CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of September 24, 2010 among THE CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY, YANKEE GAS SERVICES COMPANY, and PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE as Borrowers THE BANKS NAMED HEREIN and...

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SECTION  10.12.

Relation of the Parties; No Beneficiary or Fiduciary Duty.

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SECTION  10.13.

Execution in Counterparts.

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SECTION  10.14.

Defaulting Lenders.

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SECTION  10.15

USA Patriot Act.

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SECTION  10.16

SECTION  1.01.

Certain Defined Terms

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be applicable to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

“Additional Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.03(b).

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“Administrative Agent” means Citibank, in its capacity as administrative agent hereunder, or any successor thereto as provided herein.

“Advance” means an advance by a Lender to any Borrower pursuant to Article III hereof, and refers to a Eurodollar Rate Advance or a Base Rate Advance (each of which shall be a “Type” of Advance).  

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling (including, but not limited to, all directors and officers of such Person), controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such Person.  A Person shall be deemed to control another entity if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

SECTION  1.02.

Computation of Time Periods.

In the computation of periods of time under this Agreement, any period of a specified number of days or months shall be computed by including the first day or month occurring during such period and excluding the last such day or month.  In the case of a period of time “from” a specified date “to” or “until” a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”.

SECTION  1.03.

Accounting Terms; Financial Statements.

All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with the application employed in the preparation of the Financial Statements.  All references contained herein to any Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K in respect of a Fiscal Year or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in respect of a Fiscal Quarter shall be deemed to include any exhibits and schedules thereto, including without limitation in the case of any Annual Report on Form 10-K, any “Annual Report” of such Borrower referred to therein.

SECTION  1.04.

Computations of Outstandings.

Whenever reference is made in this Agreement to the principal amount of Advances outstanding under this Agreement to one or more Borrowers on any date, such reference shall refer to the aggregate principal amount of all such Advances to such Borrower(s) outstanding on such date after giving effect to (i) all Advances to be made to such Borrower(s) on such date and the application of the proceeds thereof and (ii) any repayment or prepayment of Advances on such date by such Borrower(s).

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SECTION  2.01.

The Commitments.

(a)

Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Advances to the Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Termination Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed on any day such Lender’s Available Commitment.  Within the limits of such Lender’s Available Commitment and such Borrower’s Sublimit, each Borrower may request Advances hereunder, repay or prepay Advances and utilize the resulting increase in the Available Commitments for further Advances in accordance with the terms hereof.

(b)

In no event shall any Borrower be entitled to request or receive any Advance under subsection (a) that would cause the aggregate principal amount advanced pursuant thereto to exceed the Available Commitments.  In no event shall any Borrower be entitled to request or receive any Advance that would cause the total principal amount of all Advances outstanding hereunder to exceed the Total Commitment, or that would cause the aggregate principal amount of all Advances outstanding to or requested by such Borrower to exceed such Borrower’s Borrower Sublimit.  In no event shall any Borrower be entitled to request or receive any Advance that, when aggregated with all other Advances outstanding to or requested by such Borrower and all other short-term debt of such Borrower, would exceed such Borrower’s Borrowing Limit as then in effect.

SECTION  2.02.

Fees.

(a)

Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee (the “Facility Fee”) on the amount of such Lender’s Commitment (whether used or unused) multiplied by such Borrower’s Fraction, at the Applicable Facility Fee Rate from the date of this Agreement, in the case of each Bank, and from the effective date specified in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it became a Lender, in the case of each other Lender, until the Termination Date.  The Facility Fee payable by each Borrower shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each December, March, June and September, commencing the first such date following the Closing Date, with final payment payable on the Termination Date.

(b)

The Borrowers further agree to pay the fees specified in the Fee Letters that are for their account, together with such other fees as may be separately agreed to by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent or its Affiliates.

SECTION  2.03.

Reduction and Increase of the Commitments; Borrower Sublimits.

(a)

Each Borrower may, at any time, severally and without the consent of the other Borrowers, by providing at least three Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate in whole or reduce in part its Borrower Sublimit; provided, that any such partial reduction shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Each such notice of termination or reduction shall be irrevocable.  

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In no event shall any Borrower be entitled to increase its Borrower Sublimit without the consent of all of the Lenders.  Each reduction in a Borrower’s Borrower Sublimit pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall, to the extent such reduction reduces the sum of the Borrower Sublimits of all the Borrowers to an amount less than the Commitments in effect at such time, result in a like reduction in the Commitments on a pro rata basis with respect to each Lender.

(b)

(i)  From time to time prior to the Termination Date, any Borrower may increase the Total Commitment by an aggregate amount of $100,000,000 (any such increase, a “Commitment Increase” and any such Borrower, an “Increasing Borrower”), such that the Total Commitments are increased to no more than $500,000,000 by designating either one or more of the existing Lenders (each of which, in its sole discretion, may determine whether and to what degree to offer to participate in such Commitment Increase) or one or more other banks or other financial institutions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent that at the time agree, in the case of any such bank or financial institution that is an existing Lender to increase its Commitment (an “Increasing Lender”) and, in the case of any other such bank or financial institution (an “Additional Lender”), to become a party to this Agreement.  The sum of the increases in the Commitments of the Increasing Lenders pursuant to this subsection (b) plus the Commitments of the Additional Lenders upon giving effect to the Commitment Increase shall not in the aggregate exceed the amount of the Commitment Increase.  Each Increasing Borrower shall provide prompt notice of any proposed Commitment Increase pursuant to this subsection (b) to the Administrative Agent, which shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to the Lenders. In connection with any Commitment Increase, such Increasing Borrower may increase its Borrower Sublimit by a corresponding amount.

(ii)

Any Commitment Increase shall become effective upon (A) the receipt by the Administrative Agent of (1) an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent signed by the Increasing Borrower, each Increasing Lender and each Additional Lender, setting forth the new Commitment of each such Lender, the new Borrower Sublimit of the Increasing Borrower and setting forth the agreement of each Additional Lender to become a party to this Agreement and to be bound by all the terms and provisions hereof binding upon each Lender, (2) certified copies of the Commitment Increase Approvals and such opinions of counsel for the Increasing Borrower with respect to the Commitment Increase as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and (3) a certificate (the statements contained in which shall be true) of a duly authorized officer of the Increasing Borrower stating that both before and after giving effect to such Commitment Increase (x) no Unmatured Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (y) all representations and warranties made by the Increasing Borrower in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects, and (z) all Commitment Increase Approvals have been obtained and are in full force and effect, and (B) the funding by each Increasing Lender and Additional Lender of the Advance(s) to be made by each such Lender described in paragraph (iii) below.

(iii)

Upon the effective date of any Commitment Increase, each Increasing Lender and each Additional Lender shall provide funds to the Administrative Agent in the manner described in Section 3.03 in an amount equal to the product of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Advances outstanding hereunder, expressed as a percentage of the Total Commitment (calculated, in each case, immediately prior to such Commitment

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Increase) and (y) the amount of such Lender’s Commitment Increase.  The funds so provided by any Lender shall be deemed to be an Advance or Advances made by such Lender on the date of such Commitment Increase, with such Advance(s) being (A) in an amount equal to the product of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of each Advance expressed as a percentage of the Total Commitment (calculated, in each case, immediately prior to such Commitment Increase) and (y) the amount of such Lender’s Commitment Increase and (B) of the same Type(s) and having the same Interest Period(s) as each Advance described in the preceding clause (A), such that after giving effect to such Commitment Increase and the Advances(s) made on the date of such Commitment Increase, each Advance outstanding hereunder shall consist of Advances made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their pro rata shares of the Total Commitment.

(iv)

Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, from and after the date of any Commitment Increase and the making of any Advances on such date pursuant to paragraph (iii) above, all calculations and payments of interest on the Advance comprising any Advances shall take into account the actual Commitment of each Lender and the principal amount outstanding of each Advance made by such Lender during the relevant period of time.

SECTION  2.04.

Extension of the Stated Termination Date.

