Document:

Exhibit 10.9

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

Published CUSIP Number: 89566FAD7

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of July 29, 2011

 

among

 

TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.,

as the Borrower,

 

COBANK, ACB,

as

 

Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Manager and an L/C Issuer,

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

as

Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Manager,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as

Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer,

 

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

CREDIT SUISSE AG,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
Section
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
    	
1
    
	
1.01.
    	
Defined   Terms
    	
1
    
	
1.02.
    	
Other   Interpretive Provisions
    	
21
    
	
1.03.
    	
Accounting   Terms
    	
22
    
	
1.04.
    	
Rounding
    	
22
    
	
1.05.
    	
Times   of Day
    	
23
    
	
1.06.
    	
Letter   of Credit Amounts
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT   EXTENSIONS
    	
23
    
	
2.01.
    	
Committed   Loans
    	
23
    
	
2.02.
    	
Borrowings,   Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans
    	
23
    
	
2.03.
    	
Letters   of Credit
    	
25
    
	
2.04.
    	
Swing   Line Loans
    	
34
    
	
2.05.
    	
Prepayments
    	
37
    
	
2.06.
    	
Termination   or Reduction of Commitments
    	
38
    
	
2.07.
    	
Repayment   of Loans
    	
39
    
	
2.08.
    	
Interest
    	
39
    
	
2.09.
    	
Fees
    	
40
    
	
2.10.
    	
Computation   of Interest and Fees
    	
40
    
	
2.11.
    	
Evidence   of Debt
    	
40
    
	
2.12.
    	
Payments   Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback
    	
41
    
	
2.13.
    	
Sharing   of Payments by Lenders
    	
43
    
	
2.14.
    	
Increase   in Commitments
    	
44
    
	
2.15.
    	
Cash   Collateral
    	
45
    
	
2.16.
    	
Defaulting   Lenders
    	
46
    
	
2.17.
    	
CoBank   Security
    	
48
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND   ILLEGALITY
    	
49
    
	
3.01.
    	
Taxes
    	
49
    
	
3.02.
    	
Illegality
    	
53
    
	
3.03.
    	
Inability   to Determine Rates
    	
53
    
	
3.04.
    	
Increased   Costs
    	
54
    
	
3.05.
    	
Compensation   for Losses
    	
55
    
	
3.06.
    	
Mitigation   Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
    	
56
    
	
3.07.
    	
Survival
    	
56
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT   EXTENSIONS
    	
56
    
	
4.01.
    	
Conditions   of Initial Credit Extension
    	
56
    
	
4.02.
    	
Conditions   to all Credit Extensions
    	
58
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
    	
59
    
	
5.01.
    	
Existence,   Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws
    	
59
    
	
5.02.
    	
Authorization;   No Contravention
    	
59
    
				

 

i

 

	
5.03.
    	
Governmental   Authorization; Other Consents
    	
60
    
	
5.04.
    	
Binding   Effect
    	
60
    
	
5.05.
    	
Financial   Statements; No Material Adverse Effect
    	
60
    
	
5.06.
    	
Litigation
    	
61
    
	
5.07.
    	
No   Default
    	
61
    
	
5.08.
    	
Ownership   of Property; Liens
    	
61
    
	
5.09.
    	
Maintenance   of Properties
    	
61
    
	
5.10.
    	
Environmental   Compliance
    	
61
    
	
5.11.
    	
Insurance
    	
62
    
	
5.12.
    	
Taxes
    	
62
    
	
5.13.
    	
ERISA   Compliance
    	
62
    
	
5.14.
    	
Subsidiaries;   Equity Interests
    	
63
    
	
5.15.
    	
Margin   Regulations; Investment Company Act
    	
63
    
	
5.16.
    	
Disclosure
    	
64
    
	
5.17.
    	
Compliance   with Laws
    	
64
    
	
5.18.
    	
Taxpayer   Identification Number
    	
64
    
	
5.19.
    	
Intellectual   Property; Licenses, Etc.
    	
64
    
	
5.20.
    	
Material   Agreements and Liens
    	
64
    
	
5.21.
    	
Solvency
    	
65
    
	
5.22.
    	
Wholesale   Power Contracts
    	
65
    
	
5.23.
    	
RUS   Compliance
    	
65
    
	
5.24.
    	
Indenture   and Supplements
    	
65
    
	
5.25.
    	
Collateral   Documents
    	
66
    
	
5.26.
    	
OFAC;   Anti-Terrorism Laws
    	
66
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
    	
67
    
	
6.01.
    	
Financial   Statements
    	
67
    
	
6.02.
    	
Certificates;   Other Information
    	
67
    
	
6.03.
    	
Notices
    	
69
    
	
6.04.
    	
Payment   of Obligations
    	
70
    
	
6.05.
    	
Preservation   of Existence, Etc.
    	
70
    
	
6.06.
    	
Maintenance   of Properties
    	
70
    
	
6.07.
    	
Maintenance   of Insurance
    	
70
    
	
6.08.
    	
Compliance   with Laws
    	
71
    
	
6.09.
    	
Compliance   with Indenture and Wholesale Power Contracts
    	
71
    
	
6.10.
    	
Books   and Records
    	
71
    
	
6.11.
    	
Inspection   Rights
    	
71
    
	
6.12.
    	
Use   of Proceeds
    	
71
    
	
6.13.
    	
Preparation   of Environmental Reports
    	
71
    
	
6.14.
    	
Restricted   Subsidiaries
    	
72
    
	
6.15.
    	
CoBank   Equities
    	
72
    
	
6.16.
    	
Evidence   of Financing Statements, etc.
    	
72
    
	
6.17.
    	
OFAC;   Patriot Act Compliance
    	
73
    
	
6.18.
    	
Further   Assurances
    	
73
    
	
6.19.
    	
Collateral   Filings
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
    	
73
    

 

ii

 

	
7.01.
    	
Liens
    	
73
    
	
7.02.
    	
Investments
    	
73
    
	
7.03.
    	
Indebtedness
    	
74
    
	
7.04.
    	
Fundamental   Changes
    	
74
    
	
7.05.
    	
Dispositions
    	
74
    
	
7.06.
    	
Restricted   Payments
    	
74
    
	
7.07.
    	
Change   in Nature of Business
    	
74
    
	
7.08.
    	
Wholesale   Power Contracts, Organizational Documents
    	
74
    
	
7.09.
    	
Transactions   with Affiliates
    	
75
    
	
7.10.
    	
Restrictive   Agreements
    	
75
    
	
7.11.
    	
Use   of Proceeds
    	
75
    
	
7.12.
    	
Changes   in Accounting Policies, Fiscal Periods
    	
75
    
	
7.13.
    	
Financial   Covenants
    	
76
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
    	
76
    
	
8.01.
    	
Events   of Default
    	
76
    
	
8.02.
    	
Remedies   Upon Event of Default
    	
78
    
	
8.03.
    	
Application   of Funds
    	
79
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
    	
80
    
	
9.01.
    	
Appointment   and Authority
    	
80
    
	
9.02.
    	
Rights   as a Lender
    	
80
    
	
9.03.
    	
Exculpatory   Provisions
    	
81
    
	
9.04.
    	
Reliance   by Administrative Agent
    	
81
    
	
9.05.
    	
Delegation   of Duties
    	
82
    
	
9.06.
    	
Resignation   of Administrative Agent
    	
82
    
	
9.07.
    	
Non-Reliance   on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
    	
83
    
	
9.08.
    	
No   Other Duties, Etc.
    	
83
    
	
9.09.
    	
Administrative   Agent May File Proofs of Claim
    	
83
    
	
9.10.
    	
Administrative   Agent to Hold Note
    	
84
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
    	
84
    
	
10.01.
    	
Amendments,   Etc.
    	
84
    
	
10.02.
    	
Notices;   Effectiveness; Electronic Communication
    	
86
    
	
10.03.
    	
No   Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement
    	
88
    
	
10.04.
    	
Expenses;   Indemnity; Damage Waiver
    	
89
    
	
10.05.
    	
Payments   Set Aside
    	
90
    
	
10.06.
    	
Successors   and Assigns
    	
91
    
	
10.07.
    	
Treatment   of Certain Information; Confidentiality
    	
96
    
	
10.08.
    	
Right   of Setoff
    	
97
    
	
10.09.
    	
Interest   Rate Limitation
    	
98
    
	
10.10.
    	
Counterparts;   Integration; Effectiveness
    	
98
    
	
10.11.
    	
Survival   of Representations and Warranties
    	
98
    
	
10.12.
    	
Severability
    	
99
    
	
10.13.
    	
Replacement   of Lenders
    	
99
    
	
10.14.
    	
Governing   Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
    	
100
    
	
10.15.
    	
Waiver   of Jury Trial
    	
101
    

 

iii

 

	
10.16.
    	
No   Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility
    	
101
    
	
10.17.
    	
Electronic   Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents
    	
101
    
	
10.18.
    	
USA   PATRIOT Act
    	
102
    
	
10.19.
    	
Time   of the Essence
    	
102
    
	
10.20.
    	
ENTIRE   AGREEMENT
    	
102
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
SIGNATURES
    	
S-1
    

 

iv

 

SCHEDULES

 

	
2.01
    	
 
    	
Commitments   and Applicable Percentages
    
	
2.03
    	
 
    	
Existing   Letter of Credit
    
	
5.06
    	
 
    	
Litigation
    
	
5.10
    	
 
    	
Environmental   Matters
    
	
5.12(d)
    	
 
    	
Pension   Plans
    
	
5.14
    	
 
    	
Subsidiaries;   Equity Interests
    
	
5.19
    	
 
    	
Intellectual   Property Matters
    
	
5.20
    	
 
    	
Material   Agreements and Liens
    
	
5.22
    	
 
    	
Wholesale   Power Contracts
    
	
10.02
    	
 
    	
Administrative   Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices; Taxpayer Identification Number
    
	
10.06(e)
    	
 
    	
Voting   Participants
    

 

EXHIBITS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Form of
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
A
    	
 
    	
Committed   Loan Notice
    
	
B
    	
 
    	
Swing   Line Loan Notice
    
	
C
    	
 
    	
Note
    
	
D
    	
 
    	
Compliance   Certificate
    
	
E-1
    	
 
    	
Assignment   and Assumption
    
	
E-2
    	
 
    	
Administrative   Questionnaire
    
	
F
    	
 
    	
Indenture
    
	
G
    	
 
    	
Supplement   No. 27 to the Indenture
    

 

v

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of July 29, 2011, among TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC. (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), COBANK, ACB, as Joint Lead Arranger, Joint Book Manager and an L/C Issuer, MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Manager, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and an L/C Issuer.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

1.01.                     Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Accounting Requirements” has the meaning specified in the Indenture; provided that references to the “Company” shall be deemed to be references to the Borrower.

 

“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit E-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitment in effect on the Closing Date is FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000).

 

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. If the

 

1

 

commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Eurodollar
    	
 
    
	
Pricing
    	
 
    	
Debt Ratings
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Rate Loan +
    	
 
    
	
Level
    	
 
    	
S&P/Moody’s/Fitch
    	
 
    	
Commitment Fee
    	
 
    	
Letters of Credit
    	
 
    
	
1
    	
 
    	
AA-/Aa3/AA- or higher
    	
 
    	
0.100
    	
%
    	
0.80
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2
    	
 
    	
A+/A1/A+
    	
 
    	
0.125
    	
%
    	
0.90
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3
    	
 
    	
A/A2/A
    	
 
    	
0.150
    	
%
    	
1.00
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4
    	
 
    	
A-/A3/A-
    	
 
    	
0.175
    	
%
    	
1.05
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5
    	
 
    	
BBB+/Baa1/BBB+
    	
 
    	
0.200
    	
%
    	
1.25
    	
%
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6
    	
 
    	
BBB/Baa2/BBB or lower
    	
 
    	
0.350
    	
%
    	
1.50
    	
%
    

 

“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

“Arrangers” means CoBank, ACB and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in their respective capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers.

 

“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, and the related

 

2

 

consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

“Balloon Indebtedness” shall mean a promissory note repayable in periodic installments of a specified amount usually representing interest, with a much larger final payment, which may be the entire principal amount.

 

“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

 

“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the one-month Eurodollar Rate plus 1.50%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in such “prime rate” announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month Eurodollar Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day of such change in the Federal Funds Rate or one-month Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

 

“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

 

“Bond Documents” means, with respect to any Bonds, any trust indenture or similar document pursuant to which such Bonds are issued and any loan agreement, promissory note or similar document that provides security or a source of funding for the debt service on such Bonds.

 

“Bond Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit that provides credit or liquidity support for Bonds, including the Existing Letter of Credit.

 

“Bonds” means any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

3

 

“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day that is also a London Banking Day.

 

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

 

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

 

“Change of Control” means, with respect to the Borrower, (a) failure to be a member owned cooperative corporation or (b) 35% or more of the Members existing on the date hereof cease to be Members of the Borrower; provided that for purposes of this definition of “Change of Control” no acquisition or merger between Members existing on the date hereof shall be deemed to affect the calculation of such percentage of Members.

 

“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

 

“CoBank” means CoBank, ACB.

 

“CoBank Equities” has the meaning specified in Section 6.15.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

4

 

“Collateral” has the meaning given to “Mortgaged Property” in the Indenture.

 

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Indenture and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

“Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

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

 

“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

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

 

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

 

“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by any of S&P, Moody’s or Fitch as the Borrower’s long-term senior secured non-credit enhanced debt rating; provided that, (a) in the event that the Borrower has three Debt Ratings, (i) if two of the three Debt Ratings are at the same level, then the applicable rating level shall be the level of the two Debt Ratings that are the same and (ii) if none of the three Debt Ratings are the same, the middle Debt Rating will apply, (b) in the event that the Borrower only has two Debt Ratings, (i) if the two Debt Ratings fall into different rating levels and one of such Debt Ratings is no more than one rating level lower than the other of such Debt Ratings, then the applicable rating level shall be the higher of such ratings and (ii) if the two Debt Ratings fall into different rating

 

5

 

levels and one of such Debt Ratings is two or more rating levels lower than the other of such Debt Ratings, then the applicable Rating level shall be determined by reference to a hypothetical Debt Rating that would fall into the Rating level that is one higher than the Rating level into which the lower of such Debt Ratings falls; and (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, or the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 6 shall apply.

 

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

“Debt Service Ratio” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

 

“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

 

“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to the Base Rate plus 2% per annum; provided that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

 

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.16, any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund any portion of the Committed Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its obligations under the Loan Documents, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee,

 

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administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender and each Lender.

 

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any Mortgaged Property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

 

“DSR Percentage” has the meaning specified in Section 7.13(b).

 

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(i) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

“Equity to Capitalization Ratio” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

 

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“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or patronage equities or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

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

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

 

“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

“Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar

 

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market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

“Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

	
Eurodollar Rate =
    	
 
    	
Eurodollar Base Rate
    
	
 
    	
1.00-Eurodollar Reserve   Percentage
    

 

“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, an L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) any backup withholding tax that is required by the Code to be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 3.06 or Section 10.13), any United States federal withholding tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a) or (c), and (e) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

“Existing CoBank Credit Agreements” mean (a) that certain revolving credit facility with CoBank internal reference number ML0303S2G that is evidenced by (i) that certain Amended and Restated Master Loan Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006 (as amended from time to time,

 

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the “Master Loan Agreement”) between CoBank and the Borrower and (ii) that certain Amended and Restated Promissory Note and Committed Revolving Credit Supplement dated as of July 8, 2003 between CoBank and the Borrower (as amended from time to time) and (b) that certain revolving credit facility with CoBank internal reference number RX0303T3 or ML0303T3 that is evidenced by (i) the Master Loan Agreement and (ii) that Certain Amended and Restated Promissory Note and Supplement (Revolving Credit Facility ) dated as of December 30, 2010 between CoBank and the Borrower (but not any other loan facilities between CoBank and the Borrower, including any term loan facilities, under the Master Loan Agreement).

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Secured Credit Agreement dated as of May 4, 2007 among the Borrower, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders.

 

“Existing Letter of Credit” means the letter of credit described on Schedule 2.03.

 

“Existing Reimbursement Agreement” means that certain Reimbursement Agreement dated as of February 1, 2009 between Bank of America, N.A. and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. with respect to that certain Irrevocable Letter of Credit No. 3097863 securing Moffat County, Colorado, Variable Rate Demand Pollution Control Refunding Revenue Bonds.

 

“Farm Credit Lender” means a lending institution organized and existing pursuant to the provisions of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 and under the regulation of the Farm Credit Administration.

 

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement, and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof.

 

“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated June 1, 2011 among the Borrower, the Arrangers, and the Administrative Agent.

 

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“Fiscal Year” shall mean the fiscal year adopted by Borrower for the Borrower from time to time. Unless the Administrative Agent is notified otherwise in writing by the Borrower, the Fiscal Year of the Borrower ends on December 31.

 

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Ltd. and any successor thereto.

 

“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

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

 

“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuers, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

“Guarantee” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

 

“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

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“Indebtedness” has the meaning given to the term “Debt” in the Indenture; provided that references to the “Company” shall be deemed to be references to the Borrower.

 

“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

 

“Indenture” means the Master First Mortgage Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated as of December 15, 1999 (as supplemented, amended or otherwise modified from time to time) between the Borrower and the Trustee, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

 

“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice, or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and consented to by all the Lenders; provided that:

 

(i)                                     any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                  any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(iii)                               no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of Section

 

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7.02(i), the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

 

“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.19.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower or in favor of the applicable L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

 

“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

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

 

“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

“L/C Issuer” means CoBank or Bank of America in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

 

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“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letter of Credit.

 

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

 

“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is thirty (30) days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).

 

“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($200,000,000). The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

“Liquidity Drawing” means, in respect of any Bonds supported by a Bond Letter of Credit, any drawing under such Bond Letter of Credit the proceeds of which are used to pay the purchase price of such Bonds tendered for purchase by the Borrower (or any Subsidiary of the Borrower) and not otherwise remarketed.

 

“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15 of this Agreement, and the Fee Letter.

 

“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

“Long-Term Debt” shall have the meaning given it in accordance with Accounting Requirements.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), condition

 

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(financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document or Collateral Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan Document or Collateral Document to which it is a party.

 

“Maturity Date” means July 29, 2016; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

“Member” means each holder of a voting membership interest in the Borrower.

 

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

 

“Mortgaged Property” shall have the meaning specified in the Indenture.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

 

“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

“Non-Defaulting Lender” means at any time each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender as such time.

 

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.13.

 

“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

“Notice of Extension Amendment” means, with respect to any Bond Letter of Credit, a written notice signed by the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit and delivered to the Borrower and the trustee for the applicable Bonds evidencing the extension of the expiry date of such Letter of Credit.

 

“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any of its Affiliates thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

 

“OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and any successor thereto.

 

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“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Collateral Document.

 

“Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

 

“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

 

“Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

 

“Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

“Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

 

“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

 

“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

 

“Permitted Liens and Encumbrances” has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

 

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

 

“Plan” means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (including a Pension Plan), maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

“Prudent Utility Practice” shall mean any of the practices, methods and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, in light of the facts, including, but not limited to, the practices, methods and acts known to, engaged in, or approved by a significant portion of the electric utility industry prior thereto, known at the time the decision was made, would have been expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with reliability, safety and expedition. It is recognized that Prudent Utility Practice is not intended to be limited to the optimum practice, method or act to the exclusion of all others, but rather is a spectrum of possible practices, methods or acts which could have been expected to accomplish the desired result at a reasonable cost consistent with reliability, safety and expedition.

 

“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

 

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

 

“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment, including the movement of Hazardous Materials through ambient air, soil, surface water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata.

 

“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

 

“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

 

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligations of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or

 

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deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

“Responsible Officer” means the president and chairman, vice chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, general counsel or treasurer of the Borrower, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary or the treasurer of the Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.

 

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof), including without limitation return to its Members patronage capital allocated to such Members.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary which has become a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14 of this Agreement. Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date of this Agreement are listed on Schedule 5.14 to this Agreement.

 

“Revenues” shall have the meaning given to it in accordance with Accounting Requirements.

 

“RUS” means Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, or any other agency or governmental body succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

“RUS Loan Contract” means the Amended and Consolidated Loan Contract dated as of October 8, 2009 (as supplemented, amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time) between the Borrower and the United States of America, acting by and through the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service.

 

“RUS Regulations” means regulations of general applicability published by RUS from time to time as they exist on the date of applicability thereof, and shall also include any regulations of other federal entities which RUS is required by law to implement.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

“Sanctioned Country” shall mean a country subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sanctions/index/html, or as otherwise published from time to time.

 

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“Sanctioned Person” means (a) a Person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sdn/index/html, or as otherwise published from time to time, or (b) (i) an agency of the government of a Sanctioned Country, (ii) an organization controlled by a Sanctioned Country, or (iii) a Person resident in a Sanctioned Country, to the extent subject to a sanctions program administered by OFAC.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

“Secured Note” means the secured promissory note dated July 29, 2011 and executed by the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each of the Lenders which constitutes the “Series 2011B Secured Obligation” (as defined in Supplement 27 to the Indenture).

 

“Secured Obligations” shall mean all Long-Term Debt of the Borrower entitled to the benefit of the lien of the Indenture.

 

“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05, and the other Persons the Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Collateral Documents.

 

“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that (i) the book value of the total assets (net of depreciation) of such Person is greater than the total amount of the liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (ii) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, and (iii) such Person is not engaged in business, and is not about to engage in business, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital.

 

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person; provided that “Subsidiary” shall not mean, except in the case of Springerville Unit 3 Partnership LP, Springerville Unit 3 OP LLC, Springerville Unit 3 Holding LLC or Western Fuels-Colorado, A Limited Liability Company, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which the total net worth does not exceed the Threshold Amount. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

“Supplement 27 to the Indenture” means the Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 27 dated as of July 29, 2011 (as supplemented, amended or otherwise modified from time to time) between the Borrower and the Trustee, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit G.

 

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“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

 

“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($25,000,000) and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

“System” has the meaning specified in the Indenture; provided that references to the “Company” shall be deemed to be references to the Borrower and references to a “Restricted Subsidiary” shall be deemed to be references a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

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

 

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“Threshold Amount” means TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($25,000,000).

 

“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

 

“Trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as trustee under the Indenture until any successor “Trustee” shall have become “Trustee” pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture, and thereafter means any such successor “Trustee”.

 

“Type” means, with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

 

“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

 

“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

 

“Voting Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(e).

 

“Voting Participant Notification” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(e).

 

“Wholesale Power Contracts” means those certain contracts listed on Schedule 5.22 hereto for electric service between the Borrower and each of its Members and any future Members of the Borrower, as each may be amended, restated or supplemented from time to time.

 

1.02.                     Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

(a)                                 The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, and except with respect to the Indenture, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to

 

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refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding Section 1.02(a)(i), any reference to the Indenture (or any Section thereof) shall be to the Indenture (and each such Section) as it exists as of the Closing Date; and, only as hereafter modified with the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, or the Lenders, in accordance with Section 10.01. If the Required Lenders, or the Lenders, do not consent to any amendment to the Indenture, in accordance with Section 10.01, all references to the Indenture (and each such Section) shall be as it exists as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

(d)                                 Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

1.03.                     Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, Accounting Requirements applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

(b)                                 Changes in Accounting Requirements. If at any time any change in Accounting Requirements would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document or Collateral Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in Accounting Requirements (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with Accounting Requirements prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in Accounting Requirements.

 

(c)                                  Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

 

1.04.                     Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the

 

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other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.05.                     Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

1.06.                     Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01.                     Committed Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

2.02.                     Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)                                 Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans; provided that if the Borrower wishes to request Eurodollar Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period,” the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. Not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time), three Business Days before

 

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the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

 

(b)                                 Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 11:00 am on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

 

(c)                                  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the

 

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existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

 

(e)                                  After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

2.03.                     Letters of Credit.

 

(a)                                 The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)                                     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. The Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

 

(ii)                                  No L/C Issuer shall issue any Letter of Credit, if:

 

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(A)                               subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

 

(B)                               the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

 

(iii)                               No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

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

 

(B)                               the issuance of the Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the applicable L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

(C)                               except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $500,000;

 

(D)                               the Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

 

(E)                                any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the applicable L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which such L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

 

(F)                                 the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; provided, however, a Bond Letter of Credit may provide that (1) after any drawing

 

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thereunder to pay interest on Bonds, the stated amount of such Bond Letter of Credit shall be automatically reinstated in the amount of such drawing after a specified period of time unless, prior to the expiration of such period, the beneficiary of such Bond Letter of Credit has received notice from the L/C Issuer that it has not been reimbursed for such drawing; and (2) after any Liquidity Drawing thereunder, the stated amount of such Bond Letter of Credit shall be automatically reinstated in an amount equal to the principal amount of any Bonds previously purchased with the proceeds of such Liquidity Drawing that have been remarketed to investors where the proceeds of such remarketing have been received by applicable L/C Issuer and applied to the repayment of the Unreimbursed Amount, Committed Loans or Liquidity Advances related to such Liquidity Drawing.

