Exhibit 10.2
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of _______, 2006
among
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.,
as BORROWER
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC
as GUARANTOR
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT and ISSUING BANK
and
THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,
SOLE LEAD ARRANGER
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,
SOLE BOOK RUNNER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I Definitions and Accounting Matters.................................................................1
Section 1.01 Terms Defined Above....................................................................1
Section 1.02 Certain Defined Terms..................................................................1
Section 1.03 Accounting Terms and Determinations...................................................15
ARTICLE II Commitments......................................................................................15
Section 2.01 Loans and Letters of Credit...........................................................15
Section 2.02 Borrowings, Continuations and Conversions, Letters of Credit..........................16
Section 2.03 Changes of Commitments................................................................18
Section 2.04 Fees..................................................................................18
Section 2.05 Several Obligations...................................................................19
Section 2.06 Notes.................................................................................19
Section 2.07 Prepayments...........................................................................19
Section 2.08 Assumption of Risks...................................................................20
Section 2.09 Obligation to Reimburse and to Prepay.................................................20
Section 2.10 Lending Offices.......................................................................22
ARTICLE III Payments of Principal and Interest..............................................................22
Section 3.01 Repayment of Loans....................................................................22
Section 3.02 Interest..............................................................................22
ARTICLE IV Payments; Pro Rata Treatment; Computations; Etc..................................................23
Section 4.01 Payments..............................................................................23
Section 4.02 Pro Rata Treatment....................................................................23
Section 4.03 Computations..........................................................................23
Section 4.04 Non-receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent......................................24
Section 4.05 Set-off, Sharing of Payments, Etc.....................................................24
Section 4.06 Taxes.................................................................................25
ARTICLE V Capital Adequacy..................................................................................27
Section 5.01 Additional Costs......................................................................27
Section 5.02 Limitation on LIBOR Loans.............................................................29
Section 5.03 Illegality............................................................................29
Section 5.04 Base Rate Loans Pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 and 5.03..............................29
Section 5.05 Compensation..........................................................................29
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ARTICLE VI Conditions Precedent.............................................................................30
Section 6.01 Initial Funding.......................................................................30
Section 6.02 Initial and Subsequent Loans and Letters of Credit....................................31
Section 6.03 Certain Loans and Letters of Credit...................................................32
Section 6.04 Conditions Precedent for the Benefit of Lender........................................32
Section 6.05 No Waiver.............................................................................32
ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties..................................................................32
Section 7.01 Corporate Existence...................................................................32
Section 7.02 Financial Condition...................................................................32
Section 7.03 Litigation............................................................................33
Section 7.04 No Breach.............................................................................33
Section 7.05 Authority.............................................................................33
Section 7.06 Approvals.............................................................................33
Section 7.07 Use of Loans..........................................................................33
Section 7.08 ERISA.................................................................................33
Section 7.09 Taxes.................................................................................34
Section 7.10 Titles, etc...........................................................................35
Section 7.11 No Material Misstatements.............................................................35
Section 7.12 Investment Company Act................................................................35
Section 7.13 Capitalization of General Partner and Subsidiaries....................................35
Section 7.14 Location of Business and Offices......................................................36
Section 7.15 Defaults under Material Agreements....................................................36
Section 7.16 Environmental Matters.................................................................36
Section 7.17 Compliance with Laws..................................................................37
Section 7.18 Insurance.............................................................................37
Section 7.19 Hedging Agreements....................................................................37
Section 7.20 Restriction on Liens..................................................................37
Section 7.21 Material Agreements...................................................................37
Section 7.22 Relationship of Obligors..............................................................38
Section 7.23 Solvency..............................................................................38
ARTICLE VIII Affirmative Covenants..........................................................................38
Section 8.01 Reporting Requirements................................................................38
Section 8.02 Litigation............................................................................40
Section 8.03 Maintenance, Etc......................................................................40
Section 8.04 Environmental Matters.................................................................41
Section 8.05 Further Assurances....................................................................41
Section 8.06 Performance of Obligations............................................................42
Section 8.07 Title Curative........................................................................42
Section 8.08 Additional Collateral.................................................................42
Section 8.09 Subordination of Intercompany Debt....................................................43
Section 8.10 Corporate Identity....................................................................43
Section 8.11 ERISA Information and Compliance......................................................43
Section 8.12 Restricted/Unrestricted Subsidiaries..................................................44
Section 8.13 Material Agreements...................................................................44
Section 8.14 Guaranties............................................................................44
ARTICLE IX Negative Covenants...............................................................................45
Section 9.01 Debt..................................................................................45
Section 9.02 Liens.................................................................................45
Section 9.03 Investments, Loans and Advances.......................................................46
Section 9.04 Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions..............................................47
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Section 9.05 Dispositions; Sales and Leasebacks....................................................47
Section 9.06 Nature of Business....................................................................47
Section 9.07 Hedging Agreements....................................................................47
Section 9.08 Limitation on Leases..................................................................48
Section 9.09 Mergers, Etc..........................................................................48
Section 9.10 Proceeds of Notes and Letters of Credit...............................................48
Section 9.11 ERISA Compliance......................................................................49
Section 9.12 Sale or Discount of Receivables.......................................................49
Section 9.13 Interest Expense Coverage Ratio.......................................................49
Section 9.14 Combined Leverage Ratio...............................................................49
Section 9.15 Leverage Ratio........................................................................49
Section 9.16 Environmental Matters.................................................................49
Section 9.17 Transactions with Affiliates..........................................................49
Section 9.18 Subsidiaries..........................................................................50
Section 9.19 Negative Pledge Agreements............................................................50
Section 9.20 Amendments to Material Agreements.....................................................50
Section 9.21 Accounting Changes....................................................................50
ARTICLE X Events of Default; Remedies.......................................................................50
Section 10.01 Events of Default.....................................................................50
Section 10.02 Remedies..............................................................................52
Section 10.03 Distributions.........................................................................52
ARTICLE XI The Administrative Agent.........................................................................53
Section 11.01 Appointment, Powers and Immunities....................................................53
Section 11.02 Reliance by Administrative Agent......................................................53
Section 11.03 Defaults..............................................................................54
Section 11.04 Rights as a Lender....................................................................54
Section 11.05 Indemnification.......................................................................54
Section 11.06 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and other Lenders................................54
Section 11.07 Action by Administrative Agent........................................................55
Section 11.08 Resignation or Removal of Administrative Agent........................................55
Section 11.09 No Other Duties.......................................................................55
Section 11.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.......................................................56
ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous...................................................................................56
Section 12.01 Waiver................................................................................56
Section 12.02 Notices...............................................................................56
Section 12.03 Payment of Expenses, Indemnities, etc.................................................56
Section 12.04 Amendments, Etc.......................................................................58
Section 12.05 Successors and Assigns................................................................60
Section 12.06 Assignments and Participations........................................................60
Section 12.07 Invalidity............................................................................62
Section 12.08 Counterparts..........................................................................62
Section 12.09 References, Use of Word "Including"...................................................62
Section 12.10 Survival..............................................................................63
Section 12.11 Captions..............................................................................63
Section 12.12 NO ORAL AGREEMENTS....................................................................63
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Section 12.13 GOVERNING LAW, SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.............................................63
Section 12.14 USA PATRIOT Act Notice................................................................64
Section 12.15 Interest..............................................................................64
Section 12.16 Confidentiality.......................................................................65
Exhibits
--------
Exhibit A Form of Revolver Note
Exhibit B Form of Borrowing, Continuation and Conversion Request
Exhibit C Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D Security Instruments
Exhibit E Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit F Form of Consent to Assignment
Exhibit G Form of Guaranty
Schedules
---------
Schedule 6.01 Post-Closing Requirements
Schedule 6.01(e) Historical Financial Summary
Schedule 7.03 Litigation
Schedule 7.09 Tax Obligations
Schedule 7.15 Subsidiary Interests
Schedule 7.20 Insurance
Schedule 7.21 Hedging Agreements
Schedule 7.23 Material Agreements
Schedule 7.24 Imbalances
Schedule 9.01 Debt
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REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of _________, 2006, among
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "BORROWER");
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("APL
GENERAL PARTNER"; the Borrower and the APL General Partner are collectively
referred to herein as the "INITIAL OBLIGORS"); each of the lenders that is a
signatory hereto or which becomes a signatory hereto as provided in SECTION
12.06 (individually, together with its successors and assigns, a "LENDER," and
collectively, the "LENDERS"); WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its
successors in such capacity, the "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT"); WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as issuing bank (in such capacity, together with its
successors in such capacity, the "ISSUING BANK"); and WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS,
LLC, as sole lead arranger (in such capacity, together with its successors in
such capacity, the "SOLE LEAD ARRANGER").
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained and of the loans, extensions of credit and commitments hereinafter
referred to, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS
Section 1.01 TERMS DEFINED ABOVE. As used in this Agreement, the terms
"Administrative Agent," "APL General Partner," "Borrower," "Initial Obligors,"
"Issuing Bank," "Lender," "Lenders," and "Sole Lead Arranger" and shall have the
meanings indicated above.
Section 1.02 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. As used herein, the following terms
shall have the following meanings (all terms defined in this Article I or in
other provisions of this Agreement in the singular to have equivalent meanings
when used in the plural, and vice versa):
ADDITIONAL COSTS shall have the meaning assigned such term in SECTION
5.01(A).
ADJUSTED LIBOR shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, a rate per
annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined by
the Administrative Agent to be equal to the quotient of (i) LIBOR for such Loan
for the Interest Period for such Loan divided by (ii) 1 minus the Reserve
Requirement for such Loan for such Interest Period.
ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire
in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
AFFECTED LOANS shall have the meaning assigned such term in SECTION
5.04.
AFFILIATE of any Person shall mean (i) any Person directly or
indirectly controlled by, controlling or under common control with such first
Person, (ii) any director or officer of such first Person or of any Person
referred to in clause (i) above and (iii) if any Person in clause (i) above is
an individual, any member of the immediate family (including parents, spouse and
children) of such individual and any trust whose principal beneficiary is such
individual or one or more members of such immediate family and any Person who is
controlled by any such member or trust. For purposes of this definition, any
Person which owns directly or indirectly 10% or more of the securities having
ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of a
corporation or 10% or more of the partnership or other ownership interests of
any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be
deemed to "control" (including, with its correlative meanings, "controlled by"
and "under common control with") such corporation or other Person.
AGREEMENT shall mean this Revolving Credit Agreement, as the same may
from time to time be further renewed, extended, amended, restated or
supplemented.
AGGREGATE MAXIMUM REVOLVER AMOUNT at any time shall equal the sum of
the Maximum Revolver Amounts of the Lenders (Fifty Million Dollars
($50,000,000)), as the same may be reduced pursuant to SECTION 2.03(A).
APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICE shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type
of Loan, the lending office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender)
designated for such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or such other
offices of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may
from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the
office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.
APPLICABLE MARGIN shall mean with respect to Loans, the applicable per
annum percentage set forth at the appropriate intersection in the table shown
below, based on the Leverage Ratio as in effect from time to time:
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LEVERAGE RATIO APPLICABLE MARGIN
--------------------------------
LIBOR LOANS BASE RATE
AND L/C FEES LOANS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 2.25% 0.75%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.50 to 1.00, 2.50% 1.00%
but less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 2.50 to 1.00 2.75% 1.25%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Leverage
Ratio shall take effect on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to SECTION 8.01(J). However, if
the Borrower fails to deliver a compliance certificate when required pursuant to
SECTION 8.01(J), then the Applicable Margin shall be set at the highest level
until such date as the Borrower delivers such compliance certificate to the
Administrative Agent.
APPROVED FUND shall mean any Fund that is administered or managed by
(i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate
of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION shall mean 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 12.06(B)), and accepted by the
Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT E or any other form
approved by the Administrative Agent.
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ATLAS shall mean Atlas America, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
successor in interest to Atlas America, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation.
ATLAS DIRECT SUBSIDIARIES shall mean AIC, INC., a Delaware corporation;
ATLAS AMERICA, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation; ATLAS ENERGY CORPORATION, an
Ohio corporation; ATLAS ENERGY GROUP, INC., an Ohio Corporation; ATLAS ENERGY
HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation, ATLAS NOBLE CORP., a Delaware
corporation; ATLAS RESOURCES, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation; ATLAS AMERICA
MIDCONTINENT, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation; REI; General Partner; and
Viking.
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS shall mean Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership.
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS CREDIT AGREEMENT shall mean the Revolving
Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of April 14, 2005, as amended through
October 13, 2005, among Atlas Pipeline Partners, certain of its subsidiaries
party thereto, each of the lenders party thereto and Wachovia Bank, National
Associates, as administrative agent.
AVAILABILITY shall mean, at any time, (i) the Lenders' aggregate
Revolver Commitments, minus (ii) the sum of (a) the Effective Amount of all
outstanding Loans and (b) the Effective Amount of all LC Exposure.
BASE RATE shall mean, with respect to any Base Rate Loan, for any day,
a rate per annum equal to the higher of (i) the Federal Funds Rate for any such
day plus (1)/2 of 1% or (ii) the Prime Rate for such day. Each change in any
interest rate provided for herein based upon the Base Rate resulting from a
change in the Base Rate shall take effect at the time of such change in the Base
Rate.
BASE RATE LOANS shall mean Loans that bear interest at rates based upon
the Base Rate.
BUSINESS DAY shall mean any day other than a day on which commercial
banks are authorized or required to close in Texas, North Carolina or New York
and, where such term is used in the definition of "QUARTERLY DATE" or if such
day relates to a borrowing or continuation of, a payment or prepayment of
principal of or interest on, or a conversion of or into, or the Interest Period
for, a LIBOR Loan or a notice by the Borrower with respect to any such borrowing
or continuation, payment, prepayment, conversion or Interest Period, any day
which is also a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in the
London interbank market.
CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean (i) except as permitted by CLAUSES
(III)(C) and (III)(D) hereof, any person or group of persons (within the meaning
of Subsections 13(d) or 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) shall have, at any time subsequent to the date hereof, beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under said Act) of 25% or more of the equity securities of
such Person entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent
governing body of such Person (and taking into account all such securities that
such Person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right)
(provided however, that the beneficial ownership by Atlas or any Subsidiary
thereof of 25% or more of the limited partnership interests of the Borrower or
of the equity securities of General Partner shall not constitute a Change in
Control); (ii) within a period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months,
individuals who were managing board members of the General Partner on the first
day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the managing board
members of the General Partner or individuals who were board members of Atlas on
the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board
members of Atlas, or (iii) the occurrence of any of the following:
3
(a) the sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
(other than by way of a permitted merger or consolidation), in one or a
series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Borrower and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries taken as a
whole to any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended);
(b) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Borrower or the General Partner unless, in the case
of the General Partner, the General Partner is replaced by an affiliate
of Atlas acceptable to the Lenders in their reasonable discretion, such
acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld;
(c) the General Partner ceases to own, directly or indirectly,
at least 51% of the general partner interests of the Borrower, or the
General Partner ceases to serve as the only general partner of the
Borrower unless, the General Partner is replaced by an affiliate of
Atlas acceptable to the Lenders in their reasonable discretion, such
acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld; or
(d) Atlas and/or one or more of its directly or indirectly
wholly-owned subsidiaries ceases to own at least 51% of the membership
units of the General Partner.
CLOSING DATE shall mean the date upon which the conditions precedent
for initial funding set forth in SECTION 6.01 are satisfied.
CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time and any successor statute.
COLLATERAL shall mean the Property owned by the Obligors and which is
subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Security
Instruments.
COMMITMENT shall mean for any Lender, its Revolver Commitment.
CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT shall mean, collectively, each Consent to
Assignment substantially in the form of EXHIBIT F hereto by and between the
Borrower, each counterparty to a Material Agreement that requires such
counterparty's consent to the pledge or assignment thereof in favor of the
Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent.
CONSOLIDATED EBITDA OF THE BORROWER shall mean, for any period of four
Fiscal Quarters, the sum of:
(a) the product of four (4) times the amount of cash distributions
payable with respect to the last Fiscal Quarter in such period by Atlas Pipeline
Partners to the Borrower in respect of the common partnership units in Atlas
Pipeline Partners to the extent actually received on or prior to the date the
financial statements with respect to such Fiscal Quarter referred in the Section
9.14 are required to be delivered by the Borrower; provided that if the Borrower
has acquired any common partnership units in Atlas Pipeline Partners at any time
after the first day of such Fiscal Quarter, the determinations in this clause
(a) shall be made giving pro forma effect to such acquisition as if such
acquisition had occurred on the first day of the Fiscal Quarter; plus
(b) the product of four (4) times the amount of cash distributions
payable with respect to the last Fiscal Quarter in such period by Atlas Pipeline
Partners to the Obligors in respect of the general partnership interests or
incentive distribution rights to the extent actually received on or prior to the
date the financial statements with respect to such Fiscal Quarter referred in
the Section 9.14 are required to be delivered by the Borrower; plus
4
(c) Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for such four Fiscal Quarter period, plus (i) each of the following
to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income (A) all
Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) all income taxes (including any franchise
taxes to the extent based upon net income), (C) all depreciation and
amortization (including amortization of good will and debt issue costs), and (D)
any other non-cash charges or losses, minus (ii) each of the following (A) all
non-cash items of income or gain which were included in determining such
Consolidated Net Income, and (B) any cash payments made during such period in
respect of items described in clause (i)(D) of this clause (c) subsequent to the
fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash charges or losses were reflected
as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income; provided that the
determinations in this clause (c) shall be made excluding the Unrestricted
Entities. For the avoidance of doubt, the determinations in this clause (c)
shall not include Consolidated Net Income attributable to distributions referred
to in clause (a) or (b) of this definition.
CONSOLIDATED FUNDED DEBT shall mean, for any Person and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, the sum of the following (without duplication): (i)
all obligations of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for borrowed
money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments
(including principal, interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of such
Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (whether contingent or otherwise) in
respect of bankers' acceptances, letters of credit, surety or other bonds and
similar instruments; (iii) all obligations of such Person and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other
than for borrowed money); (iv) all obligations under leases which shall have
been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases
in respect of which such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries is liable
(whether contingent or otherwise); (v) obligations to pay for goods or services
whether or not such goods or services are actually received or utilized by such
Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries; (vi) any capital stock of such Person
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in which such Person has a mandatory
obligation to redeem such stock; and (vii) all obligations of such Person under
Hedging Agreements.
CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE shall mean with respect to such Person
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for any period, the aggregate cash interest
payments made or required to be made for such Person and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period; provided, that (i)
Consolidated Interest Expense for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2006 shall
be calculated by annualizing the Consolidated Interest Expense for such fiscal
quarter, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for the fiscal quarter ending
September 30, 2006 shall be calculated by annualizing the Consolidated Interest
Expense for such fiscal quarter and the previous fiscal quarter, and (iii)
Consolidated Interest Expense for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2006
shall be calculated by annualizing the Consolidated Interest Expense for such
fiscal quarter and the two (2) previous fiscal quarters.
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME shall mean, for any Person and any period, such
Person's and its Consolidated Subsidiaries' gross revenues for such period,
minus such Person's and its Consolidated Subsidiaries' expenses and other proper
charges against income (including taxes on income to the extent imposed),
determined on a Consolidated basis after eliminating earnings or losses
attributable to outstanding minority interests and excluding the net earnings or
losses of any Person, other than a subsidiary of such Person, in which such
Person or any of its subsidiaries has an ownership interest. Consolidated Net
Income shall not include (a) any gain or loss from the sale of assets other than
in the ordinary course of business, (b) any extraordinary gains or losses, or
(c) any non-cash gains or losses resulting from ▇▇▇▇ to market activity as a
result of SFAS 133. Consolidated Net Income of a Person for any period shall
include any cash dividends and distributions actually received during such
period from any Person, other than a subsidiary, in which such Person or any of
its subsidiaries has an ownership interest.
5
CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES shall mean each Subsidiary of a Person
(whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements
of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the financial
statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP, provided, however, that,
unless expressly specified otherwise, references to the Consolidated
Subsidiaries of the Borrower shall not include the Unrestricted Entities.
DEBT shall mean, for any Person the sum of the following (without
duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including principal,
interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of such Person (whether
contingent or otherwise) in respect of bankers' acceptances, letters of credit,
surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (iii) all obligations of such
Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than
for borrowed money); (iv) all obligations under leases which shall have been, or
should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect
of which such Person is liable (whether contingent or otherwise); (v) all
obligations under operating leases which require such Person or its Affiliate to
make payments over the term of such lease, including payments at termination,
based on the purchase price or appraisal value of the Property subject to such
lease plus a marginal interest rate, and used primarily as a financing vehicle
for, or to monetize, such Property; (vi) all Debt (as described in the other
clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others secured by a Lien on
any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person;
(vii) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) and other
obligations of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person
otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the debtor or obligations of
others; (viii) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or
cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to
purchase the Debt or Property of others; (ix) obligations to gather or transport
Hydrocarbons in consideration of advance payments; (x) obligations to pay for
goods or services whether or not such goods or services are actually received or
utilized by such Person; (xi) any capital stock of such Person in which such
Person has a mandatory obligation to redeem such stock; (xii) any Debt of a
Subsidiary for which such Person is liable either by agreement or because of a
Governmental Requirement; and (xiii) all obligations of such Person under
Hedging Agreements.
DEFAULT shall mean an Event of Default or an event which with notice or
lapse of applicable grace period or both would become an Event of Default.