(a)

Unless the Termination Date previously shall have occurred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, at least 30 days but not more than 45 days before any Extension Date, the Borrowers may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (any such notice being irrevocable), request that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders extend the Stated Termination Date for a period of one year.  If the Borrowers shall make such request, the Administrative Agent shall promptly inform the Lenders thereof.  Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent, in writing, of its agreement so to extend the Stated Termination Date at least 20 days prior to such Extension Date,  and, no later than 15 days prior to such Extension Date, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers in writing if the Lenders holding sufficient Commitments (determined per the last sentence of this subsection (a)) consent to such request.  The granting of any such consent shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of each Lender (each Lender that consents being an “Extending Lender” and each Lender that does not consent, or that does not notify the Administrative Agent of its consent to any request for extension, being a “Declining Lender”), and if the Administrative Agent shall not so notify the Borrowers, such lack of notification shall be deemed to be a determination not to consent to such request.  Any extension pursuant to this Section shall be effective only if (i) the sum of the Commitments, immediately following the effectiveness of any proposed extension, of (A) Extending Lenders and (B) third party financial institutions that become Lenders by accepting Commitments from Declining Lenders would exceed 50% of the Total Commitment in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of any proposed extension (ii) no Unmatured Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (iii) all representations and warranties contained in Section 6.01 are true and correct on the Stated Termination Date as in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of such proposed extension.

(b)

The Commitment of each Declining Lender automatically will terminate on the Stated Termination Date as in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of such extension.  If

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there shall be any Declining Lenders, (i) Extending Lenders will have the right to increase their Commitments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Commitments of such Declining Lenders and, (ii) if the aggregate amount of such increase in Commitments is less than the aggregate Commitments of such Declining Lenders, the Borrowers will have the right to accept commitments from third party financial institutions acceptable to the Administrative Agent in an amount not greater than the amount of such shortfall.  Any such increase in Commitments or accession of third party financial institutions shall be made via an Assignment and Assumption and shall be effective on the Stated Termination Date as in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of such extension.

(c)

The Borrowers may extend the Stated Termination Date pursuant to this Section only twice.

SECTION  3.01.

Advances.

(a)

SECTION  3.02.

Terms Relating to the Making of Advances.

(a)

Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.01 above to the contrary:

(i)

at no time shall more than twelve different Borrowings be outstanding to any one Borrower;

(ii)

each Borrowing hereunder which is to be comprised of Base Rate Advances shall be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than $5,000,000 or an

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integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, or such lesser amount as shall be equal to the total amount of the Available Commitments on such date, after giving effect to all other Borrowings to be made to, or repaid or prepaid by, the relevant Borrower on such date; and

(iii)

each Borrowing hereunder which is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than $5,000,000 or an increment of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(b)

Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower requesting such proposed Borrowing.

SECTION  3.03.

Making of Advances.

(a)

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SECTION  3.04.

Repayment of Advances; Delivery of Notes.

(a)

Each Borrower shall repay the principal amount of each Advance made to it no later than on the earlier of (i) the last day of the term (if any) specified pursuant to clause (v) of Section 3.01 in the Notice of Borrowing related to such Advance and (ii) the Termination Date (including the Stated Termination Date with respect to each Lender).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) PSNH shall repay the principal amount of each Advance (as converted or continued pursuant to Section 3.05(a)(ii)) no later than the earlier to occur of 364 days after the date such Advance was made and the Termination Date, unless and until the PSNH Conditions have been satisfied and (ii) WMECO shall repay the principal amount of each Advance in excess of $150,000,000 (as converted or continued pursuant to Section 3.05(a)(ii) no later than the earlier to occur of 364 days after the date such Advance was made and the Termination Date, unless and until the WMECO Conditions have been satisfied.

(b)

Any Lender may request that the Advances made by it to any Borrower be evidenced by a Note.  Promptly upon receipt of such request, the relevant Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its assignees) a Note.  Thereafter, the Advances evidenced by such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.07) be represented by one or more Notes payable to the order of the payee named therein.

SECTION  3.05.

Interest.

(a)

Interest Periods.

(i)

The period commencing on the date of each Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by a Borrower with respect to such Advance pursuant to the provisions of this Section is referred to herein as an  “Interest Period”.  The duration of each Interest Period shall be (i) in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Advance, one, two, three or six months and (ii) in the case of any Base Rate Advance, the period of time beginning on the date of the making of, or the conversion of an outstanding Advance into, such Advance and ending on the last day of March, June, September or December next following the date on which such Advance was made; provided, however, that no Interest Period may be selected by any Borrower if such Interest Period would end after the Termination Date.

(ii)

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the initial Interest Period for any Advance made to any Borrower shall be determined by such Borrower as set forth in its Notice of Borrowing with respect to such Advance.  Such Borrower may elect to continue or convert one or more Advances of any Type and having the same Interest Period to one or more Advances of the same or any other Type and having the same or a different Interest Period on the following terms and subject to the following conditions:

(A)

SECTION  3.06.

Several Obligations.

Each Borrower’s obligations hereunder are several and not joint.  Any actions taken by or on behalf of the Borrowers shall not result in one Borrower being held responsible for the actions, debts or liabilities of the other Borrowers.  Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted as requiring the Borrowers to effect Borrowings jointly.

SECTION  4.01.

Payments and Computations.

(a)

(b)

Each Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and each Lender, if and to the extent payment owed to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is not made when due hereunder, to charge from time to time against any or all of such Borrower’s accounts with the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, any amount so due.

(c)

All computations of interest based on the Base Rate (except when determined on the basis of the Federal Funds Rate or the One-Month LIBOR Rate) shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be.  All computations of interest and other amounts payable pursuant to Section 4.03 shall be made by the Lender claiming such interest or other amount on the basis of a year of 360 days.  All other computations of interest, including computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate, the Base Rate (when and if determined on the basis of the Federal Funds Rate or the One-Month LIBOR Rate), and all computations of fees and other amounts payable hereunder, shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days.  In each such case, such computation shall be made for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest, fees or other amounts are payable.  Each such determination by the Administrative Agent or a Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(d)

Whenever any payment under any Loan Document shall be stated to be due, or the last day of an Interest Period hereunder shall be stated to occur, on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made, and the last day of such Interest Period shall occur, on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest and fees hereunder; provided, however, that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made, or the last day of an Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Advance to occur, in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day and such reduction of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest hereunder.

(e)

Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender.  If and to the extent such Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender, together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.

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SECTION  4.02.

Prepayments.

(a)

No Borrower shall have any right to prepay any Advances except in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) below.

(b)

Any Borrower may, (i) in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, upon at least three Business Day’s written notice to the Administrative Agent (such notice being irrevocable) and (ii) in the case of Base Rate Advances, upon notice not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of the proposed prepayment to the Administrative Agent (such notice being irrevocable), stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given, such Borrower shall, prepay Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing, in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and any amounts owing in connection therewith pursuant to Section 4.03(d); provided, however, that each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(c)

If at any time, the aggregate principal amount of Advances outstanding shall exceed the Total Commitment, the Borrowers shall forthwith prepay Advances in a principal amount equal to such excess.  If at any time the aggregate principal amount of Advances outstanding to any Borrower shall exceed the Borrower Sublimit of such Borrower, such Borrower shall forthwith prepay Advances in a principal amount equal to such excess. All prepayments pursuant to this subsection (c) shall be effected from outstanding Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing or Borrowings and shall be accompanied by payment of accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and any amounts owing in connection therewith pursuant to Section 4.03(d).

SECTION  4.03.

Yield Protection.

(a)

Change in Circumstances.  Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if after the date hereof, the adoption of or any change in applicable law or regulation or in the interpretation or administration thereof (including, without limitation, pursuant to the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010) by any governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the force of law) shall (i) change the basis of taxation of payments to any Lender of the principal of or interest on any Eurodollar Rate Advance made by such Lender or any fees or other amounts payable under the Loan Documents (other than changes in respect of taxes imposed on the overall net income of such Lender or its Applicable Lending Office by the jurisdiction in which such Lender has its principal office or in which such Applicable Lending Office is located or by any political subdivision or taxing authority therein), or (ii) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against commitments or assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, such Lender, or (iii) shall impose on such Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Advances made by such Lender, and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender, of agreeing to make, making or maintaining any Advance or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender under any Loan Document (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender upon demand

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such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b)

Capital.  If any Lender shall have determined that any change after the date hereof in any law, rule, regulation or guideline adopted pursuant to or arising out of the July 1988 report of the Basle Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices entitled “International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards”, or the adoption after the date hereof of any law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital adequacy (including, without limitation, pursuant to the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010), or any change in any of the foregoing or in the interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or any Applicable Lending Office of such Lender) or any Lender’s holding company with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect (i) of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitment of such Lender hereunder or the Advances made by such Lender pursuant hereto to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved, but for such applicability, adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), or (ii) of increasing or otherwise determining the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or such Lender’s holding company based upon the existence of this Agreement, the Commitment of such Lender hereunder, the Advances made by such Lender pursuant hereto and other similar such commitments, agreements or assets, then from time to time the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender upon demand such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction or allocable capital cost suffered.