 

(iv)                              The applicable L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if such L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

 

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

 

(vi)                              Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to each L/C Issuer.

 

(b)                                 Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

 

(i)                                     Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the applicable L/C Issuer as the Borrower may elect (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) at least sixty days, in the case of a Bond Letter of Credit, and at least two Business Days in the case of any other Letter of Credit (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed

 

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issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; (H) in the case of a Bond Letter of Credit, the Bond Documents; and (I) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

 

(ii)                                  Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the applicable L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

 

(iii)                               If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that such L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) such L/C

 

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Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

(iv)                              If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit”). Unless otherwise directed by the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such L/C Issuer to permit such reinstatement. Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits such L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “Non-Reinstatement Deadline”), such L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause) and, in each case, directing such L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.

 

(iv)                              Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the applicable L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. In the case of any extension of a Bond Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall, upon satisfaction of the conditions applicable thereto, deliver to the Borrower and the trustee for the applicable Bonds a Notice of Extension Amendment to the Bond Letter of Credit designating the new expiry date and thereafter all references in any Bond Documents to the expiry date or stated expiration date of such Bond Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be references to the date designated as such in the most recent Notice of Extension Amendment delivered to such trustee.

 

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(c)                                  Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

 

(i)                                     Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) on the date of any payment (except in the case of a Liquidity Drawing) by the applicable L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Not later than 3:00 p.m. (Central time) on the Honor Date (in the case of a Liquidity Drawing), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C/ Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such Liquidity Drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the Unreimbursed Amount and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

(ii)                                  Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 12:00 noon (Central time) on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to such L/C Issuer.

 

(iii)                               With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In

 

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such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

 

(iv)                              Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer.

 

(v)                                 Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuers for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against an L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse an L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by an L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(vi)                              If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by such L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the applicable L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)                                 Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)                                     At any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the

 

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account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)                                  If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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

 

(i)                                     any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document or Collateral Document;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)                                   Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the applicable L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of such L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the applicable L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of such L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the applicable L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined by a final, nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or such L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the applicable L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and such L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

(g)                                  Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.

 

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(h)                                 Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided that any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.16(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to such L/C Issuer for its own account. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

(i)                                     Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, drawing, amendment, transfer and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

 

(j)                                    Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

2.04.                     Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)                                 The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in its sole discretion (it being understood that unless a Default has occurred and is continuing or any Lender is a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.16), the Swing Line Lender anticipates funding Swing Line Loans in accordance with the terms hereof) and in reliance

 

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upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided further that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

 

(b)                                 Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (Central time) on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 1:00 p.m. (Central time) on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 2:00 p.m. (Central time) on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

 

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(c)                                  Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

 

(i)                                     The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding; provided that all outstanding Swing Line Loans shall be converted to a Base Rate Committed Loan on no less than a weekly basis. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon (Central time) on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)                                  If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

(iii)                               If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(iv)                              Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(d)                                 Repayment of Participations.

 

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

 

(ii)                                  If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                  Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

 

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

 

2.05.                     Prepayments.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of

 

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$1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.16, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall prepay any Unreimbursed Amount relating to any Liquidity Drawing under a Bond Letter of Credit (and any L/C Borrowings and, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Committed Loans the proceeds of which were applied to the refinancing of such Unreimbursed Amount) on the earlier of (i) the date of the remarketing to investors of the Bonds purchased with the proceeds of such Liquidity Drawing, the amount of such prepayment to be equal to the principal amount of the Bonds so remarketed, and (ii) the date on which such Bond Letter of Credit is replaced with another liquidity or credit facility pursuant to the applicable Issuer Documents, the amount of such prepayment to be equal to the full amount of such Unreimbursed Amount, L/C Borrowings or Committed Loans, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                  The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (Central time) on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

(d)                                 If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(d) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.

 

2.06.                     Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) three Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto

 

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and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.07.                     Repayment of Loans.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the weekly date as provided in Section 2.04(c)(i) and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

2.08.                     Interest.

 

(a)                                 Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate.

 

(b)                                 (i)                                     If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(ii)                                  If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iii)                               Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iv)                              Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

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(c)                                  Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

2.09.                     Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.03:

 

(a)                                 Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.16. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

 

(b)                                 Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

2.10.                     Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

2.11.                     Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)                                 The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower

 

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hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

(b)                                 In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

2.12.                     Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)                                 General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 1:00 p.m. (Central time) on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. (Central time) shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Except as otherwise provided in the definition of Interest Payment Date clause (a), if any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(b)                                 (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 11:00 a.m. (Central time) on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith

 

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on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

(c)                                  Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)                                 Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under

 

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Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

 

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

 

2.13.                     Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:

 

(i)                                if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

(ii)                             the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (w) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (x) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.15, (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply) or (z) the exercise by CoBank of its rights against any CoBank Equities held by the Borrower.

 

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

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2.14.                     Increase in Commitments.

 

(a)                                 Request for Increase. Provided no Default has occurred and is continuing, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($100,000,000); provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($25,000,000). At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

 

(b)                                 Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.

 

(c)                                  Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(d)                                 Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

 

(e)                                  Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Borrower dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (x) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the Borrower approving or consenting to such increase, and (y) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists, (C) the Borrower shall have executed and delivered a supplement to the Indenture which includes the aggregate amount of such increase in the Aggregate Commitments as a Secured Obligation and (D) the Borrower shall have executed and delivered a secured promissory note, in form and substance similar to the Secured Note, providing for the repayment of an amount equal to the aggregate amount of such increase in the Aggregate Commitments and (E) the Borrower shall

 

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have delivered a copy of the resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of such supplement and secured promissory note. The Borrower shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section. The Borrower and the Lenders shall cooperate to enable simultaneous prepayment of Committed Loans pursuant to the preceding sentence and borrowing of new Committed Loans under the increase in the Aggregate Commitments.

 

(f)                                   Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

 

2.15.                     Cash Collateral.

 

(a)                                 Certain Credit Support Events. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the applicable L/C Issuer (i) if such L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit, such drawing has not resulted in a Committed Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.03(c) because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within five Business Days after the request of the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall deliver Cash Collateral to the Administrative Agent in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

(b)                                 Grant of Security Interest. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.15(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable Fronting Exposure and other obligations secured thereby, the Borrower or the relevant Defaulting Lender will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.

 

(c)                                  Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.15 or Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.16 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied to the

 

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satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided for herein.

 

(d)                                 Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 10.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the Administrative Agent’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided that (x) Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower shall not be released during the continuance of a Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.15 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 8.03), and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

 

2.16.                     Defaulting Lenders.

 

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

 

(i)                                     Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders and in Section 10.01.

 

(ii)                                  Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for such L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders,

 

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the L/C Issuers or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, such Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.16(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)                               Certain Fees.

 

(A)                               Such Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section 2.03(h).

 

(B)                               With respect to any Commitment Fee or Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such L/C Issuer’s or the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(iv)                              Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.04, the “Applicable Percentage” of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided that (i) each

 

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such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default exists; and (ii) the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of that Lender.

 

(v)                                 Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuers’ Fronting Exposure.

 

(b)                                 Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and each L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Committed Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.16(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided further that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(c)                                  New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan and (ii) no L/C Issuer shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

2.17.                     CoBank Security. Each party hereto acknowledges that CoBank has a statutory first lien pursuant to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (as amended from time to time) on all CoBank Equities that the Borrower may now own or hereafter acquire, which statutory lien shall be for CoBank’s sole and exclusive benefit. The CoBank Equities shall not constitute security for the Obligations due to any other Lender. To the extent that any of the Loan Documents or Collateral Documents create a Lien on the CoBank Equities or on patronage accrued by CoBank for the account of the Borrower (including, in each case, proceeds thereof), such Lien shall be for CoBank’s sole and exclusive benefit and shall not be subject to pro rata sharing hereunder. Neither the CoBank Equities nor any accrued patronage shall be offset against the Obligations except that, in the event of an Event of Default, CoBank may elect in its sole discretion to apply the cash portion of any patronage distribution or retirement of equity to amounts due under this Agreement. The Borrower acknowledges that any corresponding tax liability associated with

 

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such application is the sole responsibility of the Borrower. CoBank shall have no obligation to retire the CoBank Equities upon any Event of Default, Default or any other default by the Borrower or at any other time, either for application to the Obligations or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01.                     Taxes.

 

(a)                                 Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require the deduction or withholding of any Tax, then (A) such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

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

 

(c)                                  Tax Indemnifications.

 

(i)                                     Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, the Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each L/C Issuer, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted on payments to, or paid by, the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such L/C Issuer, hereunder as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The Borrower shall also, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or an L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by clause (ii) of this subsection. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or an L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(ii)                                  Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender and each L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender or any L/C Issuer by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or such L/C Issuer under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender or such L/C Issuer from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii), and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor. The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

 

(d)                                 Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                  Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

 

(i)                                     Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or when reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction.

 

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(ii)                                  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States,

 

(A)                               any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements; and

 

(B)                               each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(I)                                   executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

 

(II)                              executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

 

(III)                         executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting documentation,

 

(IV)                          in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

 

(V)                               executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

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(iii)                               If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (iii), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(iv)                              Each Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction.

 

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

 

(g)                                  Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the

 

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replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

3.02.                     Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

3.03.                     Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the

 

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Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

3.04.                     Increased Costs.

 

(a)                                 Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                     impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate ) or any L/C Issuer;

 

(ii)                                  subject any Lender or any L/C Issuer to any Tax of any kind whatsoever on or with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it or any other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or such L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer); or

 

(iii)                               impose on any Lender or an L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or such L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)                                 Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of

 

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such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)                                  Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or an L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)                                 Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or an L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

3.05.                     Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

(a)                                 any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

 

(b)                                 any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

 

(c)                                  any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;

 

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Base Rate used in determining the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching

 

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deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

3.06.                     Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)                                 Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender, any L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender or such L/C Issuer (at the request of the Borrower) shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or such L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or any L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)                                 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Lending Office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

 

3.07.                     Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

4.01.                     Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                 The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                     executed counterparts of this Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

 

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(ii)                                  a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)                               executed counterparts of Supplement 27 to the Indenture;

 

(iv)                              executed counterparts of the Secured Note;

 

(v)                                 such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or Collateral Documents;

 

(vi)                              such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming and any other jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(vii)                           favorable opinions of (A) Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to the Borrower and (B) Kenneth V. Reif, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Borrower, each addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as to such matters concerning the Borrower and the Loan Documents and Collateral Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(viii)                        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (B) that on and as of the Closing Date the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to this Agreement, are Solvent, and (C) the current Debt Ratings;

 

(ix)                              a duly completed Compliance Certificate, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(x)                                 at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act;

 

(xi)                              evidence that each of the Existing Credit Agreement, the Existing CoBank Credit Agreements and the Existing Reimbursement Agreement has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated, all amounts paid or payable thereunder have been paid or concurrently with the Closing Date are being paid, and all Liens securing

 

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obligations thereunder have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released;

 

(xii)                           completion of due diligence with respect to environmental matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent;

 

(xiii)                        completion of due diligence with respect to insurance matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent;

 

(xiv)                       completion of due diligence with respect to flood matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent; and

 

(xv)                          such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                 Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                  Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent has received (i) from the Borrower a Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 and (ii) from each Lender the applicable form for such Lender described in Section 3.01(e)(ii).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

4.02.                     Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                 The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (other than Section 5.05(c)), shall be true and correct (i) in all respects, with respect to the

 

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representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) in all material respects, with respect to all other representations and warranties, on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.

 

(b)                                 No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

(c)                                  The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

5.01.                     Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. The Borrower (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents and the Collateral Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, 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 or license and (d) is in compliance with Laws; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (c) and (d), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.02.                     Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document and each Collateral Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any material Lien (except as created and imposed by the Indenture) under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement) to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the material properties of such Person or any of its

 

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Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

5.03.                     Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. Except for the filings described in Section 6.16, no approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Collateral Document, which has not been obtained.

 

5.04.                     Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document and Collateral Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document and Collateral Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

5.05.                     Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)                                 The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(b)                                 The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries dated March 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments. Schedule 5.20 sets forth all indebtedness and other liabilities the aggregate principal or face amount of which equals or exceeds (or may equal or exceed) $10,000,000, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(c)                                  Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.06.                     Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Collateral Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as disclosed in Schedule 5.06, either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status of, or financial effect on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, of the matters described on Schedule 5.06.

 

5.07.                     No Default. The Borrower is not in default under or with respect to the Indenture. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any other Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

5.08.                     Ownership of Property; Liens. The Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title to real property, or valid leasehold interests in, license to or permit to all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, and has good title to the interests of all its other property, except for such defects as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Mortgaged Property is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

 

5.09.                     Maintenance of Properties. The operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in accordance with Prudent Utility Practice (or in the case of a Subsidiary auxiliary to the electric utility business, in accordance with customs and practices standard for its line of business).

 

5.10.                     Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.10, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)                                 Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 5.10, none of the properties currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is adjacent to any such property; there are no and never have been any underground or above-ground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have been treated, stored or disposed on any property currently owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best of the knowledge of the Borrower, on any property formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its

 

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Subsidiaries; there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged or disposed of on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case except in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with requirements of Law and where the result thereof could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                  Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 5.10, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in material liability to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

5.11.                     Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

 

5.12.                     Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

5.13.                     ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)                                 Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws. Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

 

(b)                                 There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan

 

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that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)                                  (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

 

(d)                                 Neither the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (A) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12(d) hereto and (B) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.

 

5.14.                     Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part A of Schedule 5.14, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Borrower in the amounts specified on Part A of Schedule 5.14 free and clear of all Liens. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part B of Schedule 5.14. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

5.15.                     Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)                                 The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

 

(b)                                 None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or regulations issued pursuant thereto, or Regulations T, U or X.

 

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(c)                                  None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

5.16.                     Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document or Collateral Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

5.17.                     Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.18.                     Taxpayer Identification Number. The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 10.02.

 

5.19.                     Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. Except as specifically disclosed on Schedule 5.19, no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.20.                     Material Agreements and Liens.

 

(a)                                 Material Agreements. Part A of Schedule 5.20 is a complete and correct list of each credit agreement, loan agreement, indenture, purchase agreement, guarantee, letter of credit or other arrangement providing for or otherwise relating to any Indebtedness or any extension of credit (or commitment for any extension of credit) to, or guarantee by, the Borrower or any of its

 

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Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof the aggregate principal or face amount of which equals or exceeds (or may equal or exceed) $10,000,000, and the aggregate principal or face amount outstanding or that may become outstanding under each such arrangement is correctly described in Part A of Schedule 5.20. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in material compliance with all covenants and agreements set forth in each of the credit agreements, loan agreements, indentures, purchase agreements, guarantees, letters of credit or other arrangements listed on Part A of Schedule 5.20 to which it is a party.

 

(b)                                 Liens. Part B of Schedule 5.20 is a complete and correct list of each Lien securing any series or item of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof if the aggregate principal or face amount of such series or item of Indebtedness equals or exceeds (or may equal or exceed) $10,000,000 and covering any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and the aggregate Indebtedness secured (or that may be secured) by each such Lien and the property covered by each such Lien is correctly described in Part B of Schedule 5.20.

 

5.21.                     Solvency. The Borrower is, and after giving effect to each Borrowing hereunder will be, Solvent.

 

5.22.                     Wholesale Power Contracts. The Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent complete and correct copies of the forms of the Wholesale Power Contracts and each amendment and supplement thereto (except for schedules to the Wholesale Power Contracts related to points of delivery for members, list of contracts with members, resale at wholesale of electricity by members, or an excerpt of a provision from Borrower’s contracts with the United States of America entitled “Resale of Electric Service”), and each of the Wholesale Power Contracts in effect on the date hereof (which are listed on Schedule 5.22) is substantially similar in all material respects to such forms. The Borrower has not been informed of any condition or circumstance that would impair any Member’s ability to perform its obligations under any Wholesale Power Contract to which it is a party and that could reasonably be expected (either individually or in the aggregate) to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.23.                     RUS Compliance. The Borrower is in compliance with the RUS Regulations applicable to it and with all covenants and agreements set forth in the RUS Loan Contract and any other agreement or instrument, including debt obligations, entered into with RUS, except for any non-compliance with such covenants, agreements or instruments which could not reasonably be expected (either individually or in the aggregate) to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.24.                     Indenture and Supplements. The Indenture (together with any supplements modifying the terms thereof provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time) and Supplements 2, 20 and 27 thereto consist of the entire Indenture and Supplements thereto, other than (a) with respect to the Indenture, other supplements thereto which provide for additional secured obligations thereunder and additional collateral descriptions and (b) exhibits and riders containing legal or property descriptions and locations, descriptions of the secured obligations and certain forms, none of which modify the terms and provisions of the covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture.

 

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5.25.                     Collateral Documents. The Indenture (excluding Supplement 27 to the Indenture) constitutes, and when Supplement 27 to the Indenture is executed and delivered by the Borrower and the Trustee and filed and recorded, the Indenture will constitute, a direct and valid lien upon all of the properties and assets of the Borrower specifically or generally described or referred to in the Indenture as being subject to the lien thereof, and will create a similar lien upon all properties and assets acquired by the Borrower after the date hereof which are required to be subjected to the lien of the Indenture, when acquired by the Borrower, and subject, as to real property, to the recordation of a supplement to the Indenture describing such after-acquired property; the descriptions of all such properties and assets contained in the granting clauses of the Indenture are correct and adequate for the purposes of the Indenture; and the Indenture (excluding Supplement 27 to the Indenture) has been duly recorded as a mortgage and deed of trust of real estate, and any required filings (other than with respect to filing Supplement 27 to the Indenture) with respect to personal property and fixtures subject to the lien of the Indenture have been duly made in each place in which such recording or filing is required to protect, preserve and perfect the lien of the Indenture; and all taxes and recording and filing fees required to be paid with respect to the execution, recording or filing of the Indenture, the filing of financing statements related thereto and similar documents and the issuance of the Secured Note (other than with respect to filing Supplement 27 to the Indenture) have been paid; Supplement 27 to the Indenture will be duly recorded or filed within 60 days of the date of Closing Date in the real and personal property records in each place in which the Indenture (excluding Supplement 27 to the Indenture) has been recorded or filed and in all other places required to protect, preserve and perfect the lien of the Indenture, and all taxes and recording and filing fees required to be paid with respect to the execution, recording or filing of Supplement 27 to the Indenture will be paid. Upon filing of Supplement 27 to the Indenture (or notices thereof) and financing statements in the official public records of the applicable jurisdictions, the lien and security interest so perfected shall be first and prior to any other lien or security interest on the Borrower’s right, title and interest in the Trust Estate (excluding the “Easements” listed on Exhibit A, Exhibit A-1, Exhibit A-2, Exhibit A-3, Exhibit A-4, Exhibit A-5, Exhibit A-6, Exhibit A-7, Exhibit A-8, Exhibit A-9, Exhibit A-10, Exhibit A-11, Exhibit A-12, Exhibit A-13, Exhibit A-14, Exhibit A-15, Exhibit A-16, Exhibit A-17, Exhibit A-18, Exhibit A-19, Exhibit A-20, Exhibit A-21, Exhibit A-22, Exhibit A-23, Exhibit A-24, and Exhibit A-25 to the Indenture), subject only to the exceptions referred to in the Indenture and Permitted Liens and Encumbrances.

 

5.26.                     OFAC; Anti-Terrorism Laws.

 

(a)                                 Borrower is not a Sanctioned Person and does not do business in a Sanctioned Country or with a Sanctioned Person, in each case in violation of the economic sanctions of the United States administered by OFAC.

 

(b)                                 Neither the making of the Loans hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

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ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

6.01.                     Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and

 

(b)                                 as soon as available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 5 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)) (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the Borrower and its subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein. In no event shall any Restricted Subsidiary be required to provide separate financial statements to the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

6.02.                     Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

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(a)                                 concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2011), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent, or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(b)                                 promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

(c)                                  as soon as available, a duly completed copy of RUS Financial and Operating Report, Electric Power Supply (Part A only, Operating Statement and Balance Sheet only) (or equivalent replacement thereof);

 

(d)                                 promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any filings and registrations with, and reports to and from, any Governmental Authority, including the SEC, other than the RUS Financial and Operating Report, Electric Power Supply (except Part A, Operating Statement and Balance Sheet, as provided in clause (c) above) (or equivalent replacement thereof); and

 

(e)                                  promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs (including budget and forecast information) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents or Collateral Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

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The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

6.03.                     Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)                                 of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)                                 of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, the Indenture or any Wholesale Power Contract; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

 

(c)                                  of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

 

(d)                                 of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(e)                                  of any amendment (other than amendments to schedules to the Wholesale Power Contracts related to points of delivery for members, list of contracts with members, resale at wholesale of electricity by members, or an excerpt of a provision from the Borrower’s contracts with the United States of America entitled “Resale of Electric Service”) or termination of or material default under any Wholesale Power Contract;

 

(f)                                   of any announcement by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch of any change or possible change in a Debt Rating;

 

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(g)                                  formation or acquisition of any Subsidiary, Equity Interests or equity investments in any other corporation or entity of the Borrower other than those specifically disclosed on Schedule 5.14 or those which do not have, in the aggregate, considered with all other Subsidiaries, Equity Interests, or other corporations or entities of the Borrower not disclosed on Schedule 5.14 or in accordance with this Section 6.03(g), total net worth in excess of the Threshold Amount;

 

(h)                                 when any Subsidiary becomes or ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 6.14; and

 

(i)                                     of the adoption by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary of a board resolution providing for the retirement of (and the instrument creating any Balloon Indebtedness shall permit the retirement of), or for the establishment of a sinking fund for, such Balloon Indebtedness according to a fixed schedule stated in such resolution.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(f)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document or Collateral Document that have been breached.

 

6.04.                     Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, in each case to the extent that the failure to so pay and discharge could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.05.                     Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06.                     Maintenance of Properties. Operate in accordance with Prudent Utility Practice (or in the case of a Subsidiary auxiliary to the electric utility business, in accordance with customs and practices standard for its line of business).

 

6.07.                     Maintenance of Insurance. Will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, at all times keep or cause to be kept all of its property and operations or interest

 

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therein of an insurable nature and of the character usually insured by companies operating similar properties and engaged in similar operations insured in amounts customarily carried and against loss or damage from such cases as are customarily insured against by similar companies in accordance with Prudent Utility Practice. All such insurance shall be effected with responsible insurance carriers, or by the Borrower in the case of self insurance, and all such insurance shall otherwise comply with the Indenture in all material respects.

 

6.08.                     Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws (including all Environmental Laws and the provisions of ERISA) and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.09.                     Compliance with Indenture and Wholesale Power Contracts. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Indenture and the Wholesale Power Contracts except in such instances in which (a) such requirement is being disputed in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.10.                     Books and Records. (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or its subsidiaries, as the case may be and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

 

6.11.                     Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

6.12.                     Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document or Collateral Document.

 

6.13.                     Preparation of Environmental Reports. At the request of the Required Lenders, and only in the case of incurrence of Environmental Liability which could reasonably be expected to be in excess of the Threshold Amount, provide to the Lenders within 120 days after such request, at the expense of the Borrower, an environmental site assessment report for any of its properties described in such request, prepared by an environmental consulting firm acceptable to the Administrative Agent, indicating the presence or absence of Hazardous

 

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Materials and the estimated cost of any compliance, removal or remedial action in connection with any Hazardous Materials on such properties; without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent determines at any time that a material risk exists that any such report will not be provided within the time referred to above, the Administrative Agent may retain an environmental consulting firm to prepare such report at the expense of the Borrower, and the Borrower hereby grants and agrees to cause any Subsidiary that owns any property described in such request to grant at the time of such request to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, such firm and any agents or representatives thereof an irrevocable non-exclusive license, subject to the rights of tenants, to enter onto their respective properties to undertake such an assessment.

 

6.14.                     Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(a)                                 Any Subsidiary may become a Restricted Subsidiary or cease to be a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 4.17 of the Indenture.

 

(b)                                 Any Subsidiary not designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.17 of the Indenture shall not be subject to the covenants established by the Borrower in this Agreement.

