Document:

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GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

 

 

by

 

 

 

NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION

 

as Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated November 30, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTY

AGREEMENT

 

                This

GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “Guaranty”), dated as of November 30, 2001, is

made by NorthWestern Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”),

in favor of Credit Suisse First Boston, as administrative agent for the Lenders

named in the Credit Agreement referred to below (in such capacity, together

with its successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent” and the

Lenders.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

                The

Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended,

restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit

Agreement”), among Cornerstone Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

(the “Borrower”), the lenders from time to time party thereto

(individually, a “Lender” and, collectively, the “Lenders”),

Credit Suisse First Boston, acting through its New York Branch, as

administrative agent, and Credit Suisse First Boston, CIBC Inc. and Barclays

Capital, as co–arrangers, provides, on its terms and subject to its

conditions, for (a) revolving credit loans, swingline loans and letters of

credit in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $39,300,000 (or, in the

event of an increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments in accordance with the

terms of the Credit Agreement, $54,300,000) at any one time outstanding, and

(b) term loans in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,700,000.

 

                The

Guarantor indirectly owns 100% of Cornerstone Propane GP, Inc., the managing

general partner of the Borrower, and 82.5% of SYN Inc., the special general

partner of the Borrower. Cornerstone Propane GP, Inc. and SYN Inc. collectively

own a 1.0101% general partner interest in the Borrower.

 

                To

induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit

Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and

sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Guarantor has agreed to

guarantee the Guarantied Obligations (as defined below) upon the terms and

conditions of this Guaranty. Accordingly, the Guarantor agrees with the

Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

 

                SECTION

1. DEFINITIONS.

 

                1.01.        Definitions.     Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized

terms used in this Guaranty that are defined in the Credit Agreement (including

those terms incorporated by reference) shall have the respective meanings

assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. In addition, the following terms

shall have the following meanings under this Guaranty:

 

                “Guarantied Obligations” shall mean the unpaid

principal of and interest on the Loans (including, without limitation, interest

accruing after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing after the filing

of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency,

reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary,

as applicable, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest

is allowed in such proceeding and whether the Administrative Agent, for the

benefit of the Lenders, is oversecured or undersecured with respect to such

Loans), the Notes and all 

 

 

other obligations and

liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and any Lender, whether

direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing

or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with,

the Credit Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents or any other document

made, delivered or given in connection therewith, whether on account of

principal, interest, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including, without

limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent

or the Lenders that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the

terms of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document) or otherwise.

 

                “Insolvency” shall mean with respect to any

Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is insolvent within the

meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

 

                “Material Subsidiary’’ shall mean, as at any

time of determination, each present or future Subsidiary of the Guarantor other

than any Subsidiary which as at the end of the fiscal quarter immediately

preceding such time of determination, shall have a net worth (calculated as the

stockholder’s equity of such Subsidiary disregarding any liabilities of such

Subsidiary to an Affiliate) equal to or less than 10% of the Net Worth of the

Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal

quarter, or net income equal to or less than 10% of the Net Income of the

Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarter period

ending at the end of such fiscal quarter.

 

                “Net Income” for any period shall mean, net

income (or deficit) of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for such period

determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

                “Net Worth” shall mean for any date the sum of

shareholders’ equity and preferred stock, preference stock and preferred

securities of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on such date, in each case as

described in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower.

 

                “NOR Change of Control” shall mean the

occurrence of any of the following:

 

                (a)           any

Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) (i) shall have acquired beneficial

ownership of 40% or more of the aggregate outstanding classes of Capital Stock

having voting power in the election of directors of the Guarantor or (ii) shall

obtain the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the

Guarantor’s directors; or

 

                (b)           a

majority of the persons who comprised the Board of Directors of the Guarantor

on the Closing Date shall be replaced, unless such replacement shall have been

approved by at least two–thirds of the Board of Directors of the

Guarantor then still  in

office who either were members of such Board of Directors on the Closing Date

or whose election as a member of such Board of Directors was previously so

approved.

 

                “Reorganization” shall mean with respect to

any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is in reorganization

within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

 

 

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                1.02.        Interpretation.      In this Guaranty, unless otherwise

indicated, the singular includes the plural and plural the singular; words

importing any gender include the other gender; references to statutes or

regulations are to be construed as including all statutory or regulatory

provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation

referred to; references to “writing” include printing, typing, lithography and

other means of reproducing words in a tangible visible form; the words

“including,” “includes” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the

words “without limitation”; references to articles, sections (or subdivisions

of sections), exhibits, annexes or schedules are to this Guaranty; references

to agreements and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all

subsequent amendments, extensions and other modifications to such instruments;

and references to Persons include their respective successors and permitted

assigns and, in the case of Governmental Authorities, Persons succeeding to

their respective functions and capacities.

 

                SECTION

2. THE GUARANTEE.

 

                2.01.        Guarantee.      The Guarantor hereby irrevocably,

absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Administrative Agent and each

Lender, as primary obligor and not as surety, the timely payment in full when

due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or

otherwise and regardless of the reason for any such default) of the Guarantied

Obligations then in effect, in each case strictly in accordance with their terms

and Section 5 hereof. The Guarantor hereby further agrees that if the Borrower

shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory

prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise and regardless of the reason for any

such default) all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations (or if, pursuant to

Section 5 hereof, the Guarantied Obligations shall be deemed due and owing in

full), the Guarantor will immediately pay the same, without any demand or

notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or

renewal of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations, the same will be

timely paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory

prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise and regardless of the reason for any

such default) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal and

Section 5 hereof. To the fullest extent permitted by law, this Guaranty is

absolute, irrevocable and unconditional in nature and is made with respect to

any and all Guarantied Obligations now existing or in the future arising. The

Guarantor’s liability under this Guaranty shall continue until full

satisfaction of the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder. This Guaranty is a

guarantee of due and punctual payment and performance and not of

collectibility.

 

                2.02.        Acknowledgments, Waivers and Consents.      The Guarantor acknowledges that the

obligations undertaken by it under this Guaranty involve the guarantee of

obligations of Persons other than the Guarantor and that such obligations of

the Guarantor are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, absolute,

irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances. In full

recognition and in furtherance of the foregoing, the Guarantor agrees, to the

fullest extent permitted by law, that:

 

                (a)           Without affecting the enforceability

or effectiveness of this Guaranty in accordance with its terms and without

affecting, limiting, reducing, discharging or terminating the liability of the

Guarantor, or the rights, remedies, powers and privileges of the Administrative

 

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Agent and the Lenders under this Guaranty,

the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may, at any time and from time to time

and without notice or demand of any kind or nature whatsoever:

 

                                (i)            amend, supplement, modify, extend,

renew, waive, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment or

performance of, or the terms of, all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations

(including any increase or decrease in the principal portion of, or rate or

rates of interest on, all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations);

 

                                (ii)           amend, supplement, modify, extend,

renew, waive or otherwise change, or enter into or give, any Loan Document or

any agreement, security document, guarantee, approval, consent or other

instrument with respect to all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations, any

Loan Document or any such other instrument or any term or provision of the

foregoing;

 

                                (iii)          accept or enter into new or additional

agreements, security documents, guarantees (including letters of credit) or

other instruments in addition to, in exchange for or relative to any Loan

Document, all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations or any collateral now

or in the future serving as security for the Guarantied Obligations;

 

                                (iv)          accept or receive (including from any

other guarantor) partial payments or performance on the Guarantied Obligations

(whether as a result of the exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege

or otherwise);

 

                                (v)           accept, receive and hold any

additional collateral for all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations

(including from any other guarantor);

 

                                (vi)          release, reconvey, terminate, waive,

abandon, allow to lapse or expire, fail to perfect, subordinate, exchange, substitute,

transfer, foreclose upon or enforce any collateral, security documents or

guarantees (including letters of credit or the obligations of any other

guarantor) for or relative to all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations;

 

                                (vii)         apply any collateral or the proceeds of

any collateral or guarantee (including any letter of credit or the obligations

of any other guarantor) to all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations in

such manner and extent as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may in its

discretion determine;

 

                                (viii)        release any Person (including any other

guarantor) from any personal liability with respect to all or any part of the

Guarantied Obligations;

 

                                (ix)           settle, compromise, release,

liquidate or enforce upon such terms and in such manner as the Administrative

Agent or the Lenders may determine or as applicable law may dictate all or any

part of the Guarantied Obligations or any collateral on or guarantee of

(including any letter of credit issued with respect to) all or any part of the

Guarantied Obligations (including with any other guarantor);

 

                                (x)            consent to the merger or

consolidation of, the state of subsantial assets by, or other restructuring or

termination of the existence of the Borrower or any other Person (including any

other guarantor);

 

 

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                                (xi)           proceed against the Borrower, the

Guarantor or any other guarantor of (including any issuer of any letter of

credit issued with respect to) all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations or

any collateral provided by any Person and exercise the rights, remedies, powers

and privileges of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Loan

Documents or otherwise in such order and such manner as the Administrative

Agent or any Lender may, in its discretion, determine, without any necessity to

proceed upon or against or exhaust any collateral, right, remedy, power or

privilege before proceeding to call upon or otherwise enforce this Guaranty as

to any guarantor;

 

                                (xii)          foreclose upon any deed of trust,

mortgage or other instrument creating or granting liens on any interest in real

property by judicial or nonjudicial sale or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, bid

any amount or make no bid in any foreclosure sale or make any other election of

remedies with respect to such liens or exercise any right of set–off;

 

                                (xiii)         obtain the appointment of a receiver

with respect to any collateral for all or any part of the Guarantied

Obligations and apply the proceeds of such receivership as the Administrative

Agent or any Lender may in its discretion determine (it being agreed that

nothing in this clause (xiii) shall be deemed to make the Administrative Agent

or any Lender a party in possession in contemplation of law, except at its option);

 

                                (xiv)        enter into such other transactions or

business dealings with the Borrower, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the

Borrower or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guarantied

Obligations as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may desire; and

 

                                (xv)         do all or any combination of the

actions set forth in this Section 2.02(a).

