relating to the Borrower, such Subsidiary or their respective businesses, including, without limitation, any financial statement, financial projections or forecasts, budget, Compliance Certificate, audit report, management letter or accountants’ certification delivered hereunder (“Information”), provided that nothing herein shall limit the disclosure of any information (a) to any of its respective Related Parties that needs to know such information, (b) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, or requested by any bank regulatory authority, (c) on a confidential basis, to any bona fide or potential assignee or participant in connection with the contemplated assignment or participation of any Loans or any participations therein or by any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations (provided, such assignees, participants, counterparties and advisors are advised of and agree to be bound by either the provisions of this Section 10.15 or other provisions at least as restrictive as this Section 10.15), (d) to auditors, accountants, consultants and advisors, and any analogous counterpart thereof, (e) to any other Credit Party, (f) in connection with any litigation to which any one or more of the Credit Parties is a party, (g) to the extent such information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement, (B) becomes available to any of the Credit Parties on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or (C) was available to the Credit Parties on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure to any of them by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates; and (h) to the extent the Borrower shall have consented to such disclosure in writing.

 

Section 10.16 No Fiduciary Duty.  Each Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrower, their stockholders and/or their affiliates.  The Borrower agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between any Lender, on the one hand, and such Borrower, its stockholders or its affiliates, on the other. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Borrower, on the other, and (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading thereto, (x) no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower, its stockholders or its affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise the Borrower, its stockholders or its Affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to the Borrower except the obligations expressly 

 

  

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set forth in the Loan Documents and (y) each Lender is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of the Borrower, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other Person. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. The 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 the Borrower, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

 

 

  

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

 

	
CLECO POWER LLC

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Charles A. Mannix

	
Name:           Charles A. Mannix     

	
Title:           Vice President - Tax & Treasurer

 

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

 

 

	
 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., 

individually, as Issuing Bank, and as 

Administrative Agent

 

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Helen D. Davis

	
Name:           Helen D. Davis    

	
Title:           Authorized Officer

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

	
CRÉDIT AGRICOLE CORPORATE AND 

INVESTMENT BANK, individually, and as a 

Syndication Agent

 

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Dixon Schultz

	
Name:           Dixon Schultz 

	
Title:           Director            

	  
	  
	
By:           /s/  Sharada Manne

	
Name:           Sharada Manne  

	
Title:           Director                

	  

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

	
KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 

individually, and as a Syndication Agent

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Paul J. Pace         

	
Name:           Paul J. Pace            

	
Title:           Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

	
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK 

BRANCH, individually, and as a Documentation 

Agent

 

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Frederick Laird   

	
Name:           Frederick Laird         

	
Title:           Managing Director   

	  
	  
	
By:           /s/  Stefan Freckmann

	
Name:           Stefan Freckmann    

	
Title:           Vice President          

	  

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

 

	
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, 

individually, and as a Documentation Agent

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Paul G. Vastola         

	
Name:           Paul G. Vastola          

	
Title:           Vice President              

 

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

 

	
CAPITAL ONE, N.A.

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Kermit W. Pharris, Jr.          

	
Name:           Kermit W. Pharris, Jr.                

	
Title:           Vice President             

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Justin Martin         

	
Name:           Justin Martin               

	
Title:           Vice President              

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Keith Luettel                                    

	
Name:           Keith Luettel                                     

	
Title:           Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

 

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

	
REGIONS BANK

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Donald G. Jones                                   

	
Name:           Donald G. Jones                                    

	
Title:           Vice President – Sr. Relationship Manager

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

	
CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS

BRANCH

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Shaheen Malik         

	
Name:           Shaheen Malik          

	
Title:           Vice President            

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

	
HANCOCK BANK

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Larry Attenhofer         

	
Name:           Larry Attenhofer          

	
Title:           Senior Vice President       

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

	
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Mark Walton         

	
Name:           Mark Walton           

	
Title:           Authorized Signatory  

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

	
WHITNEY NATIONAL BANK

 

	  	  
	
By:           /s/  Eric B. Goebel         

	
Name:            Eric B. Goebel         

	
Title:           Vice President             

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Agreement  

  

CLECO POWER LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE 2.1

 

LIST OF COMMITMENTS

 

 

	
Lender

	
Commitment

	
J P Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.

	
$60,000,000

	
KeyBank National Association

	
$42,000,000

	
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank

	
$42,000,000

	
U.S. Bank National Association

	
$24,000,000

	
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch

	
$24,000,000

	
Capital One, N.A.

	
$18,000,000

	
Bank of America, N.A.

	
$18,000,000

	
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

	
$18,000,000

	
Regions Bank

	
$18,000,000

	
Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch

	
$9,000,000

	
Hancock Bank

	
$9,000,000

	
Goldman Sachs Bank USA

	
$9,000,000

	
Whitney National Bank

	
$9,000,000

	
Total

	
$300,000,000

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

CLECO POWER LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE 4.5/4.6

 

DISCLOSED MATTERS

 

Litigation and Regulatory Matters (Credit Agreement Section 4.5):

 

None, except as otherwise set forth in the definition of Disclosed Matters in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

Environmental Matters (Credit Agreement Section 4.6):

 

None, except as otherwise set forth in the definition of Disclosed Matters in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

CLECO POWER LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE 4.12

 

 

LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES

 

	
Subsidiary:

	
Person Owning Equity 

Interests of such 

Subsidiary:

	
Percentage of Issued and 

Outstanding Equity Interests 

Owned by such Person:

	
Cleco Katrina/Rita Hurricane Recovery Funding LLC

	
Cleco Power LLC

	
100%

 

  

 

  

 

 

CLECO POWER LLC EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the] [each]1 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “Assignor”) and [the][each]2 Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “Assignee”).  [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees]3 hereunder are several and not joint.]4  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by [the][each] Assignee.  The standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below, all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto that represents the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of the Assignor’s outstanding rights and obligations under the respective facilities identified below (including without limitation any letters of credit included in such facilities and, to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims (including without limitation contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity), suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor against any Person whether known or unknown arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby) other than claims for indemnification or reimbursement with respect to any period prior to Effective Date (the “Assigned Interest”).  Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.              Assignor:                            

2.              Assignee:                           [and is an Affiliate of Assignor]

 

3.     Borrower:   Cleco Power LLC

4.              Administrative Agent:  JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

 

  

1 For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.

  

2 For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.

  

3 Select as appropriate.

  

4 Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Assignment and Assumption

  

 

5.           Credit Agreement:   Credit Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2010, among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and KeyBank National Association as syndication agents thereunder, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agents thereunder, and the Administrative Agent.

 

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Assignment and Assumption

  

 

 

6.           Assigned Interest:

	
Assignor[s]5

	
Assignee[s]6

	
Facility

Assigned

	
Aggregate Amount of

Commitment/Loans for all Lenders7

	
Amount of Commitment/Loans

Assigned8

	
Percentage Assigned

of Commitment/Loans8

	  	  	
Revolving

	
$

	
$

	
____%

7.              Trade Date:                                                                                               9

Effective Date: ____________________, 20__ [TO BE INSERTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

	
ASSIGNOR

	
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

	
By:

	
Title:

	
ASSIGNEE

	
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

	
By:

	
Title:

[Consented to and]10 Accepted:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent

By:

Title:

[Consented to:]11

[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY]

By:

Title:

  

5 List each Assignor, as appropriate.

  

6 List each Assignee, as appropriate.

  

7 Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

  

8 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

  

9 Insert if satisfaction of minimum amounts is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

  

10 To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

  

11To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties (e.g. LC Issuer) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Assignment and Assumption

  

 

ANNEX 1

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1.  Representations and Warranties.