(c)

Eurodollar Reserves.  Each Borrower shall pay to each Lender upon demand, so long as such Lender shall be required under regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Advance of such Lender to such Borrower, from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting (i) the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such Eurodollar Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period.  Such additional interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified to the relevant Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(d)

Breakage Indemnity.  Each Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or reasonable expense which such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (i) any failure by such Borrower to fulfill on the date of any Borrowing or conversion of Advances hereunder the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Articles III and V, (ii) any failure by such Borrower to borrow any, or convert any outstanding Advance into a, Eurodollar Rate Advance hereunder after a Notice of Borrowing has been delivered pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof or after delivery of a notice of conversion pursuant to Section 3.05(a)(ii) hereof, (iii) any

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payment, prepayment or conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Advance made to such Borrower required or permitted by any other provision of this Agreement or otherwise made or deemed made on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iv) any default by such Borrower in payment or prepayment of the principal amount of any Eurodollar Rate Advance or any part thereof or interest accrued thereon, as and when due and payable (at the due date thereof, by irrevocable notice of prepayment or otherwise) or (v) the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to such Borrower, including, in each such case, any loss or reasonable expense sustained or incurred or to be sustained or incurred in liquidating or employing deposits from third parties acquired to effect or maintain such Advance or any part thereof as a Eurodollar Rate Advance.  Such loss, cost or reasonable expense shall include an amount equal to the excess, if any, as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (A) its cost of obtaining the funds for the Eurodollar Rate Advance being paid, prepaid, converted or not borrowed for the period from the date of such payment, prepayment, conversion or failure to borrow to the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, the Interest Period for such Advance which would have commenced on the date of such failure) over (B) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) that would be realized by such Lender in reemploying the funds so paid, prepaid, converted or not borrowed for such period or Interest Period, as the case may be.  For purposes of this subsection (d), it shall be presumed that in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Advance, each Lender shall have funded each such Advance with a fixed-rate instrument bearing the rates and maturities designated in the determination of the Applicable Rate for such Advance.

(e)

Notices.  A certificate of each Lender setting forth such Lender’s claim for compensation hereunder and the amount necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company pursuant to subsections (a) through (d) above shall be submitted to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.  The Borrowers or appropriate Borrower shall pay each Lender directly the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after its receipt of the same.  The failure of any Lender to provide such notice or to make demand for payment under this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s rights hereunder; provided that such Lender shall not be entitled to demand payment pursuant to subsections (a) through (d) above in respect of any loss, cost, expense, reduction or reserve, if such demand is made more than one year following the later of such Lender’s incurrence or sufferance thereof or such Lender’s actual knowledge of the event giving rise to such Lender’s rights pursuant to such subsections.  Each Lender shall use reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and validity of any claim made by it hereunder, but the foregoing shall not obligate any Lender to assert any possible invalidity or inapplicability of the law, rule, regulation, guideline or other change or condition which shall have occurred or been imposed.

(f)

Change in Legality.  Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of or any change in any law or regulation or in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority charged with the administration or interpretation thereof shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Rate Advance or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advance, then, by written notice to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, such Lender may:

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(i)

declare that Eurodollar Rate Advances will not thereafter be made by such Lender hereunder, whereupon the right of any Borrower to select Eurodollar Rate Advances for any Borrowing or conversion shall be forthwith suspended until such Lender shall withdraw such notice as provided hereinbelow or shall cease to be a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 10.07(g) hereof; and

(ii)

require that all outstanding Eurodollar Rate Advances be converted to Base Rate Advances, in which event all Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be automatically converted to Base Rate Advances as of the effective date of such notice as provided herein below.

Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the other Lenders.  Promptly upon becoming aware that the circumstances that caused such Lender to deliver such notice no longer exist, such Lender shall deliver notice thereof to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent withdrawing such prior notice (but the failure to do so shall impose no liability upon such Lender).  Promptly upon receipt of such withdrawing notice from such Lender (or upon such Lender assigning all of its Commitment, Advances, participation and other rights and obligations under the Loan Documents in accordance with Section 10.07(g)), the Administrative Agent shall deliver notice thereof to the Borrowers and the Lenders and such suspension shall terminate.  Prior to any Lender giving notice to the Borrowers under this subsection (f), such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office, if such change would avoid such unlawfulness and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.  Any notice to the Borrowers by any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Rate Advance on the last day of the Interest Period currently applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Advance; provided that if such notice shall state that the maintenance of such Advance until such last day would be unlawful, such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

(g)

Market Rate Disruptions.  If (i) at any time the Eurodollar Rate is to be determined pursuant to the second sentence of the definition thereof, fewer than two Reference Banks furnish timely information to the Administrative Agent for determining the Eurodollar Rate for Eurodollar Rate Advances in connection with any proposed Borrowing or (ii) the Majority Lenders shall notify the Administrative Agent that the Eurodollar Rate will not adequately reflect the cost to such Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances, the right of the Borrowers to select or receive Eurodollar Rate Advances for any Borrowing shall be forthwith suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and until such notification from the Administrative Agent, each requested Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder shall be deemed to be a request for Base Rate Advances.

(h)

Rights of Participants.  Any participant in a Lender’s interests hereunder may assert any claim for yield protection under Section 4.03 that it could have asserted if it were a Lender hereunder.  If such a claim is asserted by any such participant, it shall be entitled to receive such compensation from the Borrowers as a Lender would receive in like circumstances; provided, however, that with respect to any such claim, the Borrowers shall have no greater

29

liability to the Lender and its participant, in the aggregate, than it would have had to the Lender alone had no such participation interest been created.

(i)

Liabilities of Borrowers.  Each Borrower shall be liable for its pro rata share of each payment to be made by the Borrowers under subsections (a) and (b) above, such pro rata share to be determined on the basis of such Borrower’s Fraction; provided, however, that if and to the extent that any such liabilities are reasonably determined by the Borrowers (subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) to be directly attributable to Advances made to a specific Borrower, only such Borrower shall be liable for such payments.

SECTION  4.04.

Sharing of Payments, Etc.

(a)

(b)

If and for so long as any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 3.03(a) or 9.05 then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

30

SECTION  4.05.

Taxes.

(a)

All payments by or on behalf of any Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made in accordance with Section 4.01, free and clear of and without deduction for all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”).  If any Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) such Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b)

In addition, each 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 by such Borrower under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c)

Each Borrower hereby indemnifies each Lender and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes and any Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (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.  A Lender’s claim for such indemnification shall be set forth in a certificate of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the amount necessary to indemnify such Lender pursuant to this subsection (c) and shall be submitted to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.  The appropriate Borrower shall pay such Lender directly the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after the receipt of same.  If any Taxes or Other Taxes for which a Lender or the Administrative Agent has received payments from a Borrower hereunder shall be finally determined to have been incorrectly or illegally asserted and are refunded to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall promptly forward to such Borrower any such refunded amount.  Each Borrower’s, the Administrative Agent’s and each Lender’s obligations under this Section shall survive the payment in full of the Advances.

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(d)

Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the Borrower making such payment will furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 10.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

(e)

Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof shall, on or prior to the date it becomes a Lender hereunder, deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent such certificates, documents or other evidence, as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “Code”), or treasury regulations issued pursuant thereto, including Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI and any other certificate or statement of exemption required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-1(a) or Section 1.1441-6(c) or any subsequent version thereof, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender establishing that it is (i) not subject to withholding under the Code or (ii) totally exempt from United States of America tax under a provision of an applicable tax treaty.  Each Lender shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent of any change in its Applicable Lending Office and shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent together with such notice such certificates, documents or other evidence referred to in the immediately preceding sentence.  Each Lender will use good faith efforts to apprise the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent as promptly as practicable of any impending change in its tax status that would give rise to any obligation by any Borrower to pay any additional amounts pursuant to this Section. Unless the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent have received forms or other documents satisfactory to them indicating that payments under the Loan Documents are not subject to United States of America withholding tax or are subject to such tax at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty, the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent shall withhold taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate in the case of payments to or for any Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States of America.  Each Lender represents and warrants that each such form supplied by it to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers pursuant to this Section, and not superseded by another form supplied by it, is or will be, as the case may be, complete and accurate.