 

                (b)

          To the fullest extent permitted

by law, the enforceability and effectiveness of this Guaranty and the liability

of the Guarantor, and the rights, remedies, powers and privileges of the

Administrative Agent and the Lenders, under this Guaranty shall not be

affected, limited, reduced, discharged or terminated, and the Guarantor hereby

expressly waives any defense now or in the future arising, by reason of:

 

                                (i)            the illegality, invalidity or

unenforceability of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations, any Loan

Document or any agreement, security document, guarantee or other instrument

relative to all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations;

 

                                (ii)           any disability or other defense with

respect to all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations of the Borrower, or

any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations (including

any issuer of any letters of credit), including the effect of any statute of

limitations that may bar the enforcement of all or any part of the Guarantied

Obligations or the obligations of any such other guarantor;

 

                                (iii)          the illegality, invalidity or

unenforceability of any security or guarantee (including any letter of credit)

for all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations or the lack of perfection or

continuing perfection or failure of the priority of any lien on any collateral

for all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations (or the failure, now or

hereafter, of the Credit 

 

 

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Agreement to constitute the “Credit

Agreement” or a “Parity Debt Agreement” under (and as defined in) the

Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Agreement for any reason);

 

                                (iv)          the cessation, for any cause

whatsoever, of the liability of the Borrower or any other guarantor of all or

any part of the Guarantied Obligations (other than, subject to Section 2.05,

by reason of the full payment and performance of all Guarantied Obligations);

 

                                (v)           any failure of the Administrative

Agent or any Lender to marshal assets in favor of the Borrower or any other

Person (including any other guarantor), to exhaust any collateral for all or

any part of the Guarantied Obligations, to pursue or exhaust any right, remedy,

power or privilege it may have against the Borrower, any other guarantor of all

or any part of the Guarantied Obligations (including any issuer of any letter

of credit) or any other Person or to take any action whatsoever to mitigate or

reduce such or any other the Guarantor’s liability under this Guaranty, neither

the Administrative Agent nor any Lender being under any obligation to take any

such action notwithstanding the fact that all or any part of the Guarantied

Obligations may be due and payable and that the Borrower may be in default of

their obligations under any Loan Document;

 

                                (vi)          any failure of the Administrative

Agent or any Lender to give notice of sale or other disposition of any

collateral (including any notice of any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure or

sale of any interest in real property serving as collateral for all or any part

of the Guarantied Obligations) for all or any part of the Guarantied

Obligations to the Borrower, the Guarantor or any other Person or any defect in,

or any failure by the Guarantor or any other Person to receive, any notice that

may be given in connection with any sale or disposition of any collateral;

 

                                (vii)         any failure of the Administrative Agent

or any Lender to comply with applicable laws in connection with the sale or

other disposition of any collateral for all or any part of the Guarantied

Obligations;

 

                                (viii)        any judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure

or sale of, or other election of remedies with respect to, any interest in real

property or other collateral serving as security for all or any part of the

Guarantied Obligations, even though such foreclosure, sale or election of

remedies may impair the subrogation rights of the Guarantor or may preclude the

Guarantor from obtaining reimbursement, contribution, indemnification or other

recovery from the Borrower, any other guarantor or any other Person and even

though the Borrower may not, as a result of such foreclosure, sale or election

of remedies, be liable for any deficiency;

 

                                (ix)           any benefits the Borrower, the

Guarantor or any other guarantor may otherwise derive from Section 580a, 580b,

580d or 726 of the California Code of Civil Procedure or any comparable

provisions of the laws of any other jurisdiction;

 

                                (x)            any act or omission of the

Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person that directly or

indirectly results in or aids the discharge or release of the Borrower or any

other guarantor of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations or any

security 

 

 

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or guarantee (including any letter of credit)

for all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations by operation of law or

otherwise;

 

                                (xi)           any law which provides that the

obligation of a surety or guarantor must neither be larger in amount nor in

other respects more burdensome than that of the principal or which reduces a

surety’s or guarantor’s obligation in proportion to the principal obligation;

 

                                (xii)          the possibility that the obligations

of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may at any time and

from time to time exceed the aggregate liability of the Guarantor under this

Guaranty;

 

                                (xiii)         any counterclaim, set–off or

other claim which the Borrower or any other guarantor has or alleges to have

with respect to all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations;

 

                                (xiv)        any failure of the Administrative Agent

or any Lender to file or enforce a claim in any bankruptcy or other proceeding

with respect to any Person;

 

                                (xv)         any extension of credit or the grant of

any Lien under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

                                (xvi)        any use of cash collateral under Section

363 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

                                (xvii)       any agreement or stipulation with respect

to the provision of adequate protection in any bankruptcy proceeding of any

Person;

 

                                (xviii)      the avoidance of any Lien in favor of the

Administrative Agent or any Lender for any reason;

 

                                (xix)         any bankruptcy, insolvency,

reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, liquidation or dissolution

proceeding commenced by or against any Person, including any discharge of, or

bar or stay against collecting, all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations

(or any interest on all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations) in or as a

result of any such proceeding;

 

                                (xx)          any action taken by the Administrative

Agent or any Lender, whether similar or dissimilar to any of the foregoing,

that is authorized by this Section 2.02 or otherwise in this Guaranty or

by any other provision of any Loan Document or any omission to take any such

action; or

 

                                (xxi)         any other circumstance whatsoever,

whether similar or dissimilar to any of the foregoing, that might otherwise

constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor,

including by reason of California Civil Code Sections 2787 to 2855, inclusive,

and California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 580a, 580b, 580d or 726, and all successor sections and any future

judicial decisions or legislation or of any comparable provisions of the laws

of any other jurisdiction.

 

 

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                (c)           To the fullest extent permitted by

law, the Guarantor expressly waives, for the benefit of the Administrative

Agent and the Lenders, all set-offs and counterclaims and all presentments,

demands for payment or performance, notices of nonpayment or nonperformance,

protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and all other notices or

demands of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Guarantied

Obligations, and all notices of acceptance of this Guaranty or of the

existence, creation, incurring or assumption of new or additional Guarantied

Obligations. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantor further

expressly waives the benefit of any and all statutes of limitation and any and all

laws providing for the exemption of property from execution or for valuation

and appraisal upon foreclosure.

 

                (d)           The Guarantor represents and warrants

to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that it has established adequate

means of obtaining financial and other information pertaining to the business,

operations and condition (financial and otherwise) of the Borrower and its

properties on a continuing basis and that the Guarantor is now and will in the

future remain fully familiar with the business, operations and condition

(financial and otherwise) of the Borrower and its properties. The Guarantor

further represents and warrants that it has reviewed and approved each of the

Loan Documents and is fully familiar with the transactions contemplated by the

Loan Documents and that it will in the future remain fully familiar with such

transactions and with any new Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated

by such Loan Documents. The Guarantor hereby expressly waives and relinquishes

any duty on the part of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders (should any

such duty exist) to disclose to the Guarantor or any other guarantor any matter

of fact or other information related to the business, operations or condition

(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its properties or to any Loan

Document or the transactions undertaken pursuant to, or contemplated by, any

such Loan Document, whether now or in the future known by the Administrative

Agent or any Lender.

 

                (e)           The Guarantor intends that its rights

and obligations shall be those expressly set forth in this Guaranty and that,

to the fullest extent permitted by law, its obligations shall not be affected,

limited, reduced, discharged or terminated by reason of any principles or

provisions of law which conflict with the terms of this Guaranty.

 

                (f)            The Guarantor acknowledges that it

benefits from the extensions of credit made and to be made by the Lenders to

the Borrower under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

                2.03.        Understanding With Respect to Waivers

and Consents.      The Guarantor

warrants and agrees that each of the waivers and consents set forth in this

Guaranty is made voluntarily and unconditionally after consultation with

outside legal counsel and with full knowledge of its significance and

consequences, with the understanding that events giving rise to any defense or

right waived may diminish, destroy or otherwise adversely affect rights which

such or any other guarantor otherwise may have against the Borrower, the

Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person or against any collateral.

If, notwithstanding the intent of the parties that the terms of this Guaranty

shall control in any and all circumstances, any such waivers or consents are

determined to be unenforceable under applicable law, such waivers and consents

shall be effective to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

 

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                2.04.        Subrogation.      The Guarantor hereby agrees that, until

the payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations and the

expiration and termination of the Commitments of the Lenders under the Credit

Agreement, it shall not exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege, such as

any right of subrogation, contribution or indemnity or related remedy, power or

privilege, arising (whether by contract or operation of law, including under

the Bankruptcy Code) against the Borrower or any other guarantor of all or any

part of the Guarantied Obligations or any collateral for all or any part of the

Guarantied Obligations by reason of any payment or other performance pursuant

to the provisions of this Guaranty and, if any amount shall be paid to the

Guarantor on account of such rights, remedies, powers or privileges, it shall

hold such amount in trust for the benefit of, and pay the same over to, the

Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders) on account of the

Guarantied Obligations. The Guarantor understands that the exercise by the

Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right, remedy, power or privilege

that it may have under the Loan Documents, any agreement, security document,

guarantee or other instrument relative to all or any part of the Guarantied

Obligations or otherwise may affect or eliminate such or any other guarantor’s

right of subrogation or similar recovery against the Borrower, any other

guarantors or any collateral and that the Guarantor may therefore incur

partially or totally nonreimbursable liability under this Guaranty.

Nevertheless, the Guarantor hereby authorizes and empowers the Administrative

Agent and the Lenders to exercise, in its or their sole discretion, any

combination of such rights, remedies, powers and privileges. Upon payment in

full of the Obligations and the expiration and termination of the Commitments

of the Lenders under the Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the

Lenders will execute such appropriate instruments of assignment (without

recourse, representation or warranty) of the Guarantied Obligations the

Guarantor has paid and the Liens on Collateral for the same as Guarantor may

reasonably request (at the Guarantor’s sole expense).

 

                2.05.        Reinstatement.      To the fullest extent permitted by law,

the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be automatically

reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf

of the Borrower, any other guarantor or any other Person or any other

application of funds (including the proceeds of any collateral for all or any

part of the Guarantied Obligations) in respect of all or any part of the

Guarantied Obligations or any amount paid under Section 5 is rescinded

or must be otherwise restored by any holder of such Guarantied Obligations,

whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy, reorganization or otherwise

and the Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the. Administrative Agent and

each Lender on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including fees and

expenses of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in

connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and

expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment

constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any

bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

 

                2.06.        Remedies.      The Guarantor hereby agrees that, as

between it and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, the obligations of the

Borrower under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be

declared to be forthwith (or may become automatically) due and payable as

provided in the Credit Agreement for purposes of Section 2.01

notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such

declaration (or such obligations becoming due and payable as against the

Borrower) and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligation being

deemed due and payable), such obligations (whether or not

 

 

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due and payable by the Borrower) shall

forthwith become due and payable for purposes of Section 2.01.

