REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (364 Day Facility)

EX-10.1 2 dex101.htm REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED NOVEMBER 10, 2005 Revolving Credit Agreement, dated November 10, 2005

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

(364 Day Facility)

dated as of November 10, 2005

among

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION,

as Borrower

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

SUNTRUST BANK,

as Administrative Agent

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent,

AND

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE,

as Co-Documentation Agents

SUNTRUST CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

and

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

As Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Book Managers

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION		1
Section 1.1. Definitions		1
Section 1.2. Classifications of Loans and Borrowings		14
Section 1.3. Accounting Terms and Determination		14
Section 1.4. Terms Generally		15
ARTICLE II AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS		15
Section 2.1. General Description of Facilities		15
Section 2.2. Loans		15
Section 2.3. Procedure for Borrowings		16
Section 2.4. Funding of Borrowings		16
Section 2.5. Interest Elections		17
Section 2.6. Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments		18
Section 2.7. Repayment of Loans		18
Section 2.8. Evidence of Indebtedness		18
Section 2.9. Optional Prepayments		19
Section 2.10. Interest on Loans		19
Section 2.11. Fees		20
Section 2.12. Computation of Interest and Fees		20
Section 2.13. Inability to Determine Interest Rates		20
Section 2.14. Illegality		21
Section 2.15. Increased Costs		21
Section 2.16. Funding Indemnity		22
Section 2.17. Taxes		23
Section 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs		24
Section 2.19. Mitigation of Obligations		25
Section 2.20. Replacement of Lenders		26
ARTICLE III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS		26
Section 3.1. Conditions To Effectiveness		26
Section 3.2. Each Credit Event		28
Section 3.3. Delivery of Documents		28
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES		29
Section 4.1. Organization and Good Standing		29
Section 4.2. Due Authorization		29
Section 4.3. No Conflicts		29
Section 4.4. Consents		29
Section 4.5. Enforceable Obligations		29
Section 4.6. Financial Condition		30
Section 4.7. Intentionally Omitted		30
Section 4.8. No Default		30
Section 4.9. Intentionally Omitted		30
Section 4.10. Taxes		30
Section 4.11. Compliance with Law		30
Section 4.12. Material Agreements		30


Section 4.13. ERISA		30
Section 4.14. Use of Proceeds		32
Section 4.15. Government Regulation		32
Section 4.16. Disclosure		32
Section 4.17. Intentionally Omitted		32
Section 4.18. Insurance		32
Section 4.19. Franchises, Licenses, Etc.		33
ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS		33
Section 5.1. Information Covenants		33
Section 5.2. Debt to Capitalization Ratio		35
Section 5.3. Preservation of Existence, Franchises and Assets		35
Section 5.4. Books and Records		35
Section 5.5. Compliance with Law		36
Section 5.6. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims		36
Section 5.7. Insurance		36
Section 5.8. Use of Proceeds		36
Section 5.9. Audits/Inspections		36
ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS		37
Section 6.1. Nature of Business		37
Section 6.2. Consolidation and Merger		37
Section 6.3. Sale or Lease of Assets		37
Section 6.4. Arm’s-Length Transactions		37
Section 6.5. Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents		37
Section 6.6. Liens		37
ARTICLE VII EVENTS OF DEFAULT		39
Section 7.1. Events of Default		39
Section 7.2. Acceleration; Remedies		41
Section 7.3. Allocation of Payments After Event of Default		42
ARTICLE VIII THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT		43
Section 8.1. Appointment of Administrative Agent		43
Section 8.2. Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent		43
Section 8.3. Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent		44
Section 8.4. Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent		44
Section 8.5. Reliance by Administrative Agent		44
Section 8.6. The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity		44
Section 8.7. Successor Administrative Agent		45
Section 8.8. Authorization to Execute other Credit Documents		45
Section 8.9. Documentation Agent; Syndication Agent		45
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS		46
Section 9.1. Notices		46
Section 9.2. Waiver; Amendments		48
Section 9.3. Expenses; Indemnification		49
Section 9.4. Successors and Assigns		50
Section 9.5. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process		53
Section 9.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL		54
Section 9.7. Right of Setoff		54


Section 9.8. Counterparts; Integration		55
Section 9.9. Survival		55
Section 9.10. Severability		55
Section 9.11. Confidentiality		55
Section 9.12. Interest Rate Limitation		56
Section 9.13. Waiver of Effect of Corporate Seal		56
Section 9.14. Patriot Act		56


Schedules
Schedule I	-	Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage
Schedule II	-	Commitment Amounts
Schedule 4.20	-	Secured Indebtedness
Schedule 4.21	-	Subsidiaries
Schedule 9.1	-	Borrower Website Address

Exhibits

Exhibit A	-	Form of Note
Exhibit B	-	Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit 2.3	-	Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit 2.5	-	Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion
Exhibit 3.1(b)(iv)	-	Form of Secretary’s Certificate
Exhibit 3.1(b)(vii)	-	Form of Officer’s Certificate
Exhibit 5.1(c)	-	Form of Compliance Certificate

iii

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 10, 2005, by and among ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION, a Texas and Virginia corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions and lenders from time to time party hereto (the “Lenders”), and SUNTRUST BANK, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders establish a $300,000,000 revolving credit facility in favor of the Borrower;

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders, to the extent of their respective Commitments as defined herein, are willing severally to establish the requested revolving credit facility in favor of the Borrower.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1. Definitions. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

“Adjusted LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) LIBOR for such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1.00 minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

“Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.

“Affiliate” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power (a) to vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such other Person or (b) to direct or cause direction of the management and policies of such other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

“Aggregate Commitment Amount” shall mean the aggregate principal amount of the Aggregate Commitments from time to time. On the Closing Date, the Aggregate Commitment Amount equals $300,000,000.

“Aggregate Commitments” shall mean, collectively, all Commitments of all Lenders at any time outstanding.

“Applicable Lending Office” shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the “Lending Office” of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan in the Administrative Questionnaire submitted by such Lender or such other office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.

“Applicable Margin” shall mean, as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Rating Category from time to time in effect as set forth on Schedule I; provided, that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Rating Category shall be effective on the day on which any rating agency changes its rating and shall continue until the day prior to the day that a further change becomes effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin from the Closing Date until the first change in the applicable Rating Category after the Closing Date shall be at Level III as set forth on Schedule I.

“Applicable Percentage” shall mean, as of any date, with respect to the unused commitment fee as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Rating Category as set forth on Schedule I; provided, that a change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Rating Category shall be effective on the day on which either rating agency changes its rating and shall continue until the day prior to the day that a further change becomes effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage for the unused commitment fee from the Closing Date until the first change in the applicable Rating Category after the Closing Date shall be at Level III as set forth on Schedule I.

“Approved Fund” shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

“Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.4(b)) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“Availability Period” shall mean the period from the Closing Date to the Commitment Termination Date.

“Bankruptcy Code” shall mean the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.

“Base Rate” shall mean the higher of (i) the per annum rate which the Administrative Agent publicly announces from time to time to be its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, and (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent (0.50%). The Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate charged to customers. The Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate. Each change in the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

“Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

“Business Day” shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Atlanta, Georgia and New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close and (ii) if such day relates to a Borrowing of, a payment or prepayment of principal or interest on, a conversion of or into, or an Interest Period for, a Eurodollar Loan or a notice with respect to any of the foregoing, any day on which dealings in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank market.

