Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE AARP LICENSE AGREEMENT  

 

This Amendment is entered into by and between AARP, Inc. (“AARP”) and HearUSA, Inc. (“HUSA”) as of the 22 day of December 2008.  (AARP and HUSA are referred to herein as each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties.”)

 

WHEREAS, the Parties along with AARP Services, Inc. (“ASI”) entered into the Hearing Care Program Services Agreement, effective August 8, 2008, pursuant to which HUSA is to provide or arrange to provide through HUSA’s network of hearing care providers an AARP-branded discount hearing program for the benefit of AARP Members (the “Services Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Parties entered into the AARP License Agreement, effective August 8, 2008 (the “License Agreement”); and 

 

WHEREAS, on November 18, 2008, HUSA requested that AARP restructure the royalty compensation structure of the License Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree to amend the License Agreement as follows:

 

	
             
 	
            1.
 	
            Section 4 of the License Agreement shall be deleted.
 

 

	
             
 	
            2.
 	
            The Parties will negotiate in good faith a revised royalty compensation structure that is mutually agreeable to the Parties, which structure must be determined and agreed to by the Parties on or before January 16, 2009.
 

 

	
             
 	
            3.
 	
            If the Parties are unable to reach agreement on the revised royal compensation structure on or before January 16, 2009, AARP may, in its sole and absolute discretion, extend the deadline.
 

 

	
             
 	
            4.
 	
            If the Parties are unable to reach a mutually acceptable revised royalty compensation structure on or before January 16, 2009 (or such later date as is set by AARP at its sole and absolute discretion), AARP reserves the right to terminate the License Agreement and engage another entity to provide the Program.
 

 

Except for the above modifications, all other terms and conditions of the License Agreement shall remain in full effect.

 

[signatures appear on the following page]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AARP and HUSA have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as Amendment No. 1 to the License Agreement.

 

AARP

 

By:     /s/ Thomas Nelson                    

Name:   Thomas C. Nelson

Title:     Chief Operating Officer

 

 

HearUSA, Inc.

 

By:     /s/ Stephen J. Hansbrough        

Name:   Stephen J. Hansbrough

Title:     Chief Executive Officer

 

 

2EX-10.32

Exhibit 10.32

October 27, 2008

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

4720 Piedmont Row Drive

Charlotte, North Carolina 28210

Attention: Robert O. Pritchard, Treasurer

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Re:
	 	Revolving Credit Facility

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (the “Lender”) is pleased to make available to PIEDMONT NATURAL
GAS COMPANY, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), a revolving credit
facility on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below. Terms not defined herein have
the meanings assigned to them in Exhibit A hereto.

	1.	 	The Facility.

	 	(a)	 	The Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Lender agrees to make available to the Borrower until the Maturity Date a revolving
credit facility providing for loans (“Loans”) in an aggregate principal amount
not exceeding at any time $50,000,000 (the “Commitment”). Within the foregoing
limit, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Loans until the Maturity Date.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Borrowings, Conversions, Continuations. The Borrower may request that Loans be
(i) made as or converted to Base Rate Loans by irrevocable notice to be received by the
Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day of the borrowing or conversion, or
(ii) made as or converted to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans by irrevocable notice to be
received by the Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day of the borrowing
or conversion. Notices pursuant to this Paragraph 1(b) may be given by
telephone if promptly confirmed in writing.

     Each Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of
$100,000.

	 	(c)	 	Interest. At the option of the Borrower, Loans shall bear interest at a rate
per annum equal to (i) the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate, or (ii)
the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. Interest on Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate
is determined by the Lender’s “prime rate” shall be calculated on the basis of a year
of 365 or 366 days and actual days elapsed. All other interest hereunder shall be
calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed.

 

 

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October 27, 2008

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The Borrower promises to pay interest for all Loans on (i) the first Business Day following
the end of each month; and (ii) the Maturity Date. If the time for any payment is extended
by operation of law or otherwise, interest shall continue to accrue for such extended
period.

(1) After the date any principal amount of any Loan is due and payable (whether on the
Maturity Date, upon acceleration or otherwise), or after any other monetary obligation
hereunder shall have become due and payable (in each case without regard to any applicable
grace periods), and (2) while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay, but only
to the extent permitted by law, interest (after as well as before judgment) on such amounts
at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus 2.000%. Accrued and unpaid interest on past
due amounts shall be payable on demand.