 

                2.07.        Separate Action.      To the fullest extent permitted by law,

the Administrative Agent (or if there is no Administrative Agent, the Required

Lenders) may bring and prosecute a separate action or actions against the

Guarantor whether or not the Borrower, any other guarantor or any other Person

is joined in any such action or a separate action or actions are brought

against the Borrower, any other guarantor, any other Person, or any collateral

for all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations. The obligations of the

Guarantor under, and the effectiveness of, this Guaranty are not conditioned

upon the existence or continuation of any other guarantee (including any letter

of credit) of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations. By its acceptance

hereof, each Lender agrees that this Guaranty may be enforced only by action of

the Administrative Agent upon the instructions of the Required Lenders (or if

there is no Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders) and that no Lender

shall have any right individually to seek to enforce or to enforce this

Guaranty.

 

                2.08.        Subordination of Indebtedness of the

Borrower and its Subsidiaries.     

The Guarantor agrees that any indebtedness (including without

limitation, any fees owing with respect to this Guaranty) of the Borrower or

any of its Subsidiaries now or in the future owed to the Guarantor is hereby

subordinated to the Guarantied Obligations, enforceable in accordance with the

terms of this Section 2.08. At any time when the Administrative Agent

shall have demanded payment under this Guaranty in accordance with its terms,

if the Administrative Agent so requests in a writing delivered to the Guarantor

unless and until the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall have been paid in

full, any such indebtedness collected by the Guarantor shall be collected, and

any such indebtedness then or thereafter due and payable and not paid when due

shall be enforced and payments thereon received, by the Guarantor as trustee

for the Administrative Agent and shall, so long as such application is not

prevented by an injunction, stay or other court order, be paid over to the

Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders) in kind for application

to the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder. If, after the Administrative Agent’s

request, the Guarantor fails to collect or enforce any such indebtedness or to

pay the proceeds of such indebtedness to the Administrative Agent, the

Administrative Agent as the Guarantor’s attorney–in–fact may do

such acts and sign such documents in the Guarantor’s name and on the

Guarantor’s behalf as the Administrative Agent reasonably considers necessary

or desirable to effect such collection, enforcement or payment,  the Administrative Agent being hereby

appointed the Guarantor’s attorney–in–fact for such purpose.

 

                2.09.        Revocation.      To the fullest extent permitted by law,

the Guarantor hereby waives all right of revocation with respect to the

Guarantied Obligations.

 

                2.10.        Right to Offset Balances.      The Guarantor agrees that, in addition

to (and without any limitation of) any right of set–off, banker’s lien or

counterclaim a Lender may otherwise have, each Lender shall be entitled, at its

option to offset balances held by it for the account of the Guarantor at any of

its offices, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any Obligations of

the Borrower to such Lender that are not paid when due (regardless of whether

such balances are then due to the Guarantor). Any Lender so entitled shall

promptly notify the Guarantor and the Administrative Agent of any offset

effected by it; provided,  however, that such Lender’s failure to

give such notice shall not affect the validity of such offset.

 

 

10

                SECTION

3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

OF GUARANTOR.

 

                As

of the date hereof and as of the date of each extension of credit under the

Credit Agreement, the Guarantor represents and warrants to the Administrative

Agent and the Lenders that:

 

                3.01.        Existence.      The Guarantor is a corporation duly

incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state

of its incorporation, has the power and authority and the legal right to own

and operate its properties, to lease the properties it operates and to conduct

its business, is duly qualified and in good standing under the laws of each

jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the

conduct of its business requires such qualification, and is in compliance with

all laws except to the extent that noncompliance could not reasonably be

expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or

otherwise), business, operations, assets, properties or prospects of the

Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

                3.02.        Litigation.      No litigation, investigation or

proceeding of or before an arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or,

to the knowledge of the Guarantor after due and diligent investigation,

threatened by or against the Guarantor or against its properties or revenues

which, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a material

adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, operations,

assets, properties or prospects of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as

a whole.

 

                3.03.        No Breach.      None of the execution and delivery of

this Guaranty, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this

Guaranty or compliance with the terms and provisions of this Guaranty will

conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent under, the

corporate charter or by-laws of the Guarantor, or any law, regulation, decree,

ruling, judgment or order that is applicable to the Guarantor or its properties

or other assets, or any agreement or instrument to which the Guarantor is a

party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject, or constitute a

default under, or result in the acceleration or mandatory prepayment of, any

Indebtedness evidenced by, or termination of, any such agreement or instrument,

or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property of the

Guarantor pursuant to the terms of any such agreement or instrument.

 

                3.04.        Necessary Action.      The Guarantor has the corporate power

and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Guaranty

and the Guarantor has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,

delivery and performance of this Guaranty. This Guaranty has been duly executed

and delivered by the Guarantor, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding

obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance

with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by (a) applicable

bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance,

fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights

of creditors generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether

considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation

(i) the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or

any other equitable remedy, and (ii) concepts of materiality, reasonableness,

good faith and fair dealing, 

 

 

11

 

and (c) rights of indemnification or

contribution being limited by Federal and state securities laws and the public

policy underlying such laws.

 

                3.05.        Approvals.      No consent or authorization of, filing

with, or other act by or in respect of any federal or state Governmental

Authority, is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance,

validity or enforceability of this Guaranty.

 

                3.06.        Taxes.      The Guarantor has filed all United States Federal income tax

returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by it

and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any

assessment received by the Guarantor and all other related penalties and

charges. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Guarantor in

respect of taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the

Guarantor, adequate. The Guarantor has not given or been requested to give a

waiver of the statute of limitations relating to the payment of any Federal or

other taxes.

 

                3.07.        No 

Material Adverse Change.     

Since December 31, 2000, there has been no material adverse change in

the condition (financial or otherwise), business, operations, assets,

properties or prospects of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries (taken as a

whole).

 

                3.08.        Certain Regulations.      The Guarantor (i) is not a “holding

company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an “affiliate”

of a “holding company” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,”

within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, (ii) is

not and is not required to be registered as an “investment company” under the

Investment Company Act of 1940 and (iii) is not subject to any other law, rule

or regulation restricting its ability to incur Indebtedness or to issue

guaranties.

 

                3.09.        Pension and Welfare Plans.      During the twelve-consecutive-month

period prior to the date of the execution and delivery of this Guaranty and

prior to the date of any borrowing under the Credit Agreement, no steps have

been taken to terminate any Pension Plan, and no contribution failure has

occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien

under section 302(f) of ERISA. No condition exists or event or transaction has

occurred with respect to any Pension Plan which has, or is reasonably likely to

have, a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),

business, operations, assets or properties of the Guarantor. The Guarantor has

not any contingent liability with respect to any postretirement benefit under a

Welfare Plan which has, or is reasonably likely to have, a material adverse

effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, operations, assets

or properties of the Guarantor, other than liability for continuation coverage

described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA Plan.

 

                3.10.        Environmental Warranties.

 

                (a)           all facilities and property

(including underlying groundwater) owned, leased, used, occupied or controlled

(in whole or in part) by the Guarantor have been, and continue to be, owned,

leased, used, occupied or controlled by the Guarantor in compliance with all

Environmental Laws except where the failure of any of the foregoing to be done

could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

 

12

 

                (b)           to the Guarantor’s knowledge, there

have been no past, and there are no pending or threatened:

 

(i)            claims, complaints, notices or

requests for information received by the Guarantor with respect to any alleged

violation of any Environmental Law, or

 

(ii)           complaints, notices or inquiries to

the Guarantor regarding potential liability under any Environmental Law;

 

which

in either the case of clause (i) or (ii) above, could be reasonably expected to

have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

                (c)           to the Guarantor’s knowledge there

have been no Releases of Materials of Environmental Concern at, on or under any

property now or previously owned or leased by the Guarantor that, singly or in

the aggregate, have, or could reasonably be likely to have, a Material Adverse

Effect;

 

                (d)           the Guarantor has been issued and is

in material compliance with all permits, certificates, approvals, licenses and

other authorizations relating to environmental matters and necessary or

desirable for its businesses the absence of or non compliance with which would

be materially adverse, and no order has been issued, no Environmental Claim has

been made, no penalty has been assessed and, to the knowledge of the Guarantor,

no investigation or review has occurred or is pending or threatened by any Person

with respect to any alleged failure by the Guarantor to have any permit,

certificate, approval, license or other governmental authorization required

under applicable Environmental Laws in connection with the conduct of the

business or operations of any of them or to comply with any Environmental Laws

or with respect to any presence, generation, treatment, storage, recycling,

transportation, discharge, disposal or release of any hazardous material

generated by the Guarantor, and there are no facts or circumstances in

existence which could reasonably be expected to form the basis for any such

order, Environmental Claim, penalty or investigation in each case, with respect

to all of the foregoing matters, except where the failure of any of the

foregoing to be done could not reasonably be expected to have a Material

Adverse Effect;

 

                (e)           to the Guarantor’s knowledge no

property now or previously owned or leased by the Guarantor is listed or

proposed for listing (with respect to owned property only) on the National

Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA, on the CERCLIS or on any similar state list

of sites requiring investigation or clean-up where the circumstances giving

rise to such listing or proposed listing or the effect of such listing or

proposed listing has, or could reasonably be likely to have, a Material Adverse

Effect;

 

                (f)            to the Guarantor’s knowledge there

are no underground storage tanks, active or abandoned, including petroleum

storage tanks, on or under any property now or previously owned, leased, used,

occupied or controlled (in whole or in part) by the Guarantor that, singly or

in the aggregate, have, or could reasonably be likely to have, a Material

Adverse Effect;

 

 

13

 

                (g)           to the Guarantor's knowledge, the

Guarantor has not directly transported or directly arranged for the

transportation of any Material of Environmental Concerns to any location,

including locations which are listed or proposed for listing on the National

Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA, on the CERCLIS or on any similar state list

or which is the subject of federal, state or local enforcement actions or other

investigations which, or otherwise which, could reasonably be likely to have a

Material Adverse Effect;

 

                (h)           to the Guarantor’s knowledge there

are no polychlorinated biphenyls or friable asbestos present at any property

now or previously owned, leased, used, occupied or controlled (in whole or in

part) by the Guarantor that, singly or in the aggregate, have, or could reasonably

be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

                (i)            to the Guarantor’s knowledge, no

conditions exist at, on or under any property now or previously owned, leased,

used, occupied or controlled (in whole or in part) by the Guarantor which, with

the passage of time, or the giving of notice or both, could reasonably be

likely to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect.