“Capital Stock” shall mean (a) in the case of a corporation, all classes of capital stock of such corporation, (b) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (c) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests and (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

“Change in Law” shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) (or for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by such Lender’s parent corporation, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

“Change of Control” shall mean either of the following events:

(a) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) has become, directly or indirectly, the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 (other than subsection (d) thereof) and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise of 40% or more of the voting power of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis, after giving effect to the conversion and exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and other securities of the Borrower convertible into or exercisable for voting stock of the Borrower (whether or not such securities are then currently convertible or exercisable); or

(b) during any period of two consecutive calendar years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the board of directors of the Borrower together with any new members of such board of directors whose elections by such board of directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Borrower was approved by a vote of a majority of the members of such board of directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of the Borrower then in office.

“Charges” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.12.

“Closing Date” shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 9.2.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Loans to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule II, or in the case of a Person becoming a Lender after the Closing Date through an assignment of an existing Commitment, the amount of the assigned “Commitment” as provided in the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such Person as an assignee, as the same may be increased or deceased pursuant to terms hereof.

“Commitment Termination Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) November 8, 2006, (ii) the date on which the Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 2.6 and (iii) the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been declared or have automatically become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

“Credit Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Loans.

“Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate from a Financial Officer of the Borrower in the form of, and containing the certifications set forth in, the certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1(c).

“Consolidated Capitalization” shall mean, without duplication, the sum of (a) all of the shareholders’ equity or net worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of Preferred Securities plus (c) the aggregate Minority Interests in Subsidiaries plus (d) Consolidated Funded Debt.

“Consolidated Funded Debt” shall mean, without duplication, the sum of (a) all indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money, (b) all purchase money indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than trade accounts payable), (c) the principal portion of all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under capital leases, (d) all commercial letters of credit and all performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances created for the account of the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries,

including, without duplication, all unreimbursed draws thereunder, (e) all Guaranty Obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to funded indebtedness of another Person of the types listed in clauses (a) through (d), (f) all indebtedness of another entity secured by a Lien on any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (g) all indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture to the extent the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries is legally obligated with respect thereto, net of any assets of such partnership or joint venture and in the case of the Capital Stock of such partnership or joint venture being held by a Subsidiary, limited to the net worth of such Subsidiary, (h) all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of funded indebtedness (including, without limitation, maintenance agreements, comfort letters or similar agreements or arrangements) (other than as may be given in respect of Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC (“AEM”)) and (i) the principal balance outstanding under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product of the Borrower or one of its Material Subsidiaries where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP; provided that neither the indebtedness of AEM incurred in connection with the purchase of gas by AEM for resale to the Borrower nor the guaranty by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries of such indebtedness shall be included in this definition if such indebtedness has been outstanding for less than two months from the date of its incurrence by AEM.

“Consolidated Net Property” shall mean the Fixed Assets less, without duplication, the amount of accumulated depreciation and amortization attributable thereto.

“Contractual Obligation” of any Person shall mean any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or undertaking under which such Person is obligated or by which it or any of the property in which it has an interest is bound.

“Credit Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes (if any), all Notices of Borrowing, all Notices of Conversion/Continuation, all Compliance Certificates and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with any of the foregoing.

“Debt to Capitalization Ratio” shall mean the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Debt to (b) Consolidated Capitalization.

“Default” shall mean any act, condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Default Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b).

“Dollar(s)” and the sign “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

“Environmental Laws” shall mean any current or future legal requirement of any Governmental Authority pertaining to (a) the protection of health, safety, and the indoor or outdoor environment, (b) the conservation, management, or use of natural resources and wildlife, (c) the protection or use of surface water and groundwater or (d) the management, manufacture,

possession, presence, use, generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release, threatened release, abatement, removal, remediation or handling of, or exposure to, any hazardous or toxic substance or material or (e) pollution (including any release to land surface water and groundwater) and includes, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 USC 9601 et seq., Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment of 1984, 42 USC 6901 et seq., Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 USC 1251 et seq., Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended, 42 USC 7401 et seq., Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, 15 USC 2601 et seq., Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 USC App. 1801 et seq., Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 USC 651 et seq., Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 USC 2701 et seq., Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 USC 11001 et seq., National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 USC 4321 et seq., Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 USC 300(f) et seq., any analogous implementing or successor law, and any amendment, rule, regulation, order, or directive issued thereunder.

“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common control with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, or is a member of a group which includes the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and which is treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Code.

“Eurodollar” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” shall mean the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental, special or other marginal reserves) expressed as a decimal (rounded upwards to the next 1/100^th of 1%) in effect on any day to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate pursuant to regulations issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “eurocurrency liabilities” under Regulation D). Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D. The Eurodollar Reserve Percentage shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

“Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Section 7.1.

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Excluded Taxes” shall mean with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any Lender is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that (i) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (ii) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at any time that such Foreign Lender designates a new lending office, other than taxes that have accrued prior to the designation of such lending office that are otherwise not Excluded Taxes, and (iii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e).

“Federal Funds Rate” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100^th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day or if such rate is not so published for any Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1% of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.

“Fee Letter” shall mean that certain fee letter, dated as of the date hereof, executed by SunTrust Bank and acknowledged and agreed to by the Borrower.

“Financial Officer” shall mean any one of the chief financial officer, the controller or the treasurer of the Borrower.

“Fitch” shall mean Fitch Ratings Ltd., or any successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business of rating securities.

“Fixed Assets” shall mean the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries constituting “net property, plant and equipment” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

“Foreign Lender” shall mean any Lender that is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(3) of the Code.

“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to Section 1.3.

“Governmental Authority” shall mean any Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.

“Guaranty Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing any indebtedness for borrowed money of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such indebtedness or other obligation or any property constituting security therefor, (b) to lease or purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or (c) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the owner of such indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of the indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made.

“Hedging Obligations” shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.

“Hedging Transaction” shall mean any transaction (including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collateral transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.

“Indemnified Taxes” shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

“Information Memorandum” shall mean the Confidential Executive Summary dated September 2005 relating to the Borrower and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

“Interest Period” shall mean with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, a period of one, two, three or six months; provided, that:

(i) the initial Interest Period for such Borrowing shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of another Type), and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period would end on the next preceding Business Day;

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

(iv) no Interest Period may extend beyond the Commitment Termination Date.

“Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

“LIBOR” shall mean, for any applicable Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rate per annum for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to such Interest Period appearing on the display designated as Page 3750 on the Dow Jones Markets Service (or such other page on that service or such other service designated by the British Bankers’ Association for the display of such Association’s Interest Settlement Rates for Dollar deposits) as of 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on the day that is two Business Days prior to the first day of the Interest Period or if such Page 3750 is unavailable for any reason at such time, the rate which appears on the Reuters Screen ISDA Page as of such date and such time; provided, that if the Administrative Agent determines that the relevant foregoing sources are unavailable for the relevant Interest Period, LIBOR shall mean the rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100^th of 1%) of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered to the Administrative Agent two (2) Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period by leading banks in the London interbank market as of 10:00 a.m. (New York time) for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period, for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of the Eurodollar Loan of the Administrative Agent.

“Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind.

“Loan” shall mean a loan made by a Lender to the Borrower under its Commitment, which may either be a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Credit Agreement or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Credit Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents, or the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

“Material Subsidiary” shall mean, at any date, a Subsidiary of the Borrower whose aggregate assets properly included under the category “property, plant and equipment” on the balance sheet of such Subsidiary, less the amount of depreciation and amortization attributable thereto, constitutes at least 10% of Consolidated Net Property as of such date; provided that if at any time the Borrower has Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries whose total aggregate assets under the category “property, plant and equipment” on the balance

sheet of such Subsidiaries, less the amount of depreciation and amortization attributable thereto, constitute more than 20% of Consolidated Net Property as of such date the Borrower shall designate one or more of such Subsidiaries as Material Subsidiaries for the purposes of this Credit Agreement in order that all Subsidiaries of the Borrower, other than Material Subsidiaries, own not more than 20% of Consolidated Net Property.

“Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.12.

“Minority Interests” shall mean interests owned by Persons (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower) in a Subsidiary of the Borrower in which less than 100% of all classes of the voting securities are owned by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

“Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business of rating securities.

“Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

“Multiple Employer Plan” shall mean a Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.

“1959 Indenture” shall mean, collectively, that certain Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of July 15, 1959, granted by United Cities Gas Company (predecessor in interest to the Borrower) to City National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago and R. Emmett Hanley, as the original Trustees, and all Supplemental Indentures thereto, including, without limitation, that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 1, 1960; that certain Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1962; that certain Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1963; that certain Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 15, 1963; that certain Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1964; that certain Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 15, 1968; that certain Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1970; that certain Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 1, 1972; that certain Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1974; that certain Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 1976; that certain Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1976; that certain Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1981; that certain Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1982; that certain Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1987; that certain Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1987; that certain Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1989; that certain Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1990; that certain Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1991; that certain Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1992; that certain Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1992; that certain Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 5, 1997; and that certain Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 29, 1997.

“1998 Indenture” shall mean, collectively, that certain Indenture, dated as of July 15, 1998, granted by the Borrower to US Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee, and all Supplemental Indentures thereto.

“Non-Recourse Indebtedness” shall mean, at any time, indebtedness incurred after the date hereof by the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary in connection with the acquisition of property or assets by the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary or the financing of the construction of or improvements on property, whenever acquired, that, under the terms of such indebtedness and pursuant to applicable law, the recourse at such time and thereafter of the lenders with respect to such indebtedness is limited to the property or assets so acquired, or such construction or improvements, and any accession or additions thereto and proceeds thereof, including indebtedness as to which a performance or completion guarantee or similar undertaking was initially applicable to such indebtedness or the related property or assets if such guarantee or similar undertaking has been satisfied and is no longer in effect at such time. Indebtedness which is otherwise Non-Recourse Indebtedness will not lose its character as Non-Recourse Indebtedness because there is recourse to the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary, any guarantor or any other Person for (a) environmental representations, warranties or indemnities, or (b) indemnities for and liabilities arising from (i) fraud, (ii) misrepresentation, (iii) misapplication or non-payment of rents, profits, insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually received from secured assets to be paid to the lender, (iv) waste, (v) materialmen’s and mechanics’ liens or (vi) similar matters.

“Note” shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of a requesting Lender in the principal amount of such Lender’s Commitment, in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

“Notice of Borrowing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

“Notice of Conversion/Continuation” shall mean the notice given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in respect of the conversion or continuation of an outstanding Borrowing as provided in Section 2.5(b).

“Obligations” shall mean all amounts owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document, including without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all reimbursement obligations, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent and any Lender incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Credit Document), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, and all Hedging Obligations owed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their Affiliates incurred in order to limit interest rate or fee fluctuation with respect to the Loans, and all obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with collecting and enforcing the foregoing, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings thereof.

“Other Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Credit Document.

“Participant” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(d).

“Payment Office” shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders.

“PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA and any successor thereto.

“Permitted Lien” shall mean, with respect to any asset, the Liens permitted to exist on such asset under Section 6.6.

“Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, association, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated), or any government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

“Plan” shall mean any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is covered by ERISA and with respect to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” within the meaning of Section 3(5) of ERISA.

“Preferred Securities” shall mean, at any date, any equity interests in the Borrower, in a Special Purpose Financing Subsidiary of the Borrower or in any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (such as those known as “TECONS”, “MIPS” or “RHINOS”): (a) that are not (i) required to be redeemed or redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to the fifth anniversary of the Maturity Date or (ii) convertible into or exchangeable for (unless solely at the option of the Borrower or such Subsidiary of the Borrower) equity interests referred to in clause (i) above or indebtedness having a scheduled maturity, or requiring any repayments or prepayments of principal or any sinking fund or similar payments in respect of principal or providing for any such repayment, prepayment, sinking fund or other payment at the option of the holder thereof prior to the fifth anniversary of the Maturity Date and (b) as to which, at such date, the Borrower or such Subsidiary of the Borrower has the right to defer the payment of all dividends and other distributions in respect thereof for the period of at least 19 consecutive quarters beginning at such date.

“Pro Rata Share” shall mean (i) with respect to any Commitment of any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Commitment (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lender’s Credit Exposure), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of such Commitments of all Lenders (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Credit Exposure of all Lenders) and (ii) with respect to all Commitments of any Lender at any time, the numerator of which shall be the sum of such Lender’s Commitments (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the

Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lender’s Credit Exposure) and the denominator of which shall be the sum of all Lenders’ Commitments (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Credit Exposure of all Lenders funded under such Commitments).

“Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(c).

“Regulation A, D, T, U, or X” shall mean Regulation A, D, T, U or X, respectively, of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor body) as from time to time in effect, any amendment thereto and any successor to all or a portion thereof.

“Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

“Reportable Event” shall mean a “reportable event” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA with respect to which the notice requirements to the PBGC have not been waived.

“Required Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Commitments at such time or if the Lenders have no Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding more than 50% of the Credit Exposure.

“Requirement of Law” for any Person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership certificate and agreement, or limited liability company certificate of organization and agreement, as the case may be, and other organizational and governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

“S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such division in the business of rating securities.

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Single Employer Plan” shall mean any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

“Special Purpose Financing Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower that has no direct or indirect interest in the business of the Borrower and its other Subsidiaries and was formed solely for the purpose of issuing Preferred Securities.

“Subsidiary” shall mean, as to any Person, (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not, at the time, any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than 50% voting equity interest at any time.

“Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

“Termination Event” shall mean (a) with respect to any Single Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of ERISA), (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan, (c) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, (e) any event or condition which might reasonably constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or (f) the complete or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.

“Total Assets” shall mean all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as shown on its most recent quarterly consolidated balance sheet, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“2001 Indenture” shall mean, collectively, that certain Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2001, granted by the Borrower to SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as Trustee, and all Supplemental Indentures thereto.

“Type”, when used in reference to a Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Base Rate.

Section 1.2. Classifications of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g. a “Eurodollar Loan”, or “Base Rate Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g. “Eurodollar Borrowing”).

Section 1.3. Accounting Terms and Determination. Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a); provided, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative

Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend the covenant in Section 5.2 to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Section 5.2 for such purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

Section 1.4. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to but excluding”. Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (v) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and state of the Administrative Agent’s principal office, unless otherwise indicated.

ARTICLE II

AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS

Section 2.1. General Description of Facilities. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Lenders hereby establish in favor of the Borrower a revolving credit facility pursuant to which each Lender severally agrees (to the extent of such Lender’s Commitment) to make Loans to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2.

Section 2.2. Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Loans, ratably in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that will not result in (a) such Lender’s Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or (b) the sum of the aggregate Credit Exposures of all Lenders exceeding the Aggregate Commitment Amount. During the Availability Period, the Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, prepay and reborrow Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of

this Agreement; provided, that the Borrower may not borrow or reborrow should there exist a Default or Event of Default.

Section 2.3. Procedure for Borrowings. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3 (a “Notice of Borrowing”) (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of each Eurodollar Borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Loan comprising such Borrowing and (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period). Each Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as the Borrower may request. The aggregate principal amount of each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be not less than $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, and the aggregate principal amount of each Base Rate Borrowing shall not be less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000; provided, that Base Rate Loans made pursuant to Section 2.4 may be made in lesser amounts as provided therein. At no time shall the total number of Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding exceed six. Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.4. Funding of Borrowings.

