UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of
earliest event reported): January 19, 2005 (January 18,
2005)
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
Commission File Number: 1-11727
Delaware
73-1493906
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2838 Woodside Street, Dallas, Texas
75204
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code:
(214) 981-0700
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Definitive Material Agreement
On January 18, 2005, Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership), issued $750 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015 (the Notes). All of the Partnerships obligations under the Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsubordinated, unsecured basis by La Grange Acquisition, L.P. and all of the direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of La Grange Acquisition, L.P. (the Subsidiary Guarantors). The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), but the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors have agreed to use their respective reasonable efforts to file a registration statement pursuant to which they will offer to exchange the Notes for substantially similar notes (except that additional interest provisions and transfer restrictions pertaining to the Notes will be deleted). If the Partnership fails to cause the registration statement relating to the exchange offer to become effective within specified time periods, the Partnership will be required to pay additional interest on the Notes until a registration statement is declared effective.
The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of January 18, 2005, among the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the Trustee), as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture among the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (as amended and supplemented, the Indenture). The description of the material terms of the Indenture governing the Notes included in Item 2.03 of this Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Simultaneously with the issuance of the Notes, the Partnership entered into a credit agreement, dated as of January 18, 2005 (the Credit Agreement), with Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, LC issuer and swingline lender, Fleet National Bank, as syndication agent, BNP Paribas and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, as co-documentation agents, and the other lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for a new five year $700 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility. The obligations of the Partnership are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors. The description of the material terms of the Credit Agreement included in Item 2.03 of this Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
As disclosed above, on January 18, 2005, the Partnership completed its offering of $750 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes, which are unconditionally guaranteed on an unsubordinated, unsecured basis by the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Notes were sold in the United States only to accredited investors pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and subsequently resold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
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Interest on the Notes will accrue from January 18, 2005, and the Partnership will pay interest semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning August 1, 2005, until the Notes mature on February 1, 2015. The Partnership may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
The Indenture contains covenants that will limit the ability of the Partnership and its subsidiaries to, among other things, create liens, enter into sale-leaseback transactions, sell assets or merge with other entities. The Indenture does not restrict the Partnership or its subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness, paying distributions on its equity interests or purchasing or redeeming its equity interests, nor does it require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, the Indenture does not contain any provisions that would require the Partnership to repurchase or redeem or otherwise modify the terms of the Notes upon a change in control or other events involving the Partnership. Events of default under the Indenture include (i) a default in the payment of principal of the Notes or, following a period of 30 days, of interest, (ii) a breach of the Partnerships covenants or warranties under the Indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantors under their respective guarantees, (iii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation involving the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors and (iv) any payment default or acceleration of indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor if the total amount of such indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $25 million.
As disclosed above, on January 18, 2005, the Partnership entered into a new senior credit facility provided by a syndicate of banks and other financial institutions led by Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent. The Credit Agreement provides for a five year senior unsecured revolving credit facility in the maximum principal amount of $700 million, and the obligations of the Partnership under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at the prime rate plus 0.25% or, at the Partnerships option, at the Eurodollar base rate plus 1.50%, with the rate of interest to increase or decrease if the Partnerships leverage ratio decreases or increases from predetermined ratios. The full amount borrowed under the Credit Agreement will mature on January 18, 2010.
The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants that will limit the ability of the Partnership and its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness; create liens; merge with other entities or issue securities of its subsidiaries; sell assets or enter into sale-leaseback transactions; make restricted payments; make certain investments, loans or advances; change the nature of its business; enter into transactions with affiliates; restrict dividends or other payments from the Partnerships subsidiaries; enter into hedging arrangements or create open positions; or commingle its deposit and other accounts. The Credit Agreement also requires compliance with several financial covenants, including a maximum debt coverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio.
The Partnership used the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, together with borrowings under the Credit Agreement and cash on hand, to refinance all of the outstanding
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indebtedness under the existing secured credit facilities of La Grange Acquisition, L.P., the Partnerships midstream and transportation operating subsidiary, and to pay fees and expenses relating to the issuance of the Notes and the refinancing.
The descriptions set forth above in Item 1.01 and this Item 2.03 are qualified in their entirety by the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Credit Agreement and related documents, copies of which are filed as exhibits to this report and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 8.01 Other Events
On January 19, 2005, the Partnership issued a press release relating to the closing of the sale of the Notes and the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement. A copy of this press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit Number 4.1 Indenture, dated January 18, 2005, among the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee.
Exhibit Number 4.2 First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 18, 2005, among the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee.
Exhibit Number 4.3 Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 18, 2005, among the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the initial purchasers party thereto.
Exhibit Number 10.1 Credit Agreement, dated January 18, 2005, among the Partnership, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, LC issuer and swingline lender, Fleet National Bank, as syndication agent, BNP Paribas and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, as co-documentation agents, and the other lenders party thereto.
Exhibit Number 10.2 Guaranty, dated January 18, 2005, by the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent for the lenders.
Exhibit Number 99.1 Press Release dated January 19, 2005.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
By:
U.S. Propane L.P., General Partner
By:
U.S. Propane L.L.C., General Partner
Date: January 19, 2005
By:
/s/ Ray C. Davis
Ray C. Davis
Co-Chief Executive Officer and officer duly
authorized to sign on behalf of the registrant
By:
/s/ Kelcy L Warren
Kelcy L. Warren
Co-Chief Executive Officer and officer duly
authorized to sign on behalf of the registrant
Table of Contents
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description
Indenture, dated January 18, 2005, among the Partnership, the
Subsidiary Guarantors and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as trustee.
First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 18, 2005, among
the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and Wachovia Bank,
National Association, as trustee.
Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 18, 2005, among
the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the initial
purchasers party thereto.
Credit Agreement, dated January 18, 2005, among the
Partnership, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
administrative agent, LC issuer and swingline lender, Fleet
National Bank, as syndication agent, BNP Paribas and The
Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, as co-documentation agents, and
the other lenders party thereto.
Guaranty, dated January 18, 2005, by the Subsidiary
Guarantors in favor of Wachovia Bank, National Association,
as the administrative agent for the lenders.
Press Release dated January 19, 2005
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EXHIBIT 4.1
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.,
as Issuer,
and
THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
NAMED HEREIN,
as Subsidiary Guarantors,
and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
Indenture
Dated as of January 18, 2005
Debt Securities
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF JANUARY 18, 2005
Section of Trust Indenture Section(s) of Act of 1939 Indenture ----------- --------- Section 310 (a)(1)................................................................... 7.10 (a)(2)................................................................... 7.10 (a)(3)................................................................... Not Applicable (a)(4)................................................................... Not Applicable (a)(5)................................................................... 7.10 (b)...................................................................... 7.08, 7.10 Section 311 (a)...................................................................... 7.11 (b)...................................................................... 7.11 (c)...................................................................... Not Applicable Section 312 (a)...................................................................... 2.07 (b)...................................................................... 11.03 (c)...................................................................... 11.03 Section 313 (a)...................................................................... 7.06 (b)...................................................................... 7.06 (c)...................................................................... 7.06 (d)...................................................................... 7.06 Section 314 (a)...................................................................... 4.03, 4.04 (b)...................................................................... Not Applicable (c)(1)................................................................... 11.04 (c)(2)................................................................... 11.04 (c)(3)................................................................... Not Applicable (d)...................................................................... Not Appilcable (e)...................................................................... 11.05 Section 315 (a)...................................................................... 7.01(b) (b)...................................................................... 7.05 (c)...................................................................... 7.01(a) (d)...................................................................... 7.01(c) (d)(1)................................................................... 7.01(c)(1) (d)(2)................................................................... 7.01(c)(2) (d)(3)................................................................... 7.01(c)(3) (e)...................................................................... 6.11 Section 316 (a)(1)(A)................................................................ 6.05 (a)(1)(B)................................................................ 6.04 (a)(2)................................................................... Not Applicable (a) (last sentence)...................................................... 2.11 (b)...................................................................... 6.07 |
Section 316 (c) ..................................................................... 9.04 Section 317 (a)(1)................................................................... 6.08 (a)(2)................................................................... 6.09 (b)...................................................................... 2.06 Section 318 (a)...................................................................... 11.01 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page ---- ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE............................................ 1 SECTION 1.01 Definitions................................................................ 1 SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions.......................................................... 5 SECTION 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.......................... 6 SECTION 1.04 Rules of Construction...................................................... 6 SECTION 1.05 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Limited Partners and Shareholders.......................................... 7 ARTICLE II THE DEBT SECURITIES................................................................... 7 SECTION 2.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series....................................... 7 SECTION 2.02 Denominations.............................................................. 10 SECTION 2.03 Forms Generally............................................................ 10 SECTION 2.04 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating............................. 11 SECTION 2.05 Registrar and Paying Agent................................................. 12 SECTION 2.06 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust........................................ 13 SECTION 2.07 Holder Lists............................................................... 13 SECTION 2.08 Transfer and Exchange...................................................... 13 SECTION 2.09 Replacement Debt Securities................................................ 14 SECTION 2.10 Outstanding Debt Securities................................................ 15 SECTION 2.11 Original Issue Discount, Foreign-Currency Denominated and Treasury Debt Securities................................................... 15 SECTION 2.12 Temporary Debt Securities.................................................. 16 SECTION 2.13 Cancellation............................................................... 16 SECTION 2.14 Payments; Defaulted Interest............................................... 16 SECTION 2.15 Persons Deemed Owners...................................................... 17 SECTION 2.16 Computation of Interest.................................................... 17 SECTION 2.17 Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions................................... 17 ARTICLE III REDEMPTION............................................................................ 19 SECTION 3.01 Applicability of Article................................................... 19 SECTION 3.02 Notice to the Trustee...................................................... 19 SECTION 3.03 Selection of Debt Securities To Be Redeemed................................ 20 SECTION 3.04 Notice of Redemption....................................................... 20 |
SECTION 3.05 Effect of Notice of Redemption............................................. 21 SECTION 3.06 Deposit of Redemption Price................................................ 21 SECTION 3.07 Debt Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part.............................. 22 SECTION 3.08 Purchase of Debt Securities................................................ 22 SECTION 3.09 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds....................................... 22 SECTION 3.10 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Debt Securities................. 22 SECTION 3.11 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund............................. 23 ARTICLE IV COVENANTS............................................................................. 23 SECTION 4.01 Payment of Debt Securities................................................. 23 SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency............................................ 24 SECTION 4.03 SEC Reports; Financial Statements.......................................... 24 SECTION 4.04 Compliance Certificate..................................................... 25 SECTION 4.05 Existence.................................................................. 25 SECTION 4.06 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.................................... 25 SECTION 4.07 Additional Amounts......................................................... 26 ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS............................................................................ 26 SECTION 5.01 Limitations on Mergers and Consolidations.................................. 26 SECTION 5.02 Successor Person Substituted............................................... 27 ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES................................................................. 27 SECTION 6.01 Events of Default.......................................................... 27 SECTION 6.02 Acceleration............................................................... 29 SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies............................................................. 30 SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Defaults......................................................... 30 SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority........................................................ 30 SECTION 6.06 Limitations on Suits....................................................... 31 SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment....................................... 31 SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee................................................. 31 SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim........................................... 32 SECTION 6.10 Priorities................................................................. 32 SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs...................................................... 33 ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE............................................................................... 33 SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee.......................................................... 33 |
SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee.......................................................... 34 SECTION 7.03 May Hold Debt Securities................................................... 35 SECTION 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer....................................................... 35 SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults......................................................... 36 SECTION 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders.............................................. 36 SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity................................................. 36 SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee..................................................... 37 SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc........................................... 39 SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.............................................. 39 SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor.................................................. 39 ARTICLE VIII DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE.................................................... 40 SECTION 8.01 Applicability of Article................................................... 40 SECTION 8.02 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance........................ 40 SECTION 8.03 Conditions of Defeasance................................................... 41 SECTION 8.04 Application of Trust Money................................................. 42 SECTION 8.05 Repayment to Partnership................................................... 42 SECTION 8.06 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.................................. 42 SECTION 8.07 Reinstatement.............................................................. 43 ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES AND AMENDMENTS................................................ 43 SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders................................................. 43 SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders.................................................... 44 SECTION 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act........................................ 46 SECTION 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.......................................... 46 SECTION 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Debt Securities................................. 47 SECTION 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc............................................ 47 ARTICLE X GUARANTEE............................................................................. 48 SECTION 10.01 Guarantee.................................................................. 48 SECTION 10.02 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee........................................ 50 SECTION 10.03 Limitation on Liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors....................... 50 SECTION 10.04 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee............................ 50 SECTION 10.05 Contribution............................................................... 51 ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS......................................................................... 51 |
SECTION 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls............................................... 51 SECTION 11.02 Notices.................................................................... 51 SECTION 11.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders................................ 52 SECTION 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent......................... 53 SECTION 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.............................. 53 SECTION 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents................................................ 53 SECTION 11.07 Legal Holidays............................................................. 53 SECTION 11.08 Governing Law.............................................................. 54 SECTION 11.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.............................. 54 SECTION 11.10 Successors................................................................. 54 SECTION 11.11 Severability............................................................... 54 SECTION 11.12 Counterpart Originals...................................................... 54 SECTION 11.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc........................................... 54 |
INDENTURE dated as of January 18, 2005 among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), the parties identified as "subsidiary guarantors" on the signature pages hereto (collectively, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), and Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Partnership's debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the "Debt Securities"), and the Guarantee by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors of the Debt Securities, as in this Indenture provided.
The Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies. The Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefit from the issuance of the Debt Securities. Accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for its full, unconditional and joint and several guarantee of the Debt Securities to the extent provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Partnership, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01 Definitions.
"Additional Amounts" means any additional amounts required by the express terms of a Debt Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein or pursuant thereto, to be paid by the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, with respect to certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" of a Person shall mean the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Agent" means any Registrar or Paying Agent.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors," means the Board of Directors of U.S. Propane, L.L.C., the general partner of the General Partner or any authorized committee of the Board of Directors of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. or any directors and/or officers of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. to whom such Board of Directors or such committee shall have duly delegated its authority to act hereunder.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day" means any day that is not a Legal Holiday.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" means the office of the
Trustee located at 5847 San Felipe, Suite 1050, Houston, Texas 77057, Attention:
Corporate Trust Group, and as may be located at such other address as the
Trustee may give notice to the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
"Debt" of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.
"Debt Securities" has the meaning stated in the preamble of this Indenture and more particularly means any Debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
"Default" means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof as the initial Depositary with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture, and thereafter "Depositary" shall mean or include such successor.
"Dollar" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debt.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor statute.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect from time to time.
"General Partner" means U.S. Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its successors as general partner of the Partnership.
"Global Security" means a Debt Security that is issued in global form in the name of the Depositary with respect thereto or its nominee.
"Government Obligations" means, with respect to a series of Debt Securities, direct obligations of the government that issues the currency in which the Debt Securities of the
series are payable for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such government is pledged, or obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government.
"Guarantee" shall mean the guarantee of the Partnership's obligations under the Debt Securities by a Subsidiary Guarantor as provided in Article X.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered.
"Indenture" means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time pursuant to the provisions hereof, and includes the terms of a particular series of Debt Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.
"interest" means, with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.
"Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to any Debt Security, shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Debt Security as contemplated by Section 2.01.
"Issue Date" means, with respect to Debt Securities of a series, the date on which the Debt Securities of such series are originally issued under this Indenture.
"Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in any of The City of New York, New York or a Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.
"Maturity" means, with respect to any Debt Security, the date on which the principal of such Debt Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity thereof, or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice Chairman of the Board, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of a Person.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two Officers of a Person.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. Such counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Partnership, a Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any Debt Security that
provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and
payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to
Section 6.02.
"Partnership" means the Person named as the "Partnership" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Partnership" shall mean such successor Person; provided, however, that for purposes of any provision contained herein which is required by the TIA, "Partnership" shall also mean each other obligor (if any), other than a Subsidiary Guarantor, on the Debt Securities of a series.
"Partnership Order" and "Partnership Request" mean, respectively, a written order or request signed in the name of the Partnership or each Subsidiary Guarantor by two Officers of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. and delivered to the Trustee.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or other entity of any kind.
"Place of Payment" means, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities of that series are payable as specified in accordance with Section 2.01 subject to the provisions of Section 4.02.
"principal" of a Debt Security means the principal of the Debt Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Debt Security.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any Debt Security to be redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
"Responsible Officer" means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
"Rule 144A Securities" means Debt Securities of a series designated pursuant to Section 2.01 as entitled to the benefits of Section 4.03(b).
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Security Custodian" means, with respect to Debt Securities of a series issued in global form, the Trustee for Debt Securities of such series, as custodian with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, or any successor entity thereto.
"Stated Maturity" means, when used with respect to any Debt Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, the date specified in such Debt Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Debt Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association or business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the equity interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, or trustees thereof or any partnership of which more than 50% of the partners' equity interests (considering all partners' equity interests as a single class) is, in each case, at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.
"Subsidiary Guarantors" means the Person or Persons identified as the "subsidiary guarantors" on the signature pages of this instrument until a successor Person or Persons shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Subsidiary Guarantors" shall mean such successor Person or Persons, and any other Subsidiary of the Partnership who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement thereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect on the date hereof; provided, however, that if the TIA is amended after the date hereof, "TIA" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the TIA as so amended.
"Trustee" means the Person named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" means each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of that series.
"United States" means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia) and its territories and possessions, which include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.
"U.S. Government Obligations" means Government Obligations with respect to Debt Securities payable in Dollars.
"U.S. Propane, L.L.C." means U.S. Propane, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.
SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions.
DEFINED IN TERM SECTION ---- ------- "Agent Members" ................ 2.17 "Bankruptcy Custodian" ......... 6.01 "Conversion Event" ............. 6.01 |
"covenant defeasance option" ...... 8.01 "Event of Default" ................ 6.01 "Exchange Rate" ................... 2.11 "Funding Guarantor" ............... 10.05 "Judgment Currency" ............... 6.10 "legal defeasance option" ......... 8.01 "mandatory sinking fund payment"... 3.09 "optional sinking fund payment" ... 3.09 "Paying Agent" .................... 2.05 "Registrar" ....................... 2.05 "Required Currency" ............... 6.10 "Successor" ....................... 5.01 |
SECTION 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture (and if the Indenture is not qualified under the TIA at that time, as if it were so qualified unless otherwise provided). The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
"Commission" means the SEC.
"indenture securities" means the Debt Securities.
"indenture security holder" means a Holder.
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee.
"obligor" on the indenture securities means the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor on the Debt Securities.
All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by a TIA reference to another statute or defined by an SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
SECTION 1.04 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) "or" is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(6) all references in this instrument to Articles and Sections are references to the corresponding Articles and Sections in and of this instrument.
SECTION 1.05 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Limited Partners and Shareholders.
The Trustee, and each Holder of a Debt Security by its acceptance thereof, will be deemed to have agreed in this Indenture that no director, officer, employee, limited partner or shareholder, as such, of the Partnership or the General Partner shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture or the Debt Securities issued hereunder by reason of his, her or its status.
ARTICLE II
THE DEBT SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. or in a Partnership Order, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series:
(1) the title of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from the Debt Securities of all other series);
(2) if there is to be a limit, the limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.09, 2.12, 2.17, 3.07 or 9.05 and except for any Debt Securities which, pursuant to Section 2.04 or 2.17, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in the terms of the series, the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased before or after the issuance of any Debt Securities of the series by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect;
(3) whether any Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form, as Global Securities or otherwise, and, if so, whether beneficial
owners of interests in any such Global Security may exchange such interests for Debt Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.17, and the initial Depositary and Security Custodian, if any, for any Global Security or Securities of such series;
(4) the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary Global Security on any Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.14;
(5) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium (if any) on the Debt Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;
(6) the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, under what circumstances Additional Amounts with respect to such Debt Securities shall be payable, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date for the interest payable on any Debt Securities on any Interest Payment Date, or if other than provided herein, the Person to whom any interest on Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;
(7) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 4.02, the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;
(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Partnership, if the Partnership is to have that option, and the manner in which the Partnership must exercise any such option, if different from those set forth herein;
(9) whether Debt Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture;
(10) the obligation, if any, of the Partnership to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid in whole or in part pursuant to such obligation;
(11) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination in which any Debt Securities of that series shall be issuable;
(12) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) or the form, including equity securities, other debt securities (including Debt Securities), warrants or any other securities or property of the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person, in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any)
and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;
(13) if the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Partnership or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies (including composite currencies) other than that in which the Debt Securities are stated to be payable, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to Debt Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;
(14) if the amount of payments of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any commodities, currencies or indices, values, rates or prices or any other index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(15) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;
(16) any additional means of satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and any additional conditions or limitations to discharge with respect to Debt Securities of the series and the related Guarantees pursuant to Article VIII or any modifications of or deletions from such conditions or limitations;
(17) any deletions or modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.01 or covenants of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor set forth in Article IV pertaining to the Debt Securities of the series;
(18) any restrictions or other provisions with respect to the transfer or exchange of Debt Securities of the series, which may amend, supplement, modify or supersede those contained in this Article II;
(19) if the Debt Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, other debt securities or any other securities or property of the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person, at the option of the Partnership or the Holder or upon the occurrence of any condition or event, the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange;
(20) whether the Debt Securities of the series are to be entitled to the benefit of Section 4.03(b) (and accordingly constitute Rule 144A Securities); and
(21) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).
All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 2.03) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers' Certificate or Partnership Order referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action, together with such Board Resolution, shall be set forth in an Officers' Certificate or certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers' Certificate or Partnership Order setting forth the terms of the series.
SECTION 2.02 Denominations.
The Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.01. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof.
SECTION 2.03 Forms Generally.
The Debt Securities of each series shall be in fully registered form
and in substantially such form or forms (including temporary or permanent global
form) established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto. The Debt Securities may have notations, legends
or endorsements required by law, securities exchange rule, the Partnership's
certificate of limited partnership, agreement of limited partnership or other
similar governing documents, agreements to which the Partnership is subject, if
any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a
form acceptable to the Partnership). A copy of the Board Resolution establishing
the form or forms of Debt Securities of any series shall be delivered to the
Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Partnership Order contemplated by
Section 2.04 for the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities.
The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof.
The Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
"This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Trustee
SECTION 2.04 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
Two Officers of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. shall sign the Debt Securities on behalf of the Partnership and, with respect to the Guarantees of the Debt Securities, an Officer of each Subsidiary Guarantor shall sign the Debt Securities on behalf of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer of U.S. Propane, L.L.C. or any Subsidiary Guarantor whose signature is on a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Debt Security is authenticated, the Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless.
A Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or the related Guarantees or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee, which signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security has been authenticated under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Debt Security has been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Partnership, and the Partnership delivers such Debt Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 2.13, together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 11.05 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Debt Security has never been issued and sold by the Partnership, for all purposes of this Indenture such Debt Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or the related Guarantees.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Partnership may deliver Debt Securities of any series executed by the Partnership and each Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Debt Securities for original issue upon a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by Partnership Order. Such order shall specify the amount of the Debt Securities to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Debt Securities is to be authenticated, the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders and any other terms of the Debt Securities of such series not otherwise determined. If provided for in such procedures, such Partnership Order may authorize (1) authentication and delivery of Debt Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, with certain terms (including, without limitation, the Maturity dates or dates, original issue date or dates and interest rate or rates) that differ from Debt Security to Debt Security and (2) authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Partnership or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.
If the form or terms of the Debt Securities of the series have been
established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by
Section 2.01, in authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt
Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive (in addition to the
Partnership Order referred to above and the other documents required by Section
11.04), and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(a) an Officers' Certificate setting forth the Board Resolution and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant thereto, as contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 2.01; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:
(i) the form of such Debt Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) the terms of such Debt Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
(iii) that, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Partnership in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, such Debt Securities and the related Guarantees will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, enforceable against the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws in effect from time to time affecting the rights of creditors generally, and the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
If all the Debt Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each such Debt Security, but such Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Debt Security of the series to be issued.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Debt Securities if the issuance of such Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture would affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Debt Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Partnership to authenticate Debt Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Debt Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
Each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
SECTION 2.05 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Partnership shall maintain an office or agency for each series of Debt Securities where Debt Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange ("Registrar") and an office or agency where Debt Securities of such series may be
presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Debt Securities of such series and of their transfer and exchange. The Partnership may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.
The Partnership shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Partnership shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The Partnership may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. If the Partnership fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Partnership initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.
SECTION 2.06 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Partnership shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Debt Securities and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Partnership in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. The Partnership at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. Upon payment over to the Trustee and upon accounting for any funds disbursed, the Paying Agent (if other than the Partnership, a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Partnership, a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Each Paying Agent shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 317(b).
SECTION 2.07 Holder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar with respect to a series of Debt Securities, the Partnership shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Debt Securities, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of such series, and the Partnership shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).
SECTION 2.08 Transfer and Exchange.
Except as set forth in Section 2.17 or as may be provided pursuant to Section 2.01:
When Debt Securities of any series are presented to the Registrar with the request to register the transfer of such Debt Securities or to exchange such Debt Securities for an equal principal amount of Debt Securities of the same series of like tenor and of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements and the requirements of this Indenture for such transactions are met; provided, however, that the Debt Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing, on which instruction the Registrar can rely.
To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Debt Securities at the Registrar's written request and submission of the Debt Securities or Global Securities. No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Partnership may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Section 2.12, 3.07 or 9.05). The Trustee shall authenticate Debt Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the Partnership shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of (a) any Debt Security selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article III, except the unredeemed portion of any Debt Security being redeemed in part, or (b) any Debt Security during the period beginning 15 Business Days prior to the mailing of notice of any offer to repurchase Debt Securities of the series required pursuant to the terms thereof or of redemption of Debt Securities of a series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing.
Each Holder of a Debt Security agrees to indemnify the Partnership, the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder's Debt Securities in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/ or applicable United States Federal or state securities law.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Debt Security (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
SECTION 2.09 Replacement Debt Securities.
If any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or if the Holder of a Debt Security claims that the Debt Security has been destroyed, lost or stolen and the Partnership and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security, the Partnership shall issue, and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate a replacement Debt Security of the same series if the Trustee's requirements are met. If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Partnership in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Debt Security, pay such Debt Security. If required by the Trustee, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Partnership, such Holder must furnish an indemnity bond that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Partnership to protect the Partnership, each Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Debt Security is replaced. The Partnership and the Trustee may charge a Holder for their expenses in replacing a Debt Security.
Every replacement Debt Security is an additional obligation of the Partnership.
SECTION 2.10 Outstanding Debt Securities.
The Debt Securities outstanding at any time are all the Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Security effected by the Trustee hereunder and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding.
If a Debt Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Debt Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Debt Security is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
A Debt Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Partnership, a Subsidiary Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor holds the Debt Security.
SECTION 2.11 Original Issue Discount, Foreign-Currency Denominated and Treasury Debt Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount
of Debt Securities have concurred in any direction, amendment, supplement,
waiver or consent, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount
Security shall be the principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as
of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof
pursuant to Section 6.02, (b) the principal amount of a Debt Security
denominated in a foreign currency shall be the Dollar equivalent, as determined
by the Partnership by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York
for cable transfers for such currency, as such rate is certified for customs
purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the "Exchange Rate") on the
date of original issuance of such Debt Security, of the principal amount (or, in
the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent, as
determined by the Partnership by reference to the Exchange Rate on the date of
original issuance of such Debt Security, of the amount determined as provided in
(a) above), of such Debt Security and (c) Debt Securities owned by the
Partnership, a Subsidiary Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities or any Affiliate of the Partnership, of a Subsidiary Guarantor or of
such
other obligor shall be disregarded, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, only Debt Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.12 Temporary Debt Securities.
Until definitive Debt Securities of any series are ready for delivery, the Partnership may prepare, and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Debt Securities. Temporary Debt Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Debt Securities, but may have variations that the Partnership considers appropriate for temporary Debt Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Partnership shall prepare, and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Debt Securities in exchange for temporary Debt Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debt Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities.
SECTION 2.13 Cancellation.
The Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor at any time may deliver Debt Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Debt Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or redemption or for credit against any sinking fund payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Debt Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, redemption, replacement or cancellation or for credit against any sinking fund. Unless the Partnership shall direct in writing that canceled Debt Securities be returned to it, after written notice to the Partnership all canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with the usual disposal procedures of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall maintain a record of their disposal. The Partnership may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities that have been paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.14 Payments; Defaulted Interest.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.01, interest (except defaulted interest) on any Debt Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Persons who are registered Holders of that Debt Security at the close of business on the record date next preceding such Interest Payment Date, even if such Debt Securities are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date. The Holder must surrender a Debt Security to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Partnership will pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities in Dollars. Such amounts shall be payable at the offices of the Trustee or any Paying Agent, provided that at the option of the Partnership, the Partnership may pay such amounts (1) by wire transfer with respect to Global Securities or (2) by check payable in such money mailed to a Holder's registered address with respect to any Debt Securities.
If the Partnership defaults in a payment of interest on the Debt Securities of any series, the Partnership shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest on the defaulted interest, in each case at the rate provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in Section 4.01. The Partnership may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. At least 15 days before any special record date selected by the Partnership, the Partnership (or the Trustee, in the name of and at the expense of the Partnership upon 20 days' prior written notice from the Partnership setting forth such special record date and the interest amount to be paid) shall mail to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.
SECTION 2.15 Persons Deemed Owners.
The Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent may treat the Person in whose name any Debt Security is registered as the owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Debt Security and for all other purposes. None of the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 2.16 Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Debt Securities of any series, interest on the Debt Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a year comprising twelve 30-day months.
SECTION 2.17 Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions.
If Debt Securities of a series are issuable in global form as a
Global Security, as contemplated by Section 2.01, then, notwithstanding clause
(11) of Section 2.01 and the provisions of Section 2.02, any such Global
Security shall represent such of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series
as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the
aggregate amount of outstanding Debt Securities from time to time endorsed
thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Debt Securities represented
thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
reflect exchanges, transfers or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global
Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of
outstanding Debt Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee (i)
in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be
specified in such Debt Security or in a Partnership Order to be delivered to the
Trustee pursuant to Section 2.04 or (ii) otherwise in accordance with written
instructions or such other written form of instructions as is customary for the
Depositary for such Debt Security, from such Depositary or its nominee on behalf
of any Person having a beneficial interest in such Global Security. Subject to
the provisions of Section 2.04 and, if applicable, Section 2.12, the Trustee
shall deliver and redeliver any Debt Security in permanent global form in the
manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified in such
Debt Security or in the applicable Partnership Order. With respect to the Debt
Securities of any series that are represented by a Global Security, the
Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors authorize the execution and delivery
by the Trustee of a letter of representations or other similar agreement or
instrument in the form customarily
provided for by the Depositary appointed with respect to such Global Security. Any Global Security may be deposited with the Depositary or its nominee, or may remain in the custody of the Trustee or the Security Custodian therefor pursuant to a FAST Balance Certificate Agreement or similar agreement between the Trustee and the Depositary. If a Partnership Order has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Partnership with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Debt Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 11.05 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary ("Agent Members") shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee or the Security Custodian as its custodian, or under such Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian and any agent of the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the registered holder of a Global Security of a series may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder of Debt Securities of such series is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Debt Securities of such series and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian, or any agent of the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or shall impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner of any Debt Security.
Notwithstanding Section 2.08, and except as otherwise provided
pursuant to Section 2.01: Transfers of a Global Security shall be limited to
transfers of such Global Security in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary,
its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a
Global Security may be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures
of the Depositary. Debt Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners
in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security if, and only if,
either (1) the Depositary notifies the Partnership that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security and a successor
Depositary is not appointed by the Partnership within 90 days of such notice,
(2) an Event of Default has occurred with respect to such series and is
continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue
Debt Securities in lieu of all or a portion of the Global Security (in which
case the Partnership shall deliver Debt Securities within 30 days of such
request) or (3) the Partnership determines not to have the Debt Securities
represented by a Global Security.
In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.17, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee upon receipt of a Partnership Order for the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Debt Securities of the same series of like tenor and amount.
In connection with the transfer of all the beneficial interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.17, the Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interests in the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of authorized denominations.
Neither the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, Debt Securities by the Depositary, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary relating to such Debt Securities. Neither the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor nor the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the related Global Security Holder or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners, and each such Person may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from such Global Security Holder or the Depositary for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued). Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
The provisions of the last sentence of the third paragraph of
Section 2.04 shall apply to any Global Security if such Global Security was
never issued and sold by the Partnership and the Partnership or a Subsidiary
Guarantor delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with written
instructions (which need not comply with Section 11.05 and need not be
accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the cancellation or
reduction in the principal amount of Debt Securities represented thereby,
together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of the
third paragraph of Section 2.04.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.03 and 2.14, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01, payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Global Security shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01 Applicability of Article.
Debt Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Debt Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article III.
SECTION 3.02 Notice to the Trustee.
If the Partnership elects to redeem Debt Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, it shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Date and the principal amount of Debt Securities of such series to be redeemed. The Partnership shall so notify the Trustee at least 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) by
delivering to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such redemption will comply with the provisions of this Indenture and of the Debt Securities of such series. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to the mailing of such notice of such redemption to any Holder and shall thereupon be void and of no effect.
SECTION 3.03 Selection of Debt Securities To Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Debt Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Debt Securities of such series of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the outstanding Debt Securities of such series (and tenor) not previously called for redemption, either pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and that may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Debt Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of that series or of the principal amount of Global Securities of such series.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Partnership and the Registrar in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to redemption of Debt Securities shall relate, in the case of any of the Debt Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount thereof which has been or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 3.04 Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Debt Securities to be redeemed, at the address of such Holder appearing in the register of Debt Securities maintained by the Registrar.
