364-Day Credit Agreement Dated as of May 11, 2009

(a)     less than a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower shall be persons who either (i) were serving as directors on the Closing Date or (ii) were nominated as directors and approved by

(b)     the stockholders of the Borrower shall approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of  the Borrower; or

            (c)     a Person or group of Persons acting in concert (other than the direct or indirect beneficial owners of the Voting Stock of Nicor as of the Closing Date) shall, as a result of a tender or exchange offer, open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise, have become the direct or indirect beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time) of Voting Stock of Nicor representing more than twenty percent (20%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock or other ownership interests for the election of directors or shall have the right to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of Nicor; or

   (a)     the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the United States Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the United States Federal Reserve Bank of New York; or

   (b)     if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

    (a)     any “hazardous substance”, as defined by CERCLA; or

 

acceptances, and (vii) all obligations of such Person under synthetic (and similar type) lease arrangements; provided that for purposes of calculating such Person’s Indebtedness under such synthetic (or similar type) lease arrangements, such lease arrangement shall be treated as if it were a Capitalized Lease.

arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, conditional sale, security agreement or trust receipt, or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes.  For the purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes, and such retention of title shall constitute a “Lien.”

Section 1.2     Interpretation.  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.  Unless the context requires otherwise (a) 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 from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be

construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.  All references to times of day in this Agreement shall be references to New York, New York time unless otherwise specifically provided. Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made for the purposes of this Agreement, the same shall be done in accordance with GAAP in effect on the Closing Date, to the extent applicable, except where such principles are inconsistent with the specific provisions of this Agreement.

Section 2.1     The Revolving Loan Commitment.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including Sections 6.1 and 6.2), each Lender, by its acceptance hereof, severally agrees to make a loan or loans (individually a “Loan” and collectively “Loans”) to the Borrower from time to time on a revolving basis in U.S. Dollars in an aggregate outstanding amount up to the amount of its commitment set forth on Schedule 2 hereto (such amount, as reduced pursuant to Section 2.11(a), increased pursuant to Section 2.11(b) or Section 2.12, or changed as a result of one or more assignments under Section 11.8, its “Commitment” and, cumulatively for all the Lenders, the “Commitments”) before the Termination Date; provided that the aggregate amount of Loans at any time outstanding shall not exceed the Commitments in effect at such time.  On the Termination Date the Commitments shall terminate.  Each Borrowing of Loans shall be made ratably from the Lenders in proportion to their respective Percentages.  As provided in Section 2.4(a) hereof, the Borrower may elect that each Borrowing of Loans be either Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans.  Loans may be repaid and the principal amount thereof reborrowed before the Termination Date, subject to all the terms and conditions hereof.  Unless an earlier maturity is provided for hereunder, all Loans shall mature and be due and payable on the Termination Date.

(a)     Base Rate Loans.  Each Base Rate Loan made or maintained by a Lender shall bear interest during the period it is outstanding (computed (x) at all times the Base Rate is based on the rate described in clause (i) of the definition thereof, on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed or (y) at all times the Base Rate is based on the rate described in clause (ii) or (iii) of the definition thereof, on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date such Loan is advanced, continued or created by conversion from a Eurodollar Loan until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Applicable Margin plus the Base Rate from time to time in effect,

 

payable on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

     (i)     the rate of interest announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from time to time as its prime rate, or equivalent, for U.S.  Dollar loans within the United States as in effect on such day, with any change in the Base Rate resulting from a change in said prime rate to be effective as of the date of the relevant change in said prime rate;

    (ii)     the sum of (x) the Federal Funds Rate, plus (y) ½ of 1% (0.50%); and

   (iii)     the Adjusted LIBOR for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%.  For the purposes of this clause (iii), the Administrative Agent shall assume that the reference Eurodollar Loan would be denominated in U.S. Dollars

(b)     Eurodollar Loans.  Each Eurodollar Loan made or maintained by a Lender shall bear interest during each Interest Period it is outstanding (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date such Loan is advanced, continued, or created by conversion from a Base Rate Loan until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Applicable Margin plus the Adjusted LIBOR applicable for such Interest Period, payable on the last day of the Interest Period and at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise), and, if the applicable Interest Period is longer than three months, on each day occurring every three months after the commencement of such Interest Period.

market for delivery on the first day of and for a period equal to such Interest Period in an amount equal or comparable to the principal amount of the Eurodollar Loan scheduled to be made by each Lender as part of such Borrowing.

(c)     Rate Determinations.  The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to Obligations, and a determination thereof by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding except in the case of manifest error.

(a)     Notice to the Administrative Agent.  The Borrower shall give notice to the Administrative Agent by no later than 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) (i) at least three (3) Business Days before the date on which the Borrower requests the Lenders to advance a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, or (ii) on the date on which the Borrower requests the Lenders to advance a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. The Loans included in each Borrowing shall bear interest initially at the type of rate specified in such notice of a new Borrowing.  Thereafter, the Borrower may from time to time elect to change or continue the type of interest rate borne by each Borrowing or, subject to Section 2.3, a portion thereof, as follows: (i) if such Borrowing is of Eurodollar Loans, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower may continue part or all of such Borrowing as Eurodollar Loans for an Interest Period or Interest Periods specified by the Borrower or convert part or all of such Borrowing into Base Rate Loans, and (ii) if such Borrowing is of Base Rate Loans, on any Business Day, the Borrower may convert all or part of such Borrowing into Eurodollar Loans for an Interest Period or Interest Periods specified by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall give all such notices requesting, the advance, continuation, or conversion of a Borrowing to the Administrative Agent by telephone, facsimile or electronic means (which notice shall be irrevocable once given and, if by telephone, shall be promptly confirmed in writing).  Notices of the continuation of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans for an additional Interest Period or of the conversion of part or all of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans must be given by no later than 12:00 noon (Chicago time) at least three (3) Business Days before the date of the requested continuation or conversion. Notices of the conversion of part or all of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate Loans must be given by no later than 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the date of the requested conversion. All such notices concerning the advance, continuation, or conversion of a Borrowing shall be irrevocable once given and shall specify the date of the requested advance, continuation or conversion of a Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), the amount of the requested Borrowing to be advanced, continued, or converted, the type of Loans to comprise such new, continued or converted Borrowing and, if such Borrowing is to be comprised of Eurodollar Loans, the Interest Period applicable thereto.  All such notices shall be in the form of a Notice of Borrowing, unless otherwise consented to by the Administrative Agent; provided that the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may rely on any telephonic, facsimile or electronic notice given by any person it in good faith believes is an Authorized Representative without the necessity of independent investigation, and in the event any such notice by telephone conflicts with any written confirmation, such telephonic notice shall govern if the Administrative Agent has acted in reliance thereon.  There may be no more than six different Interest Periods in effect at any one time.