DEFAULTING LENDER shall mean any Lender that (i) has failed to fund any
portion of the Loans or Letter of Credit reimbursement obligations required to
be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be
funded by it hereunder, (ii) has otherwise failed to pay over to the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by
it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of
a good faith dispute, or (iii) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject
of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
DISPOSITION or DISPOSE shall mean the sale, transfer or other
disposition (including any sale-leaseback transaction) of any property by any
Person, other than the settlement or resolution of a claim that is unrelated to
the collateral securing the Indebtedness.
DOLLARS and $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
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EFFECTIVE AMOUNT shall mean (i) with respect to any Loans on any date,
the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any
Loans and prepayments or repayments thereof occurring on such date under the
Revolver Facility; and (ii) with respect to any outstanding LC Exposure on any
date, the amount of such LC Exposure on such date after giving effect to any
issuances of Letters of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in
the aggregate amount of the LC Exposure as of such date, including as a result
of any reimbursements of drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions
in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking
effect on such date.
ELIGIBLE ASSIGNEE shall mean (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of a
Lender; (iii) an Approved Fund; and (iv) any other Person (other than a natural
Person) approved by (a) the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, and (b)
unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, "Eligible Assignee" shall not
include the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS shall mean any and all Governmental Requirements
pertaining to health or the environment in effect in any and all jurisdictions
in which any Obligor or any Subsidiary is conducting or at any time has
conducted business, or where any Property of any Obligor or any Subsidiary is
located, including without limitation, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ("OPA"),
the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"), as amended, the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
("RCRA"), as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic
Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended,
and other environmental conservation or protection laws. The term "OIL" shall
have the meaning specified in OPA, the terms "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" and "RELEASE"
or "THREATENED RELEASE" have the meanings specified in CERCLA, and the terms
"SOLID WASTE" and "DISPOSAL" or "DISPOSED" have the meanings specified in RCRA;
provided, however, that (i) in the event either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA is amended
so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined thereby, such broader meaning
shall apply subsequent to the effective date of such amendment and (ii) to the
extent the laws of the state in which any Property of any Obligor or any
Subsidiary is located establish a meaning for "OIL," "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE,"
"RELEASE," "SOLID WASTE" or "disposal" which is broader than that specified in
either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended from time to time and any successor statute.
ERISA AFFILIATE shall mean each trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) which together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary would be deemed
to be a "SINGLE EMPLOYER" within the meaning of section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or
subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 of the Code.
ERISA EVENT shall mean (i) a "REPORTABLE EVENT" described in Section
4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (ii) the withdrawal of the
Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year
in which it was a "SUBSTANTIAL EMPLOYER" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA, (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the
treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (iv)
the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC or (v) any other
event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA
for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.
EVENT OF DEFAULT shall have the meaning assigned such term in SECTION
10.01.
7
EXCEPTED LIENS shall mean: (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or other
governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been
maintained; (ii) Liens in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment
insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability
obligations not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in
accordance with GAAP; (iii) vendors', carriers', warehousemen's, repairmen's,
mechanics', workmen's, materialmen's, construction or other like Liens arising
by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or statutory landlord's
liens, each of which is in respect of obligations that have not been outstanding
more than 90 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance
with GAAP; and (iv) deposits of cash or securities to secure the performance of
statutory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the
ordinary course of business.
FACILITY shall mean the Revolver Facility.
FEDERAL FUNDS RATE shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average
of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with a member of the
Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next
succeeding such- day, provided, that (i) if the date for which such rate is to
be determined 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 (ii) if such rate is not so
published for any day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average
rate charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as
determined by the Administrative Agent.
FEE LETTER shall mean that certain letter agreement from Wachovia Bank,
National Association and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC to the Borrower dated
March 3, 2006, each concerning certain fees in connection with this Agreement
and any agreements or instruments executed in connection therewith, as the same
may be amended or replaced from time to time.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS shall mean the financial statement or statements
of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries described or referred to in
SECTION 7.02.
FOREIGN LENDER shall mean any Lender that is organized under the laws
of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax
purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof
and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single
jurisdiction.
FUND shall mean any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or
will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in
commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its
business.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America in effect from time to time.
GENERAL PARTNER shall mean Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company.
GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY shall include the country, the state, county,
city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such Person's Property is
located or which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such
Person's Property, and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau
or instrumentality of any of them including monetary authorities which exercises
valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such Person's Property. Unless
otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein shall mean
a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over, where applicable, any Obligor
or any of their Property or the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any
Applicable Lending Office.
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GOVERNMENTAL REQUIREMENT shall mean any law, statute, code, ordinance,
order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise,
permit, certificate, license, authorization or other directive or requirement
(whether or not having the force of law), including, without limitation,
Environmental Laws, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health
standards or controls, of any Governmental Authority.
GUARANTOR shall mean APL General Partner and each Subsidiary of
Borrower hereafter formed or acquired, except for the Unrestricted Entities.
GUARANTY AGREEMENT shall mean, collectively, (i) an agreement executed
by a Guarantor in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
guarantying, unconditionally, payment of the Indebtedness, together with (ii)
any other amendment, modification, supplement, restatement, ratification, or
reaffirmation of any Guaranty Agreement made in accordance with the Loan
Documents.
HEDGING AGREEMENTS shall mean any commodity, interest rate or currency
swap, cap, floor, collar, forward agreement or other exchange or protection
agreements or any option with respect to any such transaction.
HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE shall mean, as of a particular date, the highest
non-usurious rate of interest, if any, permitted from day to day by applicable
law. To the extent Texas law is applicable, the Lenders hereby notify and
disclose to the Borrower that, for purposes of Texas Finance Code ss.303.001, as
it may from time to time be amended, the "applicable ceiling" shall be the
"weekly ceiling" from time to time in effect as limited by Texas Finance Code
ss.303.009; provided however, that to the extent permitted by applicable law,
the Lender reserves the right to change the "applicable ceiling" from time to
time by further notice and disclosure to the Borrower.
HYDROCARBONS shall mean oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline,
natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous
hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.
INDEBTEDNESS shall mean any and all amounts owing or to be owing by the
Borrower or any other Obligor to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank
and/or the Lenders or any Affiliates of Lenders in connection with the Loan
Documents now or hereafter arising between the Borrower or any other Obligor and
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or its Affiliate and
permitted by the terms of this Agreement, and all renewals, extensions and/or
rearrangements of any of the foregoing. INDEBTEDNESS shall also include any
obligation owing to any Person under Hedging Agreements to the extent such
Person was a Lender or Affiliate thereof when such Hedging Agreement was
executed.
INDEMNIFIED PARTIES shall have the meaning assigned such term in
SECTION 12.03(A)(II).
INITIAL FUNDING shall mean the funding of the initial Loans or issuance
of the initial Letters of Credit upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth
in SECTIONS 6.01 and 6.02.
INTERCOMPANY DEBT shall mean funded Debt that is owed by an Obligor to
the Borrower or to any other Obligor, or by the Borrower or any other Obligor to
another Obligor.
INTERCOMPANY NOTES shall mean the promissory notes executed to evidence
the Intercompany Debt.
9
INTEREST PERIOD shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the period
commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is made and ending on the numerically
corresponding day in the first, second, third or sixth calendar month
thereafter, as the Borrower may select as provided in SECTION 2.02, except that
each Interest Period which commences on the last Business Day of a calendar
month (or on any day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the
appropriate subsequent calendar month) shall end on the last Business Day of the
appropriate subsequent calendar month. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) no
Interest Period with respect to Loans may end after the Termination Date in
respect of the Revolver Facility; (ii) no Interest Period for any LIBOR Loan may
end after the due date of any installment, if any, provided for in SECTION 3.01
to the extent that such LIBOR Loan would need to be prepaid prior to the end of
such Interest Period in order for such installment to be paid when due; (iii)
each Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business
Day shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (or, if such next succeeding
Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, on the next preceding
Business Day); and (iv) no Interest Period shall have a duration of less than
one month and, if the Interest Period for any LIBOR Loans would otherwise be for
a shorter period, such Loans shall not be available hereunder.
ISSUING BANK shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
introductory paragraph to this Agreement, or any other Lender agreed to between
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to issue Letters of Credit.
LC COMMITMENT at any time shall mean One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
LC EXPOSURE at any time shall mean the sum of (i) the aggregate amount
available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus (ii) the
aggregate of all amounts drawn under all Letters of Credit and not yet
reimbursed.
LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENTS shall mean the written agreements with the
Issuing Bank, as issuing lender for any Letter of Credit, executed in connection
with the issuance by the Issuing Bank of the Letters of Credit, such agreements
to be on the Issuing Bank's customary form for letters of credit of comparable
amount and purpose as from time to time in effect or as otherwise agreed to by
the Borrower and the Issuing Bank.
LETTERS OF CREDIT shall mean the stand-by letters of credit issued
pursuant to SECTION 2.01(B) and all reimbursement obligations pertaining to any
such letters of credit, and "LETTER OF CREDIT" shall mean any one of the Letters
of Credit and the reimbursement obligations pertaining thereto.
LEVERAGE RATIO has the meaning set forth in SECTION 9.15.
LIBOR shall mean the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to
the nearest 1/100 of 1%) of interest determined on the basis of the rate for
deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period
commencing on the first day of such Interest Period appearing on Dow ▇▇▇▇▇
Market Service Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days
prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period. In the event that such
rate does not appear on Dow ▇▇▇▇▇ Market Service Page 3750, "LIBOR" shall be
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) at which deposits in Dollars
are offered by leading reference banks in the London interbank market to the
Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days
prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to
such Interest Period and in an amount substantially equal to the amount of the
applicable Loan.
LIBOR LOANS shall mean Loans the interest rates on which are determined
on the basis of rates referred to in the definition of "ADJUSTED LIBOR".
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LIEN shall mean any interest in Property securing an obligation owed
to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such
interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such
obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to the
lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security
agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment
for security purposes. The term "LIEN" shall include reservations, exceptions,
encroachments, easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions,
leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property. For the
purposes of this Agreement, each Obligor shall be deemed to be the owner of any
Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement,
or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title
to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a
transaction intended to create a financing.
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT shall mean that certain Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Borrower dated as of _______, 20__,
as such agreement may be amended, extended, revised or replaced from time to
time.
LOAN DOCUMENTS shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty
Agreements, all Letters of Credit, all Letter of Credit Agreements, the Fee
Letter, the Security Instruments, Hedging Agreements entered into between
Borrower or any other Obligor and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender and the
Consent to Assignment.
LOANS shall mean the loans as provided for by SECTION 2.01(A) or any
continuations or conversions thereof.
MARGIN REGULATIONS shall mean Regulations U, T, and X fo the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States
MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT shall mean any material and adverse effect on
(i) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, operations or
affairs of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or Atlas Pipeline
Partners and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case taken as a whole, or
(ii) the ability of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, or Atlas
Pipeline Partners and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case taken as a
whole, to carry out their business as at the Closing Date, or (iii) the ability
of any Obligor to meet its obligations under the Loan Documents on a timely
basis, or (iv) the Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' interests in the
collateral securing the Indebtedness, or the Administrative Agents' or the
Lenders' ability to enforce their rights and remedies under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, at law or in equity.
MATERIAL AGREEMENTS shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
SECTION 7.20.
MAXIMUM REVOLVER AMOUNT shall mean, as to each Lender, the dollar
amount of such Lender's Percentage Share of the Revolver Facility (as the same
may be reduced pursuant to SECTION 2.03(A) pro rata to each Lender based on its
Percentage Share of the Revolver Facility), as modified from time to time to
reflect any assignments permitted by SECTION 12.06(B).
MOODY'S shall mean ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investor Service, Inc. and any successor
thereto.
MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN shall mean a Plan defined as such in Section 3(37)
or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
NOARK shall mean NOARK Pipeline System, Limited Partnership, an
Arkansas limited partnership.
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NOARK FINANCE shall mean NOARK Pipeline Finance, L.L.C., an Oklahoma
limited liability company, a wholly owned subsidiary of NOARK.
NOARK NOTES shall mean (i) the 7.15% Notes due 2018 issued by NOARK
Finance pursuant to that certain Indenture dated as of June 1, 1998, between
NOARK Finance and The Bank of New York as trustee, and (ii) the related Loan
Agreement dated as of June 1, 1998, between NOARK, as borrower, and NOARK
Finance, as lender.
NOTES shall mean, collectively, the Revolver Notes provided for by
SECTION 2.06, together with any and all renewals, extensions for any period,
increases, rearrangements, substitutions or modifications thereof.
OBLIGOR shall mean each Initial Obligor and each additional Person
party to a Guaranty.
OTHER TAXES shall have the meaning assigned such term in SECTION
4.06(B).
PARTICIPANT has the meaning set forth in SECTION 12.06.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions.
PERCENTAGE SHARE for each Lender shall mean on any date of
determination (i) for purposes of sharing any amount or fee payable to any
Lender in respect of the Facility (or subfacility thereof), the proportion that
the portion of the Principal Debt for the Facility (or subfacility thereof) owed
to such Lender (whether held directly or through a participation in respect of
the Letter of Credit subfacility and determined after giving effect thereto)
bears to the Principal Debt under the Facility (or subfacility thereof) owed to
all Lenders thereunder at the time in question, and (b) for all other purposes,
the proportion that the portion of the Principal Debt owed to such Lender bears
to the Principal Debt owed to all Lenders at the time in question, or if no
Principal Debt is outstanding, then the proportion that the aggregate of such
Lender's Commitment then in effect under the Facility bears to the Revolver
Commitment then in effect.
PERMITTED ACQUISITION shall mean any acquisition made pursuant to
SECTION 9.03(J).
PERMITTED LINE OF BUSINESS shall mean a line of business that is (i) a
business of master limited partnerships and (ii) midstream energy related,
including transporting, gathering, treating, processing, terminaling, storage,
marketing of Hydrocarbons, other than as a producer or refiner.
PERMITTED MERGER shall mean such merger or consolidation as is
permitted under SECTION 9.09.
PERSON shall mean any individual, corporation, company, voluntary
association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or
any other form of entity.
PLAN shall mean any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA, which (i) is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained
or contributed to by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or (ii)
was at any time during the preceding six calendar years sponsored, maintained or
contributed to, by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.
PLEDGES shall have the meaning assigned to such term in SECTION
10.03(D).
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POST-DEFAULT RATE shall mean, in respect of (i) all amounts due and
payable with respect to LIBOR Loans, a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%)
per annum above the rate then applicable to such LIBOR Loans until the end of
the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent
(2%) per annum above the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans and (ii) all
amounts due and payable with respect to Base Rate Loans and all other
obligations arising under the Facility, a rate per annum equal to two percent
(2%) per annum above the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans, provided in
each case that no Post-Default Rate charged by any person shall ever exceed the
Highest Lawful Rate.
PRIME RATE shall mean the rate of interest from time to time announced
publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime commercial lending rate. Such
rate is set by the Administrative Agent as a general reference rate of interest,
taking into account such factors as the Administrative Agent may deem
appropriate, it being understood that many of the Administrative Agent's
commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, that it is not
necessarily the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer and that
the Administrative Agent may make various commercial or other loans at rates of
interest having no relationship to such rate.
PRINCIPAL DEBT shall mean, on any date of determination, the aggregate
unpaid principal balance of all Loans, together with the aggregate unpaid
reimbursement obligations of Borrower in respect of drawings under any Letter of
Credit.
PRINCIPAL OFFICE shall mean the principal office of the Administrative
Agent, presently located at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
PROPERTY shall mean any interest in any kind of property or asset,
whether real, personal or mixed, moveable or immoveable, tangible or intangible.
QUARTERLY DATE shall mean the first day of each January, April, July,
and October in each year, the first of which shall be July, 2006; provided,
however, that if any such day is not a Business Day, such Quarterly Date shall
be the next succeeding Business Day.
QUARTERLY REPORTS shall have the meaning assigned to such term under
Section 8.01(f).
REGISTER has the meaning set forth in SECTION 12.06.
REGULATION D shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as the same may be amended or
supplemented from time to time.
REGULATORY CHANGE shall mean, with respect to any Lender, any change
after the Closing Date in any Governmental Requirement (including Regulation D)
or the adoption or making after such date of any interpretations, directives or
requests applying to a class of lenders (including such Lender or its Applicable
Lending Office) of or under any Governmental Requirement (whether or not having
the force of law) by any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation
or administration thereof.
RELATED PARTIES shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person's
Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors
of such Person and of such Person's Affiliates.
REQUIRED LENDERS shall mean Lenders holding (i) at least 66-2/3% of the
aggregate Revolver Commitments, if no Default or Event of Default exists, or
(ii) at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding Principal Debt, if a Default or Event
of Default exists.
REQUIRED PAYMENT shall have the meaning assigned such term in SECTION
4.04.
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RESERVE REQUIREMENT shall mean, for any Interest Period for any LIBOR
Loan, the average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal,
supplemental or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained during such
Interest Period under Regulation D by member banks of the Federal Reserve System
in New York City with deposits exceeding one billion Dollars against
"EUROCURRENCY LIABILITIES" (as such term is used in Regulation D). Without
limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any
other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks by reason of any
Regulatory Change against (i) any category of liabilities which includes
deposits by reference to which LIBOR is to be determined as provided in the
definition of "LIBOR" or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or other
assets which include a LIBOR Loan.
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER shall mean, as to any Person, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President or any Vice President of such Person and, with respect to
financial matters, the term "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" shall include the Chief
Financial Officer of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references to
a Responsible Officer herein shall mean a Responsible Officer of the General
Partner.
REVOLVER COMMITMENT shall mean, for any Lender, its obligation to make
Loans as provided in SECTION 2.01(A) and participate in the issuance of Letters
of Credit as provided in SECTION 2.01(B) up to such Lender's Maximum Revolver
Amount (as the same may be decreased pursuant to SECTION 2.03(A)).
REVOLVER FACILITY shall mean the credit facility as described in and
subject to the limitations set forth in SECTION 2.01(A) hereof (as the same may
be decreased pursuant to SECTION 2.03(A)).
REVOLVER NOTE shall mean a promissory note in substantially the form of
EXHIBIT A, and all renewals and extensions of all or any part thereof.
S&P shall mean Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of the
▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.
SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
Governmental Authority.
SECURITY INSTRUMENTS shall mean the agreements or instruments described
or referred to in EXHIBIT D, and any and all other agreements or instruments now
or hereafter executed and delivered by the Obligors or any other Person (other
than participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender
or creditor with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to this Agreement) in
connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of, the Notes,
the Guaranty Agreements, the Hedging Agreements constituting Loan Documents,
this Agreement, or reimbursement obligations under the Letters of Credit, as
such agreements may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.
SPECIAL ENTITY shall mean any joint venture, limited liability company
or partnership, general or limited partnership or any other type of partnership
or company other than a corporation in which the Borrower or one or more of its
other Subsidiaries is a member, owner, partner or joint venturer and owns,
directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the equity of such entity or
controls such entity, but excluding any tax partnerships that are not classified
as partnerships under state law. For purposes of this definition, any Person
which owns directly or indirectly an equity investment in another Person which
allows the first Person to manage or elect managers who manage the normal
activities of such second Person will be deemed to "CONTROL" such second Person
(e.g. a sole general partner controls a limited partnership).
SUBORDINATED DEBT shall mean any Indebtedness for borrowed money for
which an Obligor is directly and primarily obligated, so long as such Debt (i)
does not have any stated maturity before the maturity of the Facility, (ii) has
terms that are no more restrictive upon the Obligor than the terms of the Loan
Documents, (iii) is subordinated, upon terms satisfactory to Administrative
Agent, to the payment and collection of the Indebtedness, and (iv) is unsecured.
14
SUBSIDIARY shall mean (i) any corporation of which at least a majority
of the outstanding shares of stock having by the terms thereof ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes
of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or
controlled by the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries or by the Borrower
and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any Special Entity. References to
Subsidiaries of the Borrower or any Obligor shall include the Unrestricted
Entities.
TAXES shall have the meaning assigned such term in SECTION 4.06(A).
TERMINATION DATE shall mean (i) for purposes of the Revolver Facility,
the earlier of (a) April 13, 2010, and (b) the effective date that Lenders'
Revolver Commitments are otherwise canceled or terminated.
TYPE shall mean, with respect to any Loan, a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR
Loan.
UNRESTRICTED ENTITIES shall mean Atlas Pipeline Partners and its
Subsidiaries and any other Subsidiaries of the Borrower designated as
Unrestricted Entities by the Borrower and approved by Required Lenders..
WACHOVIA shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association.
WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY shall mean a Subsidiary for which all of the
outstanding shares of stock or other equity of such entity is owned directly or
indirectly by Borrower.
Section 1.03 ACCOUNTING TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS. Unless otherwise
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all
determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and
all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters
required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder
shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with
the audited financial statements of the Borrower referred to in SECTION 7.02
(except for changes concurred with by the Borrower's independent public
accountants).
