AMENDED AND RESTATED MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

MLA No. RX0583

AMENDED AND RESTATED MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 31, 2014, is between COBANK, ACB (“CoBank”) and NEW ULM TELECOM, INC., a Minnesota corporation (the “Borrower”).  

WHEREAS, from time to time CoBank may make loans to the Borrower, and in order to reduce the amount of paperwork associated therewith, CoBank and the Borrower have entered into master loan agreements;

WHEREAS, the Borrower and CoBank are parties to that certain Master Loan Agreement, dated as of January 4, 2008 (as amended by that certain letter agreement, dated March 27, 2009, that certain letter agreement, dated September 14, 2009, that certain letter agreement, dated March 25, 2011, that certain letter agreement, dated May 2, 2012, and as the same may further be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Existing New Ulm MLA”); 

WHEREAS, CoBank and Hutchinson Telephone Company (as successor by merger to Hutchinson Acquisition Corp.) (“Hutchinson Telephone”) have entered into that certain Master Loan Agreement, dated as of January 4, 2008 (as amended by that certain letter agreement, dated June 9, 2009, that certain letter agreement, dated September 14, 2009, by that certain letter agreement, dated March 25, 2011, as modified by the Assumption Agreement described below, and as the same may further be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Hutchinson MLA”);  

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Assumption Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Assumption Agreement”), Hutchinson Telephone has assigned to the Borrower, and the Borrower has assumed from Hutchinson Telephone, all of its present and future liabilities, terms, provisions, covenants and obligations under the Hutchinson MLA and all Loan Documents (as defined in the Hutchinson MLA) related thereto; provided  that Hutchinson Telephone will enter into the Continuing Guaranty (as defined in Section 5(B) hereto);

WHEREAS, this Agreement amends and restates in their entirety the Existing New Ulm MLA and the Hutchinson MLA (the “Prior Agreements”); 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, intending to be legally bound hereby, and in consideration of CoBank making one or more loans to the Borrower, CoBank and the Borrower agree, and hereby amend and restate the Prior Agreements, as follows:

1

Section 1.  Supplements.  In the event the Borrower desires to borrow from CoBank and CoBank is willing to lend to the Borrower, or in the event CoBank and the Borrower desire to consolidate any existing loans hereunder, the parties will enter into a supplement to this Agreement (each, a “Supplement”  and, collectively, the “Supplements”).  Each Supplement will set forth CoBank’s commitment to make a loan or loans (each, a “Loan” and, collectively, the “Loans”) to the Borrower, the amount of the Loan(s), the purpose of the Loan(s), the interest rate or rate options applicable to the Loan(s), the repayment terms of the Loan(s), and any other terms and conditions applicable to the Loan(s).  Each Loan will be governed by the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and in the Supplement and the Note (as hereinafter defined in Section 3) relating to that Loan.

Section 2.  Availability.  Advances under the Loans will be made available on any day on which CoBank and the Federal Reserve Banks are open for business (a “Business Day”) upon the telephonic or written request of an authorized employee of the Borrower.  Requests for advances under the Loans must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. Mountain time on the date the advance is desired or at such earlier date and time as may be specified in the relevant Supplement.  Advances under the Loans will be made available by wire transfer of immediately available funds.  Wire transfers will be made to such account or accounts as may be designated in writing by the Borrower.  In taking actions upon telephonic requests, CoBank shall be entitled to rely on (and shall incur no liability to the Borrower in acting upon) any request made by a Person (as hereinafter defined in Subsection 25(E)) identifying himself or herself as one of the persons designated in writing by the Borrower to request advances under a Master Agreement for Cash Management and Transaction Services with CoBank, so long as any funds advanced are wired to an account previously designated in writing by the Borrower.

Section 3.  Notes and Payments.  The Borrower’s obligation to repay the Loans made under each Supplement shall be evidenced by a promissory note in form and content acceptable to CoBank (collectively, the “Notes,”  and each a “Note”).  The Borrower is to make each payment which it is required to make under the terms of this Agreement, each Supplement, each Note, any Interest Rate Agreement (as hereinafter defined in this Section 3) provided by CoBank and all security and other instruments and documents relating hereto and thereto (this Agreement, the Supplements, the Notes, Interest Rate Agreements provided by CoBank, any instruments or documents related to any cash management or other bank product provided by CoBank to the Borrower or any other Loan Party (as hereinafter defined in Subsection 4(A)) and all other instruments, documents and agreements executed and delivered at any time in connection with the Loans and other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Supplement, including, all security and guarantee documents described in Section 5 and the Perfection and Diligence Certificate dated as of the date hereof, collectively, the “Loan Documents”) by wire transfer of immediately available funds, by check, or by automated clearing house (ACH) or by other similar cash handling processes as specified by separate agreement between the Borrower and CoBank. Wire transfers shall be made to ABA No. 307088754 for advice to and credit of CoBank (or to such other account as CoBank may direct by notice).  The Borrower shall give CoBank telephonic notice no later than 11:00 a.m. Mountain time of its intent to pay by wire. Funds received by wire before 3:00 p.m. Mountain time shall be credited on the day received and funds received by wire after 3:00 p.m. Mountain time shall be credited on the next Business Day.  Checks shall be mailed to CoBank, at Department 167, Denver, Colorado 80291-0167 (or to such other place as CoBank may direct by notice).  Credit for payment by check will not be given until the later of:  (A) the day on which CoBank receives immediately available funds; or (B) the next Business Day after receipt of the check.  If any date on which a payment is due under any Loan Document is not a Business Day, then such payment shall be made on the next Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in the calculation of interest due.

“Interest Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap, hedge, cap, collar or similar agreement or arrangement, in form and content acceptable to CoBank, designed to protect the Borrower against fluctuations in interest rates.

Section 4.  Mandatory Repayments; Application.   

(A)           Repayments from Asset Dispositions.  The Borrower shall repay the Loans in an amount equal to all Net Proceeds (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 4(A)) received by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party (as such terms are hereinafter defined in this Subsection 4(A)) that are from any Asset Disposition (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 4(A)) in excess of $500,000 to the extent that such Net Proceeds are not reinvested in equipment or other assets that are used or useful in the business of a Loan Party or such Subsidiary within 180 days of receipt by such Loan Party or Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds, or if any Loan Party shall enter into a contract within such 180-day period pursuant to which such Loan Party agrees to use such Net Proceeds to purchase equipment or other assets that are used or useful in the business of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, then the Net Proceeds must be reinvested in equipment or other assets that are used or useful in the business of a Loan Party or such Subsidiary within 360 days of receipt by such Loan Party or Subsidiary of such Net Proceeds.  All such repayments shall be applied in accordance with Subsection 4(E). 

“Asset Disposition” means the disposition, whether by sale, lease, transfer, loss, damage, destruction, condemnation or otherwise, by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party of any or all of such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s assets other than dispositions of assets permitted under clause (i) - (iii) of Subsection 9(E). 

“Loan Party” or “Loan Parties” means the Borrower and any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries.

“Net Proceeds” means the cash proceeds received by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party from any Asset Disposition, debt or equity issuance (including insurance proceeds, awards of condemnation, and payments under notes or other debt securities received in connection with any Asset Disposition), net of (i) the reasonable costs of such sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition (including taxes attributable to such sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition), (ii) amounts applied to repayment of Indebtedness (as hereinafter defined in Subsection 8(I)(1)), other than Indebtedness outstanding hereunder, secured by a lien on the asset or property disposed, and (iii) for Subsidiaries not wholly-owned by a Loan Party, the percentage equal to the ownership interests of Persons other than such Loan Party (by way of example, if a Loan Party owns a Subsidiary 95%, who in turn owns another Subsidiary 80%, and an Asset Disposition occurs at the other Subsidiary, only 76% (95% of 80%) of the proceeds thereof that would otherwise have constituted Net Proceeds will constitute Net Proceeds).

“Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of stock (or equivalent ownership or controlling interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or any combination thereof.

(B)            Mandatory Repayments from Equity Issuances.  Immediately upon receipt of proceeds from the issuance of any ownership interests in any Loan Party (excluding Investments among Loan Parties as permitted by Subsection 9(F)) or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or any rights to purchase any such interest, in each case as permitted by CoBank, the Borrower shall repay the Loans in an amount equal to the amount of the Net Proceeds received in connection with such equity issuance.  All such repayments shall be applied in accordance with Subsection 4(E).    

(C)           Mandatory Repayments from Debt Incurrence.  Immediately upon receipt of proceeds from the incurrence of any additional Indebtedness by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, except Indebtedness expressly permitted pursuant to Subsection 9(A), the Borrower shall repay the Loans in an amount equal to the amount of the Net Proceeds received in connection with such debt incurrence.  All such repayments shall be applied in accordance with Subsection 4(E). 

(D)           Mandatory Repayments from Aggregate Outstanding Amount.  If at any time the aggregate outstanding amount of advances under any revolving Loan exceeds such revolving Loan commitment, Borrower shall repay promptly such revolving Loan in an amount at least sufficient to reduce the aggregate principal balance of such revolving Loan then outstanding to the amount of the revolving Loan commitment and until such repayment is made CoBank shall not be obligated to make any additional advances under any Loan.