(b)     Notice to the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall give prompt telephonic, facsimile or electronic notice to each Lender of any notice from the Borrower received pursuant to Section 2.4(a) above.  The Administrative Agent shall give notice to

 

 

the Borrower and each Lender by like means of the interest rate applicable to each Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans.

(c)     Borrower’s Failure to Notify.  If the Borrower fails to give notice pursuant to Section 2.4(a) above of the continuation or conversion of any outstanding principal amount of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans before the last day of its then current Interest Period within the period required by Section 2.4(a) and has not notified the Administrative Agent within the period required by Section 2.7(a) that it intends to prepay such Borrowing, such Borrowing shall automatically be converted into a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, subject to Section 6.2 hereof.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the Borrower’s failure to so give a notice under Section 2.4(a).

(d)     Disbursement of Loans.  Not later than 12:00 noon (New York time) on the date of any requested advance of a new Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, and not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date of any requested advance of a new Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, subject to Section 6 hereof, each Lender shall make available its Loan comprising part of such Borrowing in funds immediately available at the principal office of the Administrative Agent in New York, New York.  The Administrative Agent shall make Loans available to Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s principal office in New York, New York or such other office as the Administrative Agent has previously agreed in writing to with Borrower, in each case in the type of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Lenders.

(e)     Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing 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 share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.4(d) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to such Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be

 

 

without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(f)     Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders 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 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 Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

    (a)     the Borrower may not select an Interest Period that extends beyond the Termination Date;

    (b)     whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day; provided that, if such extension would cause the last day of an Interest Period to occur in the following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall be the immediately preceding Business Day; and

   (c)     for purposes of determining an Interest Period, a month means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month; provided, however, that if there is no numerically corresponding day in the month in which such an Interest Period is to end or if such an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, then such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month in which such Interest Period is to end.

Section 2.6     Maturity of Loans.  Unless an earlier maturity is provided for hereunder (whether by acceleration or otherwise), all Obligations (including principal and interest on all outstanding Loans) shall mature and become due and payable on the Termination Date.  The Borrower hereby promises to pay as and when due each Obligation owing by it.  The Borrower hereby waives demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind with respect to each such Obligation.

Section 2.7     Prepayments.  (a)  Borrower may prepay without premium or penalty and in whole or in part (but, if in part, then (i) in an amount not less than $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) in an amount such that the minimum amount required for a Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof remains outstanding) any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans upon three (3) Business Days’ prior irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, irrevocable notice delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 12:00 noon (Chicago time) on the date of prepayment, such prepayment to be made by the payment of the principal amount to be prepaid and accrued interest thereon to the date fixed for prepayment.  In the case of Eurodollar Loans, any amounts owing under Section 2.10 hereof as a result of such prepayment shall be paid contemporaneously with such prepayment.  The Administrative Agent will promptly advise each Lender of any such prepayment notice it receives from the Borrower.  Any amount paid or prepaid before the Termination Date may, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be borrowed, repaid and borrowed again.

(b) If  the aggregate amount of outstanding Loans shall at any time for any reason exceed the Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall, immediately and without notice or demand, pay the amount of such excess to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders as a prepayment of the Loans and such prepayments shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 2.7(a).  Immediately upon determining the need to make any such prepayment Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such required prepayment.  Each such prepayment shall be accompanied by a payment of all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans prepaid and shall be subject to Section 2.10.

Section 2.8     Default Rate.  If any Obligation, is not paid when due (whether by acceleration or otherwise), or upon the occurrence of any Event of Default and notice from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower referencing such Event of Default and stating that the additional interest (“Default Interest”) specified in this Section 2.8 shall commence accruing, all Obligations shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, bear interest (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed or, if based on the rate described in clause (i) of the definition of Base Rate, on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and the actual number of days elapsed) from the date such payment on such Obligations was due or such notice was delivered, until paid in full or such Event of Default is waived in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, payable on demand, at a rate per annum equal to:

    (a)     for any Obligation other than a Eurodollar Loan (including principal and interest relating to Base Rate Loans and interest on Eurodollar Loans), the sum of two percent (2%) plus the Applicable Margin applicable to Base Rate Loans plus the Base Rate from time to time in effect; and

    (b)         for the principal of any Eurodollar Loan, the sum of two percent (2%) plus the rate of interest in effect thereon at the time of such default until the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and, thereafter, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of two percent (2%) plus the Applicable Margin applicable to Base Rate Loans plus the Base Rate from time to time in effect;

      provided, however, that following acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 8.3, Default Interest shall accrue and be payable hereunder whether or not previously required by the Administrative Agent.

Section 2.9     Evidence of Debt.  (a)  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan owing to such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder in respect of Loans.  The Borrower agrees that upon notice by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Administrative Agent) to the effect that a Note is required or appropriate in order for such Lender to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Loans owing to, or to be made by, such Lender under the Credit Documents, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note in the form of Exhibit A hereto (each such promissory note is hereinafter referred to as a “Note” and collectively such promissory notes are referred to as the “Notes”).

(b)     The Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 11.8(c) shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the type of Loan comprising such Borrowing and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the terms of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower hereunder and each Lender’s share thereof.

(c)     Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to subsection (b) above, and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and

 

 

interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement, absent manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.