 

6.15.                     CoBank Equities.

 

(a)                                 So long as CoBank is a Lender hereunder, the Borrower will acquire equity in CoBank in such amounts and at such times as CoBank may require in accordance with CoBank’s ByLaws and Capital Plan (as each may be amended from time to time), except that the maximum amount of equity that the Borrower may be required to purchase in CoBank in connection with the Loans made by CoBank may not exceed the maximum amount permitted by the ByLaws and the Capital Plan at the time this Agreement is entered into. The Borrower acknowledges receipt of a copy of (i) CoBank’s most recent annual report, and if more recent, CoBank’s latest quarterly report, (ii) CoBank’s Notice to Prospective Stockholders and (iii) CoBank’s ByLaws and Capital Plan, which describe the nature of all of the Borrower’s stock and other equities in CoBank acquired in connection with its patronage loan from CoBank (the “CoBank Equities”) as well as capitalization requirements, and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof.

 

(b)                                 Each party hereto acknowledges that CoBank’s ByLaws and Capital Plan (as each may be amended from time to time) shall govern (i) the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the CoBank Equities and any patronage refunds or other distributions made on account thereof or on account of the Borrower’s patronage with CoBank, (ii) the Borrower’s eligibility for patronage distributions from CoBank (in the form of CoBank Equities and cash) and (iii) patronage distributions, if any, in the event of a sale of a participation interest. CoBank reserves the right to assign or sell participations in all or any part of its Commitments or outstanding Loans hereunder on a non-patronage basis.

 

6.16.                     Evidence of Financing Statements, etc. Within 60 days following the Closing Date, all financing statements required or permitted to be filed in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code, Supplement 27 to the Indenture, or other instruments with respect thereto as may be necessary shall have been duly filed or recorded in such a manner and in such places as

 

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is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and no other instruments shall be required to be filed) to establish and perfect the security interests and liens of the Trustee in the Mortgaged Property created by or pursuant to the Indenture and which can be perfected by filing Supplement 27 to the Indenture or a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code and shall have delivered reasonably appropriate evidence of the same to the Administrative Agent.

 

6.17.                     OFAC; Patriot Act Compliance. Will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) refrain from doing business in a Sanctioned Country or with a Sanctioned Person, in each case in violation of the economic sanctions of the United States administered by OFAC, and (b) provide, to the extent commercially reasonable, such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to assist the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act.

 

6.18.                     Further Assurances. From time to time execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional instruments, certificates or documents, and take all such actions, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of implementing or effectuating the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Collateral Documents.

 

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.01.                     Liens. Grant, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist, be granted, created, assumed, incurred or to extend any lien or encumbrance upon any of its Mortgaged Property or any property of the Restricted Subsidiary pledged to the Trustee (except “excepted property” or “excluded property” of the Restricted Subsidiaries on terms similar to the terms relating thereto in the Indenture), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens and Encumbrances.

 

7.02.                     Investments. Make any Investments, except:

 

(a)                                 Investments outstanding on the date hereof;

 

(b)                                 operating deposit accounts with banks;

 

(c)                                  Investments for cash management purposes made pursuant to a written investment policy approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower, a copy of which has been provided to the Administrative Agent;

 

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(d)                                 Investments by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(e)                                  hedging agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(f)                                   Investments consisting of security deposits made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)                                  retained earnings or patronage of Subsidiaries and patronage allocated to the Borrower or a Subsidiary as a result of transactions in the ordinary course of business with cooperatives;

 

(h)                                 Investments made in connection with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in other businesses related to the System; and

 

(i)                                     additional Investments approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower that do not in the aggregate with all other Investments (except those described in clauses (a) through (h) above) exceed $675,000,000.

 

7.03.                     Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and the Collateral Documents and as permitted pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Indenture.

 

7.04.                     Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, as otherwise permitted by Section 4.10 or Article 8 of the Indenture.

 

7.05.                     Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except as permitted in the Indenture.

 

7.06.                     Restricted Payments. Make Restricted Payments unless (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such distribution; and (b) after such Restricted Payment the Equity to Capitalization Ratio shall be not less than the applicable percentage set forth in Section 7.13(a).

 

7.07.                     Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

 

7.08.                     Wholesale Power Contracts, Organization Documents.

 

(a)                                 Modify, supplement or waive any provision of any Wholesale Power Contract (other than amendments to schedules to the Wholesale Power Contract related to points of delivery for members, list of contracts with members, resale at wholesale of electricity by

 

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members, or an excerpt of a provision from Borrower’s contracts with the United States of America entitled “Resale of Electric Service”) unless such modification, supplement or waiver could not reasonably be expected to prevent the Borrower from setting its rates thereunder to recover all of its costs and expenses to the extent not covered by other moneys available to the Borrower;

 

(b)                                 Terminate any Wholesale Power Contract unless such termination could not reasonably be expected to prevent the Borrower from setting its rates under the remaining Wholesale Power Contracts to recover all of its costs and expenses to the extent not covered by other moneys available to the Borrower; or

 

(c)                                  Modify, supplement or waive any provision of any Organization Document of the Borrower unless such modification, supplement or waiver could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.09.                     Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiaries or between and among any Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

7.10.                     Restrictive Agreements. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Collateral Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Restricted Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower, (ii) of any Restricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person, (c) prohibits or limits the ability of the Borrower to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist CoBank’s statutory first Lien on the CoBank Equities or (d) prohibits or limits the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document or Collateral Document.

 

7.11.                     Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose

 

7.12.                     Changes in Accounting Policies, Fiscal Periods.

 

(a)                                 Permit any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; or

 

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(b)                                 Permit the fiscal year of the Borrower to end on a day other than December 31.

 

7.13.                     Financial Covenants.

 

(a)                                 Equity to Capitalization Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Equity to Capitalization Ratio to be less than the following respective percentages as at the last day of any calendar quarter ending during the following respective periods:

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Equity to Capitalization Ratio
    	
 
    
	
2011-2016
    	
 
    	
14
    	
%
    

 

(b)                                 Debt Service Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Debt Service Ratio to be less than the following percentages as of the last day of any calendar year during the following periods (the “DSR Percentage”):

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Debt Service Ratio
    	
 
    
	
2010-2011
    	
 
    	
105
    	
%
    
	
2012-2013
    	
 
    	
107
    	
%
    
	
2014 and thereafter
    	
 
    	
110
    	
%
    

 

provided that if at the end of any calendar year the Debt Service Ratio is less than the DSR Percentage, a plan must be implemented pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Indenture.

 

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

8.01.                     Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)                                 Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation (except for an L/C Obligation funded by a Committed Loan), or (ii) within three Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

(b)                                 Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05 or 6.12 or Article VII; or

 

(c)                                  Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) knowledge thereof by a Responsible Officer or (ii) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) to the Borrower; or

 

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(d)                                 Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading (i) in any respect, with respect to the representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) in any material respect, with respect to all other representations and warranties, when made or deemed made; or

 

(e)                                  Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which failure is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee of more than the Threshold Amount (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(f)                                   Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(g)                                  Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)                                 Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such

 

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judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(i)                                     ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(j)                                    Wholesale Power Contracts. One or more Members, the aggregate of which at any time constitute twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the Revenues of the Borrower for the previous Fiscal Year, shall default in the performance of any payment obligation under its or their Wholesale Power Contracts where the aggregate amount of such default or defaults exceeds $50,000,000 and such default or defaults have continued for thirty-five (35) days beyond the due date with respect thereto unless within sixty (60) days thereafter Borrower raises rates which could, in the judgment of the Required Lenders, be expected to recover the reduction in Revenues attributable to such default.

 

(k)                                 Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document;

 

(l)                                     Collateral Documents. Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01 or 6.14 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof) cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01 and Disposition permitted by Section 4.10 of the Indenture) on the Collateral purported to be covered thereby; or

 

(m)                             Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.

 

8.02.                     Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

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(a)                                 declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)                                 declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

 

(c)                                  require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

 

(d)                                 exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under the Loan Documents and Collateral Documents;

 

provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

8.03.                     Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.15 and 2.16, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or any L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably

 

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among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

 

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuers, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations composed of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.16; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.15, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

9.01.                     Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and each L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

9.02.                     Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

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9.03.                     Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                 shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)                                 shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(c)                                  shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an L/C Issuer.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Collateral Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or Collateral Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

9.04.                     Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,

 

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consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

9.05.                     Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facility provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

9.06.                     Resignation of Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, with the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security, including Cash Collateral, held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuers under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the

 

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Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section), including with respect to the Secured Note. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

(b)                                 Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

9.07.                     Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or Collateral Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

9.08.                     No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Arrangers, arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents, documentation agents or co-agents, if any, shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or Collateral Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

9.09.                     Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C

 

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

 

(a)                                 to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuers and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(h) and (i), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or any L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or any L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

 

9.10.                     Administrative Agent to Hold Note. Each Lender acknowledges that the Administrative Agent will be the Holder (as defined in the Indenture) of the Secured Note for the benefit of each of the Lenders.

 

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.01.              Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)                                 waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

 

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(b)                                 extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)                                  postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)                                 reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to (i) amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)                                  change Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)                                   change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(g)                                  release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

(h)                                 approve any amendment or waiver under the Indenture that, if such an amendment or waiver was made under this Agreement would require the written consent of each Lender pursuant to this Section 10.01, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided further that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the applicable L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of any L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the

 

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Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrative Agent shall only exercise any voting rights as a Holder under the Indenture at the direction of the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 10.01.

 

10.02.              Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)                                 Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)                                     if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

 

(ii)                                  if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

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

 

(b)                                 Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

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Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

(c)                                  The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

(d)                                 Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that

 

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may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)                                  Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuers and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

10.03.              No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document or Collateral Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents against the Borrower or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents, (b) the L/C Issuers or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided further that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

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10.04.              Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)                                 Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuers in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuers (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or an L/C Issuer)in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or Collateral Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents(including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations

 

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hereunder or under any other Loan Document or Collateral Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(c)                                  Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), an L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

(d)                                 Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                  Payments. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(f)                                   Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

10.05.              Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be

 

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repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

10.06.              Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)                                 Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (g) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                 Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)                                     Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)                               in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B)                               in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with

 

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respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)                                  Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

 

(iii)                               Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)                               the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, or an Affiliate of a Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B)                               the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender;

 

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

 

(D)                               the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

 

(iv)                              Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

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(v)                         No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) to a natural person.

 

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

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

 

(c)                                  Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the

 

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Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of (and stated interest on) the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)                                 Participations Generally. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender, Borrower or any of Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.04(d) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participants. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (f) of this Section, each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(e) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 3.06 as if it were an assignee under subsection (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 3.01(f) as though it were a Lender. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a

 

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participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

 

(e)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.06 to the contrary, any institution that is a Farm Credit Lender that (i) has purchased a participation in the minimum aggregate amount of $10,000,000 on or after the Closing Date, (ii) is, by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (“Voting Participant Notification”), designated by the assigning Lender (including any existing Voting Participant) as being entitled to be accorded the rights of a Voting Participant hereunder and (iii) receives the prior written consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to become a Voting Participant (such consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to be required only to the extent and under the circumstances it would be required if such Voting Participant were to become a Lender pursuant to an assignment in accordance with Section 10.06(b)) (any such Farm Credit Lender so designated and consented to being called a “Voting Participant”), shall be entitled to vote for so long as such Farm Credit Lender owns such participation and notwithstanding any subparticipation by such Farm Credit Lender (and the voting rights of the assigning Lender (including any existing Voting Participant) shall be correspondingly reduced), on a dollar for dollar basis, as if such participant were a Lender, on any matter requiring or allowing a Lender to provide or withhold its consent, or to otherwise vote on any proposed action. To be effective, each Voting Participant Notification shall, with respect to any Voting Participant, (x) state the full name, as well as all contact information required of an assignee in an Assignment and Assumption and (y) state the dollar amount of the participation purchased in its Commitment or any or all of its Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Farm Credit Lender designated as a Voting Participant on Schedule 10.06(e) hereto shall be deemed a Voting Participant without delivery of a Voting Participant Notification and without the prior written consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent. The assigning Lender (including any existing Voting Participant) and the purchasing Voting Participant shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower within three (3) Business Days’ of any termination of, or reduction or increase in the amount of, such participation. The Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on information contained in notices delivered pursuant to this paragraph. The voting rights hereunder are solely for the benefit of the Voting Participant and shall not inure to any assignee or participant of the Voting Participant that is not a Farm Credit Lender.

 

(f)                                   Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant

 

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that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

 

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

 

(h)                                 Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time a Lender who is an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, (i) such L/C Issuer, may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) such Swing Line Lender, may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such Lender as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If a Lender who is an L/C Issuer resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If a Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the previous L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the previous L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

10.07.              Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by, or required to be disclosed to, any rating agency or any regulatory or similar authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in

 

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connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or Collateral Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Collateral Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the credit facility provided for herein and in connection with the preparation and issuance of marketing press releases or other transactional announcements or updates provided to investor or trade publications, in each case subject to confidentiality obligations or disclosure restrictions reasonably requested by the Borrower, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuers acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

10.08.              Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or such L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness;

 

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provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and each L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

10.09.              Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

10.10.              Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

10.11.              Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or

 

98

 

any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

10.12.              Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

10.13.              Replacement of Lenders. If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, (ii) if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, (iii) the obligation of any Lender to make Eurodollar Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 3.02, (iv) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (v) any Lender (a “Non-Consenting Lender”) does not consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document or Collateral Document that has been approved by the Required Lenders as provided in Section 10.01 but requires unanimous consent of all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby (as applicable) or (vi) if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents and Collateral Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

 

(a)                                 the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

(b)                                 such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)                                  in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

99

 

(d)                                 such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

 

(e)                                  in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lender’s failure to consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document or Collateral Document, the applicable replacement bank, financial institution or Fund consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination; provided that the failure by such Non-Consenting Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such Non-Consenting Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Non-Consenting Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 10.13 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Non-Consenting Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

10.14.            Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)                                 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)                                 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

 

(c)                                  WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

100

 

(d)                                 SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

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

 

10.16.              No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document or Collateral Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and, the Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent and each Arranger is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor, any Arranger has transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and Collateral Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

10.17.              Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and

 

101

 

Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

10.18.              USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

10.19.              Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.

 

10.20.              ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

102

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION   ASSOCIATION, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Patrick L. Bridges
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Patrick L. Bridges
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President and Chief
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Financial Officer
    

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

Credit Agreement

Signature Pages

 

 

	
 
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
    
	
 
    	
Administrative Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Rosanne Parsill
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Rosanne Parsill
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender,
    
	
 
    	
An L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ David R. Barney
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
David R. Barney
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President
    

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

Credit Agreement

Signature Pages

 

 

	
 
    	
COBANK, ACB, as a Lender and an L/C
    
	
 
    	
Issuer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ C. Brock Taylor
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
C Brock Taylor
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

Credit Agreement

Signature Pages

 

 

	
 
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL,
    
	
 
    	
ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Charlie Wendler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Charlie Wendler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Officer
    

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

Credit Agreement

Signature Pages

 

 

	
 
    	
U.S. BANK NATIONAL,
    
	
 
    	
ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Holland H. Williams
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Holland H. Williams
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
AVP & Portfolio Manager
    

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

Credit Agreement

Signature Pages

 

 

	
 
    	
CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN
    
	
 
    	
ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Mikhail Faybusovich
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Mikhail Faybusovich
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Director
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Rahul Parmar
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Rahul Parmar
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Associate
    

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

Credit Agreement

Signature Pages

 

 

	
 
    	
UMB BANK COLORADO, n.a., as a
    
	
 
    	
Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Michele Warren
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Michele Warren
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President
    

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

Credit Agreement

Signature Pages

 

 

SCHEDULE 2.01

 

COMMITMENTS AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES

 

	
Lender
    	
 
    	
Commitment
    	
 
    	
Applicable Percentage
    	
 
    
	
CoBank, ACB
    	
 
    	
$
    	
190,000,000
    	
 
    	
38.0
    	
%
    
	
Bank of America, N.A.
    	
 
    	
$
    	
120,000,000
    	
 
    	
24.0
    	
%
    
	
Wells Fargo Bank, 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
70,000,000
    	
 
    	
14.0
    	
%
    
	
National Association
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
U.S. Bank National Association
    	
 
    	
$
    	
45,000,000
    	
 
    	
9.0
    	
%
    
	
Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch
    	
 
    	
$
    	
45,000,000
    	
 
    	
9.0
    	
%
    
	
UMB Bank Colorado, n.a.
    	
 
    	
$
    	
30,000,000
    	
 
    	
6.0
    	
%
    
	
Aggregate Commitments
    	
 
    	
$
    	
500,000,000
    	
 
    	
100.0
    	
%
    

 

Schedule 2.01 to Credit Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE 2.03

 

EXISTING LETTER OF CREDIT

 

1.              Irrevocable Letter of Credit No. 3097863, issued by Bank of America, N.A. in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, on February 4, 2009, as amended December 11, 2009, and as further amended December 22, 2010, in the “Effective Stated Amount” of $47,742,411 and with the “Expiration Date” of February 1, 2012.

 

Schedule 2.03 to Credit Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.06

 

LITIGATION

 

None

 

Schedule 5.06 to Credit Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.10

 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

 

None

 

Schedule 5.10 to Credit Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.12(d)

 

PENSION PLANS

 

None

 

Schedule 5.12(d) to Credit Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.14

 

SUBSIDIARIES; EQUITY INTERESTS

 

PART A — SUBSIDIARIES

 

1.              Springerville Unit 3 Partnership LP

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. — 1% general partnership interest and 50% limited partnership interest

 

2.              Springerville Unit 3 OP LLC

 

Springerville Unit 3 Partnership LP — 100% membership interest

 

3.              Springerville Unit 3 Holding LLC

 

Springerville Unit 3 OP LLC — 100% membership interest

 

4.              Western Fuels — Colorado, A Limited Liability Company

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. — 99% membership interest

 

PART B — EQUITY INTERESTS

 

1.              Patronage capital and equities allocated to the

 

Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time by cooperatives with which the Borrower does business, including CoBank, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (“CFC”), Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Western Fuels Association, Inc., most of the Members of the Borrower, Federated Insurance, and various telephone cooperatives.

 

2.              Capital certificates purchased from time to time in

 

CoBank and other Farm Credit System institutions and CFC, as required in connection with borrowings from CoBank, such Farm Credit institutions or CFC.

 

Schedule 5.14 to Credit Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.19

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS

 

None

 

Schedule 5.19 to Credit Agreement

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.20

 

MATERIAL AGREEMENTS AND LIENS

 

Part A — Material Agreements

 

A.            RUS Loan Agreement

 

1.              RUS — Amended and Consolidated Loan Contract dated as of October 8, 2009

 

B.            CFC Loan Agreements

 

1.              CFC — Master Loan Agreement dated as of March 14, 1997

 

2.              CFC - Loan Agreement dated as of April 10, 1992, as amended

 

3.              CFC — Loan Agreement dated as of January 10, 1989, as amended

 

4.              CFC — Revolving Line of Credit Agreement ($50,000,000 3 Year Line of Credit) effective January 26, 2010, as may be extended or renewed

 

5.              CFC — Revolving Line of Credit Agreement ($25,000,000 3 Year Line of Credit) effective February 1, 2011, as may be extended or renewed

 

C.            CoBank Loan Agreements

 

1.              CoBank Amended and Restated Master Loan Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006

 

2.              CoBank — Amended and Restated Promissory Note and Committed Revolving Credit Supplement dated as of August 31, 2003, as amended *

 

3.              CoBank — Promissory Note and Supplement (Revolving Credit Facility) dated as of December 20, 2004, as amended *

 

D.            Note Purchase Agreement

 

1.              Private Placement Holders - Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 8, 2009

 

E.             Platte County Bonds

 

1.              Platte County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 1984A Loan Agreement No. 1 (Series 1984B Loan Agreement No. 2 is substantially the same as No. 1 and is not included here)

 

Schedule 5.20 to Credit Agreement

 

 

2.              Platte County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 1984A Indenture of Trust No. 1 (Series 1984B Indenture of Trust No. 2 is substantially the same as No. 1 and is not included here)

 

3.              CFC — Reimbursement and Loan Agreement dated as of November 1, 1998 (related to Platte County Bonds)

 

4.              CFC — Irrevocable Direct Pay Letter of Credit CO47-L-9073 effective November 1, 2010

 

5.              CFC — Irrevocable Direct Pay Letter of Credit CO47-L-9074 effective November 1, 2010

 

F.              Moffat County Bonds $46.8 M Series 2009

 

1.              Moffat County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Trust Indenture dated February 1, 2009

 

2.              Moffat County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Financing Agreement dated February 1, 2009

 

3.              Bank of America — Reimbursement Agreement dated as of February 1, 2009 (related to Moffat County Bonds) *

 

4.              Bank of America — Irrevocable Letter of Credit No. 3097863 effective February 4, 2009, as amended

 

G.            City of Gallup Bonds, Series 2005

 

1.              City of Gallup Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Indenture of Trust as of July 1, 2005

 

2.              City of Gallup Revenue Refunding Bonds Amended and Restated Agreement of Sale dated July 1, 2005

 

H.           Grantor Trust

 

1.              Grantor Trust Loan Agreement dated as of February 15, 1994

 

2.              Grantor Trust Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 15, 1994

 

I.                Revolving Credit Facility

 

1.              Amended and Restated Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2007 *

 

 

J.                Springerville Bonds

 

1.              Series A Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

2.              Series B Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

3.              Participation Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

K.           2010 First Mortgage Bonds

 

1.              Purchase Agreement dated as of June 3, 2010

 

2.              Purchase Agreement dated as of October 5, 2010

* Will be terminated as of the Closing Date

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Outstanding
    	
 
    	
Committed Amount
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Balance
    	
 
    	
Available
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    
	
Liabilities
    	
 
    	
March 31, 2011
    	
 
    	
March 31, 2011
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
FFB/RUS
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
(net advance payments to RUS)
    	
 
    	
$
    	
766,080
    	
 
    	
$
    	
277,632
    	
 
    
	
CFC
    	
 
    	
168,584
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CFC Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
75,000
    	
 
    
	
CoBank
    	
 
    	
76,834
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CoBank Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
75,000
    	
 
    
	
Private Placement
    	
 
    	
300,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Platte County Bonds
    	
 
    	
48,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Moffat County Bonds
    	
 
    	
46,800
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
City of Gallup Bonds
    	
 
    	
35,045
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Grantor Trust
    	
 
    	
27,490
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2010 First Mortgage Bonds
    	
 
    	
499,330
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Revolving Credit Facility
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
200,000
    	
 
    
	
Springerville Bonds
    	
 
    	
651,250
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accounts Payable
    	
 
    	
72,858
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accrued Expenses
    	
 
    	
75,280
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Deferred Income Taxes
    	
 
    	
27,555
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Regulatory Liabilities
    	
 
    	
30,283
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Deferred Credits
    	
 
    	
82,367
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Total
    	
 
    	
$
    	
2,907,756
    	
 
    	
$
    	
627,632
    	
 
    

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Outstanding
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Balance
    	
 
    	
Committed Amount
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    	
Available
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
as of the Closing
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    
	
Indebtedness
    	
 
    	
Date
    	
 
    	
as of the Closing Date
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
FFB/RUS (net advance payments to RUS)
    	
 
    	
$
    	
813,134
    	
 
    	
$
    	
248,905
    	
 
    
	
CFC
    	
 
    	
165,342
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CFC Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
75,000
    	
 
    
	
CoBank
    	
 
    	
74,636
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CoBank Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Private Placement
    	
 
    	
300,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Platte County Bonds
    	
 
    	
48,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Moffat County Bonds
    	
 
    	
46,800
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
City of Gallup Bonds
    	
 
    	
34,957
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Grantor Trust
    	
 
    	
27,490
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2010 First Mortgage Bonds
    	
 
    	
499,329
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2011 Revolving Credit Facility
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
500,000
    	
 
    
	
Springerville Bonds
    	
 
    	
650,484
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Total
    	
 
    	
$
    	
2,660,172
    	
 
    	
$
    	
823,905
    	
 
    

 

Part B - Liens

 

A.    Master Indenture & Supplements

 

1.              Master First Mortgage Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement — Amended, Restated and Effective as of December 15, 1999

 

2.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 1 dated as of June 30, 2000

 

3.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 2 dated as of June 30, 2000 and effective as of July 1, 2000

 

4.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 3 dated as of December 13, 2000 and effective as of December 19, 2000

 

5.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 4 dated as of May 15, 2001

 

6.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 5 dated effective as of November 13, 2001

 

 

7.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 6 dated effective as of April 22, 2002

 

8.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 7 dated effective as of October 24, 2002

 

9.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 8 dated effective as of December 27, 2002

 

10.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 9 effective as of July 31, 2003

 

11.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 10 effective as of March 30, 2004

 

12.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 11 effective as of September 16, 2004

 

13.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 12 effective as of July 12, 2005

 

14.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 13 effective as of September 27, 2005

 

15.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 14 effective as of June 8, 2006

 

16.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 15 effective as of December 7, 2006

 

17.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 16 effective as of May 4, 2007

 

18.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 17 effective as of February 4, 2009

 

19.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 18 effective as of April 8, 2009

 

20.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 19 effective as of July 30, 2009

 

21.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 20 effective as of July 30, 2009

 

22.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 21 effective as of October 8, 2009

 

23.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 22 effective as of January 5, 2010

 

24.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 23 effective as of June 8, 2010

 

25.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 24 effective as of October 8, 2010

 

26.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 26 effective as of June 13, 2011

 

27.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 27 effective as of the Closing Date

 

 

B.    Subordinated Mortgage

 

1.     Subordinated Mortgage and Security Agreement dated as of April 15, 1992

 

2.     Amendment to Subordinated Mortgage and Security Agreement dated as of June 22, 2000

 

C.    Springerville Bonds (Owner Lessor)

 

1.              Indenture, Leasehold Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Fixture Filing and Security Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003; provided that is at all time in compliance with Sections 6.01(h) and 6.02(b)

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.22

 

WHOLESALE POWER CONTRACTS

 

	
Contract Name:
    	
 
    	
Date of Agreement:
    	
 
    	
Date of Expiration: **
    
	
Big   Horn Rural Electric Company
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Carbon   Power & Light, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Central   New Mexico Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Chimney   Rock Public Power District
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Columbus   Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Continental   Divide Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Delta-Montrose   Electric Association
    	
 
    	
November 1,   2001
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2040
    
	
Empire   Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Garland   Light & Power Co.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Gunnison   County Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
High   Plains Power, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
High   West Energy, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Highline   Electric Association
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Jemez   Mountains Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
K.C.   Electric Association
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Kit   Carson Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
November 1,   2001
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2040
    
	
La   Plata Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
The   Midwest Electric Cooperative Corporation
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Mora-San   Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Morgan   County Rural Electric Association
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Mountain   Parks Electric, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Mountain   View Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Niobrara   Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Northern   Rio Arriba Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Northwest   Rural Public Power District
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    
	
Otero   County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    

 

Schedule 5.22 to Credit Agreement

 

 

	
Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Association
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Poudre Valley Rural Electric   Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Roosevelt Public Power District
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
San Isabel Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
San Luis Valley Rural Electric   Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
San Miguel Power Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Sangre De Cristo Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Sierra Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Socorro Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Southeast Colorado Power Association
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Springer Electric Cooperative, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
United Power, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Wheat Belt Public Power District
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Wheatland Rural Electric Association
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
White River Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Wyrulec Company
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    
	
Y-W Electric Association, Inc.
    	