1.1  Assignor.  The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2.  Assignee.  The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (vi) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2.  Payments.  From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Administrative Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves.

3.  General Provisions.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Assignment and Assumption

  

 

instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Assignment and Assumption

  

 

 

CLECO POWER LLC EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CREDIT REQUEST

 

[Date]

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

10 S. Dearborn, Floor 07

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: Teresita Siao

Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2010, by and among Cleco Power LLC (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and KeyBank National Association, as syndication agents thereunder, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agents thereunder, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the meanings therein defined.

 

1.           Pursuant to Section 2.3(a) of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby gives notice of its intention to borrow Borrowings in an aggregate principal amount of $ ________on ______ __, 200__, which Borrowing(s) shall consist of the following Types:

 

	
Type of Borrowing (ABR

or Eurodollar)

	
Amount

	
Interest Period for

Eurodollar Advances

	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	  	  	  

2.           Pursuant to Sections 2.8 and 5.2 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby requests that the Issuing Bank [issue, amend, renew or extend] Letter(s) of Credit on ______ __, 200_, in accordance with the information annexed hereto (attach additional sheets if necessary).

 

3.           The Borrower hereby certifies that on the date hereof and on the Borrowing Date set forth above, and after giving effect to the Loans and Letters of Credit requested hereby, there exists and shall exist no Default and each of the representations and warranties contained in each Loan Document (other than the representations and warranties in Section 4.4(b), Section 4.5, and Section 4.6 of the Credit Agreement) is and shall be true and correct in all material respects, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct at such earlier date.

 

4.           The location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed is as follows:  [Insert Wire Instructions]

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Request

  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Credit Request to be executed by its authorized signatory as of the date and year first written above.

 

	
CLECO POWER LLC

 

 

	  
	
By:

 

	
Name:

 

	
Title:

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Credit Request

  

 

CLECO POWER LLC EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF NOTE

 

 

____________, 2010

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Cleco Power LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of [_____] (the “Lender”) the unpaid principal amount of the Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower, in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2010 among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and KeyBank National Association, as syndication agents thereunder, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agents thereunder, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), and to pay interest from the date hereof on the principal balance of such Loans from time to time outstanding at the rate or rates and at the times set forth in the Credit Agreement, in each case at the office of the Administrative Agent located at Ten South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois, or at such other place as the Administrative Agent may specify from time to time, in lawful money of the United States in immediately available funds.  Terms not otherwise defined herein but defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

 

The Loans evidenced by this Note are prepayable in the amounts, and under the circumstances, and their respective maturities are subject to acceleration upon the terms, set forth in the Credit Agreement.  This Note is subject to, and shall be construed in accordance with, the provisions of the Credit Agreement and is entitled to the benefits and security set forth in the Loan Documents.

 

The Lender is hereby authorized to record on the Schedule annexed hereto, and any continuation sheets which the Lender may attach hereto, (i) the date of each Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower, (ii) the Type and amount thereof, (iii) the interest rate (without regard to the Applicable Margin) and Interest Period applicable to each Eurodollar Loan and (iv) the date and amount of each conversion of, and each payment or prepayment of the principal of, any such Loan.  The entries made on such Schedule shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded thereon, provided that the failure to so record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Except as specifically otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and all other demands, protests and notices in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, collection and enforcement of this Note.

 

Whenever in this Note either party hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party.  The Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein (and any such attempted assignment shall be void), except as expressly permitted by the Loan Documents.  No failure or delay of the Lender in exercising any power or right hereunder 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 a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  Neither this Note nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Note

  

 

modified, nor shall any departure therefrom be consented to, except pursuant to a written agreement entered into between the Borrower and the Lender with respect to which such waiver, amendment, modification or consent is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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

 

All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, 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, in such Federal court.  The Borrower, and by accepting this Note, the Lender, 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 Note shall affect any right that the Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Note or the other Loan Documents against the Borrower, or any of its property, in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

The Borrower, and by accepting this Note, the Lender, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note or the other Loan Documents in any court referred to in the preceding paragraph hereof.  The Borrower, and by accepting this Note, the Lender, hereby 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.

 

The Borrower, and by accepting this Note, the Lender, irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices herein.  Nothing herein will affect the right of the Lender to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

THE BORROWER, AND BY ACCEPTING THIS NOTE, THE LENDER, EACH HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE.  THE BORROWER (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE LENDER HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH LENDER WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SUCH LENDER HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ACCEPT THIS NOTE AND ENTER INTO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH.

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Note

  

 

	
CLECO POWER LLC

 

 

	  
	
By:

 

	
Name:

 

	
Title:

 

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Note

  

 

 

SCHEDULE TO NOTE

 

	
Date

	
Type of Loan

	
Amount of Loan

	
Amount of principal converted, paid or prepaid

	
Interest Rate on Eurodollar Loans

	
Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans

	
Notation

Made By

	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  

 

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Note

  

 

 

CLECO POWER LLC EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

I, ______________, do hereby certify that I am the ______________ of Cleco Power LLC (the “Borrower”), and that, as such, I am duly authorized to execute and deliver this Compliance Certificate on the Borrower’s behalf pursuant to Section 6.1(c) of the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2010 among the Borrower, the Lenders party thereto, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and KeyBank National Association, as syndication agents thereunder, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agents thereunder, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used herein which are not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

 

I hereby certify that:

 

1.           To the best of my knowledge, all financial statements delivered herewith have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.  There have been no changes in GAAP pertinent to the Borrower or in the application thereof to Borrower and that affects the computation of any financial covenant set forth in Section 7.7 of the Credit Agreement, since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.4(a) of the Credit Agreement, [, except as follows:]12

 

2.           There existed no Default on the last day of the fiscal quarter ended _________, 200__, and there exists no Default as of the date hereof [, except as follows13]

 

3.           Attached are true and correct calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 7.7 of the Credit Agreement as of the fiscal quarter ended _________, 200__ (the “Quarter”).

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Compliance Certificate on this ___ day of ________________, 200__.

 

  

12 Specify each such change and the effect thereof on the financial statements accompanying this Compliance Certificate as set forth in Section 1.4 of the Credit Agreement.

 

  

13 Specify all such violations, conditions and events, the nature and status thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Note

  

 

Section 7.7

 

Ratio of Total Indebtedness to Total Capitalization14

 

	
Item 1.

	
Sum of all Indebtedness

	
$                                       

	
Item 2.

	
Unamortized premium and discount (as such term is used in the Financial Statements)

	
$                                       

	
Item 3.

	
Total Indebtedness (Item 1 minus Item 2)

	
$                                       

	
Item 4.

	
Preferred Equity Interests

	
$                                       

	
Item 5.

	
Common Equity Interests and any premium on capital stock thereon (as such term is used in the Financial Statements) excluding accumulated other comprehensive income or loss

	
$                                      

	
Item 6.