Section 2.10         Funding Indemnity.  If any Lender shall incur any loss, cost or expense (including, without limitation, any loss, cost or expense (excluding loss of margin) incurred by reason of the liquidation or re-employment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or the relending or reinvesting of such deposits or amounts paid or prepaid to such Lender) as a result of:

    (a)     any payment (whether by acceleration, pursuant to Section 9.5 or otherwise), prepayment or conversion of a Eurodollar Loan on a date other than the last day of its Interest Period,

    (b)     any failure (because of a failure to meet the conditions of Section 6 or otherwise) by the Borrower to borrow or continue a Eurodollar Loan, or to convert a Base Rate Loan into a Eurodollar Loan, on the date specified in a notice given pursuant to Section 2.4(a) or established pursuant to Section 2.4(c) hereof,

    (c)         any failure by the Borrower to make any payment or prepayment of principal on any Eurodollar Loan when due (whether by acceleration or otherwise), or

    (d)         any acceleration of the maturity of a Eurodollar Loan as a result of the occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder,

Section 2.11             Commitments.  (a)  Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, to reduce or terminate the Commitments without premium or penalty, in whole or in part, any partial termination or reduction to be (i) in an amount not less than $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) allocated ratably among the Lenders in proportion to their respective Percentages;

 

 

provided that the Commitments may not be reduced to an amount less than the amount of the Loans then outstanding.  The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to each Lender of any reduction or termination of Commitments.  Any reduction or termination of Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.11 may not be reinstated.

(b)     The Borrower and the Administrative Agent may from time to time add additional financial institutions as parties to this Agreement or, with the written consent of an existing Lender, increase the Commitment of such existing Lender (any such financial institution or existing Lender which is increasing its commitment being referred to as an “Added Lender”) pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and any such Added Lender shall for all purposes be considered a Lender for purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents with a Commitment as set forth in such documentation.  Any such Added Lender shall on the date it is deemed a party to this Agreement purchase from the other Lenders its Percentage (or the increase in its Percentage, in the case of an Added Lender which is an existing Lender) of the Loans outstanding.  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 2.11(b) to the contrary, but subject to Section 2.12, the aggregate amount of Commitments may not at any time exceed $600,000,000 without the consent of the Required Lenders.

Section 2.12      Increase in the Aggregate Commitments. (a)                    The Borrower may, at any time prior to the Termination Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent and in accordance with Section 2.12(b), request that the aggregate amount of the Commitments be increased by an amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof (each a “Commitment Increase”) to be effective as of a date that is at least 90 days prior to the scheduled Termination Date then in effect (the “Increase Date”) as specified in the related notice to the Administrative Agent; provided, however that (i) in no event shall the aggregate amount of the Commitments at any time exceed $750,000,000, (ii) on the date of any request by the Borrower for a Commitment Increase and on the related Increase Date the applicable conditions set forth in Sections 3.2(f) and 6.2 shall be satisfied and (iii) prior to the effectiveness of any such increase, the Borrower shall deliver a certified copy of their Board of Directors’ resolutions authorizing such increase.

respective Commitments by an aggregate amount that exceeds the amount of the requested Commitment Increase, the requested Commitment Increase shall be allocated among the Lenders willing to participate therein in such amounts as are agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Section 2.13      Defaulting Lenders.

(a)     Commitment Fee and other Fees.  From and after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders in accordance with their Percentages a commitment fee accruing at a rate per annum equal to the Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the difference between the total Commitments (whether used or unused) and the principal balance of all Loans then outstanding.  Such commitment fee is payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the Termination Date, and if the Commitments are terminated in

 

 

whole prior to the Termination Date, the fee for the period to but not including the date of such termination shall be paid in whole on the date of such termination. On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders in accordance with their Percentages all other fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to the Fee Letters.

(b)        Administrative Agent Fees.  The Borrower shall pay to the Joint Lead-Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their sole account the fees agreed to by the Borrower in the Fee Letters or as otherwise agreed among them in writing.

(c)     Fee Calculations.  All fees payable under this Agreement shall be payable in U.S.  Dollars and shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, for the actual number of days elapsed.  All determinations of the amount of fees owing hereunder (and the components thereof) shall be made by the Administrative Agent and shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of such fee.

(a)     Requests for Extension.  The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) not earlier than 45 days and not later than 35 days prior to the Termination Date then in effect hereunder (the “Existing Termination Date”), request that each Lender extend such Lender’s Termination Date for an additional 364 days from the Existing Termination Date.

(b)       Lender Elections to Extend.  Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not earlier than 30 days prior to the Existing Termination Date and not later than the date (the “Notice Date”) that is 20 days prior to the Existing Termination Date, advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Commitment Termination Date (a “Non-Extending Lender”) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date) and any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender.  The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree.

(c)         Notification by Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of each Lender’s determination under this Section no later than the date 15 days prior to the Existing Termination Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).

(d)            Additional Commitment Lenders.  The Borrower shall have the right on or before the Existing Termination Date to replace each Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) with the approval of the Administrative

 

 

Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).  Each Additional Commitment Lender shall enter into an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall, effective as of the Existing Termination Date, undertake a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender’s Commitment hereunder on such date).

(e)     Minimum Extension Requirement.  If (and only if) the Required Lenders have agreed to extend their Termination Date, then, effective as of the Existing Termination Date, the Termination Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date falling 364 Days after the Existing Termination Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Commitment Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender shall thereupon become a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement.

(f)     Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the extension of the Termination Date pursuant to this Section shall not be effective with respect to any Lender unless:

      (x)           no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such extension and after giving effect thereto;

     (y)           the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date of such extension and after giving effect thereto, as though made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date); and

     (z)           on or before the Termination Date of each Non-Extending Lender, (1) the Borrower shall have paid in full the principal of and interest on all of the Loans made by such Non-Extending Lender to the Borrower hereunder and (2) the Borrower shall have paid in full all other Obligations owing to such Lender hereunder.