(a) Each Lender will make available each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 11:00 a.m. (New York time) to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by the close of business on such proposed date, to an account maintained by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or at the Borrower’s option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) one (1) Business Day prior to the date of a Borrowing in which such Lender is to participate that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for such Borrowing.

Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Borrowing hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

(c) All Borrowings shall be made by the Lenders on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Loans hereunder.

Section 2.5. Interest Elections.

(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, and in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing into a different Type or to continue such Borrowing, and in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.5. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.5, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.5 attached hereto (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, (x) prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York time) one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a Eurodollar Borrowing. Each such Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Continuation/Conversion applies and if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof that are to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing); (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Continuation/Conversion, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of “Interest Period”. If any such Notice of Continuation/Conversion requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for Eurodollar Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in Section 2.3.

(c) If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/ Continuation, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted

into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any Eurodollar Loans shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.

(d) Upon receipt of any Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

Section 2.6. Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments.

(a) Unless previously terminated, all Commitments shall terminate on the Commitment Termination Date.

(b) Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable), the Borrower may reduce the Aggregate Commitments in part or terminate the Aggregate Commitments in whole; provided, that (i) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Commitment of each Lender, (ii) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be in an amount of at least $5,000,000 and any larger multiple of $1,000,000, and (iii) no such reduction shall be permitted which would reduce the Aggregate Commitment Amount to an amount less than the outstanding Credit Exposures of all Lenders.

Section 2.7. Repayment of Loans. The outstanding principal amount of all Loans shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Commitment Termination Date.

Section 2.8. Evidence of Indebtedness. Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain appropriate records in which shall be recorded (i) the Commitment of each Lender, (ii) the amount of each Loan made hereunder by each Lender, the Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the date of each continuation thereof pursuant to Section 2.5, (iv) the date of each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 2.5, (v) the date and amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder in respect of such Loans and (vi) both the date and amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Loans and each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. The entries made in such records shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, that the failure or delay of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in maintaining or making entries into any such record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans (both principal and unpaid accrued interest) of such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(a) At the request of any Lender at any time, the Borrower agrees that it will execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to the order of such Lender.

Section 2.9. Optional Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving irrevocable written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent no later than (i) in the case of prepayment of any Eurodollar Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. (New York time) not less than three (3) Business Days prior to any such prepayment, and (ii) in the case of any prepayment of any Base Rate Borrowing, not less than one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such prepayment. If such notice is given, the aggregate amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with Section 2.10(c); provided, that if a Eurodollar Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to Section 2.16. Each partial prepayment of any Loan shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type pursuant to Section 2.3. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.

Section 2.10. Interest on Loans.

(a) The Borrower shall pay interest on each Base Rate Loan at the Base Rate in effect from time to time and on each Eurodollar Loan at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the applicable Interest Period in effect for such Loan, plus, in each case, the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.

(b) Upon the occurrence, and during the continuation, of an Event of Default under Section 7.1(a) or, at the option of the Required Lenders, any other Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay interest (“Default Interest”) with respect to all Eurodollar Loans at the rate otherwise applicable for the then-current Interest Period plus an additional 2% per annum until the last day of such Interest Period, and thereafter, and with respect to all Base Rate Loans and all other Obligations hereunder (other than Loans), at an all-in rate in effect for Base Rate Loans, plus an additional 2% per annum.

(c) Interest on the principal amount of all Loans shall accrue from and including the date such Loans are made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all outstanding Base Rate Loans shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the Commitment Termination Date. Interest on all outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and, in the case of any Eurodollar Loans having an Interest Period in excess of three months, on each day which occurs every three months after the initial date of such Interest Period, and on the Commitment Termination Date. Interest on any Loan which is converted into a Loan of another Type or which is repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date

of such conversion or on the date of any such repayment or prepayment (on the amount repaid or prepaid) thereof. All Default Interest shall be payable on demand.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans hereunder and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of such rate in writing (or by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing). Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Section 2.11. Fees.

(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates for their own accounts fees in the amounts and at the times previously agreed upon in writing by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender an unused commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Percentage per annum (determined daily in accordance with Schedule I) on the daily amount of the unused Commitment of such Lender during the Availability Period.

(c) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of each Lender, the upfront fee previously agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, which shall be due and payable on the Closing Date.

(d) Accrued fees under paragraph (b) above shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on December 31, 2005 and on the Commitment Termination Date.

Section 2.12. Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest and fees hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable (to the extent computed on the basis of days elapsed). Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest amount or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.

Section 2.13. Inability to Determine Interest Rates. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing,

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant interbank market, adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period, or

(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their Eurodollar Loans for such Interest Period,

the Administrative Agent shall give written notice (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. Until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Loans or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (ii) all such affected Loans shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto unless the Borrower prepays such Loans in accordance with this Agreement. Unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before the date of any Eurodollar Borrowing for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on such date, then such Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing.

Section 2.14. Illegality. If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender to make, maintain or fund any Eurodollar Loan and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the other Lenders, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Lender to make Eurodollar Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans, shall be suspended. In the case of the making of a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Lender’s Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan as part of the same Borrowing for the same Interest Period and if the affected Eurodollar Loan is then outstanding, such Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (i) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loan to such date or (ii) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loan to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affected Lender shall, prior to giving such notice to the Administrative Agent, designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation would avoid the need for giving such notice and if such designation would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

Section 2.15. Increased Costs.

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement that is not otherwise included in the determination of the Adjusted LIBO Rate hereunder against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

(ii) impose on any Lender or the eurodollar interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or any Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of either of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining a Eurodollar Loan or to reduce the amount received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then the Borrower shall promptly pay, upon written notice from and demand by such Lender on the

Borrower (with a copy of such notice and demand to the Administrative Agent), to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, within five Business Days after the date of such notice and demand, additional amount or amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) If any Lender shall have determined that on or after the date of this Agreement any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital (or on the capital of such Lender’s parent corporation) as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s parent corporation could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies or the policies of such Lender’s parent corporation with respect to capital adequacy) then, from time to time, within five (5) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of written demand by such Lender (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s parent corporation for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Lender’s parent corporation, as the case may be, specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 2.15 shall be delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay any such Lender such amount or amounts within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.

Section 2.16. Funding Indemnity. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of a Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion or continuation of a Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (c) the failure by the Borrower to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any applicable notice (regardless of whether such notice is withdrawn or revoked), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender, within five (5) Business Days after written demand from such Lender, for any loss, reasonable cost or expense directly attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan if such event had not occurred at the Adjusted LIBO Rate applicable to such Eurodollar Loan for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan) over (B) the amount of interest that would accrue on the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan for the same period if the Adjusted LIBO Rate were set on the date such Eurodollar Loan was prepaid or converted or the date on which the Borrower failed to borrow, convert or continue such Eurodollar Loan. A certificate as to any additional amount payable under this Section 2.16 submitted to the Borrower by any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

Section 2.17. Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided, that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) the Administrative Agent or any Lender (as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within five (5) Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.17) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the Code or any treaty to which the United States is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Foreign Lender agrees that it will deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased), as appropriate, two (2) duly completed copies of (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 ECI, or any successor form thereto, certifying that the payments received from the Borrower hereunder are effectively connected with such Foreign Lender’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States; or (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN, or any successor form thereto, certifying that such Foreign Lender is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party

which reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest; or (iii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, together with a certificate (A) establishing that the payment to the Foreign Lender qualifies as “portfolio interest” exempt from U.S. withholding tax under Code section 871(h) or 881(c), and (B) stating that (1) the Foreign Lender is not a bank for purposes of Code section 881(c)(3)(A), or the obligation of the Borrower hereunder is not, with respect to such Foreign Lender, a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, within the meaning of that section; (2) the Foreign Lender is not a 10% shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Code section 871(h)(3) or 881(c)(3)(B); and (3) the Foreign Lender is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Borrower within the meaning of Code section 881(c)(3)(C); or (iv) such other Internal Revenue Service forms as may be applicable to the Foreign Lender, including Forms W-8 IMY or W-8 EXP. Each such Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent such forms on or before the date that it becomes a party to this Agreement (or in the case of a Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation). In addition, each such Foreign Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Foreign Lender. Each such Foreign Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at any time that it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower (or any other form of certification adopted by the Internal Revenue Service for such purpose).