 
    	
July 1,   2007
    	
 
    	
December 31,   2050
    	
 
    

 

** Pursuant to the terms of the Wholesale Electric Service Contract, the contract remains in effect until date certain (12/31/40 or 12/31/50) and thereafter until terminated by either party giving to the other not less than two (2) years’ written notice of its intention to terminate (emphasis added).

 

 

SCHEDULE 10.02

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE; CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES;

TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

 

BORROWER:

 

Tri State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

By hand delivery, certified or registered mail:

1100 West 116th Avenue

Westminster, CO 80234

Attention: Executive Vice President and General Manager

 

By overnight courier service:

3761 Eureka Way

Frederick, CO 80516

Attention: Executive Vice President and General Manager

 

Telephone: 303-452-6111

Telecopier: 303-254-6007

 

with a copy to the Chief Financial Officer, Telecopier: 303-254-6007

Electronic Mail: pbridges@tristategt.org

Website Address: www.tristategt.org

U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 84-0464189

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

 

Administrative Agent’s Office

(for payments and Requests for Credit Extensions):

 

Bank of America, N.A.

901 Main St.

Mail Code: TX1-492-14-14

Dallas, TX 75202

Attention: Eric E. Evans

Telephone: 214-209-1634

Electronic Mail: eric.evans@baml.com

 

Account No. (for Dollars): 129-2000-883

Ref: Tri-State Generation and Transmission

Attn: Credit Services

ABA# 026009593

 

Other Notices as Administrative Agent:

 

Bank of America, N.A.

Agency Management

 

Schedule 10.02 to Credit Agreement

 

 

135 S. LaSalle St.

Mail Code: IL4-135-05-41

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: Rosanne Parsill

Telephone: 312-923-1639

Telecopier: 877-206-8429

Electronic Mail: rosanne.parsill@baml.com

 

L/C ISSUERS:

 

Bank of America, N.A.

Trade Operations

1000 West Temple St — 7th floor

Mail Code: CA9-705-07-05

Los Angeles, CA 90012-1514

Attention: Standby Letter of Credit Dept.

Telephone: 800-370-7519 Opt 1-Standby LC

Electronic Mail: standby_customer_service_la@bankofamerica.com

 

CoBank, ACB

5500 South Quebec Street

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Attention: Trade Services and Letter of Credit Department

Telephone: 303-740-4082

Electronic Mail: tradeservices@cobank.com

 

SWING LINE LENDER:

 

Bank of America, N.A.

901 Main St.

Mail Code: TX1-492-14-14

Dallas, TX

Attention: Eric E. Evans

Telephone:214-209-1634

Electronic Mail: eric.evans@baml.com

 

Account No. (for Dollars): 129-2000-883

Ref: Tri-State Generation & Transmission

Attn: Credit Services

ABA# 026009593

 

 

SCHEDULE 10.06(e)

 

VOTING PARTICIPANTS

 

Farm Credit Bank of Texas

Northwest Farm Credit Services, FLCA

 

Schedule 10.06(e) to Credit Agreement

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE]

 

LOAN NOTICE

 

Date:             , 20

 

To:                             Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

Re:                             Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, CoBank, ACB, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

1.                                      The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

 

o a Borrowing                     o a conversion or continuation of Loans

 

2.                                      On                       , 20        (which is a Business Day).

 

3.                                      In the amount of $                .

 

4.                                      Type of Loan requested (select one):

 

o Eurodollar Rate Loan                    o Base Rate Loan

 

5.                                      For Eurodollar Rate Loans: with an Interest Period of             month[s](1).

 

The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that (a) in connection with this Request for Credit Extension (unless a request for a conversion of Loans or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) each of the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement has been satisfied on and as of the date of the Credit Extension and (b) after giving effect to the Borrowing requested herein, if any, (i) the Total Outstandings do not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans does not exceed such Lender’s Commitment.

 

(1) One, two, three or six months, or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and consented to by all the Lenders.

 

 

	
 
    	
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[FORM OF SWING LINE NOTICE]

 

SWING LINE LOAN NOTICE

 

Date:              , 20    

 

To:                             Bank of America, N.A., as Swing Line Lender

 

Cc:                             Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

Re:                             Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, CoBank, ACB, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

1.                                      The undersigned hereby requests a Swing Line Loan:

 

2.                                      On                    , 20      (a Business Day).

 

3.                                      In the amount of $                 .

 

The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that (a) in connection with this Request for Credit Extension each of the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement has been satisfied on and as of the date of the Credit Extension and (b) after giving effect to the Swing Line Borrowing requested herein, (i) the Total Outstandings do not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Loans of any Lender plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans does not exceed such Lender’s Commitment and (b) each of the conditions set forth in Section 2.04 of the Credit Agreement has been satisfied on and as of the date of such Borrowing of Swing Line Loans.

 

 

	
 
    	
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE]

 

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

	
$[         ]
    	
 
    	
[                  ],   20[      ]
    

New York, New York

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC., a cooperative corporation duly organized under the law of the State of Colorado (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to [NAME OF LENDER] (the “Lender”), at such of the offices Bank of America, N.A., as shall be notified to the Borrower from time to time, the principal sum of [DOLLAR AMOUNT] Dollars (or such lesser amount as shall equal the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement), in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, on the dates and in the principal amounts provided in the Credit Agreement, and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Loan, at such office, in like money and funds, for the period commencing on the date of such Loan until such Loan shall be paid in full, at the rates per annum and on the dates provided in the Credit Agreement.

 

The date, amount, Type, interest rate and duration of Interest Period (if applicable) of each Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender on its books; provided that the failure of the Lender to make any such recordation shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to make a payment when due of any amount owing under the Credit Agreement or hereunder in respect of the Loans made by the Lender.

 

This Promissory Note evidences Loans made by the Lender under the Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 (as modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto, CoBank, ACB, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Terms used but not defined in this Promissory Note have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

The Credit Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of this Promissory Note upon the occurrence of certain events and for prepayments of Loans upon the terms and conditions specified therein.

 

Except as permitted by Section 10.06 of the Credit Agreement, this Promissory Note may not be assigned by the Lender to any other Person.

 

This Promissory Note (together with the other promissory notes issued to the Lenders pursuant to the Credit Agreement), and the Secured Note as defined in the Credit Agreement represent the same obligation.

 

 

This Promissory Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

 

	
 
    	
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

I, [        ], the [          ] of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. (the “Company”), and, as such, a Responsible Officer of the Company, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that:

 

(a)                                 I have conducted a review of the Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the lenders party thereto, CoBank, ACB, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the financial statements of the Company and such other documents as I have deemed necessary for this certification. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. This Compliance Certificate is being delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a) of the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)                                 [No Default has occurred during the period beginning on [      ], 20[        ] and ending on the date hereof.] [Attached hereto as Annex 1 is a detailed description of each Default that has occurred during the period beginning on [       ], 20[       ] and ending on the date hereof, together with a description of any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.]

 

(c)                                  Attached hereto is Schedule 1, demonstrating compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.13 of the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof.

 

[(d)                             Since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement, a change [in Accounting Requirements] [in the application of Accounting Requirements with respect to the financial statements of the Company] has occurred, and the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying this Compliance Certificate is [      ].]

 

WITNESS my hand this         day of [        ], 20[      ].

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

 

EXHIBIT E-1

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

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

 

	
1.
    	
Assignor:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.
    	
Assignee:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
[and is an Affiliate of [identify Lender]]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.
    	
Borrower:
    	
Tri-State Generation and   Transmission Association, Inc.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.
    	
Administrative Agent:
    	
Bank of America, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as the administrative   agent under the Credit Agreement
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.
    	
Credit Agreement:
    	
Credit Agreement
    

 

 

	
 
    	
dated as of July 29,   2011
    
	
 
    	
among the Borrower, the   lenders party thereto, CoBank, ACB, Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
    
	
 
    	
Fenner & Smith   Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
    

 

A.            Assigned Interest:

 

	
Aggregate Amount of
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Commitment / Loans for
    	
 
    	
Amount of Commitment/
    	
 
    	
Percentage Assigned of
    	
 
    
	
all Lenders
    	
 
    	
Loans Assigned(2)
    	
 
    	
Commitment / Loans(3)
    	
 
    
	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
%
    
	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
%
    
	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
%
    

 

	
7.
    	
 
    	
Effective Date:
    	
           ,   20     (4)
    

 

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

 

	
 
    	
ASSIGNOR
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ASSIGNEE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

(2)                     Partial assignments to be in an amount not less than $2,500,000.

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

(4)                     To be inserted by Administrative Agent and which shall be the effective date of recordation of transfer in the register therefor.

 

2

 

Consented to and Accepted:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative

Agent and L/C Issuer

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

Consented to:

 

TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC. (5)

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

(5)                                 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

3

 

ANNEX 1

 

Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 among the

Company, the lenders party thereto, CoBank, ACB, Merrill

Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Bank of

America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1.                                      Representations and Warranties.

 

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

 

1.2.                            Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with

 

 

their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

2.                                      Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

B.            General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

 

EXHIBIT E-2

 

ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

 

 

EXHIBIT F

 

INDENTURE

 

Attached

 

Including:

 

1)                                     Master First Mortgage Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, between the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor through consolidation to Wells Fargo Bank West, National Association), as Trustee

2)                                     Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 2 dated as of June 30, 2000

3)                                     Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 20 dated effective as of July 30, 2009

 

See Exhibit 4.1 in this filing for a copy of these documents.

 

 

EXHIBIT G

 

SUPPLEMENT NO. 27 TO THE INDENTURE

 

See Exhibit 4.1 in this filing for a copy of Supplement No. 27.

 

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of November 20, 2013 (this “Amendment”) is entered into among TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders identified on the signature pages hereto and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

The Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to extend the Maturity Date of the Credit Agreement from July 29, 2016 to July 27, 2018. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders party hereto have agreed to so amend the Credit Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Defined Terms. Except as otherwise provided herein, all capitalized undefined terms used in this Amendment (including, without limitation, in the introductory paragraph and the preliminary statements hereto) shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.

 

2.                                      Amendment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to amend the Credit Agreement as follows:

 

(a)                                 The definition of “Maturity Date” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to “July 29, 2016” therein and inserting “July 27, 2018” in lieu thereof.

 

(b)                                 Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following definitions in proper alphabetical order:

 

(i)                                                   “‘First Amendment to Credit Agreement’ means that certain Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of November 20, 2013 by and among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto.”

 

(ii)                                                  “‘Supplement 31 to the Indenture’ means the Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 31 dated as of November 20, 2013 (as supplemented, amended or otherwise modified from time to time) between the Borrower and the Trustee.”

 

(c)                                  The existing definition of “Secured Note” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“‘Secured Note’ means the amended and restated secured promissory note dated as of November 20, 2013 and executed by the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each of the Lenders which constitutes the ‘Amended Series 2011B Secured Obligation’ (as defined in Supplement 31 to the Indenture).”

 

 

(d)                                 Section 1.02(b) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Notwithstanding Section 1.02(a)(i), any reference to the Indenture (or any Section thereof) shall be to the Indenture (and each such Section) as it exists as of the date of the First Amendment to Credit Agreement; and, only as hereafter modified with the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, or the Lenders, in accordance with Section 10.01. If the Required Lenders, or the Lenders, do not consent to any amendment to the Indenture, in accordance with Section 10.01, all references to the Indenture (and each such Section) shall be as it exists as of the date of the First Amendment to Credit Agreement.”

 

(e)                                  All references to “Supplement 27 to the Indenture” in the Credit Agreement (except the definition of Supplement 27 to the Indenture) shall be deemed to be references to “Supplement 31 to the Indenture”.

 

(f)                                   Section 5.24 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“The Indenture (together with any supplements modifying the terms thereof provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time) and Supplements 2, 20, 27 and 31 thereto consist of the entire Indenture and Supplements thereto, other than (a) with respect to the Indenture, other supplements thereto which provide for additional secured obligations thereunder and additional collateral descriptions and (b) exhibits and riders containing legal or property descriptions and locations, descriptions of the secured obligations and certain forms, none of which modify the terms and provisions of the covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture.”

 

(g)                                  Section 5.25 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“The Indenture (excluding Supplement 31 to the Indenture) constitutes, and when Supplement 31 to the Indenture is executed and delivered by the Borrower and the Trustee and filed and recorded, the Indenture will constitute, a direct and valid lien upon all of the properties and assets of the Borrower specifically or generally described or referred to in the Indenture as being subject to the lien thereof, and will create a similar lien upon all properties and assets acquired by the Borrower after the date hereof which are required to be subjected to the lien of the Indenture, when acquired by the Borrower, and subject, as to real property, to the recordation of a supplement to the Indenture describing such after-acquired property; the descriptions of all such properties and assets contained in the granting clauses of the Indenture are correct and adequate for the purposes of the Indenture; and the Indenture (excluding Supplement 31 to the Indenture) has been duly recorded as a mortgage and deed of trust of real estate, and any required filings (other than with respect to filing Supplement 31 to the Indenture) with respect to personal property and fixtures subject to the lien of the Indenture have been duly made in each place in which such recording or filing is required to protect, preserve and perfect the lien of the Indenture; and all taxes and recording and filing fees required to be paid with respect to the execution, recording or filing of the Indenture, the filing of financing statements related thereto and similar documents and the issuance of the Secured Note (other than with respect to filing Supplement 31 to the Indenture) have been paid; Supplement 31 to the Indenture will be duly recorded or filed within 60 days of the date of the First Amendment to Credit Agreement in the real and personal property records in each place in which the Indenture (excluding Supplement 31 to the Indenture) has been recorded or filed and in all other places required to protect, preserve and perfect the lien of the Indenture, and all taxes and recording and filing fees required to be paid with respect to the execution, recording or filing of Supplement 31 to the Indenture will be paid. Upon filing of Supplement 31 to the Indenture (or notices

 

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thereof) and financing statements in the official public records of the applicable jurisdictions, the lien and security interest so perfected shall be first and prior to any other lien or security interest on the Borrower’s right, title and interest in the Trust Estate (excluding the “Easements” listed on Exhibit A, Exhibit A-1, Exhibit A-2, Exhibit A-3, Exhibit A-4, Exhibit A-5, Exhibit A-6, Exhibit A-7, Exhibit A-8, Exhibit A-9, Exhibit A-10, Exhibit A-11, Exhibit A-12, Exhibit A-13, Exhibit A-14, Exhibit A-15, Exhibit A-16, Exhibit A-17, Exhibit A-18, Exhibit A-19, Exhibit A-20, Exhibit A-21, Exhibit A-22, Exhibit A-23, Exhibit A-24, Exhibit A-25, Exhibit A-26, Exhibit A-27, Exhibit A-28, and Exhibit A-29 to the Indenture), subject only to the exceptions referred to in the Indenture and Permitted Liens and Encumbrances.”

 

(h)                                 The table in Section 7.13(a) of the Credit Agreement is deleted and the following table is inserted in lieu thereof:

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Equity to Capitalization Ratio
    	
 
    
	
2011-2015
    	
 
    	
14
    	
%
    
	
2016 and thereafter
    	
 
    	
18
    	
%
    

 

(i)                                     The existing Schedules 5.12(d), 5.14 and 5.20 to the Credit Agreement are deleted in their entirety and Schedules 5.12(d), 5.14 and 5.20 hereto are inserted in lieu thereof.

 

3.                                      Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be effective upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)                                 The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each dated as of the date hereof (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the date hereof) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                                     executed counterparts of this Amendment, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

 

(ii)                                                    executed counterparts of Supplement 31 to the Indenture;

 

(iii)                                                   executed counterparts of the Secured Note with the Trustee’s authentication certificate;

 

(iv)                                                such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Amendment and the other Loan Documents or Collateral Documents;

 

(v)                                                 such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming and any other jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(vi)                                                 favorable opinions of (A) Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to the Borrower and (B) Kenneth V. Reif, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Borrower, each addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as to such matters concerning the Borrower and this Amendment, the Loan Documents and the Collateral Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                                                   a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the most recent audited financial statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (B) that on and as of the date hereof the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to this Amendment, are Solvent, and (C) the current Debt Ratings;

 

(viii)                                                     completion of due diligence with respect to environmental matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent;

 

(ix)                                                   completion of due diligence with respect to insurance matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent;

 

(x)                                                    completion of due diligence with respect to flood matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent; and

 

(xi)                                                    such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                 Any fees required to be paid on or before the date hereof, including, without limitation, any fees set forth in any related fee and mandate letters, shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                  Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the date hereof, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent has received (i) from the Borrower an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 and (ii) to the extent not previously delivered, from each Lender the applicable form for such Lender described in Section 3.01(e)(ii) of the Credit Agreement

 

4.                                      Effect of the Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not be deemed (a) to be a waiver of, or consent to a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, any future Default or Event of Default, (b) to prejudice any other right or rights which the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, or (c) to be a commitment or any other undertaking or expression of any willingness to engage in any further discussion with the Borrower or any other Person with respect to any waiver, amendment, modification or other change to the Credit Agreement or the Loan Documents or any

 

4

 

rights or remedies arising in favor of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, or any of them, under or with respect to any such documents. References in this Amendment to the Credit Agreement (and indirect references such as “hereunder”, “hereby”, “herein”, and “hereof”) and in any Loan Document to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.

 

5.                                      Representations and Warranties. By its execution hereof, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants as follows:

 

(a)                                 The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment and each Collateral Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any material Lien (except as created and imposed by the Indenture) under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation (other than the Credit Agreement) to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the material properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

(b)                                 This Amendment has been, and each other Loan Document and Collateral Document, when delivered in connection herewith, as applicable, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Amendment constitutes, and each other Loan Document and Collateral Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(c)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement, shall be true and correct (i) in all respects, with respect to the representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) in all material respects, with respect to all other representations and warranties, on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Amendment, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement and the representations and warranties in subsection (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to clause (a) of Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

6.                                      Reaffirmations. (a) The Borrower agrees that the amendment contemplated by this Amendment shall not limit or diminish the obligations of such Person under, or release such Person from any obligations under, the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, (b) the Borrower confirms, ratifies and reaffirms its obligations under the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, and (c) the Borrower agrees that the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

7.                                      Miscellaneous

 

(a)                                 Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Without limiting the general applicability of the foregoing and the terms of the other Loan Documents to this

 

5

 

Amendment and the parties hereto, the terms of Section 10.14 and Section 10.15 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis.

 

(b)                                 Loan Document. This Amendment shall constitute a “Loan Document” under and as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

(c)                                  Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

(d)                                 Severability. If any provision of this Amendment is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Amendment shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

 

(e)                                  Entirety. This Amendment, the other Loan Documents and the other documents relating to the Obligations represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Loan Documents, or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.

 

[Signature Pages Follow.]

 

6

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	
BORROWER
    	
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Patrick L. Bridges
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Patrick L. Bridges
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
As Administrative Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Angelo M. Martorana
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Angelo M. Martorana
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant Vice President
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
LENDERS:
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS A Lender, an L/C Issuer and the Swing Line   Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Michael T Letsch
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Michael T. Letsch
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
COBANK, ACB, as Lender and an L/C Issuer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ C. Brock Taylor
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
C. Brock Taylor
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Regional Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Monica L Balters
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Monica L Balters
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Holland H. Williams
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Holland H. Williams
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
AVP & Portfolio Mgr.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Mikhail Faybusovich
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Mikhail Faybusovich
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized Signatory
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Tyler R. Smith
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Tyler R. Smith
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized Signatory
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
UMB BANK COLORADO, n.a., as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Michele Warren
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Michele Warren
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Sr. Vice President
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.12(d)

 

Revised November 2013

 

PENSION PLANS

 

The Borrower’s employees participate in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Retirement and Security Program. The Borrower contributes to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Retirement and Security Program on an annual basis in amounts that fluctuate from year to year.

 

Schedule 5.12(d) to Credit Agreement

Revised November 2013

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.14

 

Revised November 2013

 

SUBSIDIARIES; EQUITY INTERESTS

 

PART A — SUBSIDIARIES

 

1.              Springerville Unit 3 Partnership LP

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. — 1% general partnership interest and 50% limited partnership interest

 

2.              Springerville Unit 3 OP LLC

 

Springerville Unit 3 Partnership LP — 100% membership interest

 

3.              Springerville Unit 3 Holding LLC

 

Springerville Unit 3 OP LLC — 100% membership interest

 

4.              Western Fuels — Colorado, A Limited Liability Company

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. — 99% membership interest

 

5.              Axial Basin Coal Company

 

Western Fuels — Colorado, A Limited Liability Company — 100% ownership interest

 

6.              Taylor Creek Holding Company

 

Western Fuels — Colorado, A Limited Liability Company — 100% ownership interest

 

7.              Colowyo Coal Company L.P.

 

Axial Basin Coal Company — 20% general partnership interest 
 Taylor Creek Holding Company — 80% limited partnership interest

 

8.              JMSGEN ILP, LLC (FKA Stargen CO ILP, LLC)

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. — 100% membership interest

 

9.              JMSGEN IGP, LLP (FKA Stargen CO IGP, LLC)

 

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. — 100% membership interest

 

10.       Thermo Cogeneration Partnership, LP

 

JMSGEN IGP, LLC — general partner interest

JMSGEN ILP, LLC — 100% limited partner interest

 

Schedule 5.14 to Credit Agreement

Revised November 2013

 

 

PART B — EQUITY INTERESTS

 

1.              Patronage capital and equities allocated to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time by cooperatives with which the Borrower does business, including CoBank, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (“CFC”), Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Western Fuels Association, Inc., most of the Members of the Borrower, Federated Insurance, and various telephone cooperatives.

 

2.              Capital certificates purchased from time to time in CoBank and other Farm Credit System institutions and CFC, as required in connection with borrowings from CoBank, such Farm Credit institutions or CFC.