 

                3.11.        Solvency.      The Guarantor, both before and after

entering into this Guaranty, (i) is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined in

§101(31) (A) of the Bankruptcy Code), (ii) is able to pay its debts and other

liabilities, contingent obligations and commitments as they mature, and (iii)

does not have unreasonably small capital for the business in which it is

engaged or for any business or transaction in which it is about to engage.

 

                3.12.        Index Debt Rating.      On the Closing Date, the Guarantor has

(a) a rating for Index Debt communicated (to the satisfaction of the

Co-Arrangers) by Moody’s of not less than Baa2 and by Standard & Poor’s of

not less than BBB and (b) a rating for senior unsecured short-term debt

(without third party credit enhancement) communicated (to the satisfaction of

the Co-Arrangers) by Moody’s of not less than P-2.

 

                3.13.        Borrower’s Representations.     The Borrower’s representations given by

it under the Credit Agreement or any Loan Document are true and correct in all

material respects on each date when made.

 

                SECTION

4. COVENANTS OF GUARANTOR.

 

                So

long as this Guaranty is in effect and until the date on which all of the

Guarantied Obligations shall have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit have

expired or been canceled, and all Commitments of the Lenders under the Credit

Agreement have expired or been terminated, the Guarantor agrees as follows:

 

                4.01.        Guarantor’s Reporting Requirements.      The Guarantor shall: deliver to the

Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders, promptly after the

sending or filing thereof, copies of all regular, periodic and special reports,

and all registration statements, which the Guarantor files with the Securities

and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority which may be substituted

therefor or with any national securities exchange; and promptly deliver to the

Administrative Agent such additional financial or other information as the

Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

 

14

 

                4.02.        Existence, Etc.      The Guarantor shall: preserve and

maintain its legal existence and all of its material rights, privileges and

franchises; comply with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules and

regulations if the failure to comply with such requirements could reasonably be

expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or

otherwise), business, operations, assets, properties or prospects of the

Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; pay and discharge all taxes,

assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income

or profits or on any of its property prior to the date on which penalties

attach, except for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy, the payment of

which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against

which adequate reserves are being maintained; maintain all of its properties

used or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary

wear and tear excepted; permit representatives of (x) the Administrative Agent

at its own expense prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default or at the

expense of the Guarantor after the occurrence and during the continuance of an

Event of Default hereunder or under the Credit Agreement or (y) any Lender at

the expense of the Guarantor after the occurrence and during the continuance of

an Event of Default hereunder or under the Credit Agreement, upon reasonable

advance notice and during normal business hours, to examine, copy and make

extracts from its books and records, to inspect its properties, and to discuss

its business and affairs with its officers, all to the extent reasonably

requested in advance by the Administrative Agent or such Lender (as the case

may be) and to the extent relevant to the Guarantor’s creditworthiness or

performance of its obligations under this Guaranty; keep adequate records and

books of account, in which complete entries will be made in accordance with

GAAP; and keep insured by financially sound and reputable insurers all property

of a character usually insured by companies engaged in the same or similar business

similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts

customarily insured against by such companies and carry such other insurance as

is usually carried by such companies.

 

                4.03         Borrower; Credit Agreement.      The Guarantor shall:

 

                (a)           at all times own beneficially free of

any Lien, purchase option or other encumbrance (i) all of the outstanding

capital stock of the Managing General Partner and (ii) not less than that

percentage of the general partnership interest of the Borrower owned by the

Guarantor as of the date hereof; and

 

                (b)           at no time permit:

 

(A)          any event or circumstance in clauses

(a) through (e) of the definition of Change of Control (as provided in the

Credit Agreement) to occur (without regard to the proviso at the end of such

definition);

 

(B)           the Borrower or any of its

Subsidiaries to incur or suffer to exist in the aggregate Indebtedness in

excess of $5,000,000 pursuant to clauses (e) and (f) of Section 8.2.2 of

the Credit Agreement;

 

(C)           the Borrower or any of its

Subsidiaries to incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness pursuant to clause

(g), (h) or (k) of Section  8.2.2

of the Credit Agreement;

 

 

15

 

(D)          the Borrower or any of its

Subsidiaries to make any Investment other than Investments permitted under

clauses (a) through (g) of Section 8.2.5 of the Credit Agreement;

 

(E)           the Borrower to make in the aggregate

during any Fiscal Quarter ending March 31st or September 30th Restricted Payments in excess of $5,200,000 nor

during any Fiscal Quarter ending June 30th or December 31st in excess of $7,550,000;

 

(F)           the Borrower to consolidate or merge

with or into any other Person;

 

(G)           the Borrower to incur since the

Closing Date, on a consolidated basis, capital expenditures in an aggregate

amount in excess of $12,000,000; or

 

(H)          the Borrower to designate any

Restricted Subsidiary or any newly acquired or formed Subsidiary as an

Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

                4.04         Borrower’s Reporting Requirements.      The Guarantor shall cause the Borrower

to deliver to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders:

 

                (a)           Within 90 days after the end of each

Fiscal Year of the Borrower, copies of financial statements, reports, notices

and information required under Section 8.1.1 (b) of the Credit Agreement;

 

                (b)           Within 45 days after the end of each

Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower (as provided by Section 8.1.1(a) of the Credit

Agreement), copies of financial statements, reports, notices and information

required under Section 8.1.1(a) of the Credit Agreement; and

 

                (c)           Within 45 days after the end of each

calendar month, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and

its Subsidiaries as at the end of such calendar month and the related unaudited

consolidated statements of income for such calendar month and for the elapsed

portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such calendar month, all

of which shall be certified by the chief financial officer or other Responsible

Officer of the Borrower, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the

absence of footnotes.

 

                SECTION

5. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

                If

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

and be continuing:

 

                (a)           An Event of Default (as such term is

defined in the Credit Agreement) shall have occurred and be continuing; or

 

                (b)           Any. representation or warranty made

or deemed made by the Guarantor herein or which is contained in any

certificate, document or financial or other statement 

 

 

16

 

furnished by it at any time under or in

connection with this Guaranty shall prove to have been incorrect in any

material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

 

                (c)           The Guarantor shall default in the

observance or performance of any agreement contained in Section 4.03; or

 

                (d)           The Guarantor shall default in the

observance or performance of any other agreement contained in this Guaranty,

and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days; or

 

                (e)           The Guarantor or any of its

Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment (regardless of amount) of

principal of or interest on any Indebtedness having an aggregate principal

amount in excess of $30,000,000 beyond the period of grace (not to exceed 30

days), if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such

Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance of

any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained

in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any

other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or

other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of

such Indebtedness (or a trustee or Administrative Agent on behalf of such

holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of

notice, if required, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated

maturity; or

 

                (f)            (i) The Guarantor or any of its

Material Subsidiaries shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A)

under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign,

relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors,

seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate

it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,

winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect

to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee,

custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any

substantial part of its assets, or the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary shall

make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall

be commenced against the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary any case, proceeding

or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which (A) results

in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or

(B) remains undismissed, undischarged or un-bonded for a period of 60 days; or

(iii) there shall be commenced against the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary any

case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment,

execution, distrait or similar process against all or any substantial part of its

assets which results in the entry of an order for any such relief which shall

not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60

days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary shall

take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of,

or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii)

above; or (v) the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary shall generally not, or

shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts

as they become due; or

 

                (g)           (i) Any Person shall engage in any

“prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of

the Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined

in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist

 

 

17

 

with respect to any Pension Plan or any Lien

in favor of the PBGC or a Plan shall arise on the assets of the Borrower, any

Subsidiary or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall

occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee

appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any

Pension Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or

appointment of a trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders,

likely to result in the termination of such plan for purposes of Title IV of

ERISA, (iv) any Pension Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA,

(v) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall, or in

the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders is likely to, incur any

liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or

Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or (vi) any other event or condition

shall occur or exist with respect to a Pension Plan; and in each case in

clauses (i) through (vi) above, such event or condition, together with all

other such events or conditions, if any, could reasonably be expected to have a

Material Adverse Effect; or

 

                (h)           One or more judgments or decrees

shall be entered against the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries involving in

the aggregate a liability (to the extent not covered by third-party insurance

as to which the insurer has acknowledged coverage) of $30,000,000 or more and

sufficient judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed

or bonded pending appeal within 30 days from the entry thereof to reduce such

amount to less than $30,000,000; or

 

                (i)            (x) The Security Agreement shall

cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or (y) the Lien created

thereby shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect as to perfection

and priority purported to be created thereby with respect to any significant

portion of the Collateral, or (z) the Obligations shall for any reason not be

secured by the Lien created thereby; or

 

                (j)            This Guaranty or any provision

hereof shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or the Guarantor

shall deny or disaffirm in writing such Guarantor’s obligations under this

Guaranty; or

 

                (k)           The Credit Agreement shall for any

reason not constitute the “Credit Agreement’’ or shall cease to constitute a

“Parity Debt Agreement” as such terms are defined in the Intercreditor

Agreement or the Security Agreement, or any party thereto shall so assert; or

 

                (1)           A NOR Change of Control shall occur;

 

then, and in any such event, whether or not

any such amounts are then due and owing from the Borrower under the Credit

Agreement, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in paragraph (f)

above with respect to the Guarantor, automatically all Guaranteed Obligations

(including, without limitation, the aggregate principal amount of and accrued

and unpaid interest on the Loans and all amounts due in respect of Letters of

Credit, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of

Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder, and the Notes)

shall immediately become due and payable for purposes of Section 2.01,  and (B) if such event is any other Event of

Default, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Required Lenders

and by notice to the Guarantor, declare all Guaranteed Obligations (including,

without limitation, the aggregate principal amount of and accrued and unpaid

interest 

 

 

18

 

on the Loans and all amounts due in respect

of Letters of Credit, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding

Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required thereunder, and

the Notes) to be due and payable forthwith hereunder, whereupon the same shall

immediately become due and payable for purposes of Section 2.01. Except

as expressly provided above in this Section, presentment, demand, protest and

all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived. For the avoidance of

doubt, the Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that, upon or after the

occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, for all purposes hereof the

Guarantor may be required to pay the Guarantied Obligations in full whether or

not an Event of Default has occurred under the Credit Agreement or any part of

the Guarantied Obligations are then due and owing thereunder.