(E)            Application of Repayments; Related Interest and Surcharge Payments.  Unless otherwise provided in any Supplement, all repayments made pursuant to Section 4(A) through (D)  will be applied first pro rata to all term Loans, based upon the principal amount then outstanding, and then pro rata to all revolving Loans, based upon the principal amount of the Commitments (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the revolving Loans).  All term Loan repayments made pursuant to Section 4(A) through (D)  will be applied to principal installments in the inverse order of their maturity and to such portions or Portions (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the term Loans) of the term Loans as the Borrower specifies in writing or, in the absence of such direction, as CoBank specifies, and all repayments on revolving Loans will be applied to such Portions (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the revolving Loans) of the revolving Loans as the Borrower specifies in writing or, in the absence of such direction, as CoBank specifies.  All term Loan repayments made pursuant to Section 4(F) will be applied to principal installments in the inverse order of their maturity and to such portions or Portions (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the term Loans) of the term Loans as the Borrower specifies in writing, and all repayments on revolving Loans pursuant to Section 4(F) will be applied to such Portions (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the revolving Loans) of the revolving Loans as the Borrower specifies in writing. The Commitments (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the revolving Loans) also will be permanently reduced to the extent and in the amount that the Borrower is required, pursuant to this Section 4,  to apply mandatory repayments to be made pursuant to this Section 4 (whether or not any advances are then outstanding and available to be repaid thereunder) to revolving Loans, in the inverse order of the Commitment Adjustment Dates (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the revolving Loans).  If any revolving Loan does not have a Commitment Adjustment Date, the Maturity Date (as defined in such Supplement) of such revolving Loan shall be deemed its Commitment Adjustment Date for the purpose of the proceeding sentence.  All reductions provided for in this Section 4 will be in addition to any voluntary reductions and all scheduled reductions and, accordingly, may result in the termination of the Commitments prior to the Maturity Dates (as such terms are defined in the Supplements evidencing the revolving Loans).  All repayments required under this Section 4 are to be accompanied by payment of all applicable Surcharges (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the Loans) and accrued interest on the amount repaid.

(F)            Prepayment and Surcharge.  The Borrower may (i) on one Business Day’s prior written notice prepay in full or in part any Portion of the Loan accruing interest at a variable rate of interest and (ii) on three Business Days’ prior, irrevocable written notice, prepay in full or in part any Portion of the Loan accruing interest at a fixed rate option.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the Borrower repaying or prepaying any amount accruing interest pursuant to a fixed rate option (whether such payment is made voluntarily, as a result of an acceleration, or otherwise), the Borrower must also pay a Surcharge as defined in the Supplements evidencing the Loans.

(G)           Increased Costs.

(1)   Increased Costs Generally.  If any change in Law occurring after the date hereof shall (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by CoBank; (ii) subject CoBank to any taxes on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or (iii) impose on CoBank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than taxes) affecting this Agreement or any Loan; and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to CoBank of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by CoBank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of CoBank, the Borrower will pay to CoBank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate CoBank for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided  that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

(2)   Capital Requirements.  If CoBank determines that any change in Law affecting CoBank or any lending office of CoBank, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on CoBank’s capital as a consequence of this Agreement, any Commitment (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the revolving Loans) or the Loans made by CoBank, to a level below that which CoBank could have achieved but for such change in Law (taking into consideration CoBank’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to CoBank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate CoBank for any such reduction suffered; provided  that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

(3)   Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of CoBank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate CoBank as specified in clauses (1) and (2) of this Subsection 4(G) and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay CoBank the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

(4)   Delay in Requests.  Failure or delay on the part of CoBank to demand compensation pursuant to this Subsection 4(G) shall not constitute a waiver of CoBank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate CoBank pursuant to this Subsection 4(G) for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that CoBank notifies the Borrower of the change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of CoBank’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 six month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(H)           Additional Provisions Regarding LIBOR Options.

(1)   Unavailability.  If, prior to the first day of any Interest Period (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the Loans) for any Loan bearing interest at a fixed rate option calculated on the basis of LIBOR (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the Loans), CoBank shall have determined, in its sole discretion, that (i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period, or (ii) CoBank’s cost to fund balances bearing interest at such fixed rate option (as determined by CoBank in its reasonable discretion) increases beyond any corresponding increase in LIBOR or decreases less than any corresponding decrease in LIBOR, CoBank shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give notice of such determination to the Borrower.  In the event of any such determination under the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii), until CoBank shall have advised the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (a) any request by the Borrower for Loans bearing interest at any such fixed rate option shall be deemed to be a request for a Loan bearing interest at a variable rate option, (b) any request by the Borrower for a Loan to be converted into or continued as a Loan bearing interest at such fixed rate option shall be deemed to be a request for such Loan to be converted into or continued as a Loan bearing interest at a variable rate option, and (c) any Loans that were to be converted into or continued as Loans bearing interest at such fixed rate option on the first day of an Interest Period shall be converted into or continued as Loans bearing interest at a variable rate option.  Until such notice has been withdrawn by CoBank, no further Loans bearing interest at any such fixed rate option shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert any Loan bearing interest at a variable rate option or at a fixed rate option not calculate on the basis of LIBOR to a Loan bearing interest at such a fixed rate option.

(2)   Illegality.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that on or after the date of this Agreement any change in Law shall make it unlawful for CoBank to make or maintain the Loans bearing interest at a fixed rate option calculated on the basis of LIBOR, then CoBank shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof, following which (i) the ability of the Borrower to elect such fixed rate option shall be suspended until such time as CoBank may again make and maintain the Loans bearing interest at such fixed rate option and (ii) if such Law shall so mandate, the Loans bearing interest at such fixed rate option shall be converted to Loans bearing interest at a variable rate option by the Borrower on or before such date as shall be mandated by such Law, and the Borrower shall pay any accrued and unpaid interest and any prepayment surcharges as described in Subsection 4(F) and the Supplements evidencing the Loans.

Section 5.  Security.

(A)           The Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Supplements, any Interest Rate Agreements provided by CoBank and the other Loan Documents are secured by a statutory first lien on all equity which the Borrower may now own or hereafter acquire or be allocated in CoBank.

(B)            In addition, except as otherwise provided in the Supplements, the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Supplements, any Interest Rate Agreement with CoBank and the other Loan Documents are guaranteed by that certain Amended and Restated Continuing Guaranty (the “Continuing Guaranty”), dated as of even date herewith, made by the Borrower, Western Telephone Company (“WTC”), Peoples Telephone Company (“PTC”), New Ulm Phonery, Inc. (“Phonery”), New Ulm Cellular #9, Inc. (“Cellular”), New Ulm Long Distance, Inc. (“Long Distance”), Hutchinson Telephone, Hutchinson Cellular, Inc. (“Hutchinson Cellular”), Hutchinson Telecommunications, Inc. (“Hutchinson Telecom”), Sleepy Eye Telephone Company (“Sleepy Eye”), Tech Trends, Inc. (“Tech Trends”), New Ulm Exchange, LLC (“Exchange”)  and each additional Subsidiary of the Borrower which hereafter becomes a party thereto (collectively, the “Guarantors”) in favor of CoBank.

(C)           Furthermore, except as otherwise provided in the Supplements, the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, the Note, any Interest Rate Agreement with CoBank and the other Loan Documents and the Guarantors’ obligations under the Continuing Guaranty and the other Loan Documents are secured by that certain Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement (the “Pledge and Security Agreement”), dated as of even date herewith, made by the Borrower and the Guarantors in favor of CoBank, pursuant to which the Loan Parties party thereto have granted to CoBank a first priority security interest in substantially all of their now owned or hereafter acquired tangible and intangible personal property.

(D)             In addition, except as otherwise provided in the Supplements, the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Supplements, the Interest Rate Agreements provided by CoBank and the other Loan Documents are secured by (i) that certain Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, dated as of May 14, 2008 by the Borrower in favor of CoBank (as amended by that certain Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated December 19, 2012, that certain Second Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated September 5, 2014, and recorded in the Office of County Recorder, Brown County, Minnesota on June 6, 2008, as document number 366501, the Office of the County Recorder, Nicollet County, Minnesota on June 17, 2008, as document number 279148, and in the Office of the County Recorder, Redwood County, Minnesota on June 18, 2008, as document number 327975, and as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement and as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time, the “New Ulm Mortgage,” (ii) that certain Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, dated as of May 14, 2008 by WTC in favor of CoBank (as amended by that certain Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated December 19, 2012, that certain Second Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated September 5, 2014, and recorded in the Office of County Recorder, Brown County, Minnesota on June 6, 2008, as document number 366500, and the Office of the County Recorder, Redwood County, Minnesota on June 18, 2008, as document number 327976, and as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, of even date herewith, and as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time, the “WTC Mortgage”, (iii) that certain Real Estate Mortgage and Security Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2009 by PTC in favor of CoBank (as amended by that certain Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated December 19, 2012, that certain Second Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated September 5, 2014, and recorded with the Recorder, Cherokee County, Iowa on January 29, 2009, at Book 2009, Page 0160, and as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Real Estate Mortgage and Security Agreement, of even date herewith, and as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time, the “PTC Mortgage”, (iv) that certain Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, dated as of May 14, 2008 by Hutchinson Telephone in favor of CoBank (as amended by that certain Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated December 19, 2012, that certain Second Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated September 5, 2014, and recorded in the Office of the

County Recorder, McLeod County, Minnesota on June 6, 2008, as document number A-377660, and the Office of Registrar of Titles, McLeod County, Minnesota on June 6, 2008, as document number T-48118, and as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, of even date herewith, and as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time, the “Hutchinson Telephone Mortgage”, (v) that certain Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, dated as of May 14, 2008 by Hutchinson Telecom in favor of CoBank (as amended by that certain Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated December 19, 2012, that certain Second Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated September 5, 2014, and recorded in the Office of County Recorder, Meeker County, Minnesota on June 6, 2008, as document number 353708, and as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, of even date herewith, and as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time, the “Hutchinson Telecom Mortgage”, (vi) that certain Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, dated as of December 31, 2012 by Sleepy Eye in favor of CoBank (as amended by that certain Second Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated September 5, 2014, and recorded in the Office of County Recorder, Brown County, Minnesota on January 18, 2012, as document number 391383 and as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, of even date herewith, and as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time, the “Sleepy Eye Mortgage”, and (vii) that certain Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, dated as of May 14, 2008 by the Mortgagor in favor of the Mortgagee, recorded in the Office of County Recorder, Brown County, Minnesota on June 6, 2008 as document number 366502, as amended by that certain Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, and as further amended by that certain Second Agreement Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents, dated September 5, 2014 and as amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Real Estate Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Profits, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement, of even date herewith, and as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time, the “New Ulm Exchange Mortgage” (the New Ulm Mortgage, WTC Mortgage, PTC Mortgage, the Hutchinson Telephone Mortgage, the Hutchinson Telecom Mortgage, the Sleepy Eye Mortgage and the New Ulm Exchange Mortgage, the “Mortgages”), pursuant to which the applicable Loan Party has granted CoBank a first priority security interest in certain real property.