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.20

 

Revised November 2013

 

MATERIAL AGREEMENTS AND LIENS

 

Part A — Material Agreements

 

A.            RUS Loan Agreement

 

1.              RUS — Amended and Consolidated Loan Contract dated as of July 3, 2013

 

B.            CFC Loan Agreements

 

1.              CFC — Master Loan Agreement dated as of March 14, 1997

 

2.              CFC - Loan Agreement dated as of April 10, 1992, as amended

 

3.              CFC — Loan Agreement dated as of January 10, 1989, as amended

 

4.              CFC — Revolving Line of Credit Agreement ($50,000,000 3 Year Line of Credit) effective January 26, 2010, as may be extended or renewed

 

5.              CFC — Revolving Line of Credit Agreement ($25,000,000 3 Year Line of Credit) effective February 1, 2011, as may be extended or renewed

 

C.            CoBank Loan Agreements

 

1.              CoBank Amended and Restated Master Loan Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006

 

2.              Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 6, 2012

 

3.              Unsecured Term Loan Agreement dated as of June 10, 2013

 

D.            Note Purchase Agreement

 

1.              Private Placement Holders - Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 8, 2009

 

E.             Platte County Bonds

 

1.              Platte County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 1984A Loan Agreement No. 1 (Series 1984B Loan Agreement No. 2 is substantially the same as No. 1 and is not included here)

 

Schedule 5.20 to Credit Agreement

Revised November 2013

 

 

2.              Platte County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 1984A Indenture of Trust No. 1 (Series 1984B Indenture of Trust No. 2 is substantially the same as No. 1 and is not included here)

 

3.              CFC — Reimbursement and Loan Agreement dated as of November 1, 1998 (related to Platte County Bonds)

 

4.              CFC — Irrevocable Direct Pay Letter of Credit CO47-L-9075 effective November 1, 2011

 

5.              CFC — Irrevocable Direct Pay Letter of Credit CO47-L-9076 effective November 1, 2011

 

F.              Moffat County Bonds $46.8 M Series 2009

 

1.              Moffat County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Trust Indenture dated February 1, 2009

 

2.              Moffat County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Financing Agreement dated February 1, 2009

 

3.              Bank of America — Irrevocable Letter of Credit No. 3097863 effective February 4, 2009, as amended

 

G.            City of Gallup Bonds, Series 2005

 

1.              City of Gallup Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Indenture of Trust as of July 1, 2005

 

2.              City of Gallup Revenue Refunding Bonds Amended and Restated Agreement of Sale dated July 1, 2005

 

H.           Grantor Trust

 

1.              Grantor Trust Loan Agreement dated as of February 15, 1994

 

2.              Grantor Trust Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 15, 1994

 

I.                Revolving Credit Facility

 

1.              Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 agented by Bank of America, N.A., as amended

 

 

J.                Springerville Bonds

 

1.                Series A Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

2.                Series B Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

3.                Participation Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

K.           2010 First Mortgage Bonds

 

1.                Purchase Agreement dated as of June 3, 2010

 

2.                Purchase Agreement dated as of October 5, 2010

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Outstanding Balance
    	
 
    	
Committed Amount Available
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    
	
Liabilities
    	
 
    	
September 30, 2013
    	
 
    	
September 30, 2013
    	
 
    
	
FFB/RUS
   (net advance payments to RUS) 
    	
 
    	
$
    	
1,113,038
    	
 
    	
$
    	
528,955 
    	
 
    
	
CFC
    	
 
    	
 
    	
123,458
    	
 
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CFC Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
75,000
    	
 
    
	
CoBank
    	
 
    	
234,228
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Private Placement
    	
 
    	
272,857
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Platte County Bonds
    	
 
    	
48,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Moffat County Bonds
    	
 
    	
46,800
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
City of Gallup Bonds
    	
 
    	
21,227
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Grantor Trust
    	
 
    	
17,205
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2010 First Mortgage Bonds
    	
 
    	
499,324
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Revolving Credit Facility
    	
 
    	
130,000
    	
 
    	
322,258
    	
 
    
	
Springerville Bonds
    	
 
    	
584,031
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accounts Payable
    	
 
    	
112,508
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accrued Expenses
    	
 
    	
72,484
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Deferred Income Taxes
    	
 
    	
10,131
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Regulatory Liabilities
    	
 
    	
50,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Deferred Credits
    	
 
    	
108,421
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Intangible liability
    	
 
    	
13,151
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Total
    	
 
    	
$
    	
3,456,863
    	
 
    	
$
    	
926,213
    	
 
    

 

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Outstanding Balance
    	
 
    	
Committed Amount Available
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    
	
Indebtedness
    	
 
    	
as of November 20, 2013
    	
 
    	
as of November 20, 2013
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
FFB/RUS
   (net advance payments to RUS)
    	
 
    	
$
    	
1,110,642
    	
 
    	
528,955
    	
 
    
	
CFC
    	
 
    	
115,666
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CFC Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
75,000
    	
 
    
	
CoBank
    	
 
    	
232,857
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Private Placement
    	
 
    	
272,857
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Platte County Bonds
    	
 
    	
48,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Moffat County Bonds
    	
 
    	
46,800
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
City of Gallup Bonds
    	
 
    	
21,204
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Grantor Trust
    	
 
    	
17,205
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2010 First Mortgage Bonds
    	
 
    	
499,324
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2011 Revolving Credit Facility
    	
 
    	
130,000
    	
 
    	
322,258
    	
 
    
	
Springerville Bonds
    	
 
    	
583,802
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Total
    	
 
    	
$
    	
3,078,357
    	
 
    	
$
    	
926,213
    	
 
    
								

 

Part B - Liens

 

A.            Master Indenture & Supplements

 

1.              Master First Mortgage Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement — Amended, Restated and Effective as of December 15, 1999

 

2.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 1 dated as of June 30, 2000

 

3.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 2 dated as of June 30, 2000 and effective as of July 1, 2000

 

4.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 3 dated as of December 13, 2000 and effective as of December 19, 2000

 

5.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 4 dated as of May 15, 2001

 

6.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 5 dated effective as of November 13, 2001

 

7.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 6 dated effective as of April 22, 2002

 

8.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 7 dated effective as of October 24, 2002

 

9.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 8 dated effective as of December 27, 2002

 

 

10.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 9 effective as of July 31, 2003

 

11.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 10 effective as of March 30, 2004

 

12.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 11 effective as of September 16, 2004

 

13.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 12 effective as of July 12, 2005

 

14.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 13 effective as of September 27, 2005

 

15.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 14 effective as of June 8, 2006

 

16.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 15 effective as of December 7, 2006

 

17.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 16 effective as of May 4, 2007

 

18.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 17 effective as of February 4, 2009

 

19.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 18 effective as of April 8, 2009

 

20.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 19 effective as of July 30, 2009

 

21.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 20 effective as of July 30, 2009

 

22.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 21 effective as of October 8, 2009

 

23.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 22 effective as of January 5, 2010

 

24.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 23 effective as of June 8, 2010

 

25.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 24 effective as of October 8, 2010

 

26.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 26 effective as of June 13, 2011

 

27.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 27 effective as of July 29, 2011

 

28.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 28 effective as of March 15, 2012

 

29.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 29 effective as of December 6, 2012

 

30.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 30 effective as of July 3, 2013

 

 

31.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 31 effective as of November 20, 2013

 

B.            Subordinated Mortgage

 

1.              Subordinated Mortgage and Security Agreement dated as of April 15, 1992

 

2.              Amendment to Subordinated Mortgage and Security Agreement dated as of June 22, 2000

 

C.            Springerville Bonds (Owner Lessor)

 

1.              Indenture, Leasehold Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Fixture Filing and Security Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003; subject to compliance at all times with Sections 6.01(h) and 6.02(b)

 

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 17, 2014 (this “Amendment”) is entered into among TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC. (the “Borrower”), the Lenders identified on the signature pages hereto and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

The Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

The Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to, among other things, (i) increase the Aggregate Revolving Commitments from $500,000,000 to $750,000,000 and (ii) extend the Maturity Date of the Credit Agreement from July 27, 2018 to July 26, 2019. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders party hereto have agreed to so amend the Credit Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Defined Terms. Except as otherwise provided herein, all capitalized undefined terms used in this Amendment (including, without limitation, in the introductory paragraph and the preliminary statements hereto) shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.

 

2.                                      Amendment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to amend the Credit Agreement as follows:

 

(a)                                 All references in the Credit Agreement to the terms “Book Manager” and “book manager” are hereby deleted and replaced with “Bookrunner” and “bookrunner” as applicable.

 

(b)                                 Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “DSR Percentage”.

 

(c)                                  Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating the following definitions in their entirety to read as set forth below:

 

(i)                                     “Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitment in effect on the Second Amendment Effective Date is SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($750,000,000).

 

(ii)                                  “Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Eurodollar
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Pricing
    	
 
    	
Debt Ratings
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Rate Loan +
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Level
    	
 
    	
S&P/Moody’s/Fitch
    	
 
    	
Commitment Fee
    	
 
    	
Letters of Credit
    	
 
    	
Base Rate Loan
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
1
    	
 
    	
AA-/Aa3/AA- or higher
    	
 
    	
0.100
    	
%
    	
0.900
    	
%
    	
0.000
    	
%
    
	
2
    	
 
    	
A+/A1/A+
    	
 
    	
0.110
    	
%
    	
0.950
    	
%
    	
0.000
    	
%
    
	
3
    	
 
    	
A/A2/A
    	
 
    	
0.125
    	
%
    	
1.000
    	
%
    	
0.000
    	
%
    
	
4
    	
 
    	
A-/A3/A-
    	
 
    	
0.150
    	
%
    	
1.125
    	
%
    	
0.125
    	
%
    
	
5
    	
 
    	
BBB+/Baa1/BBB+
    	
 
    	
0.175
    	
%
    	
1.250
    	
%
    	
0.250
    	
%
    
	
6
    	
 
    	
BBB/Baa2/BBB or lower
    	
 
    	
0.350
    	
%
    	
1.500
    	
%
    	
0.500
    	
%
    

 

 

As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 3. Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 6.03(f) and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

(iii)                               “Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

(iv)                              “Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the Eurodollar Base Rate (determined pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof) plus 1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in such “prime rate” announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Federal Funds Rate or the one-month Eurodollar Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day of such change in the Federal Funds Rate or one-month Eurodollar Rate.

 

(v)                                 “Change of Control” means, with respect to the Borrower, (a) failure to be a member owned cooperative corporation or (b) a majority of the Members existing on the date hereof cease to be Members of the Borrower; provided that for purposes of this definition of “Change of Control” no acquisition or merger between Members existing on the date hereof shall be deemed to affect the calculation of such percentage of Members.

 

(vi)                              “Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

2

 

(vii)                           “Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

 

(viii)                        “Eurodollar Base Rate” means:

 

(a)                                 for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or a comparable or successor rate, which rate is approved by the Administrative Agent, as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; and

 

(b)                                 for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to LIBOR, at or about 11:00 a.m., London time determined two Business Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits with a term of one month commencing that day;

 

provided that to the extent a comparable or successor rate is approved by the Administrative Agent in connection herewith, the approved rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, further that, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such approved rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; provided further that if the Eurodollar Base Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(ix)                              “Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurodollar Base Rate”.

 

(x)                                 “FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471 (b) (1) of the Code.

 

(xi)                              “Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated September 10, 2014 among the Borrower, the Arrangers, and the Administrative Agent.

 

(xii)                           “Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder and shall include the Existing Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a letter of credit (other than the Existing Letters of Credit) issued by an L/C Issuer other than Bank of America shall not be a “Letter of Credit” for purposes of the Loan Documents until such time as the Administrative Agent has been notified in writing of the issuance thereof by the applicable L/C Issuer and has confirmed with such L/C Issuer that there exists adequate availability under the Aggregate Commitments to issue such letter of credit.

 

3

 

(xiii)                        “Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven (7) days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

(xiv)                       “Maturity Date” means July 26, 2019; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

(xv)                          “Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligations of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders; provided, further, that the amount of any participation in any Swing Line Loan and Unreimbursed Amounts that such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund that have not been reallocated to and funded by another Lender shall be deemed to be held by the Lender that is the Swing Line Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in making such determination.

 

(xvi)                       “Responsible Officer” means the president and chairman, vice chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, general counsel or treasurer of the Borrower, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary or the treasurer of the Borrower and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.

 

(xvii)                    “Sanctioned Person” means (a) a Person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sdn/index/html, or as otherwise published from time to time, or (b) (i) an agency of the government of a Sanctioned Country, (ii) an organization controlled by a Sanctioned Country, or (iii) a Person resident in a Sanctioned Country, to the extent subject to Sanctions.

 

(xviii)                 “Secured Note” means the second amended and restated secured promissory note dated as of October 17, 2014 and executed by the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each of the Lenders which constitutes the ‘Second Amended Series 2011B Secured Obligation’ (as defined in Supplement 33 to the Indenture).

 

(xix)                       “Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B or such other form as approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic

 

4

 

platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approve by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

(xx)                          “Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($100,000,000) and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

(xxi)                       “Threshold Amount” means FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($50,000,000).

 

(d)                                 Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following definitions in proper alphabetical order:

 

(i)                                     “CP Backup Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000) and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The CP Backup Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

(ii)                                  “Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

 

(iii)                               “Impacted Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03.

 

(iv)                              “Letter of Credit Report” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(k).

 

(v)                                 “Sanction(s)” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury in the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.

 

(vi)                              “Second Amendment Effective Date” means October 17, 2014.

 

(vii)                           “Second Amendment to Credit Agreement” means that certain Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement dated as of October 17, 2014 by and among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto.

 

(viii)                        “Supplement 33 to the Indenture” means the Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 33 dated as of October 17, 2014 (as supplemented, amended or otherwise modified from time to time) between the Borrower and the Trustee.”

 

(e)                                  Section 1.02(b) of the Credit Agreement is amended by replacing the references therein to “First Amendment to Credit Agreement” with “Second Amendment to Credit Agreement.”

 

(f)                                   All references to “Supplement 31 to the Indenture” in the Credit Agreement (except the definition of Supplement 31 to the Indenture) shall be deemed to be references to “Supplement 33 to the Indenture”.

 

(g)                                  Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

5

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding of Committed Loans advanced to provide liquidity to the Borrower’s commercial paper program shall not exceed the CP Backup Sublimit. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

(h)                                 Sections 2.02(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement are amended and restated in their entirety as follows:

 

(a)                                 Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone, or (B) a Committed Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Committed Loan Notice. Each such Committed Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the Business Day of the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans; provided that if the Borrower wishes to request Eurodollar Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period,” the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. Not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time), three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan

 

6

 

Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

 

(b)                                 Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. (Central time) on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

 

(i)                                     Section 2.03(b)(i) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(i)                                     Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the applicable L/C Issuer as the Borrower may elect (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application may be sent by facsimile, by United States mail, by overnight courier, by electronic transmission using the system provided by the applicable L/C Issuer, by personal delivery or by any other means acceptable to the applicable L/C Issuer. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) at least sixty days, in the case of a Bond Letter of Credit, and at least two Business Days in the case of any other Letter of Credit (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such

 

7

 

beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; (H) in the case of a Bond Letter of Credit, the Bond Documents; and (I) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the applicable L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

 

(j)                                    Section 2.03(f) of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding the following sentence at the end of such section:

 

An L/C Issuer may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“SWIFT”) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

 

(k)                                 A new Section 2.03(k) is hereby added to the Credit Agreement to read as follows:

 

(k)                                 L/C Issuer Reports to the Administrative Agent. Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, each L/C Issuer shall, in addition to its notification obligations set forth elsewhere in this Section, provide the Administrative Agent a report (a “Letter of Credit Report”), as set forth below:

 

(i)                                     reasonably prior to the time that such L/C Issuer issues, amends, renews, increases or extends a Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal, increase or extension and the stated amount of the applicable Letters of Credit after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amounts thereof shall have changed);

 

(ii)                                  on each Business Day on which such L/C Issuer makes a payment pursuant to a Letter of Credit, the date and amount of such payment;

 

(iii)                               on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse a payment made pursuant to a Letter of Credit required to be reimbursed to such L/C Issuer on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such payment;

 

(iv)                              on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request as to the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer; and

 

(v)                                 for so long as any Letter of Credit issued by an L/C Issuer is outstanding, such L/C Issuer shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) on the last Business Day of each calendar month, (B) at all other times a Letter of Credit Report is required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and (C) on each date that (1) a Letter of Credit is issued, extended or increased or (2) there is any

 

8

 

expiration, cancellation and/or disbursement, in each case, with respect to any such Letter of Credit, a Letter of Credit Report appropriately completed with the information for every outstanding Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer.

 

(l)                                     Section 2.04(b) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(b)                                 Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) by a Swing Line Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a Swing Line Loan Notice. Each such Swing Line Loan Notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 11:00 a.m. (Central time) on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 12:00 p.m. (Central time) on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

 

(m)                             Section 2.05(a) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(a)                                 The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (Central time) (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the

 

9

 

Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.16, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

(n)                                 Section 2.08(a) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(a)                                 Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans.

 

(o)                                 Section 2.12(a) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(a)                                 General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 1:00 p.m. (Central time) on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. (Central time) shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Except as otherwise provided in the definition of Interest Payment Date clause (a), if any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(p)                                 Section 3.03 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

If in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof, (a) the Administrative Agent determines that (i) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan (in each case with respect to clause (a) (i) above, “Impacted Loans”), or (b) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine

 

10

 

that for any reason the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Base Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent upon the instruction of the Required Lenders revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurodollar Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a)(i) of this section, the Administrative Agent, in consultation with the Borrower and the affected Lenders, may establish an alternative interest rate for the Impacted Loans, in which case, such alternative rate of interest shall apply with respect to the Impacted Loans until (1) the Administrative Agent revokes the notice delivered with respect to the Impacted Loans under clause (a) of the first sentence of this section, (2) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that such alternative interest rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding the Impacted Loans, or (3) any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to such alternative rate of interest or to determine or charge interest rates based upon such rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to do any of the foregoing and provides the Administrative Agent and the Borrower written notice thereof.

 

(q)                                 Section 3.04(b) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(b)                                 Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or such L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such

 

11

 

L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or such L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(r)                                    Section 4.02(a) of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(a)                                 The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (other than (x) Section 5.05(c) and (y) if any commercial paper issued by the Borrower is outstanding, in the case of a Borrowing of Committed Loans to provide liquidity for such commercial paper, Section 5.06(b)), shall be true and correct (i) in all respects, with respect to the representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) in all material respects, with respect to all other representations and warranties, on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01; provided that the representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Section 5.23 shall not apply if the Borrower is no longer subject to the RUS Loan Contract or the RUS Regulations.

 

(s)                                   Section 5.21 of the Credit Agreement is amended by replacing the reference to “Borrowing” therein with “Credit Extension.”

 

(t)                                    Section 5.24 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

The Indenture (together with any supplements modifying the terms thereof provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time) and Supplements 2, 20, 27, 31 and 33 thereto consist of the entire Indenture and Supplements thereto, other than (a) with respect to the Indenture, other supplements thereto which provide for additional secured obligations thereunder and additional collateral descriptions and (b) exhibits and riders containing legal or property descriptions and locations, descriptions of the secured obligations and certain forms, none of which modify the terms and provisions of the covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture.

 

(u)                                 Section 5.25 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

The Indenture constitutes a direct and valid lien upon all of the properties and assets of the Borrower specifically or generally described or referred to in the Indenture as being subject to the lien thereof, and will create a similar lien upon all properties and assets acquired by the Borrower after the date hereof which are required to be subjected to the lien of the Indenture, when acquired by the Borrower, and subject, as to real property, to the recordation of a supplement to the Indenture describing such after acquired property; the descriptions of all such properties and assets contained in the granting clauses of the Indenture are correct and adequate for the purposes of the Indenture; and the Indenture (excluding Supplement 33 to the Indenture and all other supplements after Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 32) has been duly recorded as a mortgage and deed of trust of real estate, and any required filings (other

 

12

 

than with respect to filing Supplement 33 to the Indenture and all other supplements after Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 32) with respect to personal property and fixtures subject to the lien of the Indenture have been duly made in each place in which such recording or filing is required to protect, preserve and perfect the lien of the Indenture; and all taxes and recording and filing fees required to be paid with respect to the execution, recording or filing of the Indenture, the filing of financing statements related thereto and similar documents and the issuance of the Secured Note (other than with respect to filing Supplement 33 to the Indenture and all other supplements after Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 32) have been paid; Supplement 33 to the Indenture will be duly recorded or filed within 60 days of the Second Amended Effective Date in the real and personal property records in each place in which the Indenture (excluding Supplement 33 to the Indenture and all other supplements after Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 32) has been recorded or filed and in all other places required to protect, preserve and perfect the lien of the Indenture, and all taxes and recording and filing fees required to be paid with respect to the execution, recording or filing of Supplement 33 to the Indenture will be paid. Upon filing of Supplement 33 to the Indenture (or notices thereof) and financing statements in the official public records of the applicable jurisdictions, the lien and security interest so perfected shall be first and prior to any other lien or security interest on the Borrower’s right, title and interest in the Trust Estate (excluding the “Easements” listed on Exhibit A, Exhibit A-1, Exhibit A-2, Exhibit A-3, Exhibit A-4, Exhibit A-5, Exhibit A-6, Exhibit A-7, Exhibit A-8, Exhibit A-9, Exhibit A-10, Exhibit A-11, Exhibit A-12, Exhibit A-13, Exhibit A-14, Exhibit A-15, Exhibit A-16, Exhibit A-17, Exhibit A-18, Exhibit A-19, Exhibit A-20, Exhibit A-21, Exhibit A-22, Exhibit A-23, Exhibit A-24, Exhibit A-25, Exhibit A-26, Exhibit A-27, Exhibit A-28, Exhibit A-29, Exhibit A-30 to the Indenture), subject only to the exceptions referred to in the Indenture and Permitted Liens and Encumbrances.

 

(v)                                 Section 5.26 of the Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(a)                                 Neither the Borrower, any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is a Sanctioned Person or conducts any business in a Sanctioned Country or with a Sanctioned Person, in each case in violation of the Sanctions.

 

(b)                                 Neither the making of the Credit Extensions hereunder nor the use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. The Borrower and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the Patriot Act.

 

(w)                               A new Section 5.27 is hereby added to the Credit Agreement to read as follows:

 

5.27                        Anti-Corruption Laws. The Borrower and its subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

(x)                                 Section 6.15(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

13

 

(b)                                 Each party hereto acknowledges that CoBank’s ByLaws and Capital Plan (as each may be amended from time to time) shall govern (i) the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the CoBank Equities and any patronage refunds or other distributions made on account thereof or on account of the Borrower’s patronage with CoBank, (ii) the Borrower’s eligibility for patronage distributions from CoBank (in the form of CoBank Equities and cash) and (iii) patronage distributions, if any, in the event of a sale of a participation interest. CoBank reserves the right to assign or sell participations in all or any part of its Commitments or outstanding Loans hereunder on a non-patronage basis. Neither the above-referenced CoBank equity nor any accrued patronage shall be offset against the Obligations except that, in the event of an Event of Default, CoBank may elect, solely at its discretion, to apply the cash portion of any patronage distribution or retirement of equity to amounts due under this Agreement.

 

(y)                                 Section 6.16 is hereby amended by replacing the reference to “Closing Date” therein with “Second Amendment Effective Date”.

 

(z)                                  Section 6.17 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Will, and will cause each of its subsidiaries to, (a) refrain from doing business in a Sanctioned Country or with a Sanctioned Person, in each case in violation of Sanctions, (b) provide, to the extent commercially reasonable, such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to assist the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act and (c) conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws

 

(aa)                          Section 7.11 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(a)                                 Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose and (b) use Credit Extensions in an aggregate amount in excess of the CP Backup Sublimit to provide liquidity for the Borrower’s commercial paper program.

 

(bb)                          Section 7.13 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(a)                                 Equity to Capitalization Ratio. Permit the Equity to Capitalization Ratio to be less than the following respective percentages as at the last day of any calendar quarter ending during the following respective periods:

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Equity to Capitalization Ratio
    	
 
    
	
2014-2015
    	
 
    	
14
    	
%
    
	
2016 and thereafter
    	
 
    	
18
    	
%
    

 

14

 

(b)                                 Debt Service Ratio. Permit the Debt Service Ratio to be less than 110% as of the last day of any calendar year; provided that if the Debt Service Coverage Ratio is less than 110%, a plan must be implemented pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Indenture.