 

                SECTION

6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

 

                6.01.        Waiver.      No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender

in exercising any remedy, right, power or privilege under this Guaranty or any

other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver of such remedy, right, power or

privilege, nor shall any single or partial exercise of such remedy, right,

power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of such remedy,

right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other remedy, right, power or

privilege. The remedies, rights, powers and privileges provided by this

Guaranty are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative and not exclusive of

any remedies, rights, powers or privileges provided by the other Loan Documents

or by law.

 

                6.02.        Notices.      All notices and communications to be

given under this Guaranty shall be given or made in writing to the intended

recipient at the address specified below or, as to any party, at such other

address as shall be designated by such party in a notice to each other party. Except

as otherwise provided in this Guaranty, all such communications shall be deemed

to have been duly given at the times set forth in Section 9.2 of the

Credit Agreement, in each case given or addressed as provided in this Section

6.02:

 

	

  To the Guarantor:

  	

  NorthWestern

  Corporation

  
	

   

  	

  125

  South Dakota Avenue

  
	

   

  	

  Sioux

  Falls, South Dakota 57104

  
	

   

  	

  Attention:

  	

  Kipp

  Orme

  
	

   

  	

   

  	

  VP

  Finance

  
	

   

  	

  Facsimile:

  	

  605-978-2910

  
	

   

  	

   

  	

   

  	

   

  
	

  To the Administrative

  Agent:

  	

  Credit

  Suisse First Boston

  
	

   

  	

  Eleven

  Madison Avenue,

  
	

   

  	

  New

  York, New York 10010-3629

  
	

   

  	

  Attention: 

  	

  Agency

  Department Manager

  
	

   

  	

   

  	

   

  	

   

  
	

   

  	

  Facsimile:

  	

  605-978-2910

  

 

                6.03.        Expenses, Etc.      The Guarantor agrees to pay or to

reimburse the Administrative and the Lenders for all reasonable costs and

expenses (including reasonable fees

 

 

19

 

and expenses of counsel) that may be incurred

by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in any effort to enforce any of the

obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty, whether or not any lawsuit is

filed, including all such costs and expenses (and reasonable attorneys’ fees

and expenses) incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in any

bankruptcy, reorganization, workout or similar proceeding. All amounts required

to be paid by the Guarantor under this Section 6.03 or Section 5

not paid when due shall bear interest until paid at the rate per annum equal to

the Default Rate determined pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Credit

Agreement.

 

                6.04.        Amendments, Etc.      Any provision of this Guaranty may be

waived, altered or amended only by an instrument in writing signed by the

Guarantor and the Administrative Agent (with the consent of the Lenders as

specified in Section 11.1 of the Credit Agreement). Any waiver,

alteration or amendment shall be for such period and subject to such conditions

as shall be specified in the written instrument effecting the same and shall be

binding upon the Lenders, each holder of Guarantied Obligations and the

Guarantor, and any such waiver shall be effective only in the specific instance

and for the purpose for which given.

 

                6.05.        Successors and Assigns.      This Guaranty shall be binding upon and

inure to the benefit of the Guarantor, the Administrative Agent, each Lender

and their respective successors and assigns. The Guarantor may not assign or

transfer its rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the prior

written consent of the Administrative Agent (with the further consent of the

Lenders as specified in Section 11.1 of the Credit Agreement). Any attempted

assignment or transfer in violation of this Section 6.05 shall be null

and void.

 

                6.06.        Survival.      All representations and warranties made

in this Guaranty or in any certificate or other document delivered pursuant to

or in connection with this Guaranty shall survive the execution and delivery of

this Guaranty or such certificate or other document (as the case may be) or any

deemed repetition of any such representation or warranty.

 

                6.07.        ENTIRE AGREEMENT.      THIS GUARANTY REPRESENTS THE FINAL

AGREEMENT AMONG THE GUARANTOR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS AND MAY

NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL

AGREEMENTS OF SUCH PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN OR

AMONG THE GUARANTOR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS.

 

                6.08.        Severability.      Any provision of this Guaranty that is

prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,

be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without

invalidating the remaining provisions of this Guaranty, and any such

prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or

render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

                6.09.        Captions.      The table of contents, captions and

section headings appearing in this Guaranty are included solely for convenience

of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of any provision

of this Guaranty.

 

                6.10.        Counterparts.      This Guaranty may be executed in any

number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and

the same instrument and any of 

 

 

20

 

the parties to this Guaranty may execute this

Guaranty by signing any such counterpart. Transmission by telecopier of an

executed counterpart of this Guaranty shall be deemed to constitute due and

sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

 

                6.11.        GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO

JURISDICTION.      THIS GUARANTY

SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF

NEW YORK; PROVIDED THAT THE GUARANTOR AGREES THAT EACH OF THE WAIVERS AND

AGREEMENTS OF THE GUARANTOR HEREIN WHICH REFER TO PROVISIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA

CIVIL CODE AND THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AND

ENFORCEABLE TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, AND TO THE EXTENT

THAT ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION SHALL APPLY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF

CALIFORNIA TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE RIGHTS OR REMEDIES OF THE GUARANTOR AND

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT HEREUNDER, SUCH WAIVERS AND AGREEMENTS BY THE

GUARANTOR SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

 

                THE

GUARANTOR HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES

DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND OF ANY NEW YORK STATE

COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSES OF ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY

THIS GUARANTY. THE GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT

PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE

TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND

ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN

INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

                6.12.        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.      THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES,

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN

ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS

CONTEMPLATED BY THIS GUARANTY.

 

 

21

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Guaranty as of

the date first above written.

 

 

	

   

  	

  NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION,

  as guarantor

  
	

   

  	

   

  
	

   

  	

   

  
	

   

  	

  By:

  	

   

  
	

   

  	

   

  	

  Name:

  
	

   

  	

   

  	

  Title:

  

 

Accepted and agreed

as of November 30, 2001:

 

	

  CREDIT SUISSE FIRST

  BOSTON, as Administrative Agent and a Lender

  
	

   

  
	

   

  
	

  By:

  	

   

  	

   

  
	

   

  	

  Name:

  
	

   

  	

  Title:

  
	

   

  
	

  CIBC INC., as a Lender

  
	

   

  
	

   

  
	

  By:

  	

   

  	

   

  
	

   

  	

  Name:

  
	

   

  	

  Title:

  
	

   

  
	

  BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a

  Lender

  
	

   

  
	

   

  
	

  By:

  	

   

  	

   

  
	

   

  	

  Name:

  
	

   

  	

  Title:

  
					

 

 

22SINGLE SOURCE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION
                          2002 OMNIBUS SECURITIES PLAN
                          ----------------------------

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
SECTION  1.  PURPOSE.                                                        1
SECTION  2.  DEFINITIONS.                                                    1
   (a)     "Award"                                                           1
   (b)     "Board  of  Directors"                                            1
   (c)     "Change  in  Control"                                             1
   (d)     "Code"                                                            1
   (e)     "Committee"                                                       1
   (f)     "Common-Law  Employee"                                            1
   (g)     "Company"                                                         2
   (h)     "Employee"                                                        2
   (i)     "Exchange  Act"                                                   2
   (j)     "Exercise  Price"                                                 2
   (k)     "Fair  Market  Value"                                             2
   (l)     "Incentive  Stock  Option"  or  "ISO"                             2
   (m)     "Nonstatutory  Option"  or  "NSO"                                 2
   (n)     "Offeree"                                                         3
   (o)     "Option"                                                          3
   (p)     "Optionee"                                                        3
   (q)     "Outside  Director"                                               3
   (r)     "Participant"                                                     3
   (s)     "Plan"                                                            3
   (t)     "Plan  Year"                                                      3
   (u)     "Purchase  Price"                                                 3
   (v)     "Restricted  Share"                                               3
   (w)     "Service"                                                         3
   (x)     "Share"                                                           3
   (y)     "Stock"                                                           3
   (z)     "Stock  Award  Agreement"                                         3
   (aa)    "Stock  Option  Agreement"                                        3
   (bb)    "Stock  Purchase  Agreement"                                      3
   (cc)    "Subsidiary"                                                      3
   (dd)    "Total  and  Permanent  Disability"                               3
   (ee)    "W-2  Payroll"                                                    4
SECTION  3.  ADMINISTRATION.                                                 4
   (a)     Committee  Membership                                             4
   (b)     Committee  Procedures                                             4
   (c)     Committee  Responsibilities                                       4
   (d)     Committee  Liability                                              4
   (e)     Financial  Reports                                                4
SECTION  4.  ELIGIBILITY.                                                    4
   (a)     General  Rule                                                     4
   (b)     Ten-Percent  Shareholders                                         4
   (c)     Attribution  Rules                                                5
   (d)     Outstanding  Stock                                                5

<PAGE>

SECTION  5.  STOCK  SUBJECT  TO  PLAN.                                       5
   (a)     Basic  Limitation                                                 5
   (b)     Additional  Shares                                                5
SECTION  6.  TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  AWARDS  OR  SALES.                  5
   (a)     Stock  Purchase  Agreement                                        5
   (b)     Duration  of  Offers                                              6
   (c)     Purchase  Price                                                   6
   (d)     Payment  for  Shares                                              6
   (e)     Exercise  of  Awards  on  Termination  of  Service                6
SECTION  7.  ADDITIONAL  TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  RESTRICTED              6
   (a)     Form  and  Amount  of  Award                                      6
   (b)     Exercisability                                                    7
   (c)     Effect  of  Change  in  Control                                   7
   (d)     Voting  Rights                                                    7
SECTION  8.  TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  OPTIONS.                            7
   (a)     Stock  Option  Agreement                                          7
   (b)     Number  of  Shares                                                7
   (c)     Exercise  Price                                                   7
   (d)     Exercisability                                                    7
   (e)     Effect  of  Change  in  Control                                   7
   (f)     Term                                                              8
   (g)     Exercise  of  Options  on  Termination  of  Service               8
   (h)     Payment  of  Option  Shares                                       8
   (i)     No  Rights  as  a  Shareholder                                    8
   (j)     Modification,  Extension  and  Assumption  of  Options            8
SECTION  9.  ADJUSTMENT  OF  SHARES.                                         9
   (a)     General                                                           9
   (b)     Reorganizations                                                   9
   (c)     Reservation  of  Rights                                           9
SECTION  10.  WITHHOLDING  TAXES.                                            9
   (a)     General                                                           9
   (b)     Share  Withholding                                                9
   (c)     Cashless  Exercise/Pledge                                         9
   (d)     Other  Forms  of  Payment                                         9
SECTION  11.  ASSIGNMENT  OR  TRANSFER  OF  AWARDS.                          10
   (a)     General                                                           10
   (b)     Trusts                                                            10