(f)

Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to file any certificate or document requested by the Borrowers or to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a filing or change would avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such additional amounts which may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

SECTION  5.01.

Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness.

The obligations of the Lenders to make Advances hereunder shall not become effective unless on and as of the date hereof (the “Closing Date”) each of the following conditions is satisfied:

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(a)

The Administrative Agent shall have received on or before the Closing Date the following, each dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in sufficient copies for each Bank:

(i)

Counterparts of this Agreement, duly executed by each Borrower, each Bank and the Administrative Agent.

(ii)

A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or analogous officer or representative) of each Borrower certifying:

(A)

the names and true signatures of the officers of such Borrower authorized to sign the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by such Borrower;

(B)

that attached thereto are true and correct copies of: (1) the articles of incorporation and by-laws of such Borrower, together with all amendments thereto, as in effect on such date; (2) the resolutions of such Borrower’s board of directors approving the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower of the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by such Borrower; (3) all documents evidencing other necessary corporate or other similar action, if any, with respect to the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower of the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by such Borrower; and (4) true and correct copies of all Governmental Approvals referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Governmental Approval” required to be obtained by such Borrower in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower of the Loan Documents to be executed and delivered by such Borrower; and

(C)

that the resolutions referred to in the foregoing clause (B)(2) have not been modified, revoked or rescinded and are in full force and effect on such date.

(iii)

A certificate signed by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of each Borrower, certifying as to:

(A)

the Borrowing Limit of such Borrower as in effect on the Closing Date;

(B)

the delivery to each of the Banks, prior to the Closing Date, of true, correct and complete copies (other than exhibits thereto) of all of the Disclosure Documents; and

(C)

the absence of any material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, properties or prospects of such Borrower since December 31, 2009, except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents.

(iv)

A certificate of a duly authorized officer of each Borrower stating that (i) the representations and warranties of such Borrower contained in Section 6.01 are

33

correct, in all material respects, on and as of the Closing Date before and after giving effect to any Advances to be made on such date and the application of the proceeds thereof, and (ii) no event has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Borrower which constitutes an Event of Default or Unmatured Default in respect of such Borrower, or would result from such initial Advances or the application of the proceeds thereof.

(v)

Such financial, business and other information regarding each Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as any Bank shall have reasonably requested.

(vi)

Favorable opinions of:

(A)

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Assistant General Counsel of NUSCO, in substantially the form of Exhibit 5.01A hereto, and of such other counsel as relied upon therein; and as to such other matters as any Bank may reasonably request; and

(B)

SECTION  5.02.

Conditions Precedent to All Advances.

The obligation of each Lender to make any Advance to any Borrower, including the initial Advance to such Borrower, shall be subject to the conditions precedent that, on the date of such Advance and after giving effect thereto:

(a)

the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing with respect to such Advance and the acceptance of the proceeds of such Advance without prior correction by or on behalf of such Borrower shall constitute a representation and warranty by such Borrower that on the date of such Advance such statements are true):

(i)

the representations and warranties of such Borrower contained in Section 6.01 of this Agreement (other than those set forth in Section 6.01(g) and the last sentence of Section 6.01(f)) are correct, in all material respects, on and as of the date of

34

such Advance, before and after giving effect to such Advance and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date;

(ii)

no Event of Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower has occurred and is continuing on or as of the date of such Advance or would result from such Advance or from the application of the proceeds thereof;

(iii)

the making of such Advance, when aggregated with all other Advances outstanding to or requested by such Borrower would not cause such Borrower’s Borrower Sublimit to be exceeded; and

(iv)

the making of such Advance, when aggregated with all other Advances outstanding to or requested by such Borrower and all other outstanding short-term debt of such Borrower would not exceed such Borrower’s Borrowing Limit then in effect; and

(b)

such Borrower shall have furnished to the Administrative Agent such other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender may reasonably request through the Administrative Agent as to the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any Loan Document.

SECTION  5.03.

Reliance on Certificates.

Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon the certificates delivered from time to time by officers of each Borrower as to the names, incumbency, authority and signatures of the respective persons named therein until such time as the Administrative Agent may receive a replacement certificate, in form acceptable to the Administrative Agent, from an officer of such Borrower identified to the Administrative Agent as having authority to deliver such certificate, setting forth the names and true signatures of the officers and other representatives of such Borrower thereafter authorized to act on behalf of such Borrower and, in all cases, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent may rely on the information set forth in any such certificate.

SECTION  6.01.

Representations and Warranties of the Borrowers.

Each Borrower represents and warrants with respect to itself as follows:

(a)

Such Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the requisite corporate power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction where, because of the nature of its business or property, such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower.  Such Borrower has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents and to borrow hereunder.

35

(b)

The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents by such Borrower are within such Borrower’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other similar action, and do not and will not contravene (i) such Borrower’s charter or by-laws or any law or legal restriction or (ii)  any contractual restriction binding on or affecting such Borrower or its properties.

(c)

Except as disclosed in such Borrower’s Disclosure Documents, such Borrower is not in violation of any law or in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction, decree, rule or regulation (including any of the foregoing relating to environmental laws and regulations) of any court or governmental agency or instrumentality where such violation or default would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower.

(d)

All Governmental Approvals referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “Governmental Approval” have been duly obtained or made and are in full force and effect, and all applicable periods of time for review, rehearing or appeal with respect thereto have expired.  Such Borrower has obtained or made all Governmental Approvals referred to in clause (ii) of the definition of “Governmental Approvals”, and such Governmental Approvals are in full force and effect, except (A) those which are not yet required but which are obtainable in the ordinary course of business as and when required, (B) those the absence of which would not materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower and (C) those which such Borrower is diligently attempting in good faith to obtain, renew or extend, or the requirement for which such Borrower is contesting in good faith by appropriate proceedings or by other appropriate means, in each case described in the foregoing clause (C), except as is disclosed in such Borrower’s Disclosure Documents, such attempt or contest, and any delay resulting therefrom, is not reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower or to magnify to any significant degree any such material adverse effect that would reasonably be expected to result from the absence of such Governmental Approval.

(e)

The Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party are legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower enforceable against such Borrower in accordance with their respective terms; subject to the qualification, however, that the enforcement of the rights and remedies herein and therein is subject to bankruptcy and other similar laws of general application affecting rights and remedies of creditors and the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(f)

The Financial Statements of such Borrower, copies of which have been provided to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of such Borrower (in the case of CL&P and PSNH on a consolidated basis) at and for the period ended on the dates thereof, and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.  Since December 31, 2009, there has been no material adverse change in the consolidated (or in the case of WMECO and Yankee, unconsolidated) financial condition, business, operations, properties or prospects of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole, except as disclosed in such Borrower’s Disclosure Documents.

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(g)

There is no pending or known threatened litigation, investigation, action or proceeding (including, without limitation, any action or proceeding relating to any environmental protection laws or regulations) affecting such Borrower or its properties before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator (i) which affects or purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or (ii) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and which, if adversely determined, would materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or results of operations of such Borrower, except, for purposes of this clause (ii) only, such as is described in such Borrower’s Disclosure Documents.

(h)

No ERISA Plan Termination Event has occurred nor is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any ERISA Plan or ERISA Multiemployer Plan which would materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower taken as a whole, except as disclosed to the Lenders and consented to by the Majority Lenders in writing. Since the date of the most recent Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report of each such ERISA Plan (Form 5500 Series), (i) there has been no material adverse change in the funding status of the ERISA Plans referred to therein, and (ii) no “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and in ERISA) has occurred with respect thereto that, singly or in the aggregate with all other “prohibited transactions” and, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), after giving effect to all likely consequences thereof, would be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower.  Neither such Borrower nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred nor reasonably expects to incur any material withdrawal liability under ERISA to any ERISA Multiemployer Plan, except as disclosed to and consented by the Majority Lenders in writing.

(i)

Such Borrower has good and marketable title (or, in the case of personal property, valid title) or valid leasehold interests in its assets, except for (i) minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with the ability of such Borrower to conduct its business as now conducted and (ii) other defects that, either individually or in the aggregate, do not materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower.  All such assets and properties are free and clear of any Lien, other than Liens permitted under Section 7.02(a) hereof.

(j)

All outstanding shares of capital stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Borrower have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned beneficially by NU, free and clear of any Lien.  