ARTICLE II
COMMITMENTS
Section 2.01 LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT
(a) LOANS. Subject to and in reliance upon the terms,
conditions, representations and warranties in the Loan Documents, each
Lender severally agrees to make Loans to the Borrower during the period
from and including (i) the Closing Date or (ii) such later date that
such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement as provided in SECTION
12.06(B), to and up to, but excluding, the Termination Date in respect
of the Revolver Facility in an aggregate principal amount at any one
time outstanding up to, but not exceeding, the amount of such Lender's
Revolver Commitment as then in effect; provided however, that the
aggregate principal amount of all such Loans by all Lenders hereunder
at any one time outstanding together with the LC Exposure shall not
exceed the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount. Subject to the terms of
this Agreement, during the period from the Closing Date to and up to,
but excluding, the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver
Facility, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow the amount
described in this SECTION 2.01(A).
15
(b) LETTERS OF CREDIT. During the period from and including
the Closing Date to, but excluding, five (5) Business Days prior to the
Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility, the Issuing Bank,
as issuing bank for the Lenders, agrees to extend credit for the
account of any Obligor at any time and from time to time by issuing,
renewing, extending or reissuing Letters of Credit; provided however,
that the LC Exposure at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the
lesser of (i) the LC Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Maximum Revolver
Amount, as then in effect, minus the aggregate principal amount of all
Loans then outstanding. The Lenders shall participate in such Letters
of Credit according to their respective Percentage Shares of the
Revolver Facility. Each of the Letters of Credit shall (i) be issued by
the Issuing Bank, (ii) contain such terms and provisions as are
reasonably required by the Issuing Bank, (iii) be for the account of
such Obligor, and (iv) expire not later than the earlier of (A) twelve
months from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit and (B) five
(5) Business Days before the Termination Date in respect of the
Revolver Facility.
(c) LIMITATION ON TYPES OF LOANS. Subject to the other terms
and provisions of this Agreement, at the option of the Borrower, the
Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans; provided that, without the
prior written consent of the Required Lenders, no more than five LIBOR
Loans may be outstanding at any time.
Section 2.02 BORROWINGS, CONTINUATIONS AND CONVERSIONS, LETTERS OF
CREDIT.
(a) BORROWINGS. The Borrower shall give the Administrative
Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) advance notice as
hereinafter provided of each borrowing hereunder, which shall specify
(i) the aggregate amount of such borrowing, (ii) the Type and (iii) the
date (which shall be a Business Day) of the Loans, and (iv) (in the
case of LIBOR Loans) the duration of the Interest Period therefor.
(b) MINIMUM AMOUNTS. If a borrowing consists in whole or in
part of LIBOR Loans, such LIBOR Loans shall be in amounts of at least
Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) or any whole multiple of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof. If a borrowing consists in
whole or in part of Base Rate Loans, such Base Rate Loans shall be in
amounts of at least Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) or integral
multiples of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof.
(c) NOTICES. All borrowings, continuations and conversions
shall require advance written notice to the Administrative Agent (which
shall promptly notify the Lenders) in the form of EXHIBIT B (or
telephonic notice promptly confirmed by such a written notice), which
in each case shall be irrevocable, from the Borrower to be received by
the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. Charlotte, North
Carolina time at least one Business Day prior to the date of each Base
Rate Loan borrowing and three Business Days prior to the date of each
LIBOR Loan borrowing, continuation or conversion. Without in any way
limiting the Borrower's obligation to confirm in writing any telephonic
notice, the Administrative Agent may act without liability upon the
basis of telephonic notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good
faith to be from the Borrower prior to receipt of written confirmation.
In each such case, the Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the
Administrative Agent's record of the terms of such telephonic notice
except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the
Administrative Agent.
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(d) CONTINUATION OPTIONS. Subject to the provisions made in
this SECTION 2.02(D), the Borrower may elect to continue all or any
part of any LIBOR Loan beyond the expiration of the then current
Interest Period relating thereto by giving advance notice as provided
in SECTION 2.02(C) to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly
notify the Lenders) of such election, specifying the amount of such
Loan to be continued and the Interest Period therefor. In the absence
of such a timely and proper election, the Borrower shall be deemed to
have elected to convert such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan pursuant to
SECTION 2.02(E). All or any part of any LIBOR Loan may be continued as
provided herein, provided that (i) any continuation of any such Loan
shall be (as to each Loan as continued for an applicable Interest
Period) in amounts of at least Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) or
any whole multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess
thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If a
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each LIBOR Loan shall be
converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto.
(e) CONVERSION OPTIONS. The Borrower may elect to convert all
or any part of any LIBOR Loan on the last day of the then current
Interest Period relating thereto to a Base Rate Loan by giving advance
notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the
Lenders) of such election. Subject to the provisions made in this
SECTION 2.02(E), the Borrower may elect to convert all or any part of
any Base Rate Loan at any time and from time to time to a LIBOR Loan by
giving advance notice as provided in SECTION 2.02(C) to the
Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of such
election. All or any part of any outstanding Loan may be converted as
provided herein, provided that (i) any conversion of any Base Rate Loan
into a LIBOR Loan shall be (as to each such Loan into which there is a
conversion for an applicable Interest Period) in amounts of at least
Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) or any whole multiple of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing. If a Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, no Base Rate Loan may be converted into a LIBOR Loan.
(f) ADVANCES. Not later than 12:00 p.m. Charlotte, North
Carolina time on the date specified for each the borrowing hereunder,
each Lender shall make available the amount of the Loan to be made by
it on such date to the Administrative Agent, to an account which the
Administrative Agent shall specify, in immediately available funds, for
the account of the Borrower. The amounts so received by the
Administrative Agent shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, be made available to the Borrower by depositing the same, in
immediately available funds, in an account of the Borrower, designated
by the Borrower and maintained at the Principal Office, or in such
other accounts designated by the Borrower.
(g) LETTERS OF CREDIT. The Borrower shall give the Issuing
Bank (which shall promptly notify the Lenders of such request and their
Percentage Share of such Letter of Credit) advance notice to be
received by the Issuing Bank not later than 12:00 p.m. Charlotte, North
Carolina time not less than three Business Days prior thereto of each
request for the issuance, and at least ten Business Days prior to the
date of the renewal or extension, of a Letter of Credit hereunder which
request shall specify (i) the amount of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the
date (which shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be
issued, renewed or extended, (iii) the duration thereof, (iv) the name
and address of the beneficiary thereof, and (v) such other information
as the Issuing Bank may reasonably request, all of which shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, on the date specified for the issuance,
renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent
shall issue, renew or extend such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary
thereof.
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In conjunction with the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower
shall execute a Letter of Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between
any provision of a Letter of Credit Agreement and this Agreement, the Borrower,
the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the
provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
The Issuing Bank will send to the Borrower and each Lender, immediately
upon issuance of any Letter of Credit, or an amendment thereto, a true and
complete copy of such Letter of Credit, or such amendment thereto.
Section 2.03 CHANGES OF COMMITMENTS.
(a) The Borrower shall have the right to terminate or to
reduce the amount of the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amounts at any
time, or from time to time, upon not less than thirty (30) days' prior
notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the
Lenders) of each such termination or reduction, which notice shall
specify the effective date thereof and the amount of any such reduction
(which shall not be less than Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) or any
whole multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof,
and no more than an amount by which the Aggregate Maximum Revolver
Amounts would be less than the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Loans plus the LC Exposure) and shall be irrevocable and
effective only upon receipt by the Administrative Agent.
(b) The Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amounts, once terminated or
reduced, may not be reinstated.
Section 2.04 FEES.
(a) COMMITMENT FEE. The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee on
the daily average unused amount of the aggregate Revolver Commitments,
up to, but excluding, the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver
Facility at a rate per annum equal to 0.50%. Accrued commitment fees
shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and on the
Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility.
(b) LETTER OF CREDIT FEES.
(i) The Borrower agrees to pay the Administrative
Agent, for the account of each Lender, commissions for issuing
the Letters of Credit on the daily average outstanding of the
maximum liability of the Issuing Bank existing from time to
time under such Letter of Credit (calculated separately for
each Letter of Credit) at the rate per annum equal to the
Applicable Margin in effect from time to time for LIBOR Loans,
provided, that each Letter of Credit shall bear a minimum
commission of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) and further
provided, during any period commencing on the date of an Event
of Default until the same is paid in full or all Events of
Default are cured and waived, equal to the Post-Default Rate.
Each Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding up to
the full face amount of the Letter of Credit until the Issuing
Bank has received the canceled Letter of Credit or a written
cancellation of the Letter of Credit from the beneficiary of
such Letter of Credit in form and substance acceptable to the
Issuing Bank, or for any reductions in the amount of the
Letter of Credit (other than from a drawing), written
notification from the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit.
Such commissions are payable in advance at issuance of the
Letter of Credit for the first year thereof and thereafter,
quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and upon
cancellation or expiration of each such Letter of Credit.
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(ii) The Borrower agrees to pay the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, commissions for
issuing the Letters of Credit (calculated separately for each
Letter of Credit) equal to 0.125% of the face amount of each
Letter of Credit, payable upon issuance of such Letter of
Credit.
(iii) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, other customery
fees assessed by the Issuing Bank in connection with the
administration of its Letters of Credit.
(c) FEE LETTER. The Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent
and the Sole Lead Arranger for their respective accounts such other
fees as are set forth in the Fee Letter on the dates specified therein
to the extent not paid prior to the Closing Date.
Section 2.05 SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS. The failure of any Lender to make any
Loan to be made by it or to provide funds for disbursements or reimbursements
under Letters of Credit on the date specified therefor shall not relieve any
other Lender of its obligation to make its Loan or provide funds on such date,
but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make a
Loan to be made by such other Lender or to provide funds to be provided by such
other Lender.
Section 2.06 NOTES. The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by
a Revolver Note dated as of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) the effective date of
an Assignment and Assumption, payable to the order of such Lender in a principal
amount equal to its Maximum Revolver Amount as originally in effect and
otherwise duly completed and such substitute Notes as required by SECTION 12.06.
The date, amount, Type, interest rate and Interest Period of each Loan made by
each Lender, and all payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be
recorded by such Lender on its books for its Note, and, prior to any transfer
may be endorsed by such Lender on the schedule attached to such Note or any
continuation thereof or on any separate record maintained by such Lender.
Failure to make any such notation or to attach a schedule shall not affect any
Lender's or the Borrower's rights or obligations in respect of such Loans or
affect the validity of such transfer by any Lender of its Note.
Section 2.07 PREPAYMENTS.
(a) VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENTS. The Borrower may prepay the Base
Rate Loans upon not less than one (1) Business Day's prior notice to
the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders),
which notice shall specify the prepayment date (which shall be a
Business Day) and the amount of the prepayment (which shall be at least
One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) or the remaining aggregate
principal balance outstanding on the Notes) and shall be irrevocable
and effective only upon receipt by the Administrative Agent, provided
that interest on the principal prepaid, accrued to the prepayment date,
shall be paid on the prepayment date. The Borrower may prepay LIBOR
Loans on the same conditions as for Base Rate Loans (except that prior
notice to the Administrative Agent shall be not less than three (3)
Business Days for LIBOR Loans) and in addition such prepayments of
LIBOR Loans shall be subject to the terms of SECTION 5.05 and shall be
in an amount equal to all of the LIBOR Loans for the Interest Period
prepaid. In the event of a voluntary prepayment of any Loans pursuant
to this SECTION 2.07(A), Borrower shall be entitled to reborrow such
amounts pursuant to SECTION 2.01(A).
(b) GENERALLY. Prepayments permitted under this SECTION 2.07
shall be without premium or penalty, except as required under SECTION
5.05 for prepayment of LIBOR Loans. With respect to the Loans, any
voluntary prepayments may be reborrowed subject to the then effective
Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount.
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Section 2.08 ASSUMPTION OF RISKS. The Borrower assumes all risks of the
acts or omissions of any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any transferee
thereof with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit. Neither the Issuing
Bank (except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part
of the Issuing Bank or any of its employees), its correspondents nor any Lender
shall be responsible for the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of
certificates or other documents or any endorsements thereon, even if such
certificates or other documents should in fact prove to be invalid,
insufficient, fraudulent or forged; for errors, omissions, interruptions or
delays in transmissions or delivery of any messages by mail, telex, or
otherwise, whether or not they be in code; for errors in translation or for
errors in interpretation of technical terms; the validity or sufficiency of any
instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any
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;
the failure of any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit to
comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon any Letter of
Credit; or for any other consequences arising from causes beyond the Issuing
Bank's control or the control of the Issuing Bank's correspondents. In addition,
neither the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be
responsible for any error, neglect, or default of any of the Issuing Bank's
correspondents; and none of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the
vesting of any of the Issuing Bank's, the Administrative Agent's or any Lender's
rights or powers hereunder or under the Letter of Credit Agreements, all of
which rights shall be cumulative. The Issuing Bank and its correspondents may
accept certificates or other documents that appear on their face to be in order,
without responsibility for further investigation of any matter contained therein
regardless of any notice or information to the contrary. In furtherance and not
in limitation of the foregoing provisions, the Borrower agrees that any action,
inaction or omission taken or not taken by the Issuing Bank or by any
correspondent for the Issuing Bank in good faith in connection with any Letter
of Credit, or any related drafts, certificates, documents or instruments, shall
be binding on the Borrower and shall not put the Issuing Bank or its
correspondents under any resulting liability to the Borrower.
Section 2.09 OBLIGATION TO REIMBURSE AND TO PREPAY.
(a) If a disbursement by the Issuing Bank is made under any
Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent
within two (2) Business Days after notice of any such disbursement is
received by the Borrower, the amount of each such disbursement made by
the Issuing Bank under the Letter of Credit (if such payment is not
sooner effected as may be required under this SECTION 2.09 or under
other provisions of the Letter of Credit), together with interest on
the amount disbursed from and including the date of disbursement until
payment in full of such disbursed amount at a varying rate per annum
equal to (i) the then applicable interest rate for Base Rate Loans
through the second Business Day after notice of such disbursement is
received by the Borrower and (ii) thereafter, the Post-Default Rate for
Base Rate Loans (but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate) for
the period from and including the third Business Day following the date
of such disbursement to and including the date of repayment in full of
such disbursed amount. The obligations of the Borrower under this
Agreement with respect to each Letter of Credit shall be absolute,
unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid or performed strictly
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances
whatsoever, including, without limitation, but only to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, the following circumstances: (i)
any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Letter of
Credit or any of the Security Instruments; (ii) any amendment or waiver
of (including any default), or any consent to departure from this
Agreement (except to the extent permitted by any amendment or waiver),
any Letter of Credit or any of the Security Instruments; (iii) the
existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other rights which the
Borrower may have at any time against the beneficiary of any Letter of
Credit or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for
whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the
Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person,
whether in connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the
Security Instruments, the transactions contemplated hereby or any
unrelated transaction; (iv) any statement, certificate, draft, notice
or any other document presented under any Letter of Credit proves to
have been forged, fraudulent, insufficient or invalid in any respect or
any statement therein proves to have been untrue or inaccurate in any
respect whatsoever; (v) payment by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of
Credit against presentation of a draft certificate which appears on its
face to comply, but does not comply, with the terms of such Letter of
Credit; and (vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever,
whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
20
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
Borrower will not be liable for payment or performance that results
from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank,
except (i) where the Borrower or any Subsidiary actually recovers the
proceeds for itself or the Issuing Bank of any payment made by the
Issuing Bank in connection with such gross negligence or willful
misconduct or (ii) in cases where the Administrative Agent makes
payment to the named beneficiary of a Letter of Credit.
(b) In the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default or
the maturity of the Revolver Notes, whether by acceleration or
otherwise, an amount equal to the LC Exposure shall be deemed to be
forthwith due and owing by the Borrower to the Issuing Bank, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders as of the date of any such
occurrence; and the Borrower's obligation to pay such amount shall be
absolute and unconditional, without regard to whether any beneficiary
of any such Letter of Credit has attempted to draw down all or a
portion of such amount under the terms of a Letter of Credit, and, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be subject to
any defense or be affected by a right of set-off, counterclaim or
recoupment which the Borrower may now or hereafter have against any
such beneficiary, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent, the
Lenders or any other Person for any reason whatsoever. Such payments
shall be held by the Issuing Bank on behalf of the Lenders as cash
collateral securing the LC Exposure in an account or accounts at the
Principal Office; and the Borrower hereby grants to and by its deposit
with the Administrative Agent grants to the Administrative Agent a
security interest in such cash collateral. In the event of any such
payment by the Borrower of amounts contingently owing under outstanding
Letters of Credit and in the event that thereafter drafts or other
demands for payment complying with the terms of such Letters of Credit
are not made prior to the respective expiration dates thereof, the
Administrative Agent agrees, if no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or if no other amounts are outstanding under this Agreement,
the Notes or the Security Instruments, to remit to the Borrower amounts
for which the contingent obligations evidenced by the Letters of Credit
have ceased.
(c) Each Lender severally and unconditionally agrees that it
shall promptly reimburse the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such
Lender's Percentage Share of any disbursement made by the Issuing Bank
under any Letter of Credit that is not reimbursed according to this
SECTION 2.09.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and subject to
Availability under the Revolver Facility, to the extent the Borrower
has not reimbursed the Issuing Bank for any drawn upon Letter of Credit
within one (1) Business Day after notice of such disbursement has been
received by the Borrower, the amount of such Letter of Credit
reimbursement obligation shall automatically be funded by the Lenders
as a Loan hereunder and used by the Lenders to pay such Letter of
Credit reimbursement obligation. If an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, or if the funding of such Letter of Credit
reimbursement obligation as a Loan would cause the aggregate amount of
all Loans outstanding to exceed the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount
(after reduction for LC Exposure), such Letter of Credit reimbursement
obligation shall not be funded as a Loan, but instead shall accrue
interest as provided in SECTION 2.09(A).
21
Section 2.10 LENDING OFFICES. The Loans of each Type made by each
Lender shall be made and maintained at such Lender's Applicable Lending Office
for Loans of such Type.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST
Section 3.01 REPAYMENT OF LOANS.
(a) LOANS. The Principal Debt is due and payable on the
Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility.
(b) GENERALLY. The Borrower will pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of each Lender, the principal payments required
by this SECTION 3.01.
Section 3.02 INTEREST.
(a) INTEREST RATES. The Borrower will pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, interest on the
unpaid principal amount of each Loan made by such Lender for the period
commencing on the date such Loan is made to, but excluding, the date
such Loan shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:
(i) if such a Loan is a Base Rate Loan, the Base Rate
(as in effect from time to time) plus the Applicable Margin,
but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate; and
(ii) if such a Loan is a LIBOR Loan, for each
Interest Period relating thereto, the Adjusted LIBOR for such
Loan plus the Applicable Margin (as in effect from time to
time), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.
(b) POST-DEFAULT RATE. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each
Lender, interest at the applicable Post-Default Rate on any Loan made
by such Lender, and (to the fullest extent permitted by law) on any
other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder, under any Loan Document
or under any Note held by such Lender to or for account of such Lender,
for the period commencing on the date of an Event of Default until the
same is paid in full or all Events of Default are cured or waived.
(c) DUE DATES. Accrued interest on Base Rate Loans shall be
payable on each Quarterly Date commencing on July 1, 2006, and accrued
interest on each LIBOR Loan shall be payable on the last day of the
Interest Period therefor and, if such Interest Period is longer than
three months, at three-month intervals following the first day of such
Interest Period, except that interest payable at the Post-Default Rate
shall be payable from time to time on demand and interest on any LIBOR
Loan that is converted into a Base Rate Loan (pursuant to SECTION 5.04)
shall be payable on the date of conversion (but only to the extent so
converted). Any accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans on the
Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility shall be paid on
such date.
(d) DETERMINATION OF RATES. Promptly after the determination
of any interest rate provided for herein or any change therein, the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders to which such interest is
payable and the Borrower thereof. Each determination by the
Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall, except
in cases of manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding on the
parties.
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ARTICLE IV
PAYMENTS; PRO RATA TREATMENT; COMPUTATIONS; ETC.
Section 4.01 PAYMENTS. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein,
all payments of principal, interest and other amounts to be made by the Borrower
under this Agreement, the Notes, Letters of Credit, and the Letter of Credit
Agreements shall be made in Dollars, in immediately available funds, to the
Administrative Agent at such account as the Administrative Agent shall specify
by notice to the Borrower from time to time, not later than 12:00 p.m.
Charlotte, North Carolina time on the date on which such payments shall become
due (each such payment made after such time on such due date to be deemed to
have been made on the next succeeding Business Day). Such payments shall be made
without (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) defense, set-off or
counterclaim. Each payment received by the Administrative Agent under this
Agreement or any Note for account of a Lender shall be paid promptly to such
Lender in immediately available funds. Except as otherwise provided in the
definition of "Interest Period", if the due date of any payment under this
Agreement or any Note would otherwise fall on a day which is not a Business Day
such date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and interest
shall be payable for any principal so extended for the period of such extension.
At the time of each payment to the Administrative Agent of any principal of or
interest on any borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of
the Loans to which such payment shall apply. In the absence of such notice the
Administrative Agent may specify the Loans to which such payment shall apply,
but to the extent possible such payment or prepayment will be applied first to
the Loans comprised of Base Rate Loans.