Section 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, or amounts payable under Sections 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon (New York time) on the date when due, in immediately available funds, free and clear of any defenses, rights of set-off, counterclaim, or withholding or deduction of taxes. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 and 9.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans that would result in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided, that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

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

(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.4(b), 2.18(d), or 9.3(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

Section 2.19. Mitigation of Obligations. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, Section 2.16, or Section 2.17, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the sole judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable under

Section 2.15 or Section 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with such designation or assignment.

Section 2.20. Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority of the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 9.4(b) all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender); provided, that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Loans owed to it, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (in the case of such outstanding principal and accrued interest) and from the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS

Section 3.1. Conditions To Effectiveness. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.2).

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Credit Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent or SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., as Arranger.

(b) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following:

(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of each party hereto or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include

telecopy transmission of an executed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;

(ii) duly executed Notes payable to each Lender;

(iii) a counterpart of the Fee Letter signed by the Borrower;

(iv) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower in the form of Exhibit 3.1(b)(iv), attaching and certifying copies of its bylaws and of the resolutions of its boards of directors, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of the Borrower executing the Credit Documents;

(v) certified copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation of the Borrower, together with certificates of good standing or existence, as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdictions of organization of the Borrower and each other jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify and be in good standing would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(vi) a favorable written opinion of inside or outside counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Borrower, the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated therein as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably request;

(vii) a certificate in the form of Exhibit 3.1(b)(vii), dated the Closing Date and signed by a Financial Officer, certifying that (A) no Default or Event of Default exists, (B) all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects, (C) since September 30, 2004, there shall have been no change that has had or could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, other than as a result of Hurricane Katrina and its after-effects, (D) there are no actions, suits, investigations or legal, equitable, arbitration or administrative proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its properties which would have or be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (E) except as would not result or be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and except as may have resulted from Hurricane Katrina or its after-effects: (a) each of the properties of the Borrower and its subsidiaries and all operations at such properties are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, (b) there is no violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the properties or the businesses operated by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and (c) there are no conditions relating to the businesses or properties that would reasonably be expected to give rise to a material liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.

(viii) if a Borrowing will be made on the Closing Date, a duly executed Notice of Borrowing and a duly executed funds disbursement agreement, together with a report setting forth the sources and uses of the proceeds hereof;

(ix) certified copies of all consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations and filings and orders required or advisable to be made or obtained under any Requirement of Law, or by any Contractual Obligation of Borrower, in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity and enforceability of the Credit Documents or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired, and no investigation or inquiry by any governmental authority regarding the Commitments or any transaction being financed with the proceeds thereof shall be ongoing; and

(x) copies of (A) the internally prepared quarterly financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the Fiscal Quarter ending on June 30, 2005, and (B) the audited consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the Fiscal Years ending September 30, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Section 3.2. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, no Default or Event of Default shall exist;

(b) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing before and after giving effect thereto;

(d) the Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents, certificates, information or legal opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders.

Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 3.2.

Section 3.3. Delivery of Documents. All of the Credit Documents, certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this Article III, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of each of the Lenders and, except for the Notes, in sufficient counterparts or copies for each of the Lenders and shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:

Section 4.1. Organization and Good Standing. The Borrower (a) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdictions of its incorporation, (b) is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in every jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) has the requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

Section 4.2. Due Authorization. The Borrower (a) has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to incur the obligations herein and therein provided for and (b) has been authorized by all necessary corporate action, to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

Section 4.3. No Conflicts. Neither the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by the Borrower will (a) violate or conflict with, in any material respect, any provision of its articles of incorporation or bylaws, (b) violate, contravene or conflict with, in any material respect, any law (including without limitation, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended), regulation (including without limitation, Regulation U, Regulation X or any regulation promulgated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (c) except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, violate, contravene or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its properties may be bound, or (d) in any material respect, result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with respect to its properties, other than a Permitted Lien.

Section 4.4. Consents. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except any such consent, approval, authorization, order, filing, registration or qualification as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.5. Enforceable Obligations. This Agreement and the other Credit Documents have been duly executed and delivered and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles.

Section 4.6. Financial Condition.

(a) The consolidated financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 3.1(b)(x) and pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and (b): (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject to the provisions of Section 1.3) and (ii) present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods.

(b) Since September 30, 2004, there has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower of any material part of the business or property of the Borrower, and no purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower of any business or property (including any Capital Stock of any other Person) material in relation to the financial condition of the Borrower, in each case which is not (i) reflected in the most recent financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 3.1(b)(x) and pursuant to Section 5.1 or in the notes thereto or (ii) otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement and communicated to the Administrative Agent.

Section 4.7. Intentionally Omitted.

Section 4.8. No Default. No Default or Event of Default presently exists and is continuing.

Section 4.9. Intentionally Omitted.

Section 4.10. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed, or caused to be filed, all material tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid all amounts of taxes shown thereon to be due (including interest and penalties) and has paid all other material taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such taxes which are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.

Section 4.11. Compliance with Law. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.12. Material Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in any respect under any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or other agreement or obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound which default has had or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.13. ERISA. Except as would not result or be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) During the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made: (i) no Termination Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any Termination Event is reasonably expected to occur, with respect to any Plan; (ii) no “accumulated funding

deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan has been maintained, operated, and funded in material compliance with its own terms and in material compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable federal or state laws; and (iv) no Lien in favor or the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably expected to arise on account of any Plan.

(b) No liability has been or is reasonably expected by the Borrower to be incurred under Sections 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA with respect to any Single Employer Plan by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which has or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The actuarial present value of all “benefit liabilities” under each Single Employer Plan (determined within the meaning of Section 401(a)(2) of the Code, utilizing the actuarial assumptions used to fund such Plans), whether or not vested, did not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made, exceed the current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued liabilities, except as disclosed in the Borrower’s financial statements.

(d) Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, is reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan. Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, reasonably expected to be in reorganization, insolvent, or terminated.

(e) No prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a Plan which has subjected or is reasonably likely to subject the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 407, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability.

(f) The present value (determined using actuarial and other assumptions which are reasonable with respect to the benefits provided and the employees participating) of the liability of the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate for post-retirement welfare benefits to be provided to their current and former employees under Plans which are welfare benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), net of all assets under all such Plans allocable to such benefits, are reflected on the financial statements referenced in Section 5.1 in accordance with FASB 106.

(g) Each Plan which is a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections 601-609 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code apply has been administered in compliance in all material respects with such sections.

Section 4.14. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans hereunder will be used solely for the purposes specified in Section 5.8. None of such proceeds will be used for the acquisition of another Person unless the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) or stockholders, as appropriate, of such Person has approved such acquisition.

Section 4.15. Government Regulation.