All notices of redemption shall identify the Debt Securities to be redeemed and shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date;
(2) the Redemption Price;
(3) that, unless the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors default in making the redemption payment, interest on Debt Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date, and the only remaining right of the Holders of such Debt Securities is to receive payment of the Redemption Price upon surrender to the Paying Agent of the Debt Securities redeemed;
(4) if any Debt Security is to be redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender for cancellation of such Debt Security to the Paying Agent, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities in the aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued without charge to the Holder;
(5) that Debt Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price and the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking or analogous fund, if such is the case; and
(7) the CUSIP number, if any, relating to such Debt Securities.
Notice of redemption of Debt Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Partnership shall be given by the Partnership or, at the Partnership's written request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Partnership.
SECTION 3.05 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed, Debt Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Debt Securities called for redemption shall be paid at the Redemption Price, but interest installments whose maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable on the relevant Interest Payment Dates to the Holders of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates specified pursuant to Section 2.01.
SECTION 3.06 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor shall deposit with the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if the Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.06) an amount of money in same day funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Debt Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date, other than Debt Securities or portions thereof called for redemption on that date which have been delivered by the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee for cancellation.
If the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor complies with the preceding paragraph, then, unless the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors default in the payment of such Redemption Price, interest on the Debt Securities to be redeemed will cease to accrue on and after the applicable Redemption Date, whether or not such Debt Securities are presented for payment, and the Holders of such Debt Securities shall have no further rights with respect to such Debt Securities except for the right to receive the Redemption Price upon surrender of such Debt Securities. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal, premium, if any, any Additional Amounts, and, to the
extent lawful, accrued interest thereon shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate specified pursuant to Section 2.01 or provided in the Debt Securities or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such Debt Securities' yield to maturity.
SECTION 3.07 Debt Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part.
Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a Debt Security to be redeemed in part, the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge a new Debt Security or Debt Securities, of the same series and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered that is not redeemed.
SECTION 3.08 Purchase of Debt Securities.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01, the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor and any Affiliate of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor may, subject to applicable law, at any time purchase or otherwise acquire Debt Securities in the open market or by private agreement. Any such acquisition shall not operate as or be deemed for any purpose to be a redemption of the indebtedness represented by such Debt Securities. Any Debt Securities purchased or acquired by the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor may be delivered to the Trustee and, upon such delivery, the indebtedness represented thereby shall be deemed to be satisfied. Section 2.13 shall apply to all Debt Securities so delivered.
SECTION 3.09 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment," and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment." Unless otherwise provided by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.10. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Debt Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of such series and by this Article III.
SECTION 3.10 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Debt Securities.
The Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor may deliver outstanding Debt Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and may apply as a credit Debt Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Partnership pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such series of Debt Securities; provided that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Debt
Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 3.11 Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Partnership will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivery of or by crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.10 and will also deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee any Debt Securities to be so delivered. Failure of the Partnership to timely deliver or cause to be delivered such Officers' Certificate and Debt Securities specified in this paragraph, if any, shall not constitute a default but shall constitute the election of the Partnership (i) that the mandatory sinking fund payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities of such series in respect thereof and (ii) that the Partnership will make no optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided in this Section 3.11.
If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or
both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus
any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall
exceed $100,000 (or the Dollar equivalent thereof based on the applicable
Exchange Rate on the date of original issue of the applicable Debt Securities)
or a lesser sum if the Partnership shall so request with respect to the Debt
Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next
succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Debt Securities of
such series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest
to the date fixed for redemption. If such amount shall be $100,000 (or the
Dollar equivalent thereof as aforesaid) or less and the Partnership makes no
such request then it shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $100,000 (or
the Dollar equivalent thereof as aforesaid) is available. Not less than 30 days
before each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Debt
Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner
specified in Section 3.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given
in the name of and at the expense of the Partnership in the manner provided in
Section 3.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt
Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections
3.05, 3.06 and 3.07.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01 Payment of Debt Securities.
The Partnership shall pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities of each series on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, interest and any Additional Amounts shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent (other than the Partnership, a Subsidiary Guarantor or a Subsidiary) holds on that date
money deposited by the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, interest and any Additional Amounts then due.
The Partnership shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium (if any), at a rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Debt Securities to the extent lawful; and it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and any Additional Amount (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Partnership will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent) where Debt Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, where Debt Securities of that series may be presented for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the Debt Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. Unless otherwise designated by the Partnership by written notice to the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors, such office or agency shall be the office of the Trustee in The City of New York, which on the date hereof is located at One Penn Plaza, Suite 1414, New York, New York 10119, Attention: Corporate Trust Group. The Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Partnership shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Partnership may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Debt Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Partnership of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Debt Securities of any series for such purposes. The Partnership will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
SECTION 4.03 SEC Reports; Financial Statements.
(a) If the Partnership is subject to the requirements of
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Partnership shall file with the
Trustee, within 15 days after it is required to file the same with the SEC,
copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports
(or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and
regulations prescribe) that the Partnership is required to file with the SEC
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If this Indenture is
qualified under the TIA, but not otherwise, the Partnership and the Subsidiary
Guarantors shall also comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(a). If the
Partnership is not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, the Partnership shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after
it
would have been required to file with the SEC, financial statements (and with respect to annual reports, an auditor's report by a firm of established national reputation) and a Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both comparable to what it would have been required to file with the SEC had it been subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Partnership is required to furnish annual or quarterly reports to its equity holders pursuant to the Exchange Act, it shall file these reports with the Trustee. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee shall be for informational purposes only, and the Trustee's receipt thereof shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Partnership's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates or certificates delivered pursuant to Section 4.04).
(b) If the Partnership is not subject to the requirements of
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Partnership shall furnish to all
Holders of Rule 144A Securities and prospective purchasers of Rule 144A
Securities designated by the Holders of Rule 144A Securities, promptly upon
their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule
144A(d)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
SECTION 4.04 Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Partnership shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a statement signed by an Officer of U.S. Propane, L.L.C., which need not constitute an Officers' Certificate, complying with TIA Section 314(a)(4) and stating that in the course of performance by the signing Officer of his duties as such Officer of U.S. Propane, L.L.C., he would normally obtain knowledge of the keeping, observing, performing and fulfilling by the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors of their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating that to the best of his knowledge the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors have observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and are not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which such Officer may have knowledge and what action the Partnership is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).
(b) The Partnership shall, so long as Debt Securities of any series are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default under this Indenture, an Officers' Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Partnership is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 4.05 Existence.
Subject to Article V, each of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.
SECTION 4.06 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.
Each of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive it from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Debt Securities as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) each of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
SECTION 4.07 Additional Amounts.
If the Debt Securities of a series expressly provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Partnership will pay to the Holder of any Debt Security of such series Additional Amounts as expressly provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Debt Security of any series or the net proceeds received from the sale or exchange of any Debt Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section 4.07 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.07 and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
ARTICLE V
SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.01 Limitations on Mergers and Consolidations.
The Partnership shall not, in any transaction or series of transactions, consolidate with or merge into any Person, or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person, unless:
(1) the Person formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger or to which such sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition shall be made (collectively, the "Successor"), is either the Partnership or expressly assumes by supplemental indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all the Debt Securities and the performance of the Partnership's covenants and obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities;
(2) the Successor is organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom; and
(4) the Partnership, delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the transaction and any such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
SECTION 5.02 Successor Person Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger of the Partnership, or any sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership in accordance with Section 5.01, the Successor formed by such consolidation or merger or to which such sale, lease, conveyance, transfer or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of the Partnership under this Indenture and the Debt Securities with the same effect as if such Successor had been named as the Partnership herein and the predecessor Partnership shall be released from all obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, except that no such release shall occur in the case of any lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01 Events of Default.
Unless either inapplicable to a particular series or specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture or Board Resolution establishing such series of Debt Securities or in the form of Debt Security for such series, an "Event of Default," wherever used herein with respect to Debt Securities of any series, occurs if:
(1) there is a default in the payment of interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Debt Security of that series when the same becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(2) there is a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required repurchase or otherwise;
(3) there is a default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable;
(4) there is a failure on the part of the Partnership, or if any series of Debt Securities outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Partnership, or if applicable, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this
Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a default in the performance of a covenant which is specifically dealt with elsewhere in this Section 6.01), continuing for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure shall have been given to the Partnership, or if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors, by the Trustee or to the Partnership, or if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantors, and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time outstanding;
(5) the Partnership, or if any series of Debt Securities outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences a voluntary case,
(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(C) consents to the appointment of a Bankruptcy Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days and that:
(A) is for relief against the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor as debtor in an involuntary case,
(B) appoints a Bankruptcy Custodian of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor or a Bankruptcy Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or
(C) orders the liquidation of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(7) if any series of Debt Securities outstanding under this Indenture is entitled to the benefits of a Guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors ceases to be in full force and effect with respect to Debt Securities of that series (except as otherwise provided in this Indenture) or is declared null and void or is found to be invalid in a judicial proceeding or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors (if applicable) denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or such Guarantee; or
(8) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series occurs.
The term "Bankruptcy Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to know or have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Debt Securities and this Indenture.
When a Default is cured, it ceases.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01, if the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to any Debt Security is payable in a currency or currencies (including a composite currency) other than Dollars and such currency or currencies are not available to the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor (a "Conversion Event"), each of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Debt Securities by making such payment in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar equivalent of the amount payable in such other currency, as determined by the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantor making such payment, as the case may be, by reference to the Exchange Rate on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.01, any payment made under such circumstances in Dollars where the required payment is in a currency other than Dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.
Promptly after the occurrence of a Conversion Event, the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor shall give written notice thereof to the Trustee; and the Trustee, promptly after receipt of such notice, shall give notice thereof in the manner provided in Section 11.02 to the Holders. Promptly after the making of any payment in Dollars as a result of a Conversion Event, the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantor making such payment, as the case may be, shall give notice in the manner provided in Section 11.02 to the Holders, setting forth the applicable Exchange Rate and describing the calculation of such payments.
A Default under clause (4) of this Section 6.01 is not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Partnership, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of the series affected by such Default notify the Partnership and the Trustee, of the Default, and the Partnership or the applicable Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, fails to cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a "Notice of Default."
SECTION 6.02 Acceleration.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Debt Securities of any
series at the time outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in
clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by
notice to the Partnership, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
the then outstanding Debt Securities of the series affected by such Event of
Default (or, in the case of an Event of Default described in clause (4) of
Section 6.01, if outstanding Debt Securities of other series are affected by
such Event of Default, then at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Debt Securities so affected) by notice to the
Partnership and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare the principal of (or, if any such Debt Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), premium, if any, on and all accrued and unpaid interest on all then outstanding Debt Securities of such series or of all series, as the case may be, to be due and payable. Upon any such declaration, the amounts due and payable on the Debt Securities shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs, such amounts shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of the series affected by such Event of Default by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences (other than nonpayment of principal of or premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and if all existing Events of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that series have been cured or waived, except nonpayment of principal, premium, interest or any Additional Amounts that has become due solely because of the acceleration.
SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Debt Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Defaults.
Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of any series or of all
series (acting as one class) by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing or
past Default or Event of Default with respect to such series and its
consequences (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or
exchange offer for Debt Securities of such series or all series or a
solicitation of consents in respect of Debt Securities of such series or all
series, provided that in each case such offer or solicitation is made to all
Holders of then outstanding Debt Securities of such series or all series (but
the terms of such offer or solicitation may vary from series to series)), except
(1) a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of,
or premium, if any, or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any
Debt Security or (2) a continued Default in respect of a provision that under
Section 9.02 cannot be amended or supplemented without the consent of each
Holder affected. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and
any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for
every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority.
With respect to Debt Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of such series may direct in writing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to Debt Securities of such series. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with applicable law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders, or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion from Holders directing the Trustee against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
SECTION 6.06 Limitations on Suits.
Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, a Holder of a Debt Security of any series may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Debt Securities of such series only if:
(1) the Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to such series;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of such series have made a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any cost, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee has not complied with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with the request.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
SECTION 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Debt Security to receive payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Debt Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor for the amount of principal, premium (if any), interest and any Additional Amounts remaining unpaid on the Debt Securities of the series affected by the Event of Default, and interest on overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent lawful, interest on overdue interest, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such actions, including participating as a member, voting or otherwise, of any committee of creditors, as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor or their respective creditors or properties and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any Bankruptcy Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties which the Holders of the Debt Securities may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debt Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10 Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;
Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Debt Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, for principal, premium (if any), interest and any Additional Amounts ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Debt Securities for principal, premium (if any), interest and any Additional Amounts, respectively; and
Third: to the Partnership.
The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Partnership, may fix record dates and payment dates for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Article VI.
To the fullest extent allowed under applicable law, if for the purpose of obtaining a judgment against the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities of any series (the "Required Currency") into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the "Judgment Currency"), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the Business Day in The City of New York next preceding that on which final judgment is given. Neither the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor nor the Trustee shall be liable for any shortfall nor shall it benefit from any windfall in payments to Holders of Debt Securities under this Section 6.10 caused by a change in exchange rates between the time the amount of a judgment against it is calculated as above and the time the Trustee converts the Judgment Currency into the Required Currency to make payments under this Section 6.10 to Holders of Debt Securities, but payment of such judgment shall discharge all amounts owed by the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors on the claim or claims underlying such judgment.
SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by a Holder or Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of any series.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of any series:
(1) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether, on their face, they appear to conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 7.01(b);
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any cost, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. All money received by the Trustee shall, until applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities.
SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require instruction, an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both to be provided. In the
absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in reliance on such instruction, Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult at the Partnership's expense with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder, perform any duties hereunder or otherwise act through agents or attorneys and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of U.S. Propane, L.L.C.
(f) The Trustee shall not be obligated to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document.
(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(h) The Trustee may request that the Partnership deliver an Officers' Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers' Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers' Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
SECTION 7.03 May Hold Debt Securities.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and may make loans to, accept deposits from, perform services for and otherwise deal with the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
SECTION 7.04 Trustee's Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Debt Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Partnership's use of the proceeds from the Debt Securities or any money paid to the Partnership or any Subsidiary
Guarantor or upon the Partnership's or such Subsidiary Guarantor's direction under any provision hereof, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Debt Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of any series occurs and is continuing and it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Debt Securities of such series a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and Additional Amounts or any sinking fund installment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of Debt Securities of such series.
SECTION 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after each September 15 of each year after the
execution of this Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of a series, the
Subsidiary Guarantors and the Partnership a brief report dated as of such
reporting date that complies with TIA Section 313(a); provided, however, that if
no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months
preceding the reporting date with respect to a series, no report need be
transmitted to Holders of such series. The Trustee also shall comply with TIA
Section 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports if and as
required by TIA Sections 313(c) and 313(d).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders of a series of Debt Securities shall be filed by the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor with the SEC and each securities exchange, if any, on which the Debt Securities of such series are listed. The Partnership shall notify the Trustee if and when any series of Debt Securities is listed on any securities exchange.
SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.
The Partnership agrees to pay to the Trustee for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder such compensation as the Partnership and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Partnership agrees to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Partnership hereby indemnifies the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee against any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, except as set forth in the next following paragraph. The Trustee shall notify the Partnership and
the Subsidiary Guarantors promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Partnership shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Partnership shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Partnership need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.
The Partnership shall not be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee's negligence or bad faith.
To secure the payment obligations of the Partnership in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Debt Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to particular Debt Securities of any series. Such lien and the Partnership's obligations under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged at any time with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series by so notifying the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series by so notifying the Trustee, the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Partnership may remove the Trustee if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(3) a Bankruptcy Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Partnership shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Debt Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series). Within one year after
the successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Partnership.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series does not take office within 30 days after the retiring or removed Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring or removed Trustee (at the expense of the Partnership), the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of such series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.
If the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of a series fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder of Debt Securities of such series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to all Debt Securities, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee, to the Partnership and to the Subsidiary Guarantors. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more (but not all) series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Debt Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee. Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. On request of the Partnership or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
Such retiring Trustee shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including attorneys' fees.
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Trustees pursuant to this
Section 7.08, the obligations of the Partnership under Section 7.07 shall
continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Trustees.
SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
Subject to Section 7.10, if the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee; provided, however, that in the case of a transfer of all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to another corporation, the transferee corporation expressly assumes all of the Trustee's liabilities hereunder.
In case any Debt Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Debt Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debt Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation or banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by federal or state (or the District of Columbia) authority and shall have, or be a subsidiary of a bank or bank holding company having, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
The Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Sections 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5). The Trustee is subject to and shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) during the period of time required by this Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the SEC the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of TIA Section 310(b).
SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor.
The Trustee is subject to and shall comply with the provisions of TIA
Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section
311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA
Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE VIII
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.01 Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article VIII relating to either the satisfaction and discharge or the defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable to each series of Debt Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.01 for Debt Securities of such series.
SECTION 8.02 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.
(a) If at any time the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and
delivered (other than any Debt Securities of such series that shall have been
destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided
in Section 2.09 and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been
deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Partnership as provided in
Section 8.05) or all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their
terms to become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or are
to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Partnership shall
deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in the currency in
which such Debt Securities are denominated (except as otherwise provided
pursuant to Section 2.01) sufficient to pay at Stated Maturity or upon
redemption all Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest
due or to become due on such date of Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the
case may be, and if in either case the Partnership shall also pay or cause to be
paid all other sums then due and payable hereunder by the Partnership with
respect to the Debt Securities of such series, then this Indenture shall cease
to be of further effect with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and
the Trustee, on demand of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the
Partnership, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and
discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.
(b) Subject to Sections 8.02(c), 8.03 and 8.07, the Partnership at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, all its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series ("legal defeasance option") or the operation of (x) any covenant made applicable to such Debt Securities pursuant to Section 2.01, (y) Sections 6.01(4), (7) and (8) (except to the extent covenants or agreements referenced in Section 6.01(4) remain applicable) and (z) as they relate to the Subsidiary Guarantors only, Sections 6.01(5) and (6) ("covenant defeasance option"). If the Partnership exercises either its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance obligation, each Guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of Debt Securities and be automatically released and discharged and any security that may have been granted in respect of such series shall be automatically released. The Partnership may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.
If the Partnership exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Partnership exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(4), (7) and (8) and, with respect to the Guarantors only, Sections 6.01(5) and (6) (except to the extent covenants or agreements referenced in Section 6.01(4) remain applicable).
Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Partnership, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Partnership terminates.
(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Partnership's obligations in Sections 2.05, 2.08, 2.09, 4.02, 4.07, 7.07, 8.05, 8.06 and 8.07 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Partnership's obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive.
SECTION 8.03 Conditions of Defeasance.
The Partnership may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:
(a) the Partnership irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to Stated Maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(b) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Debt Securities of such series to Stated Maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(c) 91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) with respect to the Partnership occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;
(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and after giving effect thereto;
(e) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Partnership;
(f) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(g) in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Partnership has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;
(h) in the event of the covenant defeasance option, the Partnership shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and
(i) the Partnership delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.
Before or after a deposit, the Partnership may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.
SECTION 8.04 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to Section 8.05, the Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series.
SECTION 8.05 Repayment to Partnership.
The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Partnership upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Partnership upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Partnership for payment as general creditors.
SECTION 8.06 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.
The Partnership shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Holders against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.
SECTION 8.07 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Partnership's obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES AND AMENDMENTS
SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of Holders.
The Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Debt Securities or waive any provision hereof or thereof without the consent of any Holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to comply with Section 5.01;
(3) to provide for uncertificated Debt Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Debt Securities, or to provide for the issuance of bearer Debt Securities (with or without coupons);
(4) to provide for the addition of any Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor, or to reflect the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor, in either case as provided in this Indenture;
(5) to provide any security for any series of Debt Securities or the related Guarantees;
(6) to comply with any requirement in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(7) to add to the covenants of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(8) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Debt Securities (and, if any Event of Default is applicable to less than all series of Debt Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable);
(9) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no outstanding Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is adversely affected by such change in or elimination of such provision;
(10) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01;
(11) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Debt Securities pursuant to Article VIII; provided, however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series or any other series of Debt Securities in any material respect; or
(12) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder
by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more
series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as
shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the
trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of
Section 7.08.
Upon the request of the Partnership, accompanied by a Board Resolution, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 9.06, join with the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained.
SECTION 9.02 With Consent of Holders.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture with the written consent (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Debt Securities of any one or more series or all series or a solicitation of consents in respect of Debt Securities of any one or more series or all series, provided that in each case such offer or solicitation is made to all Holders of then outstanding Debt Securities of each such series (but the terms of such offer or solicitation may vary from series to series)) of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such amendment or supplement.
Upon the request of the Partnership, accompanied by a Board Resolution,
and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders
as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in
Section 9.06, the Trustee shall, subject to
Section 9.06, join with the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this
Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment,
supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the
substance thereof.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of one or more series or of all series may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Debt Securities of such series or a solicitation of consents in respect of Debt Securities of such series, provided that in each case such offer or solicitation is made to all Holders of then outstanding Debt Securities of such series (but the terms of such offer or solicitation may vary from series to series)).
However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not:
(1) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Debt Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any Debt Security;
(3) reduce the principal of, any premium on or any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to, or change the Stated Maturity of, any Debt Security or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;
(4) reduce the premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed;
(5) change any obligation of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any Debt Security;
(6) change the coin or currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which any Debt Security or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts with respect thereto are payable;
(7) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Holder's Debt Securities or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Holder's Debt Securities pursuant to Sections 6.07 and 6.08, except as limited by Section 6.06;
(8) make any change in the percentage of principal amount of Debt Securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture pursuant to Section 6.04 or 6.07 or make any change in this sentence of Section 9.02;
(9) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to the Debt Securities;
(10) release any security that may have been granted in respect of any Debt Securities other than in accordance with this Indenture; or
(11) release the Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor other than in accordance with this Indenture or modify the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders.
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.
The right of any Holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of this Indenture (and the obligation of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record of any Debt Securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a date identified by the Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor in a notice furnished to Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Partnership shall mail to the Holders of each Debt Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Partnership to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall comply in form and substance with the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Debt Security or portion of a Debt Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Debt Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Debt Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his or her Debt Security or portion of a Debt Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before a date and time
therefor identified by the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor in a notice furnished to such Holder in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or, if no such date and time shall be identified, the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
The Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date (which need not comply with TIA Section 316(c)) for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver or to take any other action under this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consents from Holders of the principal amount of Debt Securities required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind
every Holder, unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (1) through
(10) of Section 9.02 hereof. In such case, the amendment, supplement or waiver
shall bind each Holder who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder that
evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Debt Security.
SECTION 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Debt Securities.
If an amendment or supplement changes the terms of an outstanding Debt Security, the Partnership may require the Holder of the Debt Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Debt Security at the request of the Partnership regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Partnership so determines, the Partnership in exchange for the Debt Security shall issue, and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, a new Debt Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment or supplement.
Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any amendment or supplement may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such amendment or supplement.
SECTION 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee shall sign any amendment or supplement authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not, sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplement, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity satisfactory to it, and, subject to Section 7.01 hereof, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel provided at the expense of the
Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor as conclusive evidence that such amendment or supplement is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that it is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE X
GUARANTEE
SECTION 10.01 Guarantee.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Article X to the contrary, the provisions of this Article X relating to the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Debt Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.01, as entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors.
(b) For value received, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby fully, unconditionally and absolutely guarantees (the "Guarantee") to the Holders and to the Trustee the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership, when and as such principal, premium, if any, and interest shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.03.
(c) Failing payment when due of any amount guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, for whatever reason, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. The Guarantee hereunder is intended to be a general, unsecured, senior obligation of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors and will rank pari passu in right of payment with all Debt of such Subsidiary Guarantor that is not, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be full, unconditional and absolute, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee (including the Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor) or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Debt Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Subsidiary Guarantors. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that in the event of a default in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of the Holders or, subject to Section 6.06, by the Holders, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against such Subsidiary Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Partnership or any other Subsidiary Guarantor.
(d) The obligations of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Article X shall be as aforesaid full, unconditional and absolute and shall not be impaired,
modified, released or limited by any occurrence or condition whatsoever, including, without limitation, (i) any compromise, settlement, release, waiver, renewal, extension, indulgence or modification of, or any change in, any of the obligations and liabilities of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors contained in the Debt Securities or this Indenture, (ii) any impairment, modification, release or limitation of the liability of the Partnership, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their estates in bankruptcy, or any remedy for the enforcement thereof, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any applicable Bankruptcy Law, as amended, or other statute or from the decision of any court, (iii) the assertion or exercise by the Partnership, any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustee of any rights or remedies under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or their delay in or failure to assert or exercise any such rights or remedies, (iv) the assignment or the purported assignment of any property as security for the Debt Securities, including all or any part of the rights of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Indenture, (v) the extension of the time for payment by the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors of any payments or other sums or any part thereof owing or payable under any of the terms and provisions of the Debt Securities or this Indenture or of the time for performance by the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors of any other obligations under or arising out of any such terms and provisions or the extension or the renewal of any thereof, (vi) the modification or amendment (whether material or otherwise) of any duty, agreement or obligation of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in this Indenture, (vii) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets, marshaling of assets and liabilities, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of, or other similar proceeding affecting, the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors or any of their respective assets, or the disaffirmance of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture in any such proceeding, (viii) the release or discharge of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors from the performance or observance of any agreement, covenant, term or condition contained in any of such instruments by operation of law, (ix) the unenforceability of the Debt Securities, the Guarantee or this Indenture or (x) any other circumstances (other than payment in full or discharge of all amounts guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee) which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.
(e) Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby (i) waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of the merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and all demands whatsoever, (ii) acknowledges that any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee may be transferred and that the benefit of its obligations hereunder shall extend to each holder of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Guarantee without notice to it and (iii) covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Guarantee. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Person to the Guarantee is, or must be, rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Partnership or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Guarantee shall, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and the Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as though such application had not been made.
(f) Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders and the Trustee against the Partnership in respect of any amounts paid by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, provided, however, that such Subsidiary Guarantor, shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all of the Debt Securities and the Guarantee shall have been paid in full or discharged.
SECTION 10.02 Execution and Delivery of Guarantee.
To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that a notation relating to such Guarantee, substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, shall be endorsed on each Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an Officer of each Subsidiary Guarantor. Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees that the Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Debt Security a notation relating to the Guarantee. If any Officer of any Subsidiary Guarantor whose signature is on this Indenture or a Debt Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates such Debt Security or at any time thereafter, the Guarantee of such Debt Security shall be valid nevertheless. The delivery of any Debt Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Subsidiary Guarantors.
The Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
SECTION 10.03 Limitation on Liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee hereby confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders of a Debt Security entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.
SECTION 10.04 Release of Subsidiary Guarantors from Guarantee.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor may be released upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 10.04. Provided that no Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under this Indenture, any Guarantee incurred by a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant
to this Article X shall be unconditionally released and discharged automatically
upon (i) any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or otherwise,
to any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Partnership, of all of the
Partnership's direct or indirect equity interests in such Subsidiary Guarantor
(provided such sale, exchange or transfer is not prohibited by this Indenture)
or (ii) the merger of such Subsidiary Guarantor into the Partnership or any
other Subsidiary Guarantor or the liquidation and dissolution of such Subsidiary
Guarantor (in each case to the extent not prohibited by this Indenture).
(b) The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any release of a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Guarantee upon receipt of a written request of the Partnership accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel that the Subsidiary Guarantor is entitled to such release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not so released remains liable for the full amount of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the Debt Securities entitled to the benefits of such Guarantee as provided in this Indenture, subject to the limitations of Section 10.03.
SECTION 10.05 Contribution.
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a "Funding Guarantor") under its Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor (as applicable) in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Partnership's obligations with respect to the Debt Securities or any other Subsidiary Guarantor's obligations with respect to its Guarantee.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by operation of TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 11.02 Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the other's address:
If to the Partnership or the Subsidiary Guarantors:
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
8801 South Yale Avenue, Suite 310
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (918) 492-7272
Facsimile: (918) 493-7290
If to the Trustee:
5847 San Felipe, Suite 1050
Houston, Texas 77057
Attn: Corporate Trust Group
Telephone: (713) 278-4321
Facsimile: (713) 278-4329
The Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holder's address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except in the case of notice to the Trustee, it is duly given only when received.
If the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the others and to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
All notices or communications, including without limitation notices to the Trustee, the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor by Holders, shall be in writing, except as otherwise set forth herein.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service, or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impossible to mail any notice required by this Indenture, then such method of notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient mailing of such notice.
SECTION 11.03 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
SECTION 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee at the expense of the Partnership or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be:
(1) an Officers' Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.
SECTION 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:
(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
SECTION 11.07 Legal Holidays.
If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a Place of Payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
SECTION 11.08 Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE, THE DEBT SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
SECTION 11.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Partnership, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 11.10 Successors.
All agreements of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors in this Indenture and the Debt Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 11.11 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 11.12 Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
SECTION 11.13 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The table of contents, cross-reference table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
ISSUER:
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
By: U.S. Propane, L.P.
Its: General Partner
By: U.S. Propane, L.L.C.
Its: General Partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
LA GRANGE ACQUISITION, L.P.
By: LA GP, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
LG PL, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis -------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC TEXAS PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC GAS COMPANY, LTD.
ETC OKLAHOMA PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC KATY PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC TEXAS PROCESSING, LTD.
By: LG PL, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Indenture
LGM, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis -------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC MARKETING, LTD.
By: LGM, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis -------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC OASIS GP, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis --------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPELINE, LP
ETC OASIS, L.P.
By: ETC OASIS GP, LLC, its general
partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
FIVE DAWACO, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis --------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Indenture
ET COMPANY I, LTD.
CHALKLEY TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GATHERING COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GAS COMPANY, LTD.
By: FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
TETC, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis --------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
TEXAS ENERGY TRANSFER COMPANY, LTD.
By: TETC, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis --------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE FINANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis --------------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Indenture
OASIS PARTNER COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis -------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis -------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY TEXAS L.P.
By: OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis -------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL, LP
By: ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP,
LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Indenture
TRUSTEE:
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
Trustee
By: /s/ R. Douglas Milner ------------------------------------- Name: R. Douglas Milner Title: Vice President |
Signature Page of Indenture
ANNEX A
NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Debt Securities by the Partnership.
The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Debt Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article X of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.
[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS]
By:______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Exhibit 4.2
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.,
as Issuer,
THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN,
as Subsidiary Guarantors,
and
WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of January 18, 2005
to
Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005
5.95% Senior Notes due 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ---- ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS.................................................... 1 SECTION 1.1 Generally............................................. 1 SECTION 1.2 Definition of Certain Terms........................... 2 ARTICLE II GENERAL TERMS OF THE NOTES..................................... 7 SECTION 2.1 Form.................................................. 7 SECTION 2.2 Title, Amount and Payment of Principal and Interest... 7 SECTION 2.3 Transfer and Exchange................................. 8 SECTION 2.4 Legends............................................... 9 SECTION 2.5 Registration Rights Agreement......................... 12 SECTION 2.6 Rule 144A Securities.................................. 12 ARTICLE III GUARANTEES..................................................... 12 SECTION 3.1 Guarantee of the Notes by Subsidiary Guarantors....... 12 SECTION 3.2 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors...................... 12 SECTION 3.3 Release of Guarantees................................. 12 SECTION 3.4 Reinstatement of Guarantees........................... 12 ARTICLE IV REDEMPTION..................................................... 13 SECTION 4.1 Redemption............................................ 13 ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL COVENANTS........................................... 13 SECTION 5.1 Limitation on Liens................................... 13 SECTION 5.2 Restriction on Sale-Leasebacks........................ 14 ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL EVENT OF DEFAULT.................................... 15 SECTION 6.1 Additional Event of Default........................... 15 ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS....................................... 15 SECTION 7.1 Ratification of Base Indenture........................ 15 SECTION 7.2 Trustee not Responsible for Recitals.................. 15 SECTION 7.3 Table of Contents, Headings, etc...................... 15 SECTION 7.4 Counterpart Originals................................. 15 SECTION 7.5 Governing Law......................................... 15 |
EXHIBIT A Form of Note.......................................................... A-1 EXHIBIT B Form of Certificate to be Delivered Upon Exchange or Registration of Transfer Notes..................................................... B-1 EXHIBIT C Form of Certificate to be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S.............................................. C-1 |
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of January 18, 2005, is among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), the parties identified as "Subsidiary Guarantors" on the signature pages hereto (the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), and Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee").
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors have executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (the "Base Indenture" and as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, the "Indenture"), providing for the issuance by the Partnership from time to time of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (the "Debt Securities"), and the Guarantee (as defined in the Base Indenture) by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors of the Debt Securities;
WHEREAS, the Partnership has duly authorized and desires to cause to be established pursuant to the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture a new series of Debt Securities designated the "5.95% Senior Notes due 2015" (the "Notes") to be guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors as provided in Article X of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, Sections 2.01 and 2.04 of the Base Indenture permit the execution of indentures supplemental thereto to establish the form and terms of Debt Securities of any series;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture, the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors have requested that the Trustee join in the execution of this First Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and terms of the Notes;
WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make the Notes, when executed by the Partnership and authenticated and delivered hereunder and under the Base Indenture and duly issued by the Partnership, and the Guarantee of the Subsidiary Guarantors, when the Notes are duly issued by the Partnership, the valid obligations of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors, respectively, and to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors enforceable in accordance with its terms.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee hereby agree that the following provisions shall supplement the Base Indenture:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Generally.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Base Indenture.
(b) The rules of interpretation set forth in the Base Indenture shall be applied hereto as if set forth in full herein.
SECTION 1.2 Definition of Certain Terms.
For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
"Attributable Indebtedness", when used with respect to any Sale-Leaseback Transaction (as defined in Section 5.2 hereof), means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale-Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended). In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty or other termination payment, such amount shall be the lesser of the amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the amount shall also include the amount of the penalty or termination payment, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or the amount determined assuming so such termination.