Section 4.02 PRO RATA TREATMENT. Except to the extent otherwise
provided herein, each Lender agrees that: (i) each borrowing from the Lenders
under SECTION 2.01 and each continuation and conversion under SECTION 2.02 shall
be made from the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Share of
the aggregate Revolver Commitments, each payment of fees under SECTIONS 2.04(A)
and 2.04(B)(I), shall be made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance
with their Percentage Share of the aggregate Revolver Commitments, and each
termination or reduction of the amount of the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount
under SECTION 2.03(A) shall be applied to the Revolver Commitment of each
Lender, pro rata according to the amounts of its respective Revolver Commitment;
(ii) each payment of principal of Loans by the Borrower shall be made for
account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid
principal amount of the Loans held by the Lenders; (iii) each payment of
interest on Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Lenders pro
rata in accordance with the amounts of interest due and payable to the
respective Lenders; (iv) each reimbursement by the Borrower of disbursements
under Letters of Credit shall be made for account of the Issuing Bank or, if
funded by the Lenders, pro rata for the account of the Lenders in accordance
with the amounts of reimbursement obligations due and payable to each respective
Lender.
Section 4.03 COMPUTATIONS. Interest on LIBOR Loans and fees shall be
computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed (including
the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such
interest is payable, unless such calculation would exceed the Highest Lawful
Rate, in which case interest shall be calculated on the per annum basis of a
year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be. Interest on Base Rate Loans shall
be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and
actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which such interest is payable.
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Section 4.04 NON-RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Lender or the Borrower
prior to the date on which such notifying party is scheduled to make payment to
the Administrative Agent (in the case of a Lender) of the proceeds of a Loan or
a payment under a Letter of Credit to be made by it hereunder or (in the case of
the Borrower) a payment to the Administrative Agent for account of one or more
of the Lenders hereunder (such payment being herein called the "REQUIRED
Payment"), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that it does not intend
to make the Required Payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative
Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made and may, in reliance
upon such assumption (but shall not be required to), make the amount thereof
available to the intended recipient(s) on such date and, if such Lender or the
Borrower (as the case may be) has not in fact made the Required Payment to the
Administrative Agent, the recipient(s) of such payment shall, on demand, repay
to the Administrative Agent the amount so made available together with interest
thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such
amount was so made available by the Administrative Agent until, but excluding,
the date the Administrative Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum
which, for any Lender as recipient, will be equal to the Federal Funds Rate, and
for the Borrower as recipient, will be equal to the Base Rate plus the
Applicable Margin.
Section 4.05 SET-OFF, SHARING OF PAYMENTS, ETC.
(a) The Borrower agrees that, in addition to (and without
limitation of) any right of set-off, bankers' lien or counterclaim a
Lender may otherwise have, each Lender shall have the right and be
entitled (after consultation with the Administrative Agent), at its
option, to offset balances held by it or by any of its Affiliates for
account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at any of its offices, in
Dollars or in any other currency, against any principal of or interest
on any of such Lender's Loans, or any other amount payable to such
Lender hereunder, which is not paid when due (regardless of whether
such balances are then due to the Borrower), in which case it shall
promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof,
provided that such Lender's failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity thereof.
(b) If any Lender shall obtain payment of any principal of or
interest on any Loan made by it to the Borrower under this Agreement
(or reimbursement as to any Letter of Credit) through the exercise of
any right of set-off, banker's lien or counterclaim or similar right or
otherwise, and, as a result of such payment, such Lender shall have
received a greater percentage of the principal or interest (or
reimbursement) then due hereunder by the Borrower to such Lender than
the percentage received by any other Lenders, it shall promptly (i)
notify the Administrative Agent and each other Lender thereof and (ii)
purchase from such other Lenders participations in (or, if and to the
extent specified by such Lender, direct interests in) the Loans (or
participations in Letters of Credit) made by such other Lenders (or in
interest due thereon, as the case may be) in such amounts, and make
such other adjustments from time to time as shall be equitable, to the
end that all the Lenders shall share the benefit of such excess payment
(net of any expenses which may be incurred by such Lender in obtaining
or preserving such excess payment) pro rata in accordance with the
unpaid principal and/or interest on the Loans held by each of the
Lenders (or reimbursements of Letters of Credit). To such end all the
Lenders shall make appropriate adjustments among themselves (by the
resale of participations sold or otherwise) if such payment is
rescinded or must otherwise be restored. The Borrower agrees that any
Lender so purchasing a participation (or direct interest) in the Loans
made by other Lenders (or in interest due thereon, as the case may be)
may exercise all rights of set-off, banker's lien, counterclaim or
similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such
Lender were a direct holder of Loans (or Letters of Credit) in the
amount of such participation. Nothing contained herein shall require
any Lender to exercise any such right or shall affect the right of any
Lender to exercise, and retain the benefits of exercising, any such
right with respect to any other indebtedness or obligation of the
Borrower. If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a set-off
to which this SECTION 4.05 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent
practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a
manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this
SECTION 4.05 to share the benefits of any recovery on such secured
claim.
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Section 4.06 TAXES.
(a) PAYMENTS FREE AND CLEAR. Any and all payments by the
Borrower hereunder shall be made, in accordance with SECTION 4.01, free
and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future
taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all
liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each
Lender, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on
its income, and franchise or similar taxes imposed on it, by (i) any
jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) of which the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender, as the case may
be, is a citizen or resident or in which such Lender has an Applicable
Lending Office, (ii) the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision
thereof) in which the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such
Lender is organized, or (iii) any jurisdiction (or political
subdivision thereof) in which such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the
Administrative Agent is presently doing business which taxes are
imposed solely as a result of doing business in such jurisdiction (all
such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges,
withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "TAXES").
If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in
respect of any sum payable hereunder to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank
or the Administrative Agent (i) the sum payable shall be increased by
the amount necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this
SECTION 4.06) such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent
(as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would
have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall
make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount
deducted to the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) OTHER TAXES. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future
stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes,
charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or
from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement, any Assignment and Assumption or any
Security Instrument (hereinafter referred to as "OTHER TAXES").
(c) INDEMNIFICATION. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, THE BORROWER WILL INDEMNIFY EACH LENDER, THE ISSUING
BANK AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF TAXES AND
OTHER TAXES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY TAXES OR OTHER TAXES
IMPOSED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON AMOUNTS PAYABLE UNDER THIS
SECTION 4.06) PAID BY SUCH LENDER, THE ISSUING BANK OR THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (ON THEIR BEHALF OR ON BEHALF OF ANY LENDER), AS
THE CASE MAY BE, AND ANY LIABILITY (INCLUDING PENALTIES, INTEREST AND
EXPENSES) ARISING THEREFROM OR WITH RESPECT THERETO, WHETHER OR NOT
SUCH TAXES OR OTHER TAXES WERE CORRECTLY OR LEGALLY ASSERTED UNLESS THE
PAYMENT OF SUCH TAXES WAS NOT CORRECTLY OR LEGALLY ASSERTED AND SUCH
LENDER'S PAYMENT OF SUCH TAXES OR OTHER TAXES WAS THE RESULT OF ITS
GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT. ANY PAYMENT PURSUANT TO SUCH
INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE MADE WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE
ANY LENDER, THE ISSUING BANK OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AS THE CASE
MAY BE, MAKES WRITTEN DEMAND THEREFOR. IF ANY LENDER, ISSUING BANK OR
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT RECEIVES A REFUND OR CREDIT IN RESPECT OF ANY
TAXES OR OTHER TAXES FOR WHICH SUCH LENDER, ISSUING BANK OR THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT FROM THE BORROWER, IT SHALL
PROMPTLY NOTIFY THE BORROWER OF SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT AND SHALL, IF NO
DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING, WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER
RECEIPT OF A REQUEST BY THE BORROWER (OR PROMPTLY UPON RECEIPT, IF THE
BORROWER HAS REQUESTED APPLICATION FOR SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT PURSUANT
HERETO), PAY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT TO THE BORROWER
WITHOUT INTEREST (BUT WITH ANY INTEREST SO REFUNDED OR CREDITED),
PROVIDED, THAT THE BORROWER, UPON THE REQUEST OF SUCH LENDER, THE
ISSUING BANK OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AGREES TO RETURN SUCH REFUND
OR CREDIT (PLUS PENALTIES, INTEREST OR OTHER CHARGES) TO SUCH LENDER OR
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IN THE EVENT SUCH LENDER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT IS REQUIRED TO REPAY SUCH REFUND OR CREDIT.
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(d) LENDER REPRESENTATIONS.
(i) Each Lender represents that it is either (1) a
banking association or corporation organized under the laws of
the United States of America or any state thereof or (2) it is
entitled to complete exemption from United States withholding
tax imposed on or with respect to any payments, including
fees, to be made to it pursuant to this Agreement (A) under an
applicable provision of a tax convention to which the United
States of America is a party or (B) because it is acting
through a branch, agency or office in the United States of
America and any payment to be received by it hereunder is
effectively connected with a trade or business in the United
States of America. Each Lender that is not a banking
association or corporation organized under the laws of the
United States of America or any state thereof agrees to
provide to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on the
Closing Date, or on the date of its delivery of the Assignment
and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender, and at
such other times as required by United States law or as the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request,
two accurate and complete original signed copies of either (1)
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or successor form)
certifying that all payments to be made to it hereunder will
be effectively connected to a United States trade or business
(the "FORM W-8ECI CERTIFICATION") or (2) Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8BEN (or successor form) certifying that it is
entitled to the benefit of a provision of a tax convention to
which the United States of America is a party which completely
exempts from United States withholding tax all payments to be
made to it hereunder (the "FORM W-8BEN CERTIFICATION"). In
addition, each Lender agrees that if it previously filed a
Form W-8ECI Certification, it will deliver to the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent a new Form W-8ECI Certification prior
to the first payment date occurring in each of its subsequent
taxable years; and if it previously filed a Form W-8BEN
Certification, it will deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent a new certification prior to the first
payment date falling in the third year following the previous
filing of such certification. Each Lender also agrees to
deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent such
other or supplemental forms as may at any time be required as
a result of changes in applicable law or regulation in order
to confirm or maintain in effect its entitlement to exemption
from United States withholding tax on any payments hereunder,
provided that the circumstances of such Lender at the relevant
time and applicable laws permit it to do so. If a Lender
determines, as a result of any change in either (i) a
Governmental Requirement or (ii) its circumstances, that it is
unable to submit any form or certificate that it is obligated
to submit pursuant to this SECTION 4.06, or that it is
required to withdraw or cancel any such form or certificate
previously submitted, it shall promptly notify the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent of such fact. If a Lender is
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United
States of America, unless the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent have received a Form W-8BEN Certification or Form W-8ECI
Certification satisfactory to them indicating that all
payments to be made to such Lender hereunder are not subject
to United States withholding tax, the Borrower shall withhold
taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate.
Each Lender agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Borrower
or Administrative Agent, as applicable, from any United States
taxes, penalties, interest and other expenses, costs and
losses incurred or payable by (i) the Administrative Agent as
a result of such Lender's failure to submit any form or
certificate that it is required to provide pursuant to this
SECTION 4.06 or (ii) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent
as a result of their reliance on any such form or certificate
which such Lender has provided to them pursuant to this
SECTION 4.06.
26
(ii) For any period with respect to which a Lender
has failed to provide the Borrower with the form required
pursuant to this SECTION 4.06, if any (other than if such
failure is due to a change in a Governmental Requirement
occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally
was required to be provided), such Lender shall not be
entitled to indemnification under this SECTION 4.06 with
respect to taxes imposed by the United States which taxes
would not have been imposed but for such failure to provide
such forms; provided, however, that if a Lender, which is
otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of
withholding tax, becomes subject to taxes because of its
failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower
shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request
to assist such Lender to recover such taxes.
(iii) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts
payable pursuant to this SECTION 4.06 shall use reasonable
efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to
file any certificate or document requested by the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent or to change the jurisdiction of its
Applicable Lending Office or to contest any tax imposed if the
making of such a filing or change or contesting such tax would
avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such additional
amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole
determination of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to
such Lender.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
Section 5.01 ADDITIONAL COSTS.
(a) LIBOR REGULATIONS, ETC. The Borrower shall pay directly to
each Lender from time to time such amounts as such Lender may determine
to be necessary to compensate such Lender for any costs which it
determines are attributable to its making or maintaining of any LIBOR
Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit hereunder or its
obligation to make any LIBOR Loans or issue or participate in any
Letters of Credit hereunder, or any reduction in any amount receivable
by such Lender hereunder in respect of any of such LIBOR Loans, Letters
of Credit (such increases in costs and reductions in amounts receivable
being herein called "ADDITIONAL COSTS"), resulting from any Regulatory
Change which: (i) changes the basis of taxation of any amounts payable
to such Lender under this Agreement or any Note in respect of any of
such LIBOR Loans or Letters of Credit (other than taxes imposed on the
overall net income of such Lender or of its Applicable Lending Office
for any of such LIBOR Loans by the jurisdiction in which such Lender
has its principal office or Applicable Lending Office); or (ii) imposes
or modifies any reserve, special deposit, minimum capital, capital
ratio or similar requirements relating to any extensions of credit or
other assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities of such
Lender, or the Commitment or Loans of such Lender or the London
interbank market; or (iii) imposes any other condition affecting this
Agreement or any Note (or any of such extensions of credit or
liabilities) or such Lender's Commitment or Loans. Each Lender will
notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of any event occurring
after the Closing Date which will entitle such Lender to compensation
pursuant to this SECTION 5.01(A) as promptly as practicable after it
obtains knowledge thereof and determines to request such compensation,
and will designate a different Applicable Lending Office for the Loans
of such Lender affected by such event if such designation will avoid
the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not,
in the sole opinion of such Lender, be disadvantageous to such Lender,
provided that such Lender shall have no obligation to so designate an
Applicable Lending Office located in the United States. If any Lender
requests compensation from the Borrower under this SECTION 5.01(A), the
Borrower may, by notice to such Lender, suspend the obligation of such
Lender to make additional Loans of the Type with respect to which such
compensation is requested until the Regulatory Change giving rise to
such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of
SECTION 5.04 shall be applicable).
27
(b) REGULATORY CHANGE. Without limiting the effect of the
provisions of SECTION 5.01(A), in the event that at any time (by reason
of any Regulatory Change or any other circumstances arising after the
Closing Date affecting (i) any Lender, (ii) the London interbank market
or (iii) such Lender's position in such market), the Adjusted LIBOR, as
determined in good faith by such Lender, will not adequately and fairly
reflect the cost to such Lender of funding its LIBOR Loans, then, if
such Lender so elects, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, the obligation of such Lender to make additional LIBOR Loans
shall be suspended until such Regulatory Change or other circumstances
ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of SECTION 5.04
shall be applicable).
(c) CAPITAL ADEQUACY. Without limiting the effect of the
foregoing provisions of this SECTION 5.01 (but without duplication),
the Borrower shall pay directly to any Lender from time to time on
request such amounts as such Lender may reasonably determine to be
necessary to compensate such Lender or its parent or holding company
for any costs which it determines are attributable to the maintenance
by such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any Applicable
Lending Office), pursuant to any Governmental Requirement following any
Regulatory Change, of capital in respect of its Commitment, its Note,
or its Loans or any interest held by it in any Letter of Credit, such
compensation to include, without limitation, an amount equal to any
reduction of the rate of return on assets or equity of such Lender or
its parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office) to a
level below that which such Lender or its parent or holding company (or
any Applicable Lending Office) could have achieved but for such
Governmental Requirement. Such Lender will notify the Borrower that it
is entitled to compensation pursuant to this SECTION 5.01(C) as
promptly as practicable after it determines to request such
compensation.
(d) COMPENSATION PROCEDURE. Any Lender notifying the Borrower
of the incurrence of Additional Costs under this SECTION 5.01 shall in
such notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent set forth in
reasonable detail the basis and amount of its request for compensation.
Determinations and allocations by each Lender for purposes of this
SECTION 5.01 of the effect of any Regulatory Change pursuant to SECTION
5.01(A) or (B), or of the effect of capital maintained pursuant to
SECTION 5.01(C), on its costs or rate of return of maintaining Loans or
its obligation to make Loans or issue Letters of Credit, or on amounts
receivable by it in respect of Loans or Letters of Credit, and of the
amounts required to compensate such Lender under this SECTION 5.01,
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, provided that such
determinations and allocations are made on a reasonable basis. Any
request for additional compensation under this SECTION 5.01 shall be
paid by the Borrower within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the
Borrower of the notice described in this SECTION 5.01(D).
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Section 5.02 LIMITATION ON LIBOR LOANS. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, if, on or prior to the determination of any Adjusted LIBOR for
any Interest Period:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that quotations of interest
rates for the relevant deposits referred to in the definition of
"Adjusted LIBOR" in SECTION 1.02 are not being provided in the relevant
amounts or for the relevant maturities for purposes of determining
rates of interest for LIBOR Loans as provided herein; or
(b) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that the relevant rates of
interest referred to in the definition of "Adjusted LIBOR" in SECTION
1.02 upon the basis of which the rate of interest for LIBOR Loans for
such Interest Period is to be determined are not sufficient to
adequately cover the cost to the Lenders of making or maintaining LIBOR
Loans; then the Administrative Agent shall give the Borrower prompt
notice thereof, and so long as such condition remains in effect, the
Lenders shall be under no obligation to make additional LIBOR Loans.
Section 5.03 ILLEGALITY. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its
Applicable Lending Office to honor its obligation to make or maintain LIBOR
Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and
such Lender's obligation to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such time
as such Lender may again make and maintain LIBOR Loans (in which case the
provisions of SECTION 5.04 shall be applicable).
Section 5.04 BASE RATE LOANS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5.01, 5.02 AND 5.03.
If the obligation of any Lender to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended pursuant
to SECTIONS 5.01, 5.02 or 5.03 ("AFFECTED LOANS"), all Affected Loans which
would otherwise be made by such Lender shall be made instead as Base Rate Loans
(and, if an event referred to in SECTION 5.01(B) or SECTION 5.03 has occurred
and such Lender so requests by notice to the Borrower, all Affected Loans of
such Lender then outstanding shall be automatically converted into Base Rate
Loans on the date specified by such Lender in such notice) and, to the extent
that Affected Loans are so made as (or converted into) Base Rate Loans, all
payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to such Lender's Affected
Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans.
Section 5.05 COMPENSATION. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender within
thirty (30) days of receipt of written request of such Lender (which request
shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for requesting such amounts and
which shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes provided that such
determinations are made on a reasonable basis), such amount or amounts as shall
compensate it for any loss, cost, expense or liability which such Lender
determines are attributable to:
(a) any payment, prepayment or conversion of a LIBOR Loan
properly made by such Lender or the Borrower for any reason (including,
without limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to SECTION
10.02) on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period for
such Loan; or
(b) any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including but
not limited to, the failure of any of the conditions precedent
specified in ARTICLE VI to be satisfied) to borrow, continue or convert
a LIBOR Loan from such Lender on the date for such borrowing,
continuation or conversion specified in the relevant notice given
pursuant to SECTION 2.02(C).
29
Without limiting the effect of the preceding sentence, such compensation shall
include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest
which would have accrued on the principal amount so paid, prepaid or converted
or not borrowed for the period from the date of such payment, prepayment or
conversion or failure to borrow to the last day of the Interest Period for such
Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, the Interest Period for such Loan
which would have commenced on the date specified for such borrowing) at the
applicable rate of interest for such Loan provided for herein over (ii) the
interest component of the amount such Lender would have bid in the London
interbank market for Dollar deposits of leading banks in amounts comparable to
such principal amount and with maturities comparable to such period (as
reasonably determined by such Lender).
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 6.01 INITIAL FUNDING. The obligation of the Lenders to make the
Initial Funding is subject to the receipt by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders of all fees then due and payable pursuant to SECTION 2.04 on or before
the Closing Date and the receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following
documents and satisfaction of the other conditions provided in this SECTION
6.01, each of which shall be satisfactory to the Sole Lead Arranger in form and
substance (other than each item, if any, listed on SCHEDULE 6.01, which items
are hereby permitted to be delivered after the Closing Date but not later than
the date for delivery of each such item specified on SCHEDULE 6.01, or such
later date as the Administrative Agent may agree):
(a) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the General Partner setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of
managers with respect to the authorization of the General Partner to
execute and deliver on behalf of itself and each Obligor the Loan
Documents to which each is a party and to enter into the transactions
contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of the General
Partner who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which each
Obligor is a party and who will, until replaced by another officer or
officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative
for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other
communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of such authorized
officers, and (iv) the agreement of limited partnership for Borrower,
as amended, certified as being true and complete and (v) the articles
of organization of the General Partner, as amended, certified as being
true and complete. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may
conclusively rely on such certificate until the Administrative Agent
receives notice in writing from the Borrower to the contrary.
(b) Certificates of the appropriate state agencies with
respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of the
Obligors.
(c) The Notes, duly completed and executed for each Lender.
(d) The Security Instruments, duly completed and executed in
sufficient number of counterparts; all original certificates of
partnership units or members' equity, and blank stock powers duly
endorsed as required under such Security Instruments.
(e) An opinion of counsel to the Obligors acceptable to the
Sole Lead Arranger, with respect to the existence of the Obligors, due
authorization and execution of the Loan Documents, enforceability of
the Loan Documents, including without limitation the Security
Instruments, and other matters incident to the transactions herein
contemplated as the Sole Lead Arranger may reasonably request, each in
form and substance satisfactory to the Sole Lead Arranger.
30
(f) A certificate of insurance coverage of the Obligors
evidencing that the Obligors are carrying insurance in accordance with
SECTION 7.17 and SECTION 8.03(B).
(g) Appropriate UCC search certificates and other evidence
satisfactory to the Sole Lead Arranger with respect to the Obligors'
Properties reflecting no prior Liens, other than Excepted Liens.