    All payments of principal of and interest on the Loan, and all other Obligations payable by the Borrower under the Credit Documents shall be made by Borrower in U.S. Dollars to the Administrative Agent by no later than 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on the due date thereof at the principal office of the Administrative Agent in New York, New York pursuant to the payment instructions set forth on Part A of Schedule 4 hereof (or such other location in the United States as the Administrative Agent may designate to

 

 

Borrower) for the benefit of the Person or Persons entitled thereto. Any payments received after such time shall be deemed to have been received by the Administrative Agent on the next Business Day.  All such payments shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction for, any set-off, defense, counterclaim, levy, or any other deduction of any kind in immediately available funds at the place of payment. The Administrative Agent, will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest on Loans or applicable fees ratably to the Lenders and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Person to such Person, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

    The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to each Lender as to itself and, where the following representations and warranties apply to its Subsidiaries or Material Subsidiaries, as to each Subsidiary or Material Subsidiary, as applicable, of the Borrower, as follows:

Section 5.1     Corporate Organization and Authority.  The Borrower is (i) duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Illinois; (ii) has all necessary corporate power to carry on its present business; and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business transacted by it or the nature of the Property owned or leased by it makes such licensing, qualification or good standing necessary and in which the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.2     Subsidiaries.  Schedule 5.2 (as updated from time to time pursuant to Section 7.1) hereto identifies each Material Subsidiary, such Material Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, the percentage of issued and outstanding shares of each class of such Material Subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests owned by the Borrower and/or the Borrower’s Subsidiaries and, if such percentage is not one hundred percent (100%) (excluding directors’ qualifying shares as required by law), a description of each class of its authorized capital stock and the number of shares or equity interests of each class issued and outstanding.  Each Material Subsidiary is duly formed and existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, has all necessary organizational power to carry on its present business, and is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business transacted by it or the nature of the Property owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary and in which the failure to be so licensed or qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests, as applicable, of each Material Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable.  All such shares and other equity interests owned by the Borrower are owned beneficially, and of record, free of any Lien, except as permitted in Section 7.9.

 

Section 5.3     Corporate Authority and Validity of Obligations.  The Borrower has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes and to consummate the transactions herein contemplated, and the execution, delivery and performance, and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated, by the Borrower of this Agreement and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part; and this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and the Notes when executed and delivered for value will constitute, its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

Section 5.4     Financial Statements.  The consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of capitalization of Nicor as of December 31, 2008 and the notes thereto (the “12/31 Financials”) and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of Nicor for the fiscal year ended on said date, and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Nicor as of March 31, 2009 and the notes thereto (the “3/31 Financials”) and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Nicor for the 3-month period ended on such date, heretofore furnished to the Lenders, are complete and correct and fairly present the consolidated financial condition of Nicor as of said dates, and the results of its operations for the fiscal year and 3-month period ended on said dates (subject, in the case of the 3/31 Financials to normal year-end audit adjustments).  On said dates the Borrower did not have any material contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments, except as referred to or reflected or provided for in the 12/31 Financials and the 3/31 Financials as of said dates or as previously disclosed in the SEC Disclosure Documents. From the period commencing December 31, 2008 and ending on the Closing Date, there has been no event or series of events which has resulted in, or reasonably could be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.5     No Litigation; No Labor Controversies.  (a)  Except as previously disclosed in the SEC Disclosure Documents, as of the Closing Date, there are no legal or arbitral proceedings or any proceedings by or before any Governmental Authority or agency, now pending or (to the knowledge of the Borrower) threatened against the Borrower as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and which, if adversely determined, could have a Material Adverse Effect during the term of this Agreement.

(b)     There are no labor controversies pending or, to the best knowledge of Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which could (individually or in the aggregate) have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.6     Taxes.  The Borrower has filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by it and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower except for any such taxes that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained.  The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower in respect of taxes are in conformance with GAAP.

Section 5.7     Approvals.  No authorization, consent, approval, license, exemption, filing or registration with any court or Governmental Authority, nor any approval or consent of the stockholders of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or from any other Person, is necessary for the valid execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower of any Credit Document to which it is a party, except for such authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses, exemptions, filings or registrations which have been made or obtained.

Section 5.8     ERISA.  During the twelve consecutive-month period prior to the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the date of any Borrowing, no steps have been taken to terminate or completely or partially withdraw from any Pension Plan, and no contribution failure has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under section 302 (f) of ERISA.  No condition exists or event or transaction has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan which might result in the incurrence by the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group of any material liability, fine or penalty.  Except as previously disclosed in the SEC Disclosure Documents, the Borrower does not have any contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement benefit under a Welfare Plan, other than liability for continuation coverage described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.

Section 5.9     Government Regulation.  Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary of Borrower is an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 5.10      Margin Stock; Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and no proceeds of any borrowings hereunder will be used for a purpose which violates, or would be inconsistent with, F.R.S. Board Regulation U or X, or any official rulings on or interpretations of such regulations.  Terms for which meanings are provided in F.R.S. Board Regulation U or X or any regulations substituted therefor, as from time to time in effect, are used in this Section 5.10 with such meanings.  The proceeds of the Loans will be used solely to provide back-up for commercial paper, the proceeds of which will be used or have been used to purchase natural gas, and for other general corporate purposes.