     In no case shall interest hereunder exceed the amount that the Lender may charge or collect
under applicable law.

	 	(d)	 	Evidence of Loans. The Loans and all payments thereon shall be evidenced by
the Lender’s loan accounts and records; provided, however, that upon
the request of the Lender, the Loans may be evidenced by a promissory note in the form
of Exhibit B hereto in addition to such loan accounts and records. Such loan
accounts, records and promissory note shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the
amount of the Loans and payments thereon. Any failure to record any Loan or payment
thereon or any error in doing so shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of
the Borrower to pay any amount owing with respect to the Loans.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Unused Fee. The Borrower promises to pay a fee equal to 0.250% times the
actual daily amount by which the Commitment exceeds the amount of Loans outstanding,
payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the
Maturity Date, and calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days
elapsed.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Repayment. The Borrower promises to pay all Loans then outstanding on the
Maturity Date.

	 	 	The Borrower shall make all payments required hereunder not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date
of payment in same day funds in Dollars at the office of the Lender as set forth in
Schedule 10.02 to the Incorporated Agreement or such other address as the Lender may
from time to time designate in writing.
	 
	 	 	All payments by the Borrower to the Lender hereunder shall be made to the Lender in full
without set-off or counterclaim and free and clear of and exempt from, and without deduction
or withholding for or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties or
charges of whatsoever nature imposed by any government or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof. The Borrower shall reimburse the Lender for any taxes imposed on
or withheld from such payments (other than taxes

 

 

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October 27, 2008

Page 3

	 	 	imposed on the Lender’s income, and franchise taxes imposed on the Lender, by the
jurisdiction under the laws of which the Lender is organized or in which its principal
office is located or any political subdivision thereof).

	 	(g)	 	Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon same-day notice, prepay Loans on any
Business Day. Prepayments of Loans must be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a
whole multiple of $100,000, or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then
outstanding.
	 
	 	(h)	 	Commitment Reductions. The Borrower may, upon five Business Days’ notice,
reduce or cancel the undrawn portion of the Commitment, provided, that the
amount of such reduction is not less than $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000
in excess thereof.

	2.	 	Upfront Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender, for its own account, a fee (the
“Upfront Fee”) in the amount of $50,000. Such Upfront Fee shall be for the Lender’s
participation in the revolving credit facility and shall be payable in full upon the Closing
Date.
	 
	3.	 	Conditions Precedent to Loans.

	 	(a)	 	Conditions Precedent to Initial Loan. As a condition precedent to the
effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of the Lender to make any Loan on
the Closing Date, the Lender must receive the following from the Borrower in form
satisfactory to the Lender:

	 	(i)	 	the enclosed duplicate of this Agreement duly executed and
delivered on behalf of the Borrower;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	a certified borrowing resolution or other evidence of the
Borrower’s authority to borrow;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	a certificate of incumbency;
	 
	 	(iv)	 	if requested by the Lender, a promissory note as contemplated
in Paragraph 1(d) above;
	 
	 	(v)	 	such other documents and certificates (including legal
opinions) as the Lender may reasonably request; and
	 
	 	(vi)	 	any fees (including the Upfront Fee) and expenses required to
be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

	 	(b)	 	Conditions to Each Borrowing. As a condition precedent to each borrowing
(including the initial borrowing) of any Loan:

 

 

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	 	(i)	 	The Borrower must furnish the Lender with, as appropriate, a
notice of borrowing;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	each representation and warranty set forth in Paragraph
4 below shall be true and correct in all material respects as if made on
the date of such borrowing; and
	 
	 	(iii)	 	no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date
of such borrowing.

	 	 	Each notice of borrowing shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Borrower that
the conditions referred to in clauses (ii) and (iii) above have been met.

	4.	 	Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants (which representations
and warranties shall survive the Closing Date and each borrowing hereunder) that the
representations and warranties contained in Article V (Representations and Warranties)
of the Incorporated Agreement, including for purposes of this Paragraph 4 each
Additional Incorporated Agreement Representation, are true and correct as if made on such
date, 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. The
representations and warranties of the Borrower referred to in the preceding sentence
(including all exhibits, schedules and defined terms referred to therein) are hereby (or, in
the case of each Additional Incorporated Agreement Representation, shall, upon its
effectiveness, be) incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full herein.
	 