 

(cc)                            A new Section 7.14 is hereby added to the Credit Agreement to read as follows:

 

7.14                        Sanctions. (a) Directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with such Person or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, Swing Line Lender, or otherwise) of Sanctions or (b) directly or indirectly use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

(dd)                          Section 10.02(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(b)                                 Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender, an L/C Issuer or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that for both clauses (i) and (ii), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(ee)                            Section 10.06(b)(iii)(A) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(A)                               the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, or an

 

15

 

Affiliate of a Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(ff)                              Section 10.06(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the phrase “an agent” therein with “a non-fiduciary agent”.

 

(gg)                            Section 10.06(h) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(h)                                 Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time a Lender who is an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, (i) such L/C Issuer, may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) such Swing Line Lender, may, upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided that such Lender’s consent to such appointment shall be required; and provided further that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such Lender as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If a Lender who is an L/C Issuer resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If a Lender resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the previous L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the previous L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

(hh)                          Section 10.17 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Committed Loan Notices, Swing Line Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be,

 

16

 

to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it.

 

(ii)                                  Schedules 2.01 and 5.20 to the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their entirety as set forth on Schedule 2.01 and 5.20 attached hereto.

 

(jj)                                Exhibit D to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting a new paragraph (d) as set forth below and renumbering the existing paragraph (d) as paragraph (e).

 

(d) The Debt Ratings of the Borrower, as of the date hereof, are as set forth below.

 

	
S&P
    	
 
    	
Moody’s
    	
 
    	
Fitch
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

3.                                      Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be effective upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)                                 The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or electronic copies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each dated as of the date hereof (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the date hereof) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)                                     executed counterparts of this Amendment, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

 

(ii)                                  executed counterparts of Supplement 33 to the Indenture;

 

(iii)                               executed counterparts of the Secured Note with the Trustee’s authentication certificate;

 

(iv)                              such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Amendment and the other Loan Documents or Collateral Documents;

 

(v)                                 such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming and any other jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

17

 

(vi)                              favorable opinions of (A) Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to the Borrower and (B) Kenneth V. Reif, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Borrower, each addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as to such matters concerning the Borrower and this Amendment, the Loan Documents and the Collateral Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

(vii)                           a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the most recent audited financial statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (B) that on and as of the date hereof the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis after giving effect to this Amendment, are Solvent, and (C) the current Debt Ratings;

 

(viii)                        completion of due diligence with respect to environmental matters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent;

 

(ix)                              completion of due diligence with respect to flood matters (including flood insurance) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reasonably satisfactory to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent; and

 

(x)                                 such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, any L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)                                 Any fees required to be paid on or before the date hereof, including, without limitation, any fees set forth in any related fee and mandate letters, shall have been paid.

 

(c)                                  Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced two Business Days prior to the date hereof, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent); provided that counsel to the Administrative Agent has provided its payment information to Borrower at least two Business Days prior to the date hereof.

 

(d)                                 The Administrative Agent has received (i) from the Borrower an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 and (ii) to the extent not previously delivered, from each Lender the applicable form for such Lender described in Section 3.01(e)(ii) of the Credit Agreement.

 

4.                                      Effect of the Agreement. Except as expressly provided herein, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unmodified and in full force and effect. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not be deemed (a) to be a waiver of, or consent to a modification or amendment of, any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, any future Default or Event of Default, (b) to prejudice any other right or rights which the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, or (c) to be a commitment or any other undertaking or expression of any

 

18

 

willingness to engage in any further discussion with the Borrower or any other Person with respect to any waiver, amendment, modification or other change to the Credit Agreement or the Loan Documents or any rights or remedies arising in favor of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, or any of them, under or with respect to any such documents. References in this Amendment to the Credit Agreement (and indirect references such as “hereunder”, “hereby”, “herein”, and “hereof”) and in any Loan Document to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.

 

5.                                      Representations and Warranties. By its execution hereof, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants as follows:

 

(a)                                 The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment and each Collateral Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any material Lien (except as created and imposed by the Indenture) under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation (other than the Credit Agreement) to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the material properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

(b)                                 This Amendment has been, and each other Loan Document and Collateral Document, when delivered in connection herewith, as applicable, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Amendment constitutes, and each other Loan Document and Collateral Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(c)                                  The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement, shall be true and correct (i) in all respects, with respect to the representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) in all material respects, with respect to all other representations and warranties, on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Amendment, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement, and the representations and warranties in subsection (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to clause (a) of Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

6.                                      Reaffirmations. (a) The Borrower agrees that the amendment contemplated by this Amendment shall not limit or diminish the obligations of such Person under, or release such Person from any obligations under, the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, (b) the Borrower confirms, ratifies and reaffirms its obligations under the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party, and (c) the Borrower agrees that the Credit Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

19

 

7.                              Exiting Lenders; New Lenders.

 

(a)                         Each entity executing this Amendment under the heading “Exiting Lenders”, in their capacities as Lenders under the Credit Agreement (as in effect immediately prior to this Amendment) and as defined therein (each an “Exiting Lender”), is signing this Amendment for the sole purpose of amending the Credit Agreement and assigning its Commitments and outstanding Loans to the Lenders (other than the Exiting Lenders). Upon giving effect to this Amendment, the outstanding Loans of each Exiting Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be fully assigned at par to Lenders under the Credit Agreement, the outstanding Commitments of each Exiting Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be fully assigned to Lenders under the Credit Agreement and such Exiting Lender shall not be a Lender under the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)                                 (i)                        Each entity executing this Amendment under the heading “New Lenders” (collectively, the “New Lenders” and each, a “New Lender”) hereby agrees to provide a Commitment in the amount set forth on Schedule 2.01 attached hereto and the initial Applicable Percentage of each such New Lender shall be as set forth therein.

 

(ii)                          Each New Lender (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Amendment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) of the Credit Agreement, (iii) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Amendment, and (iv) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Amendment; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

(iii)                       The Borrower agrees that, as of the date hereof, each New Lender shall (i) be a party to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) be a “Lender” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (iii) have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

(iv)                      The applicable address, facsimile number and electronic mail address of each New Lender for purposes of Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement are as set forth in such New Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire delivered by such New Lender to the Administrative Agent on or before the date hereof or to such other address, facsimile number and electronic mail address as shall be designated by such New Lender in a notice to the Administrative Agent.

 

8.                                      Amendments to Indenture. By executing this Amendment, each Lender (including any Participants) consents to the amendments to the Indenture set forth in Attachment 1 hereto, and hereby consents to a supplement to the Indenture between the Borrower and the Trustee, amending the Indenture, that embodies the amendments listed in Attachment 1. Each Lender (including any Participants) expressly acknowledges that its consent may not be withdrawn and its consent is binding upon it and any

 

20

 

successors or assigns. For purposes of Section 1.02(b), the amendments to the Indenture set forth in Attachment 1 hereto are hereby consented to in accordance with Section 10.01.

 

9.                                      Miscellaneous

 

(a)                                 Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Without limiting the general applicability of the foregoing and the terms of the other Loan Documents to this Amendment and the parties hereto, the terms of Section 10.14 and Section 10.15 of the Credit Agreement are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis.

 

(b)                                 Loan Document. This Amendment shall constitute a “Loan Document” under and as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

(c)                                  Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

(d)                                 Severability. If any provision of this Amendment is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Amendment shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

 

(e)                                  Entirety. This Amendment, the other Loan Documents and the other documents relating to the Obligations represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Loan Documents, or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.

 

(f)                                   FATCA. For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), from and after the effective date of the Amendment, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Credit Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

 

(g)                                  Breakage Fees. Each Lender (including any Exiting Lender) party hereto hereby waives any amounts that may be due under Section 3.05 of the Credit Agreement as a result of the reallocation of the Commitments pursuant to this Amendment.

 

[Signature Pages Follow.]

 

21

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	
BORROWER
    	
 
    	
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
ASSOCIATION, INC. as Borrower
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Patrick L. Bridges
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Patrick L. Bridges
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
    	
 
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
As Administrative Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Linda Lov
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Linda Lov
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant Vice President
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
LENDERS:
    	
 
    	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, an L/C Issuer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
and the Swing Line Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Michael T Letsch
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Michael T. Letsch
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
LENDERS:
    	
 
    	
COBANK, ACB,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
as Lender and an L/C Issuer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ C. Brock Taylor
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
C. Brock Taylor
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice President
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
LENDERS:
    	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Monica L Balters
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Monica L Balters
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
LENDERS:
    	
U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Paul Vastola
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Paul Vastola
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
SVP
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
EXITING LENDERS:
    	
CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Mikhail Faybusovich
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Mikhail Faybusovich
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized Signatory
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Samuel Miller
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Samuel Miller
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized Signatory
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
EXITING LENDERS:
    	
UMB BANK, N.A., fka UMB BANK COLORADO, N.A.,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Debbie A. Wright
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Debbie A. Wright
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior Vice President
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
NEW LENDERS:
    	
NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE
    
	
 
    	
FINANCE CORPORATION,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Ann Shankroff
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Ann Shankroff
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Assistant Secretary Treasurer
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
NEW LENDERS:
    	
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Paul Farrell
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Paul Farrell
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Managing Director
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
NEW LENDERS:
    	
BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Allen K. King
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Allen K. King
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
SVP
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

	
NEW LENDERS:
    	
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
    
	
 
    	
as a Lender
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Rebecca Kratz
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Rebecca Kratz
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Authorized Signatory
    

 

Signature Page

Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

 

Schedule 2.01

 

	
Lender
    	
 
    	
Commitment
    	
 
    	
Applicable
   Percentage
    	
 
    
	
CoBank, ACB
    	
 
    	
$
    	
220,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
29.333333333
    	
%
    
	
Bank of America, N.A.
    	
 
    	
$
    	
100,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
13.333333333
    	
%
    
	
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance   Corporation
    	
 
    	
$
    	
80,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
10.666666667
    	
%
    
	
U.S. Bank, National Association
    	
 
    	
$
    	
80,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
10.666666667
    	
%
    
	
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
    	
 
    	
$
    	
80,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
10.666666667
    	
%
    
	
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
    	
 
    	
$
    	
80,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
10.666666667
    	
%
    
	
Branch Banking and Trust Company
    	
 
    	
$
    	
60,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
8.000000000
    	
%
    
	
Goldman Sachs Bank USA
    	
 
    	
$
    	
50,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
6.666666667
    	
%
    
	
Total
    	
 
    	
$
    	
750,000,000.00
    	
 
    	
100.000000000
    	
%
    

 

 

Schedule 5.20

 

See attached.

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.20

Revised October 2014

 

MATERIAL AGREEMENTS AND LIENS

 

Part A — Material Agreements

 

A.            RUS Loan Agreement

 

1.              RUS — Amended and Consolidated Loan Contract dated as of March 13, 2014

 

B.            CFC Loan Agreements

 

1.              CFC — Master Loan Agreement dated as of March 14, 1997

 

2.              CFC - Loan Agreement dated as of April 10, 1992, as amended

 

3.              CFC — Loan Agreement dated as of January 10, 1989, as amended

 

4.              CFC — Revolving Line of Credit Agreement ($50,000,000 3 Year Line of Credit) effective January 26, 2010, as may be extended or renewed

 

5.              CFC — Revolving Line of Credit Agreement ($25,000,000 3 Year Line of Credit) effective February 1, 2014, as may be extended or renewed

 

C.            CoBank Loan Agreements

 

1.              CoBank Amended and Restated Master Loan Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006

 

2.              Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 6, 2012

 

3.              Unsecured Term Loan Agreement dated as of June 10, 2013

 

D.            Note Purchase Agreement

 

1.              Private Placement Holders - Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 8, 2009

 

E.             Moffat County Bonds $46.8 M Series 2009

 

1.              Moffat County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Trust Indenture dated February 1, 2009

 

2.              Moffat County Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Financing Agreement dated February 1, 2009

 

 

3.              Bank of America — Irrevocable Letter of Credit No. 3097863 effective February 4, 2009, as amended

 

F.              City of Gallup Bonds, Series 2005

 

1.              City of Gallup Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds Indenture of Trust as of July 1, 2005

 

2.              City of Gallup Revenue Refunding Bonds Amended and Restated Agreement of Sale dated July 1, 2005

 

G.            Grantor Trust

 

1.              Grantor Trust Loan Agreement dated as of February 15, 1994

 

2.              Grantor Trust Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 15, 1994

 

H.           Revolving Credit Facility

 

1.              Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 agented by Bank of America, N.A., as amended by that Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2013, as further amended by that Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2014

 

I.                Springerville Bonds

 

1.              Series A Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

2.              Series B Pass Through Trust Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

3.              Participation Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003

 

J.                2010 First Mortgage Bonds

 

1.              Purchase Agreement dated as of June 3, 2010

 

2.              Purchase Agreement dated as of October 5, 2010

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Outstanding
    	
 
    	
Committed Amount
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Balance
    	
 
    	
Available
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    
	
Liabilities
    	
 
    	
June 30, 2014
    	
 
    	
June 30, 2014
    	
 
    
	
FFB/RUS
    	
 
    	
$
    	
1,283,850
    	
 
    	
$
    	
856,895
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
CFC
    	
 
    	
106,656
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CFC Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
75,000
    	
 
    
	
CoBank
    	
 
    	
224,176
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Private Placement
    	
 
    	
245,714
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Platte County Bonds
    	
 
    	
48,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Moffat County Bonds
    	
 
    	
46,800
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
City of Gallup Bonds
    	
 
    	
21,050
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Grantor Trust
    	
 
    	
17,205
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2010 First Mortgage Bonds
    	
 
    	
499,323
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2011 Revolving Credit Facility
    	
 
    	
150,000
    	
 
    	
302,258
    	
 
    
	
Springerville Bonds
    	
 
    	
549,317
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Member Advances
    	
 
    	
14,436
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accounts Payable
    	
 
    	
109,028
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accrued Expenses
    	
 
    	
24,132
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accrued Interest
    	
 
    	
23,188
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Accrued Property Taxes
    	
 
    	
16,796
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Deferred Income Taxes
    	
 
    	
14,075
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Regulatory Liabilities
    	
 
    	
55,000
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Asset Retirement Obligations
    	
 
    	
52,679
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Intangible Liability(1)
    	
 
    	
11,239
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Other Deferred Credits
    	
 
    	
59,166
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Total
    	
 
    	
$
    	
3,571,830
    	
 
    	
$
    	
1,234,153
    	
 
    

 

(1) Coal contract below market terms with Yampa Participants.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Outstanding
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Balance
    	
 
    	
Committed Amount
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    	
Available
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
as of the Closing
    	
 
    	
($ in thousands)
    	
 
    
	
Indebtedness
    	
 
    	
Date
    	
 
    	
as of the Closing Date
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
FFB/RUS
    	
 
    	
$
    	
1,260,448
    	
 
    	
$
    	
856,844
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
CFC
    	
 
    	
102,460
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
CFC   Lines of Credit
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    	
75,000
    	
 
    
	
CoBank
    	
 
    	
221,499
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2009   Private Placement
    	
 
    	
245,714
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Moffat   County Bonds
    	
 
    	
46,800
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
City   of Gallup Bonds
    	
 
    	
16,210
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Grantor   Trust
    	
 
    	
12,930
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2010   First Mortgage Bonds
    	
 
    	
499,323
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
2011   Revolving Credit Facility
    	
 
    	
160,000
    	
 
    	
292,258
    	
 
    
	
Springerville   Bonds
    	
 
    	
548,695
    	
 
    	
0
    	
 
    
	
Total
    	
 
    	
$
    	
3,114,079
    	
 
    	
$
    	
1,224,102
    	
 
    

 

Part B - Liens

 

A.            Master Indenture & Supplements

 

1.              Master First Mortgage Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement — Amended, Restated and Effective as of December 15, 1999

 

2.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 1 dated as of June 30, 2000

 

3.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 2 dated as of June 30, 2000 and effective as of July 1, 2000

 

4.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 3 dated as of December 13, 2000 and effective as of December 19, 2000

 

5.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 4 dated as of May 15, 2001

 

6.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 5 dated effective as of November 13, 2001

 

7.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 6 dated effective as of April 22, 2002

 

8.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 7 dated effective as of October 24, 2002

 

9.              Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 8 dated effective as of December 27, 2002

 

10.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 9 effective as of July 31, 2003

 

11.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 10 effective as of March 30, 2004

 

 

12.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 11 effective as of September 16, 2004

 

13.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 12 effective as of July 12, 2005

 

14.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 13 effective as of September 27, 2005

 

15.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 14 effective as of June 8, 2006

 

16.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 15 effective as of December 7, 2006

 

17.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 16 effective as of May 4, 2007

 

18.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 17 effective as of February 4, 2009

 

19.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 18 effective as of April 8, 2009

 

20.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 19 effective as of July 30, 2009

 

21.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 20 effective as of July 30, 2009

 

22.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 21 effective as of October 8, 2009

 

23.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 22 effective as of January 5, 2010

 

24.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 23 effective as of June 8, 2010

 

25.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 24 effective as of October 8, 2010

 

26.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 26 effective as of June 13, 2011

 

27.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 27 effective as of July 29, 2011

 

28.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 28 effective as of March 15, 2012

 

29.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 29 effective as of December 6, 2012

 

30.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 30 effective as of July 3, 2013

 

31.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 31 effective as of November 20, 2013

 

32.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 32 effective as of March 13, 2014

 

33.       Supplemental Master Mortgage Indenture No. 33 effective as of October 17, 2014

 

B.            Subordinated Mortgage

 

1.              Subordinated Mortgage and Security Agreement dated as of April 15, 1992

 

 

2.              Amendment to Subordinated Mortgage and Security Agreement dated as of June 22, 2000

 

C.            Springerville Bonds (Owner Lessor)

 

1.              Indenture, Leasehold Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Fixture Filing and Security Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2003; subject to compliance at all times with Sections 7.01 and 7.03

 

 

Attachment 1

 

See attached.

 

 

ATTACHMENT 1

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE INDENTURE

 

Officers’ Certificate: The “Officers’ Certificate” definition, as defined in Section 1.01 of the Indenture, shall be modified as follows:

 

“Officers’ Certificate” shall mean a certificate signed by the President or Vice President of the Governing Body andtwo of the following individuals: the chairman and president, the vice chairman, the treasurer, the General Manager, the chief financial officer or the general counsel of the Company (or officers or representatives holding successor titles), and delivered to the Trustee in a form required or permitted under this Indenture or, if delivered pursuant to Section 4.17, substantially in the form of Exhibit “G” hereto.

 

Permitted Liens and Encumbrances: Clauses (v), (vi), (vii), (xi), (xii), (xv), (xxvii), (xxviii), and (xxix) of the “Permitted Liens and Encumbrances” definition, as defined in Section 1.01 of the Indenture, shall be modified as follows

 

(v)                                 easements, leases, licenses, reservations or similar rights of others in any property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for streets, roads, bridges, pipes, pipe lines, railroads, electric transmission and distribution lines, telegraph and telephone lines, cellular telephone transmission equipment or similar telecommunications facilities, energy development, conservation matters, remediation, the ownership, production or removal of water, oil, gas, coal or other minerals and other similar purposes, ditches, canals, flood rights, river control and developing rights, slope and grade rights, sewage and drainage rights, or rights similar in purpose to any of the foregoing, as well as restrictions against pollution and zoning laws and minor defects and irregularities in the record of evidence of title, provided that such easements, leases, reservations, rights, restrictions and laws do not materially adversely affect the title to such property and do not in the aggregate materially impair the use of such property for the purposes for which it is held or the System taken as a whole;

 

(vi)                              liens securing indebtedness neither created, assumed nor guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, nor on account of which it customarily pays interest, existing on the date of execution and delivery of this Indenture, or, as to property hereafter acquired, at the time of acquisition by such Person, upon lands over which easements or rights of way are acquired by such Person for any of the purposes specified in clause (v) of this definition, which liens do not materially impair the use of such easements or rights-of-way for the purposes for which they are held by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary in the context of the System taken as a whole; provided that such liens shall not be considered to materially impair the use of such easement or right-of-way for the purpose for which they have been held solely because such liens have not been subordinated to such easement or rights-of-way;

 

Attachment 1 to Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement

 

 

(vii)                           leases, permits or licenses for occupancy (A) existing on the date of execution and delivery of this Indenture affecting property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (B) after the effective date of this Indenture, made in the ordinary course of business for an original term and any renewal terms not exceeding five years, or (C) for grazing or other agricultural use, for exploration for or mining of minerals or leasing of water rights, or recreational leases with Governmental Authorities, or (D) leases or licenses for occupancy ofof the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s facilities for electric or telecommunications equipment and related facilities provided any such occupancy right for electric or telecommunications equipment and related facilities does not materially impair the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s use of its facilities for telecommunications equipment;

 

(xi)                              as to property owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary on the date of effectiveness of this Indenture and used or to be used for right-of-way purposes, any irregularities in or deficiencies of title to any rights-of-way for access roads, pipe lines, telephone lines, telegraph lines, power lines, transmission lines, distribution lines, telecommunications facilities, substations, energy development facilities or appurtenances thereto, or other improvements thereof; and as to any real estate acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the effective date of this Indenture and used or to be used primarily for right-of-way purposes, any of the aforesaid irregularities or deficiencies, if the Company obtainobtains title insurance with respect to such property or an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary shall have obtained from the apparent owner of the lands or estates therein covered by any such right-of-way, a sufficient right by the terms of the instrument (subject to any sovereign or Native American tribal rights) granting such right-of-way to the use thereof for the construction, operation or maintenance of the lines, appurtenances or improvements for which the same are used or are to be used, or an Opinion of Counsel that the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary has power under eminent domain, or similar statutes, to remove such irregularities or deficiencies;

 

(xii)                           rights reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or governmental or other public or private authority serving a public or community function, or any sovereign or tribal rights of Native Americans to tax, control or regulate any property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or to use such property in any manner, which rights do not materially impair the use of such property for the purposes for which it is held by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(xv)                          as to properties of other operating electric companies acquired either by the Company or by any Restricted Subsidiary as permitted by this Indenture, liens, reservations and other matters as to which such properties may be subject prior to such acquisition which are not included within the description of Permitted Liens and Encumbrances but which are approved by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Secured Obligations;

 

 

(xviii)                 any exceptions, reservations and other matters referred to in the description of the Mortgaged Property of public record on the effective date of this Indenture; and with respect to any property which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may hereafter acquire, any terms, conditions, agreements, covenants, exceptions and reservations expressed or provided in the deeds or other instruments under which the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary shall hereafter acquire the same, if the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary obtains (A) title insurance on such property, or (B) an Opinion of CounselOfficers’ Certificate to the effect that such terms, conditions, agreements, covenants, exceptions and statements will not materially impair the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s use of the property for the purpose for which it is intended or the System taken as a whole;

 

(xxvii)             any liens rising in favor of the lessor out of five separate leases relating to Craig Station Unit 3, dated September 5, 1984, and assumed by the Company as of April 15, 1992, between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York as owner trustee under five separate owner trusts, to the extent such liens are covered by the consent or partial subordination of mortgagees’ rights provisions of the Consent by Mortgagees, dated as of April 15, 1992, given by RUS, CFC and the other mortgagees named therein; Reserved;

 

(xxviii)          any lien arising in favor of the lessor under Section 18(c) or 18(f) of the Master Equipment Lease Agreement, dated February 17, 1993, between the Company and Nationsbanc Leasing Corporation, on the “Equipment” as defined in such Master Equipment Lease and in Schedule No. 1 thereto, dated as of March 30, 1993;xxviii) Reserved;

 

(xxix)                any lien arising in favor of the lessor under the Master Lease Agreement, dated as of August 1, 1984, and Supplement No. 1, dated as of August 1, 1984, between the Company, Connecticut National Bank (as trustee for the benefit of General Electric Capital Corporation), in the rail cars covered by such Master Lease Agreement; Reserved;

 

Delivery of Additional Secured Obligations: Section 2.12(e) of the Indenture is modified as follows

 

(e)          evidence thatreceipt of the purchase price or loan proceeds of the Secured Obligations has been paid to the appropriate Person byfrom the initial Holder thereof, if such fundsproceeds are to be advanced at closing;

 

Disposition of Property: Sections 4.10 and 4.10(g) of the Indenture are modified as follows:

 

 

Section 4.10                            Disposition of Property. Except as provided in this Section or as permitted by Article VIII, the Company will not convey, sell, or otherwise dispose of any of the Mortgaged PropertyTrust Estate and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to convey, sell or otherwise dispose of any of their property pledged to the Trustee, unless:

 

(g)                                  Partial Release of Lien of Indenture. Any property disposed of, sold or assigned by the Company to a third party purchaser or transferee in compliance with the provisions of subsections (a), (b) or (e) above, and so long as no default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, shall be disposed of, sold or assigned free of the lien of this Indenture. In the event the Company requests on behalf of any purchaser or transferee of property permitted to be disposed of, sold or assigned pursuant to this Section, (or a Governmental Authority has lawfully ordered the Company to divest itself of any property) a written release of the lien of this Indenture on an asset, the Trustee shall execute a recordable release of such property prepared by the Company and deliver it to the Company upon receipt of a Company Order requesting such release and an Officers’ Certificate (and any other documentation required by subsections (a), (b) or (e) above if such release is pursuant to subsections (a), (b) or (e)), and stating that the provisions of this Section, Section 4.01 and the relevant subsection in clauses in subsections (a), (b) or (e) if such release is pursuant to subsections (a), (b) or (e) have been complied with; and that no default or Event of Default would exist hereunder. If the Company requests the Trustee to deliver a release of or estoppel as to any property which is not subject to the lien of this Indenture (including but not limited to Excepted Property or Excluded Property) or a disclaimer or quitclaim for any property, the Company shall also deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that such property is not subject to the lien hereof or required to be subject hereto by any of the provisions hereof or that the release, disclaimer, estoppel or quitclaim is required by such governmental authority or applicable court, and that the execution of such disclaimer, estoppel or quitclaim is appropriate. The Trustee shall promptly deliver the release or estoppel requested or its basis for refusing to do so in writing.