	
Retained earnings

	
$                                       

	
Item 7.

	
Sum of Items 3, 4, 5 and 6

	
$                                       

	
Item 8.

	
Stock of the Borrower acquired by the Borrower and stock of a Subsidiary acquired by such Subsidiary

	
$                                      

	
Item 9.

	
Total Capitalization (Item 7 minus Item 8)

	
$                                       

	
Item 10.

	
Ratio of Total Indebtedness to Total Capitalization (Item 3 divided by Item 9)

	
_.__:  1.00

	  	
Maximum permitted ratio

	
0.65:1.00

 

 

  

14 Each of the computations is based on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Note

  

 

 

CLECO POWER LLC EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF INCREASE SUPPLEMENT

 

INCREASE SUPPLEMENT, dated as of __________________, 200__ to the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 23, 2010, by and among Cleco Power LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and KeyBank National Association, as syndication agents thereunder, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and U.S. Bank National Association, as documentation agents thereunder, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”) (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the meanings therein defined.

 

1.           Pursuant to Section 2.5(d) of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby proposes to increase (the “Increase”) the aggregate Commitments from $________________ to $________________.

 

2.           Each of the following Lenders (each an “Increasing Lender”) has been invited by the Borrower, and has agreed, subject to the terms hereof, to increase its Commitment as follows:

 

	
Name of Lender

	
Commitment

(after giving effect to the 

Increase)

	  	
$

	  	
$

	  	  

3.           Each of the following Persons (each a “Proposed Lender”) has been invited by the Borrower, and has agreed, subject to the terms hereof, to become a “Lender” under the Credit Agreement with a Commitment in the amount set forth below:

 

	
Name of Lender

	
Commitment

	  	
$

	  	
$

	  	
$

4.           The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each such Person that immediately before and after giving effect to the Increase, no Default exists or would exist under the Loan Documents.

 

5.           Pursuant to Section 2.5(d) of the Credit Agreement, by execution and delivery of this Increase Supplement, together with the satisfaction of all of the requirements set forth in clauses (i) through (v) of such Section 2.5(d) (the date of such satisfaction being the “Increase Effective Date”), (i) each of the Increasing Lenders shall have, on and as of the Increase Effective Date of the Increase, a Commitment equal to the amount set forth above next to its name, and (ii) each such Proposed Lender as of the Increase Effective Date shall be deemed to be a “Lender” under, and as such term is defined in, the Credit Agreement, and shall have a Commitment equal to the amount set forth above next to its name.

 

  

Cleco Power LLC Note

  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Increase Supplement to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

	
CLECO POWER LLC

 

 

	  
	
By:

 

	
Name:

 

	
Title:

 

 

	
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

 

	  
	
By:

 

	
Name:

 

	
Title:

 

 

	
[INCREASING LENDER]

 

 

 

	  
	
By:

 

	
Name:

 

	
Title:

 

 

	
[PROPOSED LENDER]

 

 

 

	  
	
By:

 

	
Name:

 

	
Title:

 

 

 

Cleco Power LLC Noteabat8k20101129ex10-a.htm

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of November 29, 2010, between Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Company desires to issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, desires to purchase from the Company, securities of the Company as more fully described in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1           Definitions.  In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

 

“Acquiring Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.7.

 

“Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(j).

 

“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

“Bloomberg L.P.” means Bloomberg L.P. or, if Bloomberg L.P. no longer reports the applicable pricing or other information, such other data service as may in the future replace Bloomberg L.P. as the primary industry source of stock market data.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

“Closing Date” means the Trading Day on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Purchasers’ obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Securities, in each case, have been satisfied or waived, but in no event later than 3 Trading Days following the date hereof.

  

1

  

 

“Closing Price” means on any particular date (a) the last reported closing bid price per share of Common Stock on such date on the Trading Market (as reported by Bloomberg L.P. at 4:15 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if there is no such price on such date, then the closing bid price on the Trading Market on the date nearest preceding such date (as reported by Bloomberg L.P. at 4:15 p.m. (New York City time)), (c)  if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted on a Trading Market and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “pink sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) if the shares of Common Stock are not then publicly traded the fair market value as of such date of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority in interest of the Shares then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

 

“Company Counsel” means Robert Brantl, Esq., with offices located at 52 Mulligan Lane, Irvington, NY 10533.

 

“Disclosure Schedules” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.

 

 “Evaluation Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(r).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) shares of Common Stock or options to employees, officers or directors of the Company pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose, (b) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any Securities issued hereunder and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities, and (c) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equityholders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.

  

2

  

 

“GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).

 

“Greenshoe” means, collectively, the Common Stock Greenshoe Warrants delivered to the Purchasers at the Closing in accordance with Section 2.2(a) hereof, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

“Greenshoe Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Greenshoes.

 

“Indebtedness” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(z).

 

“Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(o).

 

“Liens” means a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(b).

 

“Material Permits” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(m).

 

“Per Share Purchase Price” equals $4.00, subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

 

“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

“Placement Agent” means Rodman & Renshaw, LLC.

 

“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

  

3

  

 

“Prospectus” means the final prospectus filed for the Registration Statement.

 

“Prospectus Supplement” means the supplement to the Prospectus complying with Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act that is filed with the Commission and delivered by the Company to each Purchaser at the Closing.

 

“Purchaser Party” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.10.

 

“Registration Statement” means the effective registration statement with Commission file No. 333-161384 which registers the sale of the Shares, the Greenshoes and the Greenshoe Shares to the Purchasers.

 

“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

 

“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

 “SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(h).

 

“Securities” means the Shares, the Greenshoes and the Greenshoe Shares.

 

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

 

“Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to each Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock). 

 

 “Subscription Amount” means, as to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for Shares and Greenshoes purchased hereunder as specified below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement and next to the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.

 

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3.1(a), and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.

 

  

4

  

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.

 

“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE AMEX, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Greenshoes, all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

“Transfer Agent” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Co., the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 17 Battery Place, New York, NY 10004 and a facsimile number of 212-509-5150, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

 

“Variable Rate Transaction” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.13(b).

 

“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b)  if the OTC Bulletin Board is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority in interest of the Shares then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

“WS” means Weinstein Smith LLP with offices located at 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2620, New York, New York 10170-0002.

 

ARTICLE II.

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1           Closing.  On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto, the Company agrees to sell, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly,  agree to purchase, up to an aggregate of $30,000,000 of Shares and Greenshoes.  Each Purchaser shall deliver to the Company, via wire transfer or a certified check of immediately available funds equal to its Subscription Amount and the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser its respective Shares and Greenshoes as determined pursuant to Section 2.2(a), and the Company and each Purchaser shall deliver the other items set forth in Section 2.2 deliverable at the Closing.  Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.3, the Closing shall occur at the offices of WS or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree.