 

Section 5.11        Environmental Warranties.  Except as previously disclosed in the SEC Disclosure Documents, as of the Closing Date:

(a)     all facilities and Property (including underlying groundwater) owned, operated or leased by the Borrower are in material compliance with all Environmental Laws, except for such instances of noncompliance as are unlikely, singly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b)     there have been no past, and there are no pending or threatened:

except as are unlikely, singly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)     there have been no Releases of Hazardous Materials at, on or under any Property now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Borrower that, singly or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(d)     the Borrower has been issued and is in material compliance with all permits, certificates, approvals, licenses and other authorizations relating to environmental matters and necessary for its businesses, except where the failure to maintain or comply with any of the foregoing is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect during the term of this Agreement;

(e)     there are no underground storage tanks, active or abandoned, including petroleum storage tanks, on or under any Property now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Borrower, singly or in aggregate, that are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f)     the Borrower has not directly transported or directly arranged for the transportation of any Hazardous Material to any location which is listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List pursuant to CERCLA, on the CERCLIS or on any similar state list or which is the subject of Federal, state or local enforcement actions or other investigations which may lead to material claims against the Borrower for any remedial work, damage to natural resources or personal injury, including claims under CERCLA that, singly or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect during the term of this Agreement;

 

(g)     there are no polychlorinated biphenyls or friable asbestos present at any Property now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Borrower that, singly or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect during the term of this Agreement; and

(h)        no conditions exist at, on or under any Property now or previously owned or leased by the Borrower which, with the passage of time, or the giving of notice or both, would give rise to liability under any Environmental Law, which would have a Material Adverse Effect during the term of this Agreement.

Section 5.12     Ownership of Property; Liens.  The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower owns good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, or other enforceable interest in, its Property to the extent owned or leased by it (except where the failure to have such title, a valid leasehold interest or other enforceable interest is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect) free and clear of all Liens, except as permitted in Section 7.9.

Section 5.13     Compliance with Agreements.  None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent under, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Borrower, or (ii) any applicable law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or Governmental Authority, or (iii) any Contractual Obligation to which the Borrower is a party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject, or constitute a default under any such Contractual Obligation, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the revenues or assets of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of any such Contractual Obligation except in the case of this clause (iii) as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.14     Full Disclosure.  All factual information heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby is, and all other such factual information hereafter furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower will be, true and accurate in every material respect on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and as of the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Lenders, and such information is not, or shall not be, as the case may be, incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading.

Section 5.15     Solvency.  The Borrower and each of its Material Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, is Solvent.

Section 6.1     Initial Borrowing.  Before or concurrently with the initial Borrowing:

By executing this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders agrees that each condition set forth in this Section 6.1 has been satisfied.

Section 6.2     All Borrowings.  As of the time of each Borrowing hereunder (other than the continuation of a Eurodollar Loan or the conversion of a Base Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan or a Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan):

         (b)        Each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 hereof shall be and remain true and correct in all material respects as of said time, except that if any such representation or warranty relates solely to an earlier date it need only remain true as of such date (including, but not limited to, the representations and warranties set forth in the last sentence of Section 5.4 and in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.11, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date only); and

 

Section 7.1     Corporate Existence; Material Subsidiaries.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, preserve and maintain its corporate existence and all of its material rights, privileges and franchises if failure to maintain such existence, rights, privileges or franchises would materially and adversely affect the financial condition or operations of, or the business taken as a whole, of the Borrower.  Together with any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.6 hereof, Borrower shall deliver an updated Schedule 5.2 to reflect any changes from the existing Schedule 5.2.

Section 7.2     Maintenance.  The Borrower will maintain all of its Properties used or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to maintain such Property is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.3     Taxes.  The Borrower will pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or on any of its Property prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained.

Section 7.4        ERISA.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly pay and discharge all obligations and liabilities arising under ERISA of a character which if unpaid or unperformed is reasonably likely to result in the imposition of a Lien against any of its Properties, except to the extent the imposition of such Lien would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.5     Insurance.  The Borrower will keep insured by financially sound and reputable insurers all Property of a character usually insured by corporations engaged in the same or similar business similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against by such corporations and carry such other insurance as is usually carried by such corporations.  Borrower will, upon request of a Lender, furnish to such Lender a summary setting forth the nature and extent of the insurance maintained pursuant to this Section 7.5.

Section 7.6     Financial Reports and Other Information.  (a)  The Borrower will maintain a system of accounting in accordance with GAAP and will furnish to the Lenders and their respective duly authorized representatives such information respecting the business and financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as any Lender may reasonably request.  The Borrower shall deliver (via email or otherwise) to the Administrative Agent in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with copies for each Lender in form and substance satisfactory to them, each of the following:

 

 

income, common stockholders’ equity, cash flows, and income taxes of Borrower for such year and the related consolidated balance sheet and statement of capitalization at the end of such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year, and accompanied by an opinion thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial position and results of operations and cash flows of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for, such fiscal year, and otherwise be without any Impermissible Qualification; provided that if Borrower files its annual report on Form 10-K for the applicable annual period, and such annual report contains the financial statements and accountants certifications, opinions and statements described above, Borrower may satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.6(a)(i) by delivering a copy of such annual report to each Lender;

(b)     Each financial statement furnished to the Lenders pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 7.6 shall be accompanied by a Compliance Certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto signed by the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President – Controller or Vice President-Treasurer of the Borrower.  Information required to be delivered pursuant to subsections (a), (d) and (e) of this Section 7.6 shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrower provides notice to the Administrative Agent (via email or otherwise) that such information has been posted on Nicor’s website on the Internet at www.nicor.com, at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm or at another website identified in such notice and accessible by the Lenders without charge, provided that (i) such notice may be included in a Compliance Certificate in the form of Exhibit B and (ii)

 

 

the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of the information required to be delivered pursuant to subsections (a), (d) and (e) of this Section 7.6 to any Lender that requests such delivery.

(c)     Borrower will promptly (and in any event within five Business Days after an officer of the Borrower has knowledge thereof) give notice to the Administrative Agent of (i) any Default or Event of Default of which the Borrower has knowledge, including in such notice a description of the same in reasonable detail, and indicating what action is being undertaken with respect to such Default or Event of Default; and (ii) any event or condition which in the opinion of the Borrower could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d)     Promptly upon their becoming available, and without duplication of the other materials required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the Borrower will deliver (via email or otherwise) to the Administrative Agent, with copies for each Lender copies of all registration statements and regular periodic reports, if any, which Nicor or the Borrower shall have filed with the SEC (or any governmental agency substituted therefore) or any national securities exchange.

(e)     Promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of Nicor or the Borrower generally, and without duplication of the other materials required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the Borrower  will deliver to the Administrative Agent, with copies for each Lender copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed.