(k)

Such Borrower has filed all tax returns (Federal, state and local) required to be filed and paid taxes shown thereon to be due, including interest and penalties, or, to the extent such Borrower is contesting in good faith an assertion of liability based on such returns, has provided adequate reserves in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for payment thereof.

(l)

No exhibit, schedule, report or other written information provided by or on behalf of such Borrower or its agents to the Administrative Agent or the Banks in connection with the negotiation, execution and closing of the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the Financial Statements and the Information Memorandum (but excluding the projections contained

37

in the Information Memorandum)) knowingly contained when made any material misstatement of fact or knowingly omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.  Except as has been disclosed to the Administrative Agent and each Bank, the projections delivered concurrently with the Information Memorandum were prepared in good faith on the basis of assumptions reasonable as of the date of the Information Memorandum, it being understood that such projections do not constitute a warranty or binding assurance of future performance.  As of the date of this Agreement, except as has been disclosed to the Administrative Agent and each Bank, nothing has come to the attention of the responsible officers of such Borrower that would indicate that any of such assumptions, to the extent material to such projections, has ceased to be reasonable in light of subsequent developments or events.

(m)

All proceeds of the Advances shall be used (i) for the general corporate purposes of such Borrower, including to provide liquidity support for such Borrower’s commercial paper, and (ii) to provide liquidity to the NU System Money Pool.   No proceeds of any Advance will be used in violation of, or in any manner that would result in a violation by any party hereto of, Regulation T, U or X promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor regulations.  Such Borrower (A) is not an “investment company” within the meaning ascribed to that term in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and (B) is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying margin stock.

(n)

Such Borrower has obtained the insurance specified in Section 7.01(c) hereof and the same is in full force and effect.

(o)

(i) The assets, at a fair valuation, of such Borrower exceed its debts; (ii) such Borrower has not incurred and does not intend to incur, and does not believe that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as such debts mature; and (iii) such Borrower will have sufficient capital with which to conduct its business.  As used in this paragraph, “debt” means any liability on a claim, and “claim” means (A) any right to payment from such person, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment against such person, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (B) any right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance by such person if such breach gives rise to a payment from such person, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment against such person, whether fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.  The amount of unliquidated, contingent, unmatured or disputed liabilities of any person at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

SECTION  7.01.

Affirmative Covenants of the Borrowers.

On and after the date hereof, so long as any obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Borrower shall, unless the Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

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(a)

Use of Proceeds.  Apply the proceeds of each Advance solely as specified in Section 6.01(m) hereof.

(b)

Payment of Taxes, Etc.  Pay and discharge before the same shall become delinquent, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges, royalties or levies imposed upon it or upon its property except to the extent such Borrower is contesting the same in good faith by appropriate proceedings and has set aside adequate reserves in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for the payment thereof.

(c)

Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain, or cause to be maintained, insurance (including appropriate plans of self-insurance) covering such Borrower and its properties, in effect at all times in such amounts and covering such risks as may be required by law and, in addition, as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties.

(d)

Preservation of Existence, Etc.  Except as permitted by Section 7.02(b) hereof, preserve and maintain its existence, corporate or otherwise, material rights (statutory and otherwise) and franchises except where the failure to maintain and preserve such rights and franchises would not materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower.

(e)

Compliance with Laws, Etc.  Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any governmental authority, including, without limitation, any such laws, rules, regulations and orders issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission or relating to zoning, environmental protection, use and disposal of Hazardous Substances, land use, construction and building restrictions, ERISA and employee safety and health matters relating to business operations, except to the extent (i) that such Borrower is contesting the same in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) that any such non-compliance, and the enforcement or correction thereof, would not materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower.

(f)

Inspection Rights.  At any time and from time to time upon reasonable notice, permit the Administrative Agent and its agents and representatives to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and the properties of, such Borrower and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Borrower (i) with such Borrower and its officers and directors and (ii) with the consent of such Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), with the accountants of such Borrower.

(g)

Keeping of Books.  Keep proper records and books of account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions of such Borrower and the assets and business of such Borrower, in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices consistently applied.

(h)

Conduct of Business.  Except as permitted by Section 7.02(b), conduct its primary business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields as such business is conducted on the date hereof.

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(i)

Maintenance of Properties, Etc.  As to properties of the type described in Section 6.01(i) hereof, maintain title of the quality described therein and preserve, maintain, develop, and operate, in substantial conformity with all laws, material contractual obligations and prudent practices prevailing in the industry, all of its properties which are used or useful in the conduct of its businesses in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except (A) as permitted by Section 7.02(b), (B) as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents or otherwise in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on or prior to the date hereof and (C) to the extent such non-conformity would not materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower; provided, however, that such Borrower will not be prevented from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of such Borrower, desirable in the operation or maintenance of its business and would not materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower.

(j)

Governmental Approvals.  Duly obtain, on or prior to such date as the same may become legally required, and thereafter maintain in effect at all times, all Governmental Approvals on its part to be obtained, except in the case of those Governmental Approvals referred to in clause (ii) of the definition of “Governmental Approvals”, (i) those the absence of which would not materially adversely affect the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower and (ii) those which such Borrower is diligently attempting in good faith to obtain, renew or extend, or the requirement for which such Borrower is contesting in good faith by appropriate proceedings or by other appropriate means; provided, however, that the exception afforded by clause (ii), above, shall be available only if and for so long as such attempt or contest, and any delay resulting therefrom, does not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, prospects or operations of such Borrower and does not magnify to any significant degree any such material adverse effect that would reasonably be expected to result from the absence of such Governmental Approval.

(k)

Further Assurances.  Promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or that any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in order to fully give effect to the interests and properties purported to be covered by the Loan Documents.

SECTION  7.02.

Negative Covenants of the Borrowers.

On and after the date hereof, and so long as any obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Borrower shall not, without the written consent of the Majority Lenders:

(a)

Liens, Etc.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

(i)

any Liens existing on the Closing Date;

(ii)

Liens created by the First Mortgage Indentures, so long as by the terms thereof no “event of default” (howsoever designated) in respect of any bonds issued

40

thereunder will arise upon the occurrence of an Unmatured Default or Event of Default hereunder;

(iii)

“Permitted Liens” or “Permitted Encumbrances” under the First Mortgage Indenture to which such Borrower is a party, in each case, to the extent such Liens do not secure Debt of such Borrower;

(iv)

any purchase money Lien or construction mortgage on assets hereafter acquired or constructed by such Borrower and any Lien on any assets existing at the time of acquisition thereof by such Borrower or created within 180 days from the date of completion of such acquisition or construction; provided that such Lien shall at all times be confined solely to the assets so acquired or constructed and any additions thereto;

(v)

any existing Liens on assets now owned by such Borrower and Liens existing on assets of a corporation or other going concern when it is merged into or with such Borrower or when substantially all of its assets are acquired by such Borrower; provided that such Liens shall at all times be confined solely to such assets, or if such assets constitute a utility system, additions to or substitutions for such assets;

(vi)

Liens resulting from legal proceedings being contested in good faith by appropriate legal or administrative proceedings by such Borrower, and as to which such Borrower, to the extent required by generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves;

(vii)

Liens created in favor of the other contracting party in connection with advance or progress payments;

(viii)

any Liens in favor of any state of the United States or any political subdivision of any such state, or any agency of any such state or political subdivisions, or trustee acting on behalf of holders of obligations issued by any of the foregoing or any financial institutions lending to or purchasing obligations of any of the foregoing, which Lien is created or assumed for the purpose of financing all or part of the cost of acquiring or constructing the property subject thereto;

(ix)

Liens resulting from conditional sale agreements, capital leases or other title retention agreements;

(x)

with respect to pollution control bond financings, Liens on funds, accounts and other similar intangibles of such Borrower created or arising under the relevant indenture, pledges of the related loan agreement with the relevant issuing authority and pledges of such Borrower’s interest, if any, in any bonds issued pursuant to such financings to a letter of credit bank or bond issuer or similar credit enhancer;

(xi)

Liens granted on accounts receivable and Regulatory Assets in connection with financing transactions, whether denominated as sales or borrowings;

(xii)

any other Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business otherwise than to secure Debt; and

41

(xiii)

any extension, renewal or replacement of Liens permitted by clauses (i), (iii) through (v) and (vii) through (xi); provided, however, that the principal amount of Debt secured thereby shall not, at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, exceed the principal amount of Debt so secured and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced or to other property of no greater value than the property which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced.