  

5

  

 

2.2           Deliveries.

 

(a)           On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following:

 

(i)             this Agreement duly executed by the Company;

 

(ii)            a legal opinion of Company Counsel, substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto;

 

(iii)           a copy of the irrevocable instructions to the Company’s transfer agent instructing the transfer agent to deliver via the Depository Trust Company Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission System (“DWAC”) Shares equal to such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount divided by the Per Share Purchase Price, registered in the name of such Purchaser;

 

(iv)           a Greenshoe registered in the name of such Purchaser to purchase up to a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 50% of such Purchaser’s Shares, with an exercise price equal to $4.00, subject to adjustment therein, which Greenshoes shall be exercisable immediately and have a term of exercise equal to one (1) year and one (1) week from the initial date of exercisability of such Greenshoes (such Greenshoe certificate may be delivered within three Trading Days of the Closing Date); and

 

(v)           the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement (which may be delivered in accordance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

(b)           On or prior to the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:

 

(i)             this Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser; and

 

(ii)            such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount by wire transfer to the account as specified in writing by the Company.

 

2.3           Closing Conditions.

 

(a)           The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

  

6

  

 

(i)             the accuracy in all material respects on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein);

 

(ii)            all obligations, covenants and agreements of each Purchaser required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed; and

 

(iii)           the delivery by each Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.

 

(b)           The respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i)             the accuracy in all material respects when made and on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein);

 

(ii)            all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed;

 

(iii)           the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement;

 

(iv)           there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof; and

 

(v)            from the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission or the Company’s principal Trading Market (except for any suspension of trading of limited duration agreed to by the Company, which suspension shall be terminated prior to the Closing), and, at any time prior to the Closing Date, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service, or on any Trading Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities nor shall there have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of each Purchaser, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Securities at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1           Representations and Warranties of the Company.  Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, which Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed a part hereof and shall qualify any representation or otherwise made herein to the extent of the disclosure contained in the corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedules, the Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each Purchaser:

  

7

  

 

(a)           Subsidiaries.  All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company are set forth on Schedule 3.1(a).  The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.  If the Company has no subsidiaries, all other references to the Subsidiaries or any of them in the Transaction Documents shall be disregarded.

 

(b)           Organization and Qualification.  The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents.  Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”) and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

 

(c)           Authorization; Enforcement.  The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder.  The execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals.  Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

  

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(d)           No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby to which it is a party do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)           Filings, Consents and Approvals.  The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than: (i) the filings required pursuant to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, (ii) the filing with the Commission of the Prospectus Supplement, (iii) application(s) to each applicable Trading Market for the listing of the Securities for trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby and (iv) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

 

(f)           Issuance of the Securities; Registration.  The Securities are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company.  The Greenshoe Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company.  The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement and the Greenshoes. The Company has prepared and filed the Registration Statement in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, which became effective on September 2, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), including the Prospectus, and such amendments and supplements thereto as may have been required to the date of this Agreement.  The Registration Statement is effective under the Securities Act and no stop order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, are threatened by the Commission.  The Company, if required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, proposes to file the Prospectus, with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b).  At the time the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto became effective, at the date of this Agreement and at the Closing Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, at time the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto was issued and at the Closing Date, conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

  

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(g)           Capitalization.  The capitalization of the Company is as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g), which Schedule 3.1(g) shall also include the number of shares of Common Stock owned beneficially, and of record, by Affiliates of the Company as of the date hereof.  The Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. Other than a right of first refusal granted to investors under those certain securities purchase agreements dated May 27, 2009 and June 12, 2009 (the “Prior Purchase Agreements”), no Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to amend the participation rights granted to the investors under such Prior Purchase Agreements.  Except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents.  The issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under any of such securities. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.  No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities.  There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.

 

  

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(h)           SEC Reports; Financial Statements.  The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension.  As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has never been an issuer subject to Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing.  Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP.  Such statements fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.

 

(i)            Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments.  Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof: (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans.  The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information.  Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 3.1(i), no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective business, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition, that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least 1 Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.

  

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(j)            Litigation.  There is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty.  There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.  The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.

 

(k)           Labor Relations.  No material labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good.  No executive officer, to the knowledge of the Company, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters.  The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

  

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(l)            Compliance.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws applicable to its business and all such laws that affect the environment, except in each case as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(m)           Regulatory Permits.  The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.

 

(n)           Title to Assets.  The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties.  Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

 

(o)           Patents and Trademarks.  The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights as necessary or material for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”).  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of the Intellectual Property Rights used by the Company or any Subsidiary violates or infringes upon the rights of any Person.  To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

  

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(p)           Insurance.  The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage at least equal to the aggregate Subscription Amount.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.

 

(q)           Transactions With Affiliates and Employees.  Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for: (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.

 

(r)            Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls.  The Company is in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which are applicable to it as of the Closing Date.  The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.  The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the Company’s most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”).  The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date.  Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

  

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(s)            Certain Fees.  Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.  The Purchasers shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

(t)            Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Securities, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(u)           Registration Rights.  No Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company.

 

(v)           Listing and Maintenance Requirements.  The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.  The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements.

 

(w)           Application of Takeover Protections.  The Company and the Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Purchasers as a result of the Purchasers and the Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents, including without limitation as a result of the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Purchasers’ ownership of the Securities.

 

  

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(x)            Disclosure.  Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Purchasers or their agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information which is not otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus Supplement.   The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers will rely on the foregoing representation in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.  All of the disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchasers regarding the Company, its business and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The press releases disseminated by the Company during the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement taken as a whole do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made and when made, not misleading.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Purchaser makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.

 

(y)           No Integrated Offering. Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.

 

(z)            Solvency.  Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder: (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid.  The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt).  The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date.  Schedule 3.1(z) sets forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments.  For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

  

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(aa)          Tax Status.  Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued all taxes shown as due thereon, and the Company has no knowledge of a tax deficiency which has been asserted or threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(bb)         Foreign Corrupt Practices.  Neither the Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

(cc)          Accountants.  The Company’s accounting firm is set forth on Schedule 3.1(cc) of the Disclosure Schedules.  To the knowledge and belief of the Company, such accounting firm (i) is a registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

(dd)         Acknowledgment Regarding Purchasers’ Purchase of Securities.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Purchasers is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby.  The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by any Purchaser or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchasers’ purchase of the Securities.  The Company further represents to each Purchaser that the Company’s decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company and its representatives.

  

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(ee)          Acknowledgement Regarding Purchaser’s Trading Activity.  Anything in this Agreement or elsewhere herein to the contrary notwithstanding (except for Sections 3.2(e) and 4.15 hereof), it is understood and acknowledged by the Company that: (i) none of the Purchasers have been asked by the Company to agree, nor has any Purchaser agreed, to desist from purchasing or selling, long and/or short, securities of the Company, or “derivative” securities based on securities issued by the Company or to hold the Securities for any specified term, (ii) past or future open market or other transactions by any Purchaser, specifically including, without limitation, Short Sales or “derivative” transactions, before or after the closing of this or future private placement transactions, may negatively impact the market price of the Company’s publicly-traded securities, (iii) any Purchaser, and counter-parties in “derivative” transactions to which any such Purchaser is a party, directly or indirectly, may presently have a “short” position in the Common Stock and (iv) each Purchaser shall not be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm’s length counter-party in any “derivative” transaction.  The Company further understands and acknowledges that (y) one or more Purchasers may engage in hedging activities at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, including, without limitation, during the periods that the value of the Greenshoe Shares deliverable with respect to Securities are being determined, and (z) such hedging activities (if any) could reduce the value of the existing stockholders' equity interests in the Company at and after the time that the hedging activities are being conducted.  The Company acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging activities do not constitute a breach of any of the Transaction Documents.