(E)            The Borrower agrees, and agrees to cause each other Loan Party (including any Person which becomes a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of any Loan Party after the date hereof), to take such steps, including the execution and filing and recordation of a joinder to the Continuing Guaranty and the Pledge and Security Agreement (or if such wholly-owned Subsidiary is prohibited by any applicable PUC (as hereinafter defined in Subsection 12(C)) from joining the Continuing Guaranty and/or the Pledge and Security Agreement, a negative pledge agreement), other continuing guarantees, security agreements, financing statements, irrevocable stock powers, collateral assignments and deposit account control agreements, and amendments to any of the foregoing, and such other instruments and documents as CoBank may from time to time reasonably require to enable CoBank to obtain, perfect and maintain its security interests in such property and the payment of any applicable documentary stamp or similar taxes.  Furthermore, the Borrower agrees, and agrees to cause each other Loan Party (including any Person which becomes a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of any Loan Party after the date hereof) to take such steps, including the execution and recordation and filing of any mortgages, mortgage agreements, or any fixture filings, and amendments to the foregoing, and such other instruments and documents as CoBank may reasonably request from time to time to enable CoBank to obtain, perfect, and maintain a lien on any real property interests of such Person as CoBank shall determine in its reasonable discretion, and the payment of any applicable mortgage recording tax, documentary stamp taxes or similar taxes.

Section 6.  Conditions Precedent.

(A)           Conditions to Initial Supplement.  CoBank’s obligation to extend credit under the initial Supplement is subject to the condition precedent that CoBank receives, in form and substance satisfactory to CoBank, each of the following:

(1)   This Agreement, Etc.  A duly executed original of this Agreement and all instruments and documents contemplated hereby.

(2)   Cash Management Agreement.  A duly completed and executed original of a CoBank Master Agreement for Cash Management and Transaction Services.

           (3)   Security.  (i) A duly executed copy of each of the security documents required by Section 5, and (ii) such evidence as CoBank shall require that all steps required by CoBank to enable CoBank to obtain and perfect its lien on the security have been taken and that such lien has the priority contemplated by this Agreement.

(4)   Corporate Structure.  Evidence of satisfactory corporate and capital structure of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, to be determined in CoBank’s reasonable discretion.

(5)   Perfection and Diligence Certificate.  A duly completed and executed Perfection and Diligence Certificate, dated as of the date hereof, executed by the Loan Parties in favor of CoBank, in form and content approved by CoBank.

 (B)            Conditions to Each Supplement.CoBank’s obligations, if any, to extend credit under each Supplement, including the initial Supplement, is subject to the conditions precedent that CoBank receive, in form and content reasonably satisfactory to CoBank, each of the following:

(1)   Supplement.  A duly executed original of such Supplement and all other instruments and documents contemplated by such Supplement.

            (2)   Evidence of Authority.  Such certified board, member, manager or partner resolutions, evidence of incumbency, and other evidence that CoBank may require that such Supplement and all other instruments and documents executed in connection therewith, and, in the case of the initial Supplement, this Agreement and all instruments and documents executed in connection herewith, have been duly authorized and executed.

            (3)   Consents and Approvals.  Such evidence as CoBank may reasonably require that all required consents and approvals of any Governmental Authority (as hereinafter defined in Subsection 7(D)) or third-party which are necessary for the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or for the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated thereby have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

           (4)   License, Etc.  Such evidence as CoBank may reasonably require that all franchises, licenses, certificates, permits, orders, consents, authorizations, approvals and the like, including all Telecommunications Licenses (as hereinafter defined in Subsection 7(R)) (collectively, the “Licenses”) which are necessary for the operation of the business of each of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries have been obtained and are in full force and effect, which if not obtained and maintained, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(5)   Fees and Other Charges.  Payment of all fees and other charges provided for herein or in such Supplement which are due.

(6)   Insurance.   Such evidence as CoBank may require that the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are in compliance with Subsection 8(D). 

(7)   Evidence of Perfection.  Such evidence as CoBank may require that  CoBank has a duly perfected first-priority security interest in all collateral contemplated by this Agreement and such Supplement.

(8)   Opinions of Counsel.  Opinions of counsel (who shall be acceptable to CoBank) to the Borrower and any other party to the Loan Documents (other than CoBank) relating to such Supplement acceptable to CoBank.

(9)   Additional Security and Guaranties.  A duly executed copy of any additional security documents or guaranties required by Section 5 or by such Supplement.

(C)           Conditions to Each Advance. CoBank’s obligation under each Supplement to make any Loan or advance to the Borrower thereunder is subject to the further conditions set forth in such Supplement and the following conditions precedent:

           (1)   Representations and Warranties.  That the representations and warranties of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and any other party to any Loan Document (other than CoBank) contained in this Agreement, any Supplement and any other Loan Document be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such advance, as though made on and as of such date (and the request (regardless of form) for each Loan or advance shall be deemed a remaking of such representations and warranties as of such date by such parties).

            (2)   Events of Default.  That no Event of Default (as hereinafter defined in Section 10) or event which solely with the giving of notice and/or the passage of time could reasonably be expected to become an Event of Default hereunder (a “Potential Default”), shall have occurred and be continuing.

(3)   Material Adverse Effect.  Since December 31, 2013, there shall not have occurred any event or condition affecting the Loan Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, which individually or in the aggregate has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (4)   Other Information.  That CoBank receive such other information regarding the condition, financial or otherwise, and operations of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party and any other party to any Loan Document (other than CoBank) as CoBank shall request and such other opinions, certificates or documents as CoBank shall request.

Section 7.  Representations and Warranties.  The execution by the Borrower of each Supplement and each request for an advance thereunder constitutes a representation and warranty to CoBank that:

(A)           Application.   Each representation and warranty and all other information set forth in any application, any Loan Document or other document submitted in connection with, or to induce CoBank to enter into, such Supplement is correct in all material respects as of the date of the Supplement or request for advance, except for representations and warranties that are date-specific, which shall be correct in all material respects as of the reference date.

(B)            Disclosure.   No representation or warranty of the Borrower contained in this Agreement, the financial statements referred to in Subsection 7(F), any other document, certificate or written statement furnished to CoBank by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party for use in connection with the Loan Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which the same were made.

(C)           Organization; Powers; Etc.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party (i) is duly incorporated, organized, or formed (as applicable), validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 7(C)) of its state of incorporation, organization or formation (as applicable); (ii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of its properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification, except where failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 7(C)); (iii) has all requisite legal and corporate, partnership or limited liability company power (as applicable) to own and operate its assets and to carry on its business and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and (iv) has duly and lawfully obtained and maintained all Licenses which are necessary in the conduct of its business, or which may be otherwise required by Law, which if not obtained and maintained, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

“Laws” means all applicable provisions of federal, state, provincial and other local constitutions, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, orders, decisions, judgments and decrees of any Governmental Authority.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect upon (a) the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, properties or business of any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or any guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents or any guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder to which it is a party, (c) the rights and remedies of CoBank under the Loan Documents, or (d) the enforceability, validity or priority of the liens and security interests granted to CoBank on any material portion of the Borrower’s assets pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents.

(D)           Due Authorization; No Violations; Etc.  The execution and delivery by each Loan Party of, and the performance by each Loan Party of its obligations under, the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company action (as applicable) and do not and will not (i) violate its articles or certificate of incorporation, articles or certificate of organization or articles or certificate of formation (as applicable), its bylaws, partnership agreement or operating agreement (as applicable), any provision of any Law of any Governmental Authority (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 7(D)), any agreement or any indenture, mortgage, or other instrument to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or its respective properties are bound, or (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, a default under any such agreement, indenture, mortgage, or other instrument.  All actions on the part of the shareholders, partners, managers or members (as applicable) of each Loan Party necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by such Loan Party of, and the performance by each Loan Party of its obligations under, the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been taken and remain in full force and effect.

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial or other local government or Person exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity exercising such functions owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, FCC and PUC.  “FCC” means the Federal Communications Commission.  “PUC” means any state, provincial or other local public utility commission, local franchising authority, or similar regulatory agency or body that exercises jurisdiction over the rates or services or the ownership, construction or operation of any Communications System (and its related facilities) or over any Persons who own, construct or operate a Communications System, in each case by reason of the nature or type of the business subject to regulation and not pursuant to Laws of general applicability to Persons conducting business in any such jurisdiction.  “Communications System” means a system or business providing voice, data or video transport, connection, monitoring services, or other communications and/or information services (including cable television), through any means or medium, and the provision of facilities, marketing, management, technical and financial (including call rating) or other services to companies providing such transport, connection or monitoring services or constructing, creating, developing or marketing communications-related network equipment, software and other devices for use in the business described above.