 

Lien Prohibition: Section 4.14 of the Indenture is modified as follows

 

Section 4.14                            Permitted Liens and Encumbrances. The Company shall not, and it shall not allow any Restricted Subsidiary to, grant, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist, be granted, created, assumed, incurred or to extend any lien or encumbrance on the Mortgaged PropertyTrust Estate or any property of the Restricted Subsidiary pledged to the Trustee hereunder except Permitted Liens and Encumbrances.

 

Restricted Group: Section 4.17(b) of the Indenture is modified as follows

 

Section 4.17                            The Restricted Group.

 

(b)                                 Prior to the Company incurring Debt for the benefit of a Restricted Subsidiary or conveying or transferring property constituting part of the Trust Estate to a Restricted Subsidiary, such Restricted Subsidiary shall grant to the Trustee (i) a perfected mortgage

 

 

lien and/or security interest in substantially all of its real and personal property which is similar in nature to the Mortgaged PropertyTrust Estate under this Indenture subject to permitted liens and encumbrances similar to the Permitted Liens and Encumbrances and Excepted Property and Excluded Property as defined in this Indenture and including a lockbox account or revenue fund similar to that described in Section 6.03 of this Indenture, and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel that such instruments create a perfected lien on the mortgaged property of the Restricted Subsidiary subject only to such permitted liens and encumbrances. Such instruments shall contain covenants to maintain the lien on the property owned or acquired by the Restricted Subsidiary and shall secure repayment by the Restricted Subsidiary of any Debt or obligations incurred by the Company for the benefit of such Restricted Subsidiary. The Company shall cause the Restricted Subsidiary to perform and comply with each of the covenants, agreements, obligations and warranties of the Restricted Subsidiary contained in such instruments.(1)

 

Application of Money Collected: Section 6.07(b) of the Indenture is modified as follows:

 

(b)                                 Second: To the payment of the whole amount then due and unpaid upon the Outstanding Secured Obligations, for principal, premium, if any, and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee or a sum sufficient therefor has been so collected and payment thereof is legally enforceable at the respective rate or rates prescribed therefor in Secured Obligations) of the several series on overdue principal and premium, if any, and on overdue installments of interest; and in case such proceeds shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon such Secured Obligations, then to the payment of such principal, premium, if any, and interest, without any preference or priority, ratably according to the aggregate amount so due (except that any money collected by the Trustee in respect of interest or income under Section 6.03 shall first be applied to the payment of interest so due);

 

Maximum Debt Limit: Section 9.01 of the Indenture is amended by deleting “.” at the end of clause (l) and replacing it with “; and” and by adding an additional clause (m) which shall read as follows

 

(m)                             to amend Section 2.01, the New Mexico Rider, and any other riders to increase or decrease the maximum aggregate principal amount of Debt which may be secured, authenticated, delivered and Outstanding at any time hereunder, provided any such decrease shall in no event result in the maximum aggregate principal amount of Debt which may be secured, authenticated, delivered and Outstanding at any time hereunder to be less than 110% of all the Secured Obligations secured, authenticated, delivered and Outstanding hereunder at the time of such decrease.

 

(1) Last sentence added pursuant to Supplement No. 20, dated effective as of July 30, 2009Exhibit 10.10

 

TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.

 

DIRECTORS’ ELECTIVE DEFERRED FEES PLAN

 

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005

 

 

TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.

 

DIRECTORS’ ELECTIVE DEFERRED FEES PLAN

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I   — PURPOSE AND INTENT
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 1.1
    	
PURPOSE   OF PLAN
    	
1
    
	
SECTION 1.2
    	
INTENT   AND CONSTRUCTION
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II   - DEFINITIONS
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 2.1
    	
DEFINITIONS
    	
2
    
	
SECTION 2.2
    	
INTERPRETATION   OF PLAN
    	
3
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III   — ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 3.1
    	
ELIGIBILITY
    	
4
    
	
SECTION 3.2
    	
PARTICIPATION
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV   — DEFERRED FEES
    	
4
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 4.1
    	
DEFERRED   FEES ACCOUNT
    	
4
    
	
SECTION 4.2
    	
DEFERRAL   ELECTIONS
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V   — VALUATION OF ACCOUNT
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 5.1
    	
ADJUSTMENT   OF ACCOUNT
    	
6
    
	
SECTION 5.2
    	
VALUE   OF ACCOUNT
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI   - VESTING
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 6.1
    	
VESTED   BENEFIT
    	
7
    
	
SECTION 6.2
    	
BENEFIT   AMOUNT
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII   — DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 7.1
    	
DISTRIBUTABLE   EVENTS
    	
7
    
	
SECTION 7.2
    	
DISTRIBUTION   OF BENEFITS
    	
8
    
	
SECTION 7.3
    	
DESIGNATION   OF BENEFICIARIES
    	
10
    
	
SECTION 7.4
    	
DEATH   PRIOR TO FULL DISTRIBUTION
    	
12
    
	
SECTION 7.5
    	
INCOMPETENT   PARTICIPANTS
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII   - NONTRANSFERABILITY
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 8.1
    	
ANTI-ALIENATION   OF BENEFITS
    	
12
    
	
SECTION 8.2
    	
LIMITATION   ON PAYMENT
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX   - WITHHOLDING
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 9.1
    	
DETERMINATION   OF TAX WITHHOLDING
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 9.2
    	
WITHHOLDING
    	
13
    

 

i

 

	
ARTICLE X   — ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 10.1
    	
ADMINISTRATOR
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 10.2
    	
AUTHORITY   OF ADMINISTRATOR
    	
13
    
	
SECTION 10.3
    	
OPERATION   OF PLAN AND CLAIMS PROCEDURES
    	
14
    
	
SECTION 10.4
    	
PARTICIPANT’S   ADDRESS
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 10.5
    	
CONFLICT   OF INTEREST
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 10.6
    	
SERVICE   OF PROCESS
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 10.7
    	
ERRORS   IN COMPUTATIONS
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XI   — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 11.1
    	
NO   EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 11.2
    	
PARTICIPANTS   SHOULD CONSULT ADVISORS
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 11.3
    	
UNFUNDED   AND UNSECURED
    	
17
    
	
SECTION 11.4
    	
THE   TRUST
    	
18
    
	
SECTION 11.5
    	
PLAN   PROVISIONS
    	
18
    
	
SECTION 11.6
    	
SEVERABILITY
    	
18
    
	
SECTION 11.7
    	
APPLICABLE   LAW
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XII   - AMENDMENTS
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 12.1
    	
AMENDMENT   OF THE PLAN
    	
18
    
	
SECTION 12.2
    	
PROCEDURE   FOR AMENDMENT
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XIII   — TERM OF PLAN
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
SECTION 13.1
    	
TERMINATION   OF THE PLAN
    	
19
    
	
SECTION 13.2
    	
PROCEDURE   FOR AMENDMENT TO TERMINATE THE PLAN
    	
20
    

 

ii

 

TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.

 

DIRECTORS’ ELECTIVE DEFERRED FEES PLAN

 

ARTICLE I

 

PURPOSE AND INTENT

 

Section 1.1            Purpose of Plan. Effective as of July 1, 1993, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., a taxable cooperative association under the Internal Revenue Code, established a deferred fees plan for the purpose of providing benefits for members of the Board of Directors of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., known as the “Directors’ Elective Deferred Fees Plan,” to provide a financial incentive to encourage loyalty and service to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. and to provide for supplemental retirement benefits for members of the Board of Directors of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. Pursuant to Section 8 of the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. Directors’ Elective Deferred Fees Plan and the terms of the plan and the authority and power of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., effective as of January 1, 2005, this document is intended to constitute an amendment in the form of a restatement of the plan document previously in effect, and shall supersede the provisions of the plan document in effect prior to this plan document.

 

Section 1.2            Intent and Construction. Section 409A was added to the Internal Revenue Code by section 885 of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Public Law 108-357, effective January 1, 2005, and generally provides that unless certain requirements are met, amounts deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for all taxable years are currently includable in income to the extent not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and not previously included in gross income. The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. Directors’ Elective Deferred Fees Plan, as amended and restated, is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the final regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the application of section 409A on April 17, 2007, and to be an unfunded and unsecured plan maintained by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. primarily for the purpose of providing deferred fees for a select group of high-ranking management personnel in accordance with section 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The plan document is further intended to be construed and administered in conformance with the applicable requirements of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury with respect to the application of section 409A, and to be maintained by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. pursuant to this written document for the purpose of providing deferred fees for the participants in the plan. This document shall be administered and construed in a manner consistent with that intent and according to the laws of the State of Colorado to the extent that such laws are not preempted by the laws of the United States of America.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 2.1            Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 2.1 are used in this document with the meanings respectively ascribed to them unless the context indicates that other meanings are intended.

 

(a)                                 Beneficiary. ‘‘Beneficiary” means the person, persons, or trust designated by a Participant, or automatically by operation of the Plan, to receive any benefits which may become payable under this Plan by reason of the death of the Participant.

 

(b)                                 Board of Directors. “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

 

(c)                                  Code. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any amendments thereto, and any regulations or rulings issued thereunder.

 

(d)                                 Deferred Fees Account. “Deferred Fees Account” means the separate bookkeeping account established and maintained as a record for a Participant representing the separate unfunded and unsecured general obligation of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. with respect to the Participant under the Plan to which are credited amounts deferred by a Participant under the Plan. The Deferred Fees Account shall not hold or be required to hold any actual funds or assets.

 

(e)                                  Disability. “Disability” means, with respect to a Participant, the Participant is: (i) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months; (ii)by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of Tri-State; or (iii) determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

(f)                                   Effective Date. “Effective Date” means January 1, 2005.

 

(g)                                  ERISA. “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, any amendments thereto, and any regulations or rulings issued thereunder.

 

(h)                                 Fees. “Fees” means, for a Participant, for any period during the performance of services by the Participant as a member of the Board of Directors the sum of the remuneration paid to the Participant for the services performed as a member of the Board of Directors.

 

2

 

(i)                                     Participant. “Participant” means an individual who has satisfied the eligibility requirements and participation requirements of Article III of the Plan and is determined to be a Participant in the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Article III of the Plan.

 

(j)                                    Plan. “Plan” means the “Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. Directors’ Elective Deferred Fees Plan/’ which is intended to be a nonqualified unfunded deferred fees plan maintained by Tri-State for the benefit of a select group of high-ranking management personnel, originally effective as of July 1, 1993, and amended in the form of a restatement by this Plan document.

 

(k)                                 Plan Year. “Plan Year” means the twelve (12) consecutive month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

 

(l)                                     Tri-State. “Tri-State” means Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. a taxable cooperative association under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

(m)                             Trust. “Trust” means a Trust that may be established by Tri-State to which amounts shall be contributed to provide Tri-State with a source of funds for purposes of satisfying the obligations of Tri-State under the Plan. The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which Tri-State is the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Code, and shall be construed accordingly. The Trust shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan. Participants and Beneficiaries shall have no beneficial ownership interest in any assets held in the Trust.

 

(n)                                 Trustee. “Trustee” means the corporation or person or persons selected by Tri-State to serve as the Trustee of the Trust.

 

(o)                                 Valuation Date. “Valuation Date” means each business day during the Plan Year during which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

 

(p)                                 Vested. “Vested” means, for purposes of determining the benefit that may be payable to or on behalf of a Participant under the Plan, an interest in the benefit described under the Plan which may be payable to or on behalf of the Participant pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Plan document.

 

Section 2.2            Interpretation of Plan. An individual shall be considered to have attained a given age on the individual’s birthday for that age (and not on the day before). The birthday of any individual born on a February 29 shall be deemed to be February 28 in any year that is not a leap year. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any election or designation made under the Plan, any individual who feloniously and intentionally kills the Participant or Beneficiary shall be deemed for all purposes of this Plan and all elections and designations made under this Plan to have died before the Participant or Beneficiary. A final judgment of conviction of felonious and intentional killing is conclusive for the purposes of this Section 2.2. In the absence of a conviction of felonious and intentional killing, the Company shall determine whether the killing was felonious and intentional for the purposes of this Section 2.2. Whenever appropriate, words used herein in the singular may be read in the plural, or words used herein in

 

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the plural may be read in the singular; the masculine may include the feminine and the feminine may include the masculine; and the words “hereof,” “herein” or “hereunder” or other similar compounds of the word “here” shall mean and refer to this entire Plan and not to any particular paragraph or section of this Plan unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. The titles given to the various sections of this Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not part of this Plan, and they shall not be considered in determining the purpose, meaning or intent of any provision hereof. Any reference in this Plan to a statute or regulation shall be considered also to mean and refer to any subsequent amendment or replacement of that statute or regulation. This document has been executed and delivered in the State of Colorado and has been drawn in conformity to the laws of the State of Colorado and shall, except to the extent that federal law is controlling, be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.

 

ARTICLE III

 

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

Section 3.1            Eligibility. Eligibility to participate in the Plan shall be limited and selective, only the high-ranking, management level personnel of Tri-State shall be eligible to participate. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during the period when such individual actively serves as a member of the Board of Directors. Eligibility shall be determined by Tri-State and such determination shall be conclusive, binding and final upon all parties in interest.

 

Section 3.2            Participation. An individual who serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Tri-State and is determined to be eligible to participate in the Plan by Tri-State pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Plan shall become a Participant in the Plan as soon as administratively feasible following the date on which the individual properly elects to participate in the Plan by completing and executing an enrollment form provided to such individual by Tri-State to defer Fees payable for services performed as a member of the Board of Directors and submitting such completed form to Tri-State. Once an individual becomes a Participant in the Plan, the individual shall remain a Participant until the benefits which may be payable to the individual under the Plan have been paid to or on behalf of the individual.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

DEFERRED FEES

 

Section 4.1            Deferred Fees. Tri-State has established and has maintained an unfunded and unsecured, bookkeeping account known as the “Deferred Fees Account,” in the name of each Participant to which are credited amounts determined in accordance with this Article IV. Subject to the conditions and restrictions imposed under the Plan, a Participant may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of Fees to the extent that the Participant is or may be entitled to receive such Fees and the total amount deferred by a Participant shall be limited in any Plan Year, if necessary, to satisfy any applicable federal, state or local income taxes or withholding requirements. For each Plan Year, subject to the limitations of this Section 4.1, a Participant may elect to defer all or any portion of the Fees payable to the Participant. Upon such deferral, the Participant shall have no further right to such deferred Fees other than as provided under the

 

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Plan. Such deferred Fees shall be the record of value of such deferred amounts credited to the Deferred Fees Account.

 

Section 4.2            Deferral Elections. Fees for services performed by a Participant during a calendar year may be deferred at the election of the Participant and credited to the Deferred Fees Account of the Participant only if the election is made pursuant to the rules and requirements of this Section 4.2.

 

(a)                                 The general rule with respect to Fees: except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subsection (c) of this Section 4.2 and subject to the limitations of Section 4.1 of the Plan, Fees for services performed by a Participant during a calendar year may be deferred at the election of the Participant only if the election to defer such Fees is made and becomes irrevocable not later than the last day of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year during which services are to be performed. A valid election to defer an amount of Fees for any calendar year shall remain in effect for subsequent calendar years unless:

 

(i)                                     the election is modified or terminated by a valid election made by the Participant, which must be made as of the last day of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year during which services are to be performed for which such modification or termination of an election is to apply; or

 

(ii)                                  the election is terminated for any calendar year by reason of a distribution of benefits pursuant to: (i) subsection (a) of Section 7.1, and the “separation from service” with Tri-State as the term “separation from service” is defined and determined under section 1.409A-l(h) and in accordance with section 1.409A-3(i)(2) of the Treasury Regulations, or (ii) subsection (c) of Section 7.1, and the termination of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 The amount deferred under subsection (a) shall be determined either as a percentage of Fees (expressed in whole percent increments) or as a specified flat dollar amount. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section 4.2, Fees earned by a Participant during a calendar year may be deferred at the election of the Participant only if the election to defer such Fees is made (or is in effect) during the preceding calendar year. Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.2, such a deferral election is irrevocable for the service period for which it is made (or in effect) and must be made in the form and manner prescribed by the Tri- State. The period of deferral and form of distribution shall be determined in accordance with the elections made under subsection (a) and in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  The rule to apply with respect to the first year of eligibility: in the case of the first Plan Year in which an individual becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, with the determination of eligibility made under Article III of the Plan based upon the date on which the information relevant to the individual is properly recorded on the administrative records or files of the recordkeeper and Tri-State, the individual may make an initial deferral election regarding Fees within thirty (30) days after

 

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the date the individual becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, with respect to Fees payable for services to be performed subsequent to the election.

 

ARTICLE V

 

VALUATION OF ACCOUNT

 

Section 5.1            Adjustment of Account. The amounts credited to the unfunded and unsecured, bookkeeping Deferred Fees Account of a Participant shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date for which the value of the Deferred Fees Account is required to-be determined and at least as of the end of the last business day (a day during which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading) of each calendar month.

 

Section 5.2            Value of Account. As of the Valuation Date for which the current value is determined (the “current Valuation Date”), for the purposes of providing the basis on which earnings or losses may be attributed or credited to the Deferred Fees Account of a Participant under the Plan, the value of any amounts credited to the Deferred Fees Account of a Participant determined as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date (the “previous Account value”) for which the value was determined shall be increased or decreased by the adjustments described below in the sequence so described.

 

(a)                                 The value shall be increased by the amounts credited to the Deferred Fees Account, if any, pursuant to Article IV of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 The value (as determined in subsection (a)) shall be adjusted based upon the investment experience of assets of the Trust or otherwise separately accounted for and held in investment vehicles or funds pursuant to which assets may be invested and earnings or losses determined to provide the basis on which earnings and losses may be attributed or allocated to the Deferred Fees Account of a Participant in the Plan. The investment vehicles or funds available shall be determined by Tri-State. However, if permitted by Tri-State and in accordance with the terms and conditions established by Tri-State, for the purpose of providing the basis on which earnings and losses may be attributed or allocated to the Deferred Fees Account of a Participant in the Plan, the Participant may designate investment vehicles or funds to be used for purposes of measuring the value of the amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account of the Participant. If so permitted by Tri-State, Tri-State shall determine the investment vehicles or funds to be made available and the manner in which the designation of an investment vehicle or fund shall be made, and shall require the completion of an allocation request form made available to the Participant by Tri-State to effect such designation. If a Participant designates an investment vehicle or fund pursuant to this subsection (b), the Participant may change an investment designation at least once a month, and more frequently as permitted by Tri-State, and an investment designation once made shall remain in effect until changed by an effective designation of another investment vehicle or fund. Any expense, fee or charge incurred in connection with an investment designation made by a Participant shall be charged against the account of the Participant unless Tri-State elects to pay such expense, fee or charge. Neither Tri-State nor any Trustee shall be obligated or required to

 

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make actual investments in an investment vehicle or fund. The account or accounts established pursuant to this Section 5.2 shall be maintained for bookkeeping purposes only and shall not represent any actual investment made by Tri-State or any Trust; the Participant shall at all times remain an unsecured creditor of Tri-State.

 

(c)                                  The value (as adjusted above) shall be reduced by the amount distributed to or with respect to the Participant from such Deferred Fees Account.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

VESTING

 

Section 6.1            Vested Benefit. A Participant shall at all times be considered to be one hundred percent (100%) Vested with respect to the amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account established and maintained for the benefit of the Participant under the Plan.

 

Section 6.2            Benefit Amount. The benefit payable to or on behalf of a Participant pursuant to the terms of the Plan shall be the Vested interest of the Participant in the amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account established and maintained for the Participant under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

 

Section 7.1            Distributable Events. The amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account of a Participant may be distributed only on account of one or more of the distributable events specified in this Section 7.1. In the event the Participant becomes eligible to receive a benefit under the Plan, then, except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.1 of the Plan and Section 7.2 of the Plan, the amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account of the Participant shall be distributable as of the date on which occurs the later of the dates specified in subsections (a) or (b) of this Section 7.1 or, notwithstanding the dates specified in subsections (a) or (b) of this Section 7.1, if earlier, the date determined in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section 7.1:

 

(a)                                 the date on which occurs the July 1 of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which occurs the date on which the Participant has a “separation from service” with Tri-State, as the term “separation from service” is defined and determined under section 1.409A-l(h) and in accordance with section 1.409A-3(i)(2) of the Treasury Regulations, and permanently ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors of Tri-State for any reason, including death or Disability;

 

(b)                                 the date or the commencement date of a fixed schedule specified by the Participant in accordance with an election made by the Participant, which date must be specified by the Participant pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 7.2;

 

(c)                                  the date determined pursuant to Article XIII based upon the termination of the Plan.

 

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Section 7.2            Distribution of Benefits. Any benefit payable to or on behalf of a Participant under the Plan shall be payable in accordance with this Section 7.2. An election by a Participant of the form of distribution in which the benefit payable to the Participant shall be payable may be made by the Participant on an election form provided to the Participant by Tri-State, which form must be completed and executed by the Participant and properly submitted to Tri-State to be valid and effective.

 

(a)                                 Except in the event of an election by a Participant to the contrary and as otherwise provided in Article XIII in the event of the termination of the Plan pursuant to Article XIII, the benefit attributable to an amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account of the Participant shall be payable in the form of a lump sum payment to the Participant with the payment to be made as of the July 1 of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which occurs the date on which distribution is to be made pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 7.1;

 

(b)                                 Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.2, and as otherwise provided in Article XIII in the event of the termination of the Plan pursuant to Article XIII, a Participant may elect a specified form of distribution and a specified time or fixed schedule for the distribution of an amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account under the Plan; provided, however, that the amount is payable at a date or dates that are nondiscretionary and objectively determinable. For purposes of this subsection (b), the following requirements shall apply:

 

(i)                                     if the form of distribution elected by a Participant is in the form of a lump sum payment, the payment must be made as of the later of: (A) the date selected by the Participant on the form provided to the Participant by Tri-State (if a date has been selected), or (B) as of the July 1 of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which occurs the date on which the Participant has a “separation from service” with Tri-State as the term “separation from service” is defined and determined under section 1.409A-l(h) and in accordance with section 1.409A-3(i)(2) of the Treasury Regulations, and permanently ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors of Tri-State for any reason including death or Disability;

 

(ii)                                  if the distribution election for a benefit payment is in the form of periodic payments, the periodic payments must be for substantially equal annual installment payments over a period not to exceed ten (10) annual installment payments with the payments to commence as of the later of: (A) the date selected by the Participant on the form provided to the Participant by Tri-State (if a date has been selected), or (B) as of the July 1 of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which occurs the date on which the Participant has a “separation from service” with Tri-State as the term “separation from service” is defined and determined under section 1.409A-l (h) and in accordance with section 1.409A-3(i)(2) of the Treasury Regulations, and permanently ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors of Tri-State for any reason including death or Disability;

 

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(iii)                               if annual installment payments are to be made, each such payment will be determined based upon the adjustments made with respect to the Deferred Fees Account pursuant to Article V and the balance remaining credited to the Deferred Fees Account, and the amount of each payment determined by multiplying: (A) the balance of the amount payable to or on behalf of the Participant under the Plan, and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be one (1), and the denominator of which shall be the number of payments remaining, including the payment to be made based upon this calculation;

 

(iv)                              the Participant may elect to change the timing of distribution or change the form of distribution subject to certain requirements; this subsequent election shall be made in conformance with section 409A of the Code and the final regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the application of section 409A; a subsequent election to delay the timing of distribution or to change the form of distribution shall be effective only if the following conditions are met:

 

(A)                                       an election related to a distribution to be made upon a specified time or pursuant to a fixed schedule may not be made less than twelve (12) months before the date of the first scheduled payment,

 

(B)                                       the election shall not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made, and

 

(C)                                       except in the case of elections relating to distributions on account of death or Disability, the additional deferral with respect to which such election is made is for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, pursuant to Notice 2005-1, Q&A-19(c), and Notice 2006-79 issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service and Part XI, Transition Relief, of the preamble to the proposed regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the application of section 409A of the Code, and section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iv) of the Treasury Regulations, new payment elections shall be permitted under the Plan without violating the subsequent deferral and anti-acceleration rules of section 409A of the Code. Accordingly, new payment elections may be made under the Plan on or before December 31, 2008, with respect to both the timing and form of payment of amounts deferred under the Plan and the elections will not be treated as a change in the timing or form of payment under section 409A(a)(4) of the Code or an acceleration of a payment under section 409A(a)(3) of the Code, provided that the elections are made on or before December 31, 2008. With respect to an election to change a time and form of payment made on or after January 1, 2008, and on or before December 31, 2008, the election may apply only to amounts that would not otherwise be payable in 2008 and may not cause an amount to be paid in 2008

 

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that would not otherwise be payable in 2008. No election will be valid and effective if made in violation of this subsection (c).