 

(ff)           Regulation M Compliance.  The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Company’s placement agent in connection with the placement of the Securities.

 

(gg)         Stock Option Plans. Each stock option granted by the Company under the Company’s stock option plan was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock option plan and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated.  The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

  

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3.2           Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers.  Each Purchaser, for itself and for no other Purchaser, hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows (unless as of a specific date therein):

 

(a)           Organization; Authority.  Such Purchaser is either an individual or an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with full right, corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of such Purchaser.  Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(b)           Understandings or Arrangements.  Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities (this representation and warranty not limiting such Purchaser’s right to sell the Securities in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws).  Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.

 

(c)           Purchaser Status.  At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is, and on each date on which it exercises any Greenshoes, it will be either: (i) an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act or (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A(a) under the Securities Act.

 

(d)           Experience of Such Purchaser.  Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment.  Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

  

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(e)           Certain Transactions and Confidentiality.  Other than consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, such Purchaser has not directly or indirectly, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with such Purchaser, executed any purchases or sales, including Short Sales, of the securities of the Company during the period commencing as of the time that such Purchaser first received a term sheet (written or oral) from the Company or any other Person representing the Company setting forth the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereunder and ending immediately prior to the execution hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Purchaser’s assets, the representation set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Securities covered by this Agreement.  Other than to other Persons party to this Agreement, such Purchaser has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any actions, with respect to the identification of the availability of, or securing of, available shares to borrow in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.

 

The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in Section 3.2 shall not modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby.

 

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

4.1           Greenshoe Shares.  If all or any portion of a Greenshoe is exercised at a time when there is an effective registration statement to cover the issuance or resale of the Greenshoe Shares or if the Greenshoe is exercised via cashless exercise, the Greenshoe Shares issued pursuant to any such exercise shall be issued free of all legends.  If at any time following the date hereof the Registration Statement (or any subsequent registration statement registering the sale or resale of the Greenshoe Shares) is not effective or is not otherwise available for the sale or resale of the Greenshoe Shares, the Company shall immediately notify the holders of the Greenshoes in writing that such registration statement is not then effective and thereafter shall promptly notify such holders when the registration statement is effective again and available for the sale or resale of the Greenshoe Shares (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing shall not limit the ability of the Company to issue, or any Purchaser to sell, any of the Greenshoe Shares in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws).  The Company shall use best efforts to keep a registration statement (including the Registration Statement) registering the issuance or resale of the Greenshoe Shares effective during the term of the Greenshoes.

 

4.2           Acknowledgment of Dilution.  The Company acknowledges that the issuance of the Securities may result in dilution of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, which dilution may be substantial under certain market conditions.  The Company further acknowledges that its obligations under the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, its obligation to issue the Shares or Greenshoe Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents, are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any right of set off, counterclaim, delay or reduction, regardless of the effect of any such dilution or any claim the Company may have against any Purchaser and regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership of the other stockholders of the Company.

 

  

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4.3           Furnishing of Information.  Until the earliest of the time that (i) no Purchaser owns Securities or (ii) the Greenshoes have expired, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act even if the Company is not then subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.  As long as any Purchaser owns Securities, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Purchasers and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for the Purchasers to sell the Securities, including without limitation, under Rule 144. The Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Securities without registration under the Securities Act, including without limitation, within the requirements of the exemption provided by Rule 144.

 

4.4           Integration.  The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require shareholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

 

4.5           Exercise Procedures.  Each of the form of Notice of Exercise included in the Greenshoes set forth the totality of the procedures required of the Purchasers in order to exercise the Greenshoes.  No additional legal opinion, other information or instructions shall be required of the Purchasers to exercise their Greenshoes.  The Company shall honor exercises of the Greenshoes and shall deliver Greenshoe Shares in accordance with the terms, conditions and time periods set forth in the Transaction Documents.

 

4.6           Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity.  The Company shall, by 8:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day immediately following the date hereof, issue a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “8-K Filing”) and press release disclosing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, and including the Transaction Documents as exhibits thereto.  From and after the issuance of such press release, the Company shall have publicly disclosed all material, non-public information delivered to any of the Purchasers by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.  The Company and each Purchaser shall consult with each other in issuing any other press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Company nor any Purchaser shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any press release of any Purchaser, or without the prior consent of each Purchaser, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Purchaser, or include the name of any Purchaser in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except: (a) as required by federal securities law in connection with the filing of final Transaction Documents (including signature pages thereto) with the Commission and (b) to the extent such disclosure is required by law or Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide the Purchasers with prior notice of such disclosure permitted under this clause (b).

  

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4.7           Shareholder Rights Plan.  No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, with the consent of the Company, any other Person, that any Purchaser is an “Acquiring Person” under any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or similar anti-takeover plan or arrangement in effect or hereafter adopted by the Company, or that any Purchaser could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Securities under the Transaction Documents or under any other agreement between the Company and the Purchasers.

 

4.8           Non-Public Information.  Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company covenants and agrees that neither it, nor any other Person acting on its behalf, will provide any Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes constitutes material non-public information, unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement with the Company regarding the confidentiality and use of such information.  The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. If a Purchaser has, or believes it has, received, from and after the time of the 8-K Filing, any such material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates or agents, it may provide the Company with written notice thereof.  The Company shall, within two (2) Trading Days of receipt of such notice, make public disclosure of such material, nonpublic information.

 

4.9           Use of Proceeds.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9 attached hereto, the Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder for working capital purposes and shall not use such proceeds for: (a) the satisfaction of any portion of the Company’s debt (other than payment of trade payables in the ordinary course of the Company’s business and prior practices), (b) the redemption of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or (c) the settlement of any outstanding litigation.

 

  

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4.10         Indemnification of Purchasers.   Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Company will indemnify and hold each Purchaser and its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls such Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling persons (each, a “Purchaser Party”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation that any such Purchaser Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to (a) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents or (b) any action instituted against a Purchaser in any capacity, or any of them or their respective Affiliates, by any stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of such Purchaser, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (unless such action is based upon a breach of such Purchaser’s representations, warranties or covenants under the Transaction Documents or any agreements or understandings such Purchaser may have with any such stockholder or any violations by such Purchaser of state or federal securities laws or any conduct by such Purchaser which constitutes fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or malfeasance).  If any action shall be brought against any Purchaser Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, such Purchaser Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing, and the Company shall have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser Party.  Any Purchaser Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Purchaser Party except to the extent that (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Company in writing, (ii) the Company has failed after a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and to employ counsel or (iii) in such action there is, in the reasonable opinion of counsel, a material conflict on any material issue between the position of the Company and the position of such Purchaser Party, in which case the Company shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one such separate counsel.  The Company will not be liable to any Purchaser Party under this Agreement (y) for any settlement by a Purchaser Party effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (z) to the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is attributable to any Purchaser Party’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Purchaser Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents.

 

4.11          Reservation of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue Shares pursuant to this Agreement and Greenshoe Shares pursuant to any exercise of the Greenshoes.

 

4.12          RESERVED.

 

4.13          Subsequent Equity Sales.

 

(a)           From the date hereof until 15 calendar days after the date hereof, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents.