(E)            Binding Agreement. Each of the Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party is, or when executed and delivered will be, the legal, valid, and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject only to limitations on enforceability imposed by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) general equitable principles.

(F)            Financial Statements, Budgets, Projections, Etc. All financial statements of any Person submitted to CoBank in connection with, or to induce CoBank to enter into, this Agreement or such Supplement fairly and fully present the financial condition of such Person in all material respects and the results of such Person’s operations for the periods covered thereby, and are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied, except, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, the omission of footnotes and, in the case of any interim financial statements, normal year-end adjustments.  As of the date of such financial statements, there were no material liabilities of such Person, fixed or contingent, not reflected in such financial statements or the notes thereto.  Since the date of such financial statements, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition or operations of such Person.  All budgets, projections, feasibility studies, and other documentation submitted by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or any guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder to CoBank in connection with, or to induce CoBank to enter into, such Supplement are based upon assumptions that are reasonable and realistic, and as of the date of such Supplement or request for advance, no fact has come to light, and no event or transaction has occurred, which would cause any such assumption not to be reasonable or realistic.

(G)           Consents and Approvals.  Except as contemplated in Section 19, no License of any Governmental Authority or of any party to any agreement to which any Loan Party is a party or by which it, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its respective property may be bound or affected, is necessary at the time this representation is being made or remade in connection with the project, acquisition or other activity being financed by such Supplement,  the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the Loan Documents or the creation and perfection of the liens and security interests granted thereby, except as such have been obtained and are in full force and effect or which are required in connection with the enforcement of or exercise of remedies under any Loan Document.

(H)           Compliance.   Each Loan Party is in compliance with all of the terms of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and no Event of Default or Potential Default exists.

(I)              Compliance with Laws.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party is in compliance in all material respects with all Laws, the failure to comply with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(J)             Environmental Compliance.  Without limiting the provisions of Subsection 7(I): 

(1)     all property owned by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party and all operations conducted by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party are in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 7(J)); 

(2)   to the Borrower’s knowledge, no Hazardous Substance (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 7(J)) has been released onto or disposed of or is otherwise present in, on, under, over, at, about or from any property owned by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party; 

(3)   no investigations, inquiries, orders, hearings, liens, claims, actions or other proceedings by or before any Governmental Authority or third-party claims are pending or threatened in connection with any violation of Environmental Laws with respect to any property owned by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party; and

(4)   other than as described in Schedule 7(J), there are no underground storage tanks of any kind or character, whether empty or containing substances or any nature, located on or under any property owned by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party and any and all aboveground storage tanks located on any property owned by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party are in compliance with all Environmental Laws, and to Borrower's knowledge after due investigation, all underground storage tanks that have ever been located on or under any such property have been removed in compliance with Environmental Laws existing at the time of removal.

“Environmental Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations, ordinances, rules, codes,  judgments, decrees, orders, guidance documents, or other legally enforceable requirements now or hereafter in effect of any federal, state, municipal or local Governmental Authority relating to (i) pollution or protection of human health or the environment, including the air, water, land, or natural resources; (ii) exposure of persons or property to Hazardous Substances; or (iii) the generation, use, handling, treatment, storage, disposal, arrangement for disposal, and transportation of harmful and deleterious substances.    

“Hazardous Substance” means  (i) any petroleum or petroleum products, natural gas, or natural gas products, radioactive materials, asbestos, lead, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that contains dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radon gas; (ii) any chemical, material, waste or substance defined, listed, classified or described as “hazardous substance,” “hazardous waste,” “regulated substance,” “solid waste,” “hazardous material,” “extremely hazardous waste,” “restricted hazardous waste,” “toxic substance,” “toxic pollutant,” “contaminant,” or “pollutant” under any Environmental Laws; and (iii) any material, waste or substance which is in any way regulated as hazardous or toxic or actually or potentially causing damage or injury to human health or the environment by any Governmental Authority.

(K)           Litigation.  There is no pending legal, arbitration, or governmental action or proceeding to which any Loan Party is a party or to which any of its respective Subsidiaries or its respective properties are subject which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, no such action or proceeding is threatened or contemplated.

(L)            Principal Place of Business; Records.  The principal place of business and chief executive office of the Borrower and the place where the records required by Subsection 8(F) are kept is at the address of the Borrower shown in Section 15. 

(M)          Employee Benefit Plans.  Each Benefit Plan is maintained and operated in compliance in all material respects with its terms and applicable Law, and each of the Loan Parties and each of the Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties is in compliance in all material respects with the terms of each Benefit Plan and applicable Law, the failure to comply with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

“Benefit Plan” means any plan, agreement, policy or other arrangement providing employee or fringe benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee, leased employee or independent contractor with respect to which any of the Loan Parties, any Subsidiary of the Loan Parties or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder has or could have any liability.

(N)           Taxes.   Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party has filed or caused to be filed prior to delinquency all federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed, and has paid and shall continue to pay when due all taxes as shown on such returns, and has paid and shall continue to pay when due all other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable, except  where the payment of such tax, assessment, government charge or levy is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in compliance with GAAP have been set aside on such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s books therefor.

(O)           Investment Company Act.  No Loan Party and no Subsidiary of any Loan Party is an “investment company” as that term is defined in, or is otherwise subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 

(P)            Use of Proceeds.  The funds to be borrowed under this Agreement and each Supplement will be used only as contemplated thereby.  No part of such funds will be used to purchase any “margin securities” or otherwise in violation of the regulations of the Federal Reserve System.

(Q)           Subsidiaries; Investments.  Each of the Loan Parties and each of the Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties has no Subsidiaries other than as set forth on Schedule 7(Q)  and Annex A to the Pledge and Security Agreement and no Investments (as hereinafter defined in Subsection 9(F)) other than as permitted in Subsection 9(F).  Each of the Loan Parties and each of the Subsidiaries of any Loan Party is the registered and beneficial owner of the specified percentage of the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of each of its Subsidiaries as set forth on Schedule 7(Q)  and Annex A to the Pledge and Security Agreement, which stock and other equity interests are owned free and clear of all liens (other than liens and security interests permitted by Subsection 9(B)), warrants, options, rights to purchase, rights of first refusal and other interests of any Person other than CoBank.  The stock or other equity interests of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable.

(R)           Licenses; Permits; Etc.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party is the valid holder of all Licenses which are material to the conduct of its business or which may be required by Law, including all Telecommunications Licenses (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 7(R)), and all such Licenses are in full force and effect.

“Telecommunications Licenses” means any cable television franchise or any landline telephone, or cellular telephone, microwave, personal communications or other telecommunications or similar license, authorization, registration, certificate, waiver, certificate of compliance, franchise, approval, material filing, exemption, order, or permit now or hereafter granted or issued by the FCC or any applicable PUC or other Governmental Authority.

(S)             Indebtedness, Etc.  No Loan Party and no Subsidiary of any Loan Party has incurred, assumed or allowed to exist, directly or indirectly, any indebtedness or liabilities except as permitted pursuant to Subsection 9(A) or any guaranty, surety or other contingent obligation except as permitted pursuant to Subsection 9(C). 

(T)            Title to Properties.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party has such title or leasehold interest in and to the real property owned or leased by it as is necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business and valid and legal title or leasehold interest in and to all of its personal property, including those reflected on the financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Subsection 8(H), except those which have been disposed of by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary subsequent to the date of such delivered financial statements which dispositions have been in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder.

(U)           Material Contracts.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party has performed all of its material obligations under all Material Contracts and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, each other party thereto is in compliance with each such Material Contract (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 7(U)).  Each such Material Contract is in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof.

“Material Contract”  means (a) any contract or any other agreement, written or oral, of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party involving monetary liability of or to any such Person in an amount in excess of $250,000 per annum, (b) any IRU or any other contract or agreement, written or oral, of any of the Loan Parties or any of the Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties involving fiber or equipment related thereto,  and (c) any other contract, grant, easement or other agreement, written or oral, of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party the failure to comply with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that any contract or agreement which is terminable by a party other than any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party without cause upon notice of 90 days or less shall not be considered a Material Contract.

(V)           Intellectual Property.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party owns, or possesses through valid licensing arrangements, the right to use all patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, technology know-how and processes used in or necessary for the conduct of its business as currently or anticipated to be conducted (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”) without infringing upon any validly asserted rights of others.  No event has occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such rights.  No Loan Party and no Subsidiary of any Loan Party has been threatened with any litigation regarding Intellectual Property Rights that would present a material impediment to the business of any such Person.

(W)         Liens.   The property of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party is subject to no lien, security interest or other encumbrance except as permitted pursuant to Subsection 9(B). 

(X)           Solvency.   Each of the Loan Parties, consolidated with its respective Subsidiaries:  (i) owns and will own assets the present fair saleable value of which are (a) greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of such Loan Party and its respective Subsidiaries, and (b) greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of such Loan Party’s and its respective Subsidiaries’ then existing debts and liabilities as they become absolute and matured considering all financing alternatives and potential asset sales reasonably available to such Loan Party and its respective Subsidiaries; (ii) has capital that is not unreasonably small in relation to its respective business as presently conducted or after giving effect to any contemplated transaction; and (iii) does not intend to incur and does not believe that it will incur debts and liabilities beyond its respective ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they become due.  None of the Loan Parties have incurred or will incur any obligation under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or made or will make any conveyance pursuant to or in connection therewith,  with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of any of the Loan Parties.

(Y)           Patriot Act.  Each of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (A) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (B) Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

(Z)            Qualified ECP Guarantor.  The Borrower is a Qualified ECP Guarantor (as defined in Section 28.)