<PAGE>

SECTION  12.  LEGAL  REQUIREMENTS.                                           10
SECTION  13.  NO  EMPLOYMENT  RIGHTS.                                        10
SECTION  14.  DURATION  AND  AMENDMENTS.                                     10
   (a)     Term  of  the  Plan                                               10
   (b)     Right  to  Amend  or  Terminate  the  Plan                        10
   (c)     Effect  of  Amendment  or  Termination                            11

<PAGE>
                  SINGLE SOURCE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION
                  --------------------------------------------
                           2002 OMNIBUS SECURITES PLAN
                           ---------------------------

SECTION  1.PURPOSE.
------------------
     The  purpose  of  the  Single  Source  Financial  Services Corporation 2002
Omnibus  Securities  Plan (the "Plan") is to offer selected employees, directors
and  consultants an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success
of the Company, or to increase such interest, to encourage such selected persons
to  remain  in  the  employ  of  the  Company, and to attract new employees with
outstanding qualifications.  The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing
for  Awards  in  the form of Restricted Shares and Options (which may constitute
Incentive  Stock  Options  or  Nonstatutory Stock Options) as well as the direct
award  or  sale  of Shares of the Company's Common Stock.  Awards may be granted
under  this  Plan  in reliance upon federal and state securities law exemptions.

SECTION  2.DEFINITIONS.
----------------------

     (a)     "Award"
              -----
shall  mean  any  award of an Option, Restricted Share or other right under the
Plan.

     (b)     "Board  of  Directors"
              --------------------
shall  mean  the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to
time.

     (c)     "Change  in  Control"
              -------------------
shall  mean:

     (i)     The  consummation of a merger, consolidation, sale of the Company's
stock,  or  other reorganization of the Company (other than a reincorporation of
the  Company),  if  after  giving  effect to such merger, consolidation or other
reorganization of the Company, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior
to  such  merger,  consolidation  or  other  reorganization  do  not represent a
majority interest of the holders of voting securities (on a fully diluted basis)
with  the ordinary voting power to elect directors of the surviving or resulting
entity  after  such  merger,  consolidation  or  other  reorganization;  or

     (ii)    The sale  of all or substantially all of the assets of the  Company
to a third  party  who  is  not  an  affiliate  of  the  Company.

     (iii)   The term Change in Control shall not include: (a) a transaction the
sole  purpose of which is to change the state of the Company's incorporation, or

     (b)     the  Company's  initial  public  offering.

     (d)     "Code"
              ----
shall  mean  the  Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1986,  as  amended.

     (e)     "Committee"
              ---------
shall  mean  a  committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors which is authorized to
administer  the  Plan  under  Section  3.

     (f)     "Common-Law  Employee"
              --------------------
shall  mean an individual paid from W-2 Payroll of the Company or a Subsidiary.
If,  during  any  period,  the  Company  (or  Subsidiary, as applicable) has not
treated  an  individual  as  a Common-Law Employee and, for that reason, has not
paid such individual in a manner which results in the issuance of a Form W-2 and
withheld  taxes with respect to him or her, then that individual shall not be an
eligible  Employee  for  that  period,  even  if  any  person,  court  of law or
government  agency  determines,  retroactively, that that individual is or was a
Common-Law  Employee  during  all  or  any  portion  of  that  period.

                                        1
<PAGE>

     (g)     "Company"
              -------
shall  mean  Single  Source  Financial  Services  Corporation,  a  New  York
corporation.

     (h)     "Employee"
              --------
shall mean (i) any individual who is a Common-Law Employee of the Company or of
a  Subsidiary,  (ii)  a  member  of  the  Board of Directors, including (without
limitation)  an  Outside  Director,  or an affiliate of a member of the Board of
Directors,  (iii) a member of the board of directors of a Subsidiary, or (iv) an
independent  contractor  who  performs services for the Company or a Subsidiary.
Service  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  a member of the board of
directors  of  a  Subsidiary  or  an  independent contractor shall be considered
employment  for  all  purposes of the Plan except the second sentence of Section
4(a).

     (i)     "Exchange  Act"
              -------------
means  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended.

     (j)     "Exercise  Price"
              ---------------
shall  mean the amount for which one Share may be purchased upon exercise of an
Option,  as specified by the Committee in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.

     (k)     "Fair  Market  Value"
              -------------------
means  the  market  price  of  Shares,  determined by the Committee as follows:

     (i)     If  the Shares were traded over-the-counter on the date in question
but  were  not  traded  on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the Nasdaq National Market
System,  then  the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the mean between the last
reported  representative  bid  and  asked  prices  quoted  for  such date by the
principal automated inter-dealer quotation system on which the Shares are quoted
or,  if  the  Shares  are  not  quoted  on any such system, by the "Pink Sheets"
published  by  the  National  Quotation  Bureau,  Inc.;

     (ii)    If the Shares were traded over-the-counter on the date in  question
and were traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the Nasdaq National Market System,
then  the  Fair Market Value shall be equal to the last-transaction price quoted
for  such  date  by  the  Nasdaq  Stock  Market  or  the Nasdaq National Market;

     (iii)   If the  Shares  were  traded  on  a  stock  exchange on the date in
question,  then  the  Fair  Market  Value  shall  be  equal to the closing price
reported  by  the  applicable  composite  transactions report for such date; and

     (iv)    If none of  the  foregoing  provisions is applicable, then the Fair
Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith on such basis as
it  deems  appropriate.

     In all cases, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Committee shall
be  conclusive  and  binding  on  all  persons.

     (l)     "Incentive  Stock  Option"  or  "ISO"
              ------------------------------------
shall mean an employee incentive stock option described in Code section 422(b).

     (m)     "Nonstatutory  Option"  or  "NSO"
              --------------------------------
shall  mean  an  employee  stock  option  that  is  not  an  ISO.

                                        2
<PAGE>

     (n)     "Offeree"
              -------
shall mean an individual to whom the Committee has offered the right to acquire
Shares  under  the  Plan  (other  than  upon  exercise  of  an  Option).

     (o)     "Option"
              ------
shall  mean  an  Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Option granted under the
Plan  and  entitling  the  holder  to  purchase  Shares.

     (p)     "Optionee"
              --------
shall  mean  an  individual  or  estate  who  holds  an  Option.

     (q)     "Outside  Director"
              -----------------
shall  mean  a  member  of  the  Board  who is not a Common-Law Employee of the
Company  or  a  Subsidiary.

     (r)     "Participant"
              -----------
shall  mean  an  individual  or  estate  who  holds  an  Award.

     (s)     "Plan"
              ----
shall mean this 2002 Omnibus Securities Plan of Single Source Financial Services
Corporation.

     (t)     "Plan  Year"
             ------------
shall  mean  any twelve  (12) month  period  (or shorter period during the final
year  of this Plan) commencing March 1 during the term of this Plan.

     (u)     "Purchase  Price"
              ---------------
shall mean the consideration for which one Share may be acquired under the Plan
(other  than  upon  exercise  of  an  Option),  as  specified  by the Committee.

     (v)     "Restricted  Share"
              -----------------
shall  mean  a  Share  sold  or  granted  to  an  eligible  Employee  which  is
nontransferable and subject to substantial risk of forfeiture until restrictions
lapse.

     (w)     "Service"
              -------
shall  mean  service  as  an  Employee.

     (x)     "Share"
              -----
shall  mean  one  share  of Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 9 (if
applicable).

     (y)     "Stock"
              -----
shall  mean  the  common  stock  of  the  Company.

     (z)     "Stock  Award  Agreement"
              -----------------------
shall  mean the agreement between the Company and the recipient of a Restricted
Share  which  contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining to such
Restricted  Share.

     (aa)    "Stock  Option  Agreement"
              ------------------------
shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Optionee which contains the
terms,  conditions  and  restrictions  pertaining  to  his  or  her  Option.

     (bb)    "Stock  Purchase  Agreement"
              --------------------------
shall mean the agreement between the Company and an Offeree who acquires Shares
under  the Plan which contains the terms, conditions and restrictions pertaining
to  the  acquisition  of  such  Shares.

     (cc)    "Subsidiary"
              ----------
means  any  corporation  (other  than  the  Company)  in  an  unbroken chain of
corporations  beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than
the  last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of
the  total  combined  voting  power  of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations  in  such  chain.  A  corporation  that  attains  the  status  of a
Subsidiary  on  a  date  after  the  adoption  of the Plan shall be considered a
Subsidiary  commencing  as  of  such  date.

                                        3
<PAGE>

     (dd)    "Total  and  Permanent  Disability"
              ---------------------------------
means that the Optionee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity
by  reason  of  any  medically  determinable  physical  or  mental  impairment.

     (ee)    "W-2  Payroll"
              ------------
means whatever mechanism or procedure that the Company or a Subsidiary utilizes
to  pay  any  individual  which  results  in  the  issuance  of  Form W-2 to the
individual.  "W-2  Payroll"  does  not  include any mechanism or procedure which
results  in  the  issuance  of  any form other than a Form W-2 to an individual,
including,  but  not  limited  to,  any  Form  1099  which  may  be issued to an
independent contractor, an agency employee or a consultant.  Whether a mechanism
or  procedure  qualifies  as a "W-2 Payroll" shall be determined in the absolute
discretion  of  the  Company  (or Subsidiary, as applicable), and the Company or
Subsidiary  determination  shall  be  conclusive  and  binding  on  all persons.

SECTION  3.ADMINISTRATION.
-------------------------
     (a)     Committee  Membership
             ---------------------
The  Plan  shall  be  administered  by  the  Compensation  Committee  (the
"Committee")  appointed  by the Company's Board of Directors and comprised of at
least  two  or  more  Outside  Directors  (although  Committee  functions may be
delegated  to  officers  to  the extent the awards relate to persons who are not
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act).  If no
Committee  has  been appointed, the entire Board shall constitute the Committee.