(a) No proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U, or for the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any securities. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U. No indebtedness being reduced or retired out of the proceeds of the Loans was or will be incurred for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U or any “margin security” within the meaning of Regulation T. “Margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U does not constitute more than 25% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not controlled by an “investment company”, or (ii) a “holding company”, or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company”, or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or of a “subsidiary” of a “holding company”, within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

Section 4.16. Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any financial statements delivered to the Lenders nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to the Lenders by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein or herein, taken as a whole, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that the projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Borrower’s control, and that no assurance can be given that any projections will be realized).

Section 4.17. Intentionally Omitted.

Section 4.18. Insurance. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries maintain insurance with insurance companies or associations rated by A.M. Best “A” or better in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar business and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries operate and/or maintain a system or systems of self-insurance or assumption of risk which accords with the practices of similar businesses.

Section 4.19. Franchises, Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries possess (a) good title to, or the legal right to use, all properties and assets and (b) all franchises, certificates, licenses, permits and other authorizations, in each case as are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, except to the extent the failure to possess any of the foregoing would not and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.20. Secured Indebtedness. All of the secured indebtedness of the Borrower is set forth on Schedule 4.20 or permitted by Section 6.6.

Section 4.21. Subsidiaries. All Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the designation as to which such Subsidiaries are Material Subsidiaries are set forth on Schedule 4.21. Schedule 4.21 may be updated from time to time by the Borrower.

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or any Obligation remains unpaid or outstanding:

Section 5.1. Information Covenants. The Borrower will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Administrative Agent (who shall forward copies thereof to each Lender):

(a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of such fiscal year, together with retained earnings and a consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal year setting forth in comparative form figures for the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and audited by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing and whose opinion shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent, shall be to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for changes with which such accountants concur) and shall not be limited as to the scope of the audit or qualified by a going concern or similar qualification.

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 65 days after the close of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (other than the fourth fiscal quarter) a consolidated balance sheet and income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of such fiscal quarter, together with a related consolidated statement of cash flows for such fiscal quarter in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments and absence of notes.

(c) Officer’s Certificate. At the time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit 5.1(c), (i) demonstrating compliance with Section 5.2 by calculation thereof as of the end of each such fiscal period and (ii) stating that no Default or Event of Default exists, or if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.

(d) Reports. Promptly after the same are available, copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto.

(e) Notices. Upon the Borrower obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written notice to the Administrative Agent promptly of (i) the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and existence thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary: (A) the pendency or commencement of any litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding against the Borrower or such Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) the institution of any proceedings against the Borrower or such Subsidiary with respect to, or the receipt of notice by such Person of potential liability or responsibility for violation or alleged violation of, any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, any Environmental Law), the violation of which would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) ERISA. Upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written notice to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) of: (i) any event or condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable Event, that constitutes, or would be reasonably expected to lead to, a Termination Event; (ii) any communication from the PBGC stating its intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan together with a statement of the amount of liability, if any, incurred or expected to be incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection therewith; (iii) with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the receipt of notice as prescribed in ERISA or otherwise of any withdrawal liability assessed against the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (iv) the failure to make full payment on or before the due date (including extensions) thereof of all amounts which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates is required to contribute to each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA pursuant to its terms and as required to meet the minimum funding standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with respect thereto; or (v) any change in the funding status of any Plan that would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; together, with a description of any such event or condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by a officer of the Borrower briefly setting forth the details regarding such event, condition, or notice, and the action, if any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed to be taken by the Borrower with respect thereto. Promptly upon request, the Borrower shall furnish the Administrative Agent with such additional information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or

any Lender, including, but not limited to, copies of each annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all schedules and attachments thereto required to be filed with the Department of Labor and/or the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each “plan year” (within the meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).

(g) Other Information. With reasonable promptness upon any such request, such other information regarding the business, properties or financial condition of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request.

(h) Delivery of Information. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 9.1; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third party website or sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly forward to the Lenders). Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper or facsimile copies of the officer’s certificates required by Section 5.1(c) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such officer’s certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for maintaining its copies of such documents.

Section 5.2. Debt to Capitalization Ratio. As of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the Debt to Capitalization Ratio shall be less than or equal to 0.70 to 1.0.

Section 5.3. Preservation of Existence, Franchises and Assets. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights, franchises and authority, except where failure to do so would not or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, generally maintain its properties, real and personal, in good condition, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not waste or otherwise permit such properties to deteriorate, reasonable wear and tear excepted, except, in each case, where failure to do so would not or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.4. Books and Records. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, keep complete and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance with good accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the establishment and maintenance of appropriate reserves).

Section 5.5. Compliance with Law. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, comply with, and obtain all permits and licenses required by, all laws (including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws and ERISA laws), rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by all Governmental Authorities, applicable to it and its property, if the failure to comply would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.6. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, pay, settle or discharge (a) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before they shall become delinquent and (b) all lawful claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon any of its properties; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy, claim or indebtedness which is being contested in good faith by appropriate action and as to which adequate reserves therefor, if required, have been established in accordance with GAAP, unless the failure to make any such payment (i) would give rise to an immediate right to foreclose or collect on a Lien securing such amounts or (ii) would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.7. Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) with insurance companies or associations rated by A.M. Best “A” or better in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar business and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries operate and/or maintain a system or systems of self-insurance or assumption of risk which accords with the practices of similar businesses.

Section 5.8. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans may be used solely (a) to maintain a liquidity facility for the issuance of commercial paper, (b) to fund future permitted acquisitions and (c) for working capital, capital expenditures and other lawful corporate purposes of the Borrower.

Section 5.9. Audits/Inspections. Upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours and no more frequently than once during any fiscal year upon reasonable advance notice through the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the Borrower will permit representatives appointed by the Administrative Agent, including, without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys, and appraisers to visit and inspect the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ property, including their books and records, their accounts receivable and inventory, the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ facilities and their other business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof and to write down and record any information such representative obtains and shall permit the Administrative Agent or its representatives to discuss all such matters with the officers, employees and representatives of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours.

ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or any Obligation remains outstanding:

Section 6.1. Nature of Business. The Borrower will not materially alter the character of its business from that conducted as of the Closing Date.

Section 6.2. Consolidation and Merger. The Borrower will not (a) enter into any transaction of merger, or (b) consolidate, liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall exist or be caused thereby, a Person may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower so long as the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation.

Section 6.3. Sale or Lease of Assets. Within any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of assets, business or operations with a net book value in excess of 25% of Total Assets as calculated as of the end of the most recent such fiscal quarter.

Section 6.4. Arm’s-Length Transactions. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction or series of transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any Affiliate other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to the payment or grant of reasonable compensation, benefits and indemnities to any director, officer, employee or agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

Section 6.5. Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents. The Borrower will not (a) change its fiscal year or (b) in any manner that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the rights of the Lenders, change its organizational documents or its bylaws; it being understood that the Borrower’s shareholders may approve an amendment to the Borrower’s Articles of Incorporation to permit the issuance of Preferred Securities.