 

  

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(b)           From the date hereof until the earlier of (i) such time as no Purchaser holds any of the Securities and (ii) three years following the Closing Date, the Company shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents for cash consideration (or a combination of units thereof) involving a Variable Rate Transaction.  “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company (i) issues or sells any debt or equity securities that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive, additional shares of Common Stock either (A) at a conversion price, exercise price or exchange rate or other price that is based upon, and/or varies with, the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity securities, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock or (ii) enters into any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit, whereby the Company may sell securities at a future determined price.  Any Purchaser shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4.13 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance, except that no Variable Rate Transaction shall be an Exempt Issuance.

 

4.14          Equal Treatment of Purchasers.  No consideration (including any modification of any Transaction Document) shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents.  For clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Purchaser by the Company and negotiated separately by each Purchaser, and is intended for the Company to treat the Purchasers as a class and shall not in any way be construed as the Purchasers acting in concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of Securities or otherwise.

 

4.15          Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, covenants that neither it, nor any Affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any purchases or sales, including Short Sales of any of the Company’s securities during the period commencing with the execution of this Agreement and ending at such time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.6.  Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.6, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of this transaction and the information included in the Transaction Documents and the Disclosure Schedules.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) no Purchaser makes any representation, warranty or covenant hereby that it will not engage in effecting transactions in any securities of the Company after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.6, (ii) no Purchaser shall be restricted or prohibited from effecting any transactions in any securities of the Company in accordance with applicable securities laws from and after the time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4.6 and (iii) no Purchaser shall have any duty of confidentiality to the Company or its Subsidiaries after the issuance of the initial press release as described in Section 4.6.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a Purchaser that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Purchaser’s assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Purchaser’s assets, the covenant set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Securities covered by this Agreement.

 

  

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ARTICLE V.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1           Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by any Purchaser, as to such Purchaser’s obligations hereunder only and without any effect whatsoever on the obligations between the Company and the other Purchasers, by written notice to the other parties, if the Closing has not been consummated on or before December 8, 2010; provided, however, that such termination will not affect the right of any party to sue for any breach by the other party (or parties).

 

5.2           Fees and Expenses.  Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.  The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees, stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities to the Purchasers.

 

5.3           Entire Agreement.  The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.

 

5.4           Notices.  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number set forth on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.  The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto.

 

5.5           Amendments; Waivers.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and a majority the Purchasers of the Shares then outstanding or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought.  No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

  

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5.6           Headings.  The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

5.7           Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns.  The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Purchaser (other than by merger).  Any Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities, provided that such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the provisions of the Transaction Documents that apply to the “Purchasers.”

 

5.8           No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.10.

 

5.9           Governing Law.  All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.  Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding.  Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.  If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company under Section 4.10, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

  

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5.10          Survival.  The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.

 

5.11          Execution.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.  In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

5.12          Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

5.13          Rescission and Withdrawal Right.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) any of the other Transaction Documents, whenever any Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights; provided, however, that in the case of a rescission of an exercise of a Greenshoe, the applicable Purchaser shall be required to return any shares of Common Stock subject to any such rescinded conversion or exercise notice concurrently with the return to such Purchaser of the aggregate exercise price paid to the Company for such shares and the restoration of such Purchaser’s right to acquire such shares pursuant to such Purchaser’s Greenshoe (including, issuance of a replacement warrant certificate evidencing such restored right).

 

5.14          Replacement of Securities.  If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof (in the case of mutilation), or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction.  The applicant for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs (including customary indemnity) associated with the issuance of such replacement Securities.

 

  

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5.15          Remedies.  In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents.  The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

5.16          Payment Set Aside.  To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

5.17          Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights.  The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance or non-performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document.  Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.  Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.  Each Purchaser has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in their review and negotiation of the Transaction Documents.  For reasons of administrative convenience only, each Purchaser and its respective counsel have chosen to communicate with the Company through WS.  WS does not represent any of the Purchasers and only represents the Placement Agent.  The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any of the Purchasers.

 

5.18          Liquidated Damages.  The Company’s obligations to pay any partial liquidated damages or other amounts owing under the Transaction Documents is a continuing obligation of the Company and shall not terminate until all unpaid partial liquidated damages and other amounts have been paid notwithstanding the fact that the instrument or security pursuant to which such partial liquidated damages or other amounts are due and payable shall have been canceled.

  

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5.19          Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc.  If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

5.20          Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel has reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments hereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

 

5.21          WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.

 

 

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

  

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

	
ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

	
Address for Notice:

	
By:  /s/ Zhiguo Fu_________________________

     Name:  Zhiguo Fu

     Title: CEO and Chairman

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

	
Fax:

	  	  

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

 

 

 

  

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[PURCHASER SIGNATURE PAGES TO ABAT SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 

Name of Purchaser: ________________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser: _________________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________

Title of Authorized Signatory: ________________________________________________

Email Address of Authorized Signatory:_________________________________________

Facsimile Number of Authorized Signatory: ______________________________________

Address for Notice of Purchaser:

Address for Delivery of Securities for Purchaser (if not same as address for notice):

Subscription Amount: $_________________

Shares: _________________

Greenshoe Shares: __________________

o  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, by checking this box (i) the obligations of the above-signed to purchase the securities set forth in this Agreement to be purchased from the Company by the above-signed, and the obligations of the Company to sell such securities to the above-signed, shall be unconditional and all conditions to Closing shall be disregarded, (ii) the Closing shall occur on the third (3rd) Trading Day following the date of this Agreement and (iii) any condition to Closing contemplated by this Agreement (but prior to being disregarded by clause (i) above) that required delivery by the Company or the above-signed of any agreement, instrument, certificate or the like or purchase price (as applicable) shall no longer be a condition and shall instead be an unconditional obligation of the Company or the above-signed (as applicable) to deliver such agreement, instrument, certificate or the like or purchase price (as applicable) to such other party on the Closing Date.

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]

 

  

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ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement

dated November 29, 2010

DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES

Schedules

 

	
3.1(a)

	 	
Subsidiaries

	
3.1(g)

	 	
Capitalization

	
3.1(h)

	 	
SEC Reports, Financial Statements

	
3.1(i)

	 	
Material Changes, etc.

	
3.1(j)

	 	
Litigation

	
3.1(p)

	 	
Insurance

	
3.1(r)

	 	
Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls

	
3.1(s)

	 	
Certain Fees

	
3.1(z)

	 	
Indebtedness

	
3.1(cc)

	 	
Accountants

	
4.9

	 	
Use of Proceeds

 

 

 

  

 

  

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(a): Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries

The direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company are:

Cashtech Investment Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation

Harbin Zhong Qiang Power-Tech Co., Ltd., a PRC corporation

Wuxi Zhongqiang Autocycle Co., Ltd., a PRC corporation

Beyond E-Tech, Inc., a Texas corporation (49% equity ownership)

In addition, the following entity is a variable interest entity with respect to the Company, by reason of several agreements (Operating Agreement, Consulting Services Agreement, Equity Pledge Agreement, Proxy Agreement, Option Agreement, each dated September 8, 2004) between the registered owners of the entity and Harbin Zhong Qiang Power-Tech Co., Ltd.:

Heilongjiang Zhong Qiang Power-Tech Co., Ltd., a PRC corporation

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ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(g): Capitalization - Page 1

Authorized and Outstanding Shares

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 150 million shares of common stock, $.001 par value, and 5 million shares of preferred stock, $.001 par value.  There are 68,902,639 shares of common stock and 2 shares of Series E Preferred Stock outstanding.  Each share of Series E Preferred Stock may be converted by the holder into 264 shares of common stock.