(b)

Mergers, Sales of Assets, Etc.  (i) Merge with or into or consolidate with or into, any Person, or (ii) sell, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any substantial part of its assets, or permit its Subsidiaries to do so; except for the following, and then only after receipt of all necessary corporate and governmental or regulatory approvals and provided that, before and after giving effect to any such merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition, no Event of Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

(i)

subsidiaries of such Borrower may merge with or consolidate into (x) wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Borrower so long as, in any such case, the wholly-owned Subsidiary is the survivor and (y) such Borrower so long as such Borrower is the survivor;

(ii)

such Borrower or any Subsidiary of such Borrower may merge with or consolidate into a Person that is not an Affiliate of such Borrower so long as (1) such Borrower or Subsidiary is the survivor of such merger or consolidation, (2) such Borrower demonstrates pro forma compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.03 hereof, and (3) such Borrower’s indicative senior unsecured non-credit enhanced long-term debt ratings from S&P and ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ in contemplation of such merger or consolidation, and such Borrower’s actual senior unsecured non-credit enhanced long-term debt ratings from S&P and ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ following any such merger or consolidation, remain at or above the levels established immediately prior to the merger or consolidation;

(iii)

CL&P, WMECO and PSNH may sell, lease, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of transmission assets (1) to another Subsidiary of NU on such basis as permitted by the appropriate regulatory authorities or (2) to any Person on such basis as required by the appropriate regulatory authorities;

(iv)

Such Borrower may (1) sell, lease, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of assets of such Borrower to another Borrower or Borrowers and (2) may merge into or with another Borrower or Borrowers; and

(v)

Such Borrower may sell its assets in the ordinary course of business on customary terms and conditions, including any sale of accounts receivable on reasonable commercial terms (including a commercially reasonably discount).  

For purposes of this subsection (b), any sale of assets by such Person (in one or a series of transactions)  will  be deemed to be a “substantial part” of  its assets if  (i) the book value of such

42

assets exceeds 15% of the total book value of the assets (net of Regulatory Assets) of such Person, as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.04 hereof (or, if no such financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent as of the relevant date of determination, the Financial Statements of such Person), or (ii) the gross revenue associated with such assets accounts for more than 15% of the total gross revenue of such Person for the four proceeding fiscal quarters, as reflected in the most recent financial statements of such Person delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.04 hereof (or, if no such financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent as of the relevant date of determination, the Financial Statements of such Person).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.02(b), each Borrower agrees that it shall not, except in accordance with one or more restructuring plans approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of (by lease or otherwise, and whether in one or a series of related transactions) any portion of its generation, transmission or distribution assets in excess of 15% of the net utility plant assets of such Borrower, in each case as determined on a cumulative basis from the date of this Agreement through the Termination Date by reference to the published balance sheets of such Borrower.

(c)

Compliance with ERISA.  (i)  Terminate, or permit any ERISA Affiliate thereof to terminate, any ERISA Plan so as to result in any liability of such Borrower to the PBGC in an amount greater than $1,000,000, or (ii) permit to exist any occurrence of any Reportable Event (as defined in Title IV of ERISA) which, alone or together with any other Reportable Event with respect to the same or another ERISA Plan, has a reasonable possibility of resulting in liability of such Borrower to the PBGC in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000,000, or any other event or condition which presents a material risk of such a termination by the PBGC of any ERISA Plan or has a reasonable possibility of resulting in a liability of such Borrower to the PBGC or an ERISA Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000,000.

(d)

Transactions with Affiliates.  Engage in any transaction with any Affiliate on terms no less favorable to such Borrower than if the transaction had been negotiated in good faith on an arms-length basis with a non-Affiliate and on commercially reasonable terms or pursuant to a binding agreement in effect on the date hereof

(e)

Interests in Nuclear Plants.  Acquire any nuclear plant or any interest therein not held on the date hereof, other than so-called “power entitlements” acquired for use in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION  7.03.

Financial Covenant of the Borrowers.

So long as any obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, each Borrower shall, unless the Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, maintain a ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Capitalization of no more than 0.65:1.00, as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter.

SECTION  7.04.

Reporting Obligations of the Borrowers.

So long as any obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment  hereunder, each  Borrower  shall,  unless   the  Majority  Lenders   shall  otherwise

43

consent in writing, furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent in sufficient copies for each Lender, the following:

(a)

as soon as possible and in any event within ten days after the occurrence of each Event of Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Borrower setting forth details of such Event of Default or Unmatured Default and the action which such Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;

(b)

(i) as soon as available, and in any event within fifty (50) days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of such Borrower, a copy of such Borrower’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (if such Borrower is required to file such report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to such quarter, and, with respect to Yankee, and any other Borrower that ceases to be required to submit such report, consolidated balance sheets of Yankee and such Borrower as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows of Yankee and such Borrower for the period commencing at the end of the previous Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such Fiscal Quarter, all in reasonable detail and duly certified (subject to year-end audit adjustments) by the chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or comptroller of Yankee and such Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent  with  those  applied  in  the  preparation  of  the  Financial Statements;  and

(ii)

concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements described in the foregoing clause (i), a certificate of the chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or comptroller of such Borrower:

(A)

to the effect that such financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Financial Statements,

(B)

stating that no Event of Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower has occurred and is continuing or, if an Event of Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower has occurred and is continuing, describing the nature thereof and the action which such Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, and

(C)

demonstrating such Borrower’s compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.03 hereof, for and as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, in each case such demonstrations to be in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and to set forth in reasonable detail the computations used in determining such compliance;

(c)

(i)  as soon as available, and in any event within 105 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of such Borrower, a copy of such Borrower’s report on Form 10-K (if such Borrower is required  to  file  such  report  with  the  U.S. Securities and  Exchange Commission

44

pursuant to Sections 13 or 15 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to such Fiscal Year, and, with respect to Yankee, and any other Borrower that ceases to be required to submit such report, a copy of the annual audit reports for such year for Yankee and such Borrower, including therein consolidated balance sheets of Yankee and such Borrower as of the end of such Fiscal Year and consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and of cash flows of Yankee and such Borrower for such Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a nationally-recognized independent public accountant; and

(ii)

concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements described in the foregoing clause (i), a certificate of the chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or comptroller of such Borrower:

(1)

to the effect that such financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Financial Statements, and

(2)

stating that no Event of Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower has occurred and is continuing, or if an Event of Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower has occurred and is continuing, describing the nature thereof and the action which such Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, and

(3)

demonstrating such Borrower’s compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.03 hereof, for and as of the end of such Fiscal Year, in each case such demonstration to be in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and to set forth in reasonable detail the computations used in determining such compliance;

(d)

upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, but not more than once per Fiscal Quarter, copies of any or all filings or registrations with, or notices or reports to, any regulatory authority;

(e)

as soon as possible and in any event (A) within 30 days after the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of such Borrower knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Plan Termination Event described in clause (i) of the definition of “ERISA Plan Termination Event” with respect to any ERISA Plan or ERISA Multiemployer Plan has occurred and (B) within 10 days after such Borrower knows or has reason to know that any other ERISA Plan Termination Event with respect to any ERISA Plan or ERISA Multiemployer Plan has occurred, a statement of the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of such Borrower describing such ERISA Plan Termination Event and the action, if any, which such Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;

(f)

promptly after receipt thereof by such Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC, copies of each notice received by such Borrower or any such ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC’s intention to terminate any ERISA Plan or ERISA Multiemployer Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any ERISA Plan or ERISA Multiemployer Plan;

45

(g)

promptly after receipt thereof by such Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from an ERISA Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a copy of each notice received by such Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability in an aggregate principal amount of at least $10,000,000 pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA in respect of which such Borrower may be liable;

(h)

promptly after such Borrower becomes aware of the commencement thereof, notice of all actions, suits, proceedings or other events of the type described in Section 6.01(g) hereof (including, without limitation, any action or proceeding relating to any environmental protection laws or regulations);

(i)

promptly after the filing thereof, copies of each prospectus (excluding any prospectus contained in any Form S-8) and Current Report on Form 8-K, if any, which such Borrower files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental authority;

(j)

promptly after any change in the Borrowing Limit of such Borrower, notice of the new Borrowing Limit applicable to such Borrower; and

(k)

promptly after requested, such other information respecting the financial condition, operations, properties or prospects of such Borrower or its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent, or the Majority Lenders through the Administrative Agent, may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

SECTION  8.01.