	 	 	All such representations and warranties so incorporated herein by reference shall survive
any termination, cancellation, discharge or replacement of the Incorporated Agreement.
	 
	5.	 	Covenants. So long as principal of and interest on any Loan or any other amount payable
hereunder or under any other Loan Document remains unpaid or unsatisfied and the Commitment
has not been terminated, the Borrower shall comply with all the covenants and agreements
applicable to it contained in Article VI (Affirmative Covenants) and Sections 7.03,
7.04, 7.05, 7.06 and 7.07 (Negative Covenants) of the
Incorporated Agreement, including for purposes of this Paragraph 5 each Additional
Incorporated Agreement Covenant. In addition to the foregoing (but not in duplication of any
other provisions of this Agreement), each of the Borrower and the Lender shall comply with the
respective obligations applicable to each such party as such are set forth in Article
III (Taxes, Yield Protection and Illegality) of the Incorporated Agreement. The covenants
and agreements of the Borrower referred to in the preceding sentence (including all exhibits,
schedules and defined terms referred to therein) are hereby (or, in the case of each
Additional Incorporated Agreement Covenant, shall, upon its effectiveness, be) incorporated
herein by reference as if set forth in full herein.

 

 

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	 	 	All such covenants and agreements so incorporated herein by reference shall survive any
termination, cancellation, discharge or replacement of the Incorporated Agreement.
	 
	 	 	Any financial statements, certificates or other documents received by the Lender under the
Incorporated Agreement shall be deemed delivered hereunder.
	 
	6.	 	Events of Default. The following are “Events of Default:”

	 	(a)	 	The Borrower fails to pay any principal of any Loan as and on the date when
due; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	The Borrower fails to pay any interest on any Loan, or any unused fee due
hereunder, or any portion thereof, within five days after the date when due; or the
Borrower fails to pay any other fee or amount payable to the Lender under any Loan
Document, or any portion thereof, within five days after the date due; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	The Borrower fails to comply with any covenant or agreement incorporated herein
by reference pursuant to Paragraph 5 above, subject to any applicable grace
period and/or notice requirement set forth in Section 8.01 of the Incorporated
Agreement (it being understood and agreed that any such notice requirement shall be met
by the Lender’s giving the applicable notice to the Borrower hereunder); or
	 
	 	(d)	 	Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed
made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan
Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be
incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made; or
	 
	 	(e)	 	Any “Event of Default” specified in Section 8.01 of the Incorporated
Agreement (including for purposes of this Paragraph 6(e) each Additional
Incorporated Agreement Event of Default) occurs and is continuing, without giving
effect to any waiver thereof pursuant to the Incorporated Agreement, it being agreed
that each such “Event of Default” shall survive any termination, cancellation,
discharge or replacement of the Incorporated Agreement.

	 	 	Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Lender may declare the Commitment to be
terminated, whereupon the Commitment shall be terminated, and/or declare all sums
outstanding hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, including all interest thereon, to
be immediately due and payable, whereupon the same shall become and be immediately due and
payable, without notice of default, presentment or demand for payment, protest or notice of
nonpayment or dishonor, or other notices or demands of any kind or character, all of which
are hereby expressly waived; provided, however, 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 of America, the Commitment shall automatically
terminate, and all sums outstanding hereunder and under each other

 

 

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	 	 	Loan Document, including all interest thereon, shall become and be immediately due and
payable, without notice of default, presentment or demand for payment, protest or notice of
nonpayment or dishonor, or other notices or demands of any kind or character, all of which
are hereby expressly waived.
	 
	7.	 	Miscellaneous.

	 	(a)	 	The provisions of Section 1.05 of the Incorporated Agreement are hereby
incorporated by reference, and each party hereto shall fully comply therewith, as if
set forth in full herein.
	 
	 	(b)	 	All references herein and in the other Loan Documents to any time of day shall
mean the local (standard or daylight, as in effect) time of Eastern time.
	 