Ownership by Affiliates

	
 

Name

	
 

Position

	
 

Shares

	
 

Zhiguo Fu

	
 

CEO, Director

	
 

8,876,730

	
 

Guohua Wan

	
 

CFO, Director

	
 

70,000

	
 

Guopeng Gao

	
 

Director

	
 

70,000

	
 

Hongjun Si

	
 

Director

	
 

60,000

	
 

Liqui Bai

	
 

Director

	
 

30,000

	
 

Shaoqui Xia

	
 

Director

	
 

0

	
 

Ning Li

	
 

Director

	
 

0

	
 

Shiyan Yang

	
 

Director

	
 

0

	
 

Chi Quan Xue

	
 

Director

	
 

0

	
 

John McFadden

	
 

Director

	
 

28,924

	
 

Cosimo Patti

	
 

Director

	
24,884

	
 

Dan Chang

	
Senior V.P.

	
 

20,000

  

 

  

 

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(g): Capitalization - Page 2

 

 

Commitments to Issue Securities

	
$

	
The Company has agreed that it will issue to Cosimo Patti, for each year of his service on the Board of Directors, common shares with a market value of $30,000. The shares are issuable on February 1 of each year.  Market value is determines as the average closing price for the ten trading days preceding the issuable date.

	
$

	
The Company has agreed that it will issue to John J. McFadden, for each year of his service on the Board of Directors, common shares with a market value of $30,000. The shares are issuable on March 1 of each year.  Market value is determines as the average closing price for the ten trading days preceding the issuable date.

	
$

	
The Company has agreed to issue to Dan Chang 20,000 shares of common stock for each year of his employment by the Company.  The shares are issuable in September of each year.

Options

 

In August 2008, June 2009 and October 2009 the Company issued 5-year warrants to purchase a total of 6,825,113 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $5.16 per share.

In July 2007 the Company issued to ROI Group, Inc. a 5-year warrant to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at $6.00 per share.

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ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(h): SEC Reports, Financial Statements

The Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on November 8, 2010 discloses that the Company intends to file amendments to certain of its Exchange Act filings and to amend the financial statements included in those filings in the manner described in the Current Report.

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ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(i): Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments

None.

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ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(j): Litigation

Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP v. Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc.  In September Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP (“SFG”) commenced this action in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (Civil Action No. 08-25505).  SFG alleges that it was party to two contracts with the Company, pursuant to which SFG alleges that it was entitled to serve as financial advisor with respect to any offering of securities by the Company completed prior to March 2009.  SFG alleges that the Company failed to afford SFG the opportunity to serve as financial advisor in connection with the private placement by the Company in August 2008.  SFG alleges that it is entitled to damages in the amount of $1,359,872.46 and a warrant to purchase 81,882 share of the Company’s common stock exercisable at $8.00 per share.  The Company has answered the Complaint, and has denied that SFG was entitled to serve as financial advisor in connection with the August 2008 private placement by reason of the fact that SFG had terminated its agreements with the Company, had waived any continuing rights under the contracts, and had acted in bad faith in connection with the services it undertook to perform for the Company.

Suiyang Huang v. Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc.  Shuiyang Huang, the Company’s CTO, commenced this action on November 29, 2010 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  The action claimed breach of Mr. Huang’s employment agreement and demanded damages in an amount between $1.25 million and $5 million.  On May 26, 2010 the action was dismissed without prejudice to Mr. Huang’s right to reassert his claims in China. In November 2010, Mr Huang resumed his action in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York after receiving several rejections from P.R.C court in Shenzhen, China.

 

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ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(p): Insurance

The only insurance policies that the Company maintains in the United States are:

	
  

	
-

	
Workers Compensation Insurance, in amounts specified by the State of New York.

	
  

	
-

	
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance, with an indemnification limitation of $1 million.

The only insurance policies that the Company's subsidiaries maintain in China are:

	
  

	
-

	
Employee Medical Insurance

	
  

	
-

	
Labor Protection Insurance

	
  

	
-

	
Unemployment Compensation Insurance

  

 

  

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(r): Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls

The Company has disclosed in its most recent 10-Q that its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of September 30, 2010, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.  The weaknesses in the Company’s controls and procedures consisted of (a) a lack of expertise in identifying and addressing complex accounting issued under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles among the personnel in the Company’s accounting department, which has resulted in certain errors in accounting identified in restatements included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and (b) inadequate review by management personnel of the Company’s reports prior to filing, which has resulted in occasional past failures to comply with the instructions for filing reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

 

 

  

 

  

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(s): Certain Fees

The Company has an investment banking agreement with Rodman & Renshaw pursuant to which it will compensate Rodman and Renshaw for services in connection with the present private offering.

 

 

  

 

  

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(z): Indebtedness

The Company has no debt other than accounts payable and accrued expenses entered in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

  

 

  

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 3.1(cc): Accountants

Friedman LLP is the independent registered public accountant for the Company.

 

 

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ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 29, 2010

Disclosure Schedules

SCHEDULE 4.9: Use of Proceeds

The Company will use the proceeds for the purposes described in Section 4.9.

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

COMMON STOCK GREENSHOE WARRANT

ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

	
Greenshoe Shares: _______

	
Initial Exercise Date: November __, 2010

 

THIS COMMON STOCK GREENSHOE WARRANT (the “Greenshoe”) certifies that, for value received, _____________ (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after ___________ (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to the close of business on the _________ (the “Termination Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to ______ shares (the “Greenshoe Shares”) of Common Stock.  The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Greenshoe shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).

 

Section 1.       Definitions.  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated November 29, 2010, among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto.

 

Section 2.       Exercise.

 

a)            Exercise of Greenshoe.  Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company) of a duly executed facsimile copy of the Notice of Exercise Form annexed hereto. Within three (3) Trading Days following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased.  The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Greenshoe Shares purchased and the date of such purchases.  The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise Form within 1 Business Day of receipt of such notice.  In the event of any dispute or discrepancy, the records of the Holder shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Greenshoe, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Greenshoe Shares hereunder, the number of Greenshoe Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

  

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b)            Exercise Price.  The exercise price per share of the Common Stock under this Greenshoe shall be $4.00, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).

 

c)            Cashless Exercise.  If at the time of exercise hereof there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of the Greenshoe Shares to the Holder and all of the Greenshoe Shares are not then registered for resale by Holder into the market at market prices from time to time on an effective registration statement for use on a continuous basis (or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use), then this Greenshoe may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the number of Greenshoe Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

 

	
  

	
 (A) = the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date on which Holder elects to exercise this Greenshoe by means of a “cashless exercise,” as set forth in the applicable Notice of Exercise;

	
  

	
(B) = the Exercise Price of this Greenshoe, as adjusted hereunder; and

	
  

	
(X) = the number of Greenshoe Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Greenshoe in accordance with the terms of this Greenshoe if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time), (b)  if the OTC Bulletin Board is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by Pink OTC Markets, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

  

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d)            Mechanics of Exercise.