(f)     Immediately upon becoming aware of the institution of any steps by Nicor, the Borrower, or any other Person to terminate any Pension Plan or the complete or partial withdrawal from any Pension Plan by Nicor or any member of its Controlled Group which could result in a liability to Nicor or any of its Subsidiaries of a liability in excess of $20,000,000, or the failure to make a required contribution to any Pension Plan if such failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA securing an amount in excess of $20,000,000, or the taking of any action with respect to a Pension Plan which could result in the requirement that Nicor or the Borrower furnish a bond or other security to the PBGC or such Pension Plan in excess of $20,000,000, or the occurrence of any event with respect to any Pension Plan which could result in the incurrence by Nicor or the Borrower of any material liability, fine or penalty, or any material increase in the contingent liability of Nicor or the Borrower with respect to any post-retirement Welfare Plan benefit, notice thereof and copies of all documentation relating thereto.

(g)     From time to time such other information regarding the business or financial condition of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent or a Lender may reasonably request.

Section 7.7     Lender Inspection Rights.  For purposes of confirming compliance with the Credit Documents or after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon reasonable notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, Borrower will, permit the Lenders (and such Persons as any Lender may designate) during normal business hours to visit and inspect, under Borrower’s guidance, any of the Properties of Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, to examine all of their books of account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees and with their independent public accountants (and by this provision Borrower authorizes such accountants to discuss with the Lenders (and such Persons as any Lender may designate) the finances and affairs of Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries) all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested; provided, however, that except upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Default or Event of Default, not more than one such visit and inspection may be conducted in any twelve month period.  Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall only be required to pay the costs and expenses of professionals retained by the Administrative Agent in connection with any such visit or inspection.  After the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall be obligated to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with such visitations and inspections. The Borrower shall receive advance notice of any proposed discussion with such accountants and shall have the right to participate therein.

Section 7.8     Conduct of Business.  The Borrower will not engage in any material line of business materially unrelated to the lines of business in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the Closing Date.

Section 7.9     Liens.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, create, incur, permit or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, however, that this Section 7.9 shall not apply to or operate to prevent:

 

 

provided that the aggregate amount of liabilities (including interest and penalties, if any) of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries secured by such Liens shall not exceed $20,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

Section 7.10       Use of Proceeds; Regulation U.  The proceeds of each Borrowing will be used by the Borrower solely to provide back-up for commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.  The Borrower will not use any part of the proceeds of any of the Borrowings directly or indirectly to purchase or carry any margin stock (as defined in Section 5.10 hereof) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock.

Section 7.11       Mergers, Consolidations and Sales of Assets.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, (i) consolidate with or be a party to merger with any other Person or (ii) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or a “substantial part” of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (w) the foregoing shall not prohibit any sale, lease, transfer or disposition to which the Required Lenders have consented, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld if (A) such transaction does not result in a downgrade of the Borrower’s S&P Rating or Moody’s Rating, (B) such transaction is for cash consideration (or other consideration acceptable to the Required Lenders) in an amount not less than the fair market value of

 

 

the applicable assets, and (C) such transaction, when combined with all other such transactions, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, taken as a whole, (x) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into or sell, lease or otherwise convey all or a substantial part of its assets to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of which the Borrower holds (directly or indirectly) at least the same percentage equity ownership; provided that in any such merger or consolidation involving the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the surviving or continuing corporation, and (y) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell inventory in the ordinary course of business.

Section 7.12        Environmental Matters.  The Borrower will:

Section 7.13       Investments, Acquisitions, Loans, Advances and Guaranties.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Material Subsidiary of the Borrower to, directly or indirectly, make, retain or have outstanding any investments (whether through purchase of stock or obligations or otherwise) in, or loans or advances to, any other Person, or acquire all or any substantial part of the assets or business of any other Person or division thereof, or be or become liable as endorser, guarantor, surety or otherwise

 

 

(such as liability as a general partner) for any debt, obligation or undertaking of any other Person, or otherwise agree to provide funds for payment of the obligations of another, or supply funds thereto or invest therein or otherwise assure a creditor of another against loss, or apply for or become liable to the issuer of a letter of credit which supports an obligation of another, or subordinate any claim or demand it may have to the claim or demand of any other Person (cumulatively, all of the foregoing “Investments”); provided, however, that the foregoing provisions shall not apply to nor operate to prevent:

Section 7.14       Restrictions on Indebtedness.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, issue, incur, assume, create, become liable for, contingently or otherwise, or have outstanding any Indebtedness, provided that the foregoing provisions shall not restrict nor operate to prevent the following Indebtedness:

Section 7.15       Leverage Ratio.  The Borrower will cause Nicor not to permit the ratio of Nicor’s Consolidated Indebtedness to Nicor’s Capital to exceed 0.70 to 1.00 at the end of any fiscal quarter.

For the purposes of the calculation of the ratio of Nicor’s Consolidated Indebtedness to Nicor’s Capital, (1) any non-cash effects resulting from adoption of the proposed “Statement of Financial Accounting Standards dated March 31, 2006: Employers’ Accounting for Defined Pension and other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” shall be excluded; (2) any hybrid equity securities, meaning any securities issued by Nicor and/or its subsidiaries or a financing vehicle of Nicor and/or its subsidiaries that (i) are classified as possessing a minimum of “intermediate equity content” by S&P, Basket C equity credit by Moody’s, and 50% equity credit by Fitch and (ii) require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case, prior to at least 91 days after the later of the termination of the Commitments and the repayment in full of the Loans and all other amounts due under this Agreement, shall be excluded from Nicor’s Consolidated Indebtedness and (3) any mandatorily convertible securities, meaning any mandatorily convertible equity-linked securities issued by Nicor and/or its subsidiaries, so long as the terms of such securities require no repayments or prepayments and no mandatory redemptions or repurchases, in each case prior to at least 91 days after the later of the termination of the Commitments and the repayment in full of the Loans and all other amounts due under the this Agreement, shall be excluded from Nicor’s Consolidated Indebtedness.