Section 8.  Affirmative Covenants.  Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by CoBank, while this Agreement is in effect, the Borrower will, and will cause each other Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party to:

(A)           Existence, Licenses. Etc.  (i) Preserve and maintain in full force and effect its existence and good standing in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation (as applicable); (ii) qualify and remain qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions where such qualification is required by applicable Laws, except where failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) obtain and maintain all Licenses, which if not obtained and maintained could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(B)            Compliance with Laws and Agreements.  Comply in all material respects with (i) all Laws, the failure to comply with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) all agreements, indentures, mortgages, and other instruments to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party is a party or by which it or any of its respective property is bound, the failure to comply with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(C)           Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Without limiting the provisions of Subsection 8(B), comply in all material respects, and cause all Persons occupying or present on any properties owned or leased by it to comply in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws.

(D)           Insurance.  Maintain insurance with insurance companies or associations acceptable to CoBank in such amounts and covering such risks as are usually carried by companies engaged in the same business and similarly situated, and make such increases in the type or amount of coverage as CoBank may reasonably request.  The Loan Parties will, and will cause their respective Subsidiaries, to name CoBank, pursuant to endorsements and assignments in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to CoBank, (i) as a lender loss payee and mortgagee, if applicable, in the case of any casualty insurance, (ii) as an additional insured in the case of all liability insurance, and (iii) as an additional insured in the case of any flood insurance, in each case, with respect to any collateral for the Borrower’s obligations to CoBank.  Upon CoBank’s request, all insurance policies required hereunder shall include effective waivers by the insurer of subrogation.  Unless CoBank otherwise agrees, Borrower shall obtain for all insurance policies endorsements providing that each such insurance policy is non-cancelable and not subject to material change as to CoBank except upon 30 days’ (and 10 days’ for non-payment of premiums) prior written notice given by the insurer to CoBank.  Proceeds of such insurance policies shall be applied, to the extent applicable, as provided in the Loan Documents.  At CoBank's request, the Borrower agrees to deliver to CoBank such proof of compliance with this Subsection 8(D) as CoBank may require.

(E)            Property Maintenance.  Maintain and preserve all of its property and each and every part and parcel thereof that is necessary to or useful in the ordinary conduct of its business in good repair, working order, and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws, and make all alterations, replacements, and improvements thereto as may from time to time be necessary in order to ensure that its properties remain in good working order and condition and compliance.  The Borrower agrees that upon the occurrence and continuing existence of an Event of Default, at CoBank’s request, the Borrower will furnish to CoBank a report on the condition of any Loan Party’s and any Loan Party’s Subsidiary’s property prepared by a professional engineer reasonably satisfactory to CoBank.

(F)            Books and Records.  Keep adequate records and books of account in which complete and accurate entries will be made in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

(G)           Inspection.   Permit CoBank or its representatives, upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours or at such other times as the parties may agree, to examine any Loan Party’s properties, books, and records, and to discuss any Loan Party’s or any Loan Party’s Subsidiary’s affairs, finances, and accounts, with any Loan Party’s or any Loan Party’s Subsidiary’s officers, directors, employees, and independent certified public accountants; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and continuing existence of an Event of Default, CoBank or its representatives may conduct such visits and inspections and engage in such discussions at the expense of the Borrower, and as frequently as it may reasonably specify.

(H)           Reports and Notices.  Furnish, or cause to be furnished, to CoBank:   

            (1)   Annual Financial Statements.  As soon as available, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower occurring during the term hereof, annual, audited, consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and in a format that demonstrates any accounting or formatting change that may be required by the various jurisdictions in which the business of the Borrower, any Loan Party and any of their respective Subsidiaries is conducted (to the extent not inconsistent with GAAP).  Such financial statements shall: (i) be audited by nationally or regionally recognized, independent certified public accountants selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to CoBank; (ii) be accompanied by a report of such accountants containing an unqualified opinion thereon reasonably acceptable to CoBank; (iii) be prepared in reasonable detail, and in comparative form; and (iv) include a balance sheet, a statement of income, a statement of stockholders’, members’ or partners’ equity, as applicable, a statement of cash flows and all notes and schedules relating thereto.

            (2)   Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as available but in no event later than 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower occurring during the term hereof, unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except for the omission of footnotes and for the effect of normal year-end audit adjustments) and in a format that demonstrates any accounting or formatting change that may be required by various jurisdictions in which the business of the of the Borrower, any Loan Party and any of their respective Subsidiaries is conducted (to the extent not inconsistent with GAAP).  Each of such financial statements shall (i) be prepared in reasonable detail and in comparative form, including a comparison of actual performance to the budget for such quarter and year-to-date, delivered to CoBank under Subsection 8(H)(3), and (ii) include a balance sheet, a statement of income for such quarter and for the period year-to-date, and such other quarterly statements as CoBank may specifically request which quarterly statements shall include any and all supplements thereto.

            (3)   Budget.   As soon as reasonably available, but in no event later than 60 days after the first day of each fiscal year of the Borrower occurring during the term hereof, Board and management approved operating and capital assets budgets and long-term financial forecasts of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries for such fiscal year.

            (4)   Notice of Default.  Promptly after becoming aware thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any Potential Default or Event of Default under any of the Loan Documents; and (ii) the occurrence of any breach, default, event of default, or other event or occurrence of any other condition which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, could become a breach, default, or event of default under any agreement, indenture, mortgage, or other instrument (other than the Loan Documents) to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound or affected; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the right and power of CoBank to exercise any and all of the remedies specified herein.

            (5)   Notice of Non-Environmental Litigation.Promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of the commencement of all actions, suits, or proceedings before any Governmental Authority affecting any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party which, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (6)   Notice of Environmental Matters. Without limiting the provisions of Subsection 8(H)(5), promptly after receipt thereof, notice of the receipt of all pleadings, inquiries, proceedings, demands, claims, liens, actions, orders, complaints, indictments, or any other communication alleging a condition that may require any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to undertake or to contribute to a cleanup or other response under any Environmental Laws, or which seeks penalties, damages, injunctive relief, criminal sanctions or other relief related to alleged violations of such Environmental Laws, or which claims personal injury or property damage to any Person as a result of environmental factors or conditions.

            (7)   Regulatory and Other Notices.Promptly after filing, receipt or becoming aware thereof, copies of any filings or communications sent to and notices or other communications received by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party from any Governmental Authority relating to any material noncompliance by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary with any Laws or with respect to any matter or proceeding the effect of which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(8)   Material Adverse Change.  Promptly after becoming aware thereof, notice of any matter which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(9)   Compliance Certificates.  Concurrently with each statement required to be furnished pursuant to Subsection 8(H)(1) or Subsection 8(H)(2), a compliance certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.  

(10)    Management Letters.  Promptly after receipt thereof, a copy of any management letters submitted to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party by its independent certified public accountants.

           (11)     Benefit Plan Events.  No later than thirty (30) days after it becomes or should have become aware of (a) the occurrence of any Reportable Event (as defined in Section 4043 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) with respect to any Benefit Plan or (b) the existence of conditions that result in or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect with respect to any Benefit Plan, a statement describing such event and the actions it proposes to take in response to such event.

          (12)           Periodic Environmental Reports.  At CoBank’s request upon receipt of any information indicating a breach of any warranties, representations or covenants in this Agreement pertaining to compliance with Environmental Laws, the Borrower shall, at its sole expense, retain the services of a licensed and qualified environmental consultant to prepare a report which shall determine (a) the extent to which any Hazardous Substance is existing upon, in, under, over, at, from or about any property owned or leased by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party;  and (b) the Loan Parties’ and their Subsidiaries’ compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and, as necessary, recommendations and procedures for the containment, removal or cleanup of any Hazardous Substance in a manner consistent with all applicable Environmental Laws.  The Borrower shall, at its sole expense, promptly comply with all requirements and procedures contained in the environmental consultant’s report and as required by applicable Environmental Laws and shall promptly present evidence satisfactory to CoBank of such compliance. The Borrower shall promptly provide copies of any and all environmental reports, data, sampling results, analysis and other documentation prepared by any environmental consultant and any correspondence with Governmental Authorities regarding the environmental condition ofany property owned or leased by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.  If, except as allowed by and in compliance with Environmental Laws, any release of Hazardous Substances should exist or occur at any property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party or if any Loan Party and/or its Subsidiaries should be ordered or directed by any Governmental Authority or any other Person to undertake Remediation (as defined herein) of any Hazardous Substances or take any other action to satisfy requirements of Environmental Law, the Loan Parties and/or its Subsidiaries, at no cost or expense to the CoBank, shall comply with all Environmental Laws, conduct and complete all required sampling, testing and monitoring and undertake such Remediation promptly upon discovery or notice thereof and thereafter diligently and continuously pursue such Remediation, completing each element, phase or stage of it within each applicable period established by any person, agency or bureau empowered to enforce any applicable Environmental Law (or if no such period or schedule is established, in accordance with a reasonable schedule consistent with prudent business practice taking into account potentially adverse effects to the environment and individuals’ health and safety).  If any Loan Party and/or its Subsidiaries undertakes any Remediation, or causes it to be undertaken, Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries shall conduct and complete such Remediation (i) in compliance with requirements of Environmental Laws, (ii) in accordance with the directives and orders of all appropriate Governmental Authorities and (iii) in accordance with sound business practice taking into account potentially adverse effects to the environment and individuals’ health and safety.  The Borrower shall notify CoBank within 10 days after receipt of any correspondence from a Governmental Authority indicating no further action is warranted or other evidence of completion of Remediation pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws regarding any property owned or leased by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and, if requested by CoBank, shall execute, deliver and record or cause to be executed, delivered and recorded, a mortgage in form and substance reasonably acceptable to CoBank, which grants to CoBank a first priority perfected security interest in such real property.