"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed; provided, however, that if no maturity is within three months before or after the maturity date for such Notes, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such United States Treasury security will be determined and the treasury rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis rounding to the nearest month.
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any Redemption Date,
(a) the average of four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the Redemption
Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, or (b) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, at any date of determination, the total amount of assets of the Partnership and its consolidated Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom:
(1) all current liabilities (excluding (A) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendable or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than twelve months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed, and (B) current maturities of long-term debt); and
(2) the value (net of any applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets,
all as set forth, or on a pro forma basis would be set forth, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the Partnership's most recently completed fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been filed with the SEC, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
"Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement dated as of January 18, 2005 among the Partnership, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other agents and lenders party thereto as amended, restated, refinanced, replaced or refunded from time to time.
"Indebtedness" of any Person at any date means any obligation created or assumed by such Person for the repayment of borrowed money or any guaranty thereof.
"Independent Investment Banker" means Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (and its successors) or if such firm is not willing and able to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee and reasonably acceptable to the Partnership.
"Permitted Liens" means:
(1) liens upon rights-of-way for pipeline purposes;
(2) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, restrictions on the use of real property or minor imperfections in title thereto and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of the properties encumbered thereby or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries;
(3) rights reserved to or vested by any provision of law in any municipality or public authority to control or regulate any of the properties of the Partnership or any Subsidiary or the use thereof or the rights and interests of the Partnership or any Subsidiary therein, in any manner under any and all laws;
(4) rights reserved to the grantors of any properties of the Partnership or any Subsidiary, and the restrictions, conditions, restrictive covenants and limitations, in respect thereto, pursuant to the terms, conditions and provisions of any rights-of-way agreements, contracts or other agreements therewith;
(5) any statutory or governmental lien or lien arising by operation of law, or any mechanics', repairmen's, materialmen's, suppliers', carriers', landlords', warehousemen's or similar lien incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not more than sixty (60) days past due or which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and any undetermined lien which is incidental to construction, development, improvement or repair;
(6) any right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or public authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of law, to purchase or recapture or to designate a purchaser of, any property;
(7) liens for taxes and assessments which are (a) for the then current year, (b) not at the time delinquent, or (c) delinquent but the validity or amount of which is being contested at the time by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(8) liens of, or to secure performance of, leases, other than capital leases;
(9) any lien in favor of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor;
(10) any lien upon any property or assets of the the Partnership or any Subsidiary in existence on the date of the initial issuance of the Notes;
(11) any lien incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance, temporary disability, social security, retiree health or similar laws or regulations or to secure obligations imposed by statute or governmental regulations;
(12) liens in favor of any Person to secure obligations under provisions of any letters of credit, bank guarantees, bonds or surety obligations required or requested by any governmental authority in connection with any contract or statute, provided that such obligations do not constitute Indebtedness; or any lien upon or deposits of any assets to secure performance of bids, trade contracts, leases or statutory obligations, and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(13) any lien upon any property or assets created at the time of acquisition of such property or assets by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries or within one year after such time to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for such property or assets or debt incurred to finance such purchase price, whether such debt was incurred prior to, at the time of or within one year after the date of such acquisition;
(14) any lien upon any property or assets to secure all or part of the cost of construction, development, repair or improvements thereon or to secure Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within one year after completion of such construction, development, repair or improvements or the commencement of full operations thereof (whichever is later), to provide finds for any such purpose;
(15) any lien upon any property or assets existing thereon at the time of the acquisition thereof by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries and any lien upon any property or assets of a Person existing thereon at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Partnership by acquisition, merger or otherwise; provided that, in each case, such lien only encumbers the property or assets so acquired or owned by such Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary;
(16) liens imposed by law or order as a result of any proceeding before any court or regulatory body that is being contested in good faith, and liens which secure a judgment or other court-ordered award or settlement as to which the Partnership or the applicable Subsidiary has not exhausted its appellate rights;
(17) any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancing, refunding or replacements) of liens, in whole or in part, referred to in clauses (1) through (16) above; provided, however, that any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be limited to the property or assets covered by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and that the obligations secured by any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be in an amount not greater than the amount of the obligations secured by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and any expenses of the Partnership or its Subsidiaries (including any premium) incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement; or
(18) any lien resulting from the deposit of moneys or evidence of indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries.
"Principal Property" means, whether owned or leased on the date hereof or thereafter acquired:
(1) any pipeline assets of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, including any related facilities employed in the gathering, transportation, distribution, storage or marketing of natural gas, refined petroleum products, natural gas liquids and petrochemicals, that are located in the United States of America or any territory or political subdivision thereof; and
(2) any processing, compression, treating, blending or manufacturing plant or terminal owned or leased by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries that is located in the United States or any territory or political subdivision thereof, except in the case of either of the preceding clauses (1) or (2):
(a) any such assets consisting of inventories, furniture, office fixtures and equipment (including data processing equipment), vehicles and equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles;
(b) any such assets which, in the opinion of the board of directors of the General Partner are not material in relation to the activities of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and
(c) any assets used primarily in the conduct of the retail propane marketing business conducted by Heritage Operating, L.P. and its Subsidiaries.
"Reference Treasury Dealer" means (a) Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and three other primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City selected by the Independent Investment Banker (each, a "Primary Treasury Dealer") and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Partnership will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer and (b) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Partnership.
"Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date for the Notes, an average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the Notes
(expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
"Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary owning or leasing, directly or indirectly through ownership in another Subsidiary, any Principal Property.
"Treasury Yield" means, with respect to any Redemption Date applicable to the Notes, (a) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; or (b) if the release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain these yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL TERMS OF THE NOTES
SECTION 2.1 Form.
The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this First Supplemental Indenture, which is hereby incorporated into this First Supplemental Indenture. The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this First Supplemental Indenture and to the extent applicable, the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
The Notes shall be issued upon original issuance in whole in the form of one or more Global Securities (the "Book-Entry Notes"). Each Book-Entry Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.
The Partnership initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Book-Entry Notes.
SECTION 2.2 Title, Amount and Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Notes shall be entitled the "5.95% Senior Notes due 2015". The Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue on the date hereof (the
"Original Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000, (ii)
additional Notes for original issue from time to time after the date hereof in
such principal amounts as may be specified in a Partnership Order described in
this sentence, provided that no such additional Notes may be issued at a price
that would cause such Notes to have "original issue discount" within the meaning
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and (iii) Exchange Notes (as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement referred to in Section 2.5 hereof)
for original issue from time to time thereafter for issue only in exchange for a
like principal amount of Notes, in each case upon a Partnership Order for the
authentication and delivery thereof and satisfaction of the other provisions of
Section 2.04 of the Base Indenture. Such order shall specify the amount of the
Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to
be authenticated, and the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders. The
aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be outstanding at any time may not
exceed $750,000,000 plus such additional principal amounts as may be issued and
authenticated pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph (except as provided in
Section 2.09 of the Indenture). The Original Notes, the Exchange Notes and any
additional Notes issued and authenticated pursuant to clause (ii) of this
paragraph shall constitute a single series of Debt Securities for all purposes
under the Indenture.
The principal amount of each Note shall be payable on February 1, 2015. Each Note shall bear interest from the date of original issuance, or the most recent date to which interest has been
paid, at the fixed rate of 5.95% per annum; provided, however, that each Exchange Note shall bear interest at the same rate from the most recent date to which interest shall have been paid on the Note for which such Exchange Note was exchanged or, if no interest shall have been paid on such Note, then from the date of original issuance of such Note. The dates on which interest on the Notes shall be payable shall be February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing August 1, 2005 (the "Interest Payment Dates"). The regular record date for interest payable on the Notes on any Interest Payment Date shall be the January 15 or July 15 (the "Regular Record Date"), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes representing Book-Entry Notes on any Interest Payment Date or at maturity will be made available to the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, unless such date falls on a day which is not a Business Day, in which case such payments will be made available to the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next Business Day. As soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make such payments to the Depositary.
SECTION 2.3 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Notes in Definitive Form. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 2.08 of the Base Indenture, Notes in definitive form that are Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement referred to in Section 2.5 hereof (the "Transfer Restricted Securities") presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Base Indenture shall be accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable, upon which the Registrar may conclusively rely:
(i) if such Transfer Restricted Securities are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto); or
(ii) if such Transfer Restricted Securities are being transferred
(1) to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under
the Securities Act) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act
or (2) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule
144 under the Securities Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel if the
Partnership or the Trustee so requests) or (3) pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to that
effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto);
or
(iii) if such Transfer Restricted Securities are being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, certifications to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of Exhibits B and C hereto) and an opinion of counsel to that effect if the Partnership or the Trustee so requests; or
(iv) if such Transfer Restricted Securities are being transferred in reliance on and in compliance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that effect from such Holder (in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto) and an opinion of counsel to that effect if the Partnership or the Trustee so requests.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of Book-Entry Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with Section 2.17 of the Base Indenture and Article II of this First Supplemental Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth therein and herein) and the rules and procedures of the Depositary therefor, which shall include restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth therein and herein to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
SECTION 2.4 Legends.
(a) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (b) and (c) immediately below, each certificate evidencing the Book-Entry Notes and Notes in definitive form (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY (AND ANY GUARANTEE HEREOF) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE ISSUER THEREOF OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS SECURITY, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, INCLUDING THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), OR (F) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS
SECURITY. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS MADE PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (C) THROUGH (E) ABOVE, THE HODLER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE ISSUER SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATON AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION," "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
In addition, if any of the Notes are issued in reliance on Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act, then such Notes shall also bear a legend substantially in the following form:
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUED IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S PROMULGATED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"). PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD WHICH SHALL EXTEND FOR A PERIOD OF FORTY (40) DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S OR THE DATE OF CLOSING OF THE OFFERING, WHICHEVER IS LATER, BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN MAY NOT BE HELD BY ANY PERSON OTHER THAN (1) A NON-U.S. PERSON OR (2) A U.S. PERSON WHO PURCHASED SUCH INTEREST IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURSUANT TO RULE 144A PROMULGATED THEREUNDER. BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN ARE NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR PHYSICAL NOTES OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE. THE TERMS IN THIS LEGEND ARE USED AS USED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
(b) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security (including any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Book-Entry Note) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, which shall be certified to the Trustee and Registrar upon which each may conclusively rely:
(i) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security in definitive form, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Note in definitive form that does not bear the legend(s) set forth in paragraph (a) above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security; and
(ii) in the case of any Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Book-Entry Note, such Book-Entry Note shall not be required to bear the legend(s) set forth in paragraph (a) above if all other interests in such Book-Entry Note have been or are
concurrently being sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, but such Book-Entry Note shall continue to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Base Indenture and Section 2.4(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement referred to in Section 2.5 hereof), the Partnership shall issue and, upon receipt of a Partnership Order in accordance with Section 2.04 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate Exchange Notes in exchange for a like principal amount of Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer, which Exchange Notes shall not bear the legend(s) set forth in paragraph (a) above, and the Registrar shall rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Exchange Notes, in each case unless the Holder of such Notes is either (A) a broker-dealer tendering Notes acquired directly from the Partnership, (B) a Person participating in the Exchange Offer for purposes of distributing the Exchange Notes or that does not acquire them in the ordinary course of such Person's business or (C) a Person who is an "affiliate" (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Partnership. The Partnership shall identify to the Trustee such Holders of the Notes in a written certification signed by an Officer of the General Partner and, absent certification from the Partnership to such effect, the Trustee shall assume that there are no such Holders.
SECTION 2.5 Registration Rights Agreement.
Holders of the Notes shall have the benefit of the Partnership's and the Subsidiary Guarantors's registration obligations with respect to the Notes under the Registration Rights Agreement dated January 18, 2005 by and among the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers named therein. Furthermore, unless the context otherwise requires, all references in the Base Indenture, in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes to "interest" in relation to the Notes shall be deemed to include any additional interest that may be owing with respect to the Notes under the Registration Rights Agreement.
SECTION 2.6 Rule 144A Securities.
The Notes constitute Rule 144A Securities within the meaning of the Base Indenture and are entitled to the benefits of Section 4.03(b) of the Base Indenture.
ARTICLE III
GUARANTEES
SECTION 3.1 Guarantee of the Notes by Subsidiary Guarantors.
In accordance with Article X of the Base Indenture, the Notes shall be entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors.
SECTION 3.2 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors.
If any Subsidiary of the Partnership that is not then a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees, becomes a co-obligor with respect to or otherwise provides direct credit support for any obligations of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, then the
Partnership shall cause such Subsidiary to promptly execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to the Indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, providing for the Guarantee by such Subsidiary of the Partnership's obligations under the Notes in accordance with Article X of the Base Indenture.
SECTION 3.3 Release of Guarantees.
In addition to the provisions of Section 10.04(a) of the Base Indenture, the Guarantee of the Notes of any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be unconditionally released and discharged, following delivery of written notice by the Partnership to the Trustee, upon the release and discharge of all guarantees or other obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to the obligations of Energy Transfer or its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 3.4 Reinstatement of Guarantees.
If at any time following any release of the Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 3.3 above, such Subsidiary Guarantor again guarantees, becomes a co-obligor with respect to or otherwise provides direct credit support for any obligations of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, then such Subsidiary Guarantor shall again guarantee the Partnership's obligations under the Notes and the Partnership shall cause such Subsidiary Guarantor to promptly execute and deliver a supplemental indenture to the Indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, providing for the Guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor of the Partnership's obligations under the Notes in accordance with Article X of the Base Indenture.
ARTICLE IV
REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1 Redemption.
Except as provided in this Section 4.1 and in paragraph 5 of the Notes, the Partnership shall have no obligation to redeem, purchase or repay the Notes pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof.
The Notes are redeemable, at the option of the Partnership, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of calculation of the redemption price) on the Notes to be redeemed that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 30 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued interest to the Redemption Date.
The actual redemption price, calculated as provided above, shall be calculated and certified to the Trustee and the Partnership by the Independent Investment Banker.
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
In addition to the covenants set forth in the Base Indenture, the Notes shall be entitled to the benefit of the following covenants:
SECTION 5.1 Limitation on Liens.
The Partnership shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or other encumbrance ("liens") upon any Principal Property or upon any capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned on the date hereof or thereafter acquired, to secure any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any other Person (other than the Notes), without in any such case making effective provisions whereby all of the outstanding Notes are secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such Indebtedness so long as such Indebtedness is so secured.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may, and may permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist without securing the Notes (a) any Permitted Lien, (b) any lien upon any Principal Property or capital stock of a Restricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of the Partnership or any other Person, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness then outstanding secured by such lien and all similar liens under this clause (b), together with all Attributable Indebtedness from Sale-Leaseback Transactions (excluding Sale-Leaseback Transactions permitted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of Section 5.2 hereof), does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (c) any lien upon (i) any Principal Property that was not owned by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or (ii) the capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary that owns no Principal property that was owned by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries on the date hereof, in each case owned by a Subsidiary of the Partnership (an "Excluded Subsidiary") that (A) is not, and is not required to be, a Subsidiary Guarantor and (B) has not granted any liens on any of its property securing Indebtedness with recourse to the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership other than such Excluded Subsidiary or any other Excluded Subsidiary.
SECTION 5.2 Restriction on Sale-Leasebacks.
The Partnership will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in the sale or transfer by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries of any Principal Property to a Person (other than the Partnership or a Subsidiary Guarantor) and the taking back by the Partnership or its Subsidiary, as the case may be, of a lease of such Principal Property (a "Sale-Leaseback Transaction"), unless:
(1) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction occurs within one year from the date of completion of the acquisition of the Principal Property subject thereto or the date of the completion of construction, development or substantial repair or improvement, or commencement of full operations on such Principal Property, whichever is later;
(2) the Sale-Leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a period, including renewals, of not more than three years;
(3) the Partnership or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a lien on the Principal Property subject thereto in a principal amount equal to or exceeding the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction without equally and ratably securing the notes; or
(4) the Partnership or such Subsidiary, within a one-year period after such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, applies or causes to be applied an amount not less than the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction to (a) the prepayment, repayment, redemption, reduction or retirement of any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries that is not subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee, or (b) the expenditure or expenditures for Principal Property used or to be used in the ordinary course of business of Partnership or its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership may, and may permit any Subsidiary to, effect any Sale-Leaseback Transaction that is not excepted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of the preceding paragraph provided that the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness (other than the Notes) secured by liens other than Permitted Liens upon Principal Properties, does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.1 Additional Event of Default.
In addition to the Events of Default specified in Section 6.01 of the Base
Indenture, the following shall be an Event of Default with respect to the Notes:
any Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Subsidiary Guarantor is not paid
within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by the
holders thereof because of a default and the total amount of such Indebtedness
unpaid or accelerated exceeds $25,000,000.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 7.1 Ratification of Base Indenture.
The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
SECTION 7.2 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except with respect to the Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Partnership, and the Trustee
assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes.
SECTION 7.3 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The table of contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this First Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 7.4 Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
SECTION 7.5 Governing Law.
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS TO THE EXTENT THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
ISSUER:
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
By: U.S. Propane, L.P.
Its: General Partner
By: U.S. Propane, L.L.C.
Its: General Partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
LA GRANGE ACQUISITION, L.P.
By: LA GP, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
LG PL, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC TEXAS PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC GAS COMPANY, LTD.
ETC OKLAHOMA PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC KATY PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC TEXAS PROCESSING, LTD.
By: LG PL, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of First Supplemental Indenture
LGM, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC MARKETING, LTD.
By: LGM, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC OASIS GP, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPELINE, LP
ETC OASIS, L.P.
By: ETC OASIS GP, LLC, its general
partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
FIVE DAWACO, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ET COMPANY I, LTD.
CHALKLEY TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GATHERING COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GAS COMPANY, LTD.
By: FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general
partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of First Supplemental Indenture
TETC, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
TEXAS ENERGY TRANSFER COMPANY, LTD.
By: TETC, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE FINANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PARTNER COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of First Supplemental Indenture
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY TEXAS L.P.
By: OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY,
its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ----------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL, LP
By: ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP,
LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
TRUSTEE:
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: /s/ R. Douglas Milner ----------------------------------- Name: R. Douglas Milner Title: Vice President |
Signature Page of First Supplemental Indenture
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
[FACE OF SECURITY]
[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC") (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10041) TO
THE PARTNERSHIP OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER
NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]*
[TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT
NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR'S
NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO
TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE
REFERRED TO HEREIN.]*
No. _____ Principal Amount $___________, [which amount may be increased or decreased by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto.]* |
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
5.95% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2015
CUSIP ___________
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership," which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [Cede & Co.]* or its registered assigns, the principal sum of __________________ U.S. dollars ($__________), [or such greater or lesser principal sum as is shown on the attached Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security]*, on February 1, 2015 in such coin and currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest at an annual rate of 5.95% payable on February 1 and August 1 of each year, to the person in whose name the Security is registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest, which shall be the preceding January 15 and July 15 (each, a "Regular Record Date"), respectively,
payable commencing on August 1, 2005, with interest accruing from January 18, 2005, or the most recent date to which interest shall have been paid.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
The statements in the legends set forth in this Security are an integral part of the terms of this Security and by acceptance hereof the Holder of this Security agrees to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions set forth in each such legend
This Security is issued in respect of a series of Debt Securities of an initial aggregate of $750,000,000 in principal amount designated as the 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015 of the Partnership and is governed by the Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005 (the "Base Indenture"), duly executed and delivered by the Partnership, as issuer, and the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein, as Subsidiary Guarantors (the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), to Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005, duly executed by the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee (the "First Supplemental Indenture", and together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture"). The terms of the Indenture are incorporated herein by reference. This Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits as definitive Debt Securities under the Indenture.
If and to the extent any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any other provision of the Indenture that is required to be included in the Indenture or is deemed applicable to the Indenture by virtue of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), such required provision shall control.
The Partnership hereby irrevocably undertakes to the Holder hereof to exchange this Security in accordance with the terms of the Indenture without charge.
This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee under the Indenture.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partnership has caused this instrument to be duly executed by its sole General Partner.
Dated: January 18, 2005
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
By: U.S. Propane, L.P.
Its: General Partner
By: U.S. Propane, L.L.C.
Its: General Partner
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:
This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
Authorized Signatory
[REVERSE OF SECURITY]
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
5.95% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2015
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Partnership (the "Debt Securities") of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Holders of the Debt Securities. The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any) and may otherwise vary as provided in the Indenture. This Security is one of a series designated as the 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015 of the Partnership, in initial aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000 (the "Securities").
1. Interest.
The Partnership promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate of 5.95% per annum.
The Partnership will pay interest semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year (each an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing August 1, 2005. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Securities, from January 18, 2005. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The Partnership shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy laws) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) and on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the same rate per annum, in each case to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment.
The Partnership shall pay interest on the Securities (except Defaulted Interest) to the persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for ("Defaulted Interest") may be paid to the persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may then be listed if such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee, as more fully provided in the Indenture. The Partnership shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depositary.
Payments in respect of Securities in definitive form (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made at the office or agency of the Partnership maintained for such purpose within The City of New York, which initially will be at the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at One Penn Plaza, Suite 1414, New York, New York 10119, or, at the option of the Partnership, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders on the relevant record date at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders maintained by the Registrar or at the option of the Holder, payment of interest on Securities in definitive form will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to any account maintained in the United States, provided such Holder has requested such method of payment and provided timely wire transfer instructions to the Paying Agent. The Holder must surrender this Security to a Paying Agent to collect payment of principal.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar.
Initially, Wachovia Bank, National Association will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Partnership may change any Paying Agent or Registrar at any time upon notice to the Trustee and the Holders. The Partnership may act as Paying Agent.
4. Indenture.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Debt Securities of the Partnership issued and to be issued in one or more series under the Indenture.
Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Base Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA, as in effect on the date of the Base Indenture, and those terms stated in the First Supplemental Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Securities are referred to the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. The Securities of this series are general unsecured obligations of the Partnership limited to an initial aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased from time to time as provided in the First Supplemental Indenture.
5. Redemption.
The Securities are redeemable, at the option of the Partnership, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed; or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of calculation of the redemption price) on the Securities to be redeemed that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (exclusive of interest accrued to the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus 30 basis points; plus, in either case, accrued interest to the Redemption Date.
The actual redemption price, calculated as provided above, shall be calculated and certified to the Trustee and the Partnership by the Independent Investment Banker.
Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
6. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Securities are to be issued in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may register the transfer of, or exchange, Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
7. Person Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of a Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
8. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended or supplemented, and any existing Event of Default or compliance with any provision may be waived, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected. Without consent of any Holder of a Security, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture to, among other things, cure any ambiguity or omission, to correct any defect or inconsistency, or to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Security. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Security and any Securities which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Security or such other Securities.
9. Defaults and Remedies.
Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default that will result in the principal amount of the Securities, together with premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, becoming due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default. If any other Event of Default with respect to the Securities occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may declare the principal amount of all the Securities, together with premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, however, if at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Trustee, may rescind such declaration and annul its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court already rendered and if all Events of Default with respect to the Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest which has become due solely by such declaration acceleration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity or security
satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
10. Registration Rights.
The Holder of this Security may be entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") dated as of January 18, 2005 by and among the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers named therein. In certain events, the Partnership shall be required to pay to each affected Holder additional interest on the Securities, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement, and all references to "interest" herein include any such additional interest unless the context otherwise requires.
11. Trustee Dealings with Partnership.
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Partnership or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Partnership or its Affiliates as if it were not the Trustee.
12. Authentication.
This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
13. Abbreviations and Defined Terms.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (tenant in common), TEN ENT (tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (Custodian), and U/G/M/A (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
14. CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Partnership has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such number as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
15. Absolute Obligation.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Partnership, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Security in the manner, at the respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
16. No Recourse.
No director, officer, employee, limited partner or shareholder, as such, of the Partnership or the General Partner shall have any personal liability in respect of the obligations of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Securities, the Indenture or any Guarantee by reason of his, her or its status. Each Holder by accepting the Securities waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.
17. Governing Law.
This Security shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
18. Guarantee.
The Securities are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis by the Subsidiary Guarantors as set forth in Article X of the Indenture, as noted in the Notation of Guarantee to this Security, and under certain circumstances set forth in the Base Indenture one or more Subsidiaries of the Partnership may be required to join in such guarantee.
NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities by the Partnership.
The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Holders of Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article X of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
LA GRANGE ACQUISITION, L.P.
By: LA GP, LLC, its general partner
LG PL, LLC
ETC TEXAS PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC GAS COMPANY, LTD.
ETC OKLAHOMA PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC KATY PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC TEXAS PROCESSING, LTD.
By: LG PL, LLC, its general partner
LGM, LLC
ETC MARKETING, LTD.
By: LGM, LLC, its general partner
ETC OASIS GP, LLC
OASIS PIPELINE, LP
ETC OASIS, L.P.
By: ETC OASIS GP, LLC, its general
partner
FIVE DAWACO, LLC
ET COMPANY I, LTD.
CHALKLEY TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GATHERING COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GAS COMPANY, LTD.
By: FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general partner
TETC, LLC
TEXAS ENERGY TRANSFER COMPANY, LTD.
By: TETC, LLC, its general partner
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY
OASIS PIPE LINE FINANCE COMPANY
OASIS PARTNER COMPANY
OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY TEXAS L.P.
By: OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY,
its general partner
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP, LLC
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL, LP
By: ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP,
LLC, its general partner
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ------------------ (Cust.) TEN ENT - as tenants by Custodian for: ------------------------ entireties (Minor) JT TEN - as joint tenants Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act with right of survivorship and of ----------------------------------- not as tenants in common (State) |
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
Please print or type name and address including postal zip code of assignee:
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing to transfer said Security on the books of the Partnership, with full power of substitution in the premises.
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES
IN GLOBAL SECURITY*
The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF AMOUNT AMOUNT OF INCREASE IN OF THIS GLOBAL SIGNATURE OF DECREASE IN PRINCIPAL SECURITY AUTHORIZED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT FOLLOWING OFFICER AMOUNT OF THIS OF THIS SUCH DECREASE OF TRUSTEE OR DATE OF EXCHANGE GLOBAL SECURITY GLOBAL SECURITY (OR INCREASE) DEPOSITARY ---------------- --------------- --------------- ------------- ---------- |
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE
OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF NOTES
Re: 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015 of Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
This Certificate relates to $_____ principal amount of Notes held in** ______ book-entry or **______ definitive form by _____________________ (the "Transferor").
The Transferor has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.
In connection with such request and in respect of each such Note, the Transferor does hereby certify that the Transferor is familiar with the Indenture relating to the above-captioned Notes and that the transfer of this Note does not require registration under the Securities Act (as defined below) because:**
[ ] Such Note is being acquired for the Transferor's own account without transfer.
[ ] Such Note is being transferred (i) to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")), in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of another qualified institutional buyer, in each case to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and in the case of clause (ii), based upon an opinion of counsel if the Partnership or the Trustee so requests, together with a certification in substantially the form of Exhibit C to the Indenture).
[ ] Such Note is being transferred (i) pursuant to an exemption from
registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (and based
upon an opinion of counsel if the Partnership or the Trustee so requests) or
(ii) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
[ ] Such Note is being transferred in reliance on and in compliance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an opinion of counsel if the Partnership or the Trustee so requests).
[INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR]
** Fill in blank or check appropriate box, as applicable
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION
WITH TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S
-----------, -----
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Registrar
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale of certain 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015 (the "Notes") of Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (the "Partnership"), we represent that:
(a) the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;
(b) either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;
(c) no directed selling efforts have been made by us in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 904(a) of Regulation S; and
(d) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.
In addition, if the sale is made during a distribution compliance period and the provisions of Rule 904(b)(1) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 904(b)(1).
You and the Partnership are entitled to rely upon this letter and you are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.
Very truly yours,
Name:
Title:
Address:
Exhibit 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 18, 2005
By and Among
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.,
the GUARANTORS
and
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
$750,000,000
5.95% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. Definitions.................................................. 1
2. Exchange Offer............................................... 4
3. Shelf Registration Statement................................. 8
4. Additional Interest.......................................... 9
5. Registration Procedures...................................... 12
6. Registration Expenses........................................ 20
7. Indemnification.............................................. 21
8. Rule 144 and 144A............................................ 25
9. Miscellaneous................................................ 25
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is dated as of January 18, 2005 by and among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership"), the subsidiaries of the Partnership signing this Agreement as Guarantors (the "Guarantors"), and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement"), dated as of January 12, 2005, by and among the Partnership, the Guarantors, and the Initial Purchasers that provides for the sale by the Partnership to the Initial Purchasers of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Partnership's 5.95% Senior Notes due 2015 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsubordinated, unsecured basis by the Guarantors as of their issue date (the "Guarantees"). The Notes and the Guarantees together are referred to as the "Securities." To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Partnership and the Guarantors have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees and assigns. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligations to purchase the Securities under the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Additional Interest shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the first introductory paragraph.
Applicable Period shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
Closing Date shall have the meaning given to such term in the Purchase Agreement.
Commission means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
DTC means The Depository Trust Company.
Effectiveness Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(ii).
Effectiveness Period shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Notes shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
Exchange Offer shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
Exchange Registration Statement shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
Filing Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i).
Guarantee shall have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph.
Guarantors shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
Holder means any holder of a Registrable Security.
Indemnified Person shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).
Indemnifying Person shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).
Indenture means the Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2005, by and among the Partnership, as issuer, the Guarantors, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 18, 2005 and as further amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers shall have the meaning set forth in the first introductory paragraph.
Inspectors shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(n).
NASD means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Notes shall have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph.
Participant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).
Participating Broker-Dealer shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(b).
Partnership shall have the meaning set forth in the first introductory paragraph.
Person means an individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, union, business association, firm or other legal entity.
Private Exchange shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
Private Exchange Notes shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
Prospectus means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus and any prospectus as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, and all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities, including post-effective amendments, in each case including all documents incorporated by reference therein.
Purchase Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph.
Records shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(n).
Registrable Securities means each Note (and the related Guarantee), each Exchange Note (and the related Guarantee) as to which Section 2(c)(ii)(D) hereof is applicable and each Private Exchange Note (and the related Guarantee), until the earliest to occur of (a) a Registration Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(ii)(D) hereof is applicable, the Exchange Registration Statement) covering such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note (and, in each case, the related Guarantee), as the case may be, has been declared effective by the Commission and such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note (and, in each case, the related Guarantee), as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (b) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, is sold in compliance with Rule 144, or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k), (c) such Note has been exchanged for an Exchange Note pursuant to an Exchange Offer and is entitled to be resold without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and (d) such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note (and, in each case, the related Guarantee), as the case may be, ceases to be outstanding for purposes of the Indenture.
Registration Statement means any registration statement of the Partnership and the Guarantors filed with the Commission pursuant to this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any Exchange Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, including the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to such registration statement, including all post-effective amendments and exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144) or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
Rule 415 means Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
Securities shall have the meaning set forth in the second introductory paragraph.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Shelf Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).
Shelf Registration Statement shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a).
TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trustee means the trustee under the Indenture.
2. Exchange Offer
(a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement. The Partnership and the Guarantors shall file with the Commission, to the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the Commission, a Registration Statement on the appropriate form (the "Exchange Registration Statement") no later than the 120th day after the Closing Date for offers to exchange (collectively, the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Registrable Securities (other than the Private Exchange Notes, if any) for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Partnership (guaranteed by the Guarantors) that are identical in all material respects to such Notes and the related Guarantees (collectively, the "Exchange Notes"). The Exchange Notes shall be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture that is identical in all material respects to the Indenture (other than such changes as are necessary to comply with any requirements of the Commission to effect or maintain the qualification thereof under the TIA), except that the Exchange Notes (other than Private Exchange Notes, if any) shall have been registered pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act and shall contain no restrictive legend thereon. The Exchange Offer shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Partnership and the Guarantors agree to use their respective reasonable efforts to (i) cause the Exchange Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or before the 210th day after the Closing Date; (ii) keep the Exchange Offer open for at least 20 business days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is first mailed to Holders; provided, that the Exchange Offer must be consummated no later than 45 days following the date the Exchange Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission; and (iii) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the date that is 210 days plus 45 days following the Closing Date. If after such Exchange Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, the Exchange Offer or the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is delayed or suspended by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, such Exchange Registration Statement shall be deemed not to have become effective for purposes of this Agreement during the period of such delay or suspension until the Exchange Offer may legally resume.
Each Holder who participates in the Exchange Offer will be required to make representations in writing to the Partnership and the Guarantors, including representations that any Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act and that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Partnership or the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act and is not acting on behalf of any Persons who could not truthfully make the foregoing representations. Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Securities that are Private Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Partnership and the Guarantors shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange Notes and other than in respect of any Exchange Notes as to which clause 2(c)(ii)(D) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 hereof. No securities other than the Exchange Notes shall be included in the Exchange Registration Statement.
(b) Plan of Distribution. The Partnership and the Guarantors shall include within the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution" that shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also expressly permit the use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.
The Partnership and the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable efforts to keep the Exchange Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order to permit
such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as is necessary to comply with applicable law in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes; provided, however, that such period shall not exceed 180 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer (or such longer period if extended pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 5 hereof) (the "Applicable Period").
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, any of the Initial Purchasers holds any Notes acquired by it and having, or that are reasonably likely to be determined to have, the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution of the Notes, the Partnership and the Guarantors, upon the request of any such Initial Purchaser simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for such Notes held by the Initial Purchaser a like principal amount of debt securities of the Partnership guaranteed by the Guarantors that are identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes (the "Private Exchange Notes") (and that are issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes), except for the placement of a restrictive legend on such Private Exchange Notes. If permissible, the Private Exchange Notes shall bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.
Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes will accrue from the later of (i) (A) the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or (B) if the Notes are surrendered for exchange on a date in a period which includes the record date for an interest payment date to occur on or after the date of such exchange and as to which interest will be paid, the date of such interest payment date or (ii) if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from the Closing Date.
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Partnership and the Guarantors shall:
(1) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(2) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and
(3) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Partnership and the Guarantors shall:
(1) accept for exchange all Notes properly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange; and
(2) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such Holder accepted for exchange.
The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be issued under the Indenture or an indenture identical in all material respects to the Indenture, which in either event shall provide that the Exchange Notes shall not be subject to any transfer restrictions and the Private Exchange Notes shall be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth or referred to in the restrictive legend placed on such Private Exchange Notes. The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that neither the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes nor the Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.
(c) Delivery of Shelf Notice.
(i) If, following the date hereof there is announced a change in Commission policy that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Partnership and the Guarantors raises a substantial question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal law, the Partnership and the Guarantors hereby agree to seek a no-action letter or other favorable decision from the Commission allowing the Partnership and the Guarantors to consummate an Exchange Offer for the Notes. The Partnership and the Guarantors agree to pursue the issuance of such a decision to the level of the senior staff of the Commission. In connection with the foregoing, the Partnership and the Guarantors hereby agree to take all such other actions as may be requested by the Commission or its staff or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such decision, including without limitation (A) participating in telephonic conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission or its staff an analysis prepared by counsel to the Partnership and the Guarantors setting forth the legal bases, if any, upon which such counsel has concluded that the Exchange Offer should be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be favorable) by the Commission or its staff.
(ii) If, (A) notwithstanding the efforts contemplated above, the Partnership and the Guarantors are not permitted to effect an Exchange Offer, (B) a Holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests within 20 business days after the consummation of the Private Exchange, (C) because of any changes in law or in currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the Commission, a Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser holding Notes acquired directly from the Partnership and the Guarantors) is not permitted to participate in the Exchange Offer and requests the Partnership and the Guarantors in writing within 20 business days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer to have such Holder's Notes included in a Registration Statement, (D) in the case of any Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction under state and federal securities laws (other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of the Partnership or the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act) and such Holder requests the Partnership in writing within 20 business days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer to have such Holder's Notes included in a Registration Statement, or (E) for any other reason the Partnership and the Guarantors do not consummate the Exchange offer by the date contemplated by Section 2(a)(iii), then the Partnership and the Guarantors shall promptly deliver written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") to the Trustee and the affected Holder(s) of the Notes, and shall file a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Notes pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
3. Shelf Registration Statement
If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c)(ii) hereof, then:
(a) Shelf Registration Statement. The Partnership and the Guarantors shall file with the Commission a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering (i) all of the Registrable Securities not exchanged in the Exchange Offer, (ii) all of the Private Exchange Notes and (iii) all of the Exchange Notes of the Notes for which Section 2(c)(ii)(D) applies (the "Shelf Registration Statement"). The Partnership and the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable efforts to file with the Commission the Shelf Registration Statement as soon as practicable and in any event on or prior to the 90th day after the delivery of the Shelf Notice. The Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (but not including any underwritten offerings). The Partnership and the Guarantors shall not permit any securities other than
the Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement.
The Partnership and the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the date that is 180 days after delivery of the Shelf Notice and to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that is two years from the Closing Date (or such shorter restrictive period as may be required pursuant to Rule 144(k)) or such shorter period ending when all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Shelf Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding (the "Effectiveness Period"); provided, however, that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the Shelf Registration Statement shall be extended to the extent required to permit dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule 174 under the Securities Act and as otherwise provided herein.
(b) Withdrawal of Stop Orders. If the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time during the Effectiveness Period due to the receipt of a stop order from the Commission, the Partnership and the Guarantors shall use their respective reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of such stop order.
(c) Supplements and Amendments. The Partnership and the Guarantors shall promptly supplement and amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the Securities Act or if reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.
4. Additional Interest
(a) The Partnership, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers
agree that the Holders of Registrable Securities will
suffer damages if the Partnership and the Guarantors fail
to fulfill their respective obligations under Section 2 or
Section 3 hereof and that it would not be feasible to
ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.
Accordingly, the Partnership and the Guarantors, jointly
and severally, agree to pay, as liquidated damages,
additional interest on the Notes so affected ("Additional
Interest"), over and above the stated interest for the
Notes, under the circumstances and to the extent set forth
below (without duplication):
(i) if (A) neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date that is 120 days after the Closing Date or (B) notwithstanding that the Partnership and the Guarantors have
consummated or will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Partnership and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the 90th day after the delivery of the Shelf Notice applicable thereto, then, commencing on the 121st date after the Closing Date (in the case of foregoing clause (A)) or on the 91st day after the delivery of the Shelf Notice (in the case of foregoing clause (B)) (each such respective date, a "Filing Date"), Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and above the stated interest for the Notes at a rate of 0.25% per year during the first 90-day period, and such rate will increase by an additional 0.25% per year with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.0%;
(ii) if (A) the Exchange Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the date that is 210 days after the Closing Date, or (B) notwithstanding that the Partnership and the Guarantors have consummated or will consummate the Exchange Offer, the Partnership and the Guarantors are required to file a Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date that is 180 days after the delivery of the Shelf Notice in respect of such Shelf Registration Statement, then commencing on the 211th day after the Closing Date (in the case of foregoing clause (A)) or on the 181st day after delivery of the Shelf Notice (in the case of foregoing clause (B)) (each such respective date, an "Effectiveness Date"), Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes included or that should have been included in such Registration Statement over and above the stated interest for the Notes at a rate of 0.25% per year during the first 90-day period, and such rate will increase by an additional 0.25% per year with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.0%; and
(iii) if either (A) the Partnership and the Guarantors have not exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 45th day after the date on which the Exchange Registration Statement is first declared effective or (B) if applicable, a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date (or such corresponding shorter restrictive period, if Rule 144(k) is amended to provide a shorter restrictive period) while any Registrable Securities are outstanding, then Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and above the stated interest on the Notes at a rate of 0.25% per year during the first 90-day period, and such rate will increase by
an additional 0.25% per year with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum additional
interest rate of 1.0% commencing on (x) the 46th day
after such effective date of the Exchange Registration
Statement (in the case of foregoing clause (A) above) or
(y) the day such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to
be effective (in the case of foregoing clause (B)
above);
provided, however, that (1) the Additional Interest rate on the Notes may not accrue under more than one of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 4(a) at any one time, (2) at no time shall the aggregate amount of Additional Interest accruing on the Notes exceed 1.0% per annum, (3) no Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes if the Partnership and the Guarantors have timely filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement but are unable to complete the Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2(c) and have timely delivered a Shelf Notice, unless the Partnership and the Guarantors shall thereafter fail to satisfy one or more of the time requirements specified above in clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 4(a) for filing and effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, in which event Additional Interest as specified above shall accrue, and (4) all Additional Interest payable on the Notes shall cease to accrue upon the earliest to occur of (x) the expiration of the second anniversary of the Closing Date or (y) the expiration of such shorter restrictive period applicable to the Registrable Securities that may be required pursuant to Rule 144(k);
and provided, further, that (1) upon the filing of the
Exchange Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration
Statement with respect to the Notes (in the case of clause (i)
of this Section 4(a)), (2) upon the effectiveness of the
Exchange Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration
Statement (in the case of clause (ii) of this Section 4(a)),
(3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Notes tendered
(in the case of clause (iii)(A) of this Section 4(a)), (4)
upon the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration
Statement that had ceased to remain effective (in the case of
(iii)(B) of this Section 4(a)) and (5) upon such time as there
are no Registrable Securities outstanding, Additional Interest
on the Notes shall cease to accrue.
(b) Notification and Payment of Additional Interest. The Partnership and the Guarantors shall notify the Trustee within three business days after each date on which an event occurs for which Additional Interest is required to be paid pursuant to Section 4(a). Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to this Section 4 will be payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year (to the holders of record on the January 15 and July 15 immediately preceding such interest payment dates), commencing with the first such date occurring after any such Additional Interest commences to accrue. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional
Interest rate by the principal amount of the Notes outstanding, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and the denominator of which is 360).
5. Registration Procedures
In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Partnership and the Guarantors shall effect
such registrations to permit the sale of the securities covered thereby in
accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and
pursuant thereto and in connection with any Registration Statement filed
by the Partnership and the Guarantors hereunder, the Partnership and the
Guarantors shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the 120th day after the Closing Date (in the case of the Exchange Registration Statement) or the 90th day after delivery of the Shelf Notice (in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement), any Registration Statement required by Section 2 or 3 hereof, and use their reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that if such filing is pursuant to Section 3 hereof, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Partnership and the Guarantors shall furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and their counsel a reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed, in each case at least three business days prior to such filing. The Partnership and the Guarantors shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or their counsel shall reasonably object on or prior to the third business day following receipt of a copy of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto proposed to be filed.
(b) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any prospectus supplement required by applicable law, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or in
such Prospectus as so supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus; the Partnership and the Guarantors shall be deemed not to have used their respective reasonable efforts to keep a Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if either of the Partnership or the Guarantors voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the Registrable Securities covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking to sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Registrable Securities or such Exchange Notes during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law or unless the Partnership and the Guarantors comply with this Agreement, including without limitation, the provisions of Section 5(k) hereof and the last paragraph of this Section 5.
(c) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof or a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, notify the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and their counsel, promptly (but in any event within two business days) and confirm such notice in writing:
(i) when a Prospectus or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective under the Securities Act (including in such notice a written statement that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, at the sole expense of the Partnership or the Guarantors, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and all exhibits);
(ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iii) if, at any time when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or resales of Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers, the representations and warranties of the Partnership or the Guarantors contained in any agreement cease to be true and correct;
(iv) of the receipt by the Partnership or the Guarantors of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or
exemption from qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or written threat of any proceeding for such purpose;
(v) of the happening of any event, the existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in or amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or Prospectus so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(vi) of the Partnership's and Guarantors' determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; and
(vii) if at any time when a Prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or resales of Exchange Notes by Participating Broker-Dealers, the Partnership and the Guarantors determine, in their reasonable judgment, after consultation with counsel, that the continued use of the Prospectus would require the disclosure of confidential information or interfere with any financing, acquisition, reorganization or other material transaction involving the Partnership or the Guarantors.
(d) Use their respective reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Notes for sale in any jurisdiction in the United States and, if any such order is issued, to use their reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order.
(e) [RESERVED]
(f) If (i) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (ii) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities and to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests and to their respective counsel at the sole expense of the Partnership and the Guarantors, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits.
(g) If (i) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (ii) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and their respective counsel, at the sole expense of the Partnership and the Guarantors, as many copies of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, the Partnership and the Guarantors hereby consent to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the agents, if any, and dealers, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by, or the sale by Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any delivery of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, to use their reasonable efforts to register or qualify and to cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any selling Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer reasonably requests in writing; provided, however, that where Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or Registrable Securities are offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Partnership and the Guarantors agree to cause their counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); use their reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all
other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither the Partnership nor the Guarantors shall be required to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a securities dealer in any jurisdiction or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
(i) If a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form eligible for deposit with DTC; and, if such Registrable Securities are to be in certificated form, to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may reasonably request.
(j) Use their respective reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Holders thereof or the Participating Broker-Dealers, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's business, in which case the Partnership and the Guarantors will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.
(k) If (1) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3
hereof or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration
Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating
Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable
Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
5(c)(v), 5(c)(vi) or 5(c)(vii) hereof, as promptly as practicable
(in the case of 5(c)(vii) after cessation of the transaction
referred to therein), prepare and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof)
file with the Commission, at the Partnership's and Guarantors' sole
expense, a supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or
any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference, or file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities
being sold thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to
whom such Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating
Broker-Dealer, any such Prospectus will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Use respective reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies.
(m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, (i) provide the Trustee with certificates for, or the form of global note with respect to, the Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with DTC and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes, as the case may be.
(n) If (i) a Shelf Registration Statement is filed pursuant to Section 3 hereof or (ii) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, upon reasonable advance notice make available for inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Securities being sold, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours without interfering in the orderly business of the Partnership or the Guarantors, all financial and other relevant records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Partnership and the Guarantors and their subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Partnership and the Guarantors and their subsidiaries to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement. Records that the Partnership and the Guarantors determine, in good faith, to be confidential and any Records that they notify the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (A) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a material misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement, (B) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (C) after giving reasonable prior notice to the Partnership and the Guarantors, disclosure of such information is, in the opinion of counsel for any Inspector, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, relating to or involving this Agreement or any transactions contemplated hereby or arising hereunder or (D) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the
public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Partnership or the Guarantors unless and until such information is generally available to the public. Each selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Partnership and the Guarantors and allow the Partnership and the Guarantors to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential at the sole expense of Partnership and the Guarantors.
(o) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust indenture provided for in Section 2(a) hereof, as the case may be, to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange Offer or the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders of the Registrable Securities, to effect such changes to such indenture as may be required for such indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA; and execute, and use its reasonable efforts to cause such Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.
(p) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its securityholders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Partnership and the Guarantors after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.
(q) If an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Securities by Holders to the Partnership or the Guarantors (or to such other Person as directed by the Partnership) in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Partnership or the Guarantors, as the case may be, shall mark, or cause to be marked, on such
Registrable Securities that such Registrable Securities are being cancelled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.
(r) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement and each Participating Broker-Dealer, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD.
(s) Use their respective reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary or advisable to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.
The Partnership and the Guarantors may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Partnership and the Guarantors such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Partnership and the Guarantors may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Partnership and the Guarantors may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any seller who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request and in such event shall have no further obligation under this Agreement (including, without limitation, obligations under Section 4 hereof) with respect to such seller or any subsequent holder of such Registrable Securities. Each seller as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Partnership and the Guarantors all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Partnership and the Guarantors by such seller not materially misleading.
Each Holder of Registrable Securities and each Participating Broker-Dealer agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon actual receipt of any notice from the Partnership or the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), 5(c)(vi) or 5(c)(vii) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, until such Holder's or Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership and the Guarantors that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto. If the Partnership or the Guarantors shall give any such notice, each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have received (i) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof or (ii) written notice that use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, provided that the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall not be extended beyond two years after the Closing Date.
6. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Partnership and the Guarantors shall be borne by the Partnership and the Guarantors whether or not the Exchange Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders of Registrable Securities are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable Period)), (ii) printing and duplicating expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of preparing certificates for Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes in a form eligible for deposit with DTC and of printing or duplicating Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement or sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Partnership and the Guarantors and fees and disbursements of special counsel for the sellers of Registrable Securities (subject to the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof), (v) rating agency fees, if any, and any fees associated with making the Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes eligible for trading through DTC, (vi) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Partnership and the Guarantors desire such insurance, (vii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Partnership and the Guarantors, (viii) internal expenses of the Partnership and the Guarantors (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the Partnership and the Guarantors performing legal or accounting duties), (ix) the expense of any annual audit, (x) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange, if applicable, and (xi) the expenses relating to printing, word processing and
distributing of all Registration Statements, underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and any other documents necessary to comply with this Agreement.
(b) The Partnership and the Guarantors shall (i) reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Securities being registered in a Shelf Registration Statement for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration Statement, and (ii) reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (other than legal expenses) of Holders of Registrable Securities incurred in connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
7. Indemnification
(a) Each of the Partnership and the Guarantors agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Securities offered pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and each Participating Broker-Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, the officers and directors of each such Person or its affiliates, and each other Person, if any, who controls any such Person or its affiliates within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "Participant"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, the reasonable legal fees and other expenses actually incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted) caused by, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement pursuant to which the offering of such Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, is registered (or any amendment thereto) or related Prospectus (or any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by, arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that none of the Partnership or the Guarantors will be required to indemnify a Participant if (i) such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Participant furnished to the Partnership and the Guarantors in writing by or on behalf of such Participant expressly for use therein or (ii) if such Participant sold to the Person asserting the claim the Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes that are the subject of such claim after receipt of a notice from the Partnership and the Guarantors pursuant to Sections 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), 5(c)(vi) or 5(c)(vii) hereof and prior to receipt of copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, or written
notice from the Partnership and the Guarantors that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed.
(b) Each Participant shall be required to agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the Partnership and the Guarantors, the Partnership's
directors and officers, the Guarantors' directors and officers and
each Person who controls the Partnership and the Guarantors within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act and each other Participant to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Partnership and the Guarantors to each
Participant, but only (i) with reference to information relating to
such Participant furnished to the Partnership in writing by or on
behalf of such Participant expressly for use in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or
(ii) with respect to any untrue statement or representation made by
such Participant in writing to the Partnership. The liability of any
Participant under this paragraph shall in no event exceed the
proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable
Securities or Exchange Notes giving rise to such obligations.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others the Indemnifying Person may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to such proceeding; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it of any obligation or liability that it may have hereunder or otherwise (unless and only to the extent that such failure directly results in the loss or compromise of any material rights or defenses by the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnifying Person was not otherwise aware of such action or claim). In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or (iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that, unless there exists a conflict
among Indemnified Persons, the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any one such proceeding or separate but substantially similar related proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Participants and such control Persons of Participants shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest of Registrable Securities and Exchange Notes sold by all such Participants and any such separate firm for the Partnership and the Guarantors, their respective directors, officers and such control Persons of the Partnership and the Guarantors shall be designated in writing by the Partnership and the Guarantors. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its prior written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff for which the Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party, and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in the first and second paragraphs of this Section 7 is for any reason unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraphs, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the Indemnified Person or Persons on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Partnership and the Guarantors on the one hand or such Participant or such other Indemnified Person, as the case may be, on the other, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Participants were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
that does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the
losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable
legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified
Person in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 7, in no event shall a Participant be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
proceeds received by such Participant from sales of
Registrable Securities or Exchange Notes, as the case may be,
exceeds the amount of any damages that such Participant has
otherwise been required to pay or has paid by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which
an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or
contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
Indemnifying Person to the Indemnified Person as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 and the representations and warranties of the
Partnership and the Guarantors set forth in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Holder or any Person who controls a Holder, the
Partnership and the Guarantors, their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents or controlling persons, and (ii)
any termination of this Agreement.
(g) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 will be in addition to any liability that the
Indemnifying Persons may otherwise have to the Indemnified
Persons referred to above.
Each of the Partnership and the Guarantors covenants that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder in a timely manner in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, if at any time the Partnership and the Guarantors are not required to file such reports, they will, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Registrable Securities from such Holder or beneficial owner the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.
9. Miscellaneous
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Partnership and the Guarantors have not entered into, as of the date hereof, and shall not, after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to any of the Partnership's or the Guarantors' securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except for registration obligations that heretofore have been fulfilled in their entirety, the Partnership and the Guarantors have not entered and will not enter into any agreement with respect to any of the Partnership's or the Guarantors' securities that will grant to any Person piggy-back registration rights with respect to a Registration Statement.
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The Partnership and the Guarantors shall not, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the Registrable Securities as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the Holders of Registrable Securities to include such Registrable Securities in a registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written consent of the Partnership, the Guarantors, and the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications (including without limitation any notices or other communications to the Trustee) provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, next-day air courier or facsimile:
(1) if to a Holder of the Registrable Securities or any Participating Broker-Dealer, at the most current address, if any, of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial Purchasers as follows:
Wachovia Capital Markets, L.L.C.
One Wachovia Center, DC8
301 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28288-0602
Facsimile No.: (704) 383-0353
Attention: Legal Division
(2) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the addresses specified in Section 9(d)(1)
(3) if to the Partnership and the Guarantors, at the address as follows:
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
8801 South Yale Ave., Suite 310
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137
Facsimile No.: (918) 493-7290
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Winston & Strawn LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Facsimile No.: (212) 294-4700
Attention: Robert Ericson
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; one business day after being timely delivered to a next-day
air courier; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if sent by facsimile.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address and in the manner specified in the Indenture.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless and to the extent such successor or assign holds Registrable Securities.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COMPETENT COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(j) Notes Held by the Partnership and the Guarantors or their Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Partnership and the Guarantors or their affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
(k) Third Party Beneficiaries; Limitations on Remedies. Holders of Registrable Securities and Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons. The receipt of Additional Interest pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be the sole monetary remedy available to Holders for the failure of the Partnership or the Guarantors to meet the registration obligations set forth herein for Registrable Securities.
(l) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings, correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Initial Purchasers on the one hand and the Partnership and the Guarantors on the other, or between or among any agents, representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are merged herein and replaced hereby.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
By: U.S. Propane, L.P.
Its: General Partner
By:U.S. Propane, L.L.C.
Its: General Partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis -------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
LA GRANGE ACQUISITION, L.P.
By: LA GP, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
LG PL, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC TEXAS PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC GAS COMPANY, LTD.
ETC OKLAHOMA PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC KATY PIPELINE, LTD.
ETC TEXAS PROCESSING, LTD.
By: LG PL, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement
LGM, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC MARKETING, LTD.
By: LGM, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ETC OASIS GP, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPELINE, LP
ETC OASIS, L.P.
By: ETC OASIS GP, LLC, its general
partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
FIVE DAWACO, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement
ET COMPANY I, LTD.
CHALKLEY TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GATHERING COMPANY, LTD.
WHISKEY BAY GAS COMPANY, LTD.
By: FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general
partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
TETC, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
TEXAS ENERGY TRANSFER COMPANY, LTD.
By: TETC, LLC, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE FINANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ---------------------------------- Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement
OASIS PARTNER COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT
COMPANY
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY TEXAS L.P.
By: OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, its general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP, LLC
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL, LP
By: ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP, LLC, its
general partner
By: /s/ Ray C. Davis ------------------------------------ Name: Ray C. Davis Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
BY:WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By: /s/ Steven J. Taylor ------------------------------------ Name: Steven J. Taylor Title: Managing Director |
Signature Page of Registration Rights Agreement
EXHIBIT 10.1
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 18, 2005
among
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.,
as the Borrower,
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent,
LC Issuer and
Swingline Lender,
FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
as Syndication Agent,
BNP PARIBAS AND THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,
as Co-Documentation Agents,
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
|
Page | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
|
1 | |||
1.01 Defined Terms
|
1 | |||
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions
|
25 | |||
1.03 Accounting Terms
|
26 | |||
1.04 Rounding
|
27 | |||
1.05 Times of Day
|
27 | |||
1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts
|
27 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
|
27 | |||
2.01 Revolving Credit Loans
|
27 | |||
2.02 Swingline Loans
|
27 | |||
2.03 Requests for New Loans
|
29 | |||
2.04 Continuations and Conversions of Existing Loans
|
29 | |||
2.05 Use of Proceeds
|
31 | |||
2.06 Optional Prepayments of Loans
|
31 | |||
2.07 Letters of Credit
|
31 | |||
2.08 Requesting Letters of Credit
|
32 | |||
2.09 Reimbursement and Participations
|
32 | |||
2.10 No Duty to Inquire
|
34 | |||
2.11 LC Collateral
|
35 | |||
2.12 Interest Rates and Fees; Reduction in Commitment
|
36 | |||
2.13 Evidence of Debt
|
37 | |||
2.14 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback
|
38 | |||
2.15 Sharing of Payments by Lenders
|
39 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
|
40 | |||
3.01 Taxes
|
40 | |||
3.02 Illegality
|
42 | |||
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates
|
43 | |||
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Loans
|
43 | |||
3.05 Compensation for Losses
|
45 | |||
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
|
45 | |||
3.07 Survival
|
46 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
|
46 | |||
4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension
|
46 | |||
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions
|
48 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
48 | |||
5.01 No Default
|
48 | |||
5.02 Organization and Good Standing
|
48 | |||
5.03 Authorization
|
49 | |||
5.04 No Conflicts or Consents
|
49 | |||
5.05 Enforceable Obligations
|
49 | |||
5.06 Initial Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change
|
49 |
Section
|
Page | |||
|
||||
5.07 Taxes, Obligations and Restrictions
|
50 | |||
5.08 Full Disclosure
|
50 | |||
5.09 Litigation
|
50 | |||
5.10 ERISA
|
50 | |||
5.11 Compliance with Laws
|
51 | |||
5.12 Environmental Laws
|
51 | |||
5.13 Borrowers Subsidiaries
|
52 | |||
5.14 Title to Properties; Licenses
|
52 | |||
5.15 Government Regulation
|
53 | |||
5.16 Solvency
|
53 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
|
54 | |||
6.01 Payment and Performance
|
54 | |||
6.02 Books, Financial Statements and Reports
|
54 | |||
6.03 Other Information and Inspections
|
56 | |||
6.04 Notice of Material Events
|
56 | |||
6.05 Maintenance of Properties
|
57 | |||
6.06 Maintenance of Existence and Qualifications
|
57 | |||
6.07 Payment of Trade Liabilities, Taxes, etc.
|
58 | |||
6.08 Insurance
|
58 | |||
6.09 Compliance with Agreements and Law
|
58 | |||
6.10 Environmental Matters
|
58 | |||
6.11 Guaranties of Subsidiaries
|
59 | |||
6.12 Compliance with Agreements
|
61 | |||
6.13 Maintenance of Separateness
|
61 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
61 | |||
7.01 Indebtedness
|
62 | |||
7.02 Limitation on Liens
|
63 | |||
7.03 Limitation on Mergers, Issuances of Subsidiary Securities
|
64 | |||
7.04 Limitation on Sales of Property and Sale-Leaseback Transactions
|
64 | |||
7.05 Limitation on Restricted Payment
|
65 | |||
7.06 Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances
|
66 | |||
7.07 Change in Nature of Businesses
|
66 | |||
7.08 Transactions with Affiliates
|
66 | |||
7.09 Restrictive and Negative Pledge Agreements
|
66 | |||
7.10 Hedging Arrangements and Open Positions
|
67 | |||
7.11 Commingling of Deposit Accounts and Accounts
|
67 | |||
7.12 Financial Covenants
|
67 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
|
68 | |||
8.01 Events of Default
|
68 | |||
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default
|
70 | |||
8.03 Application of Funds
|
71 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
|
72 | |||
9.01 Appointment and Authority
|
72 | |||
9.02 Rights as a Lender
|
72 | |||
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions
|
72 | |||
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent
|
73 | |||
9.05 Delegation of Duties
|
73 | |||
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent
|
74 |
ii
Section
|
Page | |||
|
||||
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders
|
75 | |||
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc.
|
75 | |||
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim
|
75 | |||
9.10 Guaranty Matters
|
76 | |||
|
||||
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS
|
76 | |||
10.01 Amendments, Etc.
|
76 | |||
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication
|
77 | |||
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies
|
78 | |||
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
|
79 | |||
10.05 Payments Set Aside
|
81 | |||
10.06 Successors and Assigns
|
81 | |||
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality
|
84 | |||
10.08 Right of Setoff
|
85 | |||
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation
|
85 | |||
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
|
85 | |||
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties
|
86 | |||
10.12 Severability
|
86 | |||
10.13 Replacement of Lenders
|
86 | |||
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
|
87 | |||
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial
|
88 | |||
10.16 USA PATRIOT Act Notice
|
88 | |||
10.17 Time of the Essence.
|
88 | |||
|
||||
SIGNATURES
|
S-1 |
iii
CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT ( Agreement ) is entered into as of January 18, 2005, among ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the Borrower ), WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, LC Issuer and Swingline Lender, FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication Agent, BNP PARIBAS and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC, as Co-Documentation Agents, each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the Lenders and individually, a Lender ).
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and in consideration of the loans which may hereafter be made by Lenders to, and the Letters of Credit that may hereafter be issued by the LC Issuer for the account of, the Borrower, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Administrative Agent means Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
Administrative Agents Office means the Administrative Agents address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
Administrative Questionnaire means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
Affiliate means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
Aggregate Commitments means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments is $700,000,000.
Agreement means this Credit Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
Applicable Leverage Level
means the level set forth below that corresponds to the
applicable Leverage Ratio:
Applicable
Leverage Level
Leverage Ratio
Less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.0
greater than 2.50 to 1.0 but less than or equal to 3.00 to
1.0
greater than 3.00 to 1.0 but less than or equal to 3.50 to
1.0
greater than 3.50 to 1.0 but less than or equal to 4.00 to
1.0
greater than 4.00 to 1.0 but less than or equal to 4.50 to
1.0
greater than 4.50 to 1.00
On the effective date of this Agreement, the Applicable Leverage Level shall be Level III. Thereafter, the Leverage Ratio will be determined after each Quarterly Testing Date using the Consolidated Funded Indebtedness outstanding on such day and using Consolidated EBITDA for the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on such day. On the date on which financial statements are delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Administrative Agent will confirm or determine the Leverage Ratio set forth in the Compliance Certificate delivered with such financial statements and determine the Applicable Leverage Level Rate on or within two Business Days after such date. The Applicable Leverage Level shall become effective on the Business Day following such determination by the Administrative Agent and shall remain effective until the next such determination by the Administrative Agent.
Applicable Leverage Level Rate means, on any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, Base Rate Loan or commitment fees hereunder, respectively, the percent per annum set forth below under the caption Eurodollar Margin, Base Rate Margin or Commitment Fee Rate, respectively, based on the Applicable Leverage Level in effect on such day.
2
Applicable Leverage | Eurodollar | Base Rate | Commitment Fee | ||||||||
Level | Margin | Margin | Rate | ||||||||
Level I
|
1.000% | 0.000% | 0.200% | ||||||||
Level II
|
1.250% | 0.000% | 0.250% | ||||||||
Level III
|
1.500% | 0.250% | 0.300% | ||||||||
Level IV
|
1.750% | 0.500% | 0.375% | ||||||||
Level V
|
2.000% | 0.750% | 0.500% | ||||||||
Level VI
|
2.250% | 1.000% | 0.500% | ||||||||
Each change in the Applicable Leverage Level Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. Changes in the Applicable Leverage Level Rate will occur automatically without prior notice as changes in the Applicable Leverage Level occur.
Applicable Percentage means with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lenders Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
Applicable Rate means on any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, Base Rate Loan or commitment fees hereunder, respectively (a) prior to the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date and on any day thereafter that ratings of Index Debt are not maintained by at least two Rating Agencies, the percent per annum set forth under the caption Eurodollar Margin, Base Rate Margin or Commitment Fee Rate, respectively, under the definition of the Applicable Leverage Level Rate, and (b) on any day on or after the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date that ratings of Index Debt are maintained by at least two Rating Agencies, the percent per annum set forth under the caption Eurodollar Margin, Base Rate Margin or Commitment Fee Rate, respectively, under the definition of the Applicable Rating Level Rate. If the rating system of a Rating Agency shall change, or if any Rating Agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend the definition of Applicable Rating Level Rate to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such Rating Agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the rating of the other two Rating Agencies, and if, as a result, only one rating of Index Debt is maintained and unaffected by a changed rating system, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Applicable Leverage Level Rate.
Applicable Rating Level Rate means, on any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, Base Rate Loan or commitment fees hereunder, respectively, the percent per annum set forth below under the caption Eurodollar Margin, Base Rate Margin or Commitment Fee Rate, respectively, based upon the ratings by the Rating Agencies, applicable on such date to the Index Debt:
3
Index Debt Ratings: |
Eurodollar | Base Rate | Commitment Fee | ||||||||
(Moodys/S&P or Fitch) | Margin | Margin | Rate | ||||||||
Level 1
>Baa2/BBB |
0.750% | 0.000 | 0.150% | ||||||||
Level 2
Baa3/BBB- |
1.000% | 0.000 | 0.200% | ||||||||
Level 3
Ba1/BB+ |
1.250% | 0.000 | 0.250% | ||||||||
Level 4
Ba2/BB |
1.500% | 0.250 | 0.300% | ||||||||
Level 5
<Ba2/BB |
2.000% | 0.750 | 0.375% | ||||||||
For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if the ratings established by the Rating Agencies for the Index Debt shall fall within different Levels and ratings are then maintained by three Rating Agencies, (i) if two ratings are equal and higher than the third, the higher rating will apply, (ii) if two ratings are equal and lower than the third, the lower rating will apply, (iii) if no ratings are equal, the intermediate rating will apply; (b) if the ratings established by the Rating Agencies for the Index Debt shall fall within different Levels and ratings are then maintained by two Rating Agencies, the Applicable Rating Level Rate shall be based on the higher of the two ratings unless one of the two ratings is two or more Levels lower than the other, in which case the Applicable Rating Level Rate shall be determined by reference to the Level one rating lower than the higher of the two ratings; (c) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by the Rating Agencies for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of such Rating Agency), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable Rating Agency. Each change in the Applicable Rating Level Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. Changes in the Applicable Rating Level Rate will occur automatically without prior notice as changes in the Applicable Rating Level occur.
If a Specified Acquisition Period has begun and is continuing, beginning on the second Quarterly Testing Date occurring after the consummation of the Specified Acquisition and ending on the last day of the applicable Specified Acquisition Period, each rate that will otherwise be the Applicable Rating Level Rate shall be increased by 0.25% per annum.
Approved Fund means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by
4
Section 10.06(b) , and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Attributable Debt means, with respect to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction not involving a Capital Lease Obligation, as of any date of determination, the total obligation (discounted to present value at the rate of interest implicit in the lease included in such transaction) of the lessee for rental payments (other than accounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items which do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining portion of the term (including extensions which are at the sole option of the lessor) of the lease included in such transaction (in the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such rental obligation shall also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated).
Base Rate means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, and (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate, respectively.
Base Rate Loan means a Loan or portion of a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
Borrower means Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
Borrowing means Loans of the same Type, made, Converted or Continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agents Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
Capital Lease means a lease with respect to which the lessee is required concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Lease Obligation means, with respect to any Person and a Capital Lease, the amount of the obligation of such Person as the lessee under such Capital Lease which would, in accordance with GAAP, appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person.
Cash Collateralize means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the LC Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the LC Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer. Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings.
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Cash Equivalents means Investments in:
(a) marketable obligations, maturing within 12 months after acquisition thereof, issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or an instrumentality or agency thereof and entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States;
(b) demand deposits and time deposits (including certificates of deposit) maturing within 12 months from the date of deposit thereof, (i) with any office of any Lender or (ii) with a domestic office of any national or state bank or trust company which is organized under the Laws of the United States or any state therein, which has capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $500,000,000, and whose long-term certificates of deposit are rated BBB+ or Baa1 or better, respectively, by either Rating Agency;
(c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in subsection (a) above entered into with (i) any Lender or (ii) any other commercial bank meeting the specifications of subsection (b) above;
(d) open market commercial paper, maturing within 270 days after acquisition thereof, which are rated at least P-1 by Moodys or A-1 by S&P; and
(e) money market or other mutual funds substantially all of whose assets comprise securities of the types described in subsections (a) through (d) above.
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
Change of Control means the existence of any of the following: (a) any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than an Exempt Person, shall be the legal or beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then total Equity Interests of the General Partner or (b) General Partner shall not be the sole legal and beneficial owner of all of the general partner interests of the Borrower. As used herein Exempt Person means any of Ray C. Davis, Kelcy L. Warren, H. Michael Krimbill, the heirs at law of such individuals, entities or trusts owned by or established for the benefit of such individuals or their respective heirs at law (such as entities or trusts established for estate planning purposes) or entities owned solely by existing and former management employees of the General Partner. For purposes of clarification, an initial public offering of the Equity Interests of the General Partner is not intended to be a Change of Control if none of the circumstance set forth in clauses (a) or (b) above shall exist.
Closing Date means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 and Section 4.02 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01 .
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Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, together with all rules and regulations promulgated with respect thereto.
Commission means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Commitment means, as to each Lender, its obligation (a) to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , and (b) to purchase participations in LC Obligations and Swingline Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Commitment amount set forth opposite such Lenders name on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
Commitment Period means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.12(c) , and (c) the date of termination of the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the LC Issuer to make LC Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02 .
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B .
Consolidated refers to the consolidation of any Person, in accordance with GAAP, with its properly consolidated subsidiaries. References herein to a Persons Consolidated financial statements, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, assets, liabilities, etc. refer to the consolidated financial statements, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, assets, liabilities, etc. of such Person and its properly consolidated subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when used in reference to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, Consolidated shall exclude the effect on the consolidated financial statements, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, assets, liabilities, etc. of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries of all Unrestricted Subsidiaries, determined as if Restricted Persons held no Equity Interest in Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and, without limiting the foregoing, excluding all Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and dividends and distributions received from Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
Consolidated EBITDA means, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, plus (a) each of the following to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income (i) all Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) all income taxes (including any franchise taxes to the extent based upon net income), (iii) all depreciation and amortization (including amortization of good will and debt issue costs), (iv) any other non-cash charges or losses, and (v) so long as any of the HOLP Companies are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, general and administrative expense of the Borrower (on an unconsolidated basis) to the extent allocated to the HOLP Companies not to exceed $5,000,000 for any period of four Fiscal Quarters, minus (b) each of the following (i) all non-cash items of income or gain which were included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, and (ii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (a)(iv) above subsequent to the Fiscal Quarter in which the relevant non-cash charges or
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losses were reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income. Consolidated EBITDA shall be subject to the following additional adjustments for all purposes under this Agreement other than for purposes of Section 7.12(b) :
(i) If, since the beginning of the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on the date for which Consolidated EBITDA is determined, any Restricted Person shall have made any disposition or acquisition of operating assets, shall have consolidated or merged with or into Person (other than another Restricted Person), or shall have made any disposition of a Restricted Person or an acquisition of a Person that becomes a Restricted Person, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto as if the disposition, acquisition, consolidation or merger had occurred on the first day of such period. Such pro forma effect shall be determined (A) in good faith by the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of the Borrower and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (B) giving effect to any anticipated or proposed cost savings related to such disposition, acquisition, consolidation or merger, to the extent approved by Administrative Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, and (C) without giving effect to any anticipated or proposed change in operations, revenues, expenses or other items included in the computation of Consolidated EBITDA. Notwithstanding the forgoing (x) a pro forma adjustment will be made for the assets acquired pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement dated April 25, 2004, by and between TXU Fuel Company, a Texas corporation, and the Borrower ( TXU Assets ) pursuant to clause (ii) below and not this clause (i), and (y) pro forma adjustment will be made for the assets acquired pursuant to that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement dated July 21, 2004, between Devon Gas Services, L.P., Southwestern Gas Pipeline, Inc, Acacia Natural Gas Corporation and La Grange Acquisition, L.P. and the Borrower ( Devon Assets ) shall be made pursuant to clause (iv) below and not this clause (i).
(ii) With respect to each Fiscal Quarter beginning prior to June 1, 2004, Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Quarter shall be increased by the amount of $17,000,000 and shall be decreased by the portion of Consolidated EBITDA, if any, derived from the operation of the TXU Assets during such Fiscal Quarter.
(iii) With respect to each Fiscal Quarter beginning prior to September 1, 2004, Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Quarter shall be increased by the amount of $6,250,000 and shall be decreased by the portion of Consolidated EBITDA, if any, derived from the operation of the Bossier pipeline (the approximately 78 mile natural gas pipeline extension from Limestone County, Texas that will connect with Borrowers existing infrastructure at the hub in Katy, Texas) during such Fiscal Quarter.
(iv) With respect to each Fiscal Quarter beginning prior to December 1, 2004, Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Quarter shall be increased by the amount of $5,000,000 and shall be decreased by the portion of Consolidated EBITDA, if any, derived from the operation of the Devon Assets during such Fiscal Quarter.
(v) With respect to each Fiscal Quarter beginning prior to June 1, 2005, Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Quarter shall be increased by the amount of $5,500,000 and shall be decreased by the portion of Consolidated EBITDA, if any, derived from the operation of the Fort
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Worth Basin Pipeline (a 54-miles pipeline being constructed in the Fort Worth Basin that will connect certain pipelines in North Texas) during such Fiscal Quarter.
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness means as of any date, the sum of the following (without duplication): (a) all Indebtedness which is classified as long-term indebtedness on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP and any current maturities and other principal amount in respect of such Indebtedness due within one year but which was classified as long-term indebtedness at the creation thereof, (b) Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under a revolving credit or similar agreement, notwithstanding the fact that any such borrowing is made within one year of the expiration of such agreement, (c) Capital Leases Obligations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and (d) all Indebtedness in respect of any Guarantee by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of any Person other than the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, but excluding (i) Attributable Debt of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) Performance Guaranties.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, for any period, all interest paid or accrued (that has resulted in a cash payment in the period or will result in a cash payment in future quarter(s)) during such period on, and all fees and related charges in respect of, Indebtedness which was deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income during such period.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, the Borrowers and its Restricted Subsidiaries gross revenues for such period, minus the Borrowers and its Restricted Subsidiaries expenses and other proper charges against income (including taxes on income to the extent imposed), determined on a Consolidated basis after eliminating earnings or losses attributable to outstanding minority interests and excluding the net earnings or losses of any Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary, in which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest. Consolidated Net Income shall not include (a) any gain or loss from the sale of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) any extraordinary gains or losses, or (c) any non-cash gains or losses resulting from mark to market activity as a result of SFAS 133. Consolidated Net Income for any period shall (i) include any cash dividends and distributions actually received during such period from any Person, other than a Restricted Subsidiary, in which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has an ownership interest and (ii) specifically exclude dividends and distributions from HOLP and its Subsidiaries at any time prior to their designation as Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 6.11 .
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means, at any date of determination, the total amount of Consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom: (a) all current liabilities (excluding (i) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendable or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed, and (ii) current maturities of long-term debt); and (b) the value (net of any applicable reserves) of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets, all as set forth, or on a pro forma basis would be set forth, on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently completed Fiscal Quarter, prepared in accordance with GAAP.
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Continue , Continuation , and Continued shall refer to the continuation pursuant to Section 2.04 of a Eurodollar Loan as a Eurodollar Loan from one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.
Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
Convert , Conversion , and Converted shall refer to a conversion pursuant to Section 2.04 or Article III of one Type of Loan into another Type of Loan.
Credit Extension means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an LC Credit Extension.
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
Default means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
Default Rate means, at the time in question, (a) for any Eurodollar Loan (up to the end of the applicable Interest Period), two percent (2%) per annum plus the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Loans plus the Eurodollar Rate then in effect, (b) for each Base Rate Loan, Swingline Loan or LC Obligation, two percent (2%) per annum plus the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans plus the Base Rate or (c) for each Letter of Credit, two percent (2%) per annum plus the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Loans; provided , however , the Default Rate shall never exceed the Maximum Rate.
Default Rate Period means any period during which an Event of Default is continuing.
Disclosure Schedule means Schedule 3 hereto.
Dollar and $ mean lawful money of the United States.
Eligible Assignee means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, Eligible Assignee shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
Environmental Laws means any and all Laws relating to the environment or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or
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industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment including ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.
Equity Interests means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, together with all rules and regulations promulgated with respect thereto.
ERISA Affiliate means each Restricted Person and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control that, together with such Restricted Person, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Plan means any employee pension benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA maintained by any ERISA Affiliate with respect to which any Restricted Person has a fixed or contingent liability.
Eurodollar Loan means a Loan or portion of a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.
Eurodollar Rate means, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period, (a) the rate per annum appearing on Page 3750 of the Bridge Telerate Service (formerly Dow Jones Market Service) (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period; (b) if for any reason the rate specified in clause (a) of this definition does not so appear on Page 3750 of the Bridge Telerate Service (or any successor or substitute page or any such successor to or substitute for such Service), the rate per annum appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO page (or any successor or substitute page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period; and (c) if the rate specified in clause (a) of this definition does not so appear on Page 3750 of the Bridge Telerate Service (or any successor or substitute page or any such
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successor to or substitute for such Service) and if no rate specified in clause (b) of this definition so appears on Reuters Screen LIBO page (or any successor or substitute page), the average of the interest rates per annum at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London offices of Wachovia Bank, National Association in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
Event of Default has the meaning given to such term in Section 8.01 .
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Excluded Taxes means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the LC Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13 ), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lenders failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e) , except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a) .
Existing Credit Agreement means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 20, 2004, among La Grange, Fleet National Bank, as administrative agent, Fleet Securities, Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as joint lead arrangers and book runners, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as syndication agent, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and BNP Paribas, as co-documentation agents, Bank of Scotland, as senior managing agent, U.S. Bank National Association and Fortis Capital Corp., as co-agents, and a syndicate of lenders, as amended and restated by that certain Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of August 31, 2004, among La Grange, Fleet National Bank, as administrative agent, and the Lenders referred to therein.
Existing Letters of Credit means the Letters of Credit (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) issued and outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and which shall remain issued and outstanding for purposes of this Agreement.
Facility Usage means, at the time in question, the aggregate amount of outstanding Loans and LC Obligations at such time.
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Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
Fee Letter means the letter agreement, dated November 5, 2004, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC.
Fiscal Quarter means a three-month period ending on the last day of November, February, May and August.
Fiscal Year means a twelve month period ending on August 31.
Fitch means Fitch, Inc., or its successor.
Foreign Lender means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
Fund means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
GAAP means those generally accepted accounting principles and practices which are recognized as such by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any generally recognized successor) and which, in the case of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, are applied for all periods after the date hereof in a manner consistent with the manner in which such principles and practices were applied to the Initial Financial Statements. If any change in any accounting principle or practice is required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any such successor) in order for such principle or practice to continue as a generally accepted accounting principle or practice, all reports and financial statements required hereunder with respect to the Borrower or with respect to the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries may be prepared in accordance with such change, but all calculations and determinations to be made hereunder may be made in accordance with such change only after notice of such change is given to each Lender, and the Borrower and Majority Lenders agree to such change insofar as it affects the accounting of the Borrower or of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
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General Partner means U.S. Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or the corporate, partnership or limited liability successor thereto, in either case, which is the sole general partner of the Borrower.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guarantee means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The term Guarantee shall exclude endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments in the course of collection. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made, or (ii) if not stated or determinable or if such Guarantee by its terms is limited to less than the full amount of such primary obligation, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith or the amount to which such Guarantee is limited. The term Guarantee as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Guarantors means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that now or hereafter executes and delivers a Guaranty to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.11 .
Guaranty means, collectively, one or more Guarantees of the Obligations made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit C , including any supplements to an existing Guaranty in substantially the form that is a part of Exhibit C .
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Hazardous Materials means any substances regulated under any Environmental Law, whether as pollutants, contaminants, or chemicals, or as industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes, or otherwise.
Hedging Contract means (a) any agreement providing for options, swaps, floors, caps, collars, forward sales or forward purchases involving interest rates, commodities or commodity prices, equities, currencies, bonds, or indexes based on any of the foregoing, (b) any option, futures or forward contract traded on an exchange, and (c) any other derivative agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.
Hedging Termination Value means, in respect of any one or more Hedging Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedging Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedging Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedging Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
Heritage Note Purchase Agreements means collectively, (a) the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 25, 1996, among HOLP and the purchasers named therein, as amended and supplemented; (b) the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of November 19, 1997, among HOLP and the purchasers named therein, as amended and supplemented; and (c) the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August 10, 2000 among HOLP and the purchasers named therein, as amended and supplemented.
HHI means Heritage Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or the corporate, partnership or limited liability successor thereto.
HOLP means Heritage Operating, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or the corporate, partnership or limited liability successor thereto.
HOLP Companies means HOLP and each Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of HOLP, whether now existing or hereafter formed or acquired.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:
(a) indebtedness for borrowed money, all obligations upon which interest charges are customarily paid and all obligations evidenced by any bond, note, debenture or other similar instrument which such Person has directly or indirectly created, incurred or assumed;
(b) obligations of others secured by any Lien in respect of property owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness, if such Person has not assumed the same or become liable therefor, shall in no event be deemed to be greater than the fair market value from time to time of the property subject to such Lien;
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(c) indebtedness, whether or not for borrowed money (excluding trade payables and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business and payable in the ordinary course of business), with respect to which such Person has become directly or indirectly liable and which represents the deferred purchase price (or a portion thereof) or has been incurred to finance the purchase price (or a portion thereof) of any property or service or business acquired by such Person, whether by purchase, consolidation, merger or otherwise;
(d) the principal component of Capital Lease Obligations to the extent such obligations would, in accordance with GAAP, appear on a balance sheet of such Person;
(e) Attributable Debt of such Person in respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions not involving a Capital Lease Obligation;
(f) obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends or distribution;
(g) obligations, contingent or fixed, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit (other than letters of credit incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or letters of credit outstanding on the effective date of this Agreement);
(h) liabilities of such Person in respect of unfunded vested benefits under pension plans (determined on a net basis for all such plans) and all asserted withdrawal liabilities of such Person or a commonly controlled entity to a multiemployer plan;
(i) obligations of such Person in respect of bankers acceptances (other than in respect of accounts payable to suppliers incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice); and
(j) Guarantees by such Person in respect of obligations of the character referred to in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (i) of this definition of any other Person;
(k) obligations of the character referred to in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) or (j) of this definition deemed to be extinguished under GAAP but for which such Person remains legally liable; and
(l) amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any obligation or liability of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (k) above.
Indemnified Taxes means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
Indemnitees has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.04(b) .
Indenture mean that certain Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2005, among the Borrower, the guarantors named therein and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Trustee,
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as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, as further amended or supplemented from time to time thereafter.
Index Debt means senior, unsecured, non-credit enhanced (except for any Guarantee by Restricted Subsidiaries) long-term debt of the Borrower.
Initial Borrower Financial Statements means the audited Consolidated annual financial statements of the Borrower as of August 31, 2004.
Initial Financial Statements means (a) the Initial Borrower Financial Statements, and (b) the Initial La Grange Financial Statements.
Initial La Grange Financial Statements means the audited Consolidated annual financial statements of La Grange as of August 31, 2004.
Interest Payment Date means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided , however , that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter and the Maturity Date.
Interest Period means, as to each Eurodollar Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the Borrower and consented to by all the Lenders; provided that: (a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; (b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and (c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
Investment means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees obligations of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of determining the outstanding amount of an Investment, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested (without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment) reduced by the cash proceeds received upon the sale, liquidation, repayment or
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disposition of such Investment (less all costs thereof) or other cash proceeds received as a return of capital of such Investment in an aggregate amount up to but not in excess of the amount of such Investment.
Issuer Documents means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the LC Issuer and the Borrower (or any Restricted Subsidiary) or in favor the LC Issuer and relating to any such Letter of Credit.
Joint Venture Interest means an acquisition of or Investment in Equity Interests in any Person incorporated or otherwise formed pursuant to the laws of the United States or Canada or any state or province thereof or the District of Columbia, held directly or indirectly by the Borrower, that will not be a Subsidiary after giving effect to such acquisition or Investment.
La Grange means La Grange Acquisition, L.P., a Texas limited partnership.
Laws means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, treaty, judgment, order, decree, permit, concession, franchise, license, agreement or other governmental restriction of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof or of any foreign country or any department, state, province or other political subdivision thereof.
LC Collateral means cash or deposit account balances pledged and deposited with or delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the LC Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the LC Obligations.
LC Credit Extension means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
LC Issuer means Wachovia Bank, National Association in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder (other than the Existing Letters of Credit) or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder and Fleet National Bank, in its capacity as issuer of the Existing Letters of Credit.
LC Obligations means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Matured LC Obligations. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06 . For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices 1998 (published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance), such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
Lender has the meaning given to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term Lenders includes the Swingline Lender.
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Lending Office means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lenders Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
Letter of Credit means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.
Letter of Credit Application means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the LC Issuer.
Leverage Ratio means the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness outstanding on the specified date to (b) the Consolidated EBITDA for the specified four Fiscal Quarter period.
Liabilities means, as to any Person, all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of such Person, whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, primary or secondary, direct or indirect, absolute, fixed or contingent, and whether or not required to be considered liabilities pursuant to GAAP.
LIBOR Reference Rate means a rate of interest for Swingline Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate for a one (1) month interest period that would be applicable for a Revolving Credit Loan, as that rate may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Eurodollar Rate as determined on a day-to-day basis.
Lien means, with respect to any property or assets, any right or interest therein of a creditor to secure Liabilities owed to it or any other arrangement with such creditor which provides for the payment of such Liabilities out of such property or assets or which allows such creditor to have such Liabilities satisfied out of such property or assets prior to the general creditors of any owner thereof, including any lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge, deposit, production payment, rights of a vendor under any title retention or conditional sale agreement or lease substantially equivalent thereto, tax lien, mechanics or materialmans lien, or any other charge or encumbrance for security purposes, whether arising by Law or agreement or otherwise, but excluding any right of offset which arises without agreement in the ordinary course of business. Lien also means any filed financing statement, any registration of a pledge (such as with an issuer of uncertificated securities), or any other arrangement or action which would serve to perfect a Lien described in the preceding sentence, regardless of whether such financing statement is filed, such registration is made, or such arrangement or action is undertaken before or after such Lien exists.
Loans means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, including the Revolving Credit Loans and the Swingline Loans.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, each Guaranty, and all other agreements, certificates, documents, instruments and writings at any time delivered in connection herewith or therewith (exclusive of term sheets and commitment letters).
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Loan Notice means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a Conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, pursuant to Section 2.04 , or (c) a Continuation of Eurodollar Loans, pursuant to Section 2.04 , which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D .
Majority Lenders means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the LC Issuer to make LC Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Facility Usage (with the aggregate amount of each Lenders risk participation and funded participation in LC Obligations being deemed held by such Lender for purposes of this definition).
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on (i) the financial condition, operations, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes or the ability of the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to perform their respective obligations under the Guaranty, or (iii) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Guaranty or the Notes.
Matured LC Obligations means all amounts paid by LC Issuer on drafts or demands for payment drawn or made under or purported to be under any Letter of Credit and all other amounts due and owing to LC Issuer under any Letter of Credit Application, to the extent the same have not been repaid to LC Issuer (with the proceeds of Loans or otherwise).
Maturity Date means January 18, 2010.
Maximum Rate has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.09 .
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., or its successor.
Note means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit E .
Obligations means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Restricted Person, arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Restricted Person or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Participant has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.06(d) .
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Partnership Agreement means the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Borrower as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
Performance Guaranties means, collectively, guaranties by the Borrower of obligations of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (but not of Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary) not to exceed in the aggregate amount outstanding of $50,000,000 at any time.
Permitted Acquisitions means (A) the acquisition of all of the Equity Interest in a Person (exclusive of director qualifying shares and other Equity Interests required to be held by an Affiliate to comply with a requirement of Law) or (B) any other acquisition of all or a substantial portion of the business, assets or operations of a Person (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) or (C) a merger or consolidation of any Person with or into a Restricted Person so long as the survivor is or becomes a Restricted Person upon consummation thereof (and Borrower is the survivor, if it is a party); provided , that (i) prior to and after giving effect to such acquisition no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (ii) all representations and warranties contained in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects as if restated immediately following the consummation of such acquisition; and (iii) the Borrower has provided to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that each of the foregoing conditions has been satisfied.
Permitted Investments means:
(a) Cash Equivalents,
(b) Investment in South Texas Gas Gatherings Dorado joint venture, VanTex Energy Services, Ltd., VanTex Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, VES Inc. and Ranger Pipeline, L.P.,
(c) Investments in any Restricted Subsidiary,
(d) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date,
(e) the Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2004, between HHI and Oasis Pipe Line Company, as such Subscription Agreement exists on the date of this Agreement and purchases of shares of HHI required to be made pursuant thereto,
(f) Guarantees of Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 7.01 ,
(g) Performance Guaranties, and
(h) Investments in Joint Venture Interests, provided that, both before and after giving effect to any such Investment (i) all representations and warranties contained herein shall be true and correct in all material respects, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, (ii) the Person issuing such Joint Venture Interests is engaged in the Permitted Line of Business and (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or will result therefrom.
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(i) Investments (in addition to those permitted by clauses (a) through (h) of this definition) in any Person incorporated or otherwise formed pursuant to the laws of the United States or Canada or any state or province thereof or the District of Columbia including Investments in any Unrestricted Subsidiary but excluding Investments in HOLP and its Subsidiaries; provided that immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Investment (i) the aggregate outstanding amount of all such Investments made by the Restricted Persons under this clause (i) shall not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, (ii) all representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or will result therefrom.
Permitted Lien has the meaning given to such term in Section 7.02 .
Permitted Line of Business means, with respect to the specified Person, lines of business engaged in by such Person and its Subsidiaries such that such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are substantially engaged in businesses that are (i) qualified business of master limited partnerships and (ii) energy-related.
Permitted Priority Debt means (i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, whether or not secured, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01(a) through (g) and (ii) Indebtedness secured by Liens on property of a Restricted Person, other than Liens permitted under subsections (a) through (n) of Section 7.02 , not to exceed at any one time outstanding in the aggregate under clause (i) and (ii), but without duplication, an aggregate principal amount equal to 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Prime Rate means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Wachovia Bank, National Association as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
Quarterly Testing Date means the last day of each Fiscal Quarter.
Rating Agency means Fitch, S&P or Moodys.
Register has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.06(c) .
Related Parties means, with respect to any Person, such Persons Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Persons Affiliates.
Request for Credit Extension means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, Conversion or Continuation of Loans, a Loan Notice, and (b) with respect to an LC Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.
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Responsible Officer means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, or treasurer of a Restricted Person. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Restricted Person shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Restricted Person and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Restricted Person.
Restricted Payment means any dividends on, or other distribution in respect of, any Equity Interests in any Restricted Person, or any purchase, redemption, acquisition, or retirement of any Equity Interests in any Restricted Person (whether such interests are now or hereafter issued, outstanding or created), or any reduction or retirement of the Equity Interest of any Restricted Person, except, in each case, distributions, dividends or any other of the above actions payable solely in shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Restricted Person, or warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Restricted Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Restricted Person.
Restricted Person means any of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
Revolving Credit Loan means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01 .
Risk Management Policy means the Risk Management Policy of the Borrower in effect on the date of this Agreement as amended from time to time.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services (a division of McGraw Hill, Inc.) or its successor.
Sale and Lease-Back Transaction means, with respect to any Person (a Transferor ), any arrangement (other than between the Borrower and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Restricted Person or between Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are each Restricted Persons) whereby (a) property (the Subject Property ) has been or is to be disposed of by such Transferor to any other Person with the intention on the part of such Transferor of taking back a lease of such Subject Property pursuant to which the rental payments are calculated to amortize the purchase price of such Subject Property substantially over the useful life of such Subject Property, and (b) such Subject Property is in fact so leased by such Transferor or an Affiliate of such Transferor.
Specified Acquisition means an acquisition of assets or entities or operating lines or divisions by a Restricted Person for a purchase price of not less than $50,000,000.
Specified Acquisition Period means a period elected by the Borrower that commences on the date elected by the Borrower, by notice to the Administrative Agent, following the occurrence of a Specified Acquisition and ending on the earliest of (a) the third Quarterly Testing Date occurring after the consummation of such Specified Acquisition, (b) the date of a
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Specified Equity Offering and (c) if the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.50 to 1.00 on such date, the date of the Borrowers delivery of a notice to the Administrative Agent terminating such Specified Acquisition Period accompanied by a certificate reflecting compliance with such Leverage Ratio; provided , in the event the Leverage Ratio exceeds 4.50 to 1.00 as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter in which a Specified Acquisition has occurred, the Borrower shall be deemed to have so elected a Specified Acquisition with respect thereto on such last day of such Fiscal Quarter; provided , further , following the election (or deemed election) of a Specified Acquisition Period, the Borrower may not elect (or be deemed to have elected) a subsequent Specified Acquisition Period unless, at the time of such subsequent election, the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.50 to 1.00. Only one Specified Acquisition Period may be elected (or deemed elected) with respect to any particular Specified Acquisition.
Specified Equity Offering means the date (or the last such date if more than one issuances are aggregated) that the proceeds are received by the Borrower of one or more issuances of equity by the Borrower for aggregate net cash proceeds of not less than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate purchase price of the Specified Acquisition. For purposes of clarification, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree that nothing in this Agreement, including this definition, shall obligate the Borrower at any time to issue equity for the purpose of financing all or any portion of the purchase price associated with a Specified Acquisition.
Subsidiary of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Subsidiary or to Subsidiaries shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
Swingline Commitment means the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement by the Borrower and the Swingline Lender. The Swingline Commitment is $30,000,000.
Swingline Lender means Wachovia Bank, National Association.
Swingline Loan means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.02 .
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Termination Event means (a) the occurrence with respect to any ERISA Plan of (i) a reportable event described in Sections 4043(c)(5) or (6) of ERISA or (ii) any other reportable event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA other than a reportable event not subject to the
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provision for 30 day notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation pursuant to a waiver by such corporation under Section 4043(a) of ERISA, or (b) the withdrawal of any ERISA Affiliate from an ERISA Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate any ERISA Plan or the treatment of any ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate any ERISA Plan by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (e) any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any ERISA Plan.
Tribunal means any government, any arbitration panel, any court or any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the United States or any state, province, commonwealth, nation, territory, possession, county, parish, town, township, village or municipality, whether now or hereafter constituted or existing.
Type means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.
UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries means each of the following, unless designated as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.11 : (i) the HOLP Companies, (ii) HHI and (iii) any other Subsidiary of the Borrower which is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.11 .
United States and U.S. mean the United States of America.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary means, with respect to a Person, any Subsidiary of such Person, all of the issued and outstanding stock, limited liability company membership interests, or partnership interests of which (including all rights or options to acquire such stock or interests) are directly or indirectly (through one or more Subsidiaries) owned by such Person, excluding any general partner interests owned, directly or indirectly, by General Partner in any such Subsidiary that is a partnership, in each case such general partner interests not to exceed two percent (2%) of the aggregate ownership interests of any such partnership and directors qualifying shares if applicable.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include , includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall . Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other
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document shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (iii) the words herein , hereof and hereunder , and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including ; the words to and until each mean to but excluding ; and the word through means to and including .
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally . All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Initial Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in GAAP . If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Majority Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Majority Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
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1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
ARTICLE II.
2.01 Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans ( Revolving Credit Loans ) to the Borrower upon the Borrowers request from time to time during the Commitment Period, provided that (a) subject to Sections 3.03, 3.04 and 3.06 , all Lenders are requested to make Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages and as part of the same Borrowing, and (b) after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Loans, the Facility Usage does not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and the Loans of any Lender plus such Lenders Applicable Percentage of all LC Obligations does not exceed such Lenders Commitment. The aggregate amount of all Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans in any Borrowing must be equal to $1,000,000 or any higher integral multiple of $500,000. The aggregate amount of all Eurodollar Loans in any Borrowing must be equal to $3,000,000 or any higher integral multiple of $1,000,000. The Borrower may have no more than eight (8) Borrowings of Eurodollar Loans outstanding at any time. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay, and reborrow under this Section 2.01 .
2.02 Swingline Loans.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Commitment Period; provided , that the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested), shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Commitments less the sum of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and the LC Obligations and (ii) the Swingline Commitment; provided further that the Swingline Lender will not make a Swingline Loan from and after the date which is one (1) day after it has received written notice from the Borrower or any Lender that one or more of the applicable conditions to Credit Extensions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied until such conditions are satisfied or
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waived in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement (and the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such notice and shall have no obligation to independently investigate the accuracy of such notice and shall have no liability to the Borrower in respect thereof if such notice proves to be inaccurate). The aggregate amount of all Swingline Loans in any Borrowing must be equal to $100,000 or any higher integral multiple of $100,000.
(b) Swingline Loans shall be refunded by the Lenders on demand by the Swingline Lender. Such refundings shall be made by each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage and shall thereafter be reflected as Loans of the Lenders on the books and records of the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall fund its Applicable Percentage of Revolving Credit Loans as required to repay Swingline Loans outstanding to the Swingline Lender upon demand by the Swingline Lender but in no event later than 1:00 p.m. on the next succeeding Business Day after such demand is made. No Lenders obligation to fund its Applicable Percentage of a Swingline Loan shall be affected by any other Lenders failure to fund its Applicable Percentage of a Swingline Loan, nor shall any Lenders Applicable Percentage be increased as a result of any such failure of any other Lender to fund its Applicable Percentage of a Swingline Loan.
(c) The Borrower shall pay to the Swingline Lender the amount of each Swingline Loan (unless such Swingline Loan is fully refunded by the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.02(b) ): (i) on demand and (ii) if no demand has been made, on the tenth Business Day after the date of the Swingline Loans, and in no event later than the Maturity Date. In addition, the Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge any account maintained by the Borrower with the Swingline Lender (up to the amount available therein) in order to immediately pay the Swingline Lender the amount of such Swingline Loans. If any portion of any such amount paid to the Swingline Lender shall be recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower from the Swingline Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (unless the amounts so recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower pertain to a Swingline Loan extended after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the Administrative Agent has received notice in the manner required pursuant to Section 10.02 and which such Event of Default has not been waived by the Majority Lenders or the Lenders, as applicable).
(d) Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to refund Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.02 is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article IV. Further, each Lender agrees and acknowledges that if prior to the refunding of any outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 2.02 , one of the events described in subsections (j)(i), (j)(ii) or (j)(iii) of Section 8.01 shall have occurred, each Lender will, on the date the applicable Revolving Credit Loan would have been made, purchase an undivided, irrevocable and unconditional participating interest in the Swingline Loans to be refunded in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount of such Swingline Loans. Each Lender will immediately transfer to the Swingline Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation, and upon receipt thereof, the Swingline Lender will deliver to such Lender a certificate evidencing such participation dated the date of receipt of such funds and for such amount. Whenever, at any time after the Swingline Lender has received from any Lender such Lenders participating interest in a Swingline Loan,
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the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account thereof, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Lender its participating interest in such amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lenders participating interest was outstanding and funded).
2.03 Requests for New Loans. The Borrower must give to the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of any requested Borrowing of Loans to be funded by Lenders. Each such notice constitutes a Loan Notice hereunder and must:
(a) specify (i) the aggregate amount of any such Borrowing of Base Rate Loans and the date on which such Base Rate Loans are to be advanced, (ii) the aggregate amount of any such Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, the date on which such Eurodollar Loans are to be advanced (which shall be the first day of the Interest Period which is to apply thereto), and the length of the applicable Interest Period, or (iii) the aggregate amount of any such Borrowing of Swingline Loans and the date on which such Swingline Loans are to be advanced; and
(b) be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. on (i) the day on which any such Base Rate Loans or Swingline Loans are to be made, or (ii) the third Business Day preceding the day on which any such Eurodollar Loans are to be made.
Each such written request or confirmation must be made in the form and substance of the Loan Notice, duly completed. Each such telephonic request shall be deemed a representation, warranty, acknowledgment and agreement by the Borrower as to the matters which are required to be set out in such written confirmation. Upon receipt of any such Loan Notice requesting Revolving Credit Loans, the Administrative Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of the terms thereof. Upon receipt of any such Loan Notice requesting Swingline Loans, the Administrative Agent shall give the Swingline Lender prompt notice of the terms thereof. In the case of Revolving Credit Loans, if all conditions precedent to such new Loans have been met, each Lender will on the date requested promptly remit to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agents Office the amount of such Lenders Loan in immediately available funds, and upon receipt of such funds, unless to its actual knowledge any conditions precedent to such Loans have been neither met nor waived as provided herein, the Administrative Agent shall promptly make such Loans available to the Borrower. In the case of Swingline Loans, if all conditions precedent to such new Loans have been met, the Swingline Lender will on the date requested promptly remit to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agents Office the amount of such Swingline Loan in immediately available funds, and upon receipt of such funds, unless to its actual knowledge any conditions precedent to such Swingline Loan have been neither met nor waived as provided herein, the Administrative Agent shall promptly make such Loans available to the Borrower. Revolving Credit Loans to be made for the purpose of refunding Swingline Loans shall be made by the Lenders as provided in Section 2.02(b) .
2.04 Continuations and Conversions of Existing Loans. The Borrower may make the following elections with respect to Revolving Credit Loans already outstanding: to Convert, in whole or in part, Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans, to Convert, in whole or in part, Eurodollar Loans to Base Rate Loans on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
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and to Continue, in whole or in part, Eurodollar Loans beyond the expiration of such Interest Period by designating a new Interest Period to take effect at the time of such expiration. In making such elections, the Borrower may combine existing Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to separate Borrowings into one new Borrowing or divide existing Revolving Credit Loans made pursuant to one Borrowing into separate new Borrowings, provided , that (i) the Borrower may have no more than eight (8) Borrowings of Eurodollar Loans outstanding at any time, (ii) the aggregate amount of all Base Rate Loans in any Borrowing must be equal to $1,000,000 or any higher integral multiple of $500,000, and (iii) the aggregate amount of all Eurodollar Loans in any Borrowing must be equal to $3,000,000 or any higher integral multiple of $1,000,000. To make any such election, the Borrower must give to the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of any such Conversion or Continuation of existing Loans, with a separate notice given for each new Borrowing. Each such notice must:
(a) specify the existing Loans which are to be Continued or Converted;
(b) specify (i) the aggregate amount of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans into which such existing Loans are to be Continued or Converted and the date on which such Continuation or Conversion is to occur, or (ii) the aggregate amount of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans into which such existing Loans are to be Continued or Converted, the date on which such Continuation or Conversion is to occur (which shall be the first day of the Interest Period which is to apply to such Eurodollar Loans), and the length of the applicable Interest Period; and
(c) be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. on (i) the day on which any such Conversion to Base Rate Loans is to occur, or (ii) the third Business Day preceding the day on which any such Continuation or Conversion to Eurodollar Loans is to occur.
Each such written request or confirmation must be made in the form and substance of the Loan Notice, duly completed. Each such telephonic request shall be deemed a representation, warranty, acknowledgment and agreement by the Borrower as to the matters which are required to be set out in such written confirmation. Upon receipt of any such Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of the terms thereof. Each Loan Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. During the continuance of any Default, the Borrower may not make any election to Convert existing Loans into Eurodollar Loans or Continue existing Loans as Eurodollar Loans beyond the expiration of their respective and corresponding Interest Period then in effect. If (due to the existence of a Default or for any other reason) the Borrower fails to timely and properly give any Loan Notice with respect to a Borrowing of existing Eurodollar Loans at least three days prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, such Eurodollar Loans, to the extent not prepaid at the end of such Interest Period, shall automatically be Converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of such Interest Period. No new funds shall be repaid by the Borrower or advanced by any Lender in connection with any Continuation or Conversion of existing Loans pursuant to this section, and no such Continuation or Conversion shall be deemed to be a new advance of funds for any purpose; such Continuations and Conversions merely constitute a change in the interest rate, Interest Period or Type applicable to already outstanding Loans.
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2.05 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of all Loans (a) for working capital purposes, and (b) for general business purposes. The Letters of Credit shall be used for general business purposes of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including Regulations T, U and X. The Borrower represents and warrants that the Borrower is not engaged principally, or as one of the Borrowers important activities, in the business of extending credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying such margin stock.
2.06 Optional Prepayments of Loans. The Borrower may, upon three Business Days notice to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable, and the Administrative Agent will promptly give notice to the other Lenders), from time to time and without premium or penalty (other than Eurodollar Loan breakage costs, if any, pursuant to Section 3.05 ) prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, so long as the aggregate amounts of all partial prepayments of principal on the Loans equals $1,000,000 or any higher integral multiple of $500,000. Each prepayment of principal under this section shall be accompanied by all interest then accrued and unpaid on the principal so prepaid. Any principal or interest prepaid pursuant to this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all payments otherwise required to be paid under the Loan Documents at the time of such prepayment.
2.07 Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, during the Commitment Period the Borrower may request LC Issuer to issue, amend, or extend the expiration date of, one or more Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or any or its Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that:
(a) after taking such Letter of Credit into account (i) the aggregate amount of all outstanding LC Obligations does not exceed $250,000,000 and (ii) the Facility Usage does not exceed the Aggregate Commitments at such time;
(b) the expiration date of such Letter of Credit is prior to the earlier of (i) 365 days after the issuance thereof, provided that such Letter of Credit may provide for automatic extensions of such expiration date for additional periods of 365 days thereafter, and (ii) 30 days prior to the end of the Commitment Period;
(c) the issuance of such Letter of Credit will be in compliance with all applicable governmental restrictions, policies, and guidelines and will not subject LC Issuer to any cost which is not reimbursable under Article III;
(d) such Letter of Credit is in form and upon terms as shall be acceptable to LC Issuer in its sole and absolute discretion; and
(e) all other conditions in this Agreement to the issuance of such Letter of Credit have been satisfied.
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LC Issuer will honor any such request if the foregoing conditions (a) through (e) (in the following Section 2.08 called the LC Conditions ) have been met as of the date of issuance, amendment, or extension of such Letter of Credit.
2.08 Requesting Letters of Credit. The Borrower must make written application for any Letter of Credit at least three Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed upon by the LC Issuer) before the date on which the Borrower desires for LC Issuer to issue such Letter of Credit. By making any such written application, unless otherwise expressly stated therein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that the LC Conditions described in Section 2.07 will be met as of the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each such written application for a Letter of Credit must be made in the form of the Letter of Credit Application. If all LC Conditions for a Letter of Credit have been met as described in Section 2.07 on any Business Day before 11:00 a.m., LC Issuer will issue such Letter of Credit on the same Business Day at LC Issuers Lending Office. If the LC Conditions are met as described in Section 2.07 on any Business Day on or after 11:00 a.m., LC Issuer will issue such Letter of Credit on the next succeeding Business Day at LC Issuers Lending Office. If any provisions of any LC Application conflict with any provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern and control.
2.09 Reimbursement and Participations.
(a) Reimbursement . Each Matured LC Obligation shall constitute a loan by LC Issuer to the Borrower. The Borrower promises to pay to LC Issuer, or to LC Issuers order, on demand, the full amount of each Matured LC Obligation together with interest thereon (i) at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans to and including the second Business Day after the Matured LC Obligation is incurred, subject to Section 2.09(b) , and (ii) at the Default Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans on each day thereafter.
(b) Letter of Credit Advances . If the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit makes a draft or other demand for payment thereunder, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested the Lenders make Loans to the Borrower in the amount of such draft or demand, which Loans shall be made concurrently with LC Issuers payment of such draft or demand and shall be immediately used by LC Issuer to repay the amount of the resulting Matured LC Obligation. Such deemed request by the Borrower shall be made in compliance with all of the provisions hereof, provided that for the purposes of the first sentence of Section 2.01 , the amount of such Loans shall be considered, but the amount of the Matured LC Obligation to be concurrently paid by such Loans shall not be considered.
(c) Participation by Lenders . LC Issuer irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each Lender, and to induce LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder each Lender irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from LC Issuer, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated and for such Lenders own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such Lenders Applicable Percentage of LC Issuers obligations and rights under each Letter of Credit issued hereunder and the amount of each Matured LC Obligation paid by LC Issuer thereunder. Each Lender unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with LC Issuer that, if a Matured LC Obligation is paid under any Letter of Credit for which LC
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Issuer is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the related LC Application (including any reimbursement by means of concurrent Loans or by the application of LC Collateral), such Lender shall (in all circumstances and without set-off or counterclaim) pay to LC Issuer on demand, in immediately available funds at LC Issuers Lending Office, such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such Matured LC Obligation (or any portion thereof which has not been reimbursed by the Borrower). Each Lenders obligation to pay LC Issuer pursuant to the terms of this subsection is irrevocable and unconditional. If any amount required to be paid by any Lender to LC Issuer pursuant to this subsection is paid by such Lender to LC Issuer within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, LC Issuer shall in addition to such amount be entitled to recover from such Lender, on demand, interest thereon calculated from such due date at the Federal Funds Rate. If any amount required to be paid by any Lender to LC Issuer pursuant to this subsection is not paid by such Lender to LC Issuer within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, LC Issuer shall in addition to such amount be entitled to recover from such Lender, on demand, interest thereon calculated from such due date at the Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin.
(d) Distributions to Participants . Whenever LC Issuer has in accordance with this Section received from any Lender payment of such Lenders Applicable Percentage of any Matured LC Obligation, if LC Issuer thereafter receives any payment of such Matured LC Obligation or any payment of interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or by application of LC Collateral or otherwise, and excluding only interest for any period prior to LC Issuers demand that such Lender make such payment of its Applicable Percentage), LC Issuer will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage of the amounts so received by LC Issuer; provided , however , that if any such payment received by LC Issuer must thereafter be returned by LC Issuer, such Lender shall return to LC Issuer the portion thereof which LC Issuer has previously distributed to it.
(e) Calculations . A written advice setting forth in reasonable detail the amounts owing under this Section, submitted by LC Issuer to the Borrower or any Lender from time to time, shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, as to the amounts thereof.
(f) Obligations Absolute . The Borrowers obligation to reimburse Matured LC Obligations shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the LC Issuer, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error,
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omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the LC Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the LC Issuer from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the LC Issuers failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the LC Issuer (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the LC Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the LC Issuer may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
2.10 No Duty to Inquire.
(a) Drafts and Demands . LC Issuer is authorized and instructed to accept and pay drafts and demands for payment under any Letter of Credit without requiring, and without responsibility for, any determination as to the existence of any event giving rise to said draft, either at the time of acceptance or payment or thereafter. LC Issuer is under no duty to determine the proper identity of anyone presenting such a draft or making such a demand (whether by tested telex or otherwise) as the officer, representative or agent of any beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, and payment by LC Issuer to any such beneficiary when requested by any such purported officer, representative or agent is hereby authorized and approved. The Borrower releases each Lender Party from, and agrees to hold each Lender Party harmless and indemnified against, any liability or claim in connection with or arising out of the subject matter of this section, which indemnity shall apply whether or not any such liability or claim is in any way or to any extent caused, in whole or in part, by any negligent act or omission of any kind by any Lender Party, provided only that no Lender Party shall be entitled to indemnification for that portion, if any, of any liability or claim which is proximately caused by its own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment.
(b) Extension of Maturity . If the maturity of any Letter of Credit is extended by its terms or by Law or governmental action, if any extension of the maturity or time for presentation of drafts or any other modification of the terms of any Letter of Credit is made at the request of the Borrower, or if the amount of any Letter of Credit is increased at the request of the Borrower, this Agreement shall be binding upon all Restricted Persons with respect to such Letter of Credit as so extended, increased or otherwise modified, with respect to drafts and property covered
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thereby, and with respect to any action taken by LC Issuer, LC Issuers correspondents, or any Lender Party in accordance with such extension, increase or other modification.
(c) Transferees of Letters of Credit . If any Letter of Credit provides that it is transferable, LC Issuer shall have no duty to determine the proper identity of anyone appearing as transferee of such Letter of Credit, nor shall LC Issuer be charged with responsibility of any nature or character for the validity or correctness of any transfer or successive transfers, and payment by LC Issuer to any purported transferee or transferees as determined by LC Issuer is hereby authorized and approved, and the Borrower releases each Lender Party from, and agrees to hold each Lender Party harmless and indemnified against, any liability or claim in connection with or arising out of the foregoing, which indemnity shall apply whether or not any such liability or claim is in any way or to any extent caused, in whole or in part, by any negligent act or omission of any kind by any Lender Party, provided only that no Lender Party shall be entitled to indemnification for that portion, if any, of any liability or claim which is proximately caused by its own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment.
2.11 LC Collateral.
(a) Acceleration of LC Obligations . If the Obligations or any part thereof become immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 8.02 then, unless the Administrative Agent, acting on the instruction of Majority Lenders, shall otherwise specifically elect to the contrary (which election may thereafter be retracted by the Administrative Agent, acting on the instruction of Majority Lenders, at any time), the Borrower shall be obligated to pay to LC Issuer immediately an amount equal to the aggregate LC Obligations which are then outstanding to be held as LC Collateral. Nothing in this subsection shall, however, limit or impair any rights which LC Issuer may have under any other document or agreement relating to any Letter of Credit, LC Collateral or LC Obligation, including any LC Application, or any rights which any Lender Party may have to otherwise apply any payments by the Borrower and any LC Collateral under Section 2.14 .
(b) Investment of LC Collateral . Pending application thereof, all LC Collateral shall be invested by LC Issuer in such Cash Equivalents as LC Issuer may choose in its sole discretion. All interest on (and other proceeds of) such Investments shall be reinvested or applied to Matured LC Obligations or other Obligations which are due and payable. When all Obligations have been satisfied in full, including all LC Obligations, all Letters of Credit have expired or been terminated, and all of the Borrowers reimbursement obligations in connection therewith have been satisfied in full, LC Issuer shall release to the Borrower any remaining LC Collateral. The Borrower hereby assigns and grants to LC Issuer for the benefit of Lenders a continuing security interest in all LC Collateral paid by it to LC Issuer, all Investments purchased with such LC Collateral, and all proceeds thereof to secure its Matured LC Obligations and its Obligations under this Agreement, each Note, and the other Loan Documents. The Borrower further agrees that LC Issuer shall have all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC with respect to such security interest and that an Event of Default under this Agreement shall constitute a default for purposes of such security interest.
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(c) Payment of LC Collateral . If the Borrower is required to provide LC Collateral for any reason but fails to do so as required, LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent may without prior notice to the Borrower or any other Restricted Person provide such LC Collateral (whether by transfers from other accounts maintained with LC Issuer, or otherwise) using any available funds of the Borrower or any other Person also liable to make such payments, and LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to the Borrower promptly after such application or transfer. Any such amounts which are required to be provided as LC Collateral and which are not provided on the date required shall be considered past due Obligations owing hereunder.
2.12 Interest Rates and Fees; Reduction in Commitment.
(a) Interest Rates . Unless the Default Rate shall apply, (i) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans in effect on such day, (ii) each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest on each day during the related Interest Period at the related Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Loans in effect on such day, and (iii) each Swingline Loan shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the LIBOR Reference Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Loans in effect on such day. During a Default Rate Period, all Loans shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the applicable Default Rate. The interest rate shall change whenever the applicable Base Rate, the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans, the Eurodollar Rate or the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Loans changes. In no event shall the interest rate on any Loan exceed the Maximum Rate.
(b) Commitment Fees . In consideration of each Lenders commitment to make Loans, the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee determined on a daily basis equal to the Applicable Rate for commitment fees in effect on such day times such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the unused portion of the Aggregate Commitments on each day during the Commitment Period, determined for each such day by deducting from the amount of the Aggregate Commitments at the end of such day the Facility Usage. For the purposes of calculating the commitment fee pursuant to this subsection (b), the aggregate amount of outstanding Swingline Loans shall not be included in the term Facility Usage. This commitment fee shall be due and payable in arrears on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter and at the end of the Commitment Period.
(c) Reduction in Aggregate Commitments . The Borrower shall have the right from time to time to permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments, provided that (i) notice of such reduction is given not less than two Business Days prior to such reduction, (ii) the resulting Aggregate Commitments are not less than the Facility Usage, and (iii) each partial reduction shall be in an amount at least equal to $1,000,000 and in multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof.
(d) Letter of Credit Fees . In consideration of LC Issuers issuance of any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of all Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages, a letter of credit fee equal to the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Loans then in effect (or the Default Rate during the Default Rate Period) applicable each day times the face amount of such Letter of Credit. Such fee will be
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calculated on the face amount of each Letter of Credit outstanding on each day at the above applicable rates and will be payable in arrears on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter. In addition, the Borrower will pay a minimum administrative issuance fee equal to the greater of $150 or one-eighth percent (0.125%) per annum of the face amount of each Letter of Credit and such other fees and charges customarily charged by the LC Issuer in respect of any issuance, amendment or negotiation of any Letter of Credit in accordance with the LC Issuers published schedule of such charges effective as of the date of such amendment or negotiation; such fees will be payable in arrears on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter.
(e) Administrative Agents Fees . In addition to all other amounts due to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, the Borrower will pay fees to the Administrative Agent as described in the Fee Letter.
(f) Calculations and Determinations . All calculations of interest chargeable with respect to the Eurodollar Rate and of fees shall be made on the basis of actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last) and a year of 360 days. All calculations under the Loan Documents of interest chargeable with respect to the Base Rate shall be made on the basis of actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last) and a year of 365 or 366 days, as appropriate.
(g) Past Due Obligations . (h) The Borrower hereby promises to each Lender to pay interest at the Default Rate on all Obligations (including Obligations to pay fees or to reimburse or indemnify any Lender) which the Borrower has in this Agreement promised to pay to such Lender and which are not paid when due. Such interest shall accrue from the date such Obligations become due until they are paid.
2.13 Evidence of Debt.
(a) Credit Extensions . The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lenders Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) Letters of Credit . In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its
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usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
2.14 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback.
(a) General . All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made (i) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans, to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, and (ii) with respect to Swingline Loans, to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender. Each such payment shall be made at the Administrative Agents Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of each such payment with respect to Revolving Credit Loans in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lenders Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.03 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
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(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the LC Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the LC Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent . If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II , and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several . The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c) .
(e) Funding Source . Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.15 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, or the participations in LC Obligations held by it resulting in such Lenders receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative
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Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in LC Obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(a) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(b) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (i) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (ii) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in LC Obligations to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
Each Restricted Person consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Restricted Person rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Restricted Person in the amount of such participation.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or LC Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the LC Issuer, within 10 days after demand therefor, for
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the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto ( provided that the Borrower shall not indemnify the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer for any such penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising solely from such partys failure to notify the Borrower of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes within a reasonable period of time after such party has actual knowledge of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes), whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the LC Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the LC Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders . Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
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(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a bank within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a controlled foreign corporation described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the LC Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the LC Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the LC Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
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3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Majority Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Majority Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Loans.
(a) Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law 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, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) ) or the LC Issuer;
(ii) subject any Lender or the LC Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the LC Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the LC Issuer); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the LC Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the LC Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the LC Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the LC Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
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(b) Capital Requirements . If any Lender or the LC Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the LC Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lenders or the LC Issuers holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or the LC Issuers capital or on the capital of such Lenders or the LC Issuers holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the LC Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the LC Issuer or such Lenders or the LC Issuers holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or the LC Issuers policies and the policies of such Lenders or the LC Issuers holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the LC Issuer or such Lenders or the LC Issuers holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender or the LC Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the LC Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the LC Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or the LC Issuers right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the LC Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or the LC Issuers intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Loans . The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as Eurocurrency liabilities), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.
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3.05 Compensation for Losses . Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained (but excluding any loss of anticipated profits). The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05 , each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04 , as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02 , as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13 .
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3.07 Survival. All of the Borrowers obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension . The obligation of the LC Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received all of the following, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) counterparts of this Agreement executed by the Borrower and each Lender and a Guaranty executed by each Guarantor required to execute and deliver such Guaranty pursuant to Section 6.11 of this Agreement, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Restricted Person as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Restricted Person is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Restricted Person is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrower and each Guarantor is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(v) a favorable opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP, counsel to the Restricted Persons, substantially in the form of Exhibit F , and a favorable opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., local counsel to the Restricted Persons for the State of Texas, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, each addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Restricted Person either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Restricted Person and the validity against such Restricted Person of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents,
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licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Initial Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(viii) a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the last day of the Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
(ix) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;
(x) evidence satisfactory to it that (A) all Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) of the Lenders (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall have been or shall concurrently be repaid in full, together with any accrued interest thereon and any accrued fees payable to such Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement to the Closing Date, (B) the commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement of such Lenders shall have been or shall concurrently be terminated and (C) all Liens securing obligations (including Hedging Contracts) in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement are being concurrently released;
(xi) the Initial Financial Statements; and
(xii) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or the Majority Lenders reasonably may require.
(b) The Borrower shall have (i) received a preliminary rating of the Index Debt from Fitch of BBB- or better and (ii) received the proceeds of the issuance of senior notes pursuant to the Indenture in an aggregate amount of not less than $550,000,000, less customary underwriters discounts and issuance costs.
(c) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(d) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04 , for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01 , each Lender that has executed and delivered this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or
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accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions . No Lender has any obligation to make any Loan (including its first), and LC Issuer has no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit (including its first), unless the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable (but with respect to any amendment, renewal or extension, only in the event that the face amount of such Letter of Credit is actually increased), except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02 , the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.06(a) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent financial statements furnished pursuant to Section 6.02 ; and
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To confirm each Lenders understanding concerning Restricted Persons and Restricted Persons businesses, properties and obligations and to induce each Lender to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit hereunder, the Borrower represents and warrants to each Lender that:
5.01 No Default. No Restricted Person is in default in the performance of any of the covenants and agreements contained in any Loan Document. No event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a Default.
5.02 Organization and Good Standing . Each Restricted Person is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, having all powers required to carry on its business and enter into and carry out the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Restricted Person is duly qualified, in good standing, and authorized to do business in all other jurisdictions wherein the character of the properties owned or held by it or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such qualification necessary except where
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the failure to so qualify has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Authorization. Each Restricted Person has duly taken all action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by it of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to authorize the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and the performance of its obligations thereunder. The Borrower is duly authorized to borrow funds hereunder.
5.04 No Conflicts or Consents. The execution and delivery by the various Restricted Persons of the Loan Documents to which each is a party, the performance by each of its obligations under such Loan Documents, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the various Loan Documents, do not and will not (i) conflict with any provision of (1) any Law, (2) the organizational documents of any Restricted Person or the General Partner, or (3) any material agreement, judgment, license, order or permit applicable to or binding upon any Restricted Person or the General Partner, (ii) result in the acceleration of any Indebtedness owed by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or the General Partner, or (iii) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon any assets or properties of any Restricted Person or the General Partner. Except as expressly contemplated in the Loan Documents or disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule, no permit, consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no notice to or filing, registration or qualification with, any Tribunal or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Restricted Person of any Loan Document or to consummate any transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents. No Restricted Person is in breach of or in default under any instrument, license or other agreement applicable to or binding upon such Restricted Person, which breach or default has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.05 Enforceable Obligations. This Agreement is, and the other Loan Documents when duly executed and delivered will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Restricted Person which is a party hereto or thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws of general application relating to the enforcement of creditors rights.
5.06 Initial Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) The Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Lenders true, correct and complete copies of the Initial Financial Statements. All Initial Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Initial Borrower Financial Statements fairly present the Borrowers Consolidated financial position at the date thereof, the Consolidated results of the Borrowers operations for the periods thereof and the Borrowers Consolidated cash flows for the period thereof. The Initial La Grange Financial Statements fairly present La Granges Consolidated financial position at the date thereof, the Consolidated results of La Granges operations for the period thereof and La Granges Consolidated cash flows for the period thereof.
(b) Since the date of the Initial Financial Statements, no event or circumstance has occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect.
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5.07 Taxes, Obligations and Restrictions. No Restricted Person has any outstanding Liabilities of any kind (including contingent obligations, tax assessments, and unusual forward or long term commitments) that exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate and not shown in the Initial Financial Statements, disclosed in the Disclosure Schedule or otherwise permitted under Section 7.01 . Each Restricted Person has timely filed all tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid all taxes, assessments, and other governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income, profits or property, except to the extent that any of the foregoing is not yet due or is being in good faith contested as permitted by Section 6.07 . No Unrestricted Subsidiary is party to or subject to any agreement, relating to any Indebtedness or extension of credit (or commitment for any extension of credit) that restrict any action of any Restricted Person or that obligates any Unrestricted Subsidiary to cause any Restricted Person to take any action, other than (i) limitations or restrictions on affiliate transactions between any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Restricted Person, and (ii) provisions substantially in the form contained in the Heritage Note Purchase Agreements as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
5.08 Full Disclosure. No written certificate, statement or other information, taken as a whole, delivered herewith or heretofore by any Restricted Person to any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the date made or deemed made. All written information, taken as a whole, furnished after the date hereof by or on behalf of any Restricted Person to the Administrative Agent, LC Issuer or any Lender in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will be true, complete and accurate in every material respect in light of the circumstances in which made, or based on reasonable estimates on the date as of which such information is stated or certified. There is no fact known to any Restricted Person that has not been disclosed to each Lender in writing which has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.09 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in the Disclosure Schedule and except for matters that could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (i) there are no actions, suits or legal, equitable, arbitrative or administrative proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, by or before any Tribunal against any Restricted Person or affecting any property of any Restricted Person, and (ii) there are no outstanding judgments, injunctions, writs, rulings or orders by any such Tribunal against any Restricted Person or any Restricted Persons stockholders, partners, directors or officers or affecting any property of any Restricted Person. Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of any matters disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in the Disclosure Schedule that, individually or in the aggregate, has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 ERISA. All currently existing ERISA Plans are listed in the Disclosure Schedule. Except as disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in the Disclosure Schedule, no Termination Event has occurred with respect to any ERISA Plan and all ERISA Affiliates are in compliance with ERISA in all material respects. No ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute to,
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or has any other absolute or contingent liability in respect of, any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule: (i) no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412(a) of the Code exists with respect to any ERISA Plan, whether or not waived by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate, and (ii) the current value of each ERISA Plans benefits does not exceed the current value of such ERISA Plans assets available for the payment of such benefits by more than $5,000,000.
5.11 Compliance with Laws. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, each Restricted Person has all permits, licenses and authorizations required in connection with the conduct of its businesses, except to the extent failure to have any such permit, license or authorization has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. Each Restricted Person is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such permits, licenses and authorizations, and is also in compliance with all other limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements, obligations, schedules and timetables contained in any Law or in any regulation, code, plan, order, decree, judgment, injunction, notice or demand letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder, except to the extent failure to comply has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, each Restricted Person (i) has filed and maintained all tariffs applicable to its business with each applicable agency, (ii) and all such tariffs are in compliance with all Laws administered or promulgated by each applicable agency and (iii) has imposed charges on its customers in compliance with such tariffs, all contracts applicable to its business and all applicable Laws except to the extent such failure to file or impose has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, agency includes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and each other United States federal, state, or local governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality having jurisdiction over any Restricted Person or its properties.
5.12 Environmental Laws. Without limiting the provisions of Section 5.11 and except as disclosed in the Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2004 filed by the Borrower with the Commission or as has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect (or with respect to (c), (d) and (e) below, where the failure to take such actions has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect):
(a) Neither any property of the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary nor the operations conducted thereon violate any order or requirement of any court or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws;
(b) Without limitation of clause (a) above, no property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary nor the operations currently conducted thereon or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, by any prior owner or operator of such property or operation, are in violation of or subject to any existing, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or to any remedial obligations under Environmental Laws;
(c) All notices, permits, licenses or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of any and all property of the Borrower
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and each Restricted Subsidiary, including without limitation past or present treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous substance, hazardous waste or solid waste into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and each of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar authorizations;
(d) All hazardous substances, hazardous waste, solid waste, and oil and gas exploration and production wastes, if any, generated at any and all property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary have in the past been transported, treated and disposed of in accordance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, all such transport carriers and treatment and disposal facilities have been and are operating in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and are not the subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental Laws;
(e) The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have taken all steps reasonably necessary to determine and have determined that no hazardous substances, hazardous waste, solid waste, or oil and gas exploration and production wastes, have been disposed of or otherwise released and there has been no threatened release of any hazardous substances on or to any property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) To the extent applicable, all property of the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary currently satisfies all design, operation, and equipment requirements imposed by the Environmental Laws or scheduled as of the date hereof to be imposed by the Environmental Laws during the term of this Agreement, and the Borrower does not have any reason to believe that such property, to the extent subject to the Environmental Laws, will not be able to maintain compliance with the Environmental Laws requirements during the term of this Agreement; and
(g) None of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary has any known contingent liability in connection with any release or threatened release of any oil, hazardous substance, hazardous waste or solid waste into the environment.
5.13 Borrowers Subsidiaries. The Borrower does not have any Subsidiary or own any stock in any other corporation or association except those listed in the Disclosure Schedule or disclosed to the Administrative Agent in writing. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a member of any general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or association of any type whatsoever except those listed in the Disclosure Schedule or disclosed to the Administrative Agent in writing. The Borrower owns, directly or indirectly, the equity membership or partnership interest in each of its Subsidiaries which is indicated in the Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed to the Administrative Agent in writing.
5.14 Title to Properties; Licenses. Each Restricted Person has good and defensible title to or valid leasehold interests in all of its material properties and assets, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens and of all impediments to the use of such properties and assets
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in such Restricted Persons business. Each Restricted Person possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names, and other intellectual property (or otherwise possesses the right to use such intellectual property without violation of the rights of any other Person) which are necessary to carry out its business as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted hereafter, and no Restricted Person is in violation in any material respect of the terms under which it possesses such intellectual property or the right to use such intellectual property unless, in each case, such failure to possess or violation has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.15 Government Regulation. Neither the Borrower nor any other Restricted Person owing Obligations is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as any of the preceding acts have been amended) or any other Law which regulates the incurring by such Person of Indebtedness. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, nor any Person having control (as that term is defined in 12 U.S.C. § 375b(9) or in regulations promulgated pursuant thereto) of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, is a director or an executive officer or principal shareholder (as those terms are defined in 12 U.S.C. § 375b(8) or (9) or in regulations promulgated pursuant thereto) of any Lender, of a bank holding company of which any Lender is a Subsidiary or of any Subsidiary of a bank holding company of which any Lender is a Subsidiary. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower is (i) named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sdn/index.html , or (ii) (A) an agency of the government of a country, (B) an organization controlled by a country, or (C) a person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control and available at http ://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sanctions/index.html , or as otherwise published from time to time, as such program may be applicable to such agency, organization or person, and the proceeds from the loan will not be used to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or make any payments to, any such country, agency, organization or person.
5.16 Solvency. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is solvent (as such term is used in applicable bankruptcy, liquidation, receivership, insolvency or similar Laws), and the sum of the Borrowers and each of its Subsidiaries absolute and contingent liabilities, including the Obligations or guarantees thereof, shall not exceed the fair market value of such Persons assets, and the Borrowers and each of its Subsidiaries capital should be adequate for the businesses in which such Person is engaged and intends to be engaged. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred (whether under the Loan Documents or otherwise), nor does any such Person intend to incur or believe that it will incur, debts which will be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.
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ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
To conform with the terms and conditions under which each Lender is willing to have credit outstanding to the Borrower, and to induce each Lender to enter into this Agreement and extend credit hereunder, the Borrower covenants and agrees that until the full and final payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, unless Majority Lenders, or all Lenders as required under Section 10.01 , have previously agreed otherwise:
6.01 Payment and Performance. Each Restricted Person will pay all amounts due under the Loan Documents, to which it is a party, in accordance with the terms thereof and will observe, perform and comply with every covenant, term and condition expressed in the Loan Documents to which it is a party.
6.02 Books, Financial Statements and Reports. The Borrower will maintain and will cause its Subsidiaries to maintain a standard system of accounting and proper books of record and account in accordance with GAAP, will maintain its Fiscal Year, and will furnish the following statements and reports to each Lender at the Borrowers expense:
(a) As soon as available, and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, (i) complete Consolidated financial statements of the Borrower together with all notes thereto, prepared in reasonable detail in accordance with GAAP, together with an unqualified opinion relating to such financial statements, based on an audit using generally accepted auditing standards, by Grant Thornton LLP, or other independent certified public accountants selected by the General Partner and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, stating that such Consolidated financial statements have been so prepared; provided , however , that at any time when the Borrower shall be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Borrower for such Fiscal Year prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this clause (a)(i), and (ii) a consolidating balance sheet and a consolidating statement of operations reflecting the consolidating information for the Borrower, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (individually or with one or more on a combined basis) and the Restricted Subsidiaries (individually or with one or more on a combined basis) for such Fiscal Year, setting forth, in each case, in comparative form, figures for the preceding Fiscal Year, certified by an authorized financial officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly, in all material respects, the information contained therein, on a basis consistent with the Consolidated financial statements, which consolidating statement of operations may be in summary form in detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Such financial statements shall contain a Consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Year and Consolidated statements of earnings for such Fiscal Year. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year.
(b) As soon as available, and in any event within fifty (50) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter (i) the Borrowers Consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter
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and the Borrowers Consolidated statements of income, partners capital and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments; provided , however , that at any time when the Borrower shall be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Borrower for such Fiscal Quarter prepared in accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this clause (b)(i) for any of the first three Fiscal Quarters of a Fiscal Year and (ii) a consolidating balance sheet and a consolidating statement of operations reflecting the consolidating information for the Borrower, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries (individually or with one or more on a combined basis) and the Restricted Subsidiaries (individually or with one or more on a combined basis) for such Fiscal Quarter, setting forth, in each case, in comparative form, figures for same period of the preceding Fiscal Year, certified by an authorized financial officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly, in all material respects, the information contained therein, on a basis consistent with the Consolidated financial statements, which consolidating statement of operations may be in summary form in detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the same period of the preceding Fiscal Year. In addition the Borrower will, together with each such set of financial statements and each set of financial statements furnished under subsection (a) of this section, furnish a Compliance Certificate, signed on behalf of the Borrower by the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of the General Partner, setting forth that such financial statements are accurate and complete in all material respects (subject, in the case of Fiscal Quarter-end statements, to normal year-end adjustments), stating that he has reviewed the Loan Documents, containing calculations showing compliance (or non-compliance) at the end of such Fiscal Quarter with the requirements of Section 7.12 , and stating that no Default exists at the end of such Fiscal Quarter or at the time of such certificate or specifying the nature and period of existence of any such Default.
(c) So long as any of the HOLP Companies are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, as soon as available, and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, complete Consolidated financial statements of La Grange together with all notes thereto, prepared in reasonable detail in accordance with GAAP, together with an unqualified opinion, based on an audit using generally accepted auditing standards, by Grant Thornton LLP relating to such financial statements, or other independent certified public accountants selected by the General Partner and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, stating that such Consolidated financial statements have been so prepared. Such financial statements shall contain a Consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Year and Consolidated statements of earnings for such Fiscal Year. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year.
(d) So long as any of the HOLP Companies are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, as soon as available, and in any event within fifty (50) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Consolidated balance sheet of La Grange as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, the Consolidated balance sheet of La Grange as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the Consolidated statements of La Grange of income, partners capital and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the
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period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments. Such financial statements shall set forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the same period of the preceding Fiscal Year. In addition La Grange will, together with each such set of financial statements and each set of financial statements furnished under subsection (a) of this section, furnish a certificate signed on behalf of La Grange by the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of General Partner, stating that such financial statements are accurate and complete in all material respects (subject, in the case of Fiscal Quarter-end statements, to normal year-end adjustments).
(e) Promptly upon their becoming available, one copy of (i) each financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to public securities holders generally, and (ii) each regular or periodic report, each registration statement (without exhibits except as expressly requested by such Lender), and each prospectus and all amendments thereto filed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with the Commission and of all press releases and other statements made available generally by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the public concerning material developments; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have furnished the information specified in this clause (f) above on the date that such information is posted at the Borrowers website on the Internet or at such other website as notified to the Lenders.
6.03 Other Information and Inspections. Each Restricted Person will furnish to each Lender any information which the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request concerning any representation, warranty, covenant, provision or condition of the Loan Documents or any matter in connection with Restricted Persons businesses and operations. Each Restricted Person will permit representatives appointed by the Administrative Agent (including independent accountants, auditors, agents, attorneys, appraisers and any other Persons) to visit and inspect during normal business hours any of such Restricted Persons property, including its books of account, other books and records, and any facilities or other business assets, and to make extra copies therefrom and photocopies and photographs thereof, and to write down and record any information such representatives obtain, and each Restricted Person shall permit the Administrative Agent or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of the information furnished to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the Loan Documents and to discuss all such matters with its officers, employees and, upon prior notice to the Borrower, its representatives.
6.04 Notice of Material Events. The Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent, LC Issuer and each Lender promptly, and not later than five (5) Business Days in the case of subsection (b) below and not later than thirty (30) days in the case of any other subsection below, after any executive officer of the Borrower has knowledge thereof, stating that such notice is being given pursuant to this Agreement, of:
(a) the occurrence of any event or circumstance that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect,
(b) the occurrence of any Default,
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(c) the acceleration of the maturity of any Indebtedness owed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or of any default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any indenture, mortgage, agreement, contract or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, if such acceleration or default has had or could have a Material Adverse Effect,
(d) the occurrence of any Termination Event,
(e) Under any Environmental Law, any claim of $15,000,000 or more, any notice of potential liability which might reasonably be expected to exceed such amount, or any other material adverse claim asserted against any Restricted Person or with respect to any Restricted Persons properties taken as a whole,
(f) the filing of any suit or proceeding, or the assertion in writing of a claim against any Restricted Person or with respect to any Restricted Persons properties in which an adverse decision could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and
(g) the occurrence of any event of default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the payment or performance of (i) any material obligations such Person is required to pay or perform under the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, lease, and franchise, or other agreement, contract or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, to the extent such default or event of default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the consolidated financial condition, business, operations, assets or prospects of the Borrower, or (ii) any Indebtedness.
Upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing (other than with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Restricted Persons)), Restricted Persons will take all necessary or appropriate steps to remedy promptly any such Material Adverse Effect, Default, acceleration, default, or Termination Event, to protect against any such adverse claim, to defend any such suit or proceeding, and to resolve all controversies on account of any of the foregoing.
6.05 Maintenance of Properties. Each Restricted Person will maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this Section shall not prevent the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Borrower has concluded that such discontinuance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Existence and Qualifications. Each Restricted Person will maintain and preserve its existence and its rights and franchises in full force and effect and will qualify to do business in all states or jurisdictions where required by applicable Law, except where the failure so to qualify has not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
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6.07 Payment of Trade Liabilities, Taxes, etc. Each Restricted Person will (a) timely file all tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction; (b) timely pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a lien on properties or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Person; (c) timely pay all Liabilities owed by it on ordinary trade terms to vendors, suppliers and other Persons providing goods and services used by it in the ordinary course of its business, (e) timely pay and discharge when due all other Liabilities now or hereafter owed by it, other than royalty payments suspended in the ordinary course of business; and (f) maintain appropriate accruals and reserves for all of the foregoing in accordance with GAAP. Each Restricted Person may, however, delay paying or discharging any of the foregoing so long as (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Borrower or such Restricted Person on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Borrower or such Restricted Person has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the Borrower or such Restricted Person or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies and Liabilities in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.08 Insurance. Each Restricted Person shall at all times maintain at its own expense with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.
6.09 Compliance with Agreements and Law. Each Restricted Person will perform all material obligations it is required to perform under the terms of each material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, lease, and franchise, and each material agreement, contract or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound. Each Restricted Person will conduct its business and affairs in compliance with all Laws applicable thereto and will maintain in good standing all licenses that may be necessary or appropriate to carry on its business, except for failures so to comply that have not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
6.10 Environmental Matters.
(a) Each Restricted Person will comply in all material respects with all Environmental Laws now or hereafter applicable to such Restricted Person as well as all contractual obligations and agreements with respect to environmental remediation or other environmental matters and shall obtain, at or prior to the time required by applicable Environmental Laws, all environmental, health and safety permits, licenses and other authorizations necessary for its operations and will maintain such authorizations in full force and effect.
(b) Each Restricted Person will promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent all written notices of violation, orders, claims, citations, complaints, penalty assessments, suits or other proceedings received by any Restricted Person or General Partner, or of which it has
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notice, pending or threatened against any Restricted Person, the potential liability of which exceeds or might reasonably be expected to exceed $15,000,000 or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if resolved adversely against any Restricted Person, by any Governmental Authority with respect to any alleged violation of or non-compliance with any Environmental Laws or any permits, licenses or authorizations in connection with its ownership or use of its properties or the operation of its business.
(c) Each Restricted Person will promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent all requests for information, notices of claim, demand letters, and other notifications, received by any Restricted Person or General Partner in connection with its ownership or use of its properties or the conduct of its business, relating to potential responsibility with respect to any investigation or clean-up of Hazardous Material at any location, the potential liability of which exceeds or might reasonably be expected to exceed $15,000,000 or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if resolved adversely against any Restricted Person.
6.11 Guaranties of Subsidiaries.
(a) Each Subsidiary, whether existing on the Closing Date or created, acquired or coming into existence after the Closing Date, that Guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty.
(b) Each Restricted Subsidiary (other than LA GP, LLC, Heritage ETC, L.P., and Heritage ETC GP, L.L.C., in each case so long as such entity has no operations, Indebtedness or Liens other than operations, Indebtedness or Liens as would be deemed de minimis and no material assets other than Equity Interests in Subsidiaries), whether existing on the Closing Date or created, acquired or coming into existence after the Closing Date, which holds Equity Interests in another Guarantor, or which has EBITDA in any Fiscal Quarter which constitutes ten percent (10%) or more of Borrowers Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Quarter or which has assets at any time with a book value equal to or exceeding (10%) of the book value of Borrowers Consolidated assets at such time shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty.
(c) Without limiting Section 6.11(a) or (b) , a sufficient number of Restricted Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent a Guaranty such that:
(i) the aggregate amount of the Borrowers EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarter ended September 30, 2004 plus the EBITDA of each of the Guarantors during such Fiscal Quarter is equal to seventy five percent (75%) or more of the Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Quarter (the Minimum Guarantor EBITDA ), and
(ii) the book value of Borrowers assets plus the aggregate book value of the assets of Guarantors exceeds seventy five percent (75%) of the book value of the Borrowers Consolidated assets (the Minimum Guarantor Book Value ).
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(d) If (i) the aggregate amount of the Borrowers EBITDA for any Fiscal Quarter plus the EBITDA of each Guarantor during such Fiscal Quarter is less than the Minimum Guarantor EBITDA or (ii) the book value of the Borrowers assets at any time plus the aggregate book value of the assets of the Guarantors at such time does not exceed the Minimum Guarantor Book Value, then the Borrower, shall within ten (10) days following the date that financial statements in respect of such Fiscal Quarter are available to the Borrower cause one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, with aggregate assets and/or EBITDA sufficient to comply with the test contained in Section 6.11(c) , to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty.
(e) For purposes of Section 6.11(b), (c) and (d) , references to EBITDA of a Person (other than Consolidated EBITDA) shall mean that portion of Consolidated EBITDA derived from the operating revenues of such Person on an unconsolidated basis and references to assets of a Person (other than Consolidated assets) shall mean the assets of such Person on an unconsolidated basis.
(f) Simultaneously with its delivery of such a Guaranty, each Subsidiary shall provide written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel that such Subsidiary has taken all corporate, limited liability company or partnership action necessary to duly approve and authorize its execution, delivery and performance of such Guaranty and any other documents which it is required to execute.
(g) The Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Borrower may not make such a designation unless at the time of such action and after giving effect thereto, (i) none of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries have outstanding Indebtedness or Guarantees, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01 or Liens on any of their property, other than Permitted Liens (in each case taking into account the other Indebtedness and Liens of the Restricted Persons), (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist, (iii) all representations and warranties herein will be true and correct in all material respects if remade at the time of such designation, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (iv) the Borrower has provided to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to the effect that each of the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.
(h) The Borrower may designate any Person who becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower after the date hereof to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, provided that all Investments in such Subsidiary at the time of such designation shall be treated as Investments made on the date of such designation, and provided further that the Borrower may not make such a designation unless such designation is made not later than 30 days after the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary and, at the time of such action and after giving effect thereto, (i) such Subsidiary does not own, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness or Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist, (iii) all representations and warranties herein will be true and correct in all material respects if remade at the time of such designation, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, (iv) the Investment represented by such designation is permitted under clause (i) of the
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definition of Permitted Investments and (v) the Borrower has provided to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to the effect that each of the foregoing conditions have been satisfied.
6.12 Compliance with Agreements. Each Restricted Person shall observe, perform or comply in all material respects with any agreement with any Person or any term or condition of any instrument, if such agreement or instrument is materially significant to such Restricted Person or to Restricted Persons on a Consolidated basis, unless any such failure to so observe, perform or comply is remedied within the applicable period of grace (if any) provided in such agreement or instrument.
6.13 Maintenance of Separateness. So long as any of the HOLP Companies are Unrestricted Subsidiaries:
(a) The Borrower will, and will cause each other Restricted Person to: (i) maintain books and records separate from those of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries; (ii) maintain its assets in such a manner that it is not more costly or difficult to segregate, identify or ascertain such assets from those of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and (iii) observe all organizational formalities.
(b) The Borrower and the other Restricted Persons, collectively, will (i) hold themselves out to creditors and the public as separate and distinct from any other Person, including the Unrestricted Subsidiaries; (ii) conduct their business in their respective names or in business names or trade names of the Borrower, and use stationary, invoices and checks separate from those of any other Person, including the Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and (iii) not assume, guarantee or pay the debts or obligations of or hold themselves out as being available to satisfy the obligations of any other Person, including the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, except as is expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement or with respect to Performance Guaranties.
(c) To the extent that the Borrower or any other Restricted Person jointly contracts with any of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries to do business with vendors or service providers or to share overhead expenses, the costs incurred in doing so shall be allocated fairly among such entities and each such entity shall bear its fair share of such costs. To the extent that the Borrower or any other Restricted Person contracts or does business with vendors or service providers where the goods and services are partially for the benefit of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the costs incurred in doing so shall be fairly allocated to or among such entities for whose benefit the goods and services are provided, and each such entity shall bear its fair share of such costs.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
To conform with the terms and conditions under which each Lender is willing to have credit outstanding to the Borrower, and to induce each Lender to enter into this Agreement and make the Loans, the Borrower covenants and agrees that until the full and final payment of the
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Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, unless Majority Lenders, or all Lenders as required under Section 10.01 , have previously agreed otherwise:
7.01 Indebtedness. No Restricted Person will in any manner owe or be liable for Indebtedness except:
(a) the Obligations;
(b) Indebtedness of any Restricted Person owing to another Restricted Person;
(c) Indebtedness in respect of the senior notes issued under the Indenture and in respect of other senior notes or senior subordinated notes issued by the Borrower from time to time, and Guarantees thereof by Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that: (i) such Indebtedness at all times (A) is unsecured, (B) is not Guaranteed by any Person other than a Person that is a Guarantor hereunder, and (C) in respect to which no principal amount matures earlier than six (6) months after the Maturity Date (as it exists at the time of such issuance) and the covenants and events of default governing such Indebtedness are not more restrictive on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than the covenants and events of default under this Agreement; (ii) at the time of such issuance and after giving effect thereto, (A) the Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.12(a) , (B) the Borrower is in compliance on a pro forma basis with Section 7.12(b) for the four Fiscal Quarter period most recently ended prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness for which financial statements are available to the Borrower under Section 6.02(b) , determined as if such Indebtedness had been incurred on the first day of such period (and if the proceeds thereof are applied to pay Indebtedness of Restricted Persons, as if such amount of Indebtedness, to the extent so outstanding during such period, had not been outstanding), and (C) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would occur and (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate in reasonable detail reflecting compliance with each of the forgoing requirements;
(d) Performance Guaranties;
(e) Indebtedness in respect of bonds that are performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Indebtedness in respect to future payment for non-competition covenants and similar payments under agreements governing a Permitted Acquisition by a Restricted Person;
(g) unsecured Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the date hereof incurred prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is not created in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) such Indebtedness is not assumed or Guaranteed by any other Restricted Person; and
(h) Permitted Priority Debt.
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7.02 Limitation on Liens. No Restricted Person will create, assume or permit to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of its properties or assets now owned or hereafter acquired, except the following Liens (to the extent permitted by this Section, herein called Permitted Liens ):
(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement and listed in the Disclosure Schedule;
(b) Liens imposed by any Governmental Authority for taxes, assessments or charges not yet due or the validity of which is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if necessary, for which adequate reserves are maintained on the books of any Restricted Person in accordance with GAAP;
(c) pledges or deposits of cash or securities under workers compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security legislation;
(d) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens, landlords, or other like Liens (including, without limitation, Liens on property of any Restricted Person in the possession of storage facilities, pipelines or barges) arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not more than 60 days past due or the validity of which is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, if necessary, and for which adequate reserves are maintained on the books of any Restricted Person in accordance with GAAP;
(e) deposits of cash or securities to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(f) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, restrictions on the use of real property or minor imperfections in title thereto which, in the aggregate, are not material in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of any Restricted Person;
(g) rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit, or by any provision of law, to revoke or terminate any such right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit or to condemn or acquire by eminent domain or similar process;
(h) rights reserved to or vested by Law in any Governmental Authority to in any manner, control or regulate in any manner any of the properties of any Restricted Person or the use thereof or the rights and interests of any Restricted Person therein, in any manner under any and all Laws;
(i) rights reserved to the grantors of any properties of any Restricted Person, and the restrictions, conditions, restrictive covenants and limitations, in respect thereto, pursuant to the terms,
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conditions and provisions of any rights-of-way agreements, contracts or other agreements therewith;
(j) inchoate Liens in respect of pending litigation or with respect to a judgment which has not resulted in an Event of Default under Section 8.01 ;
(k) statutory Liens in respect of payables;
(l) any Lien existing on any property prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (iv) such Liens do not secure Indebtedness other than Permitted Priority Debt;
(m) Liens on cash margin collateral securing Hedging Contracts permitted under Section 7.10 ;
(n) Liens in respect of operating leases covering only the property subject thereto; and
(o) Liens in respect of Permitted Priority Debt.
7.03 Limitation on Mergers, Issuances of Subsidiary Securities. No Restricted Person will enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself or suffer any liquidation or dissolution, except (i) Permitted Acquisitions and (ii) the merger, dissolution or liquidation into or consolidation of a Restricted Subsidiary with or into the Borrower (so long as the Borrower is the surviving entity) or another Restricted Subsidiary (so long as if one such Restricted Person is a Guarantor, the surviving entity shall be a Guarantor). Except in connection with a sale of all of the Equity Interest of a Restricted Subsidiary permitted under Section 7.04(g) or (h) : (i) the Borrower will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose the Equity Interest of any Restricted Subsidiary and no Restricted Subsidiary will issue any additional Equity Interests if such action will result in or allow any diminution of the Borrowers Equity Interest (direct or indirect) in such Restricted Subsidiary, and (ii) no Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a partnership will allow any diminution of the Borrowers interest (direct or indirect) in such Restricted Subsidiary.
7.04 Limitation on Sales of Property and Sale-Leaseback Transactions. No Restricted Person will sell, transfer, lease, exchange, alienate or dispose of any of its property or any material interest therein except:
(a) equipment and other personal property and fixtures that are either (i) obsolete for their intended purposes and disposed of in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) replaced by personal property or fixtures of comparable suitability owned by such Restricted Person free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens;
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(b) inventory which is sold in the ordinary course of business on ordinary trade terms;
(c) property sold or transferred by any Restricted Subsidiary to any other Restricted Subsidiary (so long as if the transferor is a Guarantor, the transferee shall be a Guarantor);
(d) property subject to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to which the Attributable Debt and Liens are permitted by the provisions of this Agreement;
(e) assignment of accounts receivable for collection purposes in the ordinary course of business;
(f) property sold to comply with any divestment requirement imposed in connection with the approval of an acquisition under Hart-Scott-Rodino Act of 1976;
(g) sales, transfers or other dispositions of other property or issuances or sales of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (hereafter referred to as an Asset Sale ), in any case for fair consideration that are in the best interests of the Borrower, provided that:
(i) the Restricted Persons shall not, in any consecutive twelve-month period, make Asset Sales in respect of assets accounting for more than (i) 7.5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (ii) 7.5% of Consolidated EBITDA;
(ii) the Restricted Persons shall not, during the term of this Agreement, make Asset Sales in respect of assets accounting for more than 15.0% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets on a cumulative basis; and
(iii) immediately after giving effect to such proposed disposition no Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing; and
(h) sales, transfers or other dispositions of other property or issuances or sales of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, in any case for fair consideration that are in the best interests of the Borrower to any Person; provided that (i) such sale, transfer or disposition is in exchange for other assets used by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the furtherance of their business, (ii) the amount of the proceeds of such sale, transfer or disposition (other than such assets received in exchange), net of customary costs of sale (the Net Proceeds), are applied within 12 months to the purchase of other assets used by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the furtherance of their business and (iii) the Aggregate Commitments are permanently reduced within 12 months by the amount of any such Net Proceeds not so applied to the purchase of such assets used by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in the furtherance of their business.
7.05 Limitation on Restricted Payment. No Restricted Person will declare or make, directly or indirectly any Restricted Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no Restricted Person shall be restricted, directly or indirectly, from declaring and making Restricted Payments to another Restricted Person and (ii) so long as the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 7.12(a) prior to and after giving effect to any distribution, and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower may declare or
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order and make, pay or set apart, during each Fiscal Quarter, Restricted Payments consisting of cash distribution to its general partner and limited partner unit holders pursuant to the requirements of the Partnership Agreement. In determining the amount of Restricted Payments to be made or declared pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 7.05 , the Borrower shall for purposes of clause (ii) of this Section 7.05 only, calculate the aggregate cash available for such Restricted Payments as if the Aggregate Commitments hereunder available for working capital purposes were equal to the lesser of (x) $225,000,000 or (y) the Aggregate Commitments minus the Facility Usage.
7.06 Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances. No Restricted Person will make or commit to make any capital contributions to, or make or hold any other Investments in, any Person, other than Permitted Investments, nor acquire properties or assets except (i) in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any acquisition of capital assets that will become a part of the operations of such Restricted Person (and provided that the same shall not result in a violation of Section 7.07 ) and (iii) any Permitted Acquisition. Except for Permitted Investments and Hedging Contracts permitted under Section 7.10 , no Restricted Person will extend credit, make advances or make loans other than normal and prudent extensions of credit to customers in the ordinary course of business or to another Restricted Person in the ordinary course of business, which extensions shall not be for longer periods than those extended by similar businesses operated in a normal and prudent manner. No Equity Interest of a Restricted Subsidiary shall be held by an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and no Indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of an Restricted Subsidiary shall be held by an Unrestricted Subsidiary if, as a result thereof, the Indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of all Restricted Subsidiaries held by one or more Unrestricted Subsidiary shall in the aggregate exceed $10,000,000 at any one time.
7.07 Change in Nature of Businesses. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business if, as a result, the nature of the business of the Borrower would not be the Permitted Line of Business.
7.08 Transactions with Affiliates. No Restricted Person will directly or indirectly engage in any material transaction or material group of related transactions (including without limitation the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any of its Affiliates except: (a) transactions among the Restricted Persons, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement and (b) transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Restricted Person on terms which are no less favorable to such Restricted Person than those which would have been obtainable at the time in arms-length transactions with Persons that are not Affiliates.
7.09 Restrictive and Negative Pledge Agreements. Except as expressly provided for in the Loan Documents and as described in the Disclosure Schedule, no Restricted Person will, directly or indirectly, enter into, create, or otherwise allow to exist any contract or other consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to: (a) pay dividends or make other distributions, (b) redeem Equity Interests held in it by the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary, (c) repay loans and other indebtedness owing by it to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary, or (d) transfer any of its assets to the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary. No Restricted Person will, directly or indirectly, enter into, create, or otherwise
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allow to exist any contract or other consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Person to create Liens on any of its assets or property to secure the Obligations other than as permitted in connection with Indebtedness under Section 7.01(c) .
7.10 Hedging Arrangements and Open Positions.
(a) Hedging Arrangements . No Restricted Person will be a party to or in any manner be liable on any Hedging Contract except (i) in compliance with the Risk Management Policy and (ii) transactions entered into with a good faith belief that no violation of the Risk Management Policy exists and where such violation is remedied as promptly as possible and in any event by the close of business on the Business Day following the date that such violation was discovered.
(b) Open Positions . No Restricted Person will permit to exist any risk (including price, basis and time risk) in respect to commodities traded, purchased, sold or held by it except (i) in compliance with Risk Limits in effect on the date hereof as defined in and set forth on Schedule 7.10 , as such Risk Limits may be modified by the Borrower from time to time after the date hereof pursuant to its Risk Management Policy, and (ii) transactions entered into with a good faith belief that no violation of such Risk Limits exists and where such violation is remedied as promptly as possible and in any event by the close of business on the Business Day following the date that such violation was discovered.
7.11 Commingling of Deposit Accounts and Accounts. So long as any of the HOLP Companies are Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, commingle their respective Deposit Accounts or Accounts (as such terms are defined in Article 9 of the UCC) with the Deposit Accounts or Accounts of any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
7.12 Financial Covenants.
(a) Debt Coverage Ratio . (i) On each Quarterly Testing Date using the Consolidated Funded Indebtedness outstanding on such day and using Consolidated EBITDA for the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on such day, (ii) on the date of each Specified Acquisition using the Consolidated Funded Indebtedness that will be outstanding after giving effect to such Specified Acquisition and using Consolidated EBITDA for the four Fiscal Quarter period most recently ending prior to such Specified Acquisition for which financial statements contemplated by Section 6.02(b) are available to the Borrower (and giving pro forma effect to such specified Acquisition as provided in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA) and (iii) on each date on which the Borrower makes a distribution permitted under Section 7.05 , after giving effect thereto and using Consolidated EBITDA for the four Fiscal Quarter period most recently ending prior to such date for which financial statements contemplated by Section 6.02(b) are available to the Borrower, the Leverage Ratio will not exceed (A) 4.50 to 1.00 at any time other than during a Specified Acquisition Period and (B) 5.00 to 1.00 during a Specified Acquisition Period.
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(b) Interest Coverage Ratio . The ratio of Consolidated EBITDA for each period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, to Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, will never be less than 3.00 to 1.0.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default under this Agreement (each an Event of Default ):
(a) Any Restricted Person fails to pay the principal component of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation with respect to any Letter of Credit when due and payable, whether at a date for the payment of a fixed installment or as a contingent or other payment becomes due and payable or as a result of acceleration or otherwise;
(b) Any Restricted Person fails to pay any Obligation (other than the Obligations in subsection (a) above), whether at a date for the payment of a fixed installment or as a contingent or other payment becomes due and payable or as a result of acceleration or otherwise, within five Business Days after the same becomes due;
(c) Any event defined as a default or event of default in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement) occurs, and the same is not remedied within the applicable period of grace (if any) provided in such Loan Document;
(d) Any Restricted Person fails to duly observe, perform or comply with any covenant, agreement or provision of Section 6.04 or Article VII ;
(e) Any Restricted Person fails (other than as referred to in subsections (a), (b), (c) or (d) above) to duly observe, perform or comply with any covenant, agreement, condition or provision of any Loan Document to which it is a party, and such failure remains unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice of such failure is given by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower;
(f) Any representation or warranty previously, presently or hereafter made in writing by or on behalf of any Restricted Person in connection with any Loan Document shall prove to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on any date on or as of which made;
(g) Any Loan Document at any time ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable as warranted in Section 5.05 for any reason other than its release by Lenders or the Administrative Agent (as permitted under Section 9.10 );
(h) (i) Any Restricted Person (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Hedging Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit
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arrangement) of more than $15,000,000, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, in each case, following any applicable cure period, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Hedging Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Hedging Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Hedging Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Hedging Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as defined in such Hedging Contract) under such Hedging Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Hedging Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary to a single counterparty as a result thereof is greater than $30,000,000 for such Hedging Contract;
(i) Either (i) any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412(a) of the Code) in excess of $5,000,000 exists with respect to any ERISA Plan, whether or not waived by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate, or (ii) any Termination Event occurs with respect to any ERISA Plan and the then current value of such ERISA Plans benefit liabilities exceeds the then current value of such ERISA Plans assets available for the payment of such benefit liabilities by more than $5,000,000 (or in the case of a Termination Event involving the withdrawal of a substantial employer, the withdrawing employers proportionate share of such excess exceeds such amount);
(j) The Borrower, any Guarantor or any of the HOLP Companies:
(i) has entered against it a judgment, decree or order for relief by a Tribunal of competent jurisdiction in an involuntary proceeding commenced under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar Law of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect, including the federal Bankruptcy Code, as from time to time amended, or has any such proceeding commenced against it, in each case, which remains undismissed for a period of sixty days; or
(ii) commences a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Law now or hereafter in effect, including the federal Bankruptcy Code, as from time to time amended; or applies for or consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such Law; or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or is generally unable to pay (or admits in writing its inability to so pay) its debts as such debts become due; or takes corporate or other action to authorize any of the foregoing; or
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(iii) has entered against it the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of all or a substantial part of its assets in a proceeding brought against or initiated by it, and such appointment or taking possession is neither made ineffective nor discharged within sixty days after the making thereof, or such appointment or taking possession is at any time consented to, requested by, or acquiesced to by it; or
(iv) has entered against it a final judgment for the payment of money in excess of $15,000,000 (in each case not covered by insurance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its discretion), unless the same is discharged within sixty days after the date of entry thereof or an appeal or appropriate proceeding for review thereof is taken within such period and a stay of execution pending such appeal is obtained; or
(v) suffers a writ or warrant of attachment or any similar process to be issued by any Tribunal against all or any substantial part of its assets, and such writ or warrant of attachment or any similar process is not stayed or released within sixty days after the entry or levy thereof or after any stay is vacated or set aside; or
(k) Any Change of Control occurs; or
(l) Any event of default under any agreement governing secured indebtedness of any of the HOLP Companies relating to (i) bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law with respect to any of the HOLP Companies, beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto in such agreement, or (ii) non-payment of such secured indebtedness or any other indebtedness of any of the HOLP Companies, subject to the minimum dollar amount threshold of such indebtedness set forth in such agreement, provided that such non-payment continues for a period of three (3) Business Days beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto in such agreement, unless, prior to the end of the three (3) Business Day period the lenders party to such agreement have accelerated the maturity of such indebtedness thereunder or blocked the payment or otherwise limited the payment by any of the HOLP Companies of any scheduled restricted payment distribution in respect of any Equity Interest in HOLP, in which case such three (3) Business Day period shall no longer apply.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Majority Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the LC Issuer to make LC Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;
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(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the LC Obligations (in an amount equal to the then outstanding amount thereof); and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;
provided , however , that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in subections (j)(i) , (j)(ii) or (j)(iii) of Section 8.01 , the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the LC Issuer to make LC Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the LC Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds . After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the LC Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02 ), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III ) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders and the LC Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the LC Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or the LC Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III ), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, Matured LC Obligations and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the LC Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth , to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and Matured LC Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the LC Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth , to the Administrative Agent for the account of the LC Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of LC Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit; and
Last , the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
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Amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as LC Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority . Each of the Lenders and the LC Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Wachovia Bank, National Association to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the LC Issuer, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
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(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02 ) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the LC Issuer.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the LC Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the LC Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the LC Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article
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shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the LC Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the LC Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any Cash Collateral held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the LC Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such Cash Collateral until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the LC Issuer directly, until such time as the Majority Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agents resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Any resignation by Wachovia Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as LC Issuer. Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring LC Issuer, (b) the retiring LC Issuer shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor LC Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to the retiring LC Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring LC Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
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9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the LC Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the LC Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners, Arrangers, Syndication Agents, Documentation Agents, Managing Agents, or other Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the LC Issuer hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Restricted Person, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or LC Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the LC Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the LC Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.12 and 10.04 .
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the LC Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of
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any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
9.10 Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the LC Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Majority Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agents authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10 .
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Restricted Person therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Majority Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Person, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 ) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or LC Obligation, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01 ) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Leverage Level that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided , however , that only the consent of the Majority Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of Default Rate or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or letter of credit fees at the Default Rate;
(e) change Section 2.15 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;
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(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of Majority Lenders or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or
(g) except as provided in Section 9.10 , release all or substantially all of the Guarantors from the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender;
and, provided further , that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the LC Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the LC Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swingline Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the LC Issuer, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02 ; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the LC Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the
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LC Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the LC Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures . Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on all Restricted Persons, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer, and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent may also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided , however , that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document or signature.
(d) Change of Address, Etc . Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, LC Issuer and Lenders . The Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right,
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remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the LC Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the LC Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee ) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Restricted Person arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the LC Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Liability under Environmental Law related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) any civil penalty or fine assessed by the U. S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control against, and all reasonable costs and expenses (including
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counsel fees and disbursements) incurred in connection with defense thereof by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of the funding of Loans, the issuance of Letters of Credit, the acceptance of payments under the Loan Documents, or (v) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Restricted Person, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Restricted Person against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitees obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Restricted Person has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the LC Issuer, the Swingline Lender, or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the LC Issuer, the Swingline Lender, or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lenders Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Swingline Lender, or the LC Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Swingline Lender, or LC Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.14(d) .
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
(e) Payments . All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
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(f) Survival . The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the LC Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the LC Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in LC Obligations) at the time owing to it); provided that, except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which
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for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
(i) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;
(ii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuer unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and
(iii) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 , 3.05 , and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section. Any assignment of a given percentage of a Lenders Commitment shall cover the same percentage of such Lenders Working Capital Revolving Commitment, and vice versa.
(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agents Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and LC Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register ). The
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entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrower and the LC Issuer at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In addition, at any time that a request for a consent for a material or substantive change to the Loan Documents is pending, any Lender wishing to consult with other Lenders in connection therewith may request and receive from the Administrative Agent a copy of the Register.
(d) Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a Participant ) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lenders participations in LC Obligations) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the LC Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01 , 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.15 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrowers prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of
83
its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments . The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
(h) Resignation as LC Issuer after Assignment . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Wachovia Bank, National Association assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Wachovia Bank, National Association may, upon 30 days notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as LC Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as LC Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor LC Issuer hereunder; provided , however , that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Wachovia Bank, National Association as LC Issuer. If Wachovia Bank, National Association resigns as LC Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of the LC Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as LC Issuer and all LC Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Matured LC Obligations pursuant to Section 2.09 ).
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the LC Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it or its Affiliates or to any such regulatory authority in accordance with such Lenders regulatory compliance policy, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the LC Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
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For purposes of this Section, Information means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the LC Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the LC Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the LC Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the LC Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the LC Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the LC Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the LC Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the LC Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the Maximum Rate ). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties
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relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01 , this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01 , if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06 ), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b) ;
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and Letter of Credit participations, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05 ) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
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(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE LC ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE . THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
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(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02 . NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the Act ), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.
10.17 Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P. | ||||||
By: | U.S. Propane, L.P., its General Partner | |||||
By: |
/s/ Ray C. Davis
Ray C. Davis Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-1
WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, LC Issuer, Swingline Lender, and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ David Humphreys
Name: David Humphreys Title: Director |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-2
FLEET NATIONAL BANK
,
as Syndication Agent and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Allison IR. Goodwin
Name: Allison IR. Goodwin Title: Director |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-3
BNP PARIBAS
,
as Co-Documentation Agent and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ J. Onischuk
Name: J. Onischuk Title: Director |
|||
By: |
/s/ Greg Smothers
Name: Greg Smothers Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-4
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
,
as Co-Documentation Agent and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Adam Pettifer
Name: Adam Pettifer Title: Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-5
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
,
as Managing Agent and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Vanessa Gomez
Name: Vanessa Gomez Title: Vice President |
|||
By: |
/s/ Thomas S. Hall
Name: Thomas S. Hall Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-6
UFJ BANK LIMITED
,
as Managing Agent and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ L. J. Perenyi
Name: L. J. Perenyi Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-7
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
,
as Managing Agent and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Mark E. Thompson
Name: Mark E. Thompson Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-8
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
,
as Managing Agent and a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Reed V. Thompson
Name: Reed V. Thompson Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-9
GUARANTY BANK
,
as a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Jim R. Hamilton
Name: Jim R. Hamilton Title: Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-10
HARRIS NESBITT FINANCING, INC.
,
as a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Cahal B. Carmody
Name: Cahal B. Carmody Title: Vice-President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-11
CITIBANK, N.A.
,
as a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ David E. Hunt
Name: David E. Hunt Title: Attorney-in-Fact |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-12
COMERICA BANK
,
as a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Michele L. Jones
Name: Michele L. Jones Title: Senior Vice President - Texas Division |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-13
COMPASS BANK
,
as a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Dorothy Marchand
Name: Dorothy Marchand Title: Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-14
SOUTHWEST BANK OF TEXAS, N.A.
,
as a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ W. Bryan Chapman
Name: W. Bryan Chapman Title: Senior Vice President - Energy Lending |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-15
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.
,
as a Lender |
||||
By: |
/s/ Sean Murphy
Name: Sean Murphy Title: Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
S-16
Exhibit 10.2
GUARANTY
THIS GUARANTY is made as of January 18, 2005, by each party named on the signature pages hereto (collectively herein called the Guarantors) in favor of Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent for the Lenders, as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement described below (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent).
RECITALS:
1. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the Borrower), has entered into that certain Credit Agreement of even date herewith (herein, as from time to time amended, supplemented or restated, called the Credit Agreement), by and among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the LC Issuer, and Swingline Lender, Fleet National Bank, as Syndication Agent, BNP Paribas and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Co-Documentation Agents, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto, pursuant to which the Lender Parties (as defined below) have agreed to advance funds and extend credit to the Borrower up to an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000.
2. It is a condition to the Lender Parties obligations to advance funds and extend credit pursuant to the Credit Agreement that the Guarantors shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a satisfactory guaranty of the Borrowers obligations under the Notes and the Credit Agreement.
3. Each Guarantor is a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Borrower.
4. The Borrower, the Guarantors, and the other direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Borrower are mutually dependent on each other in the conduct of their respective businesses under a holding company structure, with the credit needed from time to time by each often being provided by another or by means of financing obtained by one such affiliate with the support of the others for their mutual benefit and the ability of each to obtain such financing being dependent on the successful operations of the others.
5. The board of directors, members, managers or general partner of each Guarantor, as applicable, has determined that such Guarantors execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty may reasonably be expected to benefit such Guarantor, directly or indirectly, and are in the best interests of such Guarantor.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, of the benefits which will inure to each Guarantor from the Lender Parties advances of funds and extension of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, and of Ten Dollars and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of all of which are hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce the Lender Parties to advance funds and extend credit under the Credit Agreement, each Guarantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Lender Party as follows:
AGREEMENTS:
Section 1. Definitions . Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement for all purposes. All terms used in this Guaranty that are defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings when used herein. All references herein to any Obligation Document, Loan Document, or other document or instrument refer to the same as from time to time amended, supplemented or restated. As used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Additional Guarantor has the meaning given to such term in Section 11.
Administrative Agent means the Person who, at the time in question, is the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement.
Guaranty Supplement has the meaning given to such term in Section 11.
Lender Parties means the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer, and the Lenders.
Lenders has the meaning given to such term in the Credit Agreement.
Obligations means collectively all of the indebtedness, obligations, and undertakings which are guaranteed by each Guarantor and described in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 2.
Obligation Documents means this Guaranty, the Notes, the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, all other documents and instruments under, by reason of which, or pursuant to which any or all of the Obligations are evidenced, governed, secured, or otherwise dealt with.
Obligors means the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other endorsers, guarantors or obligors, primary or secondary, of any or all of the Obligations.
Section 2. Guaranty .
(a) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably, absolutely, and unconditionally guarantees to each Lender Party the prompt, complete, and full payment when due, and no matter how the same shall become due, of:
(i) all Obligations, as defined in the Credit Agreement, including all principal of, all interest on, and all other sums payable in connection therewith; and
(ii) all the LC Obligations, including all obligations of the Borrower to make reimbursements and other payments to the LC Issuer and to the Lenders in respect of Letters of Credit issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement; and
(iii) all other sums payable under the other Loan Documents, whether for principal, interest, fees or otherwise; and
(iv) any and all other indebtedness, obligations or liabilities which may at any time be owed to any Lender Party, whether incurred heretofore or hereafter or concurrently herewith, under or pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, and including
2
interest, reasonable attorneys fees and collection costs as may be provided by law or in any instrument or agreement evidencing any such indebtedness or liability.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantors liability hereunder shall extend to and include all post-petition interest, expenses, and other duties and liabilities of the Borrower described above in this subsection (a), or below in the following subsection (b), which would be owed by the Borrower but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or similar proceeding involving the Borrower.
(b) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably, absolutely, and unconditionally guarantees to each Lender Party the prompt, complete and full payment, when due, and no matter how the same shall become due, of all obligations and undertakings of the Borrower to such Lender Party under, by reason of, or pursuant to any of the Obligation Documents.
(c) If the Borrower shall for any reason fail to pay any Obligation, as and when such Obligation shall become due and payable, whether at its stated maturity, as a result of the exercise of any power to accelerate, or otherwise, each Guarantor will, upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay such Obligation in full to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender Party to whom such Obligation is owed.
(d) If either the Borrower or any Guarantor fail to pay any Obligation as described in the immediately preceding subsections (a), (b), or (c) each Guarantor will incur the additional obligation to pay to the Administrative Agent, and each Guarantor will forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent pay to the Administrative Agent, the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including fees and disbursements of the Administrative Agents counsel and of any experts or agents retained by the Administrative Agent, which the Administrative Agent may incur as a result of such failure.
(e) As between the Guarantors and each Lender Party, this Guaranty shall be considered a primary and liquidated liability of each Guarantor.
(f) The liability of each Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount of liability that can be incurred without rendering this Guaranty, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount.
(g) The books and records of the Lender Parties showing the amount of any of the Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon the Guarantors and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Obligations.
(h) Each Guarantor shall make all payments hereunder without setoff or counterclaim and free and clear of and without deduction for any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, withholdings, compulsory loans, restrictions or conditions of any nature now or hereafter imposed or levied by any jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof or taxing or other authority therein unless such Guarantor is compelled by law to make such deduction or withholding. If any such obligation (other than one arising with respect to taxes based on or
3
measured by the income or profits of any Lender Party) is imposed upon such Guarantor with respect to any amount payable by it hereunder, such Guarantor will pay to the Administrative Agent, on the date on which such amount is due and payable hereunder, such additional amount in Dollars as shall be necessary to enable each Lender Party to receive the same net amount that such Lender Party would have received on such due date had no such obligation been imposed upon such Guarantor. Each Guarantor will deliver promptly to the Administrative Agent certificates or other valid vouchers for all taxes or other charges deducted from or paid with respect to payments made by such Guarantor hereunder. The obligations of the Guarantors under this paragraph shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and termination of this Guaranty.
Section 3. Unconditional Guaranty .
(a) No action which the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party may take or omit to take in connection with any of the Obligation Documents or any of the Obligations (or any other indebtedness owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party), and no course of dealing of the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party with any Obligor or any other Person, shall release or diminish any Guarantors obligations, liabilities, agreements or duties hereunder, affect this Guaranty in any way, or afford any Guarantor any recourse against the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party, regardless of whether any such action or inaction may increase any risks to or liabilities of the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party or any Obligor. Without limiting the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby expressly agrees that any Lender Party may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of any Guarantor, do any or all of the following:
(i) Amend, change or modify, in whole or in part, any one or more of the Obligation Documents and give or refuse to give any waivers or other indulgences with respect thereto.
(ii) Neglect, delay, fail, or refuse to take or prosecute any action for the collection or enforcement of any of the Obligations, to foreclose or take or prosecute any action in connection with any Obligation Document, to bring suit against any Obligor or any other Person, or to take any other action concerning the Obligations or the Obligation Documents.
(iii) Accelerate, change, rearrange, extend, or renew the time, rate, terms, or manner for payment or performance of any one or more of the Obligations (whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses, indemnifications, affirmative or negative covenants, or otherwise).
(iv) Compromise or settle any unpaid or unperformed Obligation or any other obligation or amount due or owing, or claimed to be due or owing, under any one or more of the Obligation Documents.
(v) Discharge, release, substitute or add Obligors.
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(vi) Apply all monies received from Obligors or others to any one or more of the Obligations as the Administrative Agent or the other Lender Parties may determine to be in their best interest, without in any way being required to apply all or any part of such monies upon any particular Obligations.
(b) No action or inaction of any Obligor or any other Person, and no change of law or circumstances, shall release or diminish any Guarantors obligations, liabilities, agreements, or duties hereunder, affect this Guaranty in any way, or afford any Guarantor any recourse against any Lender Party. Without limiting the foregoing, the obligations, liabilities, agreements, and duties of the Guarantors under this Guaranty shall not be released, diminished, impaired, reduced, or affected by the occurrence of any or all of the following from time to time, even if occurring without notice to or without the consent of any Guarantor:
(i) Any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of all or substantially all assets, marshalling of assets or liabilities, receivership, conservatorship, assignment for the benefit of creditors, insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, or composition of any Obligor or any other proceedings involving any Obligor or any of the assets of any Obligor under laws for the protection of debtors, or any discharge, impairment, modification, release, or limitation of the liability of, or stay of actions or lien enforcement proceedings against, any Obligor, any properties of any Obligor, or the estate in bankruptcy of any Obligor in the course of or resulting from any such proceedings.
(ii) The failure by the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party to file or enforce a claim in any proceeding described in the immediately preceding subsection (i) or to take any other action in any proceeding to which any Obligor is a party.
(iii) The release by operation of law of any Obligor from any of the Obligations or any other obligations to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party.
(iv) The invalidity, deficiency, illegality, or unenforceability of any of the Obligations or the Obligation Documents, in whole or in part, any bar by any statute of limitations or other law of recovery on any of the Obligations, or any defense or excuse for failure to perform on account of force majeure, act of God, casualty, impossibility, impracticability, or other defense or excuse whatsoever, other than the defense of payment having been made to the Lender Parties in accordance with this Guaranty or the Credit Agreement.
(v) The failure of any Obligor or any other Person to sign any guaranty or other instrument or agreement within the contemplation of any Obligor, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender Party.
(vi) The fact that the Guarantors may have incurred directly part of the Obligations or are otherwise primarily liable therefor.
(vii) Without limiting any of the foregoing, any fact or event (whether or not similar to any of the foregoing) which in the absence of this provision would or might
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constitute or afford a legal or equitable discharge or release of or defense to a guarantor or surety other than the actual payment by the Borrower of the Obligations or the actual payment by the Guarantors under this Guaranty.
(c) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of any Lender Party, may invoke the benefits of this Guaranty before pursuing any remedies against any Obligor or any other Person. The Administrative Agent, on behalf of any Lender Party, may maintain an action against any Guarantor on this Guaranty without joining any other Obligor therein and without bringing a separate action against any other Obligor.
(d) If any payment to any Lender Party by any Obligor is held to constitute a preference or a voidable transfer under applicable state or federal laws, or if for any other reason any Lender Party is required to refund such payment to the payor thereof or to pay the amount thereof to any other Person, such payment to such Lender Party shall not constitute a release of any Guarantor from any liability hereunder, and each Guarantor agrees to pay such amount to such Lender Party on demand and agrees and acknowledges that this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, to the extent of any such payment or payments. Any transfer by subrogation which is made as contemplated in Section 6 prior to any such payment or payments shall (regardless of the terms of such transfer) be automatically voided upon the making of any such payment or payments, and all rights so transferred shall thereupon revert to and be vested in the Lender Parties.
(e) This is a continuing guaranty and shall apply to and cover all Obligations and renewals and extensions thereof and substitutions therefor from time to time.
Section 4. Waiver . Each Guarantor hereby waives, with respect to the Obligations, this Guaranty, and the other Obligation Documents:
(a) notice of the incurrence of any Obligation by the Borrower, and notice of any kind concerning the assets, liabilities, financial condition, creditworthiness, businesses, prospects, or other affairs of the Borrower (it being understood and agreed that: (i) each Guarantor shall take full responsibility for informing itself of such matters, (ii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender Party shall have any responsibility of any kind to inform any Guarantor of such matters, and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties are hereby authorized to assume that each Guarantor, by virtue of its relationships with the Borrower which are independent of this Guaranty, has full and complete knowledge of such matters whenever any Lender Party extends credit to the Borrower or takes any other action which may change or increase any Guarantors liabilities or losses hereunder).
(b) notice that the Administrative Agent, the other Lender Parties, any Obligor, or any other Person has taken or omitted to take any action under any Obligation Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto or relating to any Obligation.
(c) notice of acceptance of this Guaranty and all rights of each Guarantor under any statute or law discharging such Guarantor from liability hereunder for failure to sue on this Guaranty.
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(d) default, demand, presentment for payment, and notice of default, demand, dishonor, nonpayment, or nonperformance.
(e) notice of intention to accelerate, notice of acceleration, protest, notice of protest, notice of any exercise of remedies (as described in the following Section 5 or otherwise), and all other notices of any kind whatsoever.
Section 5. Exercise of Remedies . The Administrative Agent, on behalf of any Lender Party, shall have the right to enforce, from time to time, in any order and at its sole discretion, any rights, powers and remedies which any Lender Party may have under the Obligation Documents or otherwise, including judicial foreclosure, the exercise of rights of power of sale, the taking of a deed or assignment in lieu of foreclosure, the appointment of a receiver to collect rents, issues and profits, the exercise of remedies against personal property, or the enforcement of any assignment of leases, rentals, oil or gas production, or other properties or rights, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible; and each Guarantor shall be liable to the Lender Parties hereunder for any deficiency resulting from the exercise by the Administrative Agent of any such right or remedy even though any rights which any Guarantor may have against the Borrower or others may be destroyed or diminished by exercise of any such right or remedy. No failure on the part of any Lender Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Obligation Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The rights, powers and remedies of the Lender Parties provided herein and in the other Obligation Documents are cumulative and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any other rights, powers or remedies provided by law or in equity. The rights of the Lender Parties hereunder are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by any Lender Party to exercise any of its rights under any other Obligation Document against any Obligor or any other Person.
Section 6. Limited Subrogation .
(a) Until all of the Obligations have been paid and performed in full, no Guarantor shall have any right to exercise any right of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity, exoneration, contribution or any other claim which it may now or hereafter have against or to any Obligor in connection with this Guaranty (including any right of subrogation under any statute or other law), and each Guarantor hereby waives any rights to enforce any remedy which such Guarantor may have against the Borrower. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such subrogation or other rights or any such other remedy at any time when all of the Obligations and all other expenses guaranteed pursuant hereto shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, shall be segregated from the other funds of such Guarantor and shall forthwith be paid over to the Administrative Agent to be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for, or then or at any time thereafter applied in whole or in part by the Administrative Agent against, all or any portion of the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent shall elect.
(b) If any Guarantor shall make payment to the Administrative Agent of all or any portion of the Obligations and if all of the Obligations shall be finally paid in full, the Administrative Agent will, at such Guarantors request and expense, execute and deliver to such
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Guarantor (without recourse, representation or warranty) appropriate documents necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Obligations resulting from such payment by such Guarantor; provided that such transfer shall be subject to Section 3(d) above and that without the consent of the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent may withhold in its discretion) such Guarantor shall not have the right to be subrogated to any claim or right against any Obligor which has become owned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party, whose ownership has otherwise changed in the course of enforcement of the Obligation Documents, or which the Administrative Agent otherwise has released or wishes to release from its Obligations.
(c) Upon full and final payment of the Obligations, each Guarantor which has made payments upon the Obligations shall be entitled to contribution from each other Guarantor hereunder, to the end that all such payments upon the Obligations shall be shared among all Guarantors in proportion to their respective Net Worths, provided that the contribution obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount that it can pay at such time without rendering its contribution obligations voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyances or fraudulent transfers. As used in this subsection, the Net Worth of each Guarantor means, at any time, the remainder of (i) the fair value of such Guarantors assets (other than such right of contribution), minus (ii) the fair value of such Guarantors liabilities (other than its liabilities under its guaranty of the Obligations).
Section 7. Successors and Assigns . No Guarantors rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated, but this Guaranty and such obligations shall pass to and be fully binding upon the successors of each Guarantor, as well as each Guarantor. This Guaranty shall apply to and inure to the benefit of each Lender Party and its successors or assigns, subject in all cases to the provisions of the Credit Agreement regarding assignment, participation, and transfer. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, each Lender Party may assign, grant a participation in, or otherwise transfer any Obligation held by it or any portion thereof, and each Lender Party may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or any portion thereof under any Obligation Document, to any other Person, subject in all cases to the provisions of the Credit Agreement regarding such assignment, participation, or transfer, and such other Person shall thereupon become entitled to all of the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Lender Party hereunder unless otherwise expressly provided by such Lender Party in connection with such assignment or transfer.
Section 8. Subordination and Offset . Each Guarantor hereby subordinates and makes inferior to the Obligations any and all indebtedness now or at any time hereafter owed by the Borrower to such Guarantor. Each Guarantor agrees that after the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default it will neither permit the Borrower to repay such indebtedness or any part thereof nor accept payment from the Borrower of such indebtedness or any part thereof without the prior written consent of each Lender Party. If any Guarantor receives any such payment without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the amount so paid shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Lender Parties, shall be segregated from the other funds of such Guarantor, and shall forthwith be paid over to the Administrative Agent to be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for, or then or at any time thereafter applied in whole or in part by the Administrative Agent against, all or any portions of the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent shall elect. Each Guarantor hereby
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grants to each Lender Party a right of offset, executable as set forth in the immediately succeeding sentence, to secure the payment of the Obligations and such Guarantors obligations and liabilities hereunder, which right of offset shall be upon any and all monies, securities and other property (and the proceeds therefrom) of such Guarantor now or hereafter held or received by or in transit to any Lender Party from or for the account of such Guarantor, whether for safekeeping, custody, pledge, transmission, collection or otherwise, and also upon any and all deposits (general or special), credits and claims of such Guarantor at any time existing against any Lender Party. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, each Lender Party is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, to offset, appropriate and apply any and all items hereinabove referred to against the Obligations and the Guarantors obligations and liabilities hereunder irrespective of whether or not such Lender Party shall have made any demand under this Guaranty and although such obligations and liabilities may be contingent or unmatured. Each Lender Party agrees promptly to notify the applicable Guarantor after any such offset and application made by such Lender Party, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such offset and application. The rights of each Lender Party under this section are in addition to, and shall not be limited by, any other rights and remedies (including other rights of offset) which any Lender Party may have.
Section 9. Representations and Warranties . Each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to each Lender Party as follows:
(a) Recitals 3, 4, and 5 at the beginning of this Guaranty are true and correct in all respects.
(b) Each of the representations and warranties contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement are true, insofar as they refer to each Guarantor, or to the assets, operations, conditions, agreements, business or actions of such Guarantor, as one of the Restricted Persons, or to the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party.
(c) Upon the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which each Guarantor is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (i) each Guarantor will be solvent (as such term is used in applicable bankruptcy, liquidation, receivership, insolvency or similar Laws), and the sum of such Guarantors absolute and contingent liabilities, including the Obligations or guarantees thereof, shall not exceed the fair market value of such Guarantors assets (computed taking into account such Guarantors rights of subrogation and contribution described in Section 6), and (ii) each Guarantors capital should be adequate for the businesses in which such Guarantor is engaged and intends to be engaged. No Guarantor has incurred (whether hereunder, under the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or otherwise), nor does any Guarantor intend to incur or believe that it will incur, debts that will be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.
Section 10. Covenants . Each Guarantor hereby agrees to observe and comply with each of the covenants and agreements made in the Credit Agreement, insofar as they refer to such Guarantor, or the assets, obligations, conditions, agreements, business, or actions of such Guarantor, as one of the Restricted Persons, or to the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party.
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Section 11. Amendments; Guaranty Supplements . No amendment of any provision of this Guaranty shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent, and no waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, and no consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given and to the extent specified in such writing. In addition, all such amendments and waivers shall be effective only if given with the necessary approvals of the Lenders as required in Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery by any Person of a guaranty supplement in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (each, a Guaranty Supplement), (i) such Person shall be referred to as an Additional Guarantor and shall become and be a Guarantor hereunder, and each reference in this Guaranty to a Guarantor shall also mean and be a reference to such Additional Guarantor, and each reference in any other Loan Document to a Guarantor shall also mean and be a reference to such Additional Guarantor, and (ii) each reference herein to this Guaranty, hereunder, hereof or words of like import referring to this Guaranty and each reference in any other Loan Document to the Guaranty, thereunder, thereof or words of like import referring to this Guaranty, shall mean and be a reference to this Guaranty as supplemented by such Guaranty Supplement.
Section 12. Severability . If any provision of this Guaranty is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Guaranty shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 13. Interpretive Provisions . With reference to this Guaranty:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include , includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall . Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (iii) the words herein , hereof and hereunder , and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Guaranty in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in this Guaranty to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Guaranty in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words asset and property shall be construed to
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have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including ; the words to and until each mean to but excluding ; and the word through means to and including .
(c) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Guaranty.
Section 14. Term . This Guaranty shall be irrevocable until all of the Obligations have been completely and finally paid and performed, no Lender Party has any obligation to make any loans or other advances or to extend credit to the Borrower, and all obligations and undertakings of the Borrower under, by reason of, or pursuant to the Obligation Documents have been completely performed, and this Guaranty is thereafter subject to reinstatement as provided in Section 3(d). All extensions of credit and financial accommodations heretofore or hereafter made by the Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties to the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been made in acceptance hereof and in reliance hereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may from time to time release one or more Guarantors from its obligations under this Guaranty as permitted in Section 9.10 of the Credit Agreement.
Section 15. Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier addressed (a) to the Administrative Agent at the address listed in the Credit Agreement and (b) to Guarantor at the address listed on Guarantors signature page hereto or to such other address or to the attention of such other individual as hereafter shall be designated in writing by the applicable party sent in accordance herewith. Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).
Section 16. Limitation on Interest . The Lender Parties and the Guarantors intend to contract in strict compliance with applicable usury law from time to time in effect, and the provisions of the Credit Agreement limiting the interest for which any Guarantor is obligated are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Section 17. Loan Document . This Guaranty is a Loan Document, as defined in the Credit Agreement, and is subject to the provisions of the Credit Agreement governing Loan Documents. Each Guarantor hereby approves the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and hereby ratifies and confirms any provisions thereof which relate to such Guarantor.
Section 18. Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.
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Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Guaranty by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty.
Section 19. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .
(a) Costs and Expenses . Each Guarantor shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the LC Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Guaranty, including its rights under this Section, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of the Obligations.
(b) Indemnification . Each Guarantor shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the LC Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee ) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Guarantor arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Liability under Environmental Law related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) any civil penalty or fine assessed by the U. S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control against, and all reasonable costs and expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) incurred in connection with defense thereof by the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any Lender as a result of the funding of Loans, the issuance of Letters of Credit, or the acceptance of payments under the Loan Documents, or (v) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, any Guarantor, or any other Restricted Person, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower, any Guarantor, or any other Restricted Person against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitees obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower, such Guarantor, or such Restricted Person has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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(c) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Guaranty or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
(d) Payments . All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(e) Survival . The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the Credit Agreement and/or this Guaranty, and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
Section 20. GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; ETC .
(a) GOVERNING LAW . THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE LC ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR OR ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
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(c) WAIVER OF VENUE . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 15 . NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
Section 21. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY THEORY). EACH GUARANTOR HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 22. Final Agreement . This Guaranty and the other Loan Documents represent the final agreement between the parties hereto and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements of the parties hereto. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties hereto .
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has executed and delivered this Guaranty as of the date first written above.
LA GRANGE ACQUISITION, L.P. | ||||||||
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By: | LA GP, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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ETC GAS COMPANY, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | LG PL, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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ETC TEXAS PIPELINE, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | LG PL, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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ETC OKLAHOMA PIPELINE, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | LG PL, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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ETC MARKETING, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | LGM, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty
ETC OASIS, L.P. | ||||||||
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By: | ETC OASIS GP, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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WHISKEY BAY GAS COMPANY, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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WHISKEY BAY GATHERING COMPANY, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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CHALKLEY TRANSMISSION COMPANY, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
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TEXAS ENERGY TRANSFER COMPANY, LTD. | ||||||||
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By: | TETC, LLC, its general partner | |||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty
ET COMPANY I, LTD. | ||||||||||
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By: | FIVE DAWACO, LLC, its general partner | |||||||||
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By: | /s/ | Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||||||
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OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY | ||||||||||
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By: | /s/ | Ray C. Davis | ||||||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||
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OASIS PIPE LINE FINANCE COMPANY | ||||||||||
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By: | /s/ | Ray C. Davis | ||||||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||
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OASIS PARTNER COMPANY | ||||||||||
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By: | /s/ | Ray C. Davis | ||||||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||
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OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY | ||||||||||
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By: | /s/ | Ray C. Davis | ||||||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||||
OASIS PIPE LINE COMPANY TEXAS L.P. | ||||||||||
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By: | OASIS PIPE LINE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, its general partner | |||||||||
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By: | /s/ | Ray C. Davis | |||||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty
LG PL, LLC | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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LGM, LLC | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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ETC OASIS GP, LLC | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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FIVE DAWACO, LLC | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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TETC, LLC | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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ET TEXAS PROCESSING, LTD. | ||||||
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By: | LG PL, LLC, its general partner | |||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | ||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty
ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL, LP | ||||||
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By: | ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL GP, LLC, | |||||
its general partner | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | ||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||
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ENERGY TRANSFER FUEL, GP, LLC | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | |||||
Ray C. Davis | ||||||
Co-Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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ETC KATY PIPELINE, LTD. | ||||||
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By: | LG PL, LLC, its general partner | |||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | ||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer | |||||
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OASIS PIPELINE, LP | ||||||
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By: | ETC OASIS GP, LLC, | |||||
its general partner | ||||||
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By: | /s/ Ray C. Davis | ||||
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Ray C. Davis | |||||
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Co-Chief Executive Officer |
Address of the Guarantors:
8801 South Yale Avenue, Suite 310
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137
Attention: John Daigh
Telephone: (918) 492-7272 | Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty | |||||
Fax: (918) 493-7290 |
AGREED TO as of the date
First written above:
WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as the Administrative Agent
By:
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/s/ David Humphreys | |
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Name: David Humphreys | ||
Title: Director |
Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty | ||||||
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT
___________, 20__
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent
301 South College Street
Sixth Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
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Re: | Credit Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2005 (as amended, restated, extended, | ||
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supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the | |||
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Agreement ), among Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited | |||
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partnership (the Borrower ), Wachovia Bank, National Association, as the | |||
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Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and Swingline Lender, Fleet National Bank, as | |||
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Syndication Agent, BNP Paribas and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as Co-Documentation | |||
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Agents, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement and to that certain Guaranty of even date therewith, executed by La Grange Acquisition, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, ETC Gas Company, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, ETC Texas Pipeline, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, ETC Oklahoma Pipeline, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, ETC Katy Pipeline, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, ETC Marketing, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, ETC Oasis, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Whiskey Bay Gas Company, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, Whiskey Bay Gathering Company, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, Chalkley Transmission Company, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, Texas Energy Transfer Company, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, ET Company I, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, Energy Transfer Fuel, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Oasis Pipeline, LP, a Texas limited partnership, Oasis Pipe Line Company Texas L.P., a Texas limited partnership, ETC Texas Processing, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, Oasis Pipe Line Company, a Delaware corporation, Oasis Pipe Line Finance Company, a Delaware corporation, Oasis Partner Company, a Delaware corporation, Oasis Pipe Line Management Company, a Delaware corporation, LG PL, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, LGM, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, ETC Oasis GP, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, Five Dawaco, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, TETC, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and Energy Transfer Fuel GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders (as heretofore amended, supplemented, modified or restated, the Original Guaranty ; such Original Guaranty, as in effect on the date hereof and as it may hereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with this Guaranty Supplement, being the Guaranty ). The capitalized terms defined in the Guaranty or in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as therein defined.
Section 1. Guaranty .
(a) The undersigned hereby irrevocably, absolutely, and unconditionally guarantees to each Lender Party the prompt, complete, and full payment when due, and no matter how the same shall become due, of:
(i) all Obligations, as defined in the Credit Agreement, including all principal of, all interest on, and all other sums payable in connection therewith; and
(ii) all the LC Obligations, including all obligations of the Borrower to make reimbursements and other payments to the LC Issuer and to the Lenders in respect of Letters of Credit issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement; and
(iii) all other sums payable under the other Loan Documents, whether for principal, interest, fees or otherwise; and
(iv) any and all other indebtedness, obligations or liabilities which may at any time be owed to any Lender Party, whether incurred heretofore or hereafter or concurrently herewith, under or pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, and including interest, reasonable attorneys fees and collection costs as may be provided by law or in any instrument or agreement evidencing any such indebtedness or liability.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the liability hereunder of each of the undersigned shall extend to and include all post-petition interest, expenses, and other duties and liabilities of the Borrower described above in this subsection (a), or below in the following subsection (b), which would be owed by the Borrower but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or similar proceeding involving the Borrower.
(b) The undersigned hereby irrevocably, absolutely, and unconditionally guarantees to each Lender Party the prompt, complete and full payment, when due, and no matter how the same shall become due, of all obligations and undertakings of the Borrower to such Lender Party under, by reason of, or pursuant to any of the Obligation Documents.
(c) If the Borrower shall for any reason fail to pay any Obligation, as and when such Obligation shall become due and payable, whether at its stated maturity, as a result of the exercise of any power to accelerate, or otherwise, each of the undersigned will, upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay such Obligation in full to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lender Party to whom such Obligation is owed.
(d) If either the Borrower or any of the undersigned fail to pay any Obligation as described in the immediately preceding subsections (a), (b), or (c), each of the undersigned will incur the additional obligation to pay to the Administrative Agent, and each of the undersigned will forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent pay to the Administrative Agent, the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including fees and disbursements of the Administrative Agents counsel and of any experts or agents retained by the Administrative Agent, which the Administrative Agent may incur as a result of such failure.
(e) As between the undersigned and each Lender Party, this Guaranty shall be considered a primary and liquidated liability of each Guarantor.
2
(f) The liability of each of the undersigned hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount of liability that can be incurred without rendering this Guaranty, as it relates to such Person, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount.
(g) The books and records of the Lender Parties showing the amount of any of the Obligations shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding, and shall be binding upon the Guarantors and conclusive for the purpose of establishing the amount of the Obligations.
Section 2. Obligations Under the Guaranty . The undersigned hereby agrees, as of the date first above written, to be bound as a Guarantor by all of the terms and conditions of the Guaranty to the same extent as each of the other Guarantors thereunder. The undersigned further agrees, as of the date first above written, that each reference in the Guaranty to an Additional Guarantor or a Guarantor shall also mean and be a reference to the undersigned, and each reference in any other Loan Document to a Guarantor shall also mean and be a reference to the undersigned.
Section 3. Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Guaranty Supplement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Guaranty Supplement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty Supplement.
Section 4. GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .
(a) GOVERNING LAW . THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT
3
THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE LC ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY OF THE UNDERSIGNED OR ANY OF THEIR PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 15 OF THE GUARANTY. NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
Section 5. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY THEORY). EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 6. Final Agreement . This Guaranty Supplement and the other Loan Documents represent the final agreement between the parties hereto and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements of the parties hereto. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties hereto .
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Guaranty Supplement as of the date first written above.
Very truly yours, | ||||||
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[NAME OF ADDITIONAL GUARANTOR] | ||||||
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By: | |||||
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Name: | |||||
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Title: | . |
5
Exhibit 99.1
PRESS RELEASE
ENERGY TRANSFER PARTNERS, L.P.
ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF $750 MILLION PRIVATE PLACEMENT
OF 5.95% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2015
Dallas, Texas January 19, 2005 Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP) announced today that it has completed its previously announced private placement of fixed rate senior notes with a ten year maturity. In the private placement, $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.95% senior unsecured notes due 2015 were sold in an offering under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC acted as Lead Manager on the offering.
In addition to the private placement, the Partnership entered into a new $700 million unsecured revolving credit facility, led by Wachovia Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, to finance internal construction projects and other future expansion opportunities of the Partnerships midstream and transportation business.
The Partnership used the net proceeds of approximately $741 million from the senior notes along with funding from the Partnerships new revolving credit facility to repay all of the outstanding indebtedness maturing in January 2008 of the Partnerships natural gas midstream and transportation operating subsidiary, La Grange Acquisition, L.P.
By completing this refinancing, the Partnership has substantially reduced its exposure to rising interest rates and has also deferred principle payments on $750 million of its indebtedness to 2015. In addition, the new credit facility will finance foreseeable future capital needs.
Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. is a publicly traded partnership owning and operating a diversified portfolio of energy assets. The Partnerships natural gas operations include approximately 7,750 miles of natural gas gathering and transportation pipelines with an aggregate throughput capacity of 5.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, with natural gas treating and processing assets located in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The Partnership is the fourth largest retail marketer of propane in the United States, serving more than 650,000 customers from 311 customer service locations in 32 states extending from coast to coast, with concentration in the western, upper midwestern, northeastern, and southeastern regions of the United States.
The information contained in this press release is available on the Partnerships website at www.energytransfer.com. For more information, please contact H. Michael Krimbill, President and Chief Financial Officer, at 918-492-7272.