Events of Default.

The following events shall each constitute an “Event of Default” with respect to a Borrower:

(a)

Such Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when due or shall fail to pay any interest thereon or fees or other amounts payable under the Loan Documents within two days after the same becomes due; or

(b)

Any representation or warranty made by such Borrower (or any of its officers or agents) in any Loan Document, any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(c)

Such Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term or covenant on its part to be performed or observed contained in Section 7.01(d), Section 7.02, Section 7.03 or Section 7.04(a) hereof; or

(d)

Such Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term or covenant on its part to be performed or observed contained in any Loan Document and any such failure shall remain unremedied for a period of 30  days after the earlier of  (i)  written notice of such  failure

46

having been given to such Borrower by the Administrative Agent or (ii) such Borrower having obtained actual knowledge of such failure; or

(e)

Such Borrower shall fail to pay any of its Debt when due (including any interest or premium thereon but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder and excluding other Debt aggregating in no event more than $50,000,000 in principal amount at any one time) whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise, and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in any agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or any other default under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt, or any other event, shall occur and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such default or event is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a result of such Borrower’s exercise of a prepayment option) prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(f)

Such Borrower shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against such Borrower seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of a proceeding instituted against such Borrower such Borrower shall consent thereto or such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 90 days or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including without limitation the entry of an order for relief against such Borrower or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for such Borrower or any of its property) shall occur; or such Borrower shall take any corporate or other action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (f); or

(g)

Any judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000 (or aggregating more than $50,000,000 at any one time) shall be rendered against such Borrower or its properties, and either (A) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order and shall not have been stayed or (B) there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

(h)

Any material provision of any Loan Document to which such Borrower is a party shall at any time for any reason cease to be valid and binding on such Borrower, or shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable by any court, governmental agency or authority having jurisdiction over such Borrower, or such Borrower shall deny that it has any further liability or obligation under any Loan Document; or

(i)

NU shall cease to beneficially own, free and clear of any Liens, at least 85% of all outstanding shares of capital stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Borrower; or

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(j)

A Change of Control shall have occurred.

SECTION  8.02.

Remedies Upon Events of Default.

Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default with respect to a Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Lenders entitled to make such request, upon notice to such Borrower (i) declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to such Borrower to be terminated, whereupon such obligation of each Lender shall forthwith terminate, provided, that any such request or consent pursuant to this clause (i) shall be made solely by Lenders having Percentages in the aggregate in excess of 50%; and (ii) declare the Advances made to such Borrower, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by such Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower, provided, that any such request or consent pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be made solely by the Lenders holding in excess of 50% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances owing by such Borrower, provided, that if such Event of Default is an Event of Default pursuant to subsection (f) of Section 8.01, then (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to such Borrower shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances made to such Borrower, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Borrower.

SECTION  9.01.

Authorization and Action.

SECTION  9.02.

Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Etc.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with any Loan Document, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  

48

Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:  (i) may treat each Lender party hereto as a “Lender” hereunder and for all purposes hereof until the Administrative Agent receives and accepts an Assignment and Assumption entered into by such Lender, as assignor, and an assignee, as provided in Section 10.07; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower(s)), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (iii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for the Information Memorandum or any other statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with any Loan Document; (iv) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any Loan Document on the part of any Borrower to be performed or observed, or to inspect any property (including the books and records) of any Borrower; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of any Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (vi) shall incur no liability under or in respect of any Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by facsimile) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

SECTION  9.03.

Citibank and Affiliates.

With respect to its Commitment and the Advances made by it, Citibank shall have the same rights and powers under the Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include Citibank in its individual capacity.  Citibank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any Borrower, any of their respective Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own securities of any Borrower or any such Subsidiary, all as if Citibank were not the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

SECTION  9.04.

Lender Credit Decision.

SECTION  9.05.

Indemnification.

The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrowers), ratably according to their respective Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the Advances then

49

held by each of them (provided, that if any Commitments or Advances are held by any Borrower or Affiliates thereof, any ratable apportionment hereunder shall exclude their respective Commitments hereunder or the principal amount of the Advances held by such Borrower(s) or Affiliates)), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such in any way relating to or arising out of any Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such under any Loan Document, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for such Lender’s ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, the Loan Documents to the extent that the Administrative Agent is entitled to reimbursement for such expenses pursuant to Section 10.04 but is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrowers.

SECTION  9.06.

Successor Administrative Agent.

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SECTION  10.01

SECTION 10.02

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for under the Loan Documents shall be in writing (including facsimile communication) and mailed, sent by facsimile or hand delivered:

(i)

if to any Borrower, to it in care of NUSCO at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Assistant Treasurer - Finance, facsimile number: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, confirm number: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇.▇▇▇;

(ii)

if to any Bank, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its name on Schedule I hereto;

51

(iii)

if to any Lender other than a Bank, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it became a Lender; and

(iv)

if to the Administrative Agent, at its address at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Ops III, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, email ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, phone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, fax: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.

or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties.  All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, sent by facsimile or hand delivered, be effective five days after when deposited in the mails, or when sent by facsimile, or when delivered, respectively, except that notices and communications to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article II, III, IV or IX shall not be effective until received by the Administrative Agent.  With respect to any telephone notice given or received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, the records of the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive for all purposes.

SECTION  10.03

No Waiver of Remedies.

No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

SECTION  10.04

Costs, Expenses and Indemnification.

(a)

The Borrowers agree to pay when due, in accordance with the terms hereof: (i) all costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the administration of the Loan Documents, and any proposed modification, amendment, or consent relating thereto (including, in each case, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent) and (ii) all costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (including all fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with the enforcement, whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise, of the Loan Documents.

(b)

The Borrowers hereby agree to indemnify and hold each Person identified on the cover page of this Agreement as a “Joint Lead Arranger”, the “Co-Syndication Agent”, a “Documentation Agent” and the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and its officers, directors, employees, professional advisors and affiliates (each, an “Indemnified Person”) harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses (including settlement costs and reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, whether or not such Indemnified Person is named as a party to any proceeding or investigation or is otherwise subjected to judicial or legal process arising from any such proceeding or investigation and whether or not such proceeding or investigation is brought by the Borrowers or any of their Affiliates or any of their respective directors, securityholders or creditors, an Indemnified Person or any other Person) which any of them may incur or which may be claimed against any of them

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by any person or entity (except to the extent such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Indemnified Person):

(i)

by reason of or in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of the Loan Documents or any transaction contemplated thereby, or the use by any Borrower of the proceeds of any Advance;

(ii)

in connection with or resulting from the utilization, storage, disposal, treatment, generation, transportation, release or ownership of any Hazardous Substance (A) at, upon or under any property of any of the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates or (B) by or on behalf of any of the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates at any time and in any place; or

(iii)

in connection with any documentary taxes, assessments or charges made by any governmental authority by reason of the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents.

(c)

The Borrowers’ obligations under this Section shall survive the assignment by any Lender pursuant to Section 10.07 hereof and shall survive as well the repayment of all amounts owing to the Lenders under the Loan Documents and the termination of the Commitments.  If and to the extent that the obligations of the Borrowers under this Section are unenforceable for any reason, the Borrowers agree to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction thereof which is permissible under applicable law.

(d)

The Borrowers’ obligations under this Section are in addition to and shall not be deemed to supersede their indemnification and similar obligations set forth in that certain Commitment Letter, dated August 23, 2010, among the Borrowers, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays, JPMorgan Chase, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Inc. and Union Bank.

(e)

Each Borrower shall be liable for its pro rata share of any payment to be made by the Borrowers under this Section, such pro rata share to be determined on the basis of such Borrower’s Fraction; provided, however, that if and to the extent that any such liabilities are reasonably determined by the Borrowers (subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) to be directly attributable to a specific Borrower, only such Borrower shall be liable for such payments.

SECTION  10.05

Right of Set-off.

(a)

Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default with respect to any Borrower, and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 8.02 to authorize the Administrative Agent to declare the Advances due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of such Borrower against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower now or hereafter existing under the Loan Documents held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured.  

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(b)

Each Borrower agrees that it shall have no right of off-set, deduction or counterclaim in respect of its obligations under the Loan Documents, and that the obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint.  Nothing contained herein shall constitute a relinquishment or waiver of such Borrower’s rights to any independent claim that such Borrower may have against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, but no Lender shall be liable for the conduct of the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for the conduct of any Lender.