Section 7.16        [Intentionally Omitted].

Section 7.17      Dividends and Other Shareholder Distributions.  (a)  The Borrower shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or make a distribution of any kind (including by redemption or purchase) on or relating to its outstanding capital stock, or (ii) repay (directly, through sinking fund payments or otherwise) any Indebtedness or other obligations owing to an Affiliate unless in either circumstance no Default or Event of Default exists prior to or would result after giving effect to such action; provided that nothing in this Section shall prohibit the Borrower from paying a dividend which was declared as otherwise permitted hereby.

(b)     Except as set forth on Schedule 7.17, the Borrower will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any such Material Subsidiary to: (1) pay dividends or make any other distribution on any of such Material Subsidiary’s capital stock owned by the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary of the Borrower, (2) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any other Material Subsidiary, (3) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Material Subsidiary, or (4) transfer any of its Property or assets to the Borrower or any other Material Subsidiary, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

Section 7.18       No Negative Pledges.  Except as set forth on Schedule 7.17, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to enter into or suffer to exist any agreement (except the Credit Documents) prohibiting the creation or assumption of any security interest upon its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or Material Subsidiary, as applicable; provided, however, in the case of a consensual Lien on assets or property that is permitted pursuant to Section 7.9, the Lien holder may, solely with respect of the assets or property to which such Lien attaches, contract for and receive a negative pledge with respect thereto and the proceeds thereof.

Section 7.19       Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or be a party to any material transaction or arrangement with any Affiliate of such Person, including without limitation, for purchase from, sale to or exchange of Property with, for merger or consolidation with or into, or the rendering of any service by or for, any Affiliate, except (i) pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon terms no less

 

 

favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained in a similar transaction involving a third-party, (ii) any ICC Regulated Transaction, (iii) to the extent such material transaction or arrangement would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) as otherwise permitted in this Agreement.

Section 7.20      Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower will comply with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority if failure to comply with such requirements would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.21      Derivative Obligation.  The Borrower will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries, to enter into any Derivative Obligations other than Permitted Derivative Obligations.

Section 7.22       Sales and Leasebacks.  The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement with any bank, insurance company or other lender or investor providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower of any Property theretofore owned by it and which has been or is to be sold or transferred by such owner to such lender or investor if the total amount of rent and other obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under such lease, when combined with all rent and other obligations of Borrower and its Subsidiaries under all such leases, would exceed $50,000,000.

Section 7.23       OFAC; BSA.  The Borrower will ensure, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to ensure, that each person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls a Borrower (a) is not nor shall it be (i) listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), Department of the Treasury, and/or any other similar lists maintained by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute, Executive Order or regulation or (ii) a person designated under Section 1(b), (c) or (d) of Executive Order No. 13224 (September 23, 2001), any related enabling legislation or any other similar Executive Orders, and (b) complies with all applicable Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) and anti-money laundering laws and regulations.

Section 8.1      Events of Default.  Any one or more of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

Section 8.2     Non-Bankruptcy Defaults.  When any Event of Default other than those described in subsections (f) or (g) of Section 8.1 hereof has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, if so directed by the Required Lenders, by

 

 

written notice to Borrower: (a) terminate the remaining Commitments and all other obligations of the Lenders hereunder on the date stated in such notice (which may be the date thereof); and (b) declare the principal of and the accrued interest on all outstanding Loans to be forthwith due and payable and thereupon all outstanding Loans, including both principal and interest thereon, and all other Obligations, shall be and become immediately due and payable together with all other amounts payable under the Credit Documents without further demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.  The Administrative Agent, after giving notice to Borrower pursuant to Section 8.1(c) or this Section 8.2, shall also promptly send a copy of such notice to the other Lenders, but the failure to do so shall not impair or annul the effect of such notice.

Section 8.3        Bankruptcy Defaults.  When any Event of Default described in subsections (f) or (g) of Section 8.1 hereof has occurred and is continuing, then all outstanding Loans, including both interest and principal thereon, and all other Obligations shall immediately become due and payable together with all other amounts payable under the Credit Documents without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, the obligation of the Lenders to extend further credit pursuant to any of the terms hereof shall immediately terminate.

Section 9.2     Unavailability of Deposits or Inability to Ascertain, or Inadequacy of, LIBOR.

If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans:

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

 

(b)             Capital Requirements.  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, 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 holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)             Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be prima facie evidence of such costs absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d)             Delay in Requests.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 9.3 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

Section 9.4      Taxes.

(a)      Payments Free of Taxes.  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any 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) the Administrative Agent or Lender receives 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 timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b)      Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower.  Without limiting the provisions of paragraph (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority related to its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with applicable law.

(c)      Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower severally shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) arising in connection with payments made by the Borrower hereunder or under any other Credit Document paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto except to the extent that such penalties, interest and expenses are attributable to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Lender.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d)              Evidence of Payments.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent and 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)       Status of Lenders.  Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments under any Credit Document under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is incorporated or otherwise organized or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party (in each case such jurisdiction will include the United States if the Borrower is incorporated or organized in any state thereof or the District of Columbia), shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.

(f)       Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 9.4(f), it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without

 

 

interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

(g)              Tax Benefit.  If and to the extent that any Lender is able, in its sole opinion, to apply or otherwise take advantage of any offsetting tax credit or other similar tax benefit arising out of or in conjunction with any deduction or withholding which gives rise to an obligation on the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to this Section 9.4, then such Lender shall, to the extent that in its sole opinion it can do so without prejudice to the retention of the amount of such credit or benefit and without any other adverse tax consequences for such Lender, reimburse to the Borrower at such time as such tax credit or benefit shall have actually been received by such Lender such amount as such Lender shall, in its sole opinion, have determined to be attributable to the relevant deduction or withholding and as will leave such Lender in no better or worse position than it would have been in if the payment of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes had not been required.  Nothing in this Section 9.4 shall oblige any Lender to disclose to the Borrower or any other person any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations.