                                  “Remediation” means any action necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of Environmental Law including (i) the removal and disposal or containment (if containment is practical under the circumstances and is permissible within Requirements of Environmental Laws), investigation, or monitoring of any and all Hazardous Substances; (ii) the taking of reasonably necessary precautions to protect against the release or threatened release of Hazardous Substances at, on, in, about, under, within or near the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or soil vapor at any property, site or location; (iii) any action necessary to mitigate the usurpation of wetlands, pinelands or other protected land or reclaim the same or to protect and preserve wildlife species; (iv) any action necessary to meet the requirements of any Permit required under Environmental Law, or (v) any other action reasonably required to satisfy requirements of Environmental Law imposed upon Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective property, and/or any operation conducted thereon or in connection therewith.

           (13)           Organizational Documents.  Within thirty (30) days of any such amendment, any material amendment to the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles or certificate of organization, articles or certificate of formation (as applicable), bylaws, partnership agreement or operating agreement (as applicable) of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party.

          (14)           Material Contracts.  Any material amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification to any of the Material Contracts, or any notice of default or of termination, cancellation or revocation (in each case, prior to any scheduled date of termination) delivered thereunder.

          (15)           Erroneous Financial Information.  Immediately in the event that any Loan Party or its accountants conclude or advise that any previously issued financial statement, audit report or interim review should no longer be relied upon or that disclosure should be made or action should be taken to prevent future reliance.

(16)     Other Information.Such other information regarding the condition, financial or otherwise, or operations of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder as CoBank may, from time to time, request.

(I)              Financial Covenants. All of the following financial covenants shall, except as expressly provided otherwise, be determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP consistently applied:

(1)   Total Leverage Ratio.     The Borrower shall maintain at all times, measured and reported as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (each, a “Quarterly Date”), and maintained through the next Quarterly Date, a Total Leverage Ratio (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 8(I)(1)) of not more than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

“Total Leverage Ratio” means the ratio derived by dividing (i) Indebtedness (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 8(I)(1)) on the date of the calculation by (ii) EBITDA (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 8(I)(1)) for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarters.

“Indebtedness” means the sum of (i) obligations for borrowed money, including the principal amount of any outstanding Loans, (ii) obligations representing the deferred purchase price of property or services other than accounts payable arising in connection with the purchase of goods or services on terms customary in the tradeand not outstanding more than 90 days unless contested in good faith, (iii) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by liens or a pledge of or an encumbrance on the proceeds or production from property now or hereafter owned or acquired, (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, acceptances or other instruments,(v) net termination obligations under Interest Rate Agreements not hedging the Borrower’s interest rate under the Loans, calculated as of any date of calculation as if such agreements or arrangements were terminated as of such date, (vi) that portion of any obligation with respect to leases of real or personal property which is required to be capitalized under GAAP or which is treated as operating leases under regulations applicable to them but which otherwise would be required to be capitalized under GAAP (each a “Capital Lease”), (vii) the net present value of future extraordinary executive compensation, and (viii) obligations with respect to principal under guarantees and other contingent obligations with respect to the payment of money, whether or not due and payable.

“EBITDA” means the sum of (i) consolidated net income, or deficit, as the case may be (after taxes and after eliminating any gain or loss on sale of assets or other extraordinary gain or loss), plus (ii) the following items, to the extent deducted in determining consolidated net income: (a) total interest expense (including non-cash interest), (b) provision of income taxes or benefits, as the case may be, (c) depreciation and amortization expenses, (d) unrealized losses on financial derivatives recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 133, (e) extraordinary executive compensation, minus (iii) the following items, to the extent included in determining consolidated net income: (x) unrealized gains on financial derivatives recognized in accordance with SFAS No. 133, (y) interest income, dividends and patronage income, and (z) income from unconsolidated subsidiaries, partnerships and joint ventures.  EBITDA shall be measured for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarters, adjusted to give effect to any acquisition, sale or other disposition, directly or through a subsidiary, of any operation or business (or any portion thereof) during the period of calculation as if such acquisition, sale or other disposition occurred on the first day of such period of calculation.

                      (2)   Equity to Asset Ratio.     The Borrower shall maintain at all times, measured and reported as of each Quarterly Date, and maintained through the next Quarterly Date, an Equity to Assets Ratio (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 8(I)(2)) of not less than 40%.

“Equity to Asset Ratio” means the ratio derived by dividing  (i) the result of (a) total assets minus  (b) total liabilities by  (ii) total assets, each as of the date of calculation.

                    (3)   Debt Service Coverage Ratio.  The Borrower shall maintain at all times, measured and reported as of each Quarterly Date, and maintained through the next Quarterly Date, a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 8(I)(3)) of greater than 1.50:1.00.

“Debt Service Coverage Ratio” means the ratio derived by dividing (i) the result of (a) EBITDA plus (b) cash interest, dividends and patronage income minus (c) cash income taxes and dividends and distributions for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarters by (ii) Debt Service.

“Debt Service” means the sum of: (a) all principal payments scheduled (as opposed to mandatory repayments pursuant to Section 4 or any voluntary prepayments) to be made on Indebtedness (or scheduled reductions in commitments on lines of credit to the extent such reductions would cause the repayment of principal amounts then outstanding under such lines) plus (b) cash interest expense, each for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarters.

(4)   Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Beginning December 31, 2017, the Borrower shall maintain at all times, measured and reported as of each Quarterly Date, and maintained through the next Quarterly Date, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 8(I)(4)) of not less than 1.00:1.00.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”  means the ratio derived by dividing  (i) EBITDA by  (ii) Fixed Charges (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 8(I)(4)), each for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarters.

“Fixed Charges” means the sum of (a) scheduled principal payments made on Indebtedness (or reductions in commitments on lines of credit to the extent such reductions caused the repayment of principal amounts then outstanding under such lines), (b) cash interest expense, (c) cash income taxes, (d) dividends paid, and (e) capital expenditures, each for the then most recently completed four fiscal quarters.

(5)   Maximum Capital Expenditures.  Capital expenditures of the Loan Parties, measured and reported on a consolidated basis, shall not exceed $18,000,000 in the aggregate during the period from the Amendment Date through December 31, 2016.

(J)             Capital.   Acquire equity in CoBank in such amounts and at such times as CoBank may from time to time require in accordance with its Bylaws and Capital Plan, except that the maximum amount of equity that the Borrower may be required to purchase in connection with a Loan may not exceed the maximum amount permitted by the Bylaws at the time the Note and Supplement relating to such Loan is entered into or such Loan is renewed or refinanced by CoBank. The rights and obligations of the parties with respect to such equity and any patronage or other distributions made by CoBank shall be governed by CoBank’s Bylaws and Capital Plan.

(K)           Taxes.   File or caused to be filed prior to delinquency all federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be filed, and pay when due all taxes as shown on such returns, any pay when due all other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable, except where the payment of such tax, assessment, government charge or levy is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in compliance with GAAP have been set aside on such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s books therefor.

(L)            Use of Proceeds.  The funds to be borrowed under this Agreement and each Supplement will be used only as contemplated hereby and thereby.  No part of such funds will be used to purchase any “margin securities” or otherwise in violation of the regulations of the Federal Reserve System.

Section 9.  Negative Covenants.  Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by CoBank, while this Agreement is in effect the Borrower will not, will cause the other Loan Parties not to, and will cause any Subsidiary of any Loan Party not to:

(A)           Borrowings.  Create, incur, assume, or allow to exist, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness except for (i) Indebtedness to CoBank, (ii) Indebtedness under purchase money security agreements and Capital Leases and other unsecured Indebtedness, the aggregate principal amount of which shall not exceed $100,000 at any one time, (iii) Indebtedness among the Loan Parties, (iv) Indebtedness in respect of reimbursement obligations to officers, directors and employees of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party arising in the ordinary course of business, and (v) Indebtedness of the Loan Parties existing as of the date hereof and described on part (i) of Schedule 7(S). 

(B)            Liens.   Create, incur, assume, or allow to exist any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien (including the lien of an attachment, judgment, or execution), security interest, or other encumbrance of any kind upon any of its property, real or personal.  The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) liens in favor of CoBank; (ii) liens for taxes, assessments, or governmental charges that are not past due, unless the same are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and then only if and to the extent reserves required by GAAP have been set aside therefor; (iii) liens, pledges, and deposits under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security and similar Laws; (iv) liens, deposits, and pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), and like obligations arising in the ordinary course of its business; (v) liens imposed by Law in favor of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, lessors and like Persons that secure obligations that are not past due, unless the same are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and then only if and to the extent reserves required by GAAP have been set aside therefor; (vi) liens constituting encumbrances in the nature of zoning restrictions, easements and rights or restrictions of record on the use of real property of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party that, in the reasonable judgment of CoBank, do not materially detract from the value of such real property or impair the use thereof in such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s business; (vii) judgment liens, provided  enforcement thereof is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (viii) purchase money security interests and Capital Leases securing Indebtedness permitted under

Subsection 9(A)(ii) in an amount not to exceed the cost incurred to acquire or lease such property, provided further that such security interests and leases do not encumber any property other than the items purchased with the proceeds thereof or leased thereby; (ix) liens securing guarantees in effect on or prior to the date hereof and described on part (ii) of Schedule 7(S); (x) liens in favor of Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (“RTFC”), provided such liens only encumber Hutchinson’s patronage capital in RTFC; and (xi) customary offset rights arising in the ordinary course of business of brokers and depository banks arising under applicable Law or the terms of a Loan Party’s deposit agreement with such entity. 