	 	(c)	 	If at any time the Lender, in its sole discretion, determines that (i) adequate
and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, or
(ii) the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate does not accurately reflect the funding cost to the
Lender of making such Loans, the Lender’s obligation to make or maintain LIBOR Floating
Rate Loans shall cease for the period during which such circumstance exists.
	 
	 	(d)	 	No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement (including any
provision of the Incorporated Agreement incorporated herein by reference) or of any
other Loan Document and no consent by the Lender to any departure therefrom by the
Borrower shall be effective unless such amendment, waiver or consent shall be in
writing and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Lender and a duly authorized
officer of the Borrower, and any such amendment, waiver or consent shall then be
effective only for the period and on the conditions and for the specific instance
specified in such writing. No failure or delay by the Lender in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other rights, power or privilege.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, notices and other communications
to each party provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or
overnight courier service, mailed or sent by telecopy to the address provided from time
to time by such party. Any such notice or other communication sent by overnight
courier service, mail or telecopy shall be effective on the earlier of actual receipt
and (i) if sent by overnight courier service, the scheduled delivery date, (ii) if sent
by mail, the fourth Business Day after deposit in the U.S. mail first class postage
prepaid, and (iii) if sent by telecopy, when transmission in legible form is complete.
All notices and other communications sent by the other means listed in the first
sentence of this paragraph shall be effective upon receipt. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, all notices (by whatever means) to the Lender
pursuant

 

 

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	 	 	 	to Paragraph 1(b) hereof shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice
or other communication permitted to be given, made or confirmed by telephone
hereunder shall be given, made or confirmed by means of a telephone call to the
intended recipient at the number specified in writing by such Person for such
purpose, it being understood and agreed that a voicemail message shall in no event
be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.

	 	 	The Lender shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic notices
of borrowings, conversions and continuations) 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 each Indemnitee 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 communications with the
Lender may be recorded by the Lender, and the Borrower hereby consents to such recording.

	 	(f)	 	This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign its rights
and obligations hereunder. The Lender may at any time (i) assign all or any part of
its rights and obligations hereunder to any other Person with the consent of the
Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, provided that no such
consent shall be required if the assignment is to an affiliate of the Lender or if a
Default exists, and (ii) grant to any other Person participating interests in all or
part of its rights and obligations hereunder without notice to the Borrower. The
Borrower agrees to execute any documents reasonably requested by the Lender in
connection with any such assignment. All information provided by or on behalf of the
Borrower to the Lender or its affiliates may be furnished by the Lender to its
affiliates and to any actual or proposed assignee or participant.
	 
	 	(g)	 	The Borrower shall pay the Lender, on demand, all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Lender)
incurred by the Lender in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or any
instruments or agreements executed in connection herewith.
	 
	 	(h)	 	The provisions of Sections 10.04(b) (Indemnification), 10.07
(Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality), 10.12 (Severability),
10.14 (Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.), 10.15 (Waiver of Jury Trial)
and 10.17 (USA PATRIOT Act) of the Incorporated Agreement are hereby
incorporated by reference, and each party hereto shall fully comply therewith, as if
set forth in full herein.
	 
	 	(i)	 	This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and each
counterpart, when so executed, shall be deemed an original but all such counterparts
shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

 

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	  (j)	 	THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN 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
BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

 

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     Please indicate your acceptance of the Commitment on the foregoing terms and conditions by
returning an executed copy of this Agreement to the undersigned not later than October 27, 2008.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Scott K. Mitchell
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Scott K. Mitchell 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Senior Vice President 	 
	 

Accepted and Agreed to as of the date first written above:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:	 	/s/ Robert O. Pritchard	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Robert O. Pritchard	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer	 	 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

DEFINITIONS

	 	 	 
	Additional Incorporated
Agreement Covenant:

	 	A covenant or agreement that is added to Article VI (Affirmative Covenants) or VII (Negative
Covenants) of the Incorporated Agreement after the date hereof; provided, however, to the extent
the incorporation of such additional covenant or agreement would cause a default under Section 7.05
of the Incorporated Agreement, such additional covenant or agreement shall not be incorporated
hereunder.
	 
	 	 
	Additional Incorporated
Agreement Event of Default:

	 	

An “Event of Default” that is added to Section 8.01 of the Incorporated Agreement after the date
hereof.
	 