SECTION  10.06

Effectiveness.

This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by each Borrower and the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Bank that such Bank has executed it.  No person designated as a “Joint Lead Arranger”, a “Documentation Agent” or the “Syndication Agent” on the cover page of this Agreement shall have any duties under this Agreement.

SECTION  10.07

Assignments and Participation.

(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 no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of 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) below, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) below or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) below (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) below and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent 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 Advances at the time owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender provides notice thereof to the Borrowers within at least 10 Business Days prior to such assignment (but the failure to provide such notice shall not affect the validity of such assignment), (ii) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Advances 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

54

Commitment (which for this purpose includes Advances outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Advances 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 $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers otherwise consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (iii) 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 Advance or the Commitment assigned, (iv) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender with a Commitment (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee) and (v) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.  Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) below, 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 4.03 and 4.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) below.

(c)

The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its addresses referred to in Section 10.02 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 Advances 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 Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d)

Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ 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 Advances 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

55

Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders 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, modification or waiver described in Section 10.01(a)-(g) that affects such Participant.  Subject to subsection (e) below, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.03 and 4.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.05 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 4.04 as though it were a Lender.

(e)

A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 4.03 and 4.05 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 each Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 4.05 unless the Borrowers are notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 4.05(e) 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 to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation 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)

If (i) any Lender shall have delivered a notice to the Administrative Agent described in Section 4.03(a), (b), (c) or (f) hereof, (ii) any Lender shall have become a Defaulting Lender or (iii) a Bankruptcy Event shall have occurred with respect to the Parent of a Lender, the Borrowers may demand that such Lender assign, in accordance with Section 10.07 hereof, to one or more assignees (with the consent of such assignees(s)) designated by either the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent (and reasonably acceptable to the other), all (but not less than all) of such Lender’s Commitment, Advances, participation and other rights and obligations under the Loan Documents; provided that any such demand by the Borrowers during the continuance of an Event of Default or an Unmatured Default shall be ineffective without the consent of the Majority Lenders.  If, within 30 days following any such demand by the Borrowers, such Lender shall fail to tender such assignment on terms reasonably satisfactory to such Lender or the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall have failed to designate any such assignee, then such demand by the Borrowers shall become ineffective, it being understood for purposes of this provision that such assignment shall be conclusively deemed to be on terms reasonably satisfactory to such Lender, and such Lender shall be compelled to tender such assignment forthwith, if (i) such assignee (A) shall agree to such assignment in substantially the form of the Assignment and Assumption and (B) shall tender payment to such Lender in an amount equal to the full outstanding dollar amount accrued in favor of such Lender hereunder (as computed in

56

accordance with the records of the Administrative Agent) and (ii) in the event the Borrowers demanded such assignment, the Borrowers shall tender payment to the Administrative Agent of the processing and recording fee specified in Section 10.07(b) for such assignment.

SECTION  10.08

Confidentiality.

In connection with the negotiation and administration of the Loan Documents, the Borrowers have furnished or caused to have furnished and will from time to time furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (each, a “Recipient”) written information which when delivered to the Recipient will be deemed to be confidential (such information, other than any such information which (i) was publicly available, or otherwise known to the Recipient, at the time of disclosure, (ii) subsequently becomes publicly available other than through any act or omission by the Recipient or (iii) otherwise subsequently becomes known to the Recipient other than through a Person whom the Recipient knows to be acting in violation of his or its obligations to the Borrowers, being hereinafter referred to as “Confidential Information”).  The Recipient will not knowingly disclose any such Confidential Information to any third party (other than to those persons who have a confidential relationship with the Recipient), and will take all reasonable steps to restrict access to such information in a manner designed to maintain the confidential nature of such information, in each case until such time as the same ceases to be Confidential Information or as the Borrowers may otherwise instruct.  It is understood, however, that the foregoing will not restrict the Recipient’s ability to freely exchange such Confidential Information with prospective participants in or assignees of the Recipient’s position herein, but the Recipient’s ability to so exchange Confidential Information shall be conditioned upon any such prospective participant’s entering into an understanding as to confidentiality similar to this provision.  It is further understood that the foregoing will not prohibit the disclosure of any or all Confidential Information if and to the extent that such disclosure may be required (i) by a regulatory agency or otherwise in connection with an examination of the Recipient’s records by appropriate authorities, (ii) pursuant to court order, subpoena or other legal process or (iii) otherwise, as required by law; in the event of any required disclosure under clause (ii) or (iii), above, the Recipient agrees to use reasonable efforts to inform the Borrowers as promptly as practicable unless the Lender is prohibited from doing so by court order, subpoena or other legal process.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party hereto (and each officer, director, employee, representative, agent and advisor of each party hereto) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the “tax treatment” and “tax structure” (in each case within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to such person relating to such “tax treatment” and “tax structure”.  The foregoing is intended to comply with the presumption set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(3)(iii) and should be interpreted in a manner consistent with such regulation.  

SECTION  10.09

Electronic Communications.

(a)

Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant  to  Section  7.04  (collectively,  the “ Communications ”),  by  transmitting  the

57

Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ or faxing the Communications to ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.  In addition, each Borrower agrees to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner otherwise specified in this Agreement, but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

(b)

Each Borrower further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders by posting the Communications on Intralinks, Fixed Income Direct or a substantially similar electronic transmission systems (the “Platform”).  Each Borrower acknowledges that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution.

(c)

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”.  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS,  OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, ADVISORS OR REPRESENTATIVES (COLLECTIVELY, “AGENT PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY BORROWER, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY BORROWER’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF THE COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE PLATFORM, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY AGENT PARTY IS FOUND IN A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH AGENT PARTY’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.

(d)

The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of the Loan Documents.  Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents.  Each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address.

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(e)

Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

SECTION  10.10

Waiver of Jury Trial.

Each of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or relating to the Loan Documents, or any other instrument or document delivered hereunder or thereunder.

SECTION  10.11

Governing Law.

SECTION  10.12

Relation of the Parties; No Beneficiary or Fiduciary Duty.

No term, provision or requirement, whether express or implied, of any Loan Document, or actions taken or to be taken by any party thereunder, shall be construed to create a partnership, association, or joint venture between such parties or any of them.  No term or provision of any Loan Document shall be construed to confer a benefit upon, or grant a right or privilege to, any Person other than the parties hereto.  The Borrowers agree that the Credit Parties do not have any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship with the Borrowers and are not advising the Borrowers as to any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax matters as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the Borrowers waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims the Borrowers may have against the Credit Parties for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agree that the Credit Parties will have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Borrowers in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any Person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on the Borrowers’ behalf, including the Borrowers’ equity holders, employees or creditors.

SECTION  10.13

Execution in Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

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SECTION  10.14

Defaulting Lenders.

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

(i)

Facility Fees shall cease to accrue pursuant to Section 2.02(a) during such period on the Available Commitment of such Defaulting Lender, and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay such fees to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender; and

(ii)

the Commitment and Advances of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Majority Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 10.01); provided, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to clauses (a) through (h) of Section 10.01.

Nothing in this Section 10.14 shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder with respect to any failure to perform hereunder by any Defaulting Lender.

SECTION  10.15

USA Patriot Act.

Each of the Lenders hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law as of October 26, 2001)) (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, 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 to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

SECTION  10.16

By  /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. SHOOP_

Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC COMPANY, as a Borrower

By  /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. SHOOP_

Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

YANKEE GAS SERVICES COMPANY, as a Borrower

By  /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ _

Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, as a Borrower

By  /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ _

Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

Title:   Vice President and Treasurer

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-2

CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent and as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-3

BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Assistant Vice President

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-4

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Bank

By  /S/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

      Name:  ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

      Title:     Vice President

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-5

UNION BANK, N.A., as a Bank

By  /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:   ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:     Vice President

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-6

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Senior Vice President

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-7

▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Vice President

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-8

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇  ▇. ▇▇▇▇

Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇

Title:   Vice President

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-9

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ BANK, N.A., as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-10

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SACHS BANK USA, as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Authorized Signatory

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-11

CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Vice President

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Associate

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-12

UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇

Title:    Associate Directory

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Associate Director

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

S-13

TD BANK, N.A., as a Bank

By /S/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Name:  ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Title:    Senior Vice President

Signature Page to OpCo Credit Agreement

SCHEDULE I

APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICES AND COMMITMENTS