(C)           Contingent Liabilities.  Assume, guarantee, become liable as a surety, endorse, contingently agree to purchase, or otherwise be or become liable, directly or indirectly (including, but not limited to, by means of a maintenance agreement, an asset or stock purchase agreement, or any other agreement designed to ensure any creditor against loss), for or on account of the obligation of any Person or Persons, except (i) for indebtedness permitted by this Agreement, (ii) pursuant to those Continuing Guaranties required by Section 5, (iii) those certain guarantees existing as of the date hereof and described on part (iii) of Schedule 7(S), (iv) for other Indebtedness the aggregate principal amount of which shall not exceed $200,000 at any one time, and (v) by the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of a Loan Party's or a Loan Party’s Subsidiary’s business.

(D)           Fundamental Changes.  (i) Unless, and only to the extent required by Law, amend, modify or waive any provision of its articles or certificate of incorporation, articles or certificate of organization, articles or certificate of formation (as applicable), bylaws, partnership agreement or operating agreement (as applicable), (ii)  merge or consolidate with any other Person or acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, provided  that, upon 30 days prior written notice to CoBank of its intention to do so and delivery to CoBank of any documents, instruments, financial statements and opinions that CoBank may reasonably request, any Loan Party may (x) merge or consolidate with or dissolve into the Borrower if the Borrower is the surviving entity, or (y) merge or consolidate with or dissolve into any Loan Party other than the Borrower, (iii) form, create or acquire any Subsidiary, or (iv) commence operations under any other name (without providing CoBank 30 days’ prior written notice thereof), organization, or Person, including any joint venture.

(E)            Transfer of Assets.  Sell (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) transfer, lease as lessor (including pursuant to a lease and leaseback transaction), enter into any contract for the sale, transfer or lease of, or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets, except (i) bona fide sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (ii) dispositions of obsolete equipment not used or useful in the business of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (iii) sales of Investments described in Subsection 9(F)(ii) through (vii) and (ix), and which are marketable, for fair value, (iv) dispositions among Loan Parties, (v) the personal property identified in that certain Mutual Termination Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, by and among Walter S. Clay, Borrower, and Hutchinson Telephone Company, (vi) distributions permitted by Subsection 9(I) and (vi) other sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of any of its assets not in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate in each fiscal year.

(F)            Loans and Investments. Own or make any loan or advance to, own or invest in, purchase or make any commitment to purchase any stock, bonds, notes, or other securities of any Person (each, whether made directly or indirectly, an “Investment”) other than (i) stock or other securities of, or guarantee, assume, or otherwise become obligated or liable with respect to the obligations of, or investments in CoBank or CoBank investment services or programs, (ii)  marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof, (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date issued and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of at least A- from Standard & Poor’s Rating Service or at least A3 from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within 1 year from the date of issuance thereof issued by, or overnight reverse repurchase agreements from, any commercial bank organized under the Laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000; (v) time deposits maturing no more than 30 days from the date of creation thereof with commercial banks having membership in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in amounts at any one such institution not exceeding the lesser of $100,000 or the maximum amount of insurance applicable to the aggregate amount of Borrower’s deposits at such institution; (vi) Investments existing as of the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 9(F) or Annex A to the Pledge and Security Agreement; (vii) additional units in EN-TEL Communications, LLC (“Entel”) with a purchase price not to exceed $2,100,000, (viii) Investments among Loan Parties; and (ix) other Investments not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate (based upon original purchase price or principal amount).

(G)           Change in Business. Engage in any business activity or operation different from or unrelated to such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s present business activities and operations.

(H)           Disposition of Licenses.  Sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or attempt to dispose of, in any way, any License which may be required by Law or which is material to the conduct of its business, the disposition of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(I)              Dividends and Other Distributions. Directly or indirectly declare, order, pay, make or set apart any sum for any dividend or any other distribution of assets or retire, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for value any capital stock or other ownership interest except for any dividend or any other distribution to any Loan Party and for any retirement, redemption, purchase or other acquisition of the ownership interest of any Loan Party by any Loan Party; provided, however, if no Potential Default or Event of Default then exists or will result in the succeeding 12 months after such distribution or stock repurchase, based in each case upon the budgets delivered to CoBank pursuant to Subsection 8(H)(3) of this Agreement and reasonably acceptable to CoBank, the Borrower may declare or pay lawful distributions or purchase or acquire its capital stock (a) in an aggregate amount of up to $2,100,000 in any fiscal year if the Borrower’s Total Leverage Ratio for the fiscal quarter in which the dividend or distribution is made and each remaining succeeding fiscal quarter of the fiscal year in which the dividend or distribution is made on a pro forma basis equals or is greater than 2.50:1.00 and (b) in any amount in any fiscal year if the Borrower’s Total Leverage Ratio for the fiscal quarter in which the dividend or distribution is made and each remaining succeeding fiscal quarter of the fiscal year in which the dividend or distribution is made on a pro forma basis is less than 2.50:1.00.

(J)             Transactions with Affiliates.  Other than as set forth on Schedule 9(J), directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (as hereinafter defined in this Subsection 9(J)) or with any director, officer or employee of any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except (i) transactions among the Loan Parties, (ii) transactions in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the business of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary of any Loan Party and upon fair and reasonable terms which are fully disclosed to CoBank and are no less favorable to such Loan Party or such Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, (iii) deferred extraordinary executive compensation as set forth on Schedule 9(J) and (iv) payment of compensation to directors, officers and employees in the ordinary course of business for services actually rendered in their capacities as directors, officers and employees, provided  such compensation is reasonable and comparable with compensation paid by companies of like nature and similarly situated.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the election of CoBank, no payments may be made with respect to any items set forth in clauses (iii)through (iv) of the preceding sentence upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Potential Default or an Event of Default. 

“Affiliate” means any Person:  (i) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party; (ii) directly or indirectly owning or holding 5% or more of any equity interest in any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party; or (iii) 5% or more of whose voting stock or other equity interest is directly or indirectly owned or held by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, provided  that the beneficial, and not the legal, holder of title to any equity interest in any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party shall be deemed an Affiliate.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

(K)           Management Fees.  Directly or indirectly pay any management, consulting or other similar fees to any Person, except (i) any management, consulting or other similar fees paid to any Loan Party and (ii) legal or consulting fees paid to Persons that are not Affiliates of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party for services actually rendered and in amounts typically paid by entities engaged in a Loan Party’s or a Subsidiary’s business.

(L)            Negative Pledge to Other Persons.  Grant a negative pledge upon any of its property, real or personal, in favor of any other creditor of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, except in connection with Indebtedness under purchase money security agreements and Capital Leases permitted under Subsection 9(A)(ii), provided  that such negative pledge only relates to items purchased with the proceeds thereof or leased thereby.

(M)          Deposit Accounts. Open, acquire, or  own  any  Deposit  Account (as such term is defined in the Loan Documents) or securities account without giving 10 days prior written notice of such account to CoBank, other than those accounts described on the schedules to the Loan Documents.

(N)           Accounting.  Make any changes to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party’s method of accounting except as required by GAAP or by new accounting pronouncements, or calculation of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary of such Loan Party’s fiscal year.

Section 10.  Events of Default.  Each of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default” under this Agreement.

(A)           Payment Default.  The Borrower should fail to make any payment to CoBank when due hereunder, under any Note, any Supplement, any Interest Rate Agreement provided by CoBank or any other Loan Document to which it is a party, or should fail to make any investment in CoBank required to be made hereunder when due. 

(B)            Representations and Warranties.  Any opinion, certificate or like document furnished to CoBank by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or any representation or warranty made herein, in any Note, any Supplement or in any other Loan Document shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made.

(C)           Certain Affirmative Covenants.  Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party should fail to perform or comply with any covenant set forth in Section 8 (other than Subsection 8(D), Subsection 8(H)), Subsection 8(I) and Subsection 8(L)) and such failure continues for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been delivered by CoBank to the Borrower.

(D)           Other Covenants and Agreements.  Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party should fail to perform or comply with Subsection 8(D), Subsection 8(H), Subsection 8(I), Subsection 8(L) or any other covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document or should use the proceeds of any Loan for an unauthorized purpose.

(E)            Cross-Default.  (i) The occurrence of a breach, default or event of default under any other Loan Document, (ii) the failure, after any applicable grace period, on the part of any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any other Person that is a party to any other Loan Document to observe, keep or perform any covenant or agreement contained in such other Loan Document, or (iii) the failure, after any applicable grace period, on the part of any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any other Person that is a party to any other Loan Document to observe, keep or perform any covenant or agreement contained in any agreement (other than the Loan Documents) between such Person and CoBank or any affiliate of CoBank (including Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation), including any guaranty, loan agreement, lease, security agreement, subordination agreement, mortgage, deed to secure debt, or deed of trust.

(F)            Other Indebtedness.  Any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder should fail to pay when due any Indebtedness, or any other event occurs which, under any agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, has the effect of accelerating or permitting the acceleration of such Indebtedness, whether or not such Indebtedness is actually accelerated or the right to accelerate is conditioned on the giving of notice, the passage of time, or otherwise, or such Person commences the exercise of any remedies against such Loan Party, such Subsidiary of any Loan party or other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder or its respective properties, and the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness exceeds $250,000.

(G)           Judgments.  A judgment, decree, or order for the payment of money in the aggregate amount of all such judgments, decrees or orders in excess of $250,000 should be rendered against any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder and either: (i) enforcement proceedings should have been commenced; (ii) a lien prohibited under Subsection 9(B) shall have been obtained; or (iii) such judgment, decree, or order should continue unsatisfied and in effect for a period of 30 consecutive days without being vacated, discharged, satisfied, or stayed pending appeal.