Section 9.5      Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a)      Designation of a Different Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 9.3, or requires the Borrower to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 9.4, 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 9.3 or 9.4, 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 materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

(b)      Replacement of Lenders.  If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 9.3, (ii) 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 9.4, or (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its expense and effort or, in the case of an assignment from a Defaulting Lender, at the expense of such Defaulting Lender, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require

 

 

such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.8), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Credit Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

Section 9.6     Discretion of Lender as to Manner of Funding.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each Lender shall be entitled to fund and maintain its funding of all or any part of its Loans in any manner it sees fit; it being understood, however, that for the purposes of this Agreement all determinations hereunder shall be made as if each Lender had actually funded and maintained each Eurodollar Loan through the purchase of deposits in the eurodollar interbank market having a maturity corresponding to such Loan’s Interest Period and bearing an interest rate equal to LIBOR for such Interest Period.

Section 10.1       Appointment and Authority.  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Section 10 are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall have no rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

Section 10.2           Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

Section 10.3          Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

Section 10.4       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 (including any electronic message, posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 10.5       Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

Section 10.6       Resignation of Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower (and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, with the consent of the Borrower), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in Chicago, Illinois or New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in Chicago, Illinois, or New York, New York.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no such successor is willing to accept such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and (2) all payments, communications and determinations to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this paragraph.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed among the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Section 10.6 and Section 11.11 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

Section 10.7      Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Section 11.1       No Waiver of Rights.  No delay or failure on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on the part of the holder or holders of any Note in the exercise of any power or right under any Credit Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor as an acquiescence in any default, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other power or right.  The rights and remedies hereunder of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the holder or holders of any Notes are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies which any of them would otherwise have.

Section 11.2      Non-Business Day.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, if any payment of principal or interest on any Loan or of any other Obligation shall fall due on a day which is not a Business Day, interest or fees (as applicable) at the rate, if any, such Loan or other Obligation bears for the period prior to maturity shall continue to accrue on such Obligation from the stated due date thereof to and including the next succeeding Business Day, on which the same shall be payable.

Section 11.3      Survival of Representations.  All representations and warranties made herein or in certificates given pursuant hereto shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and shall continue in full force and effect with respect to the date as of which they were made as long as any credit is in use or available hereunder.

Section 11.4           Survival of Indemnities.  All indemnities and all other provisions relating to reimbursement of the Lenders of amounts sufficient to protect the yield of the Lenders with respect to the Loans, including, but not limited to, Section 2.10, Section 9.3, Section 9.4 and Section 11.11 hereof, shall survive the termination of this

 

 

Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the payment of the Loans and all other Obligations.

Section 11.5       Set-Off; Sharing of Payments.  (a)  Without limitation of any other rights of the Lenders, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Credit Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Credit Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness.  The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

(b)      If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than its Percentage thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact and purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their Percentages and other amounts owing them; provided that:

Section 11.6        Notices.

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

          (ii)         if to the Administrative Agent, to the address set forth on Part B of Schedule 4 hereto

(b)              Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders 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 Section 2.4(b) if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under Section 2.4(b) 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.

(c)              Change of Address, Etc.  Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

Section 11.7        Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

(a)      Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 6.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart

 

 

of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

(b)      Electronic Execution of Assignments.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based record keeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 11.8        Successors and Assigns.

(a)               Successors and Assigns Generally.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder (except as permitted under Section 7.11 hereof), without the prior written consent of each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of 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)       Assignments by Lenders.  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that

(c)               Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Chicago, Illinois a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans 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 upon reasonable prior notice.

(d)               Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans 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 other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

(e)               Limitations upon Participant Rights.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 9.3 and 9.4 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 9.4 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 9.4 as though it were a Lender.

(f)                Certain Pledges.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g)               Certain Funding Arrangements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Bank”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle which is an Affiliate of such Bank (a “SPC”) and identified as such in writing by the Granting Bank to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Bank would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Bank shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof.  The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Bank to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Bank.  Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Bank).  In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.  In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11.8(g), any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Bank or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. This section may not be amended without the written consent of the SPC.

Section 11.9       Amendments.  Any provision of the Credit Documents may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by (a) the Borrower, (b) the Required Lenders, and (c) if the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent are affected thereby, the Administrative Agent; provided that:

Section 11.10     Headings.  Section headings used in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

Section 11.11     Expenses; Indemnity; Waiver.

(a)               Costs and Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent (and fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent) in accordance with the Fee Letters and the Commitment Letter, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender (and fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent or any Lender), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including its rights under this Section 11.11(a), 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)               Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and 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 expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee (and fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent or any Lender) incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee 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 the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including any relating to a misrepresentation by the Borrower under any Credit Document), (ii) any Loan or the 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 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 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.

(c)               Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that the Borrower fails for any reason to pay within the time set forth in paragraph (e) below any amount required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 11.11 to be paid to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of the Administrative Agent, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, upon demand such Lender’s Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or against any Related Party of the Administrative Agent acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity.

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

 

 

with this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(e)               Payments.  All amounts due under this Section 11.11 shall be payable not later than 5 days after demand therefor; provided that with respect to the Borrower, such amount shall automatically become due to the extent an Event of Default has arisen under Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g).

Section 11.12         Entire Agreement.  The Credit Documents constitute the entire understanding of the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof and any prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, with respect thereto are superseded thereby.

Section 11.13     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a)            Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

(b)               Submission to Jurisdiction.  The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally submits itself and its Property to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such Federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement or in 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)               Waiver of Venue.  The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d)               Service of Process.  Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 11.6.  Nothing in this Agreement

 

 

 will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

Section 11.14    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER 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 PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 11.15        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to it, its Affiliates and their respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Credit Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 11.15, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 11.15 or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

Section 11.16         Patriot Act.  As required by federal law or the Administrative Agent or a Lender’s polices and practices, the Administrative Agent or a Lender may need to collect certain customer identification information and documentation in connection with opening or maintaining accounts or establishing or continuing to provide services.

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