(h) A certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that (i)
no Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the Initial
Funding, and (ii) since December 31, 2005, there has occurred no
Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Satisfactory review by Sole Lead Arranger of all Material
Agreements.
(j) All authorizations, approvals or consents as may be
necessary for the execution, delivery and performance by any Obligor
under this Agreement.
(k) From any Obligor (other than Borrower) a Guaranty
Agreement executed by such Obligor.
(l) A letter from CT Corporation System, Inc., or other agent
acceptable to the Administrative Agent, accepting service of process in
the State of New York on behalf of the Obligors not otherwise qualified
to transact business in New York.
(m) The Borrower shall have received the net proceeds of a
public offering of limited partnership interests of the Borrower
registered under the Securities Act in the amount of at least
$_________________.
Section 6.02 INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT. The
obligation of the Lenders to make Loans to the Borrower upon the occasion of
each borrowing hereunder and to issue, renew, extend or reissue Letters of
Credit (including the Initial Funding) is subject to the further conditions
precedent that, as of the date of such Loans and after giving effect thereto:
(a) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred; and
(c) the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in
ARTICLE VII and in the Security Instruments shall be true on and as of
the date of the making of such Loans or issuance, renewal, extension or
reissuance of a Letter of Credit with the same force and effect as if
made on and as of such date and following such new borrowing, except to
the extent such representations and warranties are expressly limited to
an earlier date.
Each request for a borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or
reissuance of a Letter of Credit by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a
certification by the Borrower to the effect set forth in SECTION 6.02(C) (both
as of the date of such notice and, unless the Borrower otherwise notifies the
Administrative Agent prior to the date of and immediately following such
borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit as
of the date thereof).
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Section 6.03 CERTAIN LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT. The obligation of the
Lenders to make Loans to the Borrower upon the occasion of each borrowing
hereunder and to issue, renew, extend or reissue Letters of Credit (including
the Initial Funding), in each case if for the purposes of acquiring or carrying
limited partnership units of Atlas Pipeline Partners, is subject to the further
conditions precedent that the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, on behalf
of the Lenders, shall have executed and delivered a Federal Reserve Form U-1
provided for in the Margin Regulations, which shall contain statements that, in
the judgement of the Administrative Agent, permit the transactions contemplated
by such Loan or Letter of Credit to be made in accordance with the Margin
Regulations.
Section 6.04 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF LENDER. All
conditions precedent to the obligations of the Lenders to make any Loan are
imposed hereby solely for the benefit of the Lenders, and no other Person may
require satisfaction of any such condition precedent or be entitled to assume
that the Lenders will refuse to make any Loan in the absence of strict
compliance with such conditions precedent.
Section 6.05 NO WAIVER. No waiver of any condition precedent shall
preclude the Administrative Agent or the Lenders from requiring such condition
to be met prior to making any subsequent Loan or preclude the Lenders from
thereafter declaring that the failure of the Borrower to satisfy such condition
precedent constitutes a Default.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of the Obligors represents and warrants to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders that (each representation and warranty herein is given as
of the Closing Date and shall be deemed repeated and reaffirmed on the dates of
each borrowing and issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of
Credit as provided in SECTION 6.02):
Section 7.01 CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Each of the Obligors: (i) is a
limited liability company or limited partnership duly organized, formed, legally
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or formation, as applicable; (ii) has all requisite organizational
power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and
approvals necessary to own its assets and carry on its business as now being or
as proposed to be conducted; and (iii) is qualified to do business in all
jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such
qualification necessary and where failure so to qualify would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
Section 7.02 FINANCIAL CONDITION. The audited consolidated balance
sheet of APL General Partner and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December
31, 2005, the related consolidated statement of income, partners' equity and
cash flow of APL General Partner and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the
fiscal year ended on said date, in each case including, on a Consolidated basis,
Atlas Pipeline Partners and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, heretofore furnished
to each of the Lenders, are complete and correct and fairly present the
consolidated financial condition of APL General Partner and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries including, on a Consolidated basis, Atlas Pipeline Partners and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, as at said date and the results of its operations for
the fiscal year on said date, all in accordance with GAAP, as applied on a
consistent basis. Except as reflected or referred to in such Financial
Statements, neither the Borrower, nor APL General Partner, nor any Subsidiary of
the Borrower has on the Closing Date any material Debt, contingent liabilities,
liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or
anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments. Since the date of the
Financial Statements, neither the business nor the Properties of APL General
Partner, or any Subsidiary, including Atlas Pipeline Partners and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, have been materially and adversely affected.
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Section 7.03 LITIGATION. Except as disclosed to the Lenders in SCHEDULE
7.03 hereto, there is no litigation, legal, administrative or arbitral
proceeding, investigation or other action of any nature pending or, to the
knowledge of the Obligors, threatened against or affecting the Obligors or any
Subsidiary which involves the possibility of any judgment or liability against
any Obligor or any Subsidiary not fully covered by insurance (except for normal
deductibles), and which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.04 NO BREACH. Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan
Documents, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof, will conflict
with or result in a breach of, or require any consent which has not been
obtained as of the Closing Date under, the respective charter, limited
partnership agreement, articles of organization or by-laws of the Obligors or
any Subsidiary, or any Governmental Requirement, or any agreement or instrument
to which any Obligor or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound or to
which it or its Properties are subject, or constitute a default under any such
agreement or instrument, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
upon any of the revenues or assets of the Obligor or any Subsidiary pursuant to
the terms of any such agreement or instrument, other than the Liens created by
the Loan Documents.
Section 7.05 AUTHORITY. Each Obligor and each Subsidiary thereof has
all necessary organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and the
execution, delivery and performance by each Obligor of the Loan Documents to
which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational
action on its part; and the Loan Documents constitute the legal, valid and
binding obligations of each Obligor, enforceable in accordance with their terms.
Section 7.06 APPROVALS. No authorizations, approvals or consents of,
and no filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or any other
Person are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by any Obligor
of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or for the validity or
enforceability thereof, except for the recording and filing of the Security
Instruments as required by this Agreement.
Section 7.07 USE OF LOANS. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used (i)
for general business purposes of the Obligors, including, without limitation,
working capital, purchase of debt or limited partnership units of Atlas Pipeline
Partners, fund general partner contributions of APL General Partner to Atlas
Pipeline Partners and purchase of a Permitted Acquisition, (ii) to pay fees and
expenses related to the Facility, and (iii) for Letters of Credit to support the
obligations of the Obligors. Neither the Borrower nor any other Obligor is
engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of
extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of
buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Margin Regulations) and
no part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used to buy or carry any
margin stock, except limited partnership units of Atlas Pipeline Partners in
compliance with the Margin Regulations and Section 6.03.
Section 7.08 ERISA.
(a) Each Obligor, each Subsidiary and each ERISA Affiliate
have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where
applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.
(b) Each Plan is, and has been, maintained in substantial
compliance with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.
(c) No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could
result in imposition on any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil
penalty assessed pursuant to section 502(c), (i) or (1) of ERISA or a
tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii)
breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.
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(d) No contingent obligations remain due to the termination of
any Plan (other than a defined contribution plan) or any trust created
under any such Plan since September 2, 1974. The only Plan that has
been terminated was for The Atlas Group, Inc. No liability to the PBGC
(other than for the payment of current premiums which are not past due)
by any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has been or is
expected by any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to be
incurred with respect to any Plan. No ERISA Event with respect to any
Plan has occurred.
(e) Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which
any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required under
the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions
to such Plan, and no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in
section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code), whether or not
waived, exists with respect to any Plan.
(f) The actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities
under each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA does not, as of
the end of each Obligor's most recently ended fiscal year, exceed the
current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in
accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such
benefit liabilities. The term "actuarial present value of the benefit
liabilities" shall have the meaning specified in section 4041 of ERISA.
(g) None of the Obligors, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare
benefit plan, as defined in section 3(l) of ERISA, including, without
limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former
employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by an Obligor, a
Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time
without any material liability.
(h) None of the Obligors, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in
the preceding six calendar years, sponsored, maintained or contributed
to, any Multiemployer Plan.
(i) None of the Obligors, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate is required to provide security under section 401 (a)(29) of
the Code due to a Plan amendment that results in an increase in current
liability for the Plan.
Section 7.09 TAXES. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.09, each Obligor
and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal income tax returns and
all other tax returns which are required to be filed by them, or otherwise
obtained appropriate extensions to file, and have paid all material taxes due
pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by any Obligor
or any Subsidiary, except such taxes that are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and for which such Obligor or Subsidiary, as applicable,
has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The
charges, accruals and reserves on the books of each Obligor and its Subsidiaries
in respect of taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the
Borrower, adequate. No tax lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the
Obligors, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such tax, fee or other
charge.
Section 7.10 TITLES, ETC. Except as otherwise set forth on SCHEDULE
7.10:
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(a) Each of the Obligors and its Subsidiaries has good,
sufficient and clear title to its material Properties, free and clear
of all adverse possession or abandonment claims and Liens, except
Excepted Liens.
(b) All leases, rights of way, permits, licenses and
agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of each Obligor
are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect and there exists no
default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the
passage of time or both would give rise to a default under any such
lease rights of way, permits, licenses, which would affect in any
material respect the conduct of the business of any Obligor.
(c) The rights, Properties and other assets presently owned,
leased or licensed by each Obligor, including, without limitation, all
easements and rights of way, include all rights, Properties and other
assets necessary to permit each Obligor to conduct its business in all
material respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted
prior to the Closing Date.
(d) All of the assets and Properties of each Obligor which are
reasonably necessary for the operation of its business are in good
working condition and are maintained in accordance with prudent
business standards.
Section 7.11 NO MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS. To the Borrower's knowledge, no
written information, statement, exhibit, certificate, document or report
furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (or any of them) by any
Obligor in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement contains any
material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact
necessary to make the statement contained therein not materially misleading in
the light of the circumstances in which made. There is no fact peculiar to any
Obligor which has a Material Adverse Effect or in the future is reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been set forth in
this Agreement or the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to
the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Obligors prior to, or on, the
Closing Date in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 7.12 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. None of the Obligors is an
"investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company,"
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 7.13 CAPITALIZATION OF GENERAL PARTNER AND SUBSIDIARIES.
(a) The issued and outstanding securities of the Borrower
consist of ______________________________________________(_________)
common units of limited partnership interest, all of which have been
validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) To the Borrower's knowledge, all issued and outstanding
membership units of the General Partner have been validly issued and
are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by and issued to the
Persons shown on SCHEDULE 7.12 attached hereto.
(c) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower
owns directly or indirectly any capital stock, membership interest or
partnership interest of any other Person, other than Borrower's
ownership of the Subsidiaries described on SCHEDULE 7.12. The Borrower
and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title to
all securities of the Subsidiaries issued to it, free and clear of all
liens and encumbrances, and all such securities have been duly and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The authorized
securities and ownership of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower is as
shown on SCHEDULE 7.12 attached hereto and made a part hereof. There
are no Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than as disclosed on SCHEDULE
7.12.
35
Section 7.14 LOCATION OF BUSINESS AND OFFICES. Each Obligor's principal
place of business and chief executive offices are located at the address stated
on the signature page of this Agreement.
Section 7.15 DEFAULTS UNDER MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. None of the Obligors
is in default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the
expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both,
would constitute a default under any Material Agreement to which any Obligor or
any Subsidiary is a party or by which any Obligor or any Subsidiary is bound. No
Default hereunder has occurred and is continuing.
Section 7.16 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as would not have a Material
Adverse Effect (or with respect to CLAUSES (C), (D) and (E) below, where the
failure to take such actions would not have a Material Adverse Effect):
(a) Neither any Property of any Obligor or its Subsidiaries
nor the operations conducted thereon violate any order or requirement
of any court or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws;
(b) Without limitation of CLAUSE (A) above, no Property of any
Obligor or its Subsidiaries nor the operations currently conducted
thereon or, to the best knowledge of the Obligors, by any prior owner
or operator of such Property or operation, are in violation of or
subject to any existing, pending or threatened action, suit,
investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any court or
Governmental Authority or to any remedial obligations under
Environmental Laws;
(c) All notices, permits, licenses or similar authorizations,
if any, required to be obtained or filed in connection with the
operation or use of any and all Property of the Obligors or any of
their Subsidiaries, including without limitation past or present
treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous substance or
solid waste into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and
the Obligors and their Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms
and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar
authorizations;
(d) All hazardous substances, solid waste, and oil and gas
exploration and production wastes, if any, generated at any and all
Property of any Obligor or its Subsidiaries have in the past been
transported, treated and disposed of in accordance with Environmental
Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to
public health or welfare or the environment, and, to the best knowledge
of the Obligors, all such transport carriers and treatment and disposal
facilities have been and are operating in compliance with Environmental
Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to
public health or welfare or the environment, and are not the subject of
any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or inquiry by
any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental Laws;
(e) The Obligors and their Subsidiaries have taken all steps
reasonably necessary to determine and have determined that no hazardous
substances, solid waste, or oil and gas exploration and production
wastes, have been disposed of or otherwise released and there has been
no threatened release of any hazardous substances on or to any Property
of any Obligor or its Subsidiaries except in compliance with
Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial
endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment; and
(f) None of the Obligors or their Subsidiaries has any known
contingent liability in connection with any release or threatened
release of any oil, hazardous substance or solid waste into the
environment.
36
Section 7.17 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. None of the Obligors nor their
Subsidiaries has violated any Governmental Requirement or failed to obtain any
license, permit, franchise or other governmental authorization necessary for the
ownership of any of its Properties or the conduct of its business, which
violation or failure would have (in the event such violation or failure were
asserted by any Person through appropriate action) a Material Adverse Effect.
Except for such acts or failures to act as would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, the Properties of the Obligors and their Subsidiaries (and properties
unitized therewith) have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and
workmanlike manner and in conformity with all applicable laws and all rules,
regulations and orders of all duly constituted authorities having jurisdiction
and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other
contracts comprising a part of and forming a part of the Properties.
Section 7.18 INSURANCE. SCHEDULE 7.17 attached hereto contains an
accurate and complete description of all material policies of fire, liability,
workers' compensation and other forms of insurance owned or held by the
Obligors. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with
respect thereto covering all periods up to and including the date of the closing
have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received
with respect to any such policy. Such policies are sufficient for compliance
with all requirements of law and of all agreements to which any Obligor is a
party; are valid, outstanding and enforceable policies; provide adequate
insurance coverage in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but
including in any event public liability) as are usually insured against in the
same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business for the
assets and operations of the Obligors; will remain in full force and effect
through the respective dates set forth in SCHEDULE 7.17 without the payment of
additional premiums; and will not in any way be affected by, or terminate or
lapse by reason of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. SCHEDULE
7.20 identifies all material risks, if any, which each Obligor and their
respective general partner or sole member have designated as being self-insured.
None of the Obligors has been refused any insurance with respect to its assets
or operations, nor has its coverage been limited below usual and customary
policy limits, by an insurance carrier to which it has applied for any such
insurance or with which it has carried insurance during the last three years.
Section 7.19 HEDGING AGREEMENTS. SCHEDULE 7.18 sets forth, as of the
Closing Date, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including
commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which
provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other
commodities) of the Obligors, the material terms thereof (including the type,
term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net
▇▇▇▇ to market value thereof, all credit support agreements relating thereto
(including any margin required or supplied), and the counter party to each such
agreement.
Section 7.20 RESTRICTION ON LIENS. None of the Obligors is a party to
any agreement or arrangement (other than this Agreement and the Security
Instruments), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either
restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to other Persons on
or in respect of their respective assets or Properties.
Section 7.21 MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. Set forth on SCHEDULE 7.20 is a
complete list of all agreements, indentures, purchase agreements, obligations in
respect of letters of credit, guarantees, partnership agreements, limited
liability company agreements, other organizational documents, joint venture
agreements, and other instruments that (i) are material to the Obligors'
business, activities, and operation or ownership of such Obligors' Property in
effect or to be in effect as of the Closing Date (other than the Hedging
Agreements set forth on SCHEDULE 7.18) or (ii) provide for, evidence, secure or
otherwise relate to any Debt of any such Obligor and all obligations of any
Obligor to issuers of surety or appeal bonds issued for account of any such
Obligor (the agreements referenced in CLAUSES (I) and (II) hereto, collectively,
the "MATERIAL AGREEMENTS"). Upon request by Administrative Agent, the Borrower
shall deliver, or caused to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders a complete and correct copy of all such Material Agreements.
37
Section 7.22 RELATIONSHIP OF OBLIGORS. The Obligors are engaged in
related businesses and each Obligor is directly and indirectly dependent upon
each other Obligor for and in connection with their business activities and
their financial resources; and each Obligor has determined, reasonably and in
good faith, that such Obligor will receive substantial direct and indirect
economic and financial benefits from the extensions of credit made under this
Agreement, and such extensions of credit are in the best interests of such
Obligor, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances.
Section 7.23 SOLVENCY. Each Obligor and its Subsidiaries individually
and on a consolidated basis are not insolvent as such term is used and defined
in the United States Bankruptcy Code.
ARTICLE VIII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each of the Obligors covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the
Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of all Loans hereunder, all
interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Obligors hereunder:
Section 8.01 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Obligors shall deliver, or
shall cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies
of each for the Lenders:
(a) ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available and in
any event within ten (10) days after the Borrower is required to file
the same with the SEC, the audited consolidated and consolidating
statements of income, partners' equity, changes in financial position
and cash flow for each of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, and the related consolidated and
consolidating balance sheets of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and setting forth in
each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the
preceding fiscal year, and accompanied by the related opinion of
independent public accountants of recognized national standing
acceptable to the Administrative Agent which opinion shall state that
said financial statements fairly present the consolidated and
consolidating financial condition and results of operations of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for,
such fiscal year and that such financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP, except for such changes in such principles
with which the independent public accountants shall have concurred and
such opinion shall not contain a "going concern" or like qualification
or exception, but shall contain a certification stating that, in making
the examination necessary for their opinion, they obtained no
knowledge, except as specifically stated, of any Default; provided,
however, references in this Section 8.01(a) and in Section 8.01(b) to
Consolidated Subsidiaries shall include, on a Consolidated basis, Atlas
Pipeline Partners and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,.
(b) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. As soon as available and
in any event within twenty-five (25) days after any the Borrower is
required to file the same with the SEC, for of each of the first three
fiscal quarterly periods of each of its fiscal year for the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, consolidated and consolidating
statements of income, partners' equity, changes in financial position
and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for
such period and for the period from the beginning of the respective
fiscal year to the end of such period, and the related consolidated and
consolidating balance sheets as at the end of such period, and setting
forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for
the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by
the certificate of a Responsible Officer, which certificate shall state
that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated and
consolidating financial condition and results of operations of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, as
at the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end audit
adjustments).
38
(c) NOTICE OF DEFAULT, ETC. Promptly after any Obligor knows
that any Default or Event of Default has occurred, a notice of such
Default or Event of Default, describing the same in reasonable detail
and the action the Borrower or any Guarantor proposes to take with
respect thereto.
(d) OTHER ACCOUNTING REPORTS. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a
copy of each other report or letter submitted to any Obligor by
independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or
special audit made by them of the books of such Obligor and its
Subsidiaries, and a copy of any response by such Obligor, or the
general partner or sole member of such Obligor, to such letter or
report.
(e) SEC FILINGS, ETC. Promptly upon its becoming available,
each financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the
Borrower to its unitholders generally and each regular or periodic
report and any registration statement, prospectus or written
communication (other than transmittal letters) in respect thereof filed
by the Borrower with or received by the Borrower in connection
therewith from any securities exchange or the SEC or any successor
agency.
(f) HEDGING AGREEMENTS. As soon as available and in any event
within fifteen Business Days after the last day of each fiscal quarter,
a report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent, setting forth as of the last Business Day of such fiscal quarter
a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements of the Obligors, the
material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date,
termination date and notional amounts), the net ▇▇▇▇ to market value
therefor, any new credit support agreements relating thereto not listed
on SCHEDULE 7.18, any margin required or supplied under any credit
support document, and the counter party to each such agreement.
(g) POST-CLOSING REQUIREMENTS. All agreements, documents,
instruments, or other items listed on SCHEDULE 6.01 on or prior to the
date specified for delivery thereof, or such later date as the
Administrative Agent may agree.
(h) OTHER MATTERS. From time to time such other information
regarding the business, affairs or financial condition of any Obligor
(including, without limitation, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and any
reports or other information required to be filed under ERISA) as any
Lender or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
(i) COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE. The Borrower will furnish to the
Administrative Agent, at the time it furnishes each set of financial
statements pursuant to PARAGRAPH (A) or (B) above, a certificate
substantially in the form of EXHIBIT C executed by a Responsible
Officer (i) certifying as to the matters set forth therein and stating
that no Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if any Default has
occurred and is continuing, describing the same in reasonable detail),
and (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail the computations necessary
to determine whether the Borrower is in compliance with SECTIONS 9.13,
9.14, and 9.15, as of the end of the respective fiscal quarter or
fiscal year.