 

(d)                                 Except in the event of an election by the Participant to the contrary, if the Participant dies prior to the completion of the payment of the entire deferred compensation benefit payable under the Plan, the payment or remaining payments shall continue to be made to the designated Beneficiary of the Participant in the same form and manner as determined under the Plan without acceleration.

 

(e)                                  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, in accordance with section 1.409A-3 of the Treasury Regulations, if the entire value of the amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account of the Participant under the Plan as of the date on which occurs a distributable event in accordance with Section 7.1 is five thousand dollars ($5,000) or less, then, notwithstanding any election made by the Participant or Beneficiary of the Participant as to a time or form of payment, the amount credited to the Deferred Fees Account shall automatically be distributed to the Participant or the Beneficiary of the Participant in the form of a lump sum cash payment as of the date determined under Section 7.1 of the Plan.

 

(f)                                   Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, once the distribution of amounts payable to the Participant or the Beneficiary of the Participant under the Plan has been made or commenced pursuant to this Section 7.2, then, except as provided in Article XIII, the form and manner of the distribution shall not be modified, altered, or revoked by the Participant or the Beneficiary of the Participant for any reason including the reemployment of the Participant.

 

Section 7.3            Designation of Beneficiaries. The designation of the Beneficiary of a Participant shall be made pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements of this Section 7.3.

 

(a)                                 Each Participant may designate, upon forms to be furnished by and filed with Tri-State, one or more primary Beneficiaries or alternative Beneficiaries to receive all or a specified portion of any benefits which may be payable with respect to the Participant under the Plan in the event of the death of the Participant. The Participant may change or revoke any such designation from time to time without notice to or consent from any Beneficiary. No such designation, change or revocation shall be effective unless executed by the Participant and received and accepted by Tri-State during the lifetime of the Participant.

 

(b)                                 If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary, designates a Beneficiary and thereafter revokes such designation without naming another Beneficiary, or designates one or more Beneficiaries and all such Beneficiaries so designated fail to survive the Participant, the benefits which may be payable with respect to the Participant under the Plan, or the part thereof as to which the designation of the Participant fails, as the case may be, shall be payable to the first class of the following classes of automatic Beneficiaries with a member surviving the Participant and (except in the case of surviving issue) in equal shares if there is more than one member in such class surviving the Participant:

 

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(i)           the surviving spouse of the Participant,

 

(ii)          the surviving issue of the Participant per stirpes and not per capita,

 

(iii)         the surviving parents of the Participant,

 

(iv)         the surviving brothers and sisters of the Participant,

 

(v)          representative of the estate of the Participant.

 

(c)                                  When used herein and, unless the Participant has otherwise specified in the Participant’s Beneficiary designation, when used in a Beneficiary designation, “issue” means all persons who are lineal descendants of the person whose issue are referred to, including legally adopted descendants and their descendants but not including illegitimate descendants and their descendants; “child” means an issue of the first generation; “per stirpes” means in equal shares among living children of the person whose issue are referred to and the issue (taken collectively) of each deceased child of such person, with such issue taking by right of representation of such deceased child; and “survive” and “surviving” mean living after the death of the Participant.

 

(d)                                 Unless the Participant has otherwise specified in the Beneficiary designation of the Participant, the following rules shall apply:

 

(i)                                     if there is not sufficient evidence that a Beneficiary was living at the time of the death of the Participant, it shall be deemed that the Beneficiary was not living at the time of the death of the Participant.

 

(ii)                                  the automatic Beneficiaries specified in subsection (b) of this Section 7.3 and the Beneficiaries designated by the Participant shall become fixed at the time of the death of the Participant so that, if a Beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before the receipt of all payments due such Beneficiary hereunder, such remaining payments shall be payable to the representative of the estate of the Beneficiary.

 

(iii)                               if the Participant designates as a Beneficiary the person who is the Participant’s spouse on the date of the designation, either by name or by relationship, or both, the dissolution, annulment or other legal termination of the marriage between the Participant and such person shall automatically revoke such designation. (The foregoing shall not prevent the Participant from designating a former spouse as a Beneficiary on a form executed by the Participant and received by Tri-State after the date of the legal termination of the marriage between the Participant and such former spouse, and during the lifetime of the Participant.)

 

(iv)                              any designation of a nonspouse Beneficiary by name that is accompanied by a description of relationship to the Participant shall be given effect

 

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without regard to whether the relationship to the Participant exists either then or at the death of the Participant.

 

(v)                                 any designation of a Beneficiary only by statement of relationship to the Participant shall be effective only to designate the person or persons standing in such relationship to the Participant at the death of the Participant.

 

(e)                                  A Beneficiary designation is permanently void if it either is executed or is filed by a Participant who, at the time of such execution or filing, is then a minor under the law of the state of the legal residence of the Participant. Tri-State shall be the sole judge of the content, interpretation and validity of a purported Beneficiary designation.

 

(f)                                   Prior to the death of the Participant, no spouse or surviving spouse of a Participant and no person designated to be a Beneficiary shall have any rights or interest in the benefits credited under this Plan including, but not limited to, the right to be the sole Beneficiary or to consent to the designation of Beneficiaries (or the changing of designated Beneficiaries) by the Participant.

 

Section 7.4            Death Prior to Full Distribution. If, at the death of the Participant, any payment to the Participant was due or otherwise distributable but not actually paid, the amount of such payment shall be included in the account or accounts which are payable to the Beneficiary (and shall not be paid to the Participant’s estate).

 

Section 7.5            Incompetent Participants. If any person who may be eligible to receive a payment under the Plan has been legally declared incompetent and a conservator or other person legally charged with the care of such person or of his or her estate has been appointed, any payment under the Plan to which the person is eligible to receive shall be paid to such conservator or other person legally charged with the care of the person or his or her estate. Any such payment shall be a payment for the account of such person and a complete discharge of any liability of the Participating Employers and the Plan therefor.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

NONTRANSFERABILITY

 

Section 8.1            Anti-Alienation of Benefits. Any amount which may be credited to the Deferred Fees Account of a Participant under the Plan, and any rights or privileges pertaining thereto, may not be anticipated, alienated, sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, encumbered, or subjected to any charge or legal process; and no interest or right to receive an amount may be taken, either voluntarily or involuntarily, for the satisfaction of the debts of, or other obligations or claims against, such person or entity, including claims for alimony, support, separate maintenance and claims in bankruptcy proceedings.

 

Section 8.2            Limitation on Payment. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the payment of a benefit payable under the Plan to a Participant or Beneficiary may be deferred or limited in order to comply with applicable securities laws, tax laws, judicial

 

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determinations or orders, bank covenants, or any other applicable law as permitted or required under section 409A of the Code and the final regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the application of section 409A.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

WITHHOLDING

 

Section 9.1                                   Determination of Tax Withholding. Tri-State shall have the authority, duty and power to determine, withhold and report the amount of any applicable federal, state, or local taxes as required under applicable law and satisfy any applicable withholding requirements.

 

Section 9.2                                   Withholding. The amounts payable pursuant to the Plan shall be reduced by the amount of any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld pursuant to the applicable law with respect to such payments.

 

ARTICLE X

 

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

Section 10.1                          Administrator. The administrator of the Plan shall be the Board of Directors. Any individual to whom administrative authority has been delegated who is a Participant shall not vote or act on any matter relating solely to himself or herself. When making a determination or calculation, Tri-State shall be entitled to rely on information furnished by a Participant, Beneficiary, or any other interested party. The Board of Directors shall have the discretion and authority to:

 

(a)                                 make, amend, interpret, and enforce all appropriate laws, rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan;

 

(b)                                 establish such rules, applicable to all Participants similarly situated, as are deemed necessary to carry out the terms of the Plan;

 

(c)                                  perform all other acts reasonably necessary for administering the Plan and carrying out the provisions of the Plan;

 

(d)                                 resolve all questions of administration of the Plan not specifically referred to in this Article X;

 

(e)                                  to the extent appropriate, delegate or redelegate to one or more persons, jointly or severally, and whether or not such person or persons are members of a committee or employees of Tri-State, such functions assigned to Tn-State hereunder as it may from time to time deem advisable or appropriate; and

 

(f)                                   decide or resolve any and all questions including interpretations of the Plan, as may arise in connection with the Plan.

 

Section 10.2       Authority of Administrator. The Board of Directors of Tri-State shall have the authority, duty and power to interpret and construe the provisions of the Plan as it

 

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deems appropriate, to adopt, establish and revise rules, procedures and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the conditions subject to which any amount may be payable, to resolve all factual and legal questions concerning the status and rights of the Participants and others under the Plan, including, but not limited to, eligibility for benefits and to make any other determinations which it believes necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Benefits under this Plan will be payable only if the Board of Directors decides in its discretion that the applicant is entitled to them under the Plan. The Board of Directors shall have the duty and responsibility of maintaining records, making the requisite calculations and disbursing payments hereunder. The determinations, interpretations, calculations, and regulations of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding on all persons and parties concerned. The authority, duty and power of the Board of Directors as provided herein may, to the extent advisable or appropriate, be delegated or redelegated to one or more persons, jointly or severally, whether or not such person or persons are employees of Tri-State.

 

Section 10.3                   Operation of Plan and Claims Procedures. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions thereof. Tri-State shall be responsible for the expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for determining eligibility for payments and the amounts payable pursuant to the Plan. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon all tables, valuations, certificates, opinions and reports furnished by any actuary, accountant, controller, counsel or other person employed or engaged by the Board of Directors with respect to the Plan. The procedures for filing claims for payments under the Plan are described below. For claims procedures purposes, the “Claims Manager” shall be the Board of Directors.

 

(a)                                 Claims Forms. It is the intent of Tri-State that benefits payable under the Plan shall be payable without the Participant having to complete or submit any claims forms. However, a Participant who believes he or she is entitled to a payment under the Plan may submit a claim for payments in writing to the Board of Directors. Any claim for payments under the Plan must be made by the Participant or his or her beneficiary in writing and state the claimant’s name and the nature of benefits payable under the Plan on a form acceptable to the Board of Directors. If for any reason a claim for payments under the Plan is denied by the Board of Directors, the Claims Manager shall deliver to the claimant a written explanation setting forth the specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based, a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and information on the procedures to be followed by the claimant in obtaining a review of his or her claim, all written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. For this purpose:

 

(i)                                     the claimant’s claim shall be deemed to be filed when presented in writing to the Claims Manager;

 

(ii)                                  the Claims Manager’s explanation shall be in writing delivered to the claimant within ninety (90) days of the date the claim is filed.

 

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(b)                                 Review. The claimant shall have sixty (60) days (expanded to one hundred and eighty (180) days in the case of a Disability claim) following his or her receipt of the denial of the claim to file with the Claims Manager a written request for review of the denial. For such review, the claimant or the claimant’s representative may review pertinent documents and submit written issues and comments.

 

(c)                                  Decision on Review. The Claims Manager shall decide the issue on review and furnish the claimant with a copy within sixty (60) days of receipt of the claimant’s request for review of the claimant’s claim. The decision on review shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, as well as specific references to the pertinent provisions in the Plan on which the decision is based. In no event may a claimant commence legal action for benefits the claimant believes are due the claimant until the claimant has exhausted all of the remedies and procedures afforded the claimant by this Section 10.3.

 

(d)                                 Disability Claims. Any review of an appeal of a determination with respect to the Participant’s Disability must meet the following standards: the review does not afford deference to the initial adverse determination; the review is conducted by an appropriate person who is neither the party who made time initial adverse benefit determination that is the subject of the appeal nor a subordinate of such party; the review provides for the appropriate person to consult with health care professionals with appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine involved in the medical judgment in deciding the appeal of an adverse benefit determination that is based in whole or in part on a medical judgment; and the review provides for the identification of the medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained in connection with the claimant’s adverse benefit determination, without regard to whether the advice was relied upon in making the determination. Furthermore, the ninety (90) day period described in these procedures shall be reduced to forty-five (45) days in the case of a claim of the Participant’s Disability. The forty-five (45) day period may be extended by thirty (30) days if the Claims Manager determines the extension is necessary to circumstances outside the control of the Plan, and the claimant is notified prior to the end of the forty-five (45) day period. If prior to the end of the thirty (30) day extension period, the Claims Manager determines that additional time is necessary, the period may be extended for a second thirty (30) day period, provided the claimant is notified prior to the end of the first thirty (30) day extension period and such notice specifies the circumstances requiring the extension and the date as of which the Plan expects to render a decision. The sixty (60) day period described in these procedures shall be reduced to forty-five (45) days with respect to the appeal of the denial of the Participant’s claim of Disability. The forty-five (45) day period may be extended by an additional forty-five (45) days if the Claims Manager determines the extension is necessary to circumstances outside the control of the Plan, and the claimant is notified prior to the end of the initial forty-five (45) day period.

 

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(e)                                  General Rules. No inquiry or question shall be deemed to be a claim or a request for a review of a denied claim unless made in accordance with the claims procedure. The Claims Manager may require that any claim for benefits and any request for a review of a denied claim be filed on forms to be furnished by the Claims Manager upon request. The Claims Manager may, in its discretion, hold one or more hearings on a claim or a request for a review of a denied claim. Claimants may be represented by a lawyer or other representative at their own expense, but the Claims Manager reserves the right to require the claimant to furnish written authorization. A claimant’s representative shall be entitled to copies of all notices given to the claimant.

 

(f)                                   Deadline to File Claim. To be considered timely under the Plan’s claim and review procedure, a claim must be filed with the Board of Directors of Tri-State within one (1) year after the claimant knew or reasonably should have known of the principal facts upon which the claim is based.

 

(g)                                  Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies. The exhaustion of the claim and review procedure is mandatory for resolving every claim and dispute arising under this Plan. As to such claims and disputes:

 

(i)                                     no claimant shall be permitted to commence any legal action to recover Plan benefits or to enforce or clarify rights under the Plan under any provision of law, whether or not statutory, until the claim and review procedure set forth herein have been exhausted in their entirety; and

 

(ii)                                  in any such legal action all explicit and all implicit determinations by the Board of Directors (including, but not limited to, determinations as to whether the claim, or a request for a review of a denied claim, was timely filed) shall be afforded the maximum deference permitted by law.

 

(h)                                 Deadline to File Legal Action. No legal action to recover Plan benefits or to enforce or clarify rights under the Plan under any provision of law, whether or not statutory, may be brought by any claimant on any matter pertaining to this Plan unless the legal action is commenced in the proper forum before the earlier of:

 

(i)                                     thirty (30) months after the claimant knew or reasonably should have known of the principal facts on which the claim is based, or

 

(ii)                                  six (6) months after the claimant has exhausted the claim and review procedure.

 

(i)                                     Knowledge of Facts by Participant Imputed to Beneficiary. Knowledge of all facts that a Participant knew or reasonably should have known shall be imputed to every claimant who is or claims to be a beneficiary of the Participant or otherwise claims to derive an entitlement by reference to the Participant for the purpose of applying the previously specified periods.

 

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Section 10.4                   Participant’s Address. Each Participant shall keep Tri-State informed of his or her current address and the current address of his or her Beneficiary. Tri-State shall not be obligated to search for any person.

 

Section 10.5                   Conflict of Interest. If any individual to whom authority has been delegated or redelegated hereunder shall also be a Participant in this Plan, such Participant shall have no authority with respect to any matter specifically affecting such Participant’s individual interest hereunder or the interest of a person superior to him or her in Tri-State (as distinguished from the interests of all Participants and their Beneficiaries or a broad class of Participants and Beneficiaries), all such authority being reserved exclusively to other individuals as the case may be, to the exclusion of such Participant, and such Participant shall act only in such Participant’s individual capacity in connection with any such matter.

 

Section 10.6                   Service of Process. In the absence of any designation to the contrary by Tri-State, Tri-State is the appropriate and exclusive agent for the receipt of service of process directed to the Plan in any legal proceeding, including arbitration, involving the Plan.

 

Section 10.7                   Errors in Computations. Tri-State shall not be liable or responsible for any error in the computation of any Deferred Fees Account or the determination of any benefit payable to or with respect to any Participant resulting from any misstatement of fact made by the Participant or by or on behalf of any survivor to whom such benefit shall be payable, directly or indirectly, to Tri-State, and used in determining the benefit. Tri-State shall not be obligated or required to increase the benefit payable to or with respect to such Participant which, on discovery of the misstatement, is found to be understated as a result of such misstatement of the Participant. However, the benefit of any Participant which is overstated by reason of any such misstatement or any other reason shall be reduced to the amount appropriate in view of the truth (and to recover any prior overpayment).

 

ARTICLE XI

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 11.1                   No Employment Rights. Neither the Plan nor any action taken under the Plan shall be construed as providing any Participant any right to be employed by or be retained in the service of Tri-State.

 

Section 11.2                   Participants Should Consult Advisors. Neither Tri-State nor the respective directors, officers, employees or agents makes any representation or warranty with respect to the federal, state or other tax, financial, estate planning, or the securities or other legal implications of participation in the Plan. Participants should consult with their own tax, financial and legal advisors with respect to their participation in the Plan.

 

Section 11.3                   Unfunded and Unsecured. The Plan shall at all times be considered entirely unfunded both for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, if applicable, and no provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating assets of Tri-State for the payment of any amounts under the Plan. Any funds invested under the Plan shall continue for all purposes to be part of the general assets of Tri-State and available to general creditors of Tri-State in the event of a bankruptcy (involvement in a pending proceeding, voluntary or otherwise (including an involuntary

 

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petition), as a debtor under the Federal Bankruptcy Code) or insolvency (generally not paying debts as such debts become due (taking into account any period of time during which past due payments of such debts may be cured) unless such debts are the subject of a bona fide dispute, as interpreted and applied by United States Bankruptcy Courts) of Tri-State. Tri-State shall promptly notify the Trustee and the applicable Participants of such bankruptcy or insolvency. No Participant or any other person shall have any interests in any particular assets of Tri-State by reason of the right to receive a benefit under the Plan and to the extent the Participant or any other person acquires a right to receive benefits under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor. The Plan constitutes a mere promise by Tri-State for the payment of benefits payable under the Plan to the Participants in the future. Nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guaranty by Tri-State or any other person or entity that any funds in any trust or the assets of Tri-State will be sufficient to pay any benefit under the Plan. Furthermore, no Participant shall have any right to a benefit under the Plan except in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

Section 11.4                   The Trust. To fulfill the obligations to the Participants and their Beneficiaries under the Plan, a Trust has been established by a trust agreement with a third party, the Trustee, to which cash or other property may be contributed, including securities issued by Tri-State, to provide for the benefit payments under the Plan. The Trustee for such Trust shall have the duty to hold such property or to invest the Trust assets and funds in accordance with the terms of such Trust. All rights associated with the assets of such Trust shall be exercised by the Trustee of the Trust or the person designated by such Trustee, and shall in no event be exercisable by or rest with Participants or their Beneficiaries. Such Trust provides that in the event of the insolvency of Tri-State, the Trustee shall hold the assets for the benefit of the general creditors of Tri-State.

 

Section 11.5                   Plan Provisions. Except when otherwise required by the context, any singular terminology shall include the plural.

 

Section 11.6                   Severability. If a provision of the Plan shall be held to be illegal or invalid, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

Section 11.7                   Applicable Law. To the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Colorado shall apply with respect to the Plan.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 12.1                   Amendment of the Plan. The Board of Directors reserves the power to alter, amend or wholly revise the Plan at any time and from time to time and the interest of each Participant is subject to the powers so reserved; provided, however, that no amendment made subsequent to a “change in control” as that term is defined and construed in accordance with section 409A of the Code and section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations shall be effective to the extent that it would have a materially adverse impact on a Participant’s reasonably expected economic benefit attributable to Fees deferred by the Participant prior to such “change in control.”

 

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Section 12.2                   Procedure for Amendment. An amendment shall be authorized by the Board of Directors and shall be stated in a document in writing signed in the name of Tri-State by a person or persons authorized by the Board of Directors. After the document has been so executed, the Plan shall be deemed to have been amended in the manner therein set forth, and all parties interested herein shall be bound thereby. No amendment to the Plan may alter, impair, or reduce the benefits credited to any Deferred Fees Account prior to the effective date of such amendment without the written consent of any affected Participant.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

TERM OF PLAN

 

Section 13.1                            Termination of the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan shall permit an acceleration of the time and form of a payment of the benefits payable under the Plan in accordance with one of the events described herein.

 

(a)                                 In the event of a complete liquidation and dissolution of Tri-State, Tri-State shall terminate the Plan within twelve (12) months of the liquidation and dissolution of Tri-State, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court, and the value of the benefit payable under the Plan to the Participants shall be determined as of that date and shall be distributed to the Participants or their Beneficiaries; provided, however, that the benefits payable under the Plan are included in the gross income of the Participants or their Beneficiaries in the latest of: (i) the calendar year in which the Plan termination occurs; (ii) the calendar year in which the amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the first calendar year in which the payment is administratively practicable.

 

(b)                                 Tri-State may, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine to terminate the Plan, provided that: (i) the termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of Tri-State, (ii) all arrangements sponsored by Tri-State that would be aggregated with the Plan pursuant to section 1.409A-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations or the corresponding provision in future guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury if the same Participant participated in all of the arrangements are terminated; (iii) no payments other than the payments that would be payable under the terms of the arrangements if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve (12) months of the termination of the arrangements; (iv) all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months of the termination of the arrangements; and (v) Tri-State does not adopt a new arrangement that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangement under section 1.409A-l(c) of the Treasury Regulations or the corresponding provision in future guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury if the same Participant participated in both arrangements, at any time within three (3) years following the date of termination of the arrangement.

 

(c)                                  An acceleration of the time of the payment of the value of the benefit payable under the Plan to the Participant shall also be allowed at any time the Plan fails to meet the requirements of section 409A and the final regulations issued thereunder, as permitted under the final regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury

 

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and the Internal Revenue Service. However, the payment made based upon the acceleration for the failure to meet the requirements of section 409A and the regulations issued thereunder may not exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with the requirements of section 409A and the final regulations issued thereunder,

 

(d)                                 This Section 13 .1 shall be construed and administered in a manner consistent with sections 409A of the Code and section 1.409A-3U)(4)(ix) of the Treasury Regulations or the corresponding provision in future guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury.

 

Section 13.2                            Procedure for Amendment to Terminate the Plan. An amendment to terminate the Plan shall be authorized by the Board of Directors and shall be stated in a document in writing signed in the name of Tri-State by a person or persons authorized by the Board of Directors. After the document has been so executed, the Plan shall be deemed to have been amended in the manner therein set forth, and all parties interested herein shall be bound thereby.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Executive VP/GM, who has been authorized and directed to execute this document on behalf of the Board of Directors of Tri-State, has executed this document as of this 11th day of December, 2008.

 

 

	
 
    	
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION   ASSOCIATION, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/Kenneth J. Anderson
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive Vice President/
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
General Manager
    

 

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