     (b)     Committee  Procedures
             ---------------------
The Board of Directors shall designate one of the members of the Committee as
chairperson.  The  Committee  may  hold  meetings at such times and places as it
shall  determine.  The  acts  of  a majority of the Committee members present at
meetings  at which a quorum exists, or acts reduced to or approved in writing by
all  Committee  members,  shall  be  valid  acts  of  the  Committee.

     (c)     Committee  Responsibilities
             ---------------------------
The  Committee has and may exercise such power and authority as may be necessary
or  appropriate for the Committee to carry out its functions as described in the
Plan.  The  Committee  has  authority  in  its  discretion to determine eligible
Employees to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards may be granted and the
number of Shares subject to each Award. Subject to the express provisions of the
respective  Award agreements (which need not be identical) and to make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for Plan administration, the Committee has
authority to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the
Plan.  All interpretations, determinations, and actions by the Committee will be
final,  conclusive,  and  binding  upon  all  persons.

     (d)     Committee  Liability
             --------------------
No  member  of  the  Board  or  the  Committee  will be liable for any action or
determination  made  in  good faith by the Committee with respect to the Plan or
any  Award  made  under  the  Plan.

     (e)     Financial  Reports
             ------------------
To  the extent required by applicable law, and not less often than annually, the
Company  shall furnish to Offerees, Optionees and Shareholders who have received
Stock  under  the  Plan  its  financial  statements  including  a  balance sheet
regarding  the  Company's  financial condition and results of operations, unless
such  Offerees,  Optionees  or  Shareholders  have  duties with the Company that
assure them access to equivalent information. Such financial statements need not
be  audited.

SECTION  4.ELIGIBILITY.
----------------------
     (a)     General  Rule
             -------------
Only  Employees  shall  be  eligible  for  designation  as  Participants  by the
Committee.  In  addition,  only  individuals  who  are  employed  as  Common-Law
Employees  by  the  Company  or  a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of
ISOs.

     (b)     Ten-Percent  Shareholders
             -------------------------
An  Employee  who  owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting
power  of  all  classes  of  outstanding  stock  of  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  shall  not  be  eligible for designation as an Offeree or Optionee
unless  (i)  the  Exercise Price for an ISO (and a NSO to the extent required by
applicable  law)  is  at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market
Value  of  a Share on the date of grant, (ii) if required by applicable law, the
Purchase  Price  of  Shares  is  at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
Market  Value  of a Share on the date of grant, and (iii) in the case of an ISO,
such ISO by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from
the  date  of  grant.

                                        4
<PAGE>

     (c)     Attribution  Rules
             ------------------
For  purposes  of  Subsection  (b)  above,  in  determining  stock ownership, an
Employee  shall  be deemed to own the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or
for  his  brothers,  sisters,  spouse,  ancestors  and lineal descendants. Stock
owned,  directly  or indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate or
trust  shall  be  deemed to be owned proportionately by or for its shareholders,
partners  or  beneficiaries.  Stock with respect to which such Employee holds an
Option  shall  not  be  counted.

     (d)     Outstanding  Stock
             ------------------
For  purposes  of  Subsection  (b)  above, "outstanding stock" shall include all
stock  actually issued and outstanding immediately after the grant. "Outstanding
Stock"  shall  not  include  shares  authorized  for  issuance under outstanding
Options  held  by  the  Employee  or  by  any  other  person.

SECTION  5.STOCK  SUBJECT  TO  PLAN.
-----------------------------------
     (a)     Basic  Limitation
             -----------------
Shares  offered  under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares. Subject
to  Sections 5(b) and 9 of the Plan, the aggregate number of Shares which may be
issued  or transferred as common stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan shall
not  exceed  three  million (3,000,000) shares of Authorized Common Stock of the
Company.

     In  any  event,  the  number of Shares which are subject to Awards or other
rights  outstanding  at  any  time under the Plan shall not exceed the number of
Shares  which  then  remain  available for issuance under the Plan. The Company,
during  the  term  of  the  Plan,  shall at all times reserve and keep available
sufficient  Shares  to  satisfy  the  requirements  of  the  Plan.

     (b)     Additional  Shares
             ------------------
In  the  event that any outstanding Option or other right for any reason expires
or  is canceled or otherwise terminated, the Shares allocable to the unexercised
portion  of such Option or other right shall again be available for the purposes
of  the  Plan. If a Restricted Share is forfeited before any dividends have been
paid  with  respect  to  such Restricted Share, then such Restricted Share shall
again  become  available  for  award  under  the  Plan.

SECTION  6.TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  AWARDS  OR  SALES.
--------------------------------------------------------
     (a)     Stock  Purchase  Agreement
             --------------------------
Each  award  or  sale  of  Shares under the Plan (other than upon exercise of an
Option) shall be evidenced by a Stock Purchase Agreement between the Offeree and
the  Company.  Such  award  or sale shall be subject to all applicable terms and
conditions  of  the  Plan  and  may be subject to any other terms and conditions
which  are  not  inconsistent  with  the  Plan  and  which  the  Committee deems
appropriate  for  inclusion in a Stock Purchase Agreement. The provisions of the
various  Stock  Purchase  Agreements  entered  into  under  the Plan need not be
identical.

                                        5
<PAGE>

     (b)     Duration  of  Offers
             --------------------
Any  right  to  acquire  Shares  under  the  Plan  (other  than an Option) shall
automatically  expire  if  not exercised by the Offeree within 30 days after the
grant  of  such  right  was  communicated  to  the  Offeree  by  the  Committee.

     (c)     Purchase  Price
             ---------------
Unless otherwise permitted by applicable law, the Purchase Price of Shares to be
offered  under  the Plan shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the
Fair  Market  Value of a Share on the date of grant (100% for 10% shareholders),
except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b). Subject to the preceding sentence,
the  Purchase Price shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
The Purchase Price shall be payable in a form described in Subsection (d) below.

     (d)     Payment  for  Shares
             --------------------
The  entire  Purchase  Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in
lawful  money  of  the United States of America at the time when such Shares are
purchased,  except  as  provided  below:

     (i)     Surrender of Stock.  To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so
             ------------------
provides, payment may be made all or in part with Shares which have already been
owned by the Optionee or Optionee's representative for any time period specified
by  the  Committee  and  which  are  surrendered to the Company in good form for
transfer.  Such  shares  shall  be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date
when  the  new  Shares  are  purchased  under  the  Plan.

     (ii)    Promissory  Notes.  To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement  or
             ----------------
Stock  Purchase Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part with a
full  recourse promissory note executed by the Optionee or Offeree. The interest
rate  and  other  terms  and  conditions of such note shall be determined by the
Committee.  The Committee may require that the Optionee or Offeree pledge his or
her  Shares to the Company for the purpose of securing the payment of such note.
In  no event shall the stock certificate(s) representing such Shares be released
to  the  Optionee  or  Offeree  until  such  note  is  paid  in  full.

     (iii)   Cashless  Exercise.  To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so
             ------------------
provides  and  a public market for the Shares exists, payment may be made all or
in  part  by  delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable
direction  to  a  securities broker to sell shares and to deliver all or part of
the  sale  proceeds  to  the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.

     (iv)    Other  Forms  of  Payment.  To  the  extent  provided  in the Stock
             -------------------------
Option  Agreement, payment may be made in any other form that is consistent with
applicable  laws,  regulations  and  rules.

     (e)     Exercise  of  Awards  on  Termination  of  Service
             --------------------------------------------------
Each  Stock  Award  Agreement  shall set forth the extent to which the recipient
shall  have  the  right  to  exercise  the  Award  following  termination of the
recipient's Service with the Company and its Subsidiaries. Such provisions shall
be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among
all  the  Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based
on  the  reasons  for  termination  of  employment.

SECTION  7.ADDITIONAL  TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  RESTRICTED  SHARES.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (a)     Form  and  Amount  of  Award
             ----------------------------
Each  Stock  Award Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject
to the Award. Restricted Shares may be awarded in combination with NSOs and such
an  Award  may provide that the Restricted Shares will be forfeited in the event
that  the  related  NSOs  are  exercised.

                                        6
<PAGE>

     (b)     Exercisability
             --------------
Each  Stock  Award  Agreement shall specify the conditions upon which Restricted
Shares  shall  become vested, in full or in installments. To the extent required
by  applicable  law,  each  Stock Award shall become exercisable no less rapidly
than  the rate of 20% per year for each of the first five years from the date of
grant.  Subject to the preceding sentence, the exercisability of any Stock Award
shall  be  determined  by  the  Committee  in  its  sole  discretion.

     (c)     Effect  of  Change  in  Control
             -------------------------------
The  Committee  may determine at the time of making an Award or thereafter, that
such  Award  shall become fully vested, in whole or in part, in the event that a
Change  in  Control  occurs  with  respect  to  the  Company.

     (d)     Voting  Rights
             --------------
Holders  of  Restricted  Shares  awarded  under  the Plan shall have the same
voting,  dividend and other rights as the Company's other stockholders.  A Stock
Award  Agreement,  however,  may  require  that  the  holders  invested any cash
dividends  received in additional Restricted Shares.  Such additional Restricted
Shares  shall  be  subject  to the same conditions and restrictions as the Award
with  respect  to  which  the  dividends  were paid.  Such additional Restricted
Shares  shall  not  reduce  the  number  of  Shares  available  under Section 5.

SECTION  8.TERMS  AND  CONDITIONS  OF  OPTIONS.
----------------------------------------------
     (a)     Stock  Option  Agreement
             ------------------------
Each  grant  of  an  Option  under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option
Agreement  between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to
all  applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other
terms  and  conditions  which  are  not inconsistent with the Plan and which the
Committee  deems  appropriate  for  inclusion  in  a Stock Option Agreement. The
provisions  of  the  various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan
need  not  be  identical.

     (b)     Number  of  Shares
             ------------------
Each  Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject
to  the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance
with Section 9. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify whether the Option
is  an  ISO  or  a  Nonstatutory  Option.