Section 6.6. Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its property or assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible), whether now owned or after acquired, except for the following: (a) Liens securing Obligations, (b) Liens for taxes not yet due or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves, if required, determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof), (c) Liens in respect of property imposed by law arising in the ordinary course of business such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, warehousemen’s, carrier’s, landlords’ and other nonconsensual statutory Liens which are not yet due and payable, which have been in existence less than 90 days or which are being contested in good faith by

appropriate action and for which adequate reserves, if required, determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof), (d) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of worker’s compensation insurance, unemployment insurance, pensions or social security programs, (e) Liens arising from good faith deposits in connection with or to secure performance of tenders, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than obligations in respect of the payment of borrowed money), (f) Liens arising from good faith deposits in connection with or to secure performance of statutory obligations and surety and appeal bonds, (g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing the use of the encumbered property for its intended purposes, (h) judgment Liens that would not constitute an Event of Default or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments, (i) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution, (j) any Lien on any assets securing indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring, developing, operating, constructing, altering, repairing or improving all or part of such assets; provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof, completion of construction, improvement or repair, or commencement of commercial operation of such assets, (k) any Lien on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and not created in contemplation of such event, (l) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and not created in contemplation of such acquisition, (m) any Lien (whether such Lien applies to current assets or after-acquired property, or both) on any assets of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary created pursuant to the 1959 Indenture; provided that any Lien on any assets of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary that are specifically excluded as collateral under such Indentures shall not be deemed to be a Permitted Lien hereunder, (n) any Lien on the assets of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary pursuant to Section 803 of the 1998 Indenture or Section 803 of the 2001 Indenture, if placed on the property of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary on an equal and ratable basis with Liens securing Obligations and other Liens that may be placed on the properties of the Borrower or such Material Subsidiary in the future, (o) any Lien created in connection with a project financed with, or created to secure, Non-Recourse Indebtedness, (p) Liens on goods (and the proceeds thereof) and documents of title and the property covered thereby securing indebtedness in respect of commercial letters of credit, (q) Liens that have been placed by any developer, landlord or other third party on property over which the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary has easement rights or on any real property leased by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary and subordination or similar agreements relating thereto, (r) any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings affecting any real property, (s) any provision for the retention of title to an asset by vendor or transferor of such asset which asset is acquired by the Borrower or a Material Subsidiary in a transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business, (t) Liens on the proceeds of assets that were subject to Liens permitted hereunder or on assets acquired with such proceeds as a replacement of such former assets, (u) Liens on Fixed Assets not otherwise permitted by this Agreement securing indebtedness in the aggregate (at the time such Liens are created) not in excess of ten percent

(10%) of Consolidated Net Property, and (v) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or in part, of any Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (u) for amounts not exceeding the principal amount of the indebtedness (including undrawn commitments) secured by the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (except for accrued interest and a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with such extension, renewal or replacement); provided that such extension, renewal or replacement Lien is limited to all or a part of the same property or assets that were covered by the Lien extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property or assets).

ARTICLE VII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 7.1. Events of Default. An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):

(a) Payment. The Borrower shall default in the payment (i) when due of any principal of any of the Loans or (ii) within three Business Days of when due of any interest on the Loans or of any fees owing hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents or (iii) within ten days of when due of any other amounts owing hereunder, under any of the other Credit Documents or in connection herewith.

(b) Representations. Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower herein, in any of the other Credit Documents, or in any statement or certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto (including without limitation the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 3.1(b)(vii)) shall prove untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was deemed to have been made.

(i) default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 5.2, 5.3 (as to maintenance of existence of the Borrower only), 5.9 or 6.1 through 6.6 inclusive; or

(ii) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.1 and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days after the earlier of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the Administrative Agent; or

(iii) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b), (c)(i), or (c)(ii) of this Section 7.1) contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30

days after the earlier of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the Administrative Agent.

(d) Credit Documents. The Borrower shall default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement in any of the other Credit Documents and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the earlier of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or notice thereof given by the Administrative Agent or (ii) any Credit Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or the Borrower shall so assert.

(e) Bankruptcy, etc. The occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries: (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries or for any substantial part of its property or order the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or (ii) an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect is commenced against the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries and such petition remains unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or any substantial part of its property or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or any action shall be taken by such Person in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes.

(f) Defaults under Other Agreements. With respect to any indebtedness of the Borrower in excess of $100,000,000 (other than indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement or Non-Recourse Indebtedness) (A) the Borrower shall (1) default in any payment (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) with respect to any such indebtedness, or (2) default (after giving effect to any applicable grace period) in the observance or performance of any covenant or agreement relating to such indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event or condition shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or permit, the holder of the holders of such indebtedness (or trustee or agent on behalf of such holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice or lapse of time is required) any such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (B) any such indebtedness shall be declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment, or by a mandatory prepayment upon specified events or conditions, in each case, prior to the stated maturity thereof; or (C) any such indebtedness shall mature and remain unpaid.

(g) Judgments. One or more final judgments, orders, or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower involving a liability of $100,000,000 or more, in the aggregate (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by a carrier who has acknowledged

coverage) and such judgments, orders or decrees shall continue unsatisfied, undischarged and unstayed for a period of 90 days; provided that if such judgment, order or decree provides for periodic payments over time then the Borrower shall have a grace period of 30 days with respect to each such periodic payment.

(h) ERISA. The occurrence of any of the following events or conditions if any of the same would be reasonably expected to result in a liability of an amount greater than or equal to $20,000,000: (A) any “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any lien shall arise on the assets of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (B) a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (C) a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in (i) the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (D) any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which would be reasonably expected to subject the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability.

(i) Change of Control. The occurrence of any Change of Control.

Section 7.2. Acceleration; Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, and shall, upon the request and direction of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrower take any of the following actions without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against the Borrower, except as otherwise specifically provided for herein:

(a) Termination of Commitments. Declare the Commitments terminated whereupon the Commitments shall be immediately terminated.

(b) Acceleration of Loans. Declare the unpaid amount of all Borrower Obligations to be due whereupon the same shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

(c) Enforcement of Rights. Enforce any and all rights and interests created and existing under the Credit Documents or otherwise available at law or in equity, including, without limitation, all rights of set-off.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 7.1(e) shall occur, then the Commitments shall automatically terminate and all Loans, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid fees and other indebtedness or obligations owing to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereunder shall immediately become due and payable without the giving of any notice or other action by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

Notwithstanding the fact that enforcement powers reside primarily with the Administrative Agent, each Lender has, to the extent permitted by law, a separate right of payment and shall be considered a separate “creditor” holding a separate “claim” within the meaning of Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other insolvency statute.

Section 7.3. Allocation of Payments After Event of Default.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, after the occurrence of an Event of Default, all amounts collected or received by the Administrative Agent or any Lender on account of amounts outstanding under any of the Credit Documents shall be paid over or delivered as follows:

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders in connection with enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit Documents, pro rata as set forth below;

SECOND, to payment of any fees owed to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, pro rata as set forth below;

THIRD, to the payment of all accrued interest payable to the Lenders hereunder, pro rata as set forth below;

FOURTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans, pro rata as set forth below;

FIFTH, to all other obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents and not repaid pursuant to clauses “FIRST” through “FOURTH” above; and

SIXTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

In carrying out the foregoing, (a) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category and (b) each of the Lenders shall receive an amount equal to its pro rata share (based on the proportion that the then outstanding Loans held by such Lender bears to the aggregate then outstanding Loans) of amounts available to be applied.

ARTICLE VIII

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 8.1. Appointment of Administrative Agent. Each Lender irrevocably appoints SunTrust Bank as the Administrative Agent and authorizes it to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with all such actions and powers that are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by or through any one or more sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions set forth in this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact and the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent, any such sub-agent and any such attorney-in-fact and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

Section 8.2. Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except those discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Credit Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.2), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Credit Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it, its sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.2) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (which notice shall include an express reference to such event being a “Default” or “Event of Default” hereunder) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or any Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Credit Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements, or other terms and conditions set forth in any Credit Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Credit Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any

condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Credit Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower) concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.