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Section 8.02 LITIGATION. The Obligors shall promptly give to the
Administrative Agent notice of any litigation or proceeding against or adversely
affecting any such Obligor in which the amount claimed exceeds Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or an aggregate of claims in excess of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) and is not otherwise covered in full by insurance (subject
to normal and customary deductibles and for which the insurer has not assumed
the defense), or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought. Each Obligor
will promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders of any
claim, judgment, Lien or other encumbrance affecting any Property of such
Obligor or any Subsidiary if the value of the claim, judgment, Lien, or other
encumbrance affecting such Property shall exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($500,000) or an aggregate of such claims in excess of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000).
Section 8.03 MAINTENANCE, ETC.
(a) GENERALLY. Except as permitted under SECTION 9.09, each
Obligor shall preserve and maintain its organization existence and all
of its material rights, privileges and franchises; keep books of record
and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all
dealings or transactions in relation to its business and activities;
comply with all Governmental Requirements if failure to comply with
such requirements will have a Material Adverse Effect; pay and
discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies
imposed on it or on its income or profits or on any of its Property
prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except for any
such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being
contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which
adequate reserves are being maintained; upon reasonable notice, permit
representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, during
normal business hours, to examine, copy and make extracts from its
books and records, to inspect its Properties, and to discuss its
business and affairs with its officers, all to the extent reasonably
requested by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may
be); and keep, or cause to be kept, insured by financially sound and
reputable insurers all Property of a character usually insured by
Persons engaged in the same or similar business similarly situated
against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts customarily
insured against by such Persons and carry such other insurance as is
usually carried by such Persons including, without limitation,
environmental risk insurance to the extent reasonably available.
(b) PROOF OF INSURANCE. Contemporaneously with the delivery of
the financial statements required by SECTION 8.01(A) to be delivered
for each year, the Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a certificate of insurance
coverage from the insurer in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent listing Administrative Agent as "loss payee" and
"additional insured" and, if requested, will furnish the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders copies of the applicable policies.
(c) PROPERTIES. Each Obligor will cause to be done all things
reasonably necessary to preserve and keep in good repair, working order
and efficiency all of its material Properties including, without
limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities, and from time to
time will make all the reasonably necessary repairs, renewals and
replacements so that at all times the state and condition of its
material Properties will be fully preserved and maintained, except to
the extent that such failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each Obligor will promptly: (i) pay and discharge, or make reasonable
and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all rentals,
royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the rights of way,
licenses, leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its
material Properties, (ii) perform or make reasonable and customary
efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry
standards, the obligations required by each and all of the rights of
way, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its
interests in its material Properties, (iii) will do all other things
necessary to keep unimpaired, except for Liens described in SECTION
9.02, its rights with respect to its material Properties and prevent
any forfeiture thereof or a default thereunder, except to the extent
that the ▇▇▇▇▇ and field to which any pipelines are connected are no
longer producing Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts and
except for Transfers permitted by SECTION 9.16. Each Obligor will
operate its material Properties to be operated in a careful and
efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and
in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in
compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements.
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Section 8.04 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURES. The Obligors will establish
and implement such procedures as may be reasonably necessary to
continuously determine and assure that any failure of the following
does not have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) all Property of the
Obligors and the operations conducted thereon and other activities of
the Obligors are in compliance with and do not violate the requirements
of any Environmental Laws, (ii) no Hydrocarbons, hazardous substances
or solid wastes are disposed of or otherwise released on or to any
Property owned by any such party except in compliance with
Environmental Laws, (iii) no hazardous substance will be released on or
to any such Property in a quantity equal to or exceeding that quantity
which requires reporting pursuant to Section 103 of CERCLA, and (iv) no
oil, oil and gas exploration and production wastes or hazardous
substance is released on or to any such Property so as to pose an
imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or
the environment.
(b) NOTICE OF ACTION. The Obligors will promptly notify the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing of any threatened
action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority of which
any Obligor has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws,
excluding routine testing and corrective action which might result in
the Borrower or any Subsidiary being liable for the payment or
performance of obligations in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000)
with respect to any such event or in excess of One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate with respect to all such events.
(c) FUTURE ACQUISITIONS. In the event environmental
remediation costs in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000)
are identified in respect of any acquisition of Pipeline Properties or
other material Properties, the Obligors will provide environmental
audits and tests in form and scope as may be reasonably requested by
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (or as otherwise required to
be obtained by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by any
Governmental Authority) in connection with such future acquisitions of
Pipeline Properties or other material Properties.
Section 8.05 FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Obligors will cure promptly any
defects in the creation and issuance of the Notes and the execution and delivery
of the Security Instruments and this Agreement. The Obligors at their expense
will promptly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent upon request all
such other documents, agreements and instruments to comply with or accomplish
the covenants and agreements of the Obligors in any Loan Document, or to further
evidence and more fully describe the collateral intended as security for the
Notes, or to correct any omissions in any Loan Document, or to state more fully
the security obligations set out herein or in any Loan Document, or to perfect,
protect or preserve any Liens created pursuant to any of the Security
Instruments, or to make any recordings, to file any notices or obtain any
consents, all as may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith.
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Section 8.06 PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS. The Borrower will pay the
Notes according to the reading, tenor and effect thereof; the Guarantors will
pay under the Guarantees according to the terms thereof, and the Obligors will
perform every act and discharge all of the obligations to be performed and
discharged by them under this Agreement and any other Loan Document, at the time
or times and in the manner specified.
Section 8.07 TITLE CURATIVE. The Obligors shall cure, or cause to be
cured, any title defects or exceptions which are not Excepted Liens.
Section 8.08 ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL.
(a) LIEN ON PROPERTIES. At all times hereunder that the
Indebtedness remains unpaid, including whenever any Obligor acquires
any additional Properties, Obligors shall grant to the Administrative
Agent for the benefit of the Lenders as security for the Indebtedness a
first-priority Lien interest (subject only to Excepted Liens) covering
such Properties under the Security Instruments. Such Lien will be
created and perfected by and in accordance with the provisions of
mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements and financing
statements, or other Security Instruments, all in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion and in
sufficient executed (and acknowledged where necessary or appropriate)
counterparts for recording purposes.
(b) TITLE INFORMATION. Concurrently with the granting of the
Lien or other action referred to in SECTION 8.08(A) above, the Borrower
or such Obligor will provide to the Administrative Agent title
information in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent in its sole discretion with respect to such Obligor's interests
in such Properties.
(c) LEGAL OPINIONS. Promptly after the filing of any new
Security Instrument in any state, upon the request of the
Administrative Agent, the Obligors will provide, or cause to be
provided, to the Administrative Agent an opinion addressed to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole
discretion from counsel acceptable to Administrative Agent, stating
that the Security Instrument is valid, binding and enforceable in
accordance with its terms and in legally sufficient form for such
jurisdiction.
(d) SUBORDINATION OF OBLIGOR'S LIENS.
(i) Each Obligor hereby subordinates and assigns in
favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders
any and all liens, statutory or otherwise, and any rights of
offset contractual or otherwise it has or may have in the
future against such Obligors' interests in its Properties and
revenues attributable to its interest therein, including the
Contracts and Records (defined below).
(ii) Any officer or employee of Administrative Agent
is expressly granted the right at its option upon not less
than one (1) Business Day's notice, to visit and inspect (a)
each Obligors' offices, including all books and records,
contracts and other agreements that relate to its Properties,
whether such data, information or agreements are in written
form or electronic format (the "CONTRACTS AND RECORDS"), and
to examine, take copies and extracts therefrom, and (b) any of
its Properties.
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(iii) Following the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, each Obligor acknowledges
that the Administrative Agent is expressly granted the right
to exercise any and all liens, statutory or otherwise, rights
of offset or recoupment it has and to receive the monies,
income, proceeds, or benefits attributable to the Properties
of such Obligor, to hold the same as security for the
Indebtedness and to apply it on the principal and interest or
other amounts owing on any of the Indebtedness, whether or not
then due, in such order or manner as Administrative Agent may
elect.
(iv) In the event of a foreclosure, deed in lieu, or
other transfer of record or beneficial ownership or operations
of its Properties, each Obligor, as bailee, agrees to
cooperate and assist Administrative Agent and its officers,
agents and counsel in the peaceful transfer and delivery of
such Contracts and Records to such party or parties as
Administrative Agent may in writing direct.
(v) Following the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default and within thirty (30) days
after receipt of notice from Administrative Agent, Obligors
will relinquish their respective rights to operate their
Pipelines to the Administrative Agent or its designee.
Section 8.09 SUBORDINATION OF INTERCOMPANY DEBT. Any Intercompany Notes
or advances of any Obligor howsoever evidenced by journal entries or otherwise
now or hereafter owed to or held by any other Obligor are hereby subordinated to
the Indebtedness of such other Obligor to the Lenders, and any document or
instrument evidencing such loans or advances shall contain a legend giving
notice of such subordination. Any such Intercompany Notes or advances of any
other Obligor due to such Obligor, if the Administrative Agent so requests,
shall be collected, enforced and received by such Obligor as trustee for the
Lenders and be paid over to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Lenders on account of the Indebtedness but without affecting in any manner the
liability of such Obligor under the other provisions of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document. Any Lien, claim, right or other encumbrance on any property
of any Obligor in favor of any other Obligor is hereby subordinated in all
respects to the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
Lenders.
Section 8.10 CORPORATE IDENTITY. The Borrower shall do or cause to be
done (or refrain from doing or causing to be done, as the case may be) all
things necessary to ensure that the separate legal identity of the Borrower and
General Partner will at all times be respected and that neither the Borrower,
General Partner nor any of Borrower's Subsidiaries will be liable for any
obligations, contractual or otherwise, of Atlas or any of the Atlas Direct
Subsidiaries or other entity in which Atlas or any Atlas Direct Subsidiaries
owns any equity interest (other than the Borrower, General Partner and
Borrower's Subsidiaries). Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will (i)
observe, and cause the General Partner to observe, all requirements, procedures
and formalities necessary or advisable in order that the Borrower will for all
purposes be considered a validly existing entity separate and distinct from the
General Partner, (ii) not permit any commingling of the assets of the General
Partner, Atlas, or the Atlas Direct Subsidiaries with assets of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries which would prevent such assets of such persons from
being readily distinguished from the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and (iii) take reasonable and customary actions to ensure that creditors of the
General Partner, Atlas or the Atlas Direct Subsidiaries are aware that each such
Person is an entity separate and distinct from the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
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Section 8.11 ERISA INFORMATION AND COMPLIANCE. The Obligors will
promptly furnish and will cause the Subsidiaries and any ERISA Affiliate to
promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies to the
Lenders (i) promptly after the filing thereof with the United States Secretary
of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC, copies of each annual and
other report with respect to each Plan or any trust created thereunder, (ii)
immediately upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any ERISA Event or of any
"prohibited transaction," as described in section 406 of ERISA or in section
4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan or any trust created thereunder, a
written notice signed by a Responsible Officer specifying the nature thereof,
what action the Obligors, the Subsidiary or the ERISA Affiliate is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto, and, when known, any action taken or
proposed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC
with respect thereto, and (iii) immediately upon receipt thereof, copies of any
notice of the PBGCs intention to terminate or to have a trustee appointed to
administer any Plan. With respect to each Plan (other than a Multiemployer
Plan), the Obligors will, and will cause each Subsidiary and ERISA Affiliate to,
(i) satisfy in full and in a timely manner, without incurring any late payment
or underpayment charge or penalty and without giving rise to any lien, all of
the contribution and funding requirements of section 412 of the Code (determined
without regard to subsections (d), (e), (f) and (k) thereof) and of section 302
of ERISA (determined without regard to sections 303, 304 and 306 of ERISA), and
(ii) pay, or cause to be paid, to the PBGC in a timely manner, without incurring
any late payment or underpayment charge or penalty, all premiums required
pursuant to sections 4006 and 4007 of ERISA.
Section 8.12 RESTRICTED/UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES. Unless otherwise
consented to by the Administrative Agent or Majority Lenders, the Obligors will:
(i) maintain entity records and books of account separate from those of any
other entity, including Unrestricted Entities, which is an Affiliate of such
entity; (ii) not commingle its funds or assets with those of any other entity,
including Unrestricted Entities, which is an Affiliate of such entity; and (iii)
provide that the board of directors or other analogous governing body of the
General Partner will hold all appropriate meetings to authorize and approve such
entity's actions, which meetings will be separate from those of other entities,
including Unrestricted Entities. Further, the Borrower:
(a) will not, and will not permit any Obligor to guaranty any
Indebtedness of any of the Unrestricted Entities;
(b) will not permit any Unrestricted Entity to hold any equity
or other ownership interest in any Obligor; and
(c) will operate each Unrestricted Entity in such a manner as
to make it apparent to all creditors of such Unrestricted Entity that
such Unrestricted Entity is a legal entity separate and distinct from
all of the Obligors and as such is solely responsible for its debts.
Section 8.13 MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. The Obligors will enforce the
obligations of Affiliates that are parties to the Material Agreements to the
same extent as they would enforce similar obligations of unrelated third
parties.
Section 8.14 GUARANTIES. As an inducement to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement, each Obligor (other than the
Borrower) shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent a Guaranty Agreement
substantially in the form and upon the terms of EXHIBIT G, providing for the
guaranty of payment and performance of the Indebtedness. In addition, at the
time of the formation or acquisition of any Subsidiary (other than the
Unrestricted Entities), the Borrower shall cause such Subsidiary to execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent (i) a Guaranty Agreement substantially in
the form and upon the terms of EXHIBIT G, providing for the guaranty of payment
and performance of the Indebtedness, (ii) Security Instruments in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent creating liens and security
interests in all assets and properties of such Subsidiary and in the equity
interest in such Subsidiary except for any equity interests in Unrestricted
Entities, and (iii) such other documents and instruments as may be required with
respect to such Subsidiary pursuant to SECTION 8.05. At the time of the
formation or acquisition of any Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Entity, Borrower
shall cause such Subsidiary or Unrestricted Entity to execute and deliver to
Administrative Agent certified copies of such Subsidiary's, or Unrestricted
Entity's, as the case may be, organizational documents.
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ARTICLE IX
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
The Obligors covenant and agree that, so long as any of the Commitments
are in effect and until payment in full of Loans hereunder, all interest thereon
and all other amounts payable by the Obligors hereunder, without the prior
written consent of the Required Lenders:
Section 9.01 DEBT. None of the Obligors will incur, create, assume or
permit to exist any Debt, except:
(a) the Notes or other Indebtedness or any guaranty of or
suretyship arrangement for the Notes or other Indebtedness;
(b) Debt of the Borrower disclosed in SCHEDULE 9.01, and any
renewals or extensions (but not increases) thereof;
(c) accounts payable (for the deferred purchase price of
Property or services) from time to time incurred in the ordinary course
of business which, if greater than 90 days past the invoice or billing
date, are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if
reserves adequate under GAAP shall have been established therefor;
(d) Debt under leases permitted under SECTION 9.08;
(e) Following a Permitted Acquisition, Debt associated with
bonds or surety obligations pursuant to Governmental Requirements in
connection with the operation of any Obligor's Properties;
(f) Debt of the Obligors under Hedging Agreements permitted
under SECTION 9.07;
(g) Intercompany Debt, provided, that any such Intercompany
Debt is (i) if in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000),
evidenced by an Intercompany Note which has been pledged to secure the
Indebtedness and is in the possession of the Administrative Agent, and
(ii) subordinated to the Indebtedness upon terms and conditions
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(h) Debt of the Borrower to the General Partner to enable the
General Partner to pay general and administrative costs and expenses of
the Borrower in scope approved by the administrative agent; and
(i) Debt of the Borrower not otherwise described under
SUBPARAGRAPHS (A) through (H) above not to exceed One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate.
Section 9.02 LIENS. None of the Obligors will create, incur, assume or
permit to exist any Lien on any of its Properties (now owned or hereafter
acquired), except:
(a) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit
of the Lenders securing the payment of any Indebtedness;
(b) Excepted Liens;
45
(c) Liens securing leases allowed under SECTION 9.08, but only
on the Property under lease;
(d) Liens on cash or securities of an Obligor securing the
Debt described in SECTION 9.01(E);
(e) Liens in existence on the date hereof securing Debt of the
Borrower disclosed in SCHEDULE 9.01, provided, that no such Liens shall
be extended to cover any additional Property after the date hereof and
the amount of Debt secured thereby is not increased; and
(f) purchase money Liens upon or in any Property acquired by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to secure the deferred portion
of the purchase price of Property or to secure Debt incurred to finance
the acquisition of such Property, provided, that (i) no such Lien shall
be extended to cover property other than the property being acquired,
and (ii) the Debt thereby secured is permitted by SECTION 9.01(I).
Section 9.03 INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ADVANCES. No Obligors will make or
permit to remain outstanding any loans or advances to or investments in any
Person, except that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:
(a) accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of
business;
(b) direct obligations of the United States or any agency
thereof, or obligations guaranteed by the United States or any agency
thereof, in each case maturing within one year from the date of
creation thereof;
(c) commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of
creation thereof rated in the highest grade by S&P or Moody's;
(d) deposits maturing within one year from the date of
creation thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, any
Lender or any office located in the United States of any other bank or
trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States or
any state thereof, has capital, surplus and undivided profits
aggregating at least One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) (as
of the date of such Lender's or bank or trust company's most recent
financial reports) and has a short term deposit rating of no lower than
A2 or P2, as such rating is set forth from time to time, by S&P or
Moody's, respectively;
(e) deposits in money market funds investing exclusively in
investments described in SECTION 9.03(C), or 9.03(D);
(f) investments, loans or advances in or to another Obligor
permitted under SECTION 9.01(G);
(g) Loans and advances by Borrower to General Partner to pay
general and administrative expenses of the Borrower pursuant to the
Limited Partnership Agreement;
(h) Other loans or advances not otherwise described under
SUBPARAGRAPHS (A) through (G) above not to exceed in the aggregate
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000);
(i) purchase of debt or limited partnership units of Atlas
Pipeline Partners or general partner contributions of APL General
Partner to Atlas Pipeline Partners; or
46
(j) Non-hostile acquisitions of equity securities, or assets
constituting a business unit, of any Person, provided that (i)
immediately prior to and after giving effect to such acquisition, no
Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, (ii) if
such acquisition is of equity securities of a Person (other than an
Unrestricted Entity), such person becomes a Guarantor, (iii) the
Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with the covenants set forth
in SECTIONS 9.13, 9.14 and 9.15 based on the trailing 12 quarters and
as adjusted for such acquisition, (iv) such acquired Person (other than
an Unrestricted Entity) or assets shall not be subject to any material
liabilities except as permitted by this Agreement, (v) a first priority
perfected lien and security interest shall be granted to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in such acquired
assets; provided however, that (I) nothing herein shall require any
Unrestricted Entity to grant a first priority lien in its assets; and
(II) such acquisition shall be limited to Persons primarily involved in
the business of, and/or assets primarily involving a Permitted Line of
Business.
Section 9.04 DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTIONS. The Borrower
will not declare or pay any dividend, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for
value any of its stock now or hereafter outstanding, return any capital to its
unitholders or make any distribution of its assets to its unitholders if an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of
such distribution.
Section 9.05 DISPOSITIONS; SALES AND LEASEBACKS. No Obligor will
Dispose of any limited or general partnership units or interests in Atlas
Pipeline Partners or (except for Disposition in the ordinary course of business
of immaterial assets) any other assets of such Obligor. Borrower shall not
Dispose of any interest in APL General Partner. No Obligors will enter into any
arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby any such Obligor
shall sell or transfer any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, and whereby such Obligor shall then or thereafter rent or lease as
lessee such Property or any part thereof or other Property which such Obligor
intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the Property
sold or transferred.
Section 9.06 NATURE OF BUSINESS. No Obligor will allow any material
change to be made in the character of its business as the owner of limited
and/or general partner interests of Atlas Pipeline Partners, except for
Permitted Acquisitions. None of the Obligors shall materially amend, waive or
modify any of their Material Agreements in any manner that could reasonably be
expected to cause any material and adverse effect on the Administrative Agent's
and the Lenders' interests in the collateral securing the Indebtedness, or the
Administrative Agents' or the Lenders' ability to enforce their rights and
remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, at law or in equity.
Section 9.07 HEDGING AGREEMENTS. Obligors shall not enter into or in
any manner be liable on any Hedging Agreement, except:
(a) Following a Permitted Acquisition, Hedging Agreements
entered into with the purpose and effect of fixing prices on
Hydrocarbons; provided, that at all times: (1) no such contract shall
be for speculative purposes; (2) such contracts shall be on terms
satisfactory to Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders; (3) the
agreements documenting such Hedging Agreements do not contain any
provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to
make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party; (4)
no such Hedging Agreement, when aggregated with all Hedging Agreements
permitted under this SECTION 9.07(A), requires any Obligor party
thereto to deliver more than eighty percent (80%) of the total
estimated throughput of Hydrocarbon volumes owned by any Obligor for
its own account on such Obligor's Properties and associated processing
facilities; and (5) each such contract shall be with a Lender or an
Affiliate of a Lender, or with a counterparty or have a guarantor of
the obligation of the counterparty who, at the time the contract is
made, has long-term obligations rated AA or Aa2 or better,
respectively, by S&P or Moody's.