 

i.      Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise.  Certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) system if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Greenshoe Shares to or resale of the Greenshoe Shares by Holder or (B) this Greenshoe is being exercised via cashless exercise, and otherwise by physical delivery to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is three (3) Trading Days after the latest of (A) the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise form, (B) surrender of this Greenshoe (if required), and (C) payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as set forth above (including by cashless exercise, if permitted) (such date, the “Greenshoe Share Delivery Date”).  The Greenshoe Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Greenshoe has been exercised, with payment to the Company of the Exercise Price (or by cashless exercise, if permitted) and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2(d)(vi) prior to the issuance of such shares, having been paid. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder certificates evidencing the Greenshoe Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Greenshoe Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Greenshoe Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the fifth Trading Day after such liquidated damages begin to accrue) for each Trading Day after such Greenshoe Share Delivery Date until such certificates are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise.

 

ii.      Delivery of New Greenshoes Upon Exercise.  If this Greenshoe shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Greenshoe certificate, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Greenshoe Shares, deliver to Holder a new Greenshoe evidencing the rights of Holder to purchase the unpurchased Greenshoe Shares called for by this Greenshoe, which new Greenshoe shall in all other respects be identical with this Greenshoe.

  

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iii.     Rescission Rights.  If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Greenshoe Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Greenshoe Share Delivery Date, then, the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

 

iv.    Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates Upon Exercise.  In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Greenshoe Shares pursuant to an exercise on or before the Greenshoe Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Greenshoe Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall within three (3) Trading Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such Greenshoe Shares or credit such Holder’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Greenshoe Shares or credit such Holder’s balance account with DTC and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock, times (B) the VWAP on the date of exercise.  The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss.  Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Greenshoe as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

v.      No Fractional Shares or Scrip.  No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Greenshoe.  As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

  

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vi.    Charges, Taxes and Expenses.  Issuance of certificates for Greenshoe Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event certificates for Greenshoe Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Greenshoe when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.

 

vii.   Closing of Books.  The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Greenshoe, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

e)            Holder’s Exercise Limitations.  The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Greenshoe, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Greenshoe, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below).  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Greenshoe with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Greenshoe beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other  Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith.   To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Greenshoe is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of this Greenshoe is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Greenshoe is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of this Greenshoe is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination.   In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.  In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Greenshoe, by the Holder or its Affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.  The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Greenshoe.  The Holder upon written notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Greenshoe held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply.  Any such increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company.  The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Greenshoe.

  

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Section 3.       Certain Adjustments.

 

a)            Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Greenshoe is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Greenshoe), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Greenshoe shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Greenshoe shall remain unchanged.  Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

  

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b)            Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Greenshoe is outstanding, in one or more related transactions (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with or into another Person, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (vi) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), to become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Greenshoe, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Greenshoe Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Greenshoe), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Greenshoe is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Greenshoe).  For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration.  If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Greenshoe following such Fundamental Transaction.

  

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c)            Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

 

d)            Notice to Holder.

 

i.      Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

ii.      Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Greenshoe Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice.  To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.  The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Greenshoe during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

  

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Section 4.       Transfer of Greenshoe.

 

a)            Transferability.  This Greenshoe and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Greenshoe at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Greenshoe substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer.  Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Greenshoe or Greenshoes in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Greenshoe evidencing the portion of this Greenshoe not so assigned, and this Greenshoe shall promptly be cancelled.  The Greenshoe, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Greenshoe Shares without having a new Greenshoe issued.

 

b)            New Greenshoes. This Greenshoe may be divided or combined with other Greenshoes upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Greenshoes are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney.  Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Greenshoe or Greenshoes in exchange for the Greenshoe or Greenshoes to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Greenshoes issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date set forth on the first page of this Greenshoe and shall be identical with this Greenshoe except as to the number of Greenshoe Shares issuable pursuant thereto.

 

c)            Greenshoe Register. The Company shall register this Greenshoe, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Greenshoe Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time.  The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Greenshoe as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

Section 5.       Miscellaneous.

  

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a)             No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise.  This Greenshoe does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i).

 

b)            Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Greenshoe. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Greenshoe or any stock certificate relating to the Greenshoe Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Greenshoe, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Greenshoe or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Greenshoe or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Greenshoe or stock certificate.

 

c)            Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc.  If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

d)            Authorized Shares.

 

The Company covenants that, during the period the Greenshoe is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Greenshoe Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Greenshoe.  The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Greenshoe shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Greenshoe Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Greenshoe.  The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Greenshoe Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed.  The Company covenants that all Greenshoe Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Greenshoe will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Greenshoe and payment for such Greenshoe Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

 

Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Greenshoe, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Greenshoe against impairment.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Greenshoe Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Greenshoe Shares upon the exercise of this Greenshoe and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Greenshoe.

  

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Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Greenshoe Shares for which this Greenshoe is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

 

e)            Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Greenshoe shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

f)            Restrictions.  The Holder acknowledges that the Greenshoe Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Greenshoe, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

 

g)            Nonwaiver and Expenses.  No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder’s rights, powers or remedies, notwithstanding the fact that all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination Date.  If the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Greenshoe, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

h)            Notices.  Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

i)             Limitation of Liability.  No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by Holder to exercise this Greenshoe to purchase Greenshoe Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder, shall give rise to any liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

  

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j)            Remedies.  The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Greenshoe.  The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Greenshoe and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

k)            Successors and Assigns.  Subject to applicable securities laws, this Greenshoe and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder.  The provisions of this Greenshoe are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Greenshoe and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Greenshoe Shares.

 

l)             Amendment.  This Greenshoe may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.

 

m)           Severability.  Wherever possible, each provision of this Greenshoe shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Greenshoe shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Greenshoe.

 

n)            Headings.  The headings used in this Greenshoe are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Greenshoe.

 

********************

(Signature Pages Follow)

  

12

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Greenshoe to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

 

 

	
ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.  

 

 

	
By:__________________________________________

     Name:

     Title:

 

  

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NOTICE OF EXERCISE

TO:           ADVANCED BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(1)           The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Greenshoe Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Greenshoe (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

 

(2)           Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):

 

[  ] in lawful money of the United States; or

 

[ ] [if permitted] the cancellation of such number of Greenshoe Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Greenshoe with respect to the maximum number of Greenshoe Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).

 

(3)           Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Greenshoe Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

_______________________________

The Greenshoe Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number or by physical delivery of a certificate to:

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

(4)           Accredited Investor.  If the Greenshoe is not being exercised pursuant to Subsection 2(c), the undersigned hereby represents it is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

Name of Investing Entity: _______________________________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: ___________________________________________________________________

Title of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________________________________

  

 

  

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

(To assign the foregoing warrant, execute

this form and supply required information.

Do not use this form to exercise the warrant.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, [____] all of or [_______] shares of the foregoing Greenshoe and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

_______________________________________________ whose address is

_______________________________________________________________.

_______________________________________________________________

Dated:  ______________, _______

Holder’s Signature:                                _____________________________

Holder’s Address:                                 _____________________________

                                                                  _____________________________

Signature Guaranteed:  ___________________________________________

NOTE:  The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Greenshoe, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company.  Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Greenshoe.

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