Section 8.3. Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent. Each of the Lenders acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each of the Lenders also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking of any action under or based on this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Section 8.4. Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent. If the Administrative Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act, unless and until it shall have received instructions from such Lenders; and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders where required by the terms of this Agreement.

Section 8.5. Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 8.6. The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. The bank serving as the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and any other Credit Document in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders”, “holders of Notes”, or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity. The bank acting as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

Section 8.7. Successor Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to the approval by the Borrower provided that no Default or Event of Default shall exist at such time. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or a bank which maintains an office in the United States, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000.

(b) Upon the acceptance of its appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. If within 45 days after written notice is given of the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation under this Section 8.7 no successor Administrative Agent shall have been appointed and shall have accepted such appointment, then on such 45^th day (i) the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall become effective, (ii) the retiring Administrative Agent shall thereupon be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Credit Documents and (iii) the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all duties of the retiring Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent and its representatives and agents in respect of any actions taken or not taken by any of them while it was serving as the Administrative Agent.

Section 8.8. Authorization to Execute other Credit Documents. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute on behalf of all Lenders all Credit Documents other than this Agreement.

Section 8.9. Documentation Agent; Syndication Agent. Each Lender hereby designates Bank of America, N.A., Wachovia Bank, National Association and Société Générale as Co-Documentation Agents and agrees that the Co-Documentation Agents shall have no duties or obligations under any Credit Documents to any Lender or the Borrower. Each Lender hereby designates JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Syndication Agent and agrees that the Syndication Agent shall have no duties or obligations under any Credit Documents to any Lender or the Borrower.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1. Notices.

(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail, sent by telecopy or to the extent permitted below, by email as follows:


To the Borrower:		Atmos Energy Corporation 700 Three Lincoln Centre 5430 LBJ Freeway Dallas, Texas 75240 Attention: Laurie Sherwood Telecopy Number: (214) ###-###-#### Email Address: *@*

With a copy to:		Atmos Energy Corporation 700 Three Lincoln Centre 5430 LBJ Freeway Dallas, Texas 75240 Attention: Treasury Department Telecopy Number: (972) ###-###-#### Email Address: *@*

To the Administrative Agent:		SunTrust Bank 303 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Attention: Linda Stanley Telecopy Number: (404) ###-###-#### Email Address: *@*

With a copy to:		SunTrust Bank Agency Services 303 Peachtree Street, N. E./ 25^th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Attention: Ms. Doris Folsum Telecopy Number: (404) ###-###-#### and King & Spalding LLP 191 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Attention: Carolyn Z. Alford Telecopy Number: (404) ###-###-#### Email Address: *@*

To any other Lender:		the address set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire or the Assignment and Acceptance Agreement executed by such Lender

Notices and other communications hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mail or if delivered, upon delivery; provided, that notices delivered to the Administrative Agent shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section 9.1.

(b) Any agreement of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Borrower to give such notice and the Administrative Agent and Lenders shall not have any liability to the Borrower or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and all other Obligations hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice.

Section 9.2. Waiver; Amendments.

(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or any other Credit Document, and no course of dealing between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or any Lender, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.2, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.

(b) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, that no amendment or waiver shall: (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section 9.2 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender; (vi) release any guarantor or limit the liability of any such guarantor under any guaranty agreement, without the written consent of each Lender; (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Administrative Agent without the prior written consent of such Person. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated (but such Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.3), such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.

Section 9.3. Expenses; Indemnification.

(a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Credit Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be consummated), and (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel and the allocated cost of inside counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section 9.3, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Credit Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c) The Borrower shall pay, and hold the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders harmless from and against, any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar taxes with respect to this Agreement and any other Credit Documents, any collateral described therein, or any payments due thereunder, and save the Administrative Agent

and each Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such taxes.

(d) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid to the Administrative Agent under clauses (a), (b) or (c) hereof, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified payment, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such.

(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, any Loan or the use of proceeds thereof.

(f) All amounts due under this Section 9.3 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

Section 9.4. Successors and Assigns.

(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 the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 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 assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the

case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans and Credit Exposure outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans and Credit Exposure of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Acceptance, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $1,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans, Credit Exposure or the Commitment assigned.

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

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment.

(iv) Assignment and Acceptance. The parties to each assignment shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) a duly executed Assignment and Acceptance, (B) a processing and recordation fee of $3,000, (C) an Administrative Questionnaire unless the assignee is already a Lender and (D) the documents required under Section 2.17(e) if such assignee is a Foreign Lender.

(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 9.4, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and

Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, 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 Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.3 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 paragraph (d) of this Section 9.4. If the consent of the Borrower to an assignment is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment which does not meet the minimum assignment thresholds specified above), the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent five Business Days after the date notice thereof has actually been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower, unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such fifth Business Day.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at one of its offices in Atlanta, Georgia a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans and Credit Exposure owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower 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, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

(e) 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 with respect to the following to the extent affecting such Participant: (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or

reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section 9.4 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender; (vi) release any guarantor or limit the liability of any such guarantor under any guaranty agreement without the written consent of each Lender except to the extent such release is expressly provided under the terms of this Agreement or such guaranty agreement; or (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations. Subject to paragraph (e) of this Section 9.4, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 9.4. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.7 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.15 as though it were a Lender.

(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 and Section 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.17(e) as though it were a Lender.

(g) 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.

Section 9.5. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

(a) This Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof, except for Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law) of the State of New York.

(b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and of any state court of the State of New York sitting in New York county and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the transactions contemplated

hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.5 and brought in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.5. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.1, provided that such service of process is delivered only by overnight courier, signature required. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Credit Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 9.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 9.7. Right of Setoff. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Lender shall have the right, at any time or from time to time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply against all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of the Borrower at any time held or other obligations at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations held by such Lender irrespective of whether such

Lender shall have made demand hereunder and although such Obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower after any such set-off and any application made by such Lender; provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. Each Lender agrees to apply all amounts collected from any such set-off to the Obligations before applying such amounts to any other Indebtedness or other obligations owed by the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries to such Lender.

Section 9.8. Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, the Fee Letter, the other Credit Documents, and any separate letter agreement(s) relating to any fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matters.

Section 9.9. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, and 9.3 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. All representations and warranties made herein, in the certificates, reports, notices, and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and the making of the Loans.

Section 9.10. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Credit Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 9.11. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of any Information, except that such Information may be disclosed (i) to any Related Party of the Administrative Agent or any such Lender, including without limitation accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, (ii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any

subpoena or similar legal process, (iii) to the extent requested by any regulatory agency or authority, (iv) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.11, or which becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, and vi) subject to provisions substantially similar to this Section 9.11, to any actual or prospective assignee or Participant, or (vii) with the consent of the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of any information as provided for in this Section 9.11 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such information as such Person would accord its own confidential information. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.

Section 9.12. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which may be treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate of interest (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by a Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section 9.12 shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

Section 9.13. Waiver of Effect of Corporate Seal. The Borrower represents and warrants that it is not required to affix its corporate seal to this Agreement or any other Credit Document pursuant to any requirement of law or regulation, agrees that this Agreement is delivered by Borrower under seal and waives any shortening of the statute of limitations that may result from not affixing the corporate seal to this Agreement or such other Credit Documents.

Section 9.14. Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, provide to the extent commercially reasonable, such information and take such other actions as are reasonably

requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to assist the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.


ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION, as Borrower

By		/s/ LAURIE M. SHERWOOD
		Vice President, Corporate
		Development and Treasurer

SUNTRUST BANK as Administrative Agent and as a Lender

By		/s/ KELLEY BRUNSON
		Vice President