     (c)     Exercise  Price
             ---------------
Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. The Exercise Price
of  an  ISO shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market
Value  of  a Share on the date of grant, except as otherwise provided in Section
4(b).  To the extent required by applicable law and except as otherwise provided
in  Section  4(b), the Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Option shall not be less
than  eighty-five  percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
of  grant.  Subject to the preceding two sentences, the Exercise Price under any
Option shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Exercise
Price  shall  be  payable  in  a  form  described  in  Subsection  (h)  below.

     (d)     Exercisability
             --------------
Each  Stock  Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment
of  the  Option  is  to become exercisable. To the extent required by applicable
law, an Option shall become exercisable no less rapidly than the rate of 20% per
year  for  each  of  the first five years from the date of grant. Subject to the
preceding  sentence, the exercisability of any Option shall be determined by the
Committee  in  its  sole  discretion.

     (e)     Effect  of  Change  in  Control
             -------------------------------
The  Committee  may  determine, at the time of granting an Option or thereafter,
that such Option shall become fully exercisable as to all Shares subject to such
Option in the event that a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company.

                                        7
<PAGE>

     (f)     Term
             ----
The  Stock Option Agreement shall specify the term of the Option. The term shall
not  exceed  ten  (10)  years  from the date of grant (or five (5) years for ten
percent  (10%)  shareholders  as  provided  in  Section  4(b)).  Subject  to the
preceding sentence, the Committee at its sole discretion shall determine when an
Option  is  to  expire.

     (g)     Exercise  of  Options  on  Termination  of  Service
             ---------------------------------------------------
Each  Option  shall  set  forth  the extent to which the Optionee shall have the
right  to  exercise  the  Option following termination of the Optionee's Service
with  the  Company  and its Subsidiaries. Such provisions shall be determined in
the  sole  discretion  of  the  Committee, need not be uniform among all Options
issued  pursuant  to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons
for  termination  of  employment.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing, to the extent
required  by  applicable  law, each Option shall provide that the Optionee shall
have  the right to exercise the vested portion of any Option held at termination
for  at  least 60 days following termination of Service with the Company for any
reason, and that the Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option for at
least  six  months  if  the  Optionee's  Service  terminates  due  to  death  or
Disability.

     (h)     Payment  of  Option  Shares
             ---------------------------
The  entire  Exercise  Price of Shares issued under the Plan shall be payable in
lawful  money  of  the United States of America at the time when such Shares are
purchased,  except  as  provided  below:

     (i)     Surrender of Stock.  To the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so
             ------------------
provides, payment may be made all or in part with Shares which have already been
owned by the Optionee or Optionee's representative for any time period specified
by  the  Committee  and  which  are  surrendered to the Company in good form for
transfer.  Such  shares  shall  be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date
when  the  new  Shares  are  purchased  under  the  Plan.

     (ii)    Promissory Notes.  To the  extent that  a Stock Option Agreement or
             ----------------
Stock  Purchase Agreement so provides, payment may be made all or in part with a
full  recourse promissory note executed by the Optionee or Offeree. The interest
rate  and  other  terms  and  conditions of such note shall be determined by the
Committee.  The Committee may require that the Optionee or Offeree pledge his or
her  Shares to the Company for the purpose of securing the payment of such note.
In  no event shall the stock certificate(s) representing such Shares be released
to  the  Optionee  or  Offeree  until  such  note  is  paid  in  full.

     (iii)   Cashless  Exercise.  To  the  extent  that a Stock Option Agreement
             ------------------
so  provides  and a public market for the Shares exists, payment may be made all
or in part by delivery (on a form prescribed by the Committee) of an irrevocable
direction  to  a  securities broker to sell shares and to deliver all or part of
the  sale  proceeds  to  the Company in payment of the aggregate Exercise Price.

     (iv)    Other  Forms  of  Payment.  To  the  extent  provided in the  Stock
             -------------------------
Option  Agreement, payment may be made in any other form that is consistent with
applicable  laws,  regulations  and  rules.

     (i)     Modification,  Extension  and  Assumption  of  Options
             ------------------------------------------------------
Within  the  limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or assume
outstanding  Options  or  may  accept  the  cancellation  of outstanding Options
(whether  granted  by  the Company or another issuer) in return for the grant of
new  Options  for  the same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a
different  Exercise  Price  or  for  other  consideration.

                                        8
<PAGE>

SECTION  9.ADJUSTMENT  OF  SHARES.
---------------------------------
     (a)     General
             -------
In  the  event  of  a  subdivision  of the outstanding Stock, a declaration of a
dividend  payable  in  Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding
Stock  into a lesser number of Shares, a recapitalization, a reclassification or
a  similar occurrence, the Committee shall make appropriate adjustments, subject
to  the  limitations set forth in Section 9(c), in one or more of (i) the number
of Shares available for future Awards under Section 5, (ii) the number of Shares
covered  by  each outstanding Option or Purchase Agreement or (iii) the Exercise
Price  or  Purchase  Price  under  each  outstanding  Option  or  Stock Purchase
Agreement.

     (b)     Reorganizations
             ---------------
In  the  event  that  the  Company  is  a  party  to a merger or reorganization,
outstanding  Options  shall  be  subject  to  the  agreement  of  merger  or
reorganization, provided however, that the limitations set forth in Section 9(c)
shall  apply.

     (c)     Reservation  of  Rights
             -----------------------
Except  as  provided  in this Section 9, an Optionee or an Offeree shall have no
rights  by  reason of (i) any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of
any  class,  (ii)  the  payment  of  any dividend or (iii) any other increase or
decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. Any issue by the Company
of  shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock
of  any  class,  shall  not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be
made with respect to, the number, Exercise Price or Purchase Agreement of Shares
subject to an Option or Stock Purchase Agreement. The grant of an Award pursuant
to  the  Plan  shall  not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to
make  adjustments,  reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital
or  business  structure, to merge or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell
or  transfer  all  or  any  part  of  its  business  or  assets.

SECTION  10.WITHHOLDING  TAXES.
------------------------------
     (a)     General
             -------
To  the  extent  required  by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law, a
Participant  or his or her successor shall make arrangements satisfactory to the
Committee  for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in
connection  with the Plan. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares
or  make  any  cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.

     (b)     Share  Withholding
             ------------------
The  Committee  may  permit  a  Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her
withholding  or  income  tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or a
portion  of  any  Shares  that  otherwise  would  be  issued to him or her or by
surrendering  all or a portion of any Shares that he or she previously acquired.
Such  Shares  shall  be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when taxes
otherwise would be withheld in cash. Any payment of taxes by assigning Shares to
the  Company may be subject to restrictions, including any restrictions required
by  rules  of  any  federal  or  state  regulatory  body  or  other  authority.

     (c)     Cashless  Exercise/Pledge
             -------------------------
The Committee may provide that if Company Shares are publicly traded at the time
of  exercise,  arrangements  may  be  made  to  meet  the Optionee's withholding
obligation  by  cashless  exercise  or  pledge.

     (d)     Other  Forms  of  Payment
             -------------------------
The  Committee  may  permit  such  other  means  of  tax withholding as it deems
appropriate.

                                        9
<PAGE>

SECTION  11.ASSIGNMENT  OR  TRANSFER  OF  AWARDS.
------------------------------------------------
     (a)     General
             -------
An  Award  granted  under the Plan shall not be anticipated, assigned, attached,
garnished,  optioned,  transferred  or  made  subject to any creditor's process,
whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law, except as approved by
the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ISOs may not be transferable. Also
notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  Offerees  and Optionees may not transfer their
rights  hereunder except by will, beneficiary designation or the laws of descent
and  distribution.

     (b)     Trusts
             ------
Neither  this  Section  11  nor any other provision of the Plan shall preclude a
Participant  from transferring or assigning Restricted Shares to (a) the trustee
of  a trust that is revocable by such Participant alone, both at the time of the
transfer  or  assignment and at all times thereafter prior to such Participant's
death,  or  (b)  the  trustee  of  any other trust to the extent approved by the
Committee  in  writing.  A transfer or assignment of Restricted Shares from such
trustee to any other person than such Participant shall be permitted only to the
extent  approved  in  advance by the Committee in writing, and Restricted Shares
held by such trustee shall be subject to all the conditions and restrictions set
forth  in  the  Plan  and  in  the  applicable Stock Award Agreement, as if such
trustee  were  a  party  to  such  Agreement.

SECTION  12.LEGAL  REQUIREMENTS.
-------------------------------
     Shares  shall not be issued under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery
of  such Shares complies with (or is exempt from) all applicable requirements of
law,  including (without limitation) the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
rules  and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  state  securities  laws  and
regulations,  and  the  regulations of any stock exchange on which the Company's
securities  may  then  be  listed.

SECTION  13.NO  EMPLOYMENT  RIGHTS.
----------------------------------
     No  provision  of the Plan, nor any right or Option granted under the Plan,
shall  be construed to give any person any right to become, to be treated as, or
to  remain  an  Employee.  The Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the right to
terminate  any  person's  Service  at  any  time  and  for  any  reason.

SECTION  14.DURATION  AND  AMENDMENTS.
-------------------------------------
     (a)     Term  of  the  Plan
             -------------------
The  Plan,  as  set  forth  herein,  shall  become  effective on the date of its
adoption  by  the  Board  of Directors, subject to the approval of the Company's
shareholders. In the event that the shareholders fail to approve the Plan within
twelve  (12)  months  after  its  adoption by the Board of Directors, any grants
already  made  shall  be  null  and void, and no additional grants shall be made
after such date. The Plan shall terminate automatically ten (10) years after its
adoption  by  the  Board  of Directors and may be terminated on any earlier date
pursuant  to  Subsection  (b)  below.

     (b)     Right  to  Amend  or  Terminate  the  Plan
             ------------------------------------------
The  Board  of  Directors  may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time.
Rights and obligations under any right or Option granted before amendment of the
Plan  shall not be materially altered, or impaired adversely, by such amendment,
except  with  consent  of the person to whom the right or Option was granted. An
amendment  of  the  Plan  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval of the Company's
shareholders  only  to  the  extent  required by applicable laws, regulations or
rules  including  the  rules  of  any  applicable  exchange.

                                       10
<PAGE>

     (c)     Effect  of  Amendment  or  Termination
             --------------------------------------
No  Shares shall be issued or sold under the Plan after the termination thereof,
except  upon  exercise  of  an  Option  granted  prior  to such termination. The
termination  of  the Plan, or any amendment thereof, shall not affect any Shares
previously  issued  or  any  Option  previously  granted  under  the  Plan.

                                       11
<PAGE>

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