(H)           Insolvency, Etc.  Any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder should:  (i) become insolvent or should generally not, or should be unable to, or should admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they come due; or (ii) suspend its business operations or a material part thereof or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iii) apply for, consent to, or acquiesce in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or other custodian for it or any of its property or, in the absence of such application, consent, or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, or other custodian is so appointed; or (iv) commence or have commenced against it any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, dissolution, or liquidation Law of any jurisdiction, which, in the case of a proceeding commenced against any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder, is not dismissed within 45 days.

(I)              Material Adverse Change.  Any event, change or condition not referred to elsewhere in this Section 10 should occur which results in a Material Adverse Effect.

(J)             Guarantees, Etc.  Any guarantee, suretyship, subordination agreement, maintenance agreement, pledge agreement or other agreement furnished in connection with the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall, at any time, cease to be in full force and effect, or shall be revoked or declared null and void, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by the guarantor, pledgor, surety or other maker thereof (individually or collectively, the “Surety”), or the Surety shall deny any further liability or obligation thereunder, or shall fail to perform its obligations thereunder, or any representation or warranty set forth therein shall be breached, or the Surety shall breach or be in default under the terms of any other agreement with CoBank (including any loan agreement or security agreement), or a default set forth in Subsection 10(F) through Subsection 10(I) shall occur with respect to the Surety or the Surety shall die, be determined to be legally incompetent, or merger, consolidate or dissolve into another Person (except as expressly permitted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement).

(K)           Security.  Any pledge agreement, security agreement or other agreement executed by any of the Loan Parties, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder, or any other Surety intended to create a valid and perfected lien, security interest or security title in property as described herein or in a Supplement or any other Loan Document shall for any reason (other than upon payment in full of the obligations secured thereby) fail (i) to create a valid and perfected lien, security interest, or security title (subject only to such exceptions as are therein permitted) as contemplated herein or by the Supplement or any other Loan Document, (ii) to secure thereunder the obligations purported to be secured thereby, or (iii) to have the intended priority as contemplated by the Loan Documents.

(L)            ERISA Pension Plans.  (i) Any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder, or any other Surety fails to make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Benefit Plan or applicable Law, are required to be paid, and such failure results in or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) an accumulated funding deficiency occurs or exists whether or not waived, with respect to any Benefit Plan; or (iii) any Benefit Plan employee hereunder loses or could reasonably be expect to lose its status as a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code, and such loss results in or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(M)          Licenses and Permits. (i) The loss, suspension or revocation of, or failure to renew, any License now held or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder, if such loss, suspension, revocation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any regulatory or Governmental Authority replaces the management of any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder or assumes control over any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party, or any other guarantor of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.

(N)           Material Contracts.  Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party should breach or be in default under a Material Contract in any material respect.

(O)           Change in Control or Management.  (a) During any period of up to 24 consecutive months, commencing after the date of this Agreement, a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower shall cease to consist of either Continuing Directors or individuals whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group; (b) the occurrence of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower; (c) the occurrence of any consolidation or merger of the Borrower in which the Borrower is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which common shares of the Borrower will be converted into cash, securities or other property, or (d) other than pursuant to a transaction permitted by this Agreement, the Borrower shall cease to control, hold or own, directly or indirectly, the voting power or beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of all Voting Interests of any of the other Loan Parties (or other securities convertible into such Voting Interests).  “Continuing Directors” means the directors of the Borrower on the Amendment Date and each other director if, in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of directors of the Borrower is recommended by at least a majority of the then Continuing Directors.  “Voting Interests” means shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent equity interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Section 11.  Remedies.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or any Potential Default, CoBank shall have no obligation to continue to extend credit to the Borrower under any Note or any Supplement or any other Loan Document and may discontinue doing so at any time without prior notice.  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Subsection 10(H), the entire unpaid principal balance of the Loans, all accrued interest thereon, and all other amounts payable under this Agreement, all Notes, all Supplements and all other Loan Documents and all other agreements between CoBank and the Borrower shall become immediately due and payable without protest, presentment, demand or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.  In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, CoBank may:

(A)           Termination and Acceleration.  Terminate any commitment and declare the entire unpaid principal balance of the Loans, all accrued interest thereon, and all other amounts payable under this Agreement, all Notes and Supplements, and the other Loan Documents to be immediately due and payable.  Upon such a declaration, the unpaid principal balance of the Loans and all such other amounts shall become immediately due and payable, without protest, presentment, demand, or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

(B)            Enforcement.   Proceed to protect, exercise, and enforce such rights and remedies as may be provided by this Agreement, any other Loan Document or under applicable Laws.  Each and every one of such rights and remedies shall be cumulative and may be exercised from time to time, and no failure on the part of CoBank to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall preclude any other or future exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other right.  Without limiting the foregoing, CoBank may hold and/or set off and apply against the Borrower’s obligations to CoBank the proceeds of any equity in CoBank, any cash collateral held by CoBank, or any balances held by CoBank for the Borrower’s account (whether or not such balances are then due).

(C)           Application of Funds.  Apply all payments received by it to the Borrower’s obligations to CoBank in such order and manner as CoBank may elect in its sole discretion; provided  that any payments received from any guarantor or other Surety or from any disposition of any collateral provided by such guarantor or such other Surety shall only be applied against obligations guaranteed or secured by such guarantor or other Surety.  For the avoidance of doubt, no payment received from any guarantor or other Surety or from any disposition of any collateral provided by such guarantor or such other Surety shall be applied to any obligations that comprise Excluded Swap Obligations of such guarantor or such other Surety.

(D)           Default Rate of Interest.  In addition to the rights and remedies set forth above and notwithstanding any Note or Supplement, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at CoBank’s option in each instance, the unpaid balances of the Loans shall bear interest from the date of the Event of Default or such other later date as CoBank shall elect at 2.00% per annum in excess of the rate(s) of interest that would otherwise be in effect on the Loans under the terms of the Notes and Supplements (provided  that, if the Borrower fails to make any payment to CoBank when due (including any purchase of equity of CoBank when required), then at CoBank’s option in such instance, such obligation or payment shall bear interest from the date due to the date paid at the CoBank Base Rate plus the highest Applicable Margin (as defined in the Supplements evidencing the Loans), plus 2.00%).  All interest provided for herein shall be payable on demand and shall be calculated from the date any such payment was due to the date paid on the basis of a year consisting of 360 days.  “CoBank Base Rate”  shall mean the rate of interest established by CoBank from time to time as its CoBank Base Rate, which rate is intended by CoBank to be a reference rate and not its lowest rate.

Section 12.  Complete Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, the Notes, the Supplements and the other Loan Documents are intended by the parties to be a complete and final expression of their agreement.  No amendment, modification, or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any other party (other than CoBank) herefrom or therefrom, shall be effective unless approved by CoBank and contained in a writing signed by or on behalf of CoBank, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.  In the event this Agreement is amended or restated, each such amendment or restatement shall be applicable to all Notes and all Supplements hereto.  Each Note and each Supplement shall be deemed to incorporate all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if fully set forth therein. Without limiting the foregoing, any capitalized term utilized in any Note or any Supplement (or in any amendment to this Agreement or any Note or any Supplement) and not otherwise defined in the Note or the Supplement (or amendment) shall have the meaning set forth herein.

Section 13.  Other Types of Credit.  From time to time, CoBank may issue letters of credit or extend other types of credit to or for the account of the Borrower.  In the event the parties desire to do so under the terms of this Agreement, such extensions of credit may be set forth in a Note or a Supplement and this Agreement shall be applicable thereto.

Section 14.  Applicable Law.  Without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws and except to the extent governed by federal law, the Laws of the State of Colorado, without reference to choice of law doctrine, shall govern this Agreement, each Note and Supplement and any other Loan Document for which Colorado is specified as the applicable law, and all disputes and matters between the parties to this Agreement, including all disputes and matters whatsoever arising under, in connection with or incident to the lending and/or leasing or other business relationship between the parties, and the rights and obligations of the parties to this Agreement or any other Loan Document by and between the parties for which Colorado is specified as the applicable law.

Section 15.  Notices.  All notices hereunder or under any Note or any Supplement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given upon delivery if personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission (electronic confirmation received), or three days after mailing if sent by express, certified or registered mail, to the parties at the following addresses (or such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

Section 16.  Costs, Expenses and Taxes.  To the extent allowed by Law, the Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel retained or employed by CoBank) incurred by CoBank in connection with the origination, negotiation, documentation, administration, amendment, waiver, extension, collection, and enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including all costs and expenses incurred in obtaining, perfecting, maintaining, determining the priority of, releasing and inspecting any security for the Borrower’s or any other Loan Party’s obligations to CoBank, and any stamp, intangible, transfer, or like tax payable in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the recording hereof or thereof.

Section 17.  Indemnities.  The Borrower agrees to, and agrees to cause each Loan Party to, indemnify, pay, and hold CoBank,  its affiliates and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and attorneys of CoBank and its affiliates (the “Indemnitees”) harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses (including reasonable fees of attorneys and consultants), damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits and claims of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Indemnitee as a result of CoBank being a party to this Agreement or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or the occurrence of any violation of Environmental Laws in connection with any property owned or leased by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party; provided, that the Loan Parties shall have no obligation to an Indemnitee hereunder with respect to liabilities arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of that Indemnitee, in each such case as determined by a final non appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.  The foregoing indemnity is in no way conditioned upon fault on the part of any Loan Party or on any other event, occurrence, matter or circumstance, except as specifically set forth above in this section.