47
(b) Hedging Agreements entered into with the purpose and
effect of fixing interest rates on a principal amount of the Notes of
the Borrower that is accruing interest at a variable rate; provided,
that (1) no such contract shall be for speculative purposes; (2) the
floating rate index of each such contract generally matches the index
used to determine the floating rates of interest on the corresponding
Indebtedness of the Borrower to be hedged by such contract; (3) the
aggregate notional amount of such Hedging Agreements shall not exceed
one hundred percent (100%) of the principal outstanding under the
Notes; and (4) each such contract shall be with a Lender or an
Affiliate of a Lender, or with a counterparty or have a guarantor of
the obligation of the counterparty who, at the time the contract is
made, has long-term obligations rated AA or Aa2 or better,
respectively, by S&P or Moody's (or a successor credit rating agency).
(c) In the event any Obligor enters into a Hedging Agreement
with any of the Lenders, the contingent obligation evidenced under such
Hedging Agreement shall not be applied against such Lender's
Commitment. Any Indebtedness incurred under any Hedging Agreement with
any Lender shall be treated as Indebtedness pari passu with all
Indebtedness otherwise incurred hereunder or under the other Loan
Documents and shall be secured under the Security Instruments.
Section 9.08 LIMITATION ON LEASES. None of the Obligors will create,
incur, assume or permit to exist any obligation for the payment of rent or hire
of Property of any kind whatsoever real or personal including capital leases
which would cause the aggregate amount of all payments made by such Obligors
pursuant to all such leases or lease agreements to exceed Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($500,000) in any period of twelve consecutive calendar months during
the life of such leases, excluding however (i) oil and gas leases or rights of
way acquired in the ordinary course of business solely with respect to the right
to maintain flow lines or gathering lines or sales lines across the lands
subject thereto, and (ii) equipment leases in the ordinary course of business
for compression of Hydrocarbons gathered and transported through the Pipelines
under leases or lease agreements.
Section 9.09 MERGERS, ETC. None of the Obligors will merge into or with
or consolidate with any other Person, or liquidate, sell, lease or otherwise
dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or
substantially all of its Property or assets (whether now owned or hereafter
acquired) to or in favor of any other Person, except, so long as no Default
exists or would result therefrom, (i) any Subsidiary may merge with (a) the
Borrower, provided, that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving
Person, or (b) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided, that that if a
wholly-owned Subsidiary is merging with another Subsidiary, a wholly-owned
Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person, and (ii) any Subsidiary
may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary
liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided,
that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then the transferee
must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor.
Section 9.10 PROCEEDS OF NOTES AND LETTERS OF CREDIT. The Borrower will
not permit the proceeds of the Notes or Letters of Credit to be used for any
purpose other than those permitted by SECTION 7.07. Neither the Borrower nor any
Person acting on behalf of the Borrower has taken or will take any action which
might cause any of the Loan Documents to violate Regulation T, U or X or any
other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to
violate Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any rule or
regulation thereunder, in each case as now in effect or as the same may
hereinafter be in effect.
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Section 9.11 ERISA COMPLIANCE. The Obligors will not at any time engage
in a transaction which could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, or
permit any Plan maintained by a Company to (i) engage in any non-exempt
"prohibited transaction" (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code); (ii) fail to
comply with ERISA or any other applicable Laws; or (iii) incur any material
"accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA), which,
with respect to each event listed above, could be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
Section 9.12 SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES. None of the Obligors nor
any Subsidiary will discount or sell (with or without recourse) any of its notes
receivable or accounts receivable.
Section 9.13 INTEREST EXPENSE COVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower will not
permit the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower to its Consolidated
Interest Expense as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower (calculated
quarterly based upon the four most recently completed quarters) to be less than
3.00 to 1.00.
Section 9.14 COMBINED LEVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower will not permit the
ratio of the sum of Consolidated Funded Debt of the Borrower plus the
Consolidated Funded Debt of Atlas Pipeline Partners (excluding the NOARK Notes)
to the "Consolidated EBITDA" of Atlas Pipeline Partners, as the term
"Consolidated EBITDA" is defined in the Atlas Pipeline Partners Credit Agreement
as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower (calculated quarterly based
upon the four most recently completed quarters for which financial statements of
Atlas Pipeline Partners are available to the Borrower, and including pro forma
adjustments made pursuant to the Atlas Pipeline Partners Credit Agreement
following any material acquisition by Atlas Pipeline Partners or any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries) set forth below to be more than the ratio
corresponding to such periods:
Closing Date through June 29, 2006 5.75 to 1.00
June 29, 2006 and thereafter 5.50 to 1.00
Section 9.15 LEVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower will not permit the ratio of
its Consolidated Funded Debt to its Consolidated EBITDA (the "LEVERAGE RATIO")
as of the end of any fiscal quarter of Borrower (calculated quarterly based upon
the four most recently completed quarters for which financial statements are
available to the Borrower, and including pro forma adjustments acceptable to
Administrative Agent following any material acquisition to be more than
3.50:1.00.
Section 9.16 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. None of the Obligors will cause or
permit any of its Property to be in violation of, or do anything or permit
anything to be done which will subject any such Property to any remedial
obligations under any Environmental Laws, assuming disclosure to the applicable
Governmental Authority of all relevant facts, conditions and circumstances, if
any, pertaining to such Property where such violations or remedial obligations
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 9.17 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. None of the Obligors will
enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale,
lease or exchange of Property or the rendering of any service, with any
Affiliate unless such transactions are otherwise permitted under this Agreement,
are in the ordinary course of its business and are upon fair and reasonable
terms no less favorable to it than it would obtain in a comparable arm's length
transaction with a Person not an Affiliate; provided, that for purposes of this
Section the agreements on SCHEDULE 7.20 shall be deemed to be arm's length
transactions.
Section 9.18 SUBSIDIARIES. The Obligors shall not create any additional
Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Entities) that do not become Guarantors
hereunder. The Borrower shall not sell or issue any stock or ownership interest
of a Subsidiary, except in compliance with SECTION 9.04.
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Section 9.19 NEGATIVE PLEDGE AGREEMENTS. None of the Obligors will
create, incur, assume or permit to exist any contract, agreement or
understanding (other than this Agreement and the Security Instruments) which in
any way prohibits or restricts the granting, conveying, creation or imposition
of any Lien on any of its Property or restricts it or any other Subsidiary from
paying dividends to the Borrower, or which requires the consent of or notice to
other Persons in connection therewith.
Section 9.20 AMENDMENTS TO MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. The Obligors shall not
permit any assignment, transfer or amendment to any Material Agreement or the
Limited Partnership Agreement, if such assignment, transfer of amendment could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 9.21 ACCOUNTING CHANGES. Borrower shall not and shall not
permit any Subsidiary to make any significant change in accounting treatment or
reporting practices except as required by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary.
ARTICLE X
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES
Section 10.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. One or more of the following events
shall constitute an "EVENT OF DEFAULT":
(a) the Borrower shall default in the payment or prepayment
when due of any principal of or interest on any Loan, or any
reimbursement obligation for a disbursement made under any Letter of
Credit, or any fees or other amount payable by it hereunder or under
any Security Instrument; or
(b) (i) any Obligor shall default in the payment when due of
any principal of or interest on any of its other Debt aggregating [One
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000)] or more, or any event
specified in any note, agreement, indenture or other document
evidencing or relating to any such Debt shall occur if the effect of
such event is to cause, or (with the giving of any notice or the lapse
of time or both) to permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or a
trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such
Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (ii) Atlas Pipeline
Partners shall default in the payment when due of any principal of or
interest on any Debt in excess of Twenty-Five Million Dollars
($25,000,000), or any event specified in any note, agreement, indenture
or other document evidencing or relating to any such Debt shall occur
if the effect of such event is to cause, or (with the giving of any
notice or the lapse of time or both) to permit the holder or holders of
such Debt (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders)
to cause, such Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity; or
(c) any representation, warranty or certification made or
deemed made herein or in any Loan Document by any Obligor, or any
certificate furnished to any Lender or the Administrative Agent
pursuant to the provisions hereof or any Security Instrument, shall
prove to have been false or misleading as of the time made or furnished
in any material respect; or
(d) any Obligor shall default in the performance of any of its
obligations under ARTICLE IX or any other Article of this Agreement
other than under ARTICLE VIII; or any Obligor shall default in the
performance of any of its obligations under ARTICLE VIII or under any
Loan Document to which it is a party (other than the payment of amounts
due which shall be governed by SECTION 10.01(A)) and such default shall
continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days following the
occurrence thereof; or
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(e) any Obligor or Atlas Pipeline Partners shall admit in
writing its inability to, or be generally unable to, pay its debts as
such debts become due; or
(f) any Obligor or Atlas Pipeline Partners shall (i) apply for
or consent to the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a
receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of itself or of all or a
substantial part of its property, (ii) make a general assignment for
the benefit of its creditors, (iii) commence a voluntary case under the
Federal Bankruptcy Code (as now or hereafter in effect), (iv) file a
petition seeking to take advantage of any other law relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, liquidation or
composition or readjustment of debts, (v) fail to controvert in a
timely and appropriate manner, or acquiesce in writing to, any petition
filed against it in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy
Code, or (vi) take any corporate action for the purpose of effecting
any of the foregoing; or
(g) a proceeding or case shall be commenced, without the
application or consent of any Obligor or Atlas Pipeline Partners, in
any court of competent jurisdiction, seeking (i) its liquidation,
reorganization, dissolution or winding-up, or the composition or
readjustment of its debts, (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
custodian, liquidator or the like of such Obligor or Atlas Pipeline
Partners, as applicable, of all or any substantial part of its assets,
or (iii) similar relief in respect of such Obligor or Atlas Pipeline
Partners, as applicable, under any law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, winding-up, or composition or adjustment of
debts, and such proceeding or case shall continue undismissed, or an
order, judgment or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing
shall be entered and continue unstayed and in effect, for a period of
60 days; or (iv) an order for relief against any Obligor or Atlas
Pipeline Partners, as applicable, shall be entered in an involuntary
case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code; or
(h) a judgment or judgments for the payment of money in excess
of [Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000)] in the aggregate shall
be rendered by a court against any Obligor or Atlas Pipeline Partners
and the same shall not be discharged (or provision shall not be made
for such discharge), or a stay of execution thereof shall not be
procured, within the period of time prescribed by applicable rules of
civil procedure in which to perfect an appeal thereof and such Obligor
or Atlas Pipeline Partners, as applicable shall not, within said
period, or such longer period during which execution of the same shall
have been stayed, or an appeal therefrom shall cause the execution
thereof to be stayed during such appeal; or
(i) the Loan Documents after delivery thereof shall for any
reason, except to the extent permitted by the terms thereof, cease to
be in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in
accordance with their terms, or, with respect to the Security
Instruments, cease to create a valid and perfected Lien of the priority
required thereby on any of the collateral purported to be covered
thereby, except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement,
or any Obligor shall so state in writing; or
(j) a Change in Control with respect to Atlas, the General
Partner or any Obligor occurs; provided, that any Change in Control
that occurs as a result of a Permitted Merger shall not constitute a
Default; or
(k) termination of any Material Agreement or any material
provision of any Material Agreement if such termination could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and such
agreement or provision is not replaced (prior to such termination) in a
manner that will prevent such Material Adverse Effect; or default by
any Person in the performance or observance of any material term of any
Material Agreement which is not cured within the applicable cure period
specified in such Material Agreement, if such default could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
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(l) any Obligor conceals any of its Property with the intent
to hinder, delay or defraud any Lender, the Issuing Bank, or the
Administrative Agent with respect to their rights in Property of the
Obligors; or
(m) a Material Adverse Effect occurs.
Section 10.02 REMEDIES.
(a) In the case of an Event of Default other than one referred
to in CLAUSES (E), (F) or (G) of SECTION 10.01, the Administrative
Agent, upon request of the Required Lenders, shall, by notice to the
Borrower, cancel the Revolver Commitments (in whole or part) and upon
request of Required Lenders, declare the principal amount then
outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Loans and all other
amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the Notes
(including, without limitation, upon request of the Required Lenders,
the payment of cash collateral to secure the LC Exposure as provided in
SECTION 2.09(B)) to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such
amounts shall be immediately due and payable without presentment,
demand, protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration
or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by the Borrower.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of an Event of Default
referred to in CLAUSES (E), (F) or (G) of SECTION 10.01, the
Commitments shall be automatically canceled and the principal amount
then outstanding of, and the accrued interest on, the Loans and all
other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the Notes
(including without limitation the payment of cash collateral to secure
the LC Exposure as provided in SECTION 2.09(B)) shall become
automatically immediately due and payable without presentment, demand,
protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration or
other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived
by the Borrower.
(c) All proceeds received after maturity of the Notes, whether
by acceleration or otherwise shall be applied first to reimbursement of
expenses and indemnities provided for in this Agreement and the
Security Instruments; second to accrued interest on the Notes; third to
fees; fourth pro rata to principal outstanding on the Notes and other
Indebtedness; fifth to serve as cash collateral to be held by the
Administrative Agent to secure the LC Exposure; and any excess shall be
paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required by any Governmental
Requirement.
Section 10.03 DISTRIBUTIONS. Notwithstanding that, under ARTICLE VIII
of the Pledge, Assignment and Security Agreement executed by each of the
Obligors, as "Debtor" thereto (herein collectively the "PLEDGES"), such parties
have unconditionally assigned to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of
the Lenders all of the dividends, interest, or other Distributions (as defined
therein) paid or payable in respect of the collateral covered thereby:
(i) Until such time as Administrative Agent shall
notify such Obligors to the contrary, Obligors shall be
entitled to receive and retain all such Distributions, subject
however to the security interests created under the Pledges,
which liens are hereby affirmed and ratified. Automatically
upon an Event of Default under SECTION 10.01(E), (F) or (G)
and upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
other Event of Default, Administrative Agent may exercise all
rights and remedies granted under the Pledges, including the
right to obtain possession of all Distributions then held by
Obligors or to receive directly from the Subsidiaries and
Partnerships making such payments all future Distributions
attributable to the collateral.
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(ii) In no case shall any failure, whether purposed
or inadvertent, by Administrative Agent to collect directly
any such Distributions constitute in any way a waiver,
remission or release of any of its rights under the Pledges,
nor shall any release of any other Distributions or of any
rights of Administrative Agent to collect other Distributions
thereafter.
(iii) Borrower will upon the instruction of
Administrative Agent join with Administrative Agent in
notifying in writing to the entities responsible for making
such Distributions of the existence of the Pledges, and
instructing that all Distributions be paid directly to
Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders.
ARTICLE XI
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 11.01 APPOINTMENT, POWERS AND IMMUNITIES. Each Lender hereby
irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as its agent
hereunder and under the Security Instruments with such powers as are
specifically delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this
Agreement and the Security Instruments, together with such other powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent (which term as used in
this sentence and in SECTION 11.05 and the first sentence of SECTION 11.06 shall
include reference to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates' officers,
directors, employees, attorneys, accountants, experts and agents): (i) shall
have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in the Loan
Documents, and shall not by reason of the Loan Documents be a trustee or
fiduciary for any Lender; (ii) makes no representation or warranty to any Lender
and shall not be responsible to the Lenders for any recitals, statements,
representations or warranties contained in this Agreement, or in any certificate
or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them
under, this Agreement, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness,
execution, effectiveness, legality, enforceability or sufficiency of this
Agreement, any Note or any other document referred to or provided for herein or
for any failure by any of the Obligors or any other Person (other than the
Administrative Agent) to perform any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder
or for the existence, value, perfection or priority of any collateral security
or the financial or other condition of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any
other obligor or guarantor; (iii) except pursuant to SECTION 11.07 shall not be
required to initiate or conduct any litigation of collection proceedings
hereunder; and (iv) shall not be responsible for any action taken or omitted to
be taken by it hereunder or under any other document or instrument referred to
or provided for herein or in connection herewith including its own ordinary
negligence, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Administrative Agent may employ agents, accountants, attorneys and experts and
shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents,
accountants, attorneys or experts selected by it in good faith or any action
taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice
of such agents, accountants, attorneys or experts. The Administrative Agent may
deem and treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof for all purposes
hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof
permitted hereunder shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent.
Section 11.02 RELIANCE BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. The Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice or other
communication (including any thereof by telephone, telex, telecopier, telegram
or cable) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or
sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and
statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected
by the Administrative Agent.
53
Section 11.03 DEFAULTS. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of the occurrence of a Default (other than the non-payment of
principal of or interest on Loans or of fees or failure to reimburse for Letter
of Credit drawings) unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a
Lender or the Borrower specifying such Default and stating that such notice is a
"NOTICE OF DEFAULT". In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a
notice of the occurrence of a Default, the Administrative Agent shall give
prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. In the event of a payment Default, the
Administrative Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of each such payment
Default.
Section 11.04 RIGHTS AS A LENDER. With respect to its Commitments and
the Loans made by it and its participation in the issuance of Letters of Credit,
Wachovia Bank, National Association (and any successor acting as Administrative
Agent) in its capacity as a Lender hereunder shall have the same rights and
powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were
not acting as the Administrative Agent, and the term "Lender" or "Lenders"
shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent
in its individual capacity. Wachovia Bank, National Association (and any
successor acting as Administrative Agent) and its Affiliates may (without having
to account therefor to any Lender) accept deposits from, lend money to and
generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with the
Obligors (and any of their Affiliates) as if it were not acting as the
Administrative Agent, and Wachovia Bank, National Association and its Affiliates
may accept fees and other consideration from the Obligors for services in
connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the
same to the Lenders.
Section 11.05 INDEMNIFICATION. The Lenders agree to indemnify the
Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank ratably in accordance with their
percentage shares for the indemnity matters as described in SECTION 12.03 to the
extent not indemnified or reimbursed by the Obligors under SECTION 12.03, but
without limiting the obligations of the Obligors under said SECTION 12.03 and
for any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and
nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank in any way relating to or arising out
of: (i) this Agreement, the Security Instruments or any other documents
contemplated by or referred to herein or the transactions contemplated hereby,
but excluding, unless a Default has occurred and is continuing, normal
administrative costs and expenses incident to the performance of its agency
duties hereunder or (ii) the enforcement of any of the terms of this Agreement,
any Security Instrument or of any such other documents; WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF
THE FOREGOING SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION 11.05 ARISES FROM THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT
NEGLIGENCE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR THE ISSUING BANK, provided that no
Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they arise from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or the
Issuing Bank.
Section 11.06 NON-RELIANCE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER LENDERS.
Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that it has, independently and without
reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit
analysis of the Obligors and its decision to enter into this Agreement, and that
it will, independently and without reliance upon 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 analysis and decisions in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall
not be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by
the Obligors of this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Instruments or any other
document referred to or provided for herein or to inspect the properties or
books of the Obligors. Except for notices, reports and other documents and
information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the
Administrative Agent hereunder (including, without limitation, those materials
delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to SECTION 8.01), the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any
Lender with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial
condition or business of the Obligors (or any of their Affiliates) which may
come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates.
In this regard, each Lender acknowledges that ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP is acting
in this transaction as special counsel to the Administrative Agent only, except
to the extent otherwise expressly stated in any legal opinion or any Loan
Document. Each Lender will consult with its own legal counsel to the extent that
it deems necessary in connection with the Loan Documents and the matters
contemplated therein.
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Section 11.07 ACTION BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. Except for action or
other matters expressly required of the Administrative Agent hereunder, the
Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or
refusing to act hereunder unless it shall (i) receive written instructions from
the Required Lenders, as applicable (or all of the Lenders as expressly required
by SECTION 12.04), specifying the action to be taken, and (ii) be indemnified to
its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expenses which
may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.
The instructions of the Required Lenders, as applicable (or all of the Lenders
as expressly required by SECTION 12.04), and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto by the Administrative Agent shall be binding on all of the
Lenders. If a Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent
shall take such action with respect to such Default as shall be directed by the
Required Lenders, as applicable (or all of the Lenders as required by SECTION
12.04), in the written instructions (with indemnities) described in this SECTION
11.07, provided that, unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have
received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be
obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect
to such Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.
In no event, however, shall the Administrative Agent be required to take any
action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is
contrary to this Agreement and the Security Instruments or applicable law.
Section 11.08 RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. Subject
to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as
provided below, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice
thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, and the Administrative Agent may be
removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon any such
resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a
successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have
been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such
appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent's
giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders' removal of the retiring
Administrative Agent, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of
the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of
such appointment hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor
Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and
the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation or
removal hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this ARTICLE XI and
SECTION 12.03 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative
Agent.
Section 11.09 NO OTHER DUTIES. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth herein, none of "syndication agent," "co-lead arrangers" or "sole book
runner" listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or
responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except
in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Co-Lead Arranger,
a Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder.
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Section 11.10 COLLATERAL AND GUARANTY MATTERS. The Lenders and the
Issuing Bank irrevocably authorize and direct the Administrative Agent:
(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by
the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination
of the Commitments, payment in full of all Indebtedness (other than
contingent indemnification obligations), the expiration or termination
of all Letters of Credit, and, if any Hedging Agreement remain
outstanding, confirmation from each counterparty thereto known to the
Administrative Agent to be party to such Hedging Agreement that such
Person consents to such release, (ii) that is sold or to be sold as
part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any
other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to SECTION 12.04, if approved,
authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;
(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held
by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of
any Lien on such property that is permitted by SECTION 9.02(E); and
(c) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the
Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a
transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will
confirm in writing the Administrative Agent's authority to release or
subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release
any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this SECTIONS
11.10.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.01 WAIVER. No failure on the part of the Administrative
Agent or any Lender to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of
dealing with respect to, any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan
Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Section 12.02 NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided
for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, any
modifications of, or waivers or consents under, this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents) shall be given or made by telex, telecopy, courier or U.S. Mail or in
writing and telexed, telecopied, mailed or delivered to the intended recipient
at the "Address for Notices" specified below its name on the signature pages
hereof or in the Loan Documents or, as to any party, at such other address as
shall be designated by such party in a notice to each other party. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, all such
communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when transmitted, if
transmitted before 1:00 p.m. local time on a Business Day (otherwise on the next
succeeding Business Day) by telex or telecopier and evidence or confirmation of
receipt is obtained, or personally delivered or, in the case of a mailed notice,
three (3) Business Days after the date deposited in the mails, postage prepaid,
in each case given or addressed as aforesaid.