	 	 
	Additional Incorporated
Agreement Representation:

	 	

A representation or warranty that is added to Article V (Representations of the Borrower) of the
Incorporated Agreement after the date hereof.
	 
	 	 
	Affiliate:

	 	Has the meaning set forth in the Incorporated Agreement.
	 
	 	 
	Agreement:

	 	This letter agreement, as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in
writing from time to time.
	 
	 	 
	Alternative Base Rate:

	 	For all Loans, on any day any such Loan is outstanding, the fluctuating rate of interest (rounded
upwards, as necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) 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 Lender from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, for Dollar deposits with a term of one
month, as adjusted from time to time in the Lender’s sole discretion for changes in deposit
insurance requirements and other regulatory costs. If such rate is not available at such time for
any reason, then the “Alternative Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum determined by the Lender
to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery in immediately available funds in the
approximate amount of the Dollar denominated Loans outstanding with a term equivalent to one month
would be offered by the Lender’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar
market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on each day any such Loan is
outstanding.

A-1

 

	 	 	 
	Applicable Rate:

	 	The following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

Applicable Rate

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Pricing	 	Debt Ratings	 	LIBOR Floating
	Level	 	S&P/Moody’s	 	Rate and Base Rate
	1
	 	3 AA-/Aa3	 	 	0.75	%
	2
	 	 	A+/A1	 	 	 	1.00	%
	3
	 	 	A/A2	 	 	 	1.25	%
	4
	 	 	A-/A3	 	 	 	1.50	%
	5
	 	£ BBB+/Baa1	 	 	1.75	%

	 	 	 
	 

	 	“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the
rating as determined by either S&P or Moody’s (collectively, the
“Debt Ratings”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior
unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective
Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one
level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings
shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the
highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest);
(b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then
the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of
the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one
Debt Rating, the Pricing Level of such Debt Rating shall apply; and
(d) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5
shall apply.
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the
Debt Rating specified in the Compliance Certificate most recently
delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) of the Incorporated
Agreement. Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting
from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be
effective 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.
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	For the purposes of this definition, capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings as specified therefor in the
Incorporated Agreement.
	 
	 	 
	Base Rate:

	 	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 Alternative Base Rate plus 1.00%,
or (c) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from
time to time by the Lender as its “prime rate.” The Lender’s “prime rate” is
a rate set by the Lender based upon various factors including the Lender’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 “prime rate”
announced by the Lender shall take

A-2

 

	 	 	 
	 

	 	effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
	 
	 	 
	Base Rate Loan:

	 	A Loan bearing interest based on the Base Rate.
	 
	 	 
	Borrower:

	 	Has the meaning set forth in the preamble to the Agreement.
	 
	 	 
	Business Day:

	 	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 of North Carolina or the state where the Lender’s lending office is
located.
	 
	 	 
	Closing Date:

	 	The first date all of the conditions precedent in Paragraph 3(a) are
satisfied or waived by the Lender.
	 
	 	 
	Commitment:

	 	Has the meaning set forth in the Paragraph 1(a) of the Agreement.
	 
	 	 
	Default:

	 	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.
	 
	 	 
	Dollar or $:

	 	The lawful currency of the United States of America.
	 
	 	 
	Eurodollar Reserve Percentage:

	 	For any day, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to
five decimal places) in effect on such day applicable to the Lender under
regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System 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”).
	 
	 	 
	Event of Default:

	 	Has the meaning set forth in Paragraph 6.
	 
	 	 
	Federal Funds Rate:

	 	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 the
Lender on such day on such transactions as determined by the Lender.
	 
	 	 
	Incorporated Agreement:

	 	The Credit Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2006, among the Borrower, Bank of
America, as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and the
Lenders party thereto (as from time to time amended, modified, supplemented,
restated, or amended and restated in accordance with the terms thereof so
long as Bank of America, N.A. as lender under such Credit Agreement has
approved such amendment, modification,

A-3

 

	 	 	 
	 

	 	supplement, restatement or amendment and restatement). A copy of the
Incorporated Agreement is attached as Exhibit C. For
purposes of this Agreement the Borrower specifically covenants and
agrees that each term or provision of the Incorporated Agreement
incorporated by reference into this Agreement is effective and
binding upon the Borrower as if set forth herein. All such
incorporated terms and provisions are incorporated herein with
appropriate substitutions, including the following:

	 	(i)	 	all references to “the
Administrative Agent”, “the Arranger”, “the L/C Issuer”, “the
Lenders”, “each Lender”, “any Lender”, and “the Required
Lenders” shall be deemed to be references to the Lender;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	all references to “this
Agreement” shall be deemed to be references to this Agreement
and for purposes of Sections 7.04, 7.05 and
7.07 of the Incorporated Agreement, the Incorporated
Agreement;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	all references to “Base Rate
Loan” shall be deemed to be references to a Base Rate Loan;
	 
	 	(iv)	 	all references to “Borrower”
shall be deemed to be references to the Borrower;
	 
	 	(v)	 	all references to “Commitment”
shall be deemed references to the Commitment;
	 
	 	(vi)	 	all references to “Default” and
“Event of Default” shall be deemed to be references to a Default
and an Event of Default, respectively;
	 
	 	(vii)	 	all references to “any Loan
Document,” “any other Loan Document” or the like shall be deemed
to be references to the Loan Documents and for purposes of
Sections 7.04, 7.05 and 7.07 of the
Incorporated Agreement, the Loan Documents (as such term is
defined in the Incorporated Agreement);
	 
	 	(viii)	 	all references to “Loans” shall be deemed to be references to
the Loans;
	 
	 	(ix)	 	all references to “Maturity Date”
shall be deemed to be references to the Maturity Date;
	 
	 	(x)	 	all references to “Obligations”
shall be deemed to be references to obligations under this
Agreement; and
	 
	 	(xi)	 	references to any schedules shall
be deemed to be references to the schedules attached hereto as
Exhibit D.

	 	 	 
	LIBOR Daily Floating Rate:

	 	A rate per annum determined by the Lender pursuant to the following
formula:

A-4

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	LIBOR Daily Floating Rate

	 	=
	 	LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate
 

1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
	 	 

	 	 	 
	 

	 	Where,
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	“LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate” means, for all LIBOR
Floating Rate Loans, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, the
fluctuating rate of interest (rounded upwards, as necessary, to the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR
(“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially
available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by
the Lender from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, for Dollar deposits
with a term equivalent to a one month Interest Period. If such rate
is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Daily
Floating Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum determined by the
Lender to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery in
same day funds in the approximate amount of the LIBOR Floating Rate
Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to
a one-month Interest Period would be offered by the Lender’s London
Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at
their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on each day
any such Loan is outstanding.
	 
	 	 
	LIBOR Floating Rate Loan:

	 	A Loan bearing interest based on the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.
	 
	 	 
	Loan Documents:

	 	This Agreement, and the promissory note and fee letter, if any, delivered in connection with this
Agreement.
	 
	 	 
	Maturity Date:

	 	December 1, 2008, or such earlier date on which the Commitment may terminate in accordance with the
terms hereof.
	 
	 	 
	Person:

	 	Has the meaning set forth in the Incorporated Agreement.
	 
	 	 
	Subsidiary:

	 	Has the meaning set forth in the Incorporated Agreement.

A-5

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE

October 27, 2008

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC., a North Carolina
corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
(the “Lender”) the principal amount of all Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower
pursuant to the letter agreement, dated as of even date herewith (such letter agreement, as it may
be amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, being
hereinafter called the “Agreement”), between the Borrower and the Lender, on the Maturity
Date. The Borrower further promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Loans
evidenced hereby from time to time at the rates, on the dates, and otherwise as provided in the
Agreement.

     The loan account records maintained by the Lender shall at all times be conclusive evidence,
absent manifest error, as to the amount of the Loans and payments thereon; provided,
however, that any failure to record any Loan or payment thereon or any error in doing so
shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower to pay any amount owing with
respect to the Loans.

     This promissory note is the promissory note referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits
of, the Agreement, which Agreement, among other things, contains provisions for acceleration of the
maturity of the Loans evidenced hereby upon the happening of certain stated events and also for
prepayments on account of principal of the Loans prior to the maturity thereof upon the terms and
conditions therein specified.

     Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Agreement are used herein with their
defined meanings therein. This promissory note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of North Carolina.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	Title
	 	 

	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	 

	 	 

B-1

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