Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
dated as of August 31, 2006
among
EAGLE ROCK PIPELINE, L.P.,
EAGLE ROCK GAS GATHERING & PROCESSING, LTD.,
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF EAGLE ROCK PIPELINE, L.P. and
as Guarantors,
VARIOUS LENDERS,
XXXXXXX XXXXX CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.,
as Lead Arranger,
XXXXXXX SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,
and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Syndication Agent
HSH NORDBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
and
BNP PARIBAS
and
XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Co-Documentation Agents
$500,000,000 Senior Secured Credit Facilities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
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2 |
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1.1. Definitions |
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2 |
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1.2. Accounting Terms |
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31 |
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1.3. Interpretation, etc. |
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31 |
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SECTION 2. LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT |
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31 |
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2.1. Term Loans |
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31 |
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2.2. Revolving Loans |
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32 |
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2.3. Swing Line Loans |
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34 |
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2.4. Issuance of Letters of Credit and Purchase of Participations Therein |
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36 |
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2.5. Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds |
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40 |
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2.6. Use of Proceeds |
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41 |
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2.7. Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders’ Books and Records; Notes |
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41 |
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2.8. Interest on Loans |
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42 |
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2.9. Conversion/Continuation |
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44 |
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2.10. Default Interest |
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44 |
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2.11. Fees |
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45 |
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2.12. Scheduled Payments/Commitment Reductions |
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45 |
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2.13. Voluntary Prepayments/Commitment Reductions |
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46 |
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2.14. Mandatory Prepayments/Commitment Reductions |
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48 |
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2.15. Application of Prepayments/Reductions |
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50 |
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2.16. General Provisions Regarding Payments |
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51 |
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2.17. Ratable Sharing |
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52 |
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2.18. Making or Maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans |
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52 |
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2.19. Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy |
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54 |
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2.20. Taxes; Withholding, etc. |
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56 |
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2.21. Obligation to Mitigate |
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57 |
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2.22. Defaulting Lenders |
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58 |
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2.23. Removal or Replacement of a Lender |
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59 |
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2.24. Incremental Facilities |
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59 |
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2.25. Co-Borrowers |
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61 |
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SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
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63 |
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3.1. Restatement Closing Date |
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63 |
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3.2. Conditions to Each Credit Extension |
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67 |
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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
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68 |
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4.1. Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification |
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68 |
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4.2. Capital Stock and Ownership |
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69 |
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4.3. Due Authorization |
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69 |
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4.4. No Conflict |
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69 |
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4.5. Governmental Consents |
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69 |
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4.6. Binding Obligation |
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70 |
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ii
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4.7. Historical Financial Statements |
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70 |
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4.8. Projections |
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70 |
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4.9. No Material Adverse Change |
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70 |
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4.10. No Restricted Junior Payments |
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70 |
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4.11. Adverse Proceedings, etc. |
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70 |
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4.12. Payment of Taxes |
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71 |
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4.13. Properties |
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71 |
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4.14. Environmental Matters |
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71 |
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4.15. No Defaults |
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72 |
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4.16. Material Contracts |
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72 |
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4.17. Governmental Regulation |
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72 |
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4.18. Margin Stock |
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72 |
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4.19. Employee Matters |
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72 |
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4.20. Employee Benefit Plans |
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73 |
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4.21. Certain Fees |
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73 |
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4.22. Solvency |
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73 |
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4.23. Compliance with Statutes, etc. |
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73 |
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4.24. Disclosure |
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74 |
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4.25. Patriot Act |
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74 |
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SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
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74 |
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5.1. Financial Statements and Other Reports |
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74 |
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5.2. Existence |
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78 |
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5.3. Payment of Taxes and Claims |
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79 |
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5.4. Maintenance of Properties |
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79 |
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5.5. Insurance |
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79 |
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5.6. Inspections |
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79 |
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5.7. Lenders Meetings |
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80 |
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5.8. Compliance with Laws |
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80 |
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5.9. Environmental |
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80 |
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5.10. Subsidiaries |
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81 |
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5.11. Additional Material Real Estate Assets |
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82 |
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5.12. Interest Rate and Commodity Protection |
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82 |
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5.13. Further Assurances |
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82 |
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5.14. Non-Consolidation |
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83 |
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5.15. Clean-Down Period |
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83 |
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SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
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83 |
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6.1. Indebtedness |
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83 |
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6.2. Liens |
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85 |
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6.3. Equitable Lien |
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86 |
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6.4. No Further Negative Pledges |
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86 |
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6.5. Restricted Junior Payments |
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86 |
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6.6. Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions |
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87 |
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6.7. Investments |
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87 |
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6.8. Financial Covenants |
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88 |
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6.9. Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets; Permitted Acquisitions |
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90 |
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6.10. Disposal of Subsidiary Interests |
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91 |
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6.11. Sales and Lease-Backs |
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92 |
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6.12. Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates |
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92 |
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6.13. Conduct of Business |
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92 |
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6.14. Permitted Activities of MLP |
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6.15. Fiscal Year |
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92 |
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SECTION 7. GUARANTY |
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7.1. Guaranty of the Obligations |
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7.2. Contribution by Guarantors |
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7.3. Payment by Guarantors |
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93 |
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7.4. Liability of Guarantors Absolute |
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94 |
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7.5. Waivers by Guarantors |
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96 |
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7.6. Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc. |
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96 |
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7.7. Subordination of Other Obligations |
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97 |
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7.8. Continuing Guaranty |
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7.9. Authority of Guarantors or Borrowers |
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97 |
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7.10. Financial Condition of Borrowers |
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7.11. Bankruptcy, etc. |
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98 |
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7.12. Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor |
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98 |
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SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
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8.1. Events of Default |
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99 |
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SECTION 9. AGENTS |
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102 |
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9.1. Appointment of Agents |
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102 |
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9.2. Powers and Duties |
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102 |
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9.3. General Immunity |
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102 |
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9.4. Agents Entitled to Act as Lender |
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104 |
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9.5. Lenders’ Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment |
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104 |
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9.6. Right to Indemnity |
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104 |
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9.7. Successor Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender |
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105 |
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9.8. Collateral Documents and Guaranty |
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106 |
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SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS |
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106 |
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10.1. Notices |
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106 |
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10.2. Expenses |
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107 |
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10.3. Indemnity |
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108 |
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10.4. Set-Off |
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108 |
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10.5. Amendments and Waivers |
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109 |
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10.6. Successors and Assigns; Participations |
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111 |
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10.7. Independence of Covenants |
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114 |
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10.8. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements |
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114 |
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10.9. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative |
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114 |
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10.10. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside |
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114 |
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10.11. Severability |
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115 |
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10.12. Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights |
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115 |
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10.13. Headings |
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115 |
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10.14. APPLICABLE LAW |
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115 |
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10.15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION |
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115 |
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10.16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
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116 |
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10.17. Confidentiality |
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116 |
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10.18. Usury Savings Clause |
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117 |
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10.19. Counterparts |
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117 |
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10.20. Effectiveness |
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117 |
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10.21. Patriot Act |
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117 |
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10.22. Electronic Execution of Assignments |
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118 |
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10.23. No Liability of General Partner or Eagle Rock Energy G&P |
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118 |
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10.24. Consent to IPO |
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118 |
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10.25. Amendment and Restatement |
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118 |
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10.26. Reaffirmation and Grant of Security Interests |
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118 |
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10.27. Lender Addendum |
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119 |
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v
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APPENDICES: |
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A |
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Notice Addresses |
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SCHEDULES: |
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1.1(a) |
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Asset Sales |
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4.1 |
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Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification |
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4.2 |
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Capital Stock and Ownership |
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4.7 |
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Historical Financial Statements |
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4.13 |
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Real Estate Assets |
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4.17 |
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Material Contracts |
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5.12(b) |
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Hedging Program |
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6.1 |
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Certain Indebtedness |
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6.2 |
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Certain Liens |
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6.6 |
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Certain Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions |
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6.7 |
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Certain Investments |
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6.9(e) |
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Identified Asset Swaps |
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6.12 |
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Certain Affiliate Transactions |
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EXHIBITS: |
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A-1 |
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Funding Notice |
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A-2 |
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Conversion/Continuation Notice |
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A-3 |
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Issuance Notice |
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B-1 |
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Revolving Loan Note |
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B-2 |
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Swing Line Note |
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B-3 |
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Series B Term Loan Note |
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C |
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Compliance Certificate |
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D |
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Opinions of Counsel |
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E |
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Assignment Agreement |
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F |
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Certificate Re Non-bank Status |
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G |
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Restatement Closing Date Certificate |
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H |
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Counterpart Agreement |
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I |
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Pledge and Security Agreement |
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J |
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Mortgage |
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K |
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Joinder Agreement |
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L |
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Conversion Notice |
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M |
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Lender Addendum |
vi
This
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated as of August 31, 2006, is
entered into by and among
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P. (“MLP”), EAGLE ROCK GAS GATHERING &
PROCESSING, LTD., a Texas limited partnership (
“Gathering”, together with
MLP, the
“Borrowers”, and
severally with
MLP, a
“Borrower”),
EAGLE ROCK PIPELINE, L.P., a Texas limited partnership
(“
Pipeline”),
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF PIPELINE AND MLP and
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY G&P LLC, a Texas
limited liability company, as Guarantors, the Lenders party hereto from time to time,
XXXXXXX XXXXX
CREDIT PARTNERS L.P. (
“GSCP”), as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner (in such capacities,
“Arranger”), and GSCP, as Administrative Agent (together with its permitted successors in such
capacity,
“Administrative Agent”) and as Collateral Agent (together with its permitted successor in
such capacity,
“Collateral Agent”), and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Syndication Agent
(in such capacity,
“Syndication Agent”) and
HSH NORDBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH and
BNP PARIBAS and
XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Co-Documentation Agents (in such capacity,
“Co-Documentation Agents”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in these Recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth
for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;
WHEREAS, Gathering, Eagle Rock Midstream Resources, L.P. (“
Holdings”), GSCP, as Lead Arranger
and Sole Bookrunner, certain Subsidiaries of Holdings as Guarantors and the agents and lenders
party thereto from time to time are parties to that certain
Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as
of December 1, 2005 and amended as of March 31, 2006 (the
“Existing Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, Gathering desires that the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Existing
Credit Agreement in its entirety (i) to establish a new tranche of Series B Term Loans; (ii) to
refinance the existing Series A Term Loans made under the Existing Credit Agreement on the Original
Closing Date; (iii) to establish a new revolving credit facility; (iv) to repay the existing
Revolving Loans and terminate the existing Revolving Commitment; (v) to consent to the IPO, and
(vi) to make certain other changes as more fully set forth herein, each of which to become
effective upon the Restatement Closing Date as defined herein;
WHEREAS, the Requisite Lenders have, on or prior to the Restatement Closing Date, authorized
the Administrative Agent to execute this Agreement;
WHEREAS, each Borrower has agreed to secure all of its Obligations by granting or reaffirming
its grant, as applicable, to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, of a First
Priority Lien on substantially all of its assets, including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock of
each of its Domestic Subsidiaries and 65% of all the Capital Stock of each of its Foreign
Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, Guarantors have agreed to guarantee the obligations of Borrowers hereunder and to
secure their respective Obligations by granting or reaffirming their grant, as applicable, to
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, of a First Priority Lien on substantially all
of their respective assets, including a pledge of all of the Capital Stock of each of their
respective Domestic Subsidiaries (including Borrowers) and 65% of all the Capital Stock of each of
their respective Foreign Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the parties hereto that this Agreement not constitute a novation
of the obligations and liabilities of the parties under the Existing Credit Agreement and that this
Agreement amend and restate in its entirety the Existing Credit Agreement and re-evidence the
Obligations outstanding on the Restatement Closing Date as contemplated hereby; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of Credit Parties to confirm that all Obligations of the Credit
Parties under the other Credit Documents, as amended hereby, shall continue in full force and
effect and that, from and after the Restatement Closing Date, all references to the “Credit
Agreement” contained therein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1. Definitions. The following terms used herein, including in the preamble,
recitals, exhibits and schedules hereto, shall have the following meanings:
“Additional Lender” means a Lender that is not a Continuing Lender.
“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Rate Determination Date with respect to an
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (and rounding
upward to the next whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) (i) (a) the rate per annum (rounded to the
nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the rate determined by Administrative Agent to be the offered rate
which appears on the page of the Telerate Screen which displays an average British Bankers
Association Interest Settlement Rate (such page currently being page number 3740 or 3750, as
applicable) for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period) with a term equivalent to
such period in Dollars, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such
Interest Rate Determination Date, or (b) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause
(a) does not appear on such page or service or if such page or service shall cease to be available,
the rate per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the rate determined by
Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service which displays an
average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits (for delivery on the
first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period in Dollars, determined as of
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date, or (c) in
the event the rates referenced in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) are not available, the rate per
annum (rounded to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the offered quotation rate to first class banks
in the London interbank market by GSCP for deposits (for delivery on the first day of the relevant
period) in Dollars of amounts in same day funds
2
comparable to the principal amount of the
applicable Loan of Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, for which the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate is then being determined with maturities comparable to such period as of
approximately 11:00 a.m.
(London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date, by (ii) an amount equal to
(a) one minus (b) the Applicable Reserve Requirement.
“Administrative Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Adverse Proceeding” means any action, suit, proceeding (whether administrative, judicial or
otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration (whether or not purportedly on behalf of any
Group Member at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign
(including any Environmental Claims), whether pending or, to the knowledge of any Group Member,
threatened against or affecting any Group Member or any property of any Group Member.
“Affected Lender” as defined in Section 2.18(b).
“Affected Loans” as defined in Section 2.18(b).
“Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, that Person. For the purposes of this
definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled
by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.
“Agent” means each of Administrative Agent, Arranger, Syndication Agent and Collateral Agent.
“Aggregate Amounts Due” as defined in Section 2.17.
“Aggregate Payments” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Agreement” means (i) in respect of the period prior to the Restatement Closing Date, the
Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) in respect of any period on or after the Restatement Closing
Date, this Amended and Restated
Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2006, as it
may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Applicable Margin” means (i) with respect to Series B Term Loans and Revolving Loans that are
Eurodollar Rate Loans, 2.25% per annum, reducing to 2.00% per annum on any date of determination
when the Leverage Ratio is less than 3.5:1.00, and (ii) with respect to Swing Line Loans, Series B
Term Loans and Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 1.25% per annum, reducing to 1.00% per
annum on any date of determination when the Leverage Ratio is less than 3.5:1.00; provided that (a)
each Applicable Margin set forth in clause (i) or (ii) shall increase permanently by 0.50% per
annum on January 31, 2007 if by such date the Loans under this Credit Agreement have not obtained a
rating by both S&P and Xxxxx’x, and (b) each Applicable Margin set forth in clause (i) or (ii)
shall decrease by 0.25% per annum on
3
the date that the Loans under this Credit Agreement obtain
ratings equal to or greater than Ba3 by Xxxxx’x and BB- by S&P, which decrease shall remain in
effect so long as such ratings are maintained.
“Applicable Reserve Requirement” means, at any time, for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the maximum
rate, expressed as a decimal, at which reserves (including, without limitation,
any basic marginal, special, supplemental, emergency or other reserves) are required to be
maintained with respect thereto against “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is defined in
Regulation D) under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System or other applicable banking regulator. Without limiting the effect of the
foregoing, the Applicable Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be
maintained by such member banks with respect to (i) any category of liabilities which includes
deposits by reference to which the applicable Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or any other interest rate
of a Loan is to be determined, or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which
include Eurodollar Rate Loans. A Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency
liabilities and as such shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of credit
for proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to the applicable
Lender. The rate of interest on Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be adjusted automatically on and as of
the effective date of any change in the Applicable Reserve Requirement.
“Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee Percentage” means 0.50% per annum; provided that the
Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage shall increase permanently by 0.25% per annum on January 31,
2007 if by such date the Loans under this Credit Agreement have not obtained a rating by both S&P
and Xxxxx’x.
“Arranger” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Asset Sale” means a sale, lease or sub-lease (as lessor or sublessor), sale and leaseback,
assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition to, or any exchange of property with, any
Person (other than a Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary), in one transaction or a series of
transactions, of all or any part of any Group Member’s businesses, assets or properties of any
kind, whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, including, without limitation, the Capital Stock of any of Group Members
(excluding upon and following the IPO, MLP) and any forward sale of hydrocarbons or hydrocarbons
products (or the receivables arising therefrom), other than (i) inventory (or other assets) sold or
leased in the ordinary course of business (excluding any such sales by operations or divisions
discontinued or to be discontinued), (ii) sales of assets described on Schedule 1.1(a) and (iii)
sales of other assets for aggregate consideration of less than $5,000,000 with respect to any
transaction or series of related transactions and less than $7,500,000 in the aggregate during any
Fiscal Year.
“Assignment Agreement” means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form
of Exhibit E, with such amendments or modifications as may be approved by Administrative Agent.
“Assignment Closing Date” as defined in Section 10.6(b).
4
“Authorized Officer” means, as applied to any Person, any individual holding the position of
chairman of the board (if an officer), chief executive officer, president or one of its vice
presidents (or the equivalent thereof) of such Person or of the general partner of such Person, and
such Person’s (or such general partner’s) chief financial officer or treasurer.
“Available Cash” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the First Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the MLP as in effect on the Restatement Closing Date, as such
definition may be amended from time to time with the approval of Requisite Lenders.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and
hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
“Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) the Prime Rate in
effect on such day and (ii) the Federal Funds Effective 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 Effective Rate
shall be effective on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate, respectively.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base
Rate.
“Beneficiary” means each Agent, Issuing Bank, Lender and Lender Counterparty.
“Board of Governors” means the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System,
or any successor thereto.
“Borrower” and “Borrowers” as defined in the preamble hereto, provided that upon and following
the IPO, for all purposes under this Agreement other than Section 2, Section 7 and Section 8, the
term Borrower shall refer solely to MLP.
“Business Day” means (i) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal
holiday under the laws of the State of
New York or Texas or is a day on which banking institutions
located in such state are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close and
(ii) with respect to all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection with the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or any Eurodollar Rate Loans, the term
“Business Day” shall mean any day
which is a Business Day described in clause (i) and which is also a day for trading by and between
banks in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
“Capital Expenditures” means any expenditures of a Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in
accordance with GAAP, that are or should be included in “purchase of property and equipment” or
similar items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of a Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real,
personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be
accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.
5
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
(however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests
in a Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, partnership interests and
membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements
or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.
“Cash” means money, currency or a credit balance in any demand or Deposit Account.
“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination, (i) marketable securities (a)
issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the United States
Government or (b) issued by any agency of the United States the obligations of which are backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within two years after
such date; (ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America
or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, in each case
maturing within two years after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a
rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Xxxxx’x; (iii) commercial paper maturing no
more than one year from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition
thereof, a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Xxxxx’x; (iv) certificates of
deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year after such date and issued or accepted by
any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or
any state thereof or the District of Columbia that (a) is at least “adequately capitalized” (as
defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking regulator) and (b) has Tier 1 capital (as
defined in such regulations) of not less than $100,000,000; (v) repurchase obligations for
underlying securities of the types described in clauses (iii) and (iv) above entered into with any
Lender or commercial bank satisfying clause (iv) above; and (vi) shares of any money market mutual
fund that (a) has substantially all of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above, (b) has net assets of not less than $500,000,000,
and (c) has the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Xxxxx’x.
“Certificate re Non-Bank Status” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F.
“Change of Control” means:
(x) at any time prior to the IPO (i) Sponsor and the members of the executive management team
of Pipeline as of the Restatement Closing Date shall cease to beneficially own and control,
directly or indirectly, at least 50% on a fully diluted basis of the economic and voting interests
in the Capital Stock of Pipeline, (ii) any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and
13d-5 under the Exchange Act) other than Sponsor (a) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of
35% or more on a fully diluted basis of the voting and/or economic interest in the Capital Stock of
Pipeline or (b) shall have obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the
members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Eagle Rock Energy G&P; (iii)
Pipeline shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% on a fully
diluted basis of the economic and voting interest in the Capital Stock of Gathering and Eagle Rock
Energy Services, L.P. or (iv) the majority of the seats
6
(other than vacant seats) on the board of
directors (or similar governing body) of the general partner of Pipeline cease to be occupied by
Persons who either (a) were members of the board of directors of the general partner of Pipeline on
the Restatement Closing Date or (b) were nominated for election by the board of directors of the
general partner of Pipeline, a majority of whom were directors on the Restatement Closing Date or
whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of such directors;
and
(y) at any time upon and following the IPO (i) Sponsor and the members of the executive
management team of Eagle Rock Energy G&P shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or
indirectly, at least 50% on a fully diluted basis of the economic and voting interests in the
Capital Stock of General Partner; (ii) General Partner shall cease to beneficially own and control,
directly or indirectly, all of the general partner interests of MLP; (iii) the majority of the
seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Eagle Rock
Energy G&P cease to be occupied by Persons who either (a) were members of the board of directors of
Eagle
Rock Energy G&P as of the IPO or (b) were nominated for election by the board of directors of
Eagle Rock Energy G&P, a majority of whom were directors as of the IPO or whose election or
nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of such directors.
“Class” means with respect to Lenders, each of the following classes of Lenders: (a) Lenders
having Series B Term Loan Exposure, (b) Lenders having Revolving Exposure (including Swing Line
Lender), and (c) Lenders having New Term Loan Exposure of each applicable Series.
“Collateral” means, collectively, all of the real, personal and mixed property (including
Capital Stock and promissory notes) in which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the
Collateral Documents as security for the Obligations.
“Collateral Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Collateral Documents” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Mortgages and all other
instruments, documents and agreements delivered by any Credit Party pursuant to this Agreement or
any of the other Credit Documents in order to grant to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured
Parties, a Lien on any real, personal or mixed property of that Credit Party as security for the
Obligations.
“Collateral Questionnaire” means a certificate in form satisfactory to Collateral Agent that
provides information with respect to the personal or mixed property of each Credit Party.
“Commitment” means any Revolving Commitment or Term Loan Commitment.
“Commodity Agreement” means any commodity exchange, swap, forward, cap, floor collar or other
similar agreement or arrangement, each of which is for the purpose of hedging the exposure of a
Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor to fluctuations in the price of hydrocarbons in their
operations and not for speculative purposes.
7
“Compliance Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
C.
“Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” means, for any period, an amount determined for the then
applicable Reporting Person on a consolidated basis equal to (i) the sum, without duplication, of
the amounts for such period of (a) Consolidated Net Income, (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, (c)
provisions for taxes based on income, (d) total depreciation expense, (e) total amortization
expense, and (f) other non-Cash items reducing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-Cash
item to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for potential Cash items in any future
period or amortization of a prepaid Cash item that was paid in a prior period), minus (ii)
other non-Cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any such
non-Cash item to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for potential Cash
item in any prior period); provided that for the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on
September 30, 2006, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA will equal Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the
Fiscal Quarters ending March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006 multiplied by
four-thirds; provided, further that upon and following the IPO, (i) for the four Fiscal
Quarter period ending on September 30, 2006 (if the IPO occurs prior to November 15, 2006),
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period will equal Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Fiscal
Quarter ending September 30, 2006 multiplied by four, (ii) for the four Fiscal Quarter period
ending on December 31, 2006 (if the IPO
occurs prior to February 15, 2007), Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period will equal
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarters ending September 30, 2006 and December 31,
2006 multiplied by two; and (iii) for the four Fiscal Quarter period ending on Xxxxx 00, 0000 (xx
the IPO occurs prior to May 15, 2007), Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period will equal
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarters ending September 30, 2006, December 31, 2006
and March 31, 2007 multiplied by four-thirds.
“Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures
of, if the date of such calculation is upon or following the IPO, MLP and its Subsidiaries or if
the date of such calculation is prior to the IPO, Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, in each case,
during such period determined on a consolidated basis that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should
be included in “purchase of property and equipment” or similar items reflected in the consolidated
statement of cash flows of MLP and its Subsidiaries or Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, as
applicable.
“Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means, for any period, Consolidated Interest Expense for
such period, excluding any amount not payable in Cash.
“Consolidated Current Assets” means, as at any date of determination, the total assets of, if
the date of such calculation is upon or following the IPO, MLP and its Subsidiaries or if the date
of such calculation is prior to the IPO, Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, in each case, on a
consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current assets in conformity with GAAP,
excluding Cash and Cash Equivalents.
“Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, as at any date of determination, the total
liabilities of, if the date of such calculation is upon or following the IPO, MLP and its
Subsidiaries or if the date of such calculation is prior to the IPO, Pipeline and its Subsidiaries,
in
8
each case, on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current liabilities in
conformity with GAAP, excluding the current portion of long term debt.
“Consolidated Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount (if positive) equal to: (i)
the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA,
plus (b) the Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment, minus (ii) the sum, without
duplication, of the amounts for such period of (a) Consolidated Capital Expenditures (net of any
proceeds of (y) any related financings with respect to such expenditures and (z) any sales of
assets used to finance such expenditures), (b) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense, and (c)
provisions for current taxes based on income of, if such calculation is upon or following the IPO,
MLP and its Subsidiaries or, if such calculation is prior to the IPO, Pipeline and its
Subsidiaries, in each case, and payable in cash with respect to such period.
“Consolidated Funded Debt” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate stated
balance sheet amount of all Indebtedness of, if such calculation is upon or following the IPO, MLP
and its Subsidiaries or, if such calculation is prior to the IPO, Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, in
each case, described in clauses (i), (ii), (v) and (ix) of the definition of Indebtedness.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, total interest expense (including that
portion attributable to Capital Leases in accordance with GAAP and capitalized interest) of, if
such calculation is upon or following the IPO, MLP and its Subsidiaries or, if such
calculation is prior to the IPO, Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, in each case on a consolidated
basis with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of, if such calculation is upon or following the
IPO, MLP and its Subsidiaries or, if such calculation is prior to the IPO, Pipeline and its
Subsidiaries, in each case, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed
with respect to letters of credit and net costs under Interest Rate Agreements, but excluding,
however, any amounts referred to in Section 2.11(d) payable on or before the Restatement Closing
Date.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, (i) the net income (or loss) of the then
applicable Reporting Person on a consolidated basis for such period taken as a single accounting
period determined in conformity with GAAP, minus (ii) (a) the income (or loss) of any
Person (other than a Subsidiary of such Reporting Person) in which any other Person (other than
such Reporting Person or any of its Subsidiaries) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the
amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to such Reporting Person or any of its
Subsidiaries by such Person during such period, (b) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued
prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of such Reporting Person or is merged into or
consolidated with such Reporting Person or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are
acquired by such Reporting Person or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) the income of any Subsidiary of
such Reporting Person to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar
distributions by that Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the
terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary, (d) any after-tax gains or losses
attributable to Asset Sales or returned surplus assets of any Pension Plan, and (e) (to the extent
not included in clauses (a) through (d) above) any net extraordinary gains or net extraordinary
losses.
9
“Consolidated Working Capital” means, as at any date of determination, the excess of
Consolidated Current Assets over Consolidated Current Liabilities.
“Consolidated Working Capital Adjustment” means, for any period on a consolidated basis, the
amount (which may be a negative number) by which Consolidated Working Capital as of the beginning
of such period exceeds (or is less than) Consolidated Working Capital as of the end of such period.
“Continuing Lender” means an Existing Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement that has
delivered a Lender Consent and a Conversion Notice to the extent of the amount of the Series A Term
Loans and Existing Revolving Commitments converted thereby.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any provision of any Security issued
by that Person or of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or
other instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound
or to which it or any of its properties is subject.
“Contributing Guarantors” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Contribution Agreement” means the Contribution Agreement substantially in the form provided
to the Administrative Agent on or before the Restatement Closing Date.
“Conversion/Continuation Date” means the effective date of a continuation or conversion, as
the case may be, as set forth in the applicable Conversion/Continuation Notice.
“Conversion/Continuation Notice” means a Conversion/Continuation Notice substantially in the
form of Exhibit A-2.
“Conversion Notice” means, with respect to any applicable Lender, a Conversion Notice
substantially in the form of Exhibit L.
“Counterpart Agreement” means a Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H
delivered by a Credit Party pursuant to Section 5.10.
“Credit Date” means the date of a Credit Extension.
“Credit Document” means any of this Agreement, the Notes, if any, the Collateral Documents,
any documents or certificates executed by a Borrower in favor of Issuing Bank relating to Letters
of Credit, and all other documents, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by a Credit
Party for the benefit of any Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection herewith.
“Credit Extension” means the making of a Loan or the issuing of a Letter of Credit.
“Credit Party” means each Person (other than any Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender or any
other representative thereof) from time to time party to a Credit Document.
10
“Currency Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures
contract, option contract, synthetic cap or other similar agreement or arrangement, each of which
is for the purpose of hedging the foreign currency risk associated with each Borrower’s and its
Subsidiaries’ operations and not for speculative purposes.
“Default” means a condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute an Event of Default.
“Default Excess” means, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, the excess, if any, of such
Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans of all
Lenders (calculated as if all Defaulting Lenders (other than such Defaulting Lender) had funded all
of their respective Defaulted Loans) over the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans
of such Defaulting Lender.
“Default Period” means, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, the period commencing on the
date of the applicable Funding Default and ending on the earliest of the following dates: (i) the
date on which all Commitments are cancelled or terminated and/or the Obligations are declared or
become immediately due and payable, (ii) the date on which (a) the Default Excess with respect to
such Defaulting Lender shall have been reduced to zero (whether by the funding by such Defaulting
Lender of any Defaulted Loans of such Defaulting Lender or by the non-pro rata application of any
voluntary or mandatory prepayments of the Loans in accordance with the terms of Section 2.13 or
Section 2.14 or by a combination thereof) and (b) such Defaulting Lender shall have delivered to
Borrowers and Administrative Agent a written reaffirmation of its intention to honor its
obligations hereunder with respect to its Commitments, and (iii) the date on which Borrowers,
Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders waive all Funding Defaults of such Defaulting Lender in
writing.
“Defaulted Loan” as defined in Section 2.22.
“Defaulting Lender” as defined in Section 2.22.
“Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings
and loan association, credit union or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a
negotiable certificate of deposit.
“Distribution Loan” means a Loan which is made in whole or in part for the purpose of making a
Restricted Junior Payment (other than to the General Partner to the extent used to reimburse the
General Partner for operating expenses of the Borrower).
“Documentation Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Dollars” and the sign “$” mean the lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States of
America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.
11
“Eagle Rock Energy G&P” means Eagle Rock Energy G&P, LLC, a Texas limited liability company,
the sole general partner of General Partner.
“Eligible Assignee” means (i) any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and any Related Fund
(any two or more Related Funds being treated as a single Eligible Assignee for all purposes
hereof), and (ii) any commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund or other entity
that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and which
extends credit or buys loans as one of its businesses; provided, no Affiliate of a Borrower
or Sponsor shall be an Eligible Assignee.
“Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA
which is or was sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by any
Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates.
“Environmental Claim” means any investigation, notice, notice of violation, claim, action,
suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order or other order or directive (conditional or otherwise),
by any Governmental Authority or any other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection with
any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) in connection with any Hazardous
Material or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials Activity; or (iii) in connection with any
actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to natural resources or the environment or, to the
extent arising under Environmental Laws, human health and safety.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all current or future foreign or domestic, federal or state
(or any subdivision of either of them), statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations,
judgments, Governmental Authorizations, or any other requirements of Governmental Authorities
relating to (i) environmental matters, including those relating to any Hazardous Materials
Activity; or (ii) the generation, use, storage, transportation, disposal of or exposure to
Hazardous Materials.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time, and any successor thereto.
“ERISA Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, (i) any corporation which is a member of a
controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code
of which that Person is a member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is
a member of a group of trades or businesses under common control within the meaning of Section
414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; and (iii) any member of an
affiliated service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code
of which that Person, any corporation described in clause (i) above or any trade or business
described in clause (ii) above is a member. Any former ERISA Affiliate of a Group Member shall
continue to be considered an ERISA Affiliate of a Group Member within the meaning of this
definition with respect to the period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of a Group Member and with
respect to liabilities arising after such period for which a Group Member could be liable under the
Internal Revenue Code or ERISA.
“ERISA Event” means (i) a “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and
the regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan
12
(excluding those for which the
provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) the failure to meet
the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any
Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code)
or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a
Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to
Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination
described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by any Group Member or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the
termination of any such Pension Plan resulting in liability to any Group Member or any of their
respective Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (v) the institution by the PBGC of
proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event or condition which might
constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Pension Plan; (vi) the imposition of liability on any Group Member or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA or by reason of the
application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (vii) the withdrawal of any Group Member or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections
4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there is any potential liability therefore,
or the receipt by any Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of notice from any
Multiemployer Plan that it is in reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of
ERISA, or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA;
(viii) the occurrence of an act or omission which could give rise to the imposition on any Group
Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of fines, penalties, taxes or related charges
under Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code or under Section 409, Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or
Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan; (ix) the assertion of a material
claim (other than routine claims for benefits) against any Employee Benefit Plan other than a
Multiemployer Plan or the assets thereof, or against any Group Member or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan; (x) receipt from the Internal
Revenue Service of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under
Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of any
Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code; or (xi) the imposition of a Lien pursuant
to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or pursuant to ERISA with respect
to any Pension Plan.
“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.
“Event of Default” means each of the conditions or events set forth in Section 8.1.
“Excess Cash Amount” means, with respect to any Fiscal Quarter, that portion of Consolidated
Excess Cash Flow for any prior Fiscal Quarter not required to repay the Obligations pursuant to
Section 2.14(e) and not previously distributed as a Restricted Junior Payment pursuant to Section
6.5(a)(iii).
13
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and
any successor statute.
“Existing Credit Agreement” as defined in the recitals.
“Existing Lenders” means each financial institution that is a “Lender” as defined in the
Existing Credit Agreement.
“Existing Revolving Commitments” means all Commitments of the Existing Lenders to make
Revolving Loans (as such term is defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) immediately prior to the
effectiveness of this Agreement.
“Existing Revolving Loans” means the revolving loans outstanding immediately prior to the
effectiveness of this Agreement made pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Existing Credit Agreement.
“Facility” means any real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements
located thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by a Group Member or
any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.
“Fair Share” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Fair Share Contribution Amount” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means for any day, the rate per annum (expressed, as a decimal,
rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) 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, (i) 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 (ii) 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 charged to Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, on such day on such
transactions as determined by Administrative Agent.
“Financial Officer Certification” means, with respect to the financial statements for which
such certification is required, the certification of the chief financial officer of the General
Partner (or, if Pipeline is the then applicable Reporting Person, the general partner of Pipeline)
that such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of
such Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit
and normal year-end adjustments.
“Financial Plan” as defined in Section 5.1(i).
“First Priority” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be created in any Collateral
pursuant to any Collateral Document, that such Lien is the only Lien to which such Collateral is
subject, other than any Permitted Lien.
14
“Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year.
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the then applicable Reporting Person and its
Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each calendar year.
“Flood Hazard Property” means any Real Estate Asset subject to a mortgage in favor of
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and located in an area designated by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“Funding Default” as defined in Section 2.22.
“Funding Guarantors” as defined in Section 7.2.
“Funding Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
“GAAP” means, subject to the limitations on the application thereof set forth in Xxxxxxx 0.0,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the date of determination
thereof.
“Gathering” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“General Partner” means Eagle Rock Energy GP, L.P., a Texas limited partnership, in its
capacity as the sole general partner of MLP.
“Governmental Acts” means any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or
future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, national or other government,
governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political
subdivision thereof or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial,
regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each
case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity
or government.
“Governmental Authorization” means any permit, license, authorization, plan, directive,
consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.
“Grantor” as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement.
“Group Member” means at all times prior to the IPO, (a) Pipeline and its Subsidiaries and (b)
MLP and its Subsidiaries and, upon and following the IPO, MLP and its Subsidiaries.
“Guaranteed Obligations” as defined in Section 7.1.
“Guarantor” means each Domestic Subsidiary of MLP (other than, upon and following the IPO,
Gathering) and each Domestic Subsidiary of Pipeline (other than Gathering).
15
“Guarantor Subsidiary” means each Guarantor (other than, prior to the IPO, Pipeline).
“Guaranty” means the guaranty of each Guarantor set forth in Section 7.
“Hazardous Materials” means any chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is
prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Authority or which may or could pose a hazard
to the health and safety of the owners, occupants or any Persons in the vicinity of any Facility or
to the indoor or outdoor environment.
“Hazardous Materials Activity” means any past, current, proposed or threatened activity, event
or occurrence involving any Hazardous Materials, including the use, manufacture, possession,
storage, holding, presence, existence, location, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement,
generation, transportation, processing, construction, treatment, abatement, removal, remediation,
disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous Materials, and any corrective action or response
action with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Hedge Agreement” means an Interest Rate Agreement, a Currency Agreement or Commodity
Agreement entered into with a Lender Counterparty in order to satisfy the requirements of this
Agreement or otherwise in the ordinary course of a Group Member’s businesses.
“Highest Lawful Rate” means the maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from
time to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the laws applicable to any Lender
which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which
may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than
applicable laws now allow.
“Historical Financial Statements” means the audited annual consolidated financial statements
of Pipeline for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2005 and the unaudited quarterly consolidated
financial statements of Pipeline for the Fiscal Quarters ending March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006.
“Holdings” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Increased Amount Date” as defined in Section 2.24.
“Increased-Cost Lender” as defined in Section 2.23.
“Indebtedness”, as applied to any Person, means, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness for
borrowed money; (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases that is properly
classified as a liability on a balance sheet in conformity with GAAP; (iii) notes payable and
drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not representing obligations for
borrowed money; (iv) any obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price of
property or services (excluding any such obligations incurred under ERISA),
other than trade payables which are not due more than 90 days past due; (v) all indebtedness
secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person (the amount thereof to be
deemed, if not recourse to such Person, to be the lesser of such indebtedness and the fair
16
market
value of such property or asset), regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have
been assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person; (vi) the face amount of
any letter of credit issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise
liable for reimbursement of drawings; (vii) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (otherwise
than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with
recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of another; (viii) any obligation
of such Person the primary purpose or intent of which is to provide assurance to an obligee that
the obligation of the obligor thereof will be paid or discharged, or any agreement relating thereto
will be complied with, or the holders thereof will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss
in respect thereof; (ix) any liability of such Person for an obligation of another through any
agreement (contingent or otherwise) (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such
obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such
obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or
otherwise) or (b) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial
condition of another if, in the case of any agreement described under subclauses (a) or (b) of this
clause (ix), the primary purpose or intent thereof is as described in clause (viii) above; and (x)
all obligations of such Person in respect of any exchange traded or over the counter derivative
transaction, including, without limitation, any Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Agreement or any
Commodity Agreement, whether entered into for hedging or speculative purposes; provided, in
no event shall obligations under any Interest Rate Agreement, any Currency Agreement or any
Commodity Agreement be deemed “Indebtedness” for any purpose under Section 6.8.
“Indemnified Liabilities” means, collectively, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages (including natural resource damages), penalties, claims (including Environmental Claims),
costs (including the costs of any investigation, study, sampling, testing, abatement, cleanup,
removal, remediation or other response action necessary to remove, remediate, clean up or xxxxx any
Hazardous Materials Activity), expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for Indemnitees in connection with any
investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or threatened by any Person, whether
or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or a potential party thereto, and any
fees or expenses incurred by Indemnitees in enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect or
consequential and whether based on any federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or
regulations (including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or regulations and
Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable cause or on contract or otherwise, that may be
imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Indemnitee, in any manner relating to or
arising out of (i) this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby (including the Lenders’ agreement to make Credit Extensions or the use or
intended use of the proceeds thereof, or any enforcement of any of the Credit Documents (including
any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or the enforcement of
the Guaranty)); (ii) the statements contained in any commitment letter delivered by any Lender to
any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; or (iii) any
Environmental Claim or any Hazardous Materials Activity relating to or arising from, directly
or indirectly, any past or present activity, operation, land ownership, or practice of Group
Member.
“Indemnitee” as defined in Section 10.3.
17
“Installment” as defined in Section 2.12(a).
“Installment Date” as defined in Section 2.12(a).
“Interest Coverage Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter of (i)
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four-Fiscal Quarter period then ended to Consolidated Cash
Interest Expense for such four Fiscal Quarter period; provided that for the four Fiscal
Quarter period ending on September 30, 2006, Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such period
will equal Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for the Fiscal Quarters ending March 31, 2006, June
30, 2006 and September 30, 2006 multiplied by four-thirds.
“Interest Payment Date” means with respect to (i) any Loan that is a Base Rate Loan, the last
day of each March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the first such date to
occur after the Restatement Closing Date and the final maturity date of such Loan and (ii) any Loan
that is a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan;
provided, in the case of each Interest Period of longer than three months “Interest Payment
Date” shall also include each date that is three months, or an integral multiple thereof, after the
commencement of such Interest Period.
“Interest Period” means, in connection with a Eurodollar Rate Loan, an interest period of
one-, two-, three- or six-months (or, if available to all relevant Lenders, nine- or
twelve-months), as selected by Borrowers in the applicable Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice, (i) initially, commencing on the Credit Date or
Conversion/Continuation Date thereof, as the case may be; and (ii) thereafter, commencing on the
day on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires; provided, (a) if an
Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period
shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day unless no further Business Day occurs in such
month, in which case such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately 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, subject to clauses (c) and (d), of this definition, end on the last Business Day of
a calendar month; (c) no Interest Period with respect to any portion of any Class of Term Loans
shall extend beyond such Class’s Term Loan Maturity Date; and (d) no Interest Period with respect
to any portion of the Revolving Loans shall extend beyond the Revolving Commitment Termination
Date.
“Interest Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement,
interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedging agreement or other similar agreement or
arrangement, each of which is for the purpose of hedging the interest rate exposure associated with
the operations of the Group Members and not for speculative purposes.
“Interest Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to any Interest Period, the date that
is two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.
“Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof
and from time to time hereafter, and any successor statute.
18
“Investment” means (i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by any Group
Member of, or of a beneficial interest in, any of the Securities of any other Person (other than a
Credit Party, excluding, prior to the IPO, Pipeline, and upon and following the IPO, MLP); (ii) any
direct or indirect redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition for value, by any Group
Member from any Person (other than a Credit Party, excluding, prior to the IPO, Pipeline, and upon
and following the IPO, MLP), of any Capital Stock of such Person; and (iii) any direct or indirect
loan, advance (other than advances to employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses,
drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business) or capital
contributions by any Group Member to any other Person (other than any Credit Party), including all
indebtedness and accounts receivable from that other Person that are not current assets or did not
arise from sales to that other Person in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any
Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all additions thereto,
without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or
write-offs with respect to such Investment.
“IPO” means the consummation of the initial public offering of the MLP, which shall be deemed
to have occurred upon the purchase by the underwriters thereof of a portion of the Capital Stock of
the MLP.
“Issuance Notice” means an Issuance Notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3.
“Issuing Bank” means Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Issuing Bank hereunder, together
with its permitted successors and assigns in such capacity.
“Joinder Agreement” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K.
“Joint Venture” means a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement, whether in
corporate, partnership or other legal form; provided, in no event shall any corporate
Subsidiary of any Person be considered to be a Joint Venture to which such Person is a party.
“Lead Arranger” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Leasehold Property” means any leasehold interest of any Credit Party as lessee under any
lease of real property, other than any such leasehold interest designated from time to time by
Collateral Agent in its sole discretion as not being required to be included in the Collateral.
“Lender” means each financial institution listed on the signature pages hereto as a Lender,
each Continuing Lender and any other Person that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment
Agreement, Lender Addendum or a Joinder Agreement.
“Lender Addendum” means, with respect to any applicable Lender, a Lender Addendum
substantially in the form of Exhibit M.
“Lender Consent” means, with respect to any Existing Lender, the consent of such Lender
authorizing the Administrative Agent to execute this Agreement.
19
“Lender Counterparty” means each Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender counterparty to a Hedge
Agreement (including any Person who is a Lender (and any Affiliate thereof) but subsequently,
whether before or after entering into a Hedge Agreement, ceases to be a Lender) including, without
limitation, each such Affiliate that enters into a joinder agreement with Collateral Agent.
“Letter of Credit” means a commercial or standby letter of credit issued or to be issued by
Issuing Bank pursuant to this Agreement.
“Leverage Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter or other date of
determination of (i) Consolidated Funded Debt as of such day to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ending on such date (or if such date of determination is not the
last day of a Fiscal Quarter, for the four-Fiscal Quarters period ending as of the most recently
concluded Fiscal Quarter).
“Lien” means (i) any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or
encumbrance of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale
or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature thereof) and any option, trust or
other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing and (ii) in the
case of Securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to
such Securities.
“Loan” means a Series B Term Loan, a Revolving Loan, a New Term Loan and a Swing Line Loan.
“Margin Stock” as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors as in effect from time to
time.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on and/or material adverse
developments with respect to (i) the business, operations, properties, assets or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Group Members taken as a whole; (ii) the ability of any Credit
Party to fully and timely perform its Obligations; (iii) the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability against a Credit Party of a Credit Document to which it is a party; or (iv) the
rights, remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, any Agent and any Lender or any
Secured Party under any Credit Document.
“Material Contract” means any contract or other arrangement to which a Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party (other than the Credit Documents) for which breach, nonperformance,
cancellation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
“Material Permitted Acquisition” means a Permitted Acquisition, the Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA with respect to which exceeds 5% of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the then applicable
Reporting Person as determined by the most recent four fiscal quarter period for which financial
statements are available.
20
“Material Project” means any capital expansion project undertaken by the MLP, Gathering or any
Guarantor, the capital expenditures (determined in accordance with GAAP) attributable to which
exceed $10,000,000.
“Material Real Estate Asset” means (a) any fee-owned Real Estate Asset having a fair market
value in excess of $2,500,000 as of the date of the acquisition thereof and (b) all Leasehold
Properties other than those with respect to which the aggregate payments under the term of the
lease are less than $2,500,000 or (c) any Real Estate Asset that the Requisite Lenders have
determined is material to the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or
otherwise); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the fee owned real estate commonly
referred to as the Master’s Creek site shall not be a Material Real Estate Asset until such time as
the environmental contamination specified in the “Site Investigation Report, Duke Energy Field
Services, LP, Former Masters Greek Gas Plant, dated January 2004” and “Additional Site
Investigation and Corrective Action Work Plan, Former Masters Creek Gas Plant, Duke Energy Field
Services, LDEQ AI #30445” has been substantially remediated, as determined by the Administrative
Agent.
“MLP” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investor Services, Inc.
“Mortgage” means a Mortgage substantially in the form of Exhibit J, as it may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan which is a “multiemployer plan” as
defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
“NAIC” means The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and any successor thereto.
“Narrative Report” means, with respect to the financial statements for which such narrative
report is required, a narrative report describing the operations of a Borrower and its Subsidiaries
in the form prepared for presentation to senior management thereof for the applicable month, Fiscal
Quarter or Fiscal Year and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the
end of such period to which such financial statements relate.
“Net Asset Sale Proceeds” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, an amount equal to: (i) Cash
payments (including any Cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization
of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) received by any Group Member
from such Asset Sale, minus (ii) any bona fide direct costs incurred in connection with
such Asset Sale, including (a) income or gains taxes payable by the seller as a result of any gain
recognized in connection with such Asset Sale, (b) payment of the outstanding principal amount of,
premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans) that is secured
by a Lien on the stock or assets in question and that is required to be repaid under the terms
thereof as a result of such Asset Sale and (c) a reasonable reserve for any indemnification
payments (fixed or contingent) attributable to seller’s indemnities and representations and
warranties to purchaser in respect of such Asset Sale undertaken by any Group Member in connection
with such Asset Sale.
21
“Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds” means an amount equal to: (i) any Cash payments or
proceeds received by any Group Member (a) under any casualty insurance policy in respect of a
covered loss thereunder or (b) as a result of the taking of any assets of any Group Member by any
Person pursuant to the power of eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, or pursuant to a sale of
any such assets to a purchaser with such power under threat of such a taking, minus (ii)
(a) any actual and reasonable costs incurred by any Group Member in connection with the adjustment
or settlement of any claims of such Group Member in respect thereof, and (b) any bona fide direct
costs incurred in connection with any sale of such assets as referred to in clause (i)(b) of this
definition, including income taxes payable as a result of any gain recognized in connection
therewith.
“New Revolving Commitments” as defined in Section 2.24.
“New Revolving Lender” as defined in Section 2.24.
“New Revolving Loans” as defined in Section 2.24.
“New Term Loan Commitments” as defined in Section 2.24.
“New Term Loan Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender, as of any date of determination,
the outstanding principal amount of the New Term Loans of such Lender.
“New Term Loan Lender” as defined in Section 2.24.
“New Term Loan Maturity Date” means the date that New Term Loans of a Series shall become due
and payable in full hereunder, as specified in the applicable Joinder Agreement, including by
acceleration or otherwise.
“New Term Loans” as defined in Section 2.24.
“Nonpublic Information” means information which has not been disseminated in a manner making
it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD.
“Non-US Lender” as defined in Section 2.20(c).
“Note” means a Series B Term Note, any Note relating to New Term Loans, a Revolving Loan Note
or a Swing Line Note.
“Notice” means a Funding Notice, an Issuance Notice, or a Conversion/ Continuation Notice.
“Obligations” means all obligations of every nature of each Credit Party under the Credit
Documents, including obligations from time to time owed to the Agents (including former Agents),
the Lenders or any of them and Lender Counterparties, under any Credit Document or Hedge Agreement
(including, without limitation, with respect to a Hedge Agreement, obligations owed thereunder to
any person who was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedge Agreement was
entered into), whether for principal, interest (including interest which, but for the filing of a
petition in bankruptcy with respect to such Credit
22
Party, would have accrued on any Obligation,
whether or not a claim is allowed against such Credit Party for such interest in the related
bankruptcy proceeding), reimbursement of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, payments for early
termination of Hedge Agreements, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.
“Obligee Guarantor” as defined in Section 7.7.
“Organizational Documents” means (i) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or
articles of incorporation or organization, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, (ii) with
respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership, as amended, and its
partnership agreement, as amended, (iii) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership
agreement, as amended, and (iv) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of
organization, as amended, and its operating agreement, as amended. In the event any term or
condition of this Agreement or any other Credit Document requires any Organizational Document to be
certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official, the reference to any such
“Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such
governmental official.
“Original Closing Date” means December 1, 2005, the date on which the Series A Term Loans were
made and the Existing Credit Agreement became effective.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
“Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is
subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA.
“Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition by any Credit Party or any of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets
of, all of the Capital Stock of, or a business line or unit or a division of, any Person;
provided,
(i) immediately prior to, and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;
(ii) all transactions in connection therewith shall be consummated, in all material
respects, in accordance with all applicable laws and in conformity with all applicable
Governmental Authorizations;
(iii) in the case of the acquisition of Capital Stock, all of the Capital Stock
(except for any such Securities in the nature of directors’ qualifying shares required
pursuant to applicable law) acquired or otherwise issued by such Person or any newly formed
Subsidiary of such Credit Party in connection with such acquisition shall be owned 100% by
one or more Credit Parties, and such Credit Party or Credit Parties shall have taken, or
caused to be taken, as of the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary of such Credit Party or
Credit Parties, each of the actions set forth in Sections 5.10 and/or 5.11, as applicable;
23
(iv) the then applicable Reporting Person shall be in compliance with the financial
covenants set forth in Section 6.8 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such
acquisition as of the last day of the Fiscal Quarter most recently ended (as determined in
accordance with Section 6.8(c)); provided that if such Permitted Acquisition is
consummated prior to the IPO, such Reporting Person shall be in pro forma compliance with
the Leverage Ratio as required under Section 6.8(b), less 0.50:1.00;
(v) the then applicable Reporting Person shall have delivered to Administrative Agent
(A) at least 15 Business Days prior to such proposed acquisition, a Compliance Certificate
evidencing compliance with Section 6.8 as required under clause (iv) above, together with
all relevant financial information with respect to such acquired assets, including, without
limitation, the aggregate consideration for such acquisition and any other information
required to demonstrate compliance with Section 6.8; and
(vi) any Person or assets or division as acquired in accordance herewith shall be in
same business or lines of business in which the Group Members are engaged as of the
Restatement Closing Date or businesses that the Group Members are permitted to engage in
pursuant to Section 6.13.
“Permitted Liens” means each of the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Person” means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general
partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies,
Joint Ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business
trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and Governmental Authorities.
“Platform” as defined in Section 5.1(p).
“Pledge and Security Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement executed by Gathering
and certain Guarantors on the Original Closing Date, and on the Restatement Closing Date by each
other Credit Party as of such date, substantially in the form of Exhibit I, as it may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates Section
as the Prime Rate (currently defined as the base rate on corporate loans posted by at least 75% of
the nation’s thirty (30) largest banks), as in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a
reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any
customer. Agent or any other Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest
at, above or below the Prime Rate.
“Principal Office” means, for each of Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and Issuing
Bank, such Person’s “Principal Office” as set forth on Appendix B, or such other office or office
of a third party or sub-agent, as appropriate, as such Person may from time to time designate in
writing to Borrowers, Administrative Agent and each Lender.
“Projections” as defined in Section 4.8.
24
“Pro Rata Share” means (i) with respect to all payments, computations and other matters
relating to the Series B Term Loan of any Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the
Series B Term Loan Exposure of that Lender by (b) the aggregate Series B Term Loan Exposure of all
Lenders; (ii) with respect to all payments, computations and other matters relating to the
Revolving Commitment or Revolving Loans of any Lender or any Letters of Credit issued or
participations purchased therein by any Lender or any participations in any Swing Line Loans
purchased by any Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Revolving Exposure of that
Lender by (b) the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Lenders; and (iii) with respect to all
payments, computations, and other matters relating to New Term Loan Commitments or New Term Loans
of a particular Series, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the New Term Loan Exposure of that
Lender with respect to that Series by (b) the aggregate New Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders with
respect to that Series. For all other purposes with respect to each Lender, “Pro Rata Share” means
the percentage obtained by dividing (A) an amount equal to the sum of the Series B Term Loan
Exposure, the Revolving Exposure and the New Term Loan Exposure of that Lender, by (B) an amount
equal to the sum of the aggregate Series B Term Loan Exposure, the aggregate Revolving Exposure and
the aggregate New Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders.
“Qualified High Yield Offering” means the issuance by the MLP to unaffiliated third parties of
unsecured debt securities in an aggregate principal amount of not less than $300,000,000.
“Real Estate Asset” means, at any time of determination, any interest (fee, leasehold, right
of way, easement or otherwise) then owned by any Credit Party in any real property.
“Refunded Swing Line Loans” as defined in Section 2.3(b)(iv).
“Register” as defined in Section 2.7(b).
“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors, as in effect from time to time.
“Regulation FD” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the US Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act and Exchange Act as in effect from time to time.
“Reimbursement Date” as defined in Section 2.4(d).
“Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of Borrowers to reimburse Issuing Bank for
amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.
“Related Fund” means, with respect to any Lender that is an investment fund, any other
investment fund that invests in commercial loans and that is managed or advised by the same
investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, escaping,
deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of any Hazardous Material
into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the abandonment or
25
disposal of any barrels,
containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material), including the movement
of any Hazardous Material through the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.
“Remedial Action” means all actions taken to (i) clean up, remove, remediate, contain, treat,
monitor, assess, evaluate or in any other way address Hazardous Materials in the environment; (ii)
perform pre-remedial environmental studies and environmental investigations and environmental
post-remedial operation and maintenance activities; or (iii) any response actions required by 42
U.S.C. 9601 et. seq. or applicable state law.
“Replacement Lender” as defined in Section 2.23.
“Reporting Person” means, at any time prior to the consummation of IPO, Pipeline, and at any
time upon and following the IPO, MLP.
“Requisite Class Lenders” means, at any time of determination: (i) for Lenders having Series
B Term Loan Exposure, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate Series B Term Loan Exposure of
all Lenders; (ii) for Lenders having Revolving Exposure, Lenders holding more than 50% of the
aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Lenders; and (iii) for each Class of Lenders having New Term
Loan Exposure, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate New Term Loan Exposure of that Class.
“Requisite Lenders” means (i) for purposes of determining the effectiveness of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 3.1, “Requisite Lenders” as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement; and (ii)
for all other purposes one or more Lenders having or holding Series B Term Loan Exposure, Revolving
Exposure and/or New Term Loan Exposure and representing more than 50% of the sum of (a) the
aggregate Series B Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders, (b) the aggregate Revolving Exposure of all
Lenders, and (c) the aggregate New Term Loan Exposure of all Lenders.
“Restatement Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in
Section 3.1 shall have been satisfied or waived.
“Restatement Closing Date Certificate” means a Restatement Closing Date Certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1.
“Restricted Junior Payment” means (i) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect,
on account of any shares of any class of stock of, or other equity interests in, if such dividend
or other distribution is made upon or following the IPO, MLP and if such dividend or distribution
is made prior to the IPO, Borrowers or Pipeline, now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend
payable solely in shares of that class of stock or such other equity interests to the holders of
that class of stock or such other equity interests; (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund
or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of
any class of stock of, or other equity interest in, if such redemption, retirement, sinking fund or
similar payment, purchase or other acquisition is made upon or following the IPO, MLP and if made
prior to the IPO, Borrowers or Pipeline, now or hereafter outstanding; (iii) any payment made to
retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire
shares of any class of stock of, or other equity interests in, if such payment is
26
made upon or
following the IPO, MLP and if such payment is made prior to the IPO, Borrowers or Pipeline, now or
hereafter outstanding; and (iv) management or similar fees payable to Sponsor or any of its
Affiliates.
“Revolving Commitment” means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund any
Revolving Loan and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans hereunder
and “Revolving Commitments” means such commitments of all Lenders in the aggregate. The amount of
each Lender’s Revolving Commitment, if any, is set forth on the Conversion Notice and/or Lender
Addendum, as applicable, executed by such Lender or in the applicable Assignment Agreement or
Joinder Agreement, as applicable, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and
conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments established as of the
Restatement Closing Date is $200,000,000.
“Revolving Commitment Period” means the period from the Restatement Closing Date to but
excluding the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
“Revolving Commitment Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the fifth
anniversary of the Restatement Closing Date, (ii) the date the Revolving Commitments are
permanently reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.13(b) or 2.14, and (iii) the date of the
termination of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 8.1.
“Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender as of any date of determination, (i)
prior to the termination of the Revolving Commitments, that Lender’s Revolving Commitment; and (ii)
after the termination of the Revolving Commitments, the sum of (a) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Revolving Loans of that Lender, (b) in the case of Issuing Bank, the
aggregate Revolving Letter of Credit Usage in respect of all Revolving Letters of Credit issued by
that Lender (net of any participations by Lenders in such Letters of Credit), (c) the aggregate
amount of all participations by that Lender in any outstanding Revolving Letters of Credit or any
unreimbursed drawing under any Revolving Letter of Credit, (d) in the case of Swing Line Lender,
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Swing Line Loans (net of any participations
therein by other Lenders), and (e) the
aggregate amount of all participations therein by that Lender in any outstanding Swing Line
Loans.
“Revolving Letter of Credit” a letter of Credit issued pursuant to Section 2.4(a).
“Revolving Letter of Credit Sublimit” means the lesser of (i) $200,000,000 and (ii) the
aggregate unused amount of the Revolving Commitments then in effect.
“Revolving Letter of Credit Usage” means, as at any date of determination, the sum of (i) the
maximum aggregate amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become, available for drawing
under all Revolving Letters of Credit then outstanding, and (ii) the aggregate amount of all
drawings under Revolving Letters of Credit honored by Issuing Bank and not theretofore reimbursed
by or on behalf of Borrowers.
“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made by a Lender to Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.2(a) and/or
2.24.
27
“Revolving Loan Note” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-2, as it may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“S-1” means the form S-1 and attachments thereto filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Eagle Rock Energy Partners L.P. on July 25, 2006 as amended through the Restatement
Closing Date.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Corporation.
“Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.
“Securities” means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates,
certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options,
warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured,
convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as
“securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim
certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire,
any of the foregoing.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any
successor statute.
“Series” as defined in Section 2.24.
“Series A Term Loan” means a Series A Term Loan made by an Existing Lender to Gathering
pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(ii) of the Existing Credit Agreement.
“Series B Term Loan” means a Series B Term Loan made by a Lender to Gathering pursuant to
Section 2.1(a)(ii).
“Series B Term Loan Commitment” means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund a
Series B Term Loan and “Series B Term Loan Commitments” means such commitments of all Lenders in
the aggregate. The amount of each Lender’s Series B Term Loan Commitment, if any, is set forth on
the Conversion Notice and/or Lender Addendum, as applicable, executed by such Lender or in the
applicable Assignment Agreement, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and
conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Series B Term Loan Commitments as of the
Restatement Closing Date is $300,000,000.
“Series B Term Loan Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender, as of any date of
determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Series B Term Loans of such Lender;
provided, at any time prior to the making of the Series B Term Loans, the Series B Term Loan
Exposure of any Lender shall be equal to such Lender’s Series B Term Loan Commitment.
“Series B Term Loan Maturity Date” means the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the
Restatement Closing Date, and (ii) the date that all Series B Term Loans shall become due and
payable in full hereunder, whether by acceleration or otherwise.
28
“Series B Term Loan Note” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-4, as it may be
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Solvent” means with respect to any Credit Party, that as of the date of determination, both
(i) (a) the sum of such Credit Party’s debt (including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the
present fair saleable value of such Credit Party’s present assets; (b) such Credit Party’s capital
is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as contemplated on the Restatement Closing
Date and reflected in the Projections or with respect to any transaction contemplated or undertaken
after the Restatement Closing Date; and (c) such Person has not incurred and does not intend to
incur, or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts beyond its ability
to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise); and (ii) such Person is
“solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to
fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any
contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts
and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to
become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the
criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5).
“Specified Period” means, if at any time after the IPO, MLP, Gathering or any Guarantor (a)
consummates any Material Permitted Acquisition and (b) has consummated a Qualified High Yield
Offering on or prior to the date on which such Material Permitted Acquisition was consummated and
has applied 100% of the proceeds thereof to prepay the Series B Term Loans, the period beginning on
the date on which such Material Permitted Acquisition is consummated and to and including the last
day of the second full Fiscal Quarter following such consummation.
“Sponsor” means one or more investment funds ultimately controlled by Natural Gas Partners.
“Subject Transaction” as defined in Section 6.8(d).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of
the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to
the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether
directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that
Person or a combination thereof; provided, in determining the percentage of ownership
interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no ownership interest in the nature of a
“qualifying share” of the former Person shall be deemed to be outstanding.
“Swing Line Lender” means GSCP in its capacity as Swing Line Lender hereunder, together with
its permitted successors and assigns in such capacity.
29
“Swing Line Loan” means a Loan made by Swing Line Lender to Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.3.
“Swing Line Note” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-3, as it may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Swing Line Sublimit” means the lesser of (i) $10,000,000, and (ii) the aggregate unused
amount of Revolving Commitments then in effect.
“Syndication Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.
“Tax” means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, assessment, charge, fee, deduction
or withholding of any nature and whatever called, by whomsoever, on whomsoever and wherever
imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed; provided, “Tax on the overall net income”
of a Person shall be construed as a reference to a tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that
Person is organized or in which that Person’s applicable principal office (and/or, in the case of a
Lender, its lending office) is located or in which that Person (and/or, in the case of a Lender,
its lending office) is deemed to be doing business on all or part of the net income, profits or
gains (whether worldwide, or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered to arise
in or to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise) of that Person (and/or, in the case of
a Lender, its applicable lending office).
“Term Loan” means a Series B Term Loan and a New Term Loan.
“Term Loan Commitment” means the Series B Term Loan Commitment or the New Term Loan
Commitment.
“Term Loan Maturity Date” means, for the Series B Term Loans, the Series B Term Loan Maturity
Date and for any Series of New Term Loans, the New Term Loan Maturity Date.
“Terminated Lender” as defined in Section 2.23.
“Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments” means, as at any date of determination, the sum
of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans (other than Revolving
Loans made for the purpose of repaying any Refunded Swing Line Loans or reimbursing Issuing Bank
for any amount drawn under any Revolving Letter of Credit, but not yet so applied), (ii) the
aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swing Line Loans, and (iii) the Revolving Letter of
Credit Usage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments on the
Restatement Closing Date shall, for purposes of Section 2.13(b)(i), be calculated net of (i)
Revolving Loans for which the Administrative Agent has received a Conversion Notice with respect
thereto and (ii) Revolving Letter of Credit Usage.
“Transaction Costs” means the fees, costs and expenses payable by Pipeline, Gathering or any
of Pipeline’s Subsidiaries on or before the Restatement Closing Date in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant hereto and
the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents related thereto.
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“Type of Loan” means (i) with respect to either Term Loans or Revolving Loans, a Base Rate
Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan, and (ii) with respect to Swing Line Loans, a Base Rate Loan.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in
effect in any applicable jurisdiction.
“Unadjusted Eurodollar Rate Component” means that component of the interest costs to Borrowers
in respect of a Eurodollar Rate Loan that is based upon the rate obtained pursuant to clause (i) of
the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.
1.2. Accounting Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in conformity with GAAP.
Financial statements and other information required to be delivered by the then applicable
Reporting Person to Lenders pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) shall be prepared in accordance
with GAAP as in effect at the time of such preparation (and delivered together with the
reconciliation statements provided for in Section 5.1(e), if applicable). Subject to the
foregoing, calculations in connection with the definitions, covenants and other provisions hereof
shall utilize accounting principles and policies in conformity with GAAP as of the Restatement
Closing Date.
1.3. Interpretation, etc. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise
requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. References herein to
any Section, Appendix, Schedule or Exhibit shall be to a Section, an Appendix, a Schedule or an
Exhibit, as
the case may be, hereof unless otherwise specifically provided. The use herein of the word
“include” or “including”, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be
construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth
immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not no limiting language
(such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with
reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall
within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. This Agreement
restates and replaces, in its entirety, the Existing Credit Agreement; any reference in any of the
other Credit Documents to the Existing Credit Agreement (however defined) shall mean this
Agreement.
SECTION 2. LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT
2.1. Term Loans.
(a) Loan Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, (i) each
Continuing Lender severally agrees that a portion of the Series A Term Loans of such Continuing
Lender in an amount equal to such Continuing Lender’s Series B Term Loan Commitment shall remain
outstanding on an after the Restatement Closing Date as “Series B Term Loans” made pursuant to this
Agreement in an amount equal to such Continuing Lender’s Series B Term Loan Commitment and such
existing Series A Term Loans shall on and after the Restatement Closing Date have all of the rights
and benefits of Series B Term Loans as set forth in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents
and (ii) each Lender having a Series B Term
31
Loan Commitment (other than a Continuing Lender)
severally agrees to lend to Gathering on the Restatement Closing Date, a Series B Term Loan in an
amount equal to such Lender’s Series B Term Loan Commitment. Gathering may make only one borrowing
under the Series B Term Loan Commitment which shall be on the Restatement Closing Date. Any amount
borrowed under this Section 2.1(a) and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.
Subject to Sections 2.13(a) and 2.14, all amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Series B Term
Loans shall be paid in full no later than the Series B Term Loan Maturity Date. Each Lender’s
Series B Term Loan Commitment shall terminate immediately and without further action on the
Restatement Closing Date after giving effect to the funding of such Lender’s Series B Term Loan
Commitment on such date.
(b) Borrowing Mechanics for Term Loans.
(i) Gathering shall deliver to Administrative Agent a fully executed Funding Notice
no later than one day prior to the Restatement Closing Date. Promptly upon receipt by
Administrative Agent of such Funding Notice, Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender
of the proposed borrowing.
(ii) Each Lender shall make its Series B Term Loan available to Administrative Agent
(or provide Administrative Agent with a Conversion Notice with respect to its Series A Term
Loans in lieu of such requirement) not later than 12:00 p.m. (
New York City time) on the
Restatement Closing Date, by wire transfer of same day
funds in Dollars, at the Principal office designated by Administrative Agent. Upon
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent specified herein, Administrative Agent
shall make the proceeds of the Term Loans available to Borrowers on the Restatement Closing
Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such
Loans received by Administrative Agent from Lenders to be credited to the account of
Gathering at the Principal Office designated by Administrative Agent or to such other
account as may be designated in writing to Administrative Agent by Gathering.
2.2. Revolving Loans.
(a) Revolving Commitments. During the Revolving Commitment Period, subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make (including by way of conversion
of Existing Revolving Loans on the Restatement Closing Date) Revolving Loans to Borrowers in an
aggregate amount up to but not exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided, that
after giving effect to the making of any Revolving Loans in no event shall the Total Utilization of
Revolving Commitments exceed the Revolving Commitments then in effect. Amounts borrowed pursuant
to this Section 2.2(a) may be repaid and reborrowed during the Revolving Commitment Period. Each
Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall expire on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and all
Revolving Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Revolving Loans and the
Revolving Commitments shall be paid in full no later than such date.
(b) In connection with the effectiveness of Revolving Commitments provided in connection
with this Agreement on the Restatement Closing Date and the conversion of Existing
32
Revolving Loans
and Existing Revolving Commitments, (i) each Revolving Commitment provided pursuant to a Conversion
Notice or Lender Addendum shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Commitment under the Credit
Agreement and each Loan made thereunder shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Loan and
(ii) any Lender providing such Revolving Commitment pursuant to a Lender Addendum shall be deemed
to have purchased from each of the Continuing Lenders with Revolving Commitments (and each such
Continuing Lender shall be deemed to have assigned to each such new Lender), at the principal
amount thereof (together with accrued interest), such interests in the Existing Revolving Loans
converted on the Restatement Closing Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect
to such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Loans will be held by Continuing Lenders and
Additional Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Commitments under this Agreement on
the Restatement Closing Date.
(c) Borrowing Mechanics for Revolving Loans.
(i) Except pursuant to Section 2.4(d), Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall
be made in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in
excess of that amount, and Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in an
aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that
amount.
(ii) Whenever Borrowers desire that Lenders make Revolving Loans, Borrowers shall
deliver to Administrative Agent a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice no later than
12:00 noon (
New York City time) at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed
Credit Date in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, and at least one Business Day in advance
of the proposed Credit Date in the case of a Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
Except as otherwise provided herein, a Funding Notice for a Revolving Loan that is a
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be irrevocable on and after the related Interest Rate
Determination Date, and Borrowers shall be bound to make a borrowing in accordance
therewith.
(iii) Notice of receipt of each Funding Notice in respect of Revolving Loans,
together with the amount of each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof, if any, together with the
applicable interest rate, shall be provided by Administrative Agent to each applicable
Lender by telefacsimile with reasonable promptness, but (provided Administrative Agent shall
have received such notice by 12:00 noon (
New York City time)) not later than 3:00 p.m. (
New
York City time) on the same day as Administrative Agent’s receipt of such Notice from
Borrowers.
(iv) Each Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to
Administrative Agent not later than 3:00 p.m. (
New York City time) on the applicable Credit
Date by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at the Principal Office designated by
Administrative Agent. Except as provided herein, upon satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions precedent specified herein, Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such
Revolving Loans available to Borrowers on the applicable Credit Date by causing an amount of
same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Revolving Loans received by
Administrative Agent from Lenders to be credited to the
33
account of Borrowers at the
Principal Office designated by Administrative Agent or such other account as may be
designated in writing to Administrative Agent by Borrowers.
2.3. Swing Line Loans.
(a) Swing Line Loans Commitments. During the Revolving Commitment Period, subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, Swing Line Lender hereby agrees to make Swing Line Loans to
Borrowers in the aggregate amount up to but not exceeding the Swing Line Sublimit;
provided, that after giving effect to the making of any Swing Line Loan, in no event shall
the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments exceed the Revolving Commitments then in effect.
Amounts borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.3 may be repaid and reborrowed during the Revolving
Commitment Period. Swing Line Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall expire on the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date and all Swing Line Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with
respect to the Swing Line Loans and the Revolving Commitments shall be paid in full no later than
such date.
(b) Borrowing Mechanics for Swing Line Loans.
(i) Swing Line Loans shall be made in an aggregate minimum amount of $100,000 and
integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount.
(ii) Whenever Borrowers desire that Swing Line Lender make a Swing Line Loan,
Borrowers shall deliver to Administrative Agent a Funding Notice no later than 12:00 p.m.
(
New York City time) on the proposed Credit Date.
(iii) Swing Line Lender shall make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to
Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the applicable Credit
Date by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at Administrative Agent’s Principal
Office. Except as provided herein, upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent
specified herein, Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such Swing Line Loans
available to Borrowers on the applicable Credit Date by causing an amount of same day funds
in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Swing Line Loans received by Administrative
Agent from Swing Line Lender to be credited to the account of Borrowers at Administrative
Agent’s Principal Office, or to such other account as may be designated in writing to
Administrative Agent by Borrowers.
(iv) With respect to any Swing Line Loans which have not been voluntarily prepaid by
Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.13, Swing Line Lender may at any time in its sole and
absolute discretion, deliver to Administrative Agent (with a copy to Borrowers), no later
than 12:00 noon (New York City time) at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed
Credit Date, a notice (which shall be deemed to be a Funding Notice given by Borrowers)
requesting that each Lender holding a Revolving Commitment make Revolving Loans that are
Base Rate Loans to Borrowers on such Credit Date in an amount equal to the amount of such
Swing Line Loans (the “Refunded Swing Line Loans”) outstanding on the date such notice is
given which Swing Line Lender requests Lenders to prepay. Anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (1) the proceeds of such Revolving Loans made by
the Lenders other
34
than Swing Line Lender shall be immediately delivered by Administrative
Agent to Swing Line Lender (and not to Borrowers) and applied to repay a corresponding
portion of the Refunded Swing Line Loans and (2) on the day such Revolving Loans are made,
Swing Line Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Refunded Swing Line Loans shall be deemed to be
paid with the proceeds of a Revolving Loan made by Swing Line Lender to Borrowers, and such
portion of the Swing Line Loans deemed to be so paid shall no longer be outstanding as Swing
Line Loans and shall no longer be due under the Swing Line Note of Swing Line Lender but
shall instead constitute part of Swing Line Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans to
Borrowers and shall be due under the Revolving Loan Note issued by Borrowers to Swing Line
Lender. Borrowers hereby authorize Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender to charge
Borrowers’ accounts with Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender (up to the amount
available in each such account) in order to immediately pay Swing Line Lender the amount of
the Refunded Swing Line Loans to the extent of the proceeds of such Revolving Loans made by
Lenders, including the Revolving Loans deemed to be made by Swing Line Lender, are not
sufficient to repay in full the Refunded Swing Line Loans. If any portion of any such
amount paid (or deemed to be paid) to Swing Line Lender should be recovered by or on behalf
of Borrowers from Swing Line Lender in bankruptcy, by assignment for the benefit of
creditors or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among
all Lenders in the manner contemplated by Section 2.17.
(v) If for any reason Revolving Loans are not made pursuant to Section 2.3(b)(iv) in
an amount sufficient to repay any amounts owed to Swing Line Lender in respect of any
outstanding Swing Line Loans on or before the third Business Day after demand for payment
thereof by Swing Line Lender, each Lender holding a Revolving Commitment shall be deemed to,
and hereby agrees to, have purchased a participation in such outstanding Swing Line Loans,
and in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the applicable unpaid amount together with
accrued interest thereon. Upon one Business Day’s notice from Swing Line Lender, each
Lender holding a Revolving Commitment shall deliver to Swing Line Lender an amount equal to
its respective participation in the applicable unpaid amount in same day funds at the
Principal Office of Swing Line Lender. In order to evidence such participation each Lender
holding a Revolving Commitment agrees to enter into a participation agreement at the request
of Swing Line Lender in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Swing Line Lender. In
the event any Lender holding a Revolving Commitment fails to make available to Swing Line
Lender the amount of such Lender’s participation as provided in this paragraph, Swing Line
Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender together with
interest thereon for three Business Days at the rate customarily used by Swing Line Lender
for the correction of errors among banks and thereafter at the Base Rate, as applicable.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (1) each Lender’s
obligation to make Revolving Loans for the purpose of repaying any Refunded Swing Line Loans
pursuant to the second preceding paragraph and each Lender’s obligation to purchase a
participation in any unpaid Swing Line Loans pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph
shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including
without limitation (A) any set-off, counterclaim,
35
recoupment, defense or other right which
such Lender may have against Swing Line Lender, any Credit Party or any other Person for any
reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuation of a Default or Event of Default; (C)
any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of any Credit Party; (D) any breach of this Agreement or any other
Credit Document by any party thereto; or (E) any other circumstance, happening or event
whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that such
obligations of each Lender are subject to the condition that Swing Line Lender believed in
good faith that all conditions under Section 3.2 to the making of the applicable Refunded
Swing Line Loans or other unpaid Swing Line Loans, were satisfied at the time such Refunded
Swing Line Loans or unpaid Swing Line Loans were made, or the satisfaction of any such
condition not satisfied had been waived by the Requisite Lenders prior to or at the time
such Refunded Swing Line Loans or other unpaid Swing Line Loans were made; and (2) Swing
Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loans (A) if it has elected not to
do so after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default or Event of Default or
(B) at a time when a Funding Default exists unless Swing Line Lender has entered into
arrangements satisfactory to it and Borrowers to eliminate Swing Line Lender’s risk with
respect to the Defaulting Lender’s participation in such Swing Ling Loan, including by cash
collateralizing such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Swing Line Loans.
2.4. Issuance of Letters of Credit and Purchase of Participations Therein.
(a) Revolving Letters of Credit. During the Revolving Commitment Period, subject to
the terms and conditions hereof, Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the account of
Borrowers in the aggregate amount up to but not exceeding the Revolving Letter of Credit Sublimit
(any such Letter of Credit issued pursuant to this Section 2.4(a), a “Revolving Letter of Credit”);
provided, (i) each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars; (ii) the stated amount
of each Letter of Credit shall not be less than $10,000 or such lesser amount as is acceptable to
Issuing Bank; (iii) after giving effect to such issuance, in no event shall the Total Utilization
of Revolving Commitments exceed the Revolving Commitments then in effect; (iv) after giving effect
to such issuance, in no event shall the Revolving Letter of Credit Usage exceed the Revolving
Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect; (v) in no event shall any standby Revolving Letter of
Credit have an expiration date later than the earlier of (1) the Revolving Commitment Termination
Date and (2) the date which is one year from the date of issuance of such standby Revolving Letter
of Credit; and (vi) in no event shall any documentary Revolving Letter of Credit (x) have an
expiration date later than the earlier of (1) the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date and
(2) the date which is 180 days from the date of issuance of such documentary Revolving Letter of
Credit or (y) be issued if such documentary Revolving Letter of Credit is otherwise unacceptable to
Issuing Bank in its reasonable discretion. Subject to the foregoing, Issuing Bank may agree that a
standby Revolving Letter of Credit will automatically be extended for one or more successive
periods not to exceed one year each, unless Issuing Bank elects not to extend for any such
additional period; provided, Issuing Bank shall not extend any such Revolving Letter of
Credit if at least 2 Business Days prior to the time Issuing Bank must elect to allow such
extension, it has received written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
at the time Issuing Bank must elect to allow such extension; provided, further, in
the event a Funding Default exists, Issuing Bank shall not be required to
36
issue any Revolving
Letter of Credit unless Issuing Bank has entered into arrangements satisfactory to it and Borrowers
to eliminate Issuing Bank’s risk with respect to the participation in Revolving Letters of Credit
of the Defaulting Lender, including by cash collateralizing such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share
of the Revolving Letter of Credit Usage.
(b) Notice of Issuance. Whenever Borrowers desire the issuance of a Letter of
Credit, it shall deliver to Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank an Issuance Notice no later than
12:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three Business Days (in the case of standby letters of
credit) or five Business Days (in the case of commercial letters of credit), or in each case such
shorter period as may be agreed to by Issuing Bank in any particular instance, in advance of the
proposed date of issuance. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 3.2
as evidenced by the written notice given by Borrowers to Issuing Bank or Administrative Agent,
Issuing Bank shall issue the requested Letter of Credit only in accordance with Issuing Bank’s
standard operating procedures. Upon the issuance of any Letter of Credit or amendment or
modification to a Letter of Credit, Issuing Bank shall promptly notify Administrative Agent, and
Administrative Agent will notify Lender of such issuance, which notice shall be accompanied by a
copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment or modification to a Letter of Credit and the amount of
such Lender’s respective participation in such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.4(e).
(c) Responsibility of Issuing Bank With Respect to Requests for Drawings and
Payments. In determining whether to honor any drawing under any Letter of Credit by the
beneficiary thereof, Issuing Bank shall be responsible only to examine the documents delivered
under such Letter of Credit with reasonable care so as to ascertain whether they appear on their
face to be in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. As between
Borrowers and Issuing Bank, Borrowers assume all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of
the Letters of Credit issued by Issuing Bank, by the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of
Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, Issuing Bank shall not be
responsible for: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any
document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any such
Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument
transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or the
rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be
invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of
Credit to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit;
(iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by
mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in
interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any
document required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds
thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds
of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond
the control of Issuing Bank, including any Governmental Acts; none of the above shall affect or
impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of Issuing Bank’s rights or powers hereunder. Without
limiting the foregoing and in furtherance thereof, any action taken or omitted by Issuing Bank
under or in connection with the Letters of Credit or any documents and certificates delivered
thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not give rise to any liability on the part of
Issuing Bank to
37
Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
2.4(c), Borrowers shall retain any and all rights it may have against Issuing Bank for any
liability arising solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Issuing Bank.
(d) Reimbursement by Borrowers of Amounts Drawn or Paid Under Revolving Letters of
Credit. In the event Issuing Bank has determined to honor a drawing under a Revolving Letter
of Credit, it shall immediately notify Borrowers and Administrative Agent, and Borrowers shall
reimburse Issuing Bank on the Business Day on which such drawing is honored (the “Reimbursement
Date”) (or, if such drawing is honored after 10:00 a.m. (New York City Time) on such Business Day,
the next following Business Day) in an amount in Dollars and in same day funds equal to the amount
of such honored drawing; provided, anything contained herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, (i) unless Borrowers shall have notified Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank
prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date such drawing is honored that Borrowers intend
to reimburse Issuing Bank for the amount of such honored drawing with funds other than the proceeds
of Revolving Loans, Borrowers shall be deemed to have given a timely Funding Notice to
Administrative Agent requesting Lenders to make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans on the
Reimbursement Date in an amount in Dollars equal to the amount of such honored drawing, and (ii)
regardless of whether or not the conditions specified in Section 3.2 have been satisfied or waived,
Lenders shall, on the Reimbursement
Date, make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans in the amount of such honored drawing, the
proceeds of which shall be applied directly by Administrative Agent to reimburse Issuing Bank for
the amount of such honored drawing; and provided further, if for any reason
proceeds of Revolving Loans are not received by Issuing Bank on the Reimbursement Date in an amount
equal to the amount of such honored drawing, Borrowers shall reimburse Issuing Bank, on demand, in
an amount in same day funds equal to the excess of the amount of such honored drawing over the
aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans, if any, which are so received. Nothing in this Section
2.4(d) shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to make Revolving Loans on the
terms and conditions set forth herein, and Borrowers shall retain any and all rights it may have
against any Lender resulting from the failure of such Lender to make such Revolving Loans under
this Section 2.4(d).
(e) Lenders’ Purchase of Participations in Revolving Letters of Credit. Immediately
upon the issuance of each Revolving Letter of Credit, each Lender having a Revolving Commitment
shall be deemed to have purchased, and hereby agrees to irrevocably purchase, from Issuing Bank a
participation in such Letter of Credit and any drawings honored thereunder in an amount equal to
such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (with respect to the Revolving Commitments) of the maximum amount
which is or at any time may become available to be drawn thereunder. In the event that Borrowers
shall fail for any reason to reimburse Issuing Bank as provided in Section 2.4(d), Issuing Bank
shall promptly notify Administrative Agent, and Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of
the unreimbursed amount of such honored drawing and of such Lender’s respective participation
therein based on such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Commitments. Each Lender shall make
available to Administrative Agent and Administrative Agent shall forward on to Issuing Bank an
amount equal to its respective participation, in Dollars and in same day funds, at the office of
Issuing Bank specified in such notice, not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the first
business day (under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such office of Issuing Bank is located)
after the date notified by Issuing Bank. In the event that any Lender fails to make available to
Administrative Agent on
38
such business day the amount of such Lender’s participation in such
Revolving Letter of Credit as provided in this Section 2.4(e), Administrative Agent, on behalf of
Issuing Bank, shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender together with
interest thereon for three Business Days at the rate customarily used by Issuing Bank for the
correction of errors among banks and thereafter at the Base Rate. Nothing in this Section 2.4(e)
shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any Lender to recover from Issuing Bank any amounts made
available by such Lender to Issuing Bank through Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section in
the event that it is determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction that the payment with respect to a Revolving Letter of Credit in respect of which
payment was made by such Lender constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of
Issuing Bank. In the event Issuing Bank shall have been reimbursed by Administrative Agent with
funds from other Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.4(e) for all or any portion of any drawing
honored by Issuing Bank under a Revolving Letter of Credit, such Issuing Bank shall distribute to
Administrative Agent and Administrative Agent shall distribute to each Lender which has paid all
amounts payable by it under this Section 2.4(e) with respect to such honored drawing such Lender’s
Pro Rata Share of all payments subsequently received by Issuing Bank from Borrowers in
reimbursement of such honored drawing when such payments are received. Any such
distribution shall be made to a Lender at its primary address set forth below its name on
Appendix B or at such other address as such Lender may request.
(f) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of Borrowers to reimburse Issuing Bank for
drawings honored under the Letters of Credit issued by it and to repay any Revolving Loans made by
Lenders pursuant to Section 2.4(d) and the obligations of Lenders under Section 2.4(e) shall be
unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms hereof under
all circumstances including any of the following circumstances: (i) any lack of validity or
enforceability of any Letter of Credit; (ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other
right which Borrowers or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of
any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), Issuing Bank,
Lender or any other Person or, in the case of a Lender, against Borrowers, whether in connection
herewith, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any
underlying transaction between a Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries and the beneficiary for which
any Letter of Credit was procured); (iii) any draft or other document presented under any Letter of
Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement
therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; (iv) payment by Issuing Bank under any Letter of
Credit against presentation of a draft or other document which does not substantially comply with
the terms of such Letter of Credit; (v) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties,
assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) or
any of its Subsidiaries; (vi) any breach hereof or any other Credit Document by any party thereto;
(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing; or (viii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Default shall have occurred and be
continuing; provided, in each case, that payment by Issuing Bank under the applicable
Letter of Credit shall not have constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct of Issuing Bank
under the circumstances in question.
(g) Indemnification. Without duplication of any obligation of Borrowers under
Section 10.2 or 10.3, in addition to amounts payable as provided herein, Borrowers hereby agree to
protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless Issuing Bank from and against any and all claims,
39
demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable fees,
expenses and disbursements of counsel and allocated costs of internal counsel) which Issuing Bank
may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (i) the issuance of any Letter
of Credit by Issuing Bank, other than as a result of (1) the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of Issuing Bank or (2) the wrongful dishonor by Issuing Bank of a proper demand for payment made
under any Letter of Credit issued by it, or (ii) the failure of Issuing Bank to honor a drawing
under any such Letter of Credit as a result of any Governmental Act.
(h) Existing Letters of Credit. Each Borrower, each Additional Lender and each
Continuing Lender hereby confirms and agrees that each Letter of Credit issued under the Existing
Credit Agreement, as in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement, shall
continue to be a Letter of Credit issued under this Agreement, after giving effect to this
Agreement and each Borrower, each Continuing Lender and each Additional Lender hereby confirm that
they are bound by the provisions of this Section 2.4 with respect to such Letters of Credit as if
such Letters of Credit were issued after the Restatement Closing Date under this Agreement.
2.5. Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds.
(a) Pro Rata Shares. All Loans shall be made, and all participations purchased, by
Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares, it being understood
that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s
obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby nor shall
any Term Loan Commitment or any Revolving Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a
result of a default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested
hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby.
(b) Availability of Funds. Unless Administrative Agent shall have been notified by
any Lender prior to the applicable Credit Date that such Lender does not intend to make available
to Administrative Agent the amount of such Lender’s Loan requested on such Credit Date,
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to Administrative
Agent on such Credit Date and Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be
obligated to, make available to Borrowers a corresponding amount on such Credit Date. If such
corresponding amount is not in fact made available to Administrative Agent by such Lender,
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such
Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from such Credit Date until the date such
amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the customary rate set by Administrative Agent for the
correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such
Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon Administrative Agent’s demand
therefor, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Borrowers, and Borrowers shall immediately pay
such corresponding amount to Administrative Agent together with interest thereon, for each day from
such Credit Date until the date such amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the rate payable
hereunder for Base Rate Loans for such Class of Loans. Nothing in this Section 2.5(b) shall be
deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Term Loan Commitments and Revolving
Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that Borrowers may have against any Lender as a
result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
40
2.6. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Series B Term Loans and the Revolving Loans, if any,
made on the Restatement Closing Date shall be applied by Borrowers to repay in full the Series A
Term Loans and the Existing Revolving Loans outstanding on such date. The proceeds of the
Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit made after the Restatement Closing Date
shall be applied by Borrowers for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Group
Members, including Permitted Acquisitions and Restricted Junior Payments. No portion of the
proceeds of any Credit Extension shall be used in any manner that causes or might cause such Credit
Extension or the application of such proceeds to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X
of the Board of Governors or any other regulation thereof or to violate the Exchange Act.
2.7. Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders’ Books and Records; Notes.
(a) Lenders’ Evidence of Debt. Each Lender shall maintain on its internal records
an account or accounts evidencing the Obligations of Borrowers to such Lender, including the
amounts of the Loans made by it and each repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Any such
recordation shall be conclusive and binding on Borrowers, absent manifest error; provided,
that the failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect
any Lender’s Revolving Commitments or Borrowers’ Obligations in respect of any applicable Loans;
and provided further, in the event of any inconsistency between the Register and
any Lender’s records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.
(b) Register. Administrative Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it)
shall maintain at the Principal Office a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of
Lenders and the Revolving Commitments and Loans of each Lender from time to time (the “Register”).
The Register, as in effect at the close of business on the preceding Business Day, shall be
available for inspection by Borrowers or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time
upon reasonable prior notice. Administrative Agent shall record, or shall cause to be recorded, in
the Register the Revolving Commitments and the Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section
10.6, and each repayment or prepayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loans, and any
such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on Borrowers and each Lender, absent manifest
error; provided, failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation,
shall not affect any Lender’s Revolving Commitments or Borrowers’ Obligations in respect of any
Loan. Borrowers hereby designate GSCP to serve as Borrowers’ agent solely for purposes of
maintaining the Register as provided in this Section 2.7, and Borrowers hereby agree that, to the
extent GSCP serves in such capacity, GSCP and its officers, directors, employees, agents,
sub-agents and affiliates shall constitute “Indemnitees.”
(c) Notes. If so requested by any Lender by written notice to Borrowers (with a
copy to Administrative Agent) at least two Business Days prior to the Restatement Closing Date, or
at any time thereafter, Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable
and if so specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such Lender pursuant to
Section 10.6) on the Restatement Closing Date (or, if such notice is delivered after the
Restatement Closing Date, promptly after Borrowers’ receipt of such notice) a Note or Notes to
evidence such Lender’s Series B Term Loan, Revolving Loan or Swing Line Loan, as the case may be.
Upon the repayment in full of the Series A Term Loans (including through the conversion of such
Series A Term Loans into Series B Term Loans) any Notes evidencing such
41
Series A Term Loans shall
be deemed paid in full. Upon the repayment in full of the Existing Revolving Loans and the
reduction of the Existing Revolving Commitment to zero (including through the conversion of
Existing Revolving Loans and Existing Revolving Commitments) any Notes evidencing such Revolving
Loans shall be deemed paid in full.
2.8. Interest on Loans.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth herein, each Class of Loan shall bear interest on the
unpaid principal amount thereof from the date made through repayment (whether by acceleration or
otherwise) thereof as follows:
(i) in the case of Series B Term Loans and Revolving Loans:
(1) if a Base Rate Loan, at the Base Rate plus the
Applicable Margin; or
(2) if a Eurodollar Rate Loan, at the Adjusted Eurodollar
Rate plus the Applicable Margin; and
(ii) in the case of Swing Line Loans, at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin;
(b) The basis for determining the rate of interest with respect to any Loan (except a Swing
Line Loan which can be made and maintained as Base Rate Loans only), and the Interest Period with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, shall be selected by Borrowers and notified to Administrative
Agent and Lenders pursuant to the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, as
the case may be. Upon expiration of the applicable Interest Period for the Series B Term Loans or
Revolving Loans made on the Restatement Closing Date, each such Eurodollar Rate Loan shall either
be converted into a Base Rate Loan or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan at Borrowers’ option
pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof. If on any day a Loan is outstanding with respect to which a
Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice has not been delivered to Administrative Agent in
accordance with the terms hereof specifying the applicable basis for determining the rate of
interest, then for that day such Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.
(c) In connection with Eurodollar Rate Loans there shall be no more than five (5) Interest
Periods with respect to the Term Loans and six (6) Interest Periods with respect to the Revolving
Loans outstanding at any time. In the event Borrowers fail to specify between a Base Rate Loan or
a Eurodollar Rate Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, such
Loan (if outstanding as a Eurodollar Rate Loan) will be automatically converted into a Base Rate
Loan on the last day of the then-current Interest Period for such Loan (or if outstanding as a Base
Rate Loan will remain as, or (if not then outstanding) will be made as, a Base Rate Loan). In the
event Borrowers fail to specify an Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan in the applicable
Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an
Interest Period of one month. As soon as practicable after 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each
Interest Rate Determination Date, Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall,
absent manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties) the interest rate that
shall apply to the Eurodollar Rate
42
Loans for which an interest rate is then being determined for
the applicable Interest Period and shall promptly give notice thereof (in writing or by telephone
confirmed in writing) to Borrowers and each Lender.
(d) Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.8(a) shall be computed (i) in the case of Base
Rate Loans on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case for the actual number of days
elapsed in the period during which it accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date of the
making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect
to a Term Loan, the last Interest Payment Date with respect to such Term Loan or,
with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted from a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the date of
conversion of such Eurodollar Rate Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be
included, and the date of payment of such Loan or the expiration date of an Interest Period
applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such Eurodollar Rate Loan, as the case may
be, shall be excluded; provided, if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made,
one day’s interest shall be paid on that Loan.
(e) Except as otherwise set forth herein, interest on each Loan (i) shall accrue on a daily
basis and shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with respect to interest
accrued on and to each such payment date; (ii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable
in arrears upon any prepayment of that Loan, whether voluntary or mandatory, to the extent accrued
on the amount being prepaid; and (iii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in
arrears at maturity of the Loans, including final maturity of the Loans; provided,
however, with respect to any voluntary prepayment of a Base Rate Loan, accrued interest
shall instead be payable on the applicable Interest Payment Date.
(f) Borrowers agree to pay to Issuing Bank, with respect to drawings honored under any
Letter of Credit, interest on the amount paid by Issuing Bank in respect of each such honored
drawing from the date such drawing is honored to but excluding the date such amount is reimbursed
by Borrowers at a rate equal to (i) for the period from the date such drawing is honored to but
excluding the applicable Reimbursement Date, with respect to any Revolving Letters of Credit, the
rate of interest otherwise payable hereunder with respect to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate
Loans and (ii) thereafter, a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the rate of interest otherwise
payable hereunder with respect to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans.
(g) Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.8(f) shall be computed on the basis of a
365/366-day year for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues, and
shall be payable on demand or, if no demand is made, on the date on which the related drawing under
a Letter of Credit is reimbursed in full. Promptly upon receipt by Issuing Bank of any payment of
interest pursuant to Section 2.8(f), Issuing Bank shall distribute to each Lender, out of the
interest received by Issuing Bank in respect of the period from the date such drawing is honored to
but excluding the date on which Issuing Bank is reimbursed for the amount of such drawing
(including any such reimbursement out of the proceeds of any Revolving Loans), the amount that such
Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the letter of credit fee that would have
been payable in respect of such Letter of Credit for such period if no drawing
43
had been honored under such Letter of Credit. In the event Issuing Bank shall have been reimbursed by Lenders for
all or any portion of such honored drawing, Issuing Bank shall distribute to each Lender which has
paid all amounts payable by it under Section 2.4(d) with respect to such honored drawing such
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any interest received by Issuing Bank in respect of that portion of such
honored drawing so reimbursed by Lenders for the period from the date on which Issuing Bank was so
reimbursed by Lenders to but excluding the date on which such portion of such honored drawing is
reimbursed by Borrowers.
2.9. Conversion/Continuation.
(a) Subject to Section 2.18 and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and then be
continuing, Borrowers shall have the option:
(i) to convert at any time all or any part of any Term Loan or Revolving Loan equal to
$1,000,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount from one Type of Loan
to another Type of Loan; provided, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may only be converted on
the expiration of the Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan unless
Borrowers shall pay all amounts due under Section 2.18 in connection with any such
conversion; or
(ii) upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar Rate Loan,
to continue all or any portion of such Loan equal to $1,000,000 and integral multiples of
$100,000 in excess of that amount as a Eurodollar Rate Loan.
(b) Borrowers shall deliver a Conversion/Continuation Notice to Administrative Agent no later
than 12:00 noon (New York City time) at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed
conversion date (in the case of a conversion to a Base Rate Loan) and at least three Business Days
in advance of the proposed conversion/continuation date (in the case of a conversion to, or a
continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan). Except as otherwise provided herein, a
Conversion/Continuation Notice for conversion to, or continuation of, any Eurodollar Rate Loans (or
telephonic notice in lieu thereof) shall be irrevocable on and after the related Interest Rate
Determination Date, and Borrowers shall be bound to effect a conversion or continuation in
accordance therewith.
2.10. Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default, the principal amount of all Loans outstanding and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, any interest payments on the Loans or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder, shall
thereafter bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy
Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) payable on demand at a rate that is 2% per annum in
excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder with respect to the applicable Loans (or,
in the case of any such fees and other amounts, at a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the
interest rate otherwise payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans); provided, in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Loans, upon the expiration of the Interest Period in effect at the time any such
increase in interest rate is effective such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall thereupon become Base Rate
Loans and shall thereafter bear interest payable upon demand at a rate which is 2% per annum in
excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans. Payment or acceptance
of the increased rates of interest provided for in this Section 2.10 is not a permitted
44
alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice
or limit any rights or remedies of Administrative Agent or any Lender.
2.11. Fees.
(a) Borrowers agree to pay to Lenders having Revolving Exposure:
(i) commitment fees equal to (1) the average of the daily difference between (a) the
Revolving Commitments and (b) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding
Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount all outstanding Swing Line Loans times
(2) the Applicable Revolving Commitment Fee Percentage; and
(ii) letter of credit fees equal to (1) the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans that
are Eurodollar Rate Loans times (2) the average aggregate daily maximum amount available to
be drawn under all such Letters of Credit (regardless of whether any conditions for drawing
could then be met and determined as of the close of business on any date of determination).
All fees referred to in this Section 2.11(a) shall be paid to Administrative Agent at its Principal
Office and upon receipt, Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata
Share thereof.
(b) Borrowers agree to pay directly to Issuing Bank, for its own account, the following fees:
(i) a fronting fee equal to 0.125%, per annum, times the average aggregate daily
maximum amount available to be drawn under all Letters of Credit (determined as of the close
of business on any date of determination); and
(ii) such documentary and processing charges for any issuance, amendment, transfer or
payment of a Letter of Credit as are in accordance with Issuing Bank’s standard schedule for
such charges and as in effect at the time of such issuance, amendment, transfer or payment,
as the case may be.
(c) All fees referred to in Section 2.11(a) and 2.11(b)(i) shall be calculated on the basis of
a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed and shall be payable quarterly in arrears (i)
on the last day of each March, June, September and December of each year during the Revolving
Commitment Period, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Restatement Closing Date
and (ii) on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
(d) In addition to the foregoing fees, Borrowers agree to pay to Agents such other fees in the
amounts and at the times separately agreed upon.
2.12. Scheduled Payments/Commitment Reductions.
(a) Scheduled Installments. Prior to the IPO, the principal amounts of the Series B
Term Loans shall be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments (each an “Installment”) on
45
the four quarterly scheduled Interest Payment Dates applicable to Term Loans, commencing September 30,
2006 (each an “Installment Date”), in an amount on each Interest Payment Date equal to one quarter
percent (0.25%) of the original principal amount outstanding and the remaining outstanding
principal amount on the Series B Term Loan Maturity Date; provided, in the event any New
Term Loans are made, such New Term Loans shall be repaid on each
Installment Date occurring on or after the applicable Increased Amount Date in an amount equal
to (i) the original aggregate principal amount of New Term Loans of the applicable Series of New
Term Loans, times (ii) the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (y) the amount of all other Term
Loans being repaid on such Installment Date and (z) the total aggregate principal amount of all
other Term Loans outstanding on such Increased Amount Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x)
such Installments shall be reduced in connection with any voluntary or mandatory prepayments of the
Term Loans, as the case may be, in accordance with Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15, as applicable; and
(y) the Series B Term Loans, together with all other amounts owed hereunder with respect thereto,
shall, in any event, be paid in full no later than the Series B Term Loan Maturity Date and any
other Series of New Term Loans, together with all other amounts owed thereunder with respect
thereto, shall, in any event, be paid in full no later than the applicable New Term Loan Maturity
Date. Upon and following the IPO the interim Installments payable with respect to Series B Term
Loans and New Term Loans (if any) shall cease to be payable and the principal amounts of the Series
B Term Loans shall instead be repaid on the Series B Term Loans Maturity Date and in the event any
New Term Loans are made, such New Term Loans shall be repaid on the applicable New Term Loan
Maturity Date.
(b) Reductions of Revolving Commitments. The Revolving Commitments shall be
permanently reduced from time to time in accordance with Sections 2.13, 2.14, and 2.15, as
applicable, and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect thereto shall, in any event, be paid
in full on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
2.13. Voluntary Prepayments/Commitment Reductions.
(a) Voluntary Prepayments.
(i) Any time and from time to time:
(1) with respect to Base Rate Loans, Borrowers may prepay
any such Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part, in an
aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of
$100,000 in excess of that amount;
(2) with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, Borrowers may
prepay any such Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part in
an aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples
of $100,000 in excess of that amount; and
(3) with respect to Swing Line Loans, Borrowers may prepay
any such Loans on any Business Day in whole or
46
in part in an
aggregate minimum amount of $100,000, and in integral multiples
of $100,000 in excess of that amount.
(ii) All such prepayments shall be made:
(1) except to the extent consented to in writing by
Administrative Agent, upon not less than one Business Day’s
prior written or telephonic notice in the case of Base Rate
Loans;
(2) except to the extent consented to in writing by
Administrative Agent, upon not less than three Business Days’
prior written or telephonic notice in the case of Eurodollar
Rate Loans; and
(3) upon written or telephonic notice on the date of
prepayment, in the case of Swing Line Loans;
in each case given to Administrative Agent or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, by 12:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on the date required and, if given by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing
to Administrative Agent (and Administrative Agent will promptly transmit such telephonic or
original notice for Term Loans or Revolving Loans, as the case may be, by telefacsimile or
telephone to each Lender) or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. Upon the giving of any such
notice, the principal amount of the Loans specified in such notice shall become due and payable on
the prepayment date specified therein. Any such voluntary prepayment shall be applied as specified
in Section 2.15(a).
(b) Voluntary Revolving Commitment Reductions.
(i) Borrowers may, upon not less than three Business Days’ prior written or telephonic
notice confirmed in writing to Administrative Agent (which original written or telephonic
notice Administrative Agent will promptly transmit by telefacsimile or telephone to each
applicable Lender), at any time and from time to time terminate in whole or permanently
reduce in part, without premium or penalty, the Revolving Commitments in an amount up to the
amount by which the Revolving Commitments exceed the Total Utilization of Revolving
Commitments at the time of such proposed termination or reduction; provided, any
such partial reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an aggregate minimum amount
of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $250,000 in excess of that amount.
(ii) Borrowers’ notice to Administrative Agent shall designate the date (which shall be
a Business Day) of such termination or reduction and the amount of any partial reduction,
and such termination or reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be effective on the
date specified in Borrowers’ notice and shall reduce the Revolving Commitment of each Lender
proportionately to its Pro Rata Share thereof.
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2.14. Mandatory Prepayments/Commitment Reductions.
(a) Asset Sales. No later than the third Business Day following the date of receipt
by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Net Asset Sale Proceeds, Borrowers shall
prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Loans as set forth in Section 2.15(b) in an aggregate
amount equal to such Net Asset Sale Proceeds; provided, (i) so long as no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (ii) to the extent that aggregate Net
Asset Sale Proceeds from the Restatement Closing Date through the applicable date of determination
do not exceed $15,000,000, such Credit Party or such Subsidiaries shall have the option, directly
or through one or more of their respective Subsidiaries, to invest Net Asset Sale Proceeds within
one hundred eighty days of receipt thereof in long-term productive assets of the general type used
in the business of the Group Members; provided further, pending any such investment
all such Net Asset Sale Proceeds shall be applied to prepay Revolving Loans to the extent
outstanding (without a reduction in Revolving Commitments).
(b) Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds. No later than the third Business Day following
the date of receipt by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or Administrative Agent as loss
payee, of any Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds, Borrowers shall prepay the Loans and/or the
Revolving Loans as set forth in Section 2.15(b) in an aggregate amount equal to such Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds; provided, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing such Credit Party or such Subsidiaries shall have the option,
directly or through one or more of their respective Subsidiaries to invest such Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds within one hundred eighty days of receipt thereof in long term
productive assets of the general type used in the business of the Group Members, which investment
may include the repair, restoration or replacement of the applicable assets thereof;
provided further, pending any such investment all such Net Insurance/Condemnation
Proceeds, as the case may be, shall be applied to prepay Revolving Loans to the extent outstanding
(without a reduction in Revolving Commitments).
(c) Issuance of Equity Securities. Prior to the IPO, on the date of receipt by
Pipeline of any Cash proceeds from a capital contribution to, or the issuance of any Capital Stock
of, Pipeline or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to any employee stock or stock option
compensation plan), Borrowers shall prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Loans as set forth in
Section 2.15(b) in an aggregate amount equal to 50% of such proceeds, net of underwriting discounts
and commissions and other reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable
legal fees and expenses; provided that on and after the date on which at least $200,000,000
of the Term Loan has been repaid, Borrowers shall only be required to make the prepayments and/or
reductions otherwise required hereby in an amount equal to 25% of such net proceeds. Upon and
following the IPO, this Section 2.14(c) shall cease to apply and be of no further force or effect,
and no proceeds of the IPO, nor any proceeds of any capital contributions or future issuances of
any Capital Stock of MLP or any of its Subsidiaries thereafter, shall be required to be used to
prepay any Loans pursuant to this clause (c).
(d) Issuance of Debt. On the date of receipt by any Credit Party or any of its
Subsidiaries of any Cash proceeds from the incurrence of any Indebtedness of any Group Member
(other than with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1),
Borrowers shall prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Loans as set forth in
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Section 2.15(b) in an
aggregate amount equal to 100% of such proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and
other reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable legal fees and
expenses.
(e) Consolidated Excess Cash Flow. Prior to the IPO, in the event that there shall be
Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Quarter, Borrowers shall, no later than 45 days after
the end of such Fiscal Quarter, prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Loans as set forth in Section
2.15(b) in an aggregate amount equal to (i) 75% of such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for such
Fiscal Quarter minus (ii) voluntary and scheduled repayments of Consolidated Funded Debt
(excluding repayments of Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans except to the extent the Revolving
Commitments are permanently reduced in connection with such repayments); provided that on
and after the date on which at least $200,000,000 of the Term Loan has been repaid, Borrower shall
only be required to make the prepayments and/or reductions otherwise required under this clause in
an amount equal to (i) 50% of such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow minus (ii) voluntary and
scheduled repayments of Consolidated Funded Debt (excluding repayments of Revolving Loans or Swing
Line Loans except to the extent the Revolving Commitments are permanently reduced in connection
with such repayments). Upon and following the IPO, this Section 2.14(e) shall cease to apply and be
of no further force or effect, and no prepayments with respect to Consolidated Excess Cash Flow
shall be required.
(f) Revolving Loans and Swing Loans. Borrowers shall from time to time prepay first,
the Swing Line Loans, and second, the Revolving Loans to the extent necessary so that the Total
Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall not at any time exceed the Revolving Commitments then in
effect.
(g) Prepayment Certificate. Concurrently with any prepayment of the Loans and/or
reduction of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Sections 2.14(a) through 2.14(e), Borrowers
shall deliver to Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer demonstrating the
calculation of the amount of the applicable net proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the
case may be. In the event that Borrowers shall subsequently determine that the actual amount
received exceeded the amount set forth in such certificate, Borrowers shall promptly make an
additional prepayment of the Loans and/or the Revolving Commitments shall be permanently reduced in
an amount equal to such excess, and Borrowers shall concurrently therewith deliver to
Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer demonstrating the derivation of such
excess.
(h) Restatement Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) upon its receipt of
the proceeds of the Series B Term Loans, Borrowers shall apply a portion of such proceeds, together
with proceeds of Revolving Loans made on the Closing Date, sufficient (a) to prepay in full the
Series A Term Loans which are not being converted by Continuing Lenders into Series B Term Loans,
(b) to pay all accrued and unpaid interest and fees, if any, on all Series A Term Loans held by
Existing Lenders that are not Continuing Lenders, and (c) to pay to such Existing Lender that is
not a Continuing Lender all other amounts then due and owing as a result of the prepayment of such
Existing Lender’s Series A Term Loans; (ii) upon its receipt of the proceeds of the Revolving Loans
made on the Restatement Closing Date, Borrowers shall apply a portion of such proceeds sufficient
to (a) prepay in full the Existing Revolving Loans which are
49
not being converted by Continuing
Lenders into Revolving Loans on the Restatement Closing Date, (b) pay all accrued and unpaid
interest and fees, if any, on all Existing Revolving Loans held by Existing Lenders that are not
Continuing Lenders, (c) pay to such Existing Lender that is
not a Continuing Lender all other amounts then due and owing as a result of the prepayment of
such Lender’s Existing Revolving Loans; and (iii) pay all other Obligations then due and owing to
the Existing Lenders, in their capacity as such, under the Existing Credit Agreement.
2.15. Application of Prepayments/Reductions.
(a) Application of Voluntary Prepayments by Type of Loans. Any prepayment of any Loan
pursuant to Section 2.13(a) shall be applied as specified by Borrowers in the applicable notice of
prepayment; provided, in the event Borrowers fail to specify the Loans to which any such
prepayment shall be applied, such prepayment shall be applied as follows:
first, to repay outstanding Swing Line Loans to the full extent thereof;
second, to repay outstanding Revolving Loans to the full extent thereof; and
third, to prepay the principal of the Term Loans, ratably, to the full extent thereof;
provided, prior to the IPO, such prepayment shall be applied to the four next
Installments of principal of the Term Loans, ratably, and, thereafter on a pro rata basis to
reduce the scheduled remaining Installments of principal of the Term Loans to the full
extent thereof.
(b) Application of Mandatory Prepayments by Type of Loans. Any amount required to be
paid pursuant to Sections 2.14(a) through 2.14(e) and Section 2.14(g) shall be applied as follows:
first, to prepay the principal of the Term Loans, ratably, to the full extent thereof;
provided, prior to the IPO, such prepayment shall be applied to the four next
Installments of principal of the Term Loans, ratably, and, thereafter on a pro rata basis to
reduce the scheduled remaining Installments of principal of the Term Loans to the full
extent thereof.;
second, to prepay the Swing Line Loans to the full extent thereof (without any
permanent reduction in Revolving Commitments);
third, to prepay the Revolving Loans to the full extent thereof (without any permanent
reduction in Revolving Commitments);
fourth, to prepay outstanding reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of
Credit (without any permanent reduction in the Revolving Loan Commitments);
fifth, to cash collateralize Letters of Credit (without any permanent reduction in
Revolving Commitments).
50
(c) Application of Prepayments of Loans to Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate Loans.
Considering each Class of Loans being prepaid separately, any prepayment thereof
shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to
Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case in a manner which minimizes the amount of any payments required
to be made by Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.18(c).
2.16. General Provisions Regarding Payments.
(a) All payments by Borrowers of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made
in Dollars in same day funds, without defense, setoff or counterclaim, free of any restriction or
condition, and delivered to Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on
the date due at the Principal Office designated by Administrative Agent for the account of Lenders;
for purposes of computing interest and fees, funds received by Administrative Agent after that time
on such due date shall be deemed to have been paid by Borrowers on the next succeeding Business
Day.
(b) All payments in respect of the principal amount of any Loan (other than voluntary
prepayments of Revolving Loans) shall be accompanied by payment of accrued interest on the
principal amount being repaid or prepaid.
(c) Administrative Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall promptly distribute
to each Lender at such address as such Lender shall indicate in writing, such Lender’s applicable
Pro Rata Share of all payments and prepayments of principal and interest due hereunder, together
with all other amounts due thereto, including, without limitation, all fees payable with respect
thereto, to the extent received by Administrative Agent.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions hereof, if any Conversion/ Continuation Notice is
withdrawn as to any Affected Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of its
Pro Rata Share of any Eurodollar Rate Loans, Administrative Agent shall give effect thereto in
apportioning payments received thereafter.
(e) Subject to the provisos set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” as they may apply
to Revolving Loans, whenever any payment to be made hereunder with respect to any Loan shall be
stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next
succeeding Business Day and, with respect to Revolving Loans only, such extension of time shall be
included in the computation of the payment of interest hereunder or of the Revolving Commitment
fees hereunder.
(f) Borrowers hereby authorize Administrative Agent to charge Borrowers’ accounts with
Administrative Agent in order to cause timely payment to be made to Administrative Agent of all
principal, interest, fees and expenses due hereunder (subject to sufficient funds being available
in its accounts for that purpose).
(g) Administrative Agent shall deem any payment by or on behalf of Borrowers hereunder that is
not made in same day funds prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) to be a non-conforming payment.
Any such payment shall not be deemed to have been received by Administrative Agent until the later
of (i) the time such funds become available funds, and (ii) the applicable next Business Day.
Administrative Agent shall give prompt telephonic notice
51
to Borrowers and each applicable Lender (confirmed in writing) if any payment is
non-conforming. Any non-conforming payment may constitute or become a Default or Event of Default
in accordance with the terms of Section 8.1(a). Interest shall continue to accrue on any principal
as to which a non-conforming payment is made until such funds become available funds (but in no
event less than the period from the date of such payment to the next succeeding applicable Business
Day) at the rate determined pursuant to Section 2.10 from the date such amount was due and payable
until the date such amount is paid in full.
(h) If an Event of Default shall have occurred and not otherwise been waived, and the maturity
of the Obligations shall have been accelerated pursuant to Section 8.1, all payments or proceeds
received by Agents hereunder in respect of any of the Obligations, shall be applied in accordance
with the application arrangements described in Section 7.2 of the Pledge and Security Agreement.
2.17. Ratable Sharing. Lenders hereby agree among themselves that, except as otherwise
provided in the Collateral Documents with respect to amounts realized from the exercise of rights
with respect to Liens on the Collateral, if any of them shall, whether by voluntary payment (other
than a voluntary prepayment of Loans made and applied in accordance with the terms hereof), through
the exercise of any right of set-off or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross action or by the
enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents or otherwise, or as adequate protection of a
deposit treated as cash collateral under the Bankruptcy Code, receive payment or reduction of a
proportion of the aggregate amount of principal, interest, amounts payable in respect of Letters of
Credit, fees and other amounts then due and owing to such Lender hereunder or under the other
Credit Documents (collectively, the “Aggregate Amounts Due” to such Lender) which is greater than
the proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the Aggregate Amounts Due to such other
Lender, then the Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment shall (a) notify
Administrative Agent and each other Lender of the receipt of such payment and (b) apply a portion
of such payment to purchase participations (which it shall be deemed to have purchased from each
seller of a participation simultaneously upon the receipt by such seller of its portion of such
payment) in the Aggregate Amounts Due to the other Lenders so that all such recoveries of Aggregate
Amounts Due shall be shared by all Lenders in proportion to the Aggregate Amounts Due to them;
provided, if all or part of such proportionately greater payment received by such
purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of
Borrowers or otherwise, those purchases shall be rescinded and the purchase prices paid for such
participations shall be returned to such purchasing Lender ratably to the extent of such recovery,
but without interest. Borrowers expressly consent to the foregoing arrangement and agrees that any
holder of a participation so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, set-off or
counterclaim with respect to any and all monies owing by Borrowers to that holder with respect
thereto as fully as if that holder were owed the amount of the participation held by that holder.
2.18. Making or Maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(a) Inability to Determine Applicable Interest Rate. In the event that Administrative
Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be final and conclusive
and binding upon all parties hereto), on any Interest Rate Determination Date with respect to
any
52
Eurodollar Rate Loans, that by reason of circumstances affecting the London interbank market
adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable to such Loans on
the basis provided for in the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, Administrative Agent shall on
such date give notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Borrowers and each
Lender of such determination, whereupon (i) no Loans may be made as, or converted to, Eurodollar
Rate Loans until such time as Administrative Agent notifies Borrowers and Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, and (ii) any Funding Notice or
Conversion/Continuation Notice given by Borrowers with respect to the Loans in respect of which
such determination was made shall be deemed to be rescinded by Borrowers.
(b) Illegality or Impracticability of Eurodollar Rate Loans. In the event that on any
date any Lender shall have determined (which determination shall be final and conclusive and
binding upon all parties hereto but shall be made only after consultation with Borrowers and
Administrative Agent) that the making, maintaining or continuation of its Eurodollar Rate Loans (i)
has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law, treaty,
governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such treaty,
governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the
failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or (ii) has become impracticable, as a result
of contingencies occurring after the date hereof which materially and adversely affect the London
interbank market or the position of such Lender in that market, then, and in any such event, such
Lender shall be an “Affected Lender” and it shall on that day give notice (by telefacsimile or by
telephone confirmed in writing) to Borrowers and Administrative Agent of such determination (which
notice Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each other Lender). Thereafter (1) the
obligation of the Affected Lender to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to, Eurodollar Rate Loans
shall be suspended until such notice shall be withdrawn by the Affected Lender, (2) to the extent
such determination by the Affected Lender relates to a Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by
Borrowers pursuant to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Affected Lender
shall make such Loan as (or continue such Loan as or convert such Loan to, as the case may be) a
Base Rate Loan, (3) the Affected Lender’s obligation to maintain its outstanding Eurodollar Rate
Loans (the “Affected Loans”) shall be terminated at the earlier to occur of the expiration of the
Interest Period then in effect with respect to the Affected Loans or when required by law, and (4)
the Affected Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date of such
termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a determination by an Affected Lender as
described above relates to a Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by Borrowers pursuant to a
Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, Borrowers shall have the option, subject to the
provisions of Section 2.18(c), to rescind such Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice as
to all Lenders by giving notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to
Administrative Agent of such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives notice of
its determination as described above (which notice of rescission Administrative Agent shall
promptly transmit to each other Lender). Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence,
nothing in this Section 2.18(b) shall affect the obligation of any Lender other than an Affected
Lender to make or maintain Loans as, or to convert Loans to, Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance
with the terms hereof.
(c) Compensation for Breakage or Non-Commencement of Interest Periods. Borrowers
shall compensate each Lender, upon written request by such Lender (which request
53
shall set forth the basis for requesting such amounts), for all reasonable losses, expenses and liabilities
(including any interest paid by such Lender to Lenders of funds borrowed by it to make or carry its
Eurodollar Rate Loans and any loss, expense or liability sustained by such Lender in connection
with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds but excluding loss of anticipated profits)
which such Lender may sustain: (i) if for any reason (other than a default by such Lender) a
borrowing of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Funding
Notice or a telephonic request for borrowing, or a conversion to or continuation of any Eurodollar
Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Conversion/Continuation Notice or a
telephonic request for conversion or continuation; (ii) if any prepayment or other principal
payment of, or any conversion of, any of its Eurodollar Rate Loans occurs on a date prior to the
last day of an Interest Period applicable to that Loan; or (iii) if any prepayment of any of its
Eurodollar Rate Loans is not made on any date specified in a notice of prepayment given by
Borrowers.
(d) Booking of Eurodollar Rate Loans. Any Lender may make, carry or transfer
Eurodollar Rate Loans at, to, or for the account of any of its branch offices or the office of an
Affiliate of such Lender.
(e) Assumptions Concerning Funding of Eurodollar Rate Loans. Calculation of all
amounts payable to a Lender under this Section 2.18 and under Section 2.19 shall be made as though
such Lender had actually funded each of its relevant Eurodollar Rate Loans through the purchase of
a Eurodollar deposit bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to clause (i) of the definition
of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in an amount equal to the amount of such Eurodollar Rate Loan and
having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and through the transfer of such
Eurodollar deposit from an offshore office of such Lender to a domestic office of such Lender in
the United States of America; provided, however, each Lender may fund each of its
Eurodollar Rate Loans in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized
only for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this Section 2.18 and under Section
2.19.
2.19. Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy.
(a) Compensation For Increased Costs and Taxes. Subject to the provisions of Section
2.20 (which shall be controlling with respect to the matters covered thereby), in the event that
any Lender (which term shall include Issuing Bank for purposes of this Section 2.19(a)) shall
determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding
upon all parties hereto) that any law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any
change therein or in the interpretation, administration or application thereof (including the
introduction of any new law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order), or any
determination of a court or governmental authority, in each case that becomes effective after the
date hereof, or compliance by such Lender with any guideline, request or directive issued or made
after the date hereof by any central bank or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority
(whether or not having the force of law): (i) subjects such Lender (or its applicable lending
office) to any additional Tax (other than any Tax on the overall net income of such
Lender) with respect to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or any of its
obligations hereunder or thereunder or any payments to such Lender (or its applicable lending
office) of principal, interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder; (ii) imposes, modifies
54
or holds applicable any reserve (including any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other
reserve), special deposit, compulsory loan, FDIC insurance or similar requirement against assets
held by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, or advances or loans by, or
other credit extended by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender (other
than any such reserve or other requirements with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans that are
reflected in the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate); or (iii) imposes any other condition
(other than with respect to a Tax matter) on or affecting such Lender (or its applicable lending
office) or its obligations hereunder or the London interbank market; and the result of any of the
foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make, making or maintaining Loans
hereunder or participating in, issuing or maintaining Letters of Credit hereunder or to reduce any
amount received or receivable by such Lender (or its applicable lending office) with respect
thereto; then, in any such case, Borrowers shall promptly pay to such Lender, upon receipt of the
statement referred to in the next sentence, such additional amount or amounts (in the form of an
increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in
its sole discretion shall determine) as may be necessary to compensate such Lender for any such
increased cost or reduction in amounts received or receivable hereunder. Such Lender shall deliver
to Borrowers (with a copy to Administrative Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable
detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to such Lender under this Section
2.19(a), which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest
error.
(b) Capital Adequacy Adjustment. In the event that any Lender (which term shall
include Issuing Bank for purposes of this Section 2.19(b)) shall have determined that the adoption,
effectiveness, phase-in or applicability after the Restatement Closing Date of any law, rule or
regulation (or any provision thereof) regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein or in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or
its applicable lending office) with any guideline, request or directive regarding capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or
comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of
such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with reference to,
such Lender’s Loans or Revolving Commitments or Letters of Credit, or participations therein or
other obligations hereunder with respect to the Loans or the Letters of Credit to a level below
that which such Lender or such controlling corporation could have achieved but for such adoption,
effectiveness, phase-in, applicability, change or compliance (taking into consideration the
policies of such Lender or such controlling corporation with regard to capital adequacy), then from
time to time, within five Business Days after receipt by Borrowers from such Lender of the
statement referred to in the next sentence, Borrowers shall pay to such Lender such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such controlling corporation on an after-tax
basis for such reduction. Such Lender shall deliver to Borrowers (with a copy to Administrative
Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the
additional amounts owed to Lender under this Section 2.19(b), which statement shall be conclusive
and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.
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2.20. Taxes; Withholding, etc.
(a) Payments to Be Free and Clear. All sums payable by any Credit Party hereunder and
under the other Credit Documents shall (except to the extent required by law) be paid free and
clear of, and without any deduction or withholding on account of, any Tax (other than a Tax on the
overall net income of any Lender or franchise tax) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed
by or within the United States of America or any political subdivision in or of the United States
of America or any other jurisdiction from or to which a payment is made by or on behalf of any
Credit Party or by any federation or organization of which the United States of America or any such
jurisdiction is a member at the time of payment.
(b) Withholding of Taxes. If any Credit Party or any other Person is required by law
to make any deduction or withholding on account of any such Tax from any sum paid or payable by any
Credit Party to Administrative Agent or any Lender (which term shall include Issuing Bank for
purposes of this Section 2.20(b)) under any of the Credit Documents: (i) Borrowers shall notify
Administrative Agent of any such requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as
Borrowers become aware of it; (ii) Borrowers shall pay any such Tax before the date on which
penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on any Credit
Party) for its own account or (if that liability is imposed on Administrative Agent or such Lender,
as the case may be) on behalf of and in the name of Administrative Agent or such Lender; (iii) the
sum payable by such Credit Party in respect of which the relevant deduction, withholding or payment
is required shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of that
deduction, withholding or payment, Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be,
receives on the due date a net sum equal to what it would have received had no such deduction,
withholding or payment been required or made; and (iv) within thirty days after paying any sum from
which it is required by law to make any deduction or withholding, and within thirty days after the
due date of payment of any Tax which it is required by clause (ii) above to pay, Borrowers shall
deliver to Administrative Agent evidence satisfactory to the other affected parties of such
deduction, withholding or payment and of the remittance thereof to the relevant taxing or other
authority; provided, no such additional amount shall be required to be paid to any Lender
under clause (iii) above except to the extent that any change after the date hereof (in the case of
each Lender party hereto on the Restatement Closing Date) or after the effective date of the
Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender (in the case of each other
Lender) in any such requirement for a deduction, withholding or payment as is mentioned therein
shall result in an increase in the rate of such deduction, withholding or payment from that in
effect at the date hereof or at the date of such Assignment Agreement, as the case may be, in
respect of payments to such Lender.
(c) Evidence of Exemption From U.S. Withholding Tax. Each Lender that is not a United
States Person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) for
U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “Non-US Lender”) shall deliver to Administrative Agent for
transmission to Borrowers, on or prior to the Restatement Closing Date (in the case of each Lender
party hereto on the Restatement Closing Date) or on or prior to the date of the Assignment
Agreement pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each
other Lender), and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of Borrowers
or Administrative Agent (each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (i) two original
copies of
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Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI (or any successor forms), properly
completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the
Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by Borrowers to establish that such Lender is not
subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any
payments to such Lender of principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the
Credit Documents, or (ii) if such Lender is not a “bank” or other Person described in Section
881(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and cannot deliver either Internal Revenue Service Form
W-8ECI pursuant to clause (i) above, a Certificate re Non-Bank Status together with two original
copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), properly completed and duly
executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and
reasonably requested by Borrowers to establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or
withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of
interest payable under any of the Credit Documents. Each Lender required to deliver any forms,
certificates or other evidence with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters
pursuant to this Section 2.20(c) hereby agrees, from time to time after the initial delivery by
such Lender of such forms, certificates or other evidence, whenever a lapse in time or change in
circumstances renders such forms, certificates or other evidence obsolete or inaccurate in any
material respect, that such Lender shall promptly deliver to Administrative Agent for transmission
to Borrowers two new original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI , or a
Certificate re Non-Bank Status and two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or
any successor form), as the case may be, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and
such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by
Borrowers to confirm or establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of
United States federal income tax with respect to payments to such Lender under the Credit
Documents, or notify Administrative Agent and Borrowers of its inability to deliver any such forms,
certificates or other evidence. Borrowers shall not be required to pay any additional amount to
any Non-US Lender under Section 2.20(b)(iii) if such Lender shall have failed (1) to deliver the
forms, certificates or other evidence referred to in the second sentence of this Section 2.20(c),
or (2) to notify Administrative Agent and Borrowers of its inability to deliver any such forms,
certificates or other evidence, as the case may be; provided, if such Lender shall have
satisfied the requirements of the first sentence of this Section 2.20(c) on the Restatement Closing
Date or on the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it became a Lender, as
applicable, nothing in this last sentence of Section 2.20(c) shall relieve Borrowers of their
obligation to pay any additional amounts pursuant this Section 2.20 in the event that, as a result
of any change in any applicable law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any
change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer
properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date
establishing the fact that such Lender is not subject to withholding as described herein.
2.21. Obligation to Mitigate. Each Lender (which term shall include Issuing Bank for purposes
of this Section 2.21) agrees that, as promptly as practicable after the officer of such Lender
responsible for administering its Loans or Letters of Credit, as the case may be, becomes aware of
the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that would cause such Lender to become
an Affected Lender or that would entitle such Lender to receive payments under Section 2.18, 2.19
or 2.20, it will, to the extent not inconsistent with the internal policies of such Lender and any
applicable legal or regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts to (a) make,
57
issue, fund or maintain its Credit Extensions, including any Affected Loans, through another office of such
Lender, or (b) take such other measures as such Lender may deem reasonable, if as a result thereof
the circumstances which would cause such Lender to be an Affected Lender would cease to exist or
the additional amounts which would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender pursuant to
Section 2.18, 2.19 or 2.20 would be materially reduced and if, as determined by such Lender in its
sole discretion, the making, issuing, funding or maintaining of such Revolving Commitments, Loans
or Letters of Credit through such other office or in accordance with such other measures, as the
case may be, would not otherwise adversely affect such Revolving Commitments, Loans or Letters of
Credit or the interests of such Lender; provided, such Lender will not be obligated to
utilize such other office pursuant to this Section 2.21 unless Borrowers agree to pay all
incremental expenses incurred by such Lender as a result of utilizing such other office as
described above. A certificate as to the amount of any such expenses payable by Borrowers pursuant
to this Section 2.21 (setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount)
submitted by such Lender to Borrowers (with a copy to Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive
absent manifest error.
2.22. Defaulting Lenders. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that any Lender, other than at the direction or request of any regulatory agency or
authority, defaults (a “Defaulting Lender”) in its obligation to fund (a “Funding Default”) any
Revolving Loan or its portion of any unreimbursed payment under Section 2.3(b)(iv) or 2.4(d) (in
each case, a “Defaulted Loan”), then (a) during any Default Period with respect to such Defaulting
Lender, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a “Lender” for purposes of voting on any
matters (including the granting of any consents or waivers) with respect to any of the Credit
Documents; (b) to the extent permitted by applicable law, until such time as the Default Excess
with respect to such Defaulting Lender shall have been reduced to zero, (i) any voluntary
prepayment of the Revolving Loans shall, if Borrowers so direct at the time of making such
voluntary prepayment, be applied to the Revolving Loans of other Lenders as if such Defaulting
Lender had no Revolving Loans outstanding and the Revolving Exposure of such Defaulting Lender were
zero, and (ii) any mandatory prepayment of the Revolving Loans shall, if Borrowers so direct at the
time of making such mandatory prepayment, be applied to the Revolving Loans of other Lenders (but
not to the Revolving Loans of such Defaulting Lender) as if such Defaulting Lender had funded all
Defaulted Loans of such Defaulting Lender, it being understood and agreed that Borrowers shall be
entitled to retain any portion of any mandatory prepayment of the Revolving Loans that is not paid
to such Defaulting Lender solely as a result of the operation of the provisions of this clause (b);
(c) such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment and outstanding Revolving Loans and such
Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Usage shall be excluded for purposes of
calculating the Revolving Commitment fee payable to Lenders in respect of any day during any
Default Period with respect to such Defaulting Lender, and such Defaulting Lender shall not be
entitled to receive any Revolving Commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.11 with respect to such
Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment in respect of any Default Period with respect to such
Defaulting Lender; and (d) the Total Utilization of Revolving Commitments as at any date of determination shall
be calculated as if such Defaulting Lender had funded all Defaulted Loans of such Defaulting
Lender. No Revolving Commitment of any Lender shall be increased or otherwise affected, and,
except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.22, performance by Borrowers of their
obligations hereunder and the other Credit Documents shall not be excused or otherwise modified as
a result of any Funding Default or the operation of this Section 2.22. The rights and
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remedies against a Defaulting Lender under this Section 2.22 are in addition to other rights and remedies
which Borrowers may have against such Defaulting Lender with respect to any Funding Default and
which Administrative Agent or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender with respect to
any Funding Default.
2.23. Removal or Replacement of a Lender. Anything contained herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that: (a) (i) any Lender (an “Increased-Cost Lender”) shall give
notice to Borrowers that such Lender is an Affected Lender or that such Lender is entitled to
receive payments under Sections 2.18(a) or (b), 2.19 or 2.20, (ii) the circumstances which have
caused such Lender to be an Affected Lender or which entitle such Lender to receive such payments
shall remain in effect, and (iii) such Lender shall fail to withdraw such notice within five
Business Days after Borrowers’ request for such withdrawal; or (b) (i) any Lender shall become a
Defaulting Lender, and (ii) such Defaulting Lender shall fail to cure the default as a result of
which it has become a Defaulting Lender within five Business Days after Borrowers’ request that it
cure such default; or (c) in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, termination,
waiver or consent with respect to any of the provisions hereof as contemplated by Section 10.5(b),
the consent of Requisite Lenders shall have been obtained but the consent of one or more of such
other Lenders (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”) whose consent is required shall not have been
obtained; then, with respect to each such Increased-Cost Lender, Defaulting Lender or
Non-Consenting Lender (the “Terminated Lender”), Borrowers may, by giving written notice to
Administrative Agent and any Terminated Lender of its election to do so, elect to cause such
Terminated Lender (and such Terminated Lender hereby irrevocably agrees) to assign its outstanding
Loans and its Revolving Commitments, if any, in full to one or more Eligible Assignees (each a
“Replacement Lender”) in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 and Terminated Lender shall
pay any fees payable thereunder in connection with such assignment; provided, (1) on the
date of such assignment, the Replacement Lender shall pay to Terminated Lender an amount equal to
the sum of (A) an amount equal to the principal of, and all accrued interest on, all outstanding
Loans of the Terminated Lender, (B) an amount equal to all unreimbursed drawings that have been
funded by such Terminated Lender, together with all then unpaid interest with respect thereto at
such time and (C) an amount equal to all accrued, but theretofore unpaid fees owing to such
Terminated Lender pursuant to Section 2.11; (2) on the date of such assignment, Borrowers shall pay
any amounts payable to such Terminated Lender pursuant to Section 2.18, 2.19 or 2.20; or otherwise
as if it were a prepayment and (3) in the event such Terminated Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender,
each Replacement Lender shall consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of
which such Terminated Lender was a Non-Consenting Lender; provided, Borrowers may not make
such election with respect to any Terminated Lender that is also an Issuing Bank unless, prior to
the effectiveness of such election, Borrowers shall have caused each outstanding Letter of Credit
issued thereby to be cancelled. Upon the prepayment of all amounts owing to any Terminated Lender
and the termination of such Terminated Lender’s Revolving Commitments, if any, such Terminated Lender shall no longer
constitute a “Lender” for purposes hereof; provided, any rights of such Terminated Lender
to indemnification hereunder shall survive as to such Terminated Lender.
2.24. Incremental Facilities. Borrowers may by written notice to Administrative Agent elect
to request (A) prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, an increase to the existing
Revolving Loan Commitments (any such increase, the “New Revolving Loan Commitments”) and/or (B) the
establishment of one or more new term loan commitments (the
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“New Term Loan Commitments”), by an
amount not in excess of $100,000,000 in the aggregate and not less than $25,000,000 individually
(or such lesser amount which shall be approved by Administrative Agent or such lesser amount that
shall constitute the difference between $100,000,000 and all such New Revolving Loan Commitments
and New Term Loan Commitments obtained prior to such date), and integral multiples of $5,000,000 in
excess of that amount. Each such notice shall specify (A) the date (each, an “Increased Amount
Date”) on which Borrowers propose that the New Revolving Loan Commitments or New Term Loan
Commitments, as applicable, shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than 5 Business Days
after the date on which such notice is delivered to Administrative Agent and (B) the identity of
each Lender or other Person that is an Eligible Assignee (each, a “New Revolving Loan Lender” or
“New Term Loan Lender”, as applicable) to whom Borrowers propose any portion of such New Revolving
Loan Commitments or New Term Loan Commitments, as applicable, be allocated and the amounts of such
allocations; provided that any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of the New
Revolving Loan Commitments or New Term Loan Commitments may elect or decline, in its sole
discretion, to provide a New Revolving Loan Commitment or a New Term Loan Commitment. Such New
Revolving Loan Commitments or New Term Loan Commitments shall become effective, as of such
Increased Amount Date; provided that (1) no Default or Event of Default shall exist on such
Increased Amount Date before or after giving effect to such New Revolving Loan Commitments or New
Term Loan Commitments, as applicable; (2) both before and after giving effect to the making of any
Series of New Term Loans, each of the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 shall be satisfied; (3)
Borrowers and their Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set
forth in Section 6.8 as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter after giving
effect to such New Revolving Loan Commitments or New Term Loan Commitments, as applicable; (4) the
New Revolving Loan Commitments or New Term Loan Commitments, as applicable, shall be effected
pursuant to one or more Joinder Agreements executed and delivered by Borrowers and Administrative
Agent, and each of which shall be recorded in the Register and shall be subject to the requirements
set forth in Section 2.20(c); (5) Borrowers shall make any payments required pursuant to Section
2.18(c) in connection with the New Revolving Loan Commitments or New Term Loan Commitments, as
applicable; and (6) Borrowers shall deliver or cause to be delivered any legal opinions or other
documents reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such transaction.
Any New Term Loans made on an Increased Amount Date shall be designated a separate series (a
“Series”) of New Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement.
On any Increased Amount Date on which New Revolving Loan Commitments are effected, subject to
the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, (a) each of the Revolving Lenders shall
assign to each of the New Revolving Loan Lenders, and each of the
New Revolving Loan Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Loan Lenders, at the
principal amount thereof (together with accrued interest), such interests in the Revolving Loans
outstanding on such Increased Amount Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect
to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Loans will be held by existing Revolving Loan
Lenders and New Revolving Loan Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Loan Commitments
after giving effect to the addition of such New Revolving Loan Commitments to the Revolving Loan
Commitments, (b) each New Revolving Loan Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving
Loan Commitment and each Loan made thereunder (a “New Revolving Loan”) shall be deemed, for all
purposes, a Revolving Loan and (c) each
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New Revolving Loan Lender shall become a Lender with
respect to the New Revolving Loan Commitment and all matters relating thereto.
On any Increased Amount Date on which any New Term Loan Commitments of any Series are
effective, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, (i) each New Term
Loan Lender of any Series shall make a Loan to Borrowers (a “New Term Loan”) in an amount equal to
its New Term Loan Commitment of such Series, and (ii) each New Term Loan Lender of any Series shall
become a Lender hereunder with respect to the New Term Loan Commitment of such Series and the New
Term Loans of such Series made pursuant thereto.
Administrative Agent shall notify Lenders promptly upon receipt of Borrowers’ notice of each
Increased Amount Date and in respect thereof (y) the New Revolving Loan Commitments and the New
Revolving Loan Lenders or the Series of New Term Loan Commitments and the New Term Loan Lenders of
such Series, as applicable and (z) in the case of each notice to any Revolving Loan Lender, the
respective interests in such Revolving Loan Lender’s Revolving Loans, in each case subject to the
assignments contemplated by this Section.
The terms and provisions of the New Term Loans and New Term Loan Commitments of any Series
shall be, except as otherwise set forth herein or in the Joinder Agreement, identical to the Series
B Term Loans. The terms and provisions of the New Revolving Loans shall be identical to the
Revolving Loans. In any event (i) the weighted average life to maturity of all New Term Loans of
any Series shall be no shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of the Revolving Loans
and the Series B Terms Loans, (ii) the applicable New Term Loan Maturity Date of each Series shall
be no shorter than the latest of the final maturity of the Revolving Loans and the Series B Term
Loans, (iii) the rate of interest applicable to the New Term Loans of each Series shall be
determined by Borrowers and the applicable new Lenders and shall be set forth in each applicable
Joinder Agreement; provided however that the interest rate applicable to the New
Term Loans shall not be greater than the highest interest rate that may, under any circumstances,
be payable with respect to Series B Term Loans plus 0.25% per annum unless the interest rate with
respect to the Series B Term Loan is increased so as to equal the interest rate applicable to the
New Term Loans and (v) to the extent deemed necessary by Administrative Agent, in its sole
discretion, provisions shall have been made to ensure that no less than 50% of the New Revolving
Loan Commitments remain funded through the applicable New Term Loan Maturity Date. Each Joinder
Agreement may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement
and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of Administrative
Agent, to effect the provision of this Section 2.24.
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, Borrowers may not borrow any New Term Loans and may
not increase the Revolving Loan Commitments, in each case pursuant to this Section 2.24, if after
giving effect to the increase of such debt or the obtaining of such commitments (and assuming such
commitments are drawn in full) MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) shall not be in pro forma
compliance as required under Section 6.8(b) less 0.50:1.00.
2.25. Co-Borrowers.
(a) Joint and Several Liability. All Obligations of the Borrowers under this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be joint and several Obligations of each
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Borrower. Anything contained in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Obligations of each Borrower hereunder, solely to the extent that such
Borrower did not receive proceeds of Loans from any borrowing hereunder, shall be limited to a
maximum aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its Obligations
hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under §548 of the Bankruptcy
Code, 11 U.S.C. §548, or any applicable provisions of comparable state law (collectively, the
“Fraudulent Transfer Laws”), in each case after giving effect to all other liabilities of such
Borrower, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under the Fraudulent Transfer Laws
(specifically excluding, however, any liabilities of such Borrower in respect of intercompany
Indebtedness to any other Credit Party or Affiliates of any other Credit Party to the extent that
such Indebtedness would be discharged in an amount equal to the amount paid by such Credit Party
hereunder) and after giving effect as assets to the value (as determined under the applicable
provisions of the Fraudulent Transfer Laws) of any rights to subrogation or contribution of such
Borrower pursuant to (i) applicable law or (ii) any agreement providing for an equitable allocation
among such Borrower and other Affiliates of any Credit Party of Obligations arising under
Guaranties by such parties; provided further that, upon and following the IPO, no such limitation
shall apply with respect to MLP.
(b) Subrogation. Until the Obligations shall have been paid in full in Cash, each
Borrower shall withhold exercise of any right of subrogation, contribution or any other right to
enforce any remedy which it now has or may hereafter have against the other Borrower or any other
guarantor of the Obligations. Each Borrower further agrees that, to the extent the waiver of its
rights of subrogation, contribution and remedies as set forth herein is found by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any such rights such Borrower may
have against the other Borrower, any collateral or security or any such other guarantor, shall be
junior and subordinate to any rights Collateral Agent may have against the other Borrower, any such
collateral or security, and any such other guarantor. The Borrowers under this Agreement and the
other Credit Documents together desire to allocate among themselves, in a fair and equitable
manner, their Obligations arising under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.
Accordingly, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any date by any Borrower under
this Agreement and the other Credit Documents (a “Funding Borrower”) that exceeds its Obligation
Fair Share (as defined below) as of such date, that Funding Borrower shall be entitled to a
contribution from the other Borrower in the amount of such other Borrowers’ Obligation Fair Share
Shortfall (as defined below) as of such date, with the result that all such contributions will
cause each Borrowers’ Obligation Aggregate Payments (as defined below) to
equal its Obligation Fair Share as of such date. “Obligation Fair Share” means, with respect
to a Borrower as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (i) the ratio of (X) the
Obligation Fair Share Contribution Amount (as defined below) with respect to such Borrower to (Y)
the aggregate of the Obligation Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all the Borrowers,
multiplied by (ii) the aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all Funding
Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents in respect of the Obligations
guarantied. “Obligation Fair Share Shortfall” means, with respect to a Borrower as of any date of
determination, the excess, if any, of the Obligation Fair Share of such Borrower over the
Obligation Aggregate Payments of such Borrower. “Obligation Fair Share Contribution Amount” means,
with respect to a Borrower as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate amount of the
Obligations of such Borrower under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents that would not
render its Obligations hereunder or thereunder subject to avoidance as
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a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any comparable applicable
provisions of state law; provided that, solely for purposes of calculating the Obligation Fair
Share Contribution Amount with respect to any Borrower for purposes of this Section 2.24, any
assets or liabilities of such Credit Party arising by virtue of any rights to subrogation,
reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or Obligations of contribution hereunder shall
not be considered as assets or liabilities of such Borrower. “Obligation Aggregate Payments”
means, with respect to a Borrower as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (i) the
aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made on or before such date by such Borrower in
respect of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents (including in respect of this Section
2.25) minus (ii) the aggregate amount of all payments received on or before such date by
such Borrower from the other Borrower as contributions under this Section 2.25. The amounts
payable as contributions hereunder shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment
or distribution is made by the applicable Funding Borrower. The allocation among the Borrowers of
their Obligations as set forth in this Section 2.25 shall not be construed in any way to limit the
liability of any Borrower hereunder or under any Credit Document.
(c) Representative of Borrowers. Until the IPO, the MLP hereby appoints Gathering as
its agent, attorney-in-fact and representative for the purpose of (i) making any borrowing requests
or other requests required under this Agreement, (ii) the giving and receipt of notices by and to
Borrowers under this Agreement, (iii) the delivery of all documents, reports, financial statements
and written materials required to be delivered by Borrowers under this Agreement, and (iv) all
other purposes incidental to any of the foregoing. The MLP agrees that any action taken by
Gathering as the agent, attorney-in-fact and representative of the MLP shall be binding upon the
MLP to the same extent as if directly taken by the MLP. Upon and following the IPO, the MLP shall
become the sole Borrower for the purpose of (i) making any borrowing requests or other requests
required under this Agreement, (ii) the giving and receipt of notices by and to Borrowers under
this Agreement, (iii) the delivery of all documents, reports, financial statements and written
materials required to be delivered by Borrowers under this Agreement, and (iv) all other purposes
incidental to any of the foregoing. Gathering agrees that any action taken by the MLP as the
agent, attorney-in-fact and representative of Gathering shall be binding upon Gathering to the same
extent as if directly taken by Gathering.
(d) Allocation of Loans. Prior to the IPO, all Loans shall be made to Gathering as
borrower unless a different allocation of the Loans as between Gathering and MLP with respect to
any borrowing hereunder is included in the applicable Funding Notice. Upon and following the IPO,
all Loans shall be made to MLP as borrower unless a different allocation of the Loans as between
MLP and Gathering with respect to any borrowing hereunder is included in the applicable Funding
Notice.
SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
3.1. Restatement Closing Date. The obligation of any Lender to make a Credit Extension on the
Restatement Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 10.5,
of the following conditions on or before the Restatement Closing Date:
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(a) Credit Documents. Administrative Agent shall have received sufficient copies of
each Credit Document originally executed and delivered by each applicable Credit Party and executed
signature pages to this Agreement from (i) each Credit Party, (ii) the Administrative Agent on
behalf of each Additional Lender and each Continuing Lender and (iii) the Administrative Agent on
behalf of Requisite Lenders (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement);.
(b) Organizational Documents; Incumbency. To the extent not provided by such Credit
Parties on the Original Closing Date, Administrative Agent shall have received (i) sufficient
copies of each Organizational Document executed and delivered by each Credit Party, as applicable,
and, to the extent applicable, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental
official, for each Lender, each dated the Restatement Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto;
(ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such Person executing the Credit
Documents to which it is a party; (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors or similar governing
body of each Credit Party or its general partner approving and authorizing the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party or by which
it or its assets may be bound as of the Restatement Closing Date, certified as of the Restatement
Closing Date by its secretary or an assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without
modification or amendment; (iv) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental
Authority of each Credit Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation and in
each jurisdiction in which it is qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity to do business,
each dated a recent date prior to the Restatement Closing Date; and (v) such other documents as
Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
(c) Organizational and Capital Structure. The organizational structure and capital
structure of Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
hereby, shall be as set forth on Schedule 4.2(i).
(d) Transaction Costs. On or prior to the Restatement Closing Date, Gathering shall
have delivered to Administrative Agent Gathering’s reasonable best estimate of the Transactions
Costs (other than fees payable to any Agent).
(e) Governmental Authorizations and Consents. Each Credit Party shall have obtained
or applied for all Governmental Authorizations and all consents of other Persons, in each case that
are necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents
and each of the foregoing shall be in full force and effect and in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Administrative Agent. All applicable waiting periods shall have expired without
any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain, prevent or
otherwise impose adverse conditions on the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents and no
action, request for stay, petition for review or rehearing, reconsideration, or appeal with respect
to any of the foregoing shall be pending, and the time for any applicable agency to take action to
set aside its consent on its own motion shall have expired.
(f) Real Estate Assets. In order to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the
benefit of Secured Parties, a valid and, subject to any filing and/or recording referred to herein,
perfected First Priority security interest in Material Real Estate Assets, Collateral Agent shall
have received from Gathering and each applicable Guarantor:
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(i) fully executed and notarized Mortgages and, if applicable Mortgage modifications,
in proper form for recording in all appropriate places in all applicable jurisdictions,
encumbering each Material Real Estate Asset; and
(ii) opinions of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to Collateral
Agent) in each state in which any Material Real Estate Assets subject to a Mortgage is
located with respect to the enforceability of the form(s) of such Mortgage to be recorded in
such state and such other matters as Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in each case
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent, it being understood and
agreed that no title insurance exists or will be required with respect to such Material Real
Estate Assets.
(g) Personal Property Collateral. In order to create in favor of Collateral Agent,
for the benefit of Secured Parties, a valid, perfected First Priority security interest in the
personal property Collateral, Collateral Agent shall have received:
(i) evidence satisfactory to Collateral Agent of the compliance by each Credit Party of
their obligations under the Pledge and Security Agreement and the other Collateral Documents
(including, without limitation, their authorization of UCC financing statements and the
delivery of originals of securities, instruments and chattel paper and any agreements
governing deposit and/or securities accounts as provided therein);
(ii) a supplemental Collateral Questionnaire dated the Restatement Closing Date, with
respect to Credit Parties other than Credit Parties addressed in the Collateral
Questionnaire dated the Original Closing Date, and executed by an Authorized Officer of
Pipeline, together with all attachments contemplated thereby, including (A) the results of a
recent search, by a Person satisfactory to Collateral Agent, of all effective UCC financing
statements (or equivalent filings) made with respect to any personal or mixed property of
any such Credit Party in the jurisdictions specified in the supplemental Collateral
Questionnaire, together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such search,
and (B) UCC termination statements (or similar documents) duly executed by all
applicable Persons for filing in all applicable jurisdictions as may be necessary to
terminate any effective UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings) disclosed in such
search (other than any such financing statements in respect of Permitted Liens);
(iii) opinions of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to Collateral
Agent) with respect to the creation and perfection of the security interests in favor of
Collateral Agent in such Collateral and such other matters governed by the laws of each
jurisdiction in which any Credit Party or any personal property Collateral is located as
Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in each case in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Collateral Agent; and
(iv) evidence that each Credit Party, including Borrowers, shall have taken or caused
to be taken any other action, executed and delivered or caused to be executed and delivered
any other agreement, document and instrument (including without limitation, UCC financing
statements, originals of securities, instruments and chattel
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paper and any agreements governing deposit and/or securities accounts as provided
therein) and made or caused to be made any other filing and recording (other than as set
forth in any applicable Credit Document) reasonably required by Collateral Agent to perfect
the security interests granted to it in the Credit Documents.
(h) Environmental Reports. Administrative Agent shall have received reports and other
information, in form, scope and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, regarding
environmental matters relating to the Facilities.
(i) Financial Statements; Projections. Lenders shall have received (i) the Historical
Financial Statements and (ii) the Projections.
(j) Evidence of Insurance. Collateral Agent shall have received a certificate from
Gathering’s insurance broker or other evidence satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be
maintained pursuant to Section 5.5 is in full force and effect, together with endorsements naming
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, as additional insured and loss payee
thereunder to the extent required under Section 5.5.
(k) Opinions of Counsel to Credit Parties. Lenders and their respective counsel shall
have received originally executed copies of the favorable written opinions of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx
LLP, counsel for Credit Parties, in the form of Exhibit D and as to such other matters as
Administrative Agent may reasonably request, dated as of the Restatement Closing Date and otherwise
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent (and each Credit Party hereby
instructs such counsel to deliver such opinions to Agents and Lenders).
(l) Fees. Borrowers shall have paid all fees, costs and expenses owing to the
Administrative Agent or to its counsel invoiced to Borrowers on or before the Restatement Closing
Date payable pursuant to Section 10.2 or to the Syndication Agent or any Lender as otherwise agreed
to by Borrowers, and Gathering shall have paid to Administrative Agent, for its own account or for
the account of each Existing Lender all interest and fees accrued and unpaid under the Existing
Credit Agreement through the Restatement Closing Date.
(m) Restatement Closing Date Certificate. Pipeline and Gathering shall have delivered
to Administrative Agent an originally executed Restatement Closing Date Certificate, together with
all attachments thereto.
(n) No Litigation. There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation,
litigation or proceeding or other legal or regulatory developments, pending or threatened in any
court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that, in the reasonable opinion of
Administrative Agent, singly or in the aggregate, materially impairs any of the transactions
contemplated by the Credit Documents, or that could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(o) Repayment of Existing Loans; Reduction of Existing Revolving Commitments.
Gathering shall have repaid in full all Series A Term Loans with the proceeds of the Series B Term
Loans and Revolving Loans and all Existing Revolving Loans with the proceeds of Revolving Loans and
permanently reduced the Existing Revolving Commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement to zero.
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(p) Series B Term Loan Commitments. Administrative Agent shall have received (i)
commitments from banks and other financial institutions with respect to the Series B Term Loans in
an aggregate principal amount equal to $300,000,000 and (ii) as applicable, (x) a fully executed
Lender Addendum with respect to each such bank or other financial institution committing to fund
such Series B Term Loans (and pursuant to which, on the Restatement Closing Date, such bank or
other financial institution shall become a Series B Lender, for all purposes under the Credit
Agreement) or (y) a fully executed Conversion Notice with respect to each Existing Lender electing
to convert its Series A Term Loans into Series B Term Loans (and pursuant to which on the
Restatement Closing Date the identified portion of the outstanding principal amount of Series A
Term Loans held by such Lender shall convert into Series B Term Loans); it being agreed and
understood that delivery of a fully executed Conversion Notice by a Continuing Lender shall be
deemed to constitute an authorization by such Continuing Lender directing Administrative Agent to
execute this Agreement.
(q) Revolving Commitments. Administrative Agent shall have received (i) commitments
from banks and other financial institutions with respect to the Revolving Facility to be
established on the Restatement Closing Date in an aggregate amount equal to $200,000,000 and (ii)
as applicable, a fully executed Lender Addendum with respect to such bank or other financial
institution commitment to provide such Revolving Commitments (and pursuant to which, on the
Restatement Closing Date, such bank or other financial institution shall become a Lender for all
purposes under the Credit Agreement) or (y) a fully executed Conversion Notice with respect to each
Existing Lender with a Revolving Commitment electing to convert its Revolving Commitment to a
Revolving Commitment under the Credit Agreement as amended hereby (and pursuant to which on the
Restatement Closing Date, all of the outstanding Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments held by
such Continuing Lender shall convert into Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments under the
Credit Agreement as amended hereby); it being agreed and understood that delivery of a fully
executed Conversion Notice by a Continuing Lender shall be deemed to constitute an authorization by
such Continuing Lender directing Administrative Agent to execute this Agreement.
Each Continuing Lender, having delivered its Lender Consent and Conversion Notice, and each new
Lender, having delivered its Lender Addendum, and in each case having funded a Loan on the
Restatement Closing Date, acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit
Document and each other document required to be approved by any Agent, Requisite Lenders or
Lenders, as applicable on the Restatement Closing Date.
3.2. Conditions to Each Credit Extension.
(a) Conditions Precedent. The obligation of each Lender to make any Loan, or Issuing
Bank to issue any Letter of Credit, on any Credit Date, including the Restatement Closing Date, are
subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 10.5, of the following conditions
precedent:
(i) Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed and delivered Funding
Notice or Issuance Notice, as the case may be;
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(ii) after making the Credit Extensions requested on such Credit Date, the Total
Utilization of Revolving Commitments shall not exceed the Revolving Commitments then in
effect;
(iii) as of such Credit Date, the representations and warranties contained herein and
in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as
of that Credit Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the
extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which
case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material
respects on and as of such earlier date;
(iv) as of such Credit Date, no event shall have occurred and be continuing or would
result from the consummation of the applicable Credit Extension that would constitute an
Event of Default or a Default; and
(v) on or before the date of issuance of any Letter of Credit, Administrative Agent
shall have received all other information required by the applicable Issuance Notice, and
such other documents or information as Issuing Bank may reasonably require in connection
with the issuance of such Letter of Credit.
Any Agent or Requisite Lenders shall be entitled, but not obligated to, request and receive, prior
to the making of any Credit Extension, additional information reasonably satisfactory to the
requesting party confirming the satisfaction of any of the foregoing if, in the good faith judgment
of such Agent or Requisite Lender such request is warranted under the circumstances.
(b) Notices. Any Notice shall be executed by an Authorized Officer in a writing
delivered to Administrative Agent. In lieu of delivering a Notice, Borrowers may give
Administrative Agent telephonic notice by the required time of any proposed borrowing,
conversion/continuation or issuance of a Letter of Credit, as the case may be; provided
each such notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery of the applicable Notice to
Administrative Agent on or before the applicable date of borrowing, continuation/conversion or
issuance. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall incur any liability to Borrowers in
acting upon any telephonic notice referred to above that Administrative Agent believes in good
faith to have been given by a duly authorized officer or other person authorized on behalf of
Borrowers or for otherwise acting in good faith.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
In order to induce Lenders and Issuing Bank to enter into this Agreement and to make each
Credit Extension to be made thereby, each Credit Party party hereto represents and warrants to each
Lender and Issuing Bank, on the Restatement Closing Date and on each Credit Date, that the
following statements are true and correct:
4.1. Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification. Each Group Member (a) is
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
organization as identified in Schedule 4.1, (b) has all requisite
power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now
conducted and as proposed to
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be conducted, to enter into the Credit Documents to which it is a
party and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby, and (c) is qualified to do business
and in good standing in every jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to
carry out its business and operations, except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified
or in good standing has not had, and could not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect.
4.2. Capital Stock and Ownership. The Capital Stock of each Group Member has been duly
authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.2, as of the date hereof, there is no existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment
or other agreement to which any Group Member is a party requiring, and there is no membership
interest or other Capital Stock of any Group Member outstanding which upon conversion or exchange
would require, the issuance by any Group Member of any additional membership interests or other
Capital Stock of any Group Member or other Securities convertible into, exchangeable for or
evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase, a membership interest or other Capital Stock of
any Group Member. Schedule 4.2(i) correctly sets forth the ownership interest of each Credit Party
and each of its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries as of the Restatement Closing Date.
Schedule 4.2(ii) sets forth the ownership interest of MLP and each of its Subsidiaries in their
respective Subsidiaries, as described in the S-1 as of the Restatement Closing Date and upon and
following the IPO, Gathering shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of MLP.
4.3. Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents have
been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each Credit Party that is a party
thereto.
4.4. No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by Credit Parties of the Credit
Documents to which they are parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Credit Documents do not and will not (a) violate any provision of any law or any governmental rule
or regulation applicable to any Group Member, any of the Organizational Documents of any Group
Member, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding on any
Group Member; (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of
time or both) a default under any Contractual Obligation of any Group Member; (c) result in or
require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of any Group
Member (other than any Liens created under any of the Credit Documents in favor of Collateral
Agent, on behalf of Secured Parties); or (d) require any approval of stockholders, members or
partners or any approval or consent of any Person under any Contractual Obligation of any Group
Member, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the Restatement
Closing Date and disclosed in writing to Lenders.
4.5. Governmental Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Credit Parties of the
Credit Documents to which they are parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
the Credit Documents do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or
notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Governmental Authority, and except for filings and
recordings
with respect to the Collateral to be made, or otherwise delivered to Collateral Agent for
filing and/or recordation, as of the Restatement Closing Date.
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4.6. Binding Obligation. Each Credit Document has been duly executed and delivered by each
Credit Party that is a party thereto and is the legally valid and binding obligation of such Credit
Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its respective terms, except as may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or
limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
4.7. Historical Financial Statements. The Historical Financial Statements were prepared in
conformity with GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, on a
consolidated basis, of the Persons described in such financial statements as at the respective
dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows, on a consolidated basis, of the
entities described therein for each of the periods then ended, subject, in the case of any such
unaudited financial statements, to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.7, as of the Restatement Closing Date, Pipeline nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any contingent liability or liability for taxes, long-term lease or unusual
forward or long-term commitment that is not reflected in the Historical Financial Statements or the
notes thereto and which in any such case is material in relation to the business, operations,
properties, assets or condition (financial or otherwise) of Pipeline and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole.
4.8. Projections. On and as of the Restatement Closing Date, the Projections of MLP, Pipeline
and their respective Subsidiaries for the period of Fiscal Year 2006 through and including Fiscal
Year 2011 (the “Projections”) are based on good faith estimates and assumptions made by the
management of MLP and Pipeline; provided, the Projections are not to be viewed as facts and
that actual results during the period or periods covered by the Projections may differ from such
Projections and that the differences may be material; provided further, as of the
Restatement Closing Date, management of MLP and Pipeline believed that the Projections were
reasonable and attainable.
4.9. No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2004, no event, circumstance or change
has occurred that has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.10. No Restricted Junior Payments. Since December 31, 2005, no Group Member has directly or
indirectly declared, ordered, paid or made, or set apart any sum or property for, any Restricted
Junior Payment or agreed to do so except as permitted (or as would have been permitted) pursuant to
Section 6.5.
4.11. Adverse Proceedings, etc. There are no Adverse Proceedings, individually or in the
aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Group Member
(a) is in violation of any applicable laws (including Environmental Laws) that, individually or in
the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) is subject to
or in default
with respect to any final judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, rules or regulations of any
court or any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau,
agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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4.12. Payment of Taxes. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 5.3, all tax returns and
reports of the Group Members required to be filed by any of them have been timely filed, and all
taxes shown on such tax returns to be due and payable and all assessments, fees and other
governmental charges upon the Group Members and upon their respective properties, assets, income,
businesses and franchises which are due and payable have been paid when due and payable. None of
MLP, Gathering or Pipeline knows of any proposed tax assessment against any Group Member which is
not being actively contested by such Group Member in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
provided, such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required in
conformity with GAAP shall have been made or provided therefor.
4.13. Properties.
(a) Title. Each Group Member has (i) good, sufficient and legal title to (in the case
of fee interests in real property), (ii) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of leasehold
interests in real or personal property), and (iii) good title to (in the case of all other personal
property), all of their respective properties and assets reflected in their respective Historical
Financial Statements referred to in Section 4.5 and in the most recent financial statements
delivered pursuant to Section 5.1, in each case except for assets disposed of since the date of
such financial statements in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted under
Section 6.9. Except as permitted by this Agreement, all such properties and assets are free and
clear of Liens.
(b) Real Estate. As of the Restatement Closing Date, Schedule 4.13 contains a true,
accurate and complete list of (i) all material Real Estate Assets, and (ii) all material leases,
subleases or assignments of leases (together with all amendments, modifications, supplements,
renewals or extensions of any thereof) affecting each Real Estate Asset of any Credit Party,
regardless of whether such Credit Party is the landlord or tenant (whether directly or as an
assignee or successor in interest) under such lease, sublease or assignment. Each agreement listed
in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence is in full force and effect and none of MLP,
Gathering or Pipeline has knowledge of any default that has occurred and is continuing thereunder,
and each such agreement constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of each applicable
Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles.
4.14. Environmental Matters. No Group Member nor any of their respective Facilities or
operations are subject to any outstanding written order, consent decree or settlement agreement
with any Person relating to any Environmental Law, any Environmental Claim, or any Hazardous
Materials Activity that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
No Group Member has received any letter or request for information under Section 104 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9604) or any
comparable state law. There are and, to each Group Member’s knowledge, have been, no conditions,
occurrences, or Hazardous Materials Activities which could reasonably be expected to form the basis
of an Environmental Claim against any Group Member that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Group Member nor, to any Credit
Party’s knowledge, any
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predecessor of a Group Member has filed any notice under any Environmental
Law indicating past or present treatment of Hazardous Materials at any Facility, and no Group
Member’s operations involves the generation, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of
hazardous waste, as defined under 40 C.F.R. Parts 260-270 or any state equivalent. Compliance with
all current or reasonably foreseeable future requirements pursuant to or under Environmental Laws
could not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect. No event or condition has occurred or is occurring with respect to any Group Member
relating to any Environmental Law, any Release of Hazardous Materials, or any Hazardous Materials
Activity which individually or in the aggregate has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect.
4.15. No Defaults. No Group Member is in default in the performance, observance or
fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any of its Contractual
Obligations, and no condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both,
could constitute such a default, except where the consequences, direct or indirect, of such default
or defaults, if any, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.16. Material Contracts. Schedule 4.16 contains a true, correct and complete list of all the
Material Contracts in effect on the Restatement Closing Date, and except as described thereon, all
such Material Contracts are in full force and effect and no defaults currently exist thereunder.
4.17. Governmental Regulation. No Group Member is subject to regulation under the Federal
Power Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any other federal or state statute or
regulation which may limit its ability to incur Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or
any portion of the Obligations unenforceable. No Group Member is a “registered investment company”
or a company “controlled” by a “registered investment company” or a “principal underwriter” of a
“registered investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
4.18. Margin Stock. No Group Member is engaged principally, or as one of its important
activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any
Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of the Loans made to such Credit Party will be used to
purchase or carry any such Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing
or carrying any such margin stock or for any purpose that violates, or is inconsistent with, the
provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors.
4.19. Employee Matters. No Group Member is engaged in any unfair labor practice that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is (a) no unfair labor practice
complaint pending against any Group Member, or to the knowledge of Pipeline or Borrowers,
threatened against any of them before the National Labor Relations Board and no grievance or
arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement that is so
pending against any Group Member or to the knowledge of Pipeline or Borrowers, threatened against
any of them, (b) no strike or work stoppage in existence or threatened involving any Group Member
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) to the knowledge of
Pipeline or Borrowers, no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of
any Group Member and, to the knowledge of Pipeline
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or Borrowers, no union organization activity
that is taking place, except (with respect to any matter specified in clause (a), (b) or (c) above,
either individually or in the aggregate) such as is not reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.20. Employee Benefit Plans. Each Group Member and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates
are in compliance with all applicable provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Internal Revenue
Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each Employee
Benefit Plan, and have performed all their obligations under each Employee Benefit Plan. Each
Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code has received a favorable determination letter (or is reasonably expected to receive a
favorable determination letter) from the Internal Revenue Service indicating that such Employee
Benefit Plan is so qualified and nothing has occurred subsequent to the issuance of such
determination letter which would cause such Employee Benefit Plan to lose its qualified status. No
liability to the PBGC (other than required premium payments), the Internal Revenue Service, any
Employee Benefit Plan or any trust established under Title IV of ERISA has been or is expected to
be incurred by any Group Member or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No ERISA Event has occurred or
is reasonably expected to occur. Except to the extent required under Section 4980B of the Internal
Revenue Code or similar state laws, no Employee Benefit Plan provides health or welfare benefits
(through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for any retired or former employee of any Group
Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates. The present value of the aggregate benefit
liabilities under each Pension Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any Group Member or
any of their ERISA Affiliates (determined as of the end of the most recent plan year on the basis
of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in the most recent actuarial valuation
for such Pension Plan), did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Pension
Plan. As of the most recent valuation date for each Multiemployer Plan for which the actuarial
report is available, the potential liability of any Group Member and their respective ERISA
Affiliates for a complete withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan (within the meaning of Section
4203 of ERISA), when aggregated with such potential liability for a complete withdrawal from all
Multiemployer Plans, based on information available pursuant to Section 4221(e) of ERISA is zero.
Each Group Member and each of their ERISA Affiliates have complied with the requirements of Section
515 of ERISA with respect to each Multiemployer Plan and are not in material “default” (as defined
in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan.
4.21. Certain Fees. No broker’s or finder’s fee or commission will be payable with respect
hereto or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.22. Solvency. Each Credit Party is and, upon the incurrence of any Obligation by such
Credit Party on any date on which this representation and warranty is made, will be, Solvent.
4.23. Compliance with Statutes, etc. Each Group Member is in compliance with all applicable
statutes, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all Governmental
Authorities, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its property (including
compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws with respect to any Real Estate Asset or
governing its business and the requirements of any permits issued under such
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Environmental Laws
with respect to any such Real Estate Asset or the operations of any Group Member), except such
non-compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
4.24. Disclosure. No representation or warranty of any Credit Party contained in any Credit
Document or in any other documents, certificates or written statements furnished to Lenders by or
on behalf of any Group Member for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby,
taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact (known to Pipeline or Borrowers, in the case of any document not furnished by either of them)
necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances in which the same were made. The Projections and any other projections and pro
forma financial information contained in such materials are based upon good faith estimates and
assumptions believed by MLP and Pipeline to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by
Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual
results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected
results. There are no facts known (or which should upon the reasonable exercise of diligence be
known) to Pipeline or Borrowers (other than matters of a general economic nature) that,
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect and that have not been disclosed herein or in such other documents, certificates and
statements furnished to Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.25. Patriot Act. To the extent applicable, each Credit Party is in compliance, in all
material respects, with the (i) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign
assets control regulations of the Untied States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V,
as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (ii)
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly
or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official
of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official
capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in
violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each Credit Party party hereto covenants and agrees that, so long as any Commitment is in
effect and until payment in full of all Obligations and cancellation or expiration of all Letters
of Credit, each Credit Party shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform,
all covenants in this Section 5.
5.1. Financial Statements and Other Reports. The then applicable Reporting Person will
deliver to Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger and Lenders:
(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 45
days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year, the consolidated
balance sheets of such Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such
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Fiscal Quarter
and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of such
Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the beginning
of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal
Year and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the current Fiscal Year, all in
reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification and a Narrative Report with
respect thereto; provided, that upon and following the IPO, timely filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission of MLP’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q will satisfy the
reporting requirements of this Section 5.1(a);
(b) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 90
days after the end of each Fiscal Year, the consolidated balance sheet of such Reporting Person and
its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statement of
income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of such Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries for such
Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the
previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the Fiscal Year
covered by such financial statements, in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer
Certification and a Narrative Report with respect thereto; provided that with respect to
all such consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to this Section a report thereon of
Deloitte & Touche or other independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing
selected by such Reporting Person, and reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent (which
report shall be unqualified as to going concern and scope of audit, and shall state that such
consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of such Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP
applied on a basis consistent with prior years (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial
statements) and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated
financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards)
together with a written statement by such independent certified public accountants stating (1) that
their audit examination has included a review of the applicable terms of this Credit Agreement and
(2) that nothing has come to their attention that causes them to believe that such Reporting Person
is not in compliance with Section 6.8; provided, that upon and following the IPO, timely
filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of MLP’s annual report on Form 10-K will satisfy the reporting requirements of this
Section 5.1(b);
(c) Compliance Certificate. Together with each delivery of financial statements of
the then applicable Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b), a
duly executed and completed Compliance Certificate;
(d)
Statements of Reconciliation after Change in Accounting Principles. If, as a
result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those used in the preparation of
the Historical Financial Statements, the consolidated financial statements of the then applicable
Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) will differ in
any material respect from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered
pursuant to such subdivisions had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made,
then, together with the first delivery of such financial statements after such change, one or
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more
statements of reconciliation for all such prior financial statements in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
(e) Notice of Default. Promptly upon any officer of Pipeline or Borrowers obtaining
knowledge (i) of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or that
notice has been given to such Reporting Person or Gathering with respect thereto; (ii) that any
Person has given any notice to any Group Member or taken any other action with respect to any event
or condition set forth in Section 8.1(b); or (iii) of the occurrence of any event or change that
has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, a
certificate of its Authorized Officer specifying the nature and period of existence of such
condition, event or change, or specifying the notice given and action taken by any such Person and
the nature of such claimed Event of Default, Default, default, event or condition, and what action
Borrowers have taken, are taking and propose to take with respect thereto;
(f) Notice of Litigation. Promptly upon any officer of Pipeline or Borrowers
obtaining knowledge of (i) the institution of, or non-frivolous threat of, any Adverse Proceeding
not previously disclosed in writing by Borrowers or Pipeline to Lenders, or (ii) any material
development in any Adverse Proceeding that, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), if adversely
determined could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or seeks to enjoin or
otherwise prevent the consummation of, or to recover any damages or obtain relief as a result of,
the transactions contemplated hereby, written notice thereof together with such other information
as may be reasonably available to Pipeline or Borrowers to enable Lenders and their counsel to
evaluate such matters;
(g) ERISA. (i) Promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence of or forthcoming
occurrence of any ERISA Event, a written notice specifying the nature thereof, what action any
Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has taken, is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue
Service, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto; and (ii) with reasonable
promptness, copies of (1) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500
Series) filed by any Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates with the Internal
Revenue Service with respect to each Pension Plan; (2) all notices
received by any Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer
Plan sponsor concerning an ERISA Event; and (3) copies of such other documents or governmental
reports or filings relating to any Employee Benefit Plan as Administrative Agent shall reasonably
request;
(h) Financial Plan. As soon as practicable and in any event no later than thirty days
prior to the beginning of each Fiscal Year, a consolidated plan and financial forecast for such
Fiscal Year and each Fiscal Year (or portion thereof) through the final maturity date of the Loans
(a “Financial Plan”), including (i) forecasted consolidated statements of income and cash flows of
the then applicable Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries for each month of the next Fiscal Year
and (ii) forecasts demonstrating projected compliance with the requirements of Section 6.8 for the
next succeeding three Fiscal Years;
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(i) Insurance Report. As soon as practicable and in any event with the delivery of
financial statements required by Section 5.1(b), an ACCORD certificate or similar certificate
evidencing the insurance coverage maintained for the current Fiscal Year by the Group Members and a
certification by then applicable Reporting Person that the insurance certificates maintained by the
Group Members is in compliance with the insurance coverage required by the Credit Documents;
(j) Notice of Change in Board of Directors. With reasonable promptness, written
notice of any change in the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the general partner
of MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) or Borrowers;
(k) Notice Regarding Material Contracts. Promptly, and in any event within ten
Business Days (i) after any Material Contract of any Group Member is terminated or amended in a
manner that is materially adverse to such Group Member, as the case may be, or (ii) any new
Material Contract is entered into, a written statement describing such event and, upon request of
Administrative Agent, copies of such material amendments or new contracts, delivered to
Administrative Agent (to the extent such delivery is permitted by the terms of any such Material
Contract, provided, no such prohibition on delivery shall be effective if it were bargained
for by such Group Member with the intent of avoiding compliance with this Section 5.1(k)), and an
explanation of any actions being taken with respect thereto;
(l) Information Regarding Collateral. (a) Borrowers will furnish to Collateral Agent
prompt written notice of any change (i) in any Credit Party’s corporate name, (ii) in any Credit
Party’s identity or corporate structure or organizational jurisdiction or (iii) in any Credit
Party’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number. Each of MLP (and, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) and
Borrowers agree not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless all
filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required in order
for Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and
perfected security interest in all the Collateral and for the Collateral at all times following
such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest as contemplated in the
Collateral Documents. Borrowers also agree promptly to notify Collateral Agent if any significant
portion of the Collateral is damaged or destroyed;
(m) Annual Collateral Verification. Each year, at the time of delivery of annual
financial statements with respect to the preceding Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 5.1(b),
Borrowers shall deliver to Collateral Agent a certificate of its Authorized Officer (i) either
confirming that there has been no change in such information since the date of the Collateral
Questionnaire delivered on the Original Closing Date, as supplemented by the supplemental
Collateral Questionnaire delivered on the Restatement Closing Date, or the date of the most recent
certificate delivered pursuant to this Section and/or stating that any such changes have previously
been provided to Administrative Agent and/or identifying such changes and (ii) certifying that all
Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixtures filings, as applicable) or other
appropriate filings, recordings or registrations, have been filed of record in each governmental,
municipal or other appropriate office in each jurisdiction identified pursuant to clause (i) above
to the extent necessary to protect and perfect the security interests under the Collateral
Documents;
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(n) Other Information. (A) Promptly upon their becoming available, copies of (i) all
financial and other material statements sent or made available generally by MLP (or, prior to the
IPO, Pipeline) to its security holders acting in such capacity or by any Subsidiary of MLP (or,
prior to the IPO, Pipeline) to its security holders other than MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline)
or another Subsidiary of MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline), (ii) all regular and periodic
reports and all registration statements, prospectuses and proxy statements, if any, filed by MLP,
Pipeline or any of their respective Subsidiaries with any securities exchange or with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental or private regulatory authority, and (iii)
all press releases and other statements made available generally by any Group Member to the public
concerning material developments in the business of any Group Member, and (B) such other
information and data with respect to any Group Member as from time to time may be reasonably
requested by Administrative Agent or any Lender; and
(o) Certification of Public Information. Concurrently with the delivery of any
document or notice required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1, the then applicable
Reporting Person shall indicate in writing whether such document or notice contains Nonpublic
Information; provided that until the earlier of the IPO or written notice from the then
applicable Reporting Person to the contrary, MLP and Pipeline hereby indicates that all such
documents and notices will contain Nonpublic Information. MLP and Pipeline and each Lender
acknowledge that certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (Lenders that do not wish to
receive material non-public information with respect to the Reporting Person, subsidiaries or their
securities) and, if documents or notices required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 or
otherwise are being distributed through IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website (the
“Platform”), any document or notice that the then applicable Reporting Person has indicated
contains Nonpublic Information shall not be posted on that portion of the Platform designated for
such public-side Lenders. If the then applicable Reporting Person has not indicated whether a
document or notice delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 contains Nonpublic Information,
Administrative Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on that portion of
the Platform designated for Lenders who wish to receive material nonpublic information with respect
to the then applicable Reporting Person, its subsidiaries and their securities.
(p) Electronic Delivery. Any documents to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a),
(b) or (k) included in materials otherwise filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be
delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Lender
on the date on which such documents are delivered to Administrative Agent for posting to the
Lenders.
5.2. Existence. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.9, each Credit Party will, and
will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its
existence and all rights and franchises, licenses and permits material to its business;
provided, no Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any such
existence, right or franchise, licenses and permits if such Person’s board of directors (or similar
governing body) shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct
of the business of such Person, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material
respect to such Person or to Lenders.
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5.3. Payment of Taxes and Claims. Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, pay all Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of
any of its income, businesses or franchises before any penalty or fine accrues thereon, and all
claims (including claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums that have become due
and payable and that by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its properties or assets, prior
to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto; provided, no
such Tax or claim need be paid if it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as (a) adequate reserve or other appropriate
provision, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor, and (b) in
the case of a Tax or claim which has or may become a Lien against any of the Collateral, such
contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral to
satisfy such Tax or claim. No Credit Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person (other than any
Group Member).
5.4. Maintenance of Properties. Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working order and condition,
ordinary wear and tear excepted, all material properties used or useful in the business of the
Group Members and from time to time will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals
and replacements thereof.
5.5. Insurance. MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) will maintain or cause to be maintained,
with financially sound and reputable insurers, such public liability insurance, third party
property damage insurance, business interruption insurance and casualty insurance with respect to
liabilities, losses or damage in respect of the assets, properties and businesses of the Group
Members as may customarily be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of
established reputation engaged in similar businesses, in each case in such amounts (giving effect
to self-insurance), with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and
conditions as shall be customary for such Persons. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) will maintain or cause to be maintained (a) flood
insurance with respect to each Flood Hazard Property that is located in a community that
participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, in each case in compliance with any
applicable regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and (b) replacement
value casualty insurance on the Collateral under such policies of insurance, with such insurance
companies, in such amounts, with such deductibles, and covering such risks as are at all times
carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in
similar businesses. Each such policy of insurance shall (i) name the Secured Parties as additional
insureds thereunder as its interests may appear and (ii) in the case of each casualty insurance
policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance
to Collateral Agent, that names Collateral Agent, on behalf of Lenders as the loss payee thereunder
and provides for at least thirty days’ prior written notice to Collateral Agent of any modification
or cancellation of such policy.
5.6. Inspections. Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit
any authorized representatives designated by any Lender to visit and inspect any of the properties
of any Credit Party and any of its respective Subsidiaries, to inspect, copy and take extracts from
its and their financial and accounting records, and to discuss its and their affairs,
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finances and
accounts with its and their officers and independent public accountants, all upon reasonable notice
and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may reasonably be
requested. At Lenders’ election, such visits and inspections may include an environmental
assessment or audit of the properties (the scope of which shall be determined in Administrative
Agent’s sole discretion but which shall not include the taking of soil, groundwater, surface water,
air, or building material samples or other invasive testing unless MLP (or, prior to the IPO,
Pipeline) has provided its prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, or an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Any such environmental assessment or audit shall
be at the expense of Administrative Agent and Lenders unless (i) an Event of Default exists; (ii)
the assessment or audit discloses a material violation or material liability of a Credit Party
under Environmental Law; or (iii) such assessment or audit was required under applicable
Environmental Law.
5.7. Lenders Meetings. MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) and Borrowers will, upon the
request of Administrative Agent or Requisite Lenders, participate in a meeting of Administrative
Agent and Lenders once during each Fiscal Year to be held at Borrowers’ corporate offices (or at
such other location as may be agreed to by Borrowers and Administrative Agent) at such time as may
be agreed to by Borrowers and Administrative Agent.
5.8. Compliance with Laws. Each Credit Party will comply, and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries and all other Persons, if any, on or occupying any Facilities to comply, with the
requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority
(including all Environmental Laws), noncompliance with which could reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.9. Environmental.
(a) Environmental Disclosure. MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) will deliver to
Administrative Agent and Lenders:
(i) as soon as practicable following receipt thereof, copies of all environmental
audits, investigations, analyses and reports of any kind or character, whether prepared by
personnel of any Group Member or by independent consultants, governmental authorities or any
other Persons, with respect to any Environmental Claims that in either case could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) promptly upon the occurrence thereof, written notice describing in reasonable
detail (1) any Release that could reasonably be expected to require a Remedial Action under
applicable Environmental Laws or give rise to Environmental Claims resulting in either such
case in liability or expenses of any Group Member in excess of $1,000,000, (2) any Remedial
Action taken by any Group Member or any other Person in response to any Hazardous Materials
Activities the existence of which could reasonably be expected to result in Environmental
Claims having, individually or in the aggregate, liability or expenses of the Group Members
in excess of $1,000,000, (3) any Environmental Claims that, individually or in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in liability or expenses of the Group
Members in excess of $1,000,000, or (4) any Group Member’s discovery of any occurrence or
condition on any real
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property adjoining or in the vicinity of any Facility that could cause
such Facility or any part thereof to be subject to any material restrictions on the
ownership, occupancy, transferability or use thereof under any Environmental Laws;
(iii) as soon as practicable following the sending or receipt thereof by any Group
Member, a copy of any and all written communications with respect to (1) any Environmental
Claims that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to give rise to
a Material Adverse Effect, (2) any Release required to be reported to any federal, state or
local governmental or regulatory agency that could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, and (3) any request for information from any governmental agency that
suggests such agency is investigating whether any Group Member may be potentially
responsible for any Hazardous Materials Activity that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect;
(iv) prompt written notice describing in reasonable detail (1) any proposed acquisition
of stock, assets, or property by any Group Member that could reasonably be expected to (A)
expose any Group Member to, or result in, Environmental Claims that could reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (B) affect
the ability of any Group Member to maintain in full force and effect all material
Governmental Authorizations required under any Environmental Laws for their respective
operations and (2) any proposed action to be taken by any Group Member to modify current
operations in a manner that could reasonably be expected to subject any Group Member to any
additional material obligations or requirements under any Environmental Laws; and
(v) with reasonable promptness, such other documents and information as from time to
time may be reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in relation to any matters
disclosed pursuant to this Section 5.9(a).
(b) Hazardous Materials Activities, Etc. Each Credit Party shall promptly take, and
shall cause each of its Subsidiaries promptly to take, any and all actions necessary to (i) cure
any violation of applicable Environmental Laws by such Credit Party or its Subsidiaries that could
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and
(ii) make an appropriate response to any Environmental Claim against such Credit Party or any of
its Subsidiaries and discharge any obligations it may have to any Person thereunder where failure
to do so could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.10. Subsidiaries. In the event that any Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of any Credit
Party, such Credit Party shall (a) promptly cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a Guarantor
hereunder and a Grantor under the Pledge and Security Agreement by executing and delivering to
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent a Counterpart Agreement, and (b) take all such actions
and execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such documents, instruments,
agreements, and certificates as are similar to those described in Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(h), 3.1(i),
3.1(l) and 3.1(m) and Schedule 5.15. In the event that any Person becomes a Foreign Subsidiary of
any Credit Party, and the ownership interests of such Foreign Subsidiary are owned by such or by
any Domestic Subsidiary thereof, such Credit Party shall, or shall cause
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such Domestic Subsidiary
to, deliver, all such documents, instruments, agreements, and certificates as are similar to those
described in Sections 3.1(b), and such Credit Party shall take, or shall cause such Domestic
Subsidiary to take, all of the actions referred to in Section 3.1(i) necessary to grant and to
perfect a First Priority Lien in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties,
under the Pledge and Security Agreement in 65% of such ownership interests. With respect to each
such Subsidiary, such Credit Party shall promptly send to Administrative Agent written notice
setting forth with respect to such Person (i) the date on which such Person became a Subsidiary of
such Credit Party, and (ii) all of the data required to be set forth in Schedules 4.1 and 4.2 with
respect to all Subsidiaries of such Credit Party; provided, such written notice shall be
deemed to supplement Schedule 4.1 and 4.2 for all purposes hereof.
5.11. Additional Material Real Estate Assets. In the event that any Credit Party acquires a
Material Real Estate Asset or a Real Estate Asset owned or leased on the Restatement Closing Date
becomes a Material Real Estate Asset after such date and such interest has not otherwise been made
subject to the Lien of the Collateral Documents in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of
Secured Parties, then such Credit Party shall promptly take all such actions and execute and
deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such mortgages, documents, instruments,
agreements, opinions and certificates similar to those described in Sections 3.1(f) and 3.1(k) and
Schedule 5.15 with respect to each such Material Real Estate Asset that Collateral Agent shall
reasonably request to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a
valid and, subject to any filing and/or recording referred to herein, perfected First Priority
security interest in such Material Real Estate Assets; provided, in no event shall any
Credit Party have any obligation to deliver, or be
obligated to pay any expenses relating to, any title insurance policy with respect to any Real
Estate Asset. In addition to the foregoing, Borrowers shall, at the request of Requisite Lenders,
deliver, from time to time, to Administrative Agent such appraisals as are required by law or
regulation of Real Estate Assets with respect to which Collateral Agent has been granted a Lien.
5.12. Interest Rate and Commodity Protection.
(a) At all times prior to the third anniversary of the Original Closing Date, Borrowers shall
obtain and cause to be maintained protection against fluctuations in interest rates pursuant to one
or more Interest Rate Agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative
Agent, in order to ensure that no less than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the total
funded Indebtedness of the Group Members then outstanding is either (i) subject to such Interest
Rate Agreements or (ii) Indebtedness that bears interest at a fixed rate.
(b) At all times Borrowers shall obtain and cause to be maintained protection against
fluctuations in commodity prices pursuant to a hedging program substantially similar to that
described on Schedule 5.12(b).
5.13. Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time upon the request of Administrative
Agent, each Credit Party will, at its expense, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such
further documents and do such other acts and things as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may
reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of the Credit Documents. In furtherance
and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Credit Party shall take such actions as Administrative
Agent or Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to
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time to ensure that the Obligations
are guarantied by the Guarantors and are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Group
Members and all of the outstanding Capital Stock of the Group Members other than the Capital Stock
of MLP (subject to limitations contained in the Credit Documents with respect to Foreign
Subsidiaries).
5.14. Non-Consolidation. Unless otherwise consented to by Agents or Requisite Lenders, MLP
(and, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) will and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to: (i) maintain
entity records and books of account separate from those of any other entity which is an Affiliate
of such entity; (ii) not commingle its funds or assets with those of any other entity which is an
Affiliate of such entity; and (iii) provide that its board of directors or other analogous
governing body will hold all appropriate meetings to authorize and approve such entity’s actions,
which meetings will be separate from those of other entities.
5.15. Clean-Down Period. During each calendar year during the term of this Agreement, there
shall be a period of fifteen consecutive days (the “Clean Down Period”) during which (a) there are
no Distribution Loans outstanding, and (b) no Distribution Loans will be made .
SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Each Credit Party party hereto covenants and agrees that, so long as any Commitment is in
effect and until payment in full of all Obligations and cancellation or expiration of all Letters
of Credit, such Credit Party shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform,
all covenants in this Section 6.
6.1. Indebtedness. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or guaranty, or otherwise become or remain directly
or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:
(a) the Obligations;
(b) Indebtedness of any Credit Party to any other Credit Party; provided, (i) all such
Indebtedness shall be evidenced by promissory notes and all such notes shall be subject to a First
Priority Lien pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement, (ii) all such Indebtedness shall be
unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the payment in full of the Obligations pursuant
to the terms of any applicable promissory notes or an intercompany subordination agreement that in
any such case, is reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and (iii) any payment by any
Guarantor under any guaranty of the Obligations shall result in a pro tanto reduction of the amount
of any Indebtedness owed by such Guarantor to such Credit Party or to any of its Subsidiaries for
whose benefit such payment is made;
(c) Indebtedness incurred by any Group Member arising from agreements providing for
indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, or from guaranties or letters
of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds securing the performance of any Group Member pursuant
to such agreements, in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or permitted dispositions of any
business, assets or Subsidiary of any Group Member;
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(d) Indebtedness which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any guaranties, performance, surety,
statutory, appeal or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(e) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise in
connection with deposit accounts;
(f) guaranties in the ordinary course of business of the obligations of suppliers, customers,
franchisees and licensees of any Group Member;
(g) guaranties by any Credit Party of Indebtedness of any other Credit Party with respect to
Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 6.1;
(h) Indebtedness described in Schedule 6.1, but not any extensions, renewals or replacements
of such Indebtedness except (i) renewals and extensions expressly provided for in the agreements
evidencing any such Indebtedness as the same are in effect on the date of this Agreement and (ii)
refinancings and extensions of any such Indebtedness if the terms and
conditions thereof are not less favorable to the obligor thereon or to the Lenders than the
Indebtedness being refinanced or extended, and the average life to maturity thereof is greater than
or equal to that of the Indebtedness being refinanced or extended; provided, such
Indebtedness permitted under the immediately preceding clause (i) or (ii) above shall not (A)
include Indebtedness of an obligor that was not an obligor with respect to the Indebtedness being
extended, renewed or refinanced, (B) exceed in a principal amount the Indebtedness being renewed,
extended or refinanced or (C) be incurred, created or assumed if any Default or Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom;
(i) Indebtedness with respect to Capital Leases and purchase money Indebtedness in an
aggregate amount not to exceed at any time $7,500,000 (including any Indebtedness acquired in
connection with a Permitted Acquisition); provided, any such Indebtedness which is purchase
money Indebtedness (i) shall be secured only to the asset acquired in connection with the
incurrence of such Indebtedness, and (ii) shall constitute not less than 85% of the aggregate
consideration paid with respect to such asset;
(j) Indebtedness of Gathering to Sponsor in an amount of up to $5,000,000; provided
that such Indebtedness shall be evidenced by an unsecured promissory note in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and which note by its terms shall not be repaid
upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default;
(k) Indebtedness under Commodity Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business
(and not for speculation) or as required by Section 5.12(b);
(l) other Indebtedness of any Group Member in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time
$10,000,000; and
(m) Upon and following the IPO, other unsecured Indebtedness of MLP; provided that (i) no
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would occur after giving effect to such
incurrence), (ii) MLP shall be in compliance with all covenants set forth in Section 6.8 as of the
most recently ended full four Fiscal Quarter period for which financial
84
statements are available,
on a pro forma basis, assuming the additional Indebtedness had been incurred at the beginning of
such four Fiscal Quarter period, (iii) the latest maturity date of such Indebtedness is not prior
to the final maturity date with respect to the Loans and does not have a weighted average life to
maturity that is shorter than that of the Loans and (iv) such Indebtedness does not have the
benefit of, directly or indirectly, any covenants or definitions that are more restrictive than
those set forth herein.
6.2. Liens. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property
or asset of any kind (including any document or instrument in respect of goods or accounts
receivable) of any Group Member, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits
therefrom, or file or permit the filing of, or permit to remain in effect, any financing statement
or other similar notice of any Lien with respect to any such property, asset, income or profits
under the UCC of any State or under any similar recording or notice statute, except:
(a) Liens in favor of Collateral Agent for the benefit of Secured Parties granted pursuant to
any Credit Document;
(b) Liens for Taxes if obligations with respect to such Taxes are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted;
(c) statutory Liens of landlords, banks (and rights of set-off), of carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law (other than any such
Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401 (a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or by ERISA),
in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue or (ii)
for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in
excess of five days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such
reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made
for any such contested amounts;
(d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the
performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government
contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations
(exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness), so long as no
foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the
Collateral on account thereof;
(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, and other minor defects or
irregularities in title, in each case which do not and will not interfere in any material respect
with the ordinary conduct of the business of any Group Member;
(f) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease of real estate permitted
hereunder;
(g) Liens solely on any xxxx xxxxxxx money deposits made by any Group Member in connection
with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
85
(h) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating
solely to operating leases of personal property entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(i) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure
payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(j) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any governmental office or
agency to control or regulate the use of any real property;
(k) licenses of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by any
Group Member in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the
ordinary conduct of the business of such Group Member;
(l) Liens described in Schedule 6.2;
(m) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(i); provided, any
such Lien shall encumber only the asset acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness; and
(n) Other Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(l).
6.3. Equitable Lien. If any Credit Party shall create or assume any Lien upon any of its
properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens, it shall
make or cause to be made effective provisions whereby the Obligations will be secured by such Lien
equally and ratably with any and all other Indebtedness secured thereby as long as any such
Indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, notwithstanding the foregoing, this covenant
shall not be construed as a consent by Requisite Lenders to the creation or assumption of any such
Lien not otherwise permitted hereby.
6.4. No Further Negative Pledges. Except with respect to (a) specific property encumbered to
secure payment of particular Indebtedness or to be sold pursuant to an executed agreement with
respect to a permitted Asset Sale, (b) restrictions by reason of customary provisions restricting
assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, licenses and similar agreements
entered into in the ordinary course of business (provided that such restrictions are
limited to the property or assets secured by such Liens or the property or assets subject to such
leases, licenses or similar agreements, as the case may be) and (c) as may be contained in the
documentation governing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(m), no Credit Party nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall enter into any agreement prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon
any of its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.
6.5. Restricted Junior Payments. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates through any manner or means or through any other Person to, directly or
indirectly, declare, order, pay, make or set apart, or agree to declare, order, pay, make or set
apart, any sum for any Restricted Junior Payment except that:
(a) prior to the IPO so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or shall be caused thereby, Pipeline and Borrowers may make Restricted
86
Junior Payments
to their equity holders (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 in any Fiscal Year, to
the extent necessary to permit such equity holders to pay general administrative costs and expenses
and (ii) as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 6.12, and (iii) Pipeline and Borrowers may make
quarterly Restricted Junior Payments to their equity holders in an amount not to exceed the then
applicable Excess Cash Amount, and (b) to the extent necessary to permit the equity holders of
Pipeline and Borrowers (and any of such partners’, partners or members) to discharge their
obligations with respect to federal, state and local income taxes (i) that Borrowers would have
paid if it was and had at all times during its existence had been classified as a corporation for
United States federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes (or the applicable
partners or members to the extent the Sponsor controls the partners or members that received such
distribution) applies the amount of any such Restricted Junior Payment for such purpose.
(b) Upon and following the IPO, (i) MLP may make Restricted Payments to General Partner in
order to reimburse General Partner in respect of the operating expenses of General Partner; and
(ii) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the MLP may
make quarterly cash distributions in an amount not to exceed the amount of Available Cash for such
period.
6.6. Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions. Except as provided herein, no Credit Party
shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist
or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any
Subsidiary of MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) to (a) pay dividends or make any other
distributions on any of such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock owned by any Group Member, (b) repay or
prepay any Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary to any Group Member), (c) make loans or advances to
any Group Member, or (d) transfer any of its property or assets to any Group Member, other than
restrictions (i) in agreements evidencing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.1(i) that impose
restrictions on the property so acquired, (ii) by reason of customary provisions restricting
assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, licenses, joint venture agreements
and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, (iii) that are or were
created by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to transfer or option or right with respect to any
property, assets or Capital Stock not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement or (iv) described
on Schedule 6.6.
6.7. Investments. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, make or own any Investment in any Person, including without limitation any
Joint Venture, except:
(a) Investments in Cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) equity Investments owned as of the Restatement Closing Date in any Subsidiary and
Investments made after the Restatement Closing Date in any Borrower and any wholly-owned Guarantor
Subsidiaries of such Borrower;
(c) Investments (i) in any Securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof
from financially troubled account debtors and (ii) deposits, prepayments and other credits
87
to
suppliers made in the ordinary course of business consistent with the past practices of the Group
Members;
(d) intercompany loans to the extent permitted under Section 6.1(b);
(e) Consolidated Capital Expenditures permitted by Section 6.8(c);
(f) loans and advances to employees of the Group Members made in the ordinary course of
business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate;
(g) Investments made in connection with Permitted Acquisitions permitted pursuant to Section
6.9;
(h) Investments described in Schedule 6.7; and
(i) other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time $10,000,000.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Credit Party make any Investment which results
in or facilitates in any manner any Restricted Junior Payment not otherwise permitted under the
terms of Section 6.5.
6.8. Financial Covenants.
(a) Interest Coverage Ratio. Through the last day of the Fiscal Quarter in which the
IPO occurs, the then applicable Reporting Person shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of
the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2006, to
be less than the correlative ratio indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
Fiscal Quarter |
|
Coverage Ratio |
September 30, 2006
through
December 31, 2006 |
|
|
2.00:1.00 |
|
March 31, 2007,
and thereafter |
|
|
2.50:1.00 |
|
Commencing with the first full Fiscal Quarter following the IPO, MLP shall not permit the Interest
Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter to be less than 2.50:1.00.
(b) Leverage Ratio. Through the last day of the Fiscal Quarter in which the IPO
occurs, the then applicable Reporting Person shall not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the last day
of any Fiscal Quarter, beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2006, to exceed the
correlative ratio indicated:
88
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Quarter |
|
Leverage Ratio |
September 30, 2006
through
December 31, 2006 |
|
|
6.00:1.00 |
|
March 31, 2007,
and thereafter |
|
|
5.00:1.00 |
|
Commencing with the first full Fiscal Quarter following the IPO, MLP shall not permit the Leverage
Ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter to exceed 5.00:1.00; provided that if the
last day of any Fiscal Quarter is during a Specified Period, MLP shall not permit the Leverage
Ratio of the last day of such Fiscal Quarter to exceed 5.25:1.00.
(c) Maximum Consolidated Capital Expenditures. Prior to the IPO, Pipeline shall not,
and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to, make or incur Consolidated Capital Expenditures, in any
Fiscal Year indicated below, in an aggregate amount for Pipeline and its Subsidiaries in excess of
the corresponding amount set forth below opposite such Fiscal Year; provided, such amount
for any Fiscal Year shall be increased by an amount equal to the excess, if any, (but in no event
more than 50% of such amount for the previous Fiscal Year (as adjusted in accordance with this
proviso) over the actual amount of Consolidated Capital Expenditures for such previous Fiscal
Year); and:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Capital |
Fiscal Year |
|
Expenditures |
2006 |
|
$ |
28,000,000 |
|
2007 |
|
$ |
15,000,000 |
|
2008 and thereafter |
|
$ |
7,500,000 |
|
Upon and following the IPO, this Section 6.8(c) shall cease to apply and be of no further force or
effect, and MLP and its Subsidiaries’ Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall be unrestricted.
(d) Certain Calculations.
(i) With respect to any period during which a Permitted Acquisition or an Asset Sale
has occurred (each, a “Subject Transaction”), for purposes of determining compliance with
the financial covenants set forth in this Section 6.8, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and the
components of Consolidated Fixed Charges shall be calculated with respect to such period on
a pro forma basis (including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are directly
attributable to a specific transaction, are factually supportable and are expected to have a
continuing impact, in each case determined on a basis consistent with Article 11 of
Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act and as interpreted by the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which would include cost savings resulting from head
count reduction,
89
closure of facilities and similar restructuring charges, which pro forma
adjustments shall be certified by the chief financial officer of the then applicable
Reporting Person) using the historical audited financial statements of any business so
acquired or to be acquired or sold or to be sold and the consolidated financial statements
of the then applicable Reporting Person and its Subsidiaries which shall be reformulated as
if such Subject Transaction, and any Indebtedness incurred or repaid in connection
therewith, had been consummated or incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and
assuming that such Indebtedness bears interest during any portion of the applicable
measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the weighted average of the interest
rates applicable to outstanding Loans incurred during such period).
(ii) In addition, with respect to any Material Project, an amount equal to one-quarter
of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA projected for the first twelve months of operations of
such Material Project shall be added to actual Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Fiscal
Quarter in which such Material Project was completed and for each of the immediately
preceding three Fiscal Quarters (in each case, net of any actual Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA attributed to such Material Project accruing after its completion); provided that (x)
the aggregate amount of any such addition shall not exceed 20% of the capital cost of such
Material Project; (y) no such additions shall be allowed with respect to any Material
Project unless, not less than 30 days prior to the completion thereof, the Administrative
Agent shall have received written pro forma projections of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
relating to such Material Project and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent
may reasonably request, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
and (z) the aggregate pro forma additions attributable thereto shall not exceed 15% of
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA before giving effect to any such addition.
6.9. Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets; Permitted Acquisitions. No Credit Party
shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger or
consolidation, or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution),
or convey, sell, lease or sub-lease (as lessor or sublessor), exchange, transfer or otherwise
dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any part of its business, assets
or property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or
intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or acquire by purchase or otherwise (other
than purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, materials and equipment and Capital Expenditures
in the ordinary course of business) the business, property or fixed assets of, or stock or other
evidence of beneficial ownership of, any Person or any division or line of business or other
business unit of any Person, except:
(a) any Subsidiary of any Credit Party (other than Gathering) may be merged with or into any
other Credit Party, or be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business,
property or assets may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one
transaction or a series of transactions, to any other Credit Party; provided, in the case
of such a merger, a Credit Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;
90
(b) Prior to the IPO, Holdings shall be permitted to dissolve; provided that the
general partner interests owned by Holdings are distributed to the general partner of Pipeline and
the limited partner interests owned by Holdings are distributed to Pipeline or its Subsidiaries;
(c) sales or other dispositions of assets that do not constitute Asset Sales;
(d) Asset Sales of property other than any gas processing plant facilities, the proceeds of
which (valued at the principal amount thereof in the case of non-Cash proceeds consisting of notes
or other debt Securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-Cash proceeds)
(i) are less than $7,500,000 with respect to any single Asset Sale or series of related Asset Sales
and (ii) when aggregated with the proceeds of all other Asset Sales made within the same Fiscal
Year, are less than $25,000,000; provided (1) the consideration received for such assets
shall be in an amount at least equal to the fair market value thereof (determined in
good faith by the board of directors of the then applicable Reporting Person (or similar
governing body) of the then applicable Reporting Person), (2) no less than 80% thereof shall be
paid in Cash, and (3) the Net Asset Sale Proceeds thereof shall be applied as required by Section
2.14(a);
(e) disposals of obsolete, worn out or surplus property;
(f) an exchange or “swap” of pipeline or other fixed, tangible assets of any Credit Party for
the assets of a Person other than another Credit Party in the ordinary course of business;
provided that such Credit Party received reasonable equivalent value for such assets, such
value to be demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of Administrative Agent; and
provided, further, that the fair market value of all such assets of the Credit
Parties exchanged or “swapped”, other than exchanges or swaps of the assets described in Schedule
6.9(e), does not exceed $25,000,000 for the term of this Agreement;
(g) Permitted Acquisitions, the consideration for which constitutes less than $100,000,000 in
the aggregate from the Restatement Closing Date to the date of determination; provided
that, upon and following the IPO, such $100,000,000 limitation shall cease to apply and be of no
force or effect, and Permitted Acquisitions shall be unrestricted;
(h) the transactions specified in the Contribution Agreement, and other transactions,
transfers, dispositions and acquisitions necessary to effect the IPO; and
(i) Investments made in accordance with Section 6.7.
6.10. Disposal of Subsidiary Interests. Except for any sale of all of its interests in the
Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries in compliance with the provisions of Section 6.9, no
Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) directly or indirectly
sell, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any Capital Stock of any of its
Subsidiaries, except to qualify directors if required by applicable law; or (b) permit any of its
Subsidiaries directly or indirectly to sell, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any
Capital Stock of any of its Subsidiaries, except to another Credit Party (subject to the
restrictions on such disposition otherwise imposed hereunder), or to qualify directors if required
by applicable law.
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6.11. Sales and Lease-Backs. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, become or remain liable as lessee or as a guarantor or
other surety with respect to any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, which such Credit Party (a) has sold or transferred or is to sell
or to transfer to any other Person (other than any Group Member), or (b) intends to use for
substantially the same purpose as any other property which has been or is to be sold or transferred
by such Credit Party to any Person (other than any Group Member) in connection with such lease.
6.12. Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any
transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of
any service) with any Affiliate of MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) on terms that are less
favorable to such Credit Party or that Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that might be
obtained at the time from a Person who is not such a holder or Affiliate; provided, the
foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) any transaction between MLP, Gathering and any
Guarantor Subsidiary; (b) reasonable and customary fees paid to members of the board of directors
(or similar governing body) of the Group Members; (c) compensation arrangements for directors,
officers and other employees of the Group Members entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(d) transactions specified in the Contribution Agreement or undertaken in connection with the IPO,
and described in the S-1 and (e) transactions described in Schedule 6.12.
6.13. Conduct of Business. From and after the Restatement Closing Date, no Credit Party
shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) the
marketing, gathering, transporting, terminaling, storing, acquiring, developing, processing,
dehydrating and otherwise handling of hydrocarbons, including constructing pipelines and gathering
systems and dehydration and processing facilities and activities related thereto, (ii) businesses
engaged in by such Credit Party on the Restatement Closing Date and (iii) such other lines of
business as may be consented to by Requisite Lenders.
6.14. Permitted Activities of MLP. MLP shall not (a) incur, directly or indirectly, any
Indebtedness or any other obligation or liability whatsoever other than the Obligations and, upon
and following the IPO, Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1; (b) create or suffer to
exist any Lien upon any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by it other than the
Liens created under the Collateral Documents to which it is a party or, upon and following the IPO,
permitted pursuant to Section 6.2; (c) engage in any business or activity or own any assets other
than (i) holding 100% of the Capital Stock of its Subsidiaries; (ii) performing its obligations and
activities incidental thereto under the Credit Documents; and (iii) making Restricted Junior
Payments and Investments to the extent permitted by this Agreement; (d) consolidate with or merge
with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person; or
(e) fail to hold itself out to the public as a legal entity separate and distinct from all other
Persons.
6.15. Fiscal Year. No Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to
change its Fiscal Year-end from December 31.
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SECTION 7. GUARANTY
7.1. Guaranty of the Obligations. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.2, Guarantors
jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guaranty to Administrative Agent for
the ratable benefit of the Beneficiaries the due and punctual payment in full of all Obligations
when the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration,
acceleration, demand or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of
the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)) (collectively,
the “Guaranteed Obligations”).
7.2. Contribution by Guarantors. All Guarantors desire to allocate among themselves
(collectively, the “Contributing Guarantors”), in a fair and equitable manner, their obligations
arising under this Guaranty. Accordingly, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any
date by a Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under this Guaranty such that its Aggregate Payments
exceeds its Fair Share as of such date, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution
from each of the other Contributing Guarantors in an amount sufficient to cause each Contributing
Guarantor’s Aggregate Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date. “Fair Share” means, with
respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the
ratio of (i) the Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Contributing Guarantor to (ii)
the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all Contributing Guarantors
multiplied by (b) the aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all Funding
Guarantors under this Guaranty in respect of the obligations Guaranteed. “Fair Share Contribution
Amount” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, the
maximum aggregate amount of the obligations of such Contributing Guarantor under this Guaranty that
would not render its obligations hereunder or thereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent
transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any comparable
applicable provisions of state law; provided, solely for purposes of calculating the “Fair
Share Contribution Amount” with respect to any Contributing Guarantor for purposes of this Section
7.2, any assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor arising by virtue of any rights to
subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or obligations of contribution
hereunder shall not be considered as assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor.
“Aggregate Payments” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of
determination, an amount equal to (1) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made
on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor in respect of this Guaranty (including,
without limitation, in respect of this Section 7.2), minus (2) the aggregate amount of all payments
received on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor from the other Contributing
Guarantors as contributions under this Section 7.2. The amounts payable as contributions hereunder
shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment or distribution is made by the
applicable Funding Guarantor. The allocation among Contributing Guarantors of their obligations as
set forth in this Section 7.2 shall not be construed in any way to limit the liability of any
Contributing Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor is a third party beneficiary to the contribution
agreement set forth in this Section 7.2.
7.3. Payment by Guarantors. Subject to Section 7.2, Guarantors hereby jointly and severally
agree, in furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any
Beneficiary may have at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, that upon the
93
failure of Borrowers to pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations when and as the same shall
become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand
or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay
under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)), Guarantors will upon demand pay,
or cause to be paid, in Cash, to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Beneficiaries, an
amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal amount of all Guaranteed Obligations then due as
aforesaid, accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (including interest which,
but for Borrowers’ becoming the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on
such Guaranteed Obligations, whether or not a claim is allowed against Borrowers for such interest
in the related bankruptcy case) and all other Guaranteed Obligations then owed to Beneficiaries as
aforesaid.
7.4. Liability of Guarantors Absolute. Each Guarantor agrees that its obligations hereunder
are irrevocable, absolute, independent and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance which constitutes a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or surety other than
payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and without
limiting the generality thereof, each Guarantor agrees as follows:
(a) this Guaranty is a guaranty of payment when due and not of collectability. This Guaranty
is a primary obligation of each Guarantor and not merely a contract of surety;
(b) Administrative Agent may enforce this Guaranty upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
notwithstanding the existence of any dispute between Borrowers and any Beneficiary with respect to
the existence of such Event of Default;
(c) the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of
Borrowers and the obligations of any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the
obligations of Borrowers, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against
such Guarantor whether or not any action is brought against Borrowers or any of such other
guarantors and whether or not Borrowers are joined in any such action or actions;
(d) payment by any Guarantor of a portion, but not all, of the Guaranteed Obligations shall in
no way limit, affect, modify or abridge any Guarantor’s liability for any portion of the Guaranteed
Obligations which has not been paid. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if
Administrative Agent is awarded a judgment in any suit brought to enforce any Guarantor’s covenant
to pay a portion of the Guaranteed Obligations, such judgment shall not be deemed to release such
Guarantor from its covenant to pay the portion of the Guaranteed Obligations that is not the
subject of such suit, and such judgment shall not, except to the extent satisfied by such
Guarantor, limit, affect, modify or abridge any other Guarantor’s liability hereunder in respect of
the Guaranteed Obligations;
(e) any Beneficiary, upon such terms as it deems appropriate, without notice or demand and
without affecting the validity or enforceability hereof or giving rise to any reduction,
limitation, impairment, discharge or termination of any Guarantor’s liability hereunder, from time
to time may (i) renew, extend, accelerate, increase the rate of interest on, or otherwise change
the time, place, manner or terms of payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) settle, compromise,
release or discharge, or accept or refuse any offer of performance with
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respect to, or substitutions for, the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement relating thereto
and/or subordinate the payment of the same to the payment of any other obligations; (iii) request
and accept other guaranties of the Guaranteed Obligations and take and hold security for the
payment hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) release, surrender, exchange, substitute,
compromise, settle, rescind, waive, alter, subordinate or modify, with or without consideration,
any security for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, any other guaranties of the Guaranteed
Obligations, or any other obligation of any Person (including any other Guarantor) with respect to
the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) enforce and apply any security now or hereafter held by or for the
benefit of such Beneficiary in respect hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations and direct the order or
manner of sale thereof, or exercise any other right or remedy that such Beneficiary may have
against any such security, in each case as such Beneficiary in its discretion may determine
consistent herewith or the applicable Hedge Agreement and any applicable security agreement,
including foreclosure on any such security pursuant to one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales,
whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable, and even though such
action operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or
remedy of any Guarantor against Borrowers or any security for the Guaranteed Obligations; and (vi)
exercise any other rights available to it under the Credit Documents or any Hedge Agreements; and
(f) this Guaranty and the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall be valid and enforceable
and shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment, discharge or termination for any
reason (other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and, with respect to any
particular Guaranty of any Guarantor as provided in Section 7.12), including the occurrence of any
of the following, whether or not any Guarantor shall have had notice or knowledge of any of them:
(i) any failure or omission to assert or enforce or agreement or election not to assert or enforce,
or the stay or enjoining, by order of court, by operation of law or otherwise, of the exercise or
enforcement of, any claim or demand or any right, power or remedy (whether arising under the Credit
Documents or any Hedge Agreements, at law, in equity or otherwise) with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any other guaranty of or security
for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or
modification of, or any consent to departure from, any of the terms or provisions (including
provisions relating to events of default) hereof, any of the other Credit Documents, any of the
Hedge Agreements or any agreement or instrument executed pursuant thereto, or of any other guaranty
or security for the Guaranteed Obligations, in each case whether or not in accordance with the
terms hereof or such Credit Document, such Hedge Agreement or any agreement relating to such other
guaranty or security; (iii) the Guaranteed Obligations, or any agreement relating thereto, at any
time being found to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect; (iv) the application of
payments received from any source (other than payments received pursuant to the other Credit
Documents or any of the Hedge Agreements or from the proceeds of any security for the Guaranteed
Obligations, except to the extent such security also serves as collateral for indebtedness other
than the Guaranteed Obligations) to the payment of indebtedness other than the Guaranteed
Obligations, even though any Beneficiary might have elected to apply such payment to any part or
all of the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) any Beneficiary’s consent to the change, reorganization or
termination of the corporate structure or existence of any Group Member and to any corresponding
restructuring of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vi) any failure to perfect or continue perfection of
a security interest in any collateral which secures any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vii) any
defenses, set-offs or
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counterclaims which Borrowers may allege or assert against any Beneficiary in respect of the
Guaranteed Obligations, including failure of consideration, breach of warranty, payment, statute of
frauds, statute of limitations, accord and satisfaction and usury; and (viii) any other act or
thing or omission, or delay to do any other act or thing, which may or might in any manner or to
any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor as an obligor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations.
7.5. Waivers by Guarantors. Each Guarantor hereby waives, for the benefit of Beneficiaries:
(a) any right to require any Beneficiary, as a condition of payment or performance by such
Guarantor, to (i) proceed against Borrowers, any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of
the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held
from Borrowers, any such other guarantor or any other Person, (iii) proceed against or have resort
to any balance of any Deposit Account or credit on the books of any Beneficiary in favor of
Borrowers or any other Person, or (iv) pursue any other remedy in the power of any Beneficiary
whatsoever; (b) any defense arising by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any
disability or other defense of Borrowers or any other Guarantor including any defense based on or
arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any
agreement or instrument relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of
Borrowers or any other Guarantor from any cause other than payment in full of the Guaranteed
Obligations; (c) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the
obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than
that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon any Beneficiary’s errors or omissions in the
administration of the Guaranteed Obligations, except behavior which amounts to bad faith; (e) (i)
any principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with
the terms hereof and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder,
(ii) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or
the enforcement hereof, (iii) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims, and (iv)
promptness, diligence and any requirement that any Beneficiary protect, secure, perfect or insure
any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices, demands, presentments,
protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including
acceptance hereof, notices of default hereunder, the Hedge Agreements or any agreement or
instrument related thereto, notices of any renewal, extension or modification of the Guaranteed
Obligations or any agreement related thereto, notices of any extension of credit to Borrowers and
notices of any of the matters referred to in Section 7.4 and any right to consent to any thereof;
and (g) any defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by law which limit the
liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms hereof.
7.6. Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc. Until the Guaranteed Obligations
shall have been paid in full and the Revolving Commitments shall have terminated and all Letters of
Credit shall have expired or been cancelled, each Guarantor hereby waives any claim, right or
remedy, direct or indirect, that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against Borrowers or
any other Guarantor or any of its assets in connection with this Guaranty or the performance by
such Guarantor of its obligations hereunder, in each case whether such claim, right or remedy
arises in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or otherwise and including without
limitation (a) any right of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification that such Guarantor now
has or may hereafter have against Borrowers with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, (b) any
right to enforce, or to participate in, any claim, right or remedy that any
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Beneficiary now has or may hereafter have against Borrowers, and (c) any benefit of, and any
right to participate in, any collateral or security now or hereafter held by any Beneficiary. In
addition, until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and the
Revolving Commitments shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been
cancelled, each Guarantor shall withhold exercise of any right of contribution such Guarantor may
have against any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Guaranteed Obligations,
including, without limitation, any such right of contribution as contemplated by Section 7.2. Each
Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent the waiver or agreement to withhold the exercise of
its rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as set forth herein is
found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any rights of
subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification such Guarantor may have against Borrowers or against
any collateral or security, and any rights of contribution such Guarantor may have against any such
other guarantor, shall be junior and subordinate to any rights any Beneficiary may have against
Borrowers, to all right, title and interest any Beneficiary may have in any such collateral or
security, and to any right any Beneficiary may have against such other guarantor. If any amount
shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification
or contribution rights at any time when all Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been finally and
indefeasibly paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent on behalf of
Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent for the benefit of
Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or
unmatured, in accordance with the terms hereof.
7.7. Subordination of Other Obligations. Any Indebtedness of Borrowers or any Guarantor now
or hereafter held by any Guarantor (the “Obligee Guarantor”) is hereby subordinated in right of
payment to the Guaranteed Obligations, and any such indebtedness collected or received by the
Obligee Guarantor after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing shall be held in trust
for Administrative Agent on behalf of Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to
Administrative Agent for the benefit of Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the
Guaranteed Obligations but without affecting, impairing or limiting in any manner the liability of
the Obligee Guarantor under any other provision hereof.
7.8. Continuing Guaranty. This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall remain in effect
until all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid in full and the Revolving Commitments
shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been cancelled. Each
Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any right to revoke this Guaranty as to future transactions
giving rise to any Guaranteed Obligations.
7.9. Authority of Guarantors or Borrowers. It is not necessary for any Beneficiary to inquire
into the capacity or powers of any Guarantor or Borrowers or the officers, directors or any agents
acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of them.
7.10. Financial Condition of Borrowers. Any Credit Extension may be made to Borrowers or
continued from time to time, and any Hedge Agreements may be entered into from time to time, in
each case without notice to or authorization from any Guarantor regardless of the financial or
other condition of Borrowers at the time of any such grant or continuation or at the time such
Hedge Agreement is entered into, as the case may be. No Beneficiary shall have any
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obligation to disclose or discuss with any Guarantor its assessment, or any Guarantor’s
assessment, of the financial condition of Borrowers. Each Guarantor has adequate means to obtain
information from Borrowers on a continuing basis concerning the financial condition of Borrowers
and its ability to perform its obligations under the Credit Documents and the Hedge Agreements, and
each Guarantor assumes the responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial condition
of Borrowers and of all circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed
Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby waives and relinquishes any duty on the part of any Beneficiary
to disclose any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, operations or conditions of
Borrowers now known or hereafter known by any Beneficiary.
7.11. Bankruptcy, etc.
(a) So long as any Guaranteed Obligations remain outstanding, no Guarantor shall, without the
prior written consent of Administrative Agent acting pursuant to the instructions of Requisite
Lenders, commence or join with any other Person in commencing any bankruptcy, reorganization or
insolvency case or proceeding of or against Borrowers or any other Guarantor. The obligations of
Guarantors hereunder shall not be reduced, limited, impaired, discharged, deferred, suspended or
terminated by any case or proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving the bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of any Borrower or any other
Guarantor or by any defense which such Borrower or any other Guarantor may have by reason of the
order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding.
(b) Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that any interest on any portion of the Guaranteed
Obligations which accrues after the commencement of any case or proceeding referred to in clause
(a) above (or, if interest on any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations ceases to accrue by
operation of law by reason of the commencement of such case or proceeding, such interest as would
have accrued on such portion of the Guaranteed Obligations if such case or proceeding had not been
commenced) shall be included in the Guaranteed Obligations because it is the intention of
Guarantors and Beneficiaries that the Guaranteed Obligations which are guaranteed by Guarantors
pursuant hereto should be determined without regard to any rule of law or order which may relieve
such Borrower of any portion of such Guaranteed Obligations. Guarantors will permit any trustee in
bankruptcy, receiver, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person
to pay Administrative Agent, or allow the claim of Administrative Agent in respect of, any such
interest accruing after the date on which such case or proceeding is commenced.
(c) In the event that all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid by such
Borrower, the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall continue and remain in full force and
effect or be reinstated, as the case may be, in the event that all or any part of such payment(s)
are rescinded or recovered directly or indirectly from any Beneficiary as a preference, fraudulent
transfer or otherwise, and any such payments which are so rescinded or recovered shall constitute
Guaranteed Obligations for all purposes hereunder.
7.12. Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor. If all of the Capital Stock of any
Guarantor or any of its successors in interest hereunder shall be sold or otherwise disposed of
(including by merger or consolidation) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, the
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Guaranty of such Guarantor or such successor in interest, as the case may be, hereunder shall
automatically be discharged and released without any further action by any Beneficiary or any other
Person effective as of the time of such Asset Sale and pursuant to Section 9 of the Pledge and
Security Agreement, the Liens granted by such Guarantor shall be deemed to be automatically
discharged and released without any further action by any Beneficiary or any other Person effective
as of the time of such Asset Sale.
SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
8.1. Events of Default. If any one or more of the following conditions or events shall occur:
(a) Failure to Make Payments When Due. Failure by Borrowers to pay (i) when due any
installment of principal of any Loan, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by notice of
voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise; (ii) when due any amount payable to
Issuing Bank in reimbursement of any drawing under a Letter of Credit; or (iii) any interest on any
Loan or any fee or any other amount due hereunder within five days after the date due; or
(b) Default in Other Agreements. (i) Failure of any Credit Party or any of their
respective Subsidiaries to pay when due any principal of or interest on or any other amount payable
in respect of one or more items of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness referred to in Section
8.1(a)) in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or more in each case beyond the grace
period, if any, provided therefor; or (ii) breach or default by any Credit Party with respect to
any other material term of (1) one or more items of Indebtedness in the individual or aggregate
principal amounts referred to in clause (i) above or (2) any loan agreement, mortgage, indenture or
other agreement relating to such item(s) of Indebtedness, in each case beyond the grace period, if
any, provided therefor, if the effect of such breach or default is to cause, or to permit the
holder or holders of that Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders), to
cause, that Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable (or redeemable) prior to its
stated maturity or the stated maturity of any underlying obligation, as the case may be; or
(c) Breach of Certain Covenants. Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply
with any term or condition contained in Section 2.6, Section 5.1(f), Section 5.2, Section 5.15 or
Section 6; or
(d) Breach of Representations, etc. Any representation, warranty, certification or
other statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party in any Credit Document or in any statement
or certificate at any time given by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries in writing pursuant
hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be false in any material respect as
of the date made or deemed made; or
(e) Other Defaults Under Credit Documents. Any Credit Party shall default in the
performance of or compliance with any term contained herein or any of the other Credit Documents,
other than any such term referred to in any other Section of this Section 8.1, and such default
shall not have been remedied or waived within thirty days after the earlier of (i) an
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officer of such Credit Party becoming aware of such default or (ii) receipt by Borrowers of
notice from Administrative Agent or any Lender of such default; or
(f) Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc. (i) A court of competent
jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of any Group Member in an
involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar law now or hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed; or any other similar
relief shall be granted under any applicable federal or state law; or (ii) an involuntary case
shall be commenced against any Group Member under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a court
having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator,
trustee, custodian or other officer having similar powers over any Group Member, or over all or a
substantial part of its property, shall have been entered; or there shall have occurred the
involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of any Group Member for
all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process
shall have been issued against any substantial part of the property of any Group Member, and any
such event described in this clause (ii) shall continue for sixty days without having been
dismissed, bonded or discharged; or
(g) Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc. (i) Any Group Member shall
have an order for relief entered with respect to it or shall commence a voluntary case under the
Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case,
or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law, or shall
consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee or other custodian for
all or a substantial part of its property; or any Group Member shall make any assignment for the
benefit of creditors; or (ii) any Group Member shall be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall
admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such debts become due; or the board of
directors (or similar governing body) of any Group Member (or any committee thereof) shall adopt
any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to herein
or in Section 8.1(f); or
(h) Judgments and Attachments. Any money judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or
similar process involving in the aggregate at any time an amount in excess of $10,000,000 (in
either case to the extent not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and
unaffiliated insurance company has acknowledged coverage) shall be entered or filed against any
Group Member or any of their respective assets and shall remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded
or unstayed for a period of sixty days (or in any event later than five days prior to the date of
any proposed sale thereunder); or
(i) Dissolution. Any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against any Credit
Party decreeing the dissolution or split up of such Credit Party and such order shall remain
undischarged or unstayed for a period in excess of thirty days; or
(j) Employee Benefit Plans. (i) There shall occur one or more ERISA Events which
individually or in the aggregate results in or might reasonably be expected to result in liability
of any Group Member or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in excess of
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$10,000,000 during the term hereof; or (ii) there exists any fact or circumstance that
reasonably could be expected to result in the imposition of a Lien or security interest under
Section 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or under ERISA; or
(k) Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur; or
(l) Guaranties, Collateral Documents and other Credit Documents. At any time after
the execution and delivery thereof, (i) the Guaranty for any reason, other than the satisfaction in
full of all Obligations, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with
its terms) or shall be declared to be null and void or any Guarantor shall repudiate its
obligations thereunder, (ii) this Agreement or any Collateral Document ceases to be in full force
and effect (other than by reason of a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or
thereof or the satisfaction in full of the Obligations in accordance with the terms hereof) or
shall be declared null and void, or Collateral Agent shall not have or shall cease to have a valid
and perfected Lien in any Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents with the
priority required by the relevant Collateral Document, in each case for any reason other than the
failure of Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to take any action within its control, or (iii)
any Credit Party shall contest the validity or enforceability of any Credit Document in writing or
deny in writing that it has any further liability, including with respect to future advances by
Lenders, under any Credit Document to which it is a party;
THEN, (1) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) with
respect to MLP (or, prior to the IPO, MLP, Pipeline or Gathering), automatically, and (2) upon the
occurrence of any other Event of Default, at the request of (or with the consent of) Requisite
Lenders, upon notice to Borrowers by Administrative Agent, (A) the Revolving Commitments, if any,
of each Lender having such Revolving Commitments and the obligation of Issuing Bank to issue any
Revolving Letter of Credit shall immediately terminate; (B) each of the following shall immediately
become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other requirements of
any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Credit Party: (I) the unpaid principal
amount of and accrued interest on the Loans, (II) an amount equal to the maximum amount that may at
any time be drawn under all Letters of Credit then outstanding (regardless of whether any
beneficiary under any such Letter of Credit shall have presented, or shall be entitled at such time
to present, the drafts or other documents or certificates required to draw under such Letters of
Credit), and (III) all other Obligations; provided, the foregoing shall not affect in any
way the obligations of Lenders under Section 2.3(b)(iv) or Section 2.4(d); (C) Administrative Agent
may cause Collateral Agent to enforce any and all Liens and security interests created pursuant to
Collateral Documents; and (D) Administrative Agent shall direct Borrowers to pay (and Borrowers
hereby agree upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified
in Sections 8.1(f) and (g) to pay) to Administrative Agent such additional amounts of cash as
reasonable requested by Issuing Bank, to be held as security for Borrowers’ reimbursement
Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit then outstanding.
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SECTION 9. AGENTS
9.1. Appointment of Agents. Wachovia Bank, National Association is hereby appointed
Syndication Agent hereunder, and each Lender hereby authorizes Wachovia to act as Syndication Agent
in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Credit Documents. GSCP is hereby appointed