Section 12.03 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES, INDEMNITIES, ETC.
(a) The Obligors agree:
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(i) whether or not the transactions hereby
contemplated are consummated, to pay all reasonable expenses
of the Administrative Agent in the administration (both before
and after the execution hereof and including advice of counsel
as to the rights and duties of the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders with respect thereto) of, and in connection with
the negotiation, syndication, investigation, preparation,
execution and delivery of, recording or filing of,
preservation of rights under, enforcement of, and refinancing,
renegotiation or restructuring of, the Loan Documents and any
amendment, waiver or consent relating thereto (including,
without limitation, travel, photocopy, mailing, courier,
telephone and other similar expenses of the Administrative
Agent, the cost of environmental audits, surveys and
appraisals at reasonable intervals, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel and other outside consultants for the
Administrative Agent and, in the case of preservation or
enforcement of rights (including restructurings and workouts),
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Administrative Agent and any of the Lenders); and promptly
reimburse the Administrative Agent for all amounts expended,
advanced or incurred by the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders to satisfy any obligation of the Obligors under this
Agreement or any Security Instrument, including without
limitation, all costs and expenses of foreclosure;
(ii) To indemnify the Administrative Agent and each
Lender and each of their affiliates and each of their
officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents,
attorneys, accountants and experts ("INDEMNIFIED PARTIES")
from, hold each of them harmless against and promptly upon
demand pay or reimburse each of them for, the indemnity
matters which may be incurred by or asserted against or
involve any of them (whether or not any of them is designated
a party thereto) as a result of, arising out of or in any way
related to (i) any actual or proposed use by the Borrower or
any Guarantor of the proceeds of any of the loans or letters
of credit, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of the
loan documents, (iii) the operations of the business of the
Obligors and their Subsidiaries, (iv) the failure of the
Obligors or any Subsidiary to comply with the terms of any
loan document, or with any governmental requirement, (v) any
inaccuracy of any representation or any breach of any warranty
of the Obligors set forth in any of the loan documents, (vi)
the issuance, execution and delivery or transfer of or payment
or failure to pay under any letter of credit, or (vii) the
payment of a drawing under any letter of credit
notwithstanding the non-compliance, non-delivery or other
improper presentation of the manually executed draft(s) and
certification(s), (viii) any assertion that the Lenders were
not entitled to receive the proceeds received pursuant to the
Security Instruments, or (ix) any other aspect of the loan
documents, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel and all other expenses incurred
in connection with investigating, defending or preparing to
defend any such action, suit, proceeding (including any
investigations, litigation or inquiries) or claim and
INCLUDING ALL INDEMNITY MATTERS ARISING BY REASON OF THE
ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY, but excluding
all indemnity matters arising solely by reason of claims
between the Lenders or any Lender and the Administrative Agent
or a Lender's shareholders against the Administrative Agent or
Lender or by reason of the gross negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Party; and
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(III) TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS FROM TIME TO
TIME THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL
LOSSES, CLAIMS, COST RECOVERY ACTIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS
OR PROCEEDINGS, DAMAGES AND LIABILITIES TO WHICH ANY SUCH
PERSON MAY BECOME SUBJECT (I) UNDER ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
APPLICABLE TO THE OBLIGORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY OF THEIR
PROPERTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE TREATMENT OR
DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES,
(II) AS A RESULT OF THE BREACH OR NON-COMPLIANCE BY ANY
OBLIGOR OR ANY SUBSIDIARY WITH ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
APPLICABLE TO ANY OBLIGOR OR ANY SUBSIDIARY, (III) DUE TO PAST
OWNERSHIP BY ANY OBLIGOR OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF ANY OF THEIR
PROPERTIES OR PAST ACTIVITY ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES WHICH,
THOUGH LAWFUL AND FULLY PERMISSIBLE AT THE TIME, COULD RESULT
IN PRESENT LIABILITY, (IV) THE PRESENCE, USE, RELEASE,
STORAGE, TREATMENT OR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ON OR
AT ANY OF THE PROPERTIES OWNED OR OPERATED BY ANY OBLIGOR OR
ANY SUBSIDIARY, OR (V) ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH OR
SAFETY CONDITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN DOCUMENTS.
(b) No Indemnified Party may settle any claim to be
indemnified without the consent of the indemnitor, such consent not to
be unreasonably withheld; provided, that the indemnitor may not
reasonably withhold consent to any settlement that an Indemnified Party
proposes, if the indemnitor does not have the financial ability to pay
all its obligations outstanding and asserted against the indemnitor at
that time, including the maximum potential claims against the
Indemnified Party to be indemnified pursuant to this SECTION 12.03.
(c) In the case of any indemnification hereunder, the
Administrative Agent or Lender, as appropriate shall give notice to the
Obligors of any such claim or demand being made against the Indemnified
Party and the Obligors shall have the non-exclusive right to join in
the defense against any such claim or demand provided that if any
Obligor provides a defense, the Indemnified Party shall bear its own
cost of defense unless there is a conflict between the Obligors and
such Indemnified Party.
(d) THE FOREGOING INDEMNITIES SHALL EXTEND TO THE INDEMNIFIED
PARTIES NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND
OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN
AFFIRMATIVE ACT OR AN OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES
OF NEGLIGENT CONDUCT IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF
ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY
IMPOSED WITHOUT FAULT ON ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES. To
the extent that an Indemnified Party is found to have committed an act
of gross negligence or willful misconduct, this contractual obligation
of indemnification shall continue but shall only extend to the portion
of the claim that is deemed to have occurred by reason of events other
than the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified
Party.
(e) The Obligors' obligations under this SECTION 12.03 shall
survive any termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Notes
and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect.
(f) The Obligors shall pay any amounts due under this SECTION
12.03 within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Obligors of notice
of the amount due.
Section 12.04 AMENDMENTS, ETC. No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement or the Notes or any other Loan Document (excluding Hedging
Agreements), nor consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Obligor
therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing
and signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent on their
behalf upon its receipt of the consent thereof) and the Borrower or the
applicable Obligor, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative
Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that
no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
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(a) waive any of the conditions specified in SECTION 6.01 or,
in the case of the Initial Funding, SECTION 6.02, without the written
consent of each Lender (other than any Lender that is, at such time, a
Defaulting Lender);
(b) (i) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or
reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to ARTICLE X) without the
written consent of such Lender, or (ii) extend or increase the amount
of the aggregate Commitments under the Revolver Facility without the
consent of 66 2/3% of the Lenders;
(c) postpone any date scheduled for any payment of principal
or interest under this Agreement (including any principal due pursuant
to a mandatory prepayment required pursuant to SECTION 2.07(B)), or any
date fixed by the Administrative Agent for the payment of 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 or forgive the principal of (including any
principal due pursuant to a mandatory prepayment required pursuant to
SECTION 2.07(B)), or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan
or unreimbursed amounts under Letters of Credit, or (subject to CLAUSE
(III) of the second proviso to this SECTION 12.04) any fees or other
amounts payable hereunder (except as set forth in SUBSECTION (1) of
this SECTION 12.04 or under any other Loan Document, or change the
manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in
any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Margin
that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or
any fee payable hereunder without the written consent of each Lender
directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the written
consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the
definition of "POST-DEFAULT RATE" or to waive any obligation of the
Borrower to pay interest at the Post-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 advance under any Letter of Credit or to reduce any fee
payable hereunder;
(e) change (i) any provision of SECTION 4.05(B) that would
alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby or this SECTION
12.04 without the written consent of each Lender, (ii) the definition
of "REQUIRED LENDERS" without the written consent of each Lender, (iii)
the definition of "PERCENTAGE SHARE" without the written consent of
each Lender, or (iv) 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;
(f) amend the definition of "Indebtedness" without the written
consent of each Lender or Affiliate thereof party to a Hedging
Agreement with the Borrower or any other Obligor;
(g) amend SECTION 9.I07(D) without the written consent of each
Lender or Affiliate thereof party to Hedging Agreements with the
Borrower or any other Obligor;
(h) release any Guarantor from the Guaranty Agreement executed
by such Guarantor without the written consent of each Lender; or
(i) release any material portion of the collateral covered by
any of the Loan Documents, except as otherwise provided in SECTION
11.10, without the written consent of each Lender.
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Section 12.05 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
Section 12.06 ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the
Borrower nor any other Obligor may assign or otherwise transfer any of
its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or
otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except
(i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of
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 (F) of this Section (and any other
attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and
void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be
construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto,
their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants
to the extent provided in SUBSECTION (d) of this Section and, to the
extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement.
(b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible
Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans
(including for purposes of this SUBSECTION (B), participations in
Letters of Credit) at the time owing to it); provided, that:
(i) except 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 or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund
with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the
Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding
thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the
principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning
Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the
date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such
assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if
"Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as
of the Trade Date, shall not be less than One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so
long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed);
(ii) 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;
(iii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved
by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank unless the
Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender
(whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify
as an Eligible Assignee); and
(iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and
Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of
Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500), and the Eligible
Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
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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
Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to
the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption,
have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and
the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest
assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its
obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party
hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of SECTIONS
4.06, 5.01, 5.04, and 12.03 with respect to facts and circumstances
occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. 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) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose
as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at its Principal 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 the Loans and LC Exposure
owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time
(the "REGISTER"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each
Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms
hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement,
notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available
for inspection by each of the Borrower and the Issuing Bank at any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or
notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell
participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the
Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a
"PARTICIPANT") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or
obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its
Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender's participations in
Letters of Credit, if applicable) 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 Issuing Bank shall continue
to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement.
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
12.04 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this
Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to
the benefits of SECTIONS 4.06, 5.01 and 5.05 to the same extent as if
it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant
to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each
Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of SECTION 4.05 as
though it were a Lender, provided, that such Participant agrees to be
subject to SECTION 4.01 as though it were a Lender.
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(e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater
payment under SECTION 4.06, 5.01 or 5.05 than the applicable Lender
would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation
sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such
Participant is made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A
Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall
not be entitled to the benefits of SECTION 4.06 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 4.06 as though it were a Lender.
(f) 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.
(g) The words "execution," "signed," "signature," and words of
like import in any Assignment and Assumption 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.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
if at any time Wachovia assigns all of its Commitment and Loans
pursuant to subsection (b) above, Wachovia may, upon 30 days' notice to
the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as Issuing Bank. In the event of
any such resignation as Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall be entitled to
appoint from among the Lenders a successor Issuing Bank hereunder;
provided however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such
successor shall affect the resignation of Wachovia as Issuing Bank. If
Wachovia resigns as Issuing Bank, it shall retain all the rights and
obligations of the Issuing Bank hereunder with respect to all Letters
of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as
Issuing Bank and all LC Exposure with respect thereto (including the
right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk
participations in unreimbursed amounts pursuant to SECTION 2.09(C)).
Section 12.07 INVALIDITY. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained in any of the Loan Documents shall, for any reason, be held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the Notes, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Section 12.08 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by
signing any such counterpart.
Section 12.09 REFERENCES, USE OF WORD "INCLUDING". The words "herein,"
"hereof," "hereunder" and other words of similar import when used in this
Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole, and not to any particular article,
section or subsection. Any reference herein to a Section or Article shall be
deemed to refer to the applicable Section or Article of this Agreement unless
otherwise stated herein. Any reference herein to an exhibit, schedule, or other
attachment shall be deemed to refer to the applicable exhibit, schedule, or
other attachment attached hereto unless otherwise stated herein. The words
"including," "includes" and words of similar import mean "including, without
limitation."
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Section 12.10 SURVIVAL. The obligations of the parties under SECTION
4.06, ARTICLE V, and SECTIONS 11.05 and 12.03 shall survive the repayment of the
Loans and the termination of the Commitments. To the extent that any payments on
the Indebtedness or proceeds of any collateral are subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to
a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy
law, common law or equitable cause, then to such extent, the Indebtedness so
satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not
been received and the Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' Liens, security
interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each Security
Instrument shall continue in full force and effect. In such event, each Security
Instrument shall be automatically reinstated and the Obligors shall take such
action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders to effect such reinstatement.
Section 12.11 CAPTIONS. Captions and section headings appearing herein
are included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to affect
the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.
Section 12.12 NO ORAL AGREEMENTS. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS EMBODY THE ENTIRE
AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDE ALL OTHER
AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN SUCH PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT
MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF. THE 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.
Section 12.13 GOVERNING LAW, SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401
OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW) AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW; AND
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS
ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK,
AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER AND EACH
GUARANTOR HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW) IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE
JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH OF THE BORROWER AND EACH
GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE
GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO
THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE
JURISDICTIONS. THIS SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION IS NON-EXCLUSIVE AND
DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER FROM OBTAINING
JURISDICTION OVER THE BORROWER OR ANY GUARANTOR IN ANY COURT OTHERWISE
HAVING JURISDICTION.
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(c) THE BORROWER AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
DESIGNATES CT CORPORATION SYSTEM LOCATED AT ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, OR OTHER AGENT ACCEPTABLE TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, AS THE DESIGNEE, APPOINTEE AND AGENT OF THE
BORROWER AND EACH GUARANTOR TO RECEIVE, FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE
BORROWER AND EACH GUARANTOR, SERVICE OF PROCESS IN SUCH RESPECTIVE
JURISDICTIONS IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THE
LOAN DOCUMENTS. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT A COPY OF SUCH PROCESS SERVED ON
SUCH ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT WILL BE PROMPTLY FORWARDED BY OVERNIGHT
COURIER TO THE BORROWER AND THE RELEVANT GUARANTOR AT THEIR ADDRESSES
SET FORTH UNDER ITS SIGNATURE BELOW, BUT THE FAILURE OF THE BORROWER OR
SUCH GUARANTOR TO RECEIVE SUCH COPY SHALL NOT AFFECT IN ANY WAY THE
SERVICE OF SUCH PROCESS. THE BORROWER AND EACH GUARANTOR FURTHER
IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE
AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING
OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO
EACH OF THE BORROWER AND ANY GUARANTOR AT ITS SAID ADDRESS, SUCH
SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING.
(d) NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY HOLDER OF A NOTE TO SERVE
PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY GUARANTOR
IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
(e) THE BORROWER, EACH GUARANTOR AND EACH LENDER HEREBY (I)
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY LAW, TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY SECURITY INSTRUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM
THEREIN; (II) IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED
BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH
LITIGATION ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,
OR DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL DAMAGES; (III) CERTIFY
THAT NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
OR COUNSEL FOR ANY PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR
OTHERWISE, OR IMPLIED THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (IV) ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE SECURITY
INSTRUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN
THIS SECTION 12.13.
Section 12.14 USA PATRIOT ACT NOTICE. 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 "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.
Section 12.15 INTEREST. It is the intention of the parties hereto to
conform strictly to applicable usury laws regarding the use, forbearance or
detention of the indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement, the Notes and the
other Loan Documents, whether such laws are now or hereafter in effect,
including the laws of the United States of America or any other jurisdiction
whose laws are applicable, and including any subsequent revisions to or judicial
interpretations of those laws, in each case to the extent they are applicable to
this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents (the "APPLICABLE USURY
LAWS"). Accordingly, if any acceleration of the maturity of the Notes or any
payment by Borrower or any other Person produces a rate in excess of the Highest
Lawful Rate or otherwise results in Borrower or such other Person being deemed
to have paid any interest in excess of the Maximum Amount, as hereinafter
defined, or if any Lender shall for any reason receive any unearned interest in
violation of any Applicable Usury Laws, or if any transaction contemplated
hereby would otherwise be usurious under any Applicable Usury Laws, then, in
that event, regardless of any provision contained in this Agreement or any other
Loan Document or other agreement or instrument executed or delivered in
connection herewith, the provisions of this SECTION 12.15 shall govern and
control, and neither Borrower nor any other Person shall be obligated to pay, or
apply in any manner to, any amount that would be excessive interest. No Lender
shall ever be deemed to have contracted for or be entitled to receive, collect,
charge, reserve or apply as interest on any Loan (whether termed interest
therein or deemed to be interest by judicial determination or operation of law),
any amount in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, and, in the event that such
Lender ever receives, collects, or applies as interest any such excess, such
amount which would be excessive interest shall be applied as a partial
prepayment of principal and treated hereunder as such, and, if the principal
amount of the applicable Loans are paid in full, any remaining excess shall
forthwith be paid to Borrower. In determining whether or not the interest
contracted for, received, collected, charged reserved, paid or payable,
including under any specific contingency, exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate,
Borrower and each Lender shall, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable
law, (i) characterize any non-principal payment (other than payments which are
expressly designated as interest payments hereunder) as an expense or fee rather
than as interest, (ii) exclude voluntary pre-payments and the effect thereof,
and (iii) amortize and spread the total amount of interest throughout the entire
stated term of the Loans so that the interest rate is uniform throughout such
term; provided that if the Loans are paid in full prior to the end of the full
contemplated term hereof, and if the interest received for the actual period of
existence thereof exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, if any, then the Lenders
shall refund to Borrower the amount of such excess, or credit the amount of such
excess against the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all Loans made by
Lender. As used herein, the term "MAXIMUM AMOUNT" means the maximum nonusurious
amount of interest which may be lawfully contracted for, reserved, charged,
collected or received by Lender in connection with the indebtedness evidenced by
this Agreement, the Notes and other Loan Documents under all Applicable Usury
Laws. Texas Finance Code, Chapter 346, which regulates certain revolving loan
accounts and revolving tri-party accounts, shall not apply to any revolving loan
accounts created under, or apply in any manner to, the Note, this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents.
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Section 12.16 CONFIDENTIALITY. In the event that the Borrower provides
to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders written confidential information
belonging to the Borrower, if the Borrower shall denominate such information in
writing as "confidential," the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall
thereafter maintain such information in confidence in accordance with the
standards of care and diligence that each utilizes in maintaining its own
confidential information. This obligation of confidence shall not apply to such
portions of the information which (i) are in the public domain, (ii) hereafter
become part of the public domain without the Administrative Agent or the Lenders
breaching their obligation of confidence to the Borrower, (iii) are previously
known by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders from some source other than the
Borrower, (iv) are hereafter developed by the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders without using the Borrower's information, (v) are hereafter obtained by
or available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders from a third party who
owes no obligation of confidence to the Borrower with respect to such
information or through any other means other than through disclosure by the
Borrower, (vi) are disclosed with the Borrower's consent, (vii) must be
disclosed either pursuant to any Governmental Requirement or to Persons
regulating the activities of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, provided
Administrative Agent and Lenders shall endeavor to provide notice to the
Borrower as soon as practicable in the event Borrower desires to enjoin the
disclosure of such information, however, failure of Administrative Agent or
Lenders to provide such prior notice to Borrower shall not give rise to any
claim or cause of action by Borrower or any Obligor against Administrative Agent
or such Lenders, or (viii) as may be required by law or regulation or order of
any Governmental Authority in any judicial, arbitration or governmental
proceeding. Further, the Administrative Agent or a Lender may disclose any such
information to any other Lender, any independent petroleum engineers or
consultants, any independent certified public accountants, any legal counsel
employed by such Person in connection with this Agreement or any Security
Instrument, including without limitation, the enforcement or exercise of all
rights and remedies thereunder, or any assignee or participant (including
prospective assignees and participants) in the Loans; provided, however, that
the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall receive a confidentiality
agreement from the Person to whom such information is disclosed such that said
Person shall have the same obligation to maintain the confidentiality of such
information as is imposed upon the Administrative Agent or the Lenders
hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein, this
obligation of confidence shall cease three (3) years from the date the
information was furnished, unless the Borrower requests in writing at least
thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of such three year period, to maintain
the confidentiality of such information for an additional three year period. The
Borrower waives any and all other rights it may have to confidentiality as
against the Administrative Agent and the Lenders arising by contract, agreement,
statute or law except as expressly stated in this SECTION 12.16.
65
The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the day and year first above written.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
SIGNATURES BEGIN ON THE NEXT PAGE.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, with the intent of being legally
bound hereby, have caused this Agreement to be executed this ___ day of _______,
2006.
ATTEST: BORROWER:
ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS, L.P.,
a ________ limited partnership
(SEAL)
By: Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC,
its general partner
By:_______________________
Name:_____________________ By:______________________________
Title:____________________ Name:____________________________
Title:___________________________
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, with the intent of being legally
bound hereby, have caused this Revolver Note to be executed this ___ day of
April, 2006.
GUARANTORS:
ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS GP, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company
By:_________________________________
Name:_______________________________
Title:______________________________
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT]
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ISSUING BANK
AND A LENDER:
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and a Lender
By:_______________________________________________
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and
LIBOR Loans and Address for Notices:
Wachovia Bank, National Association
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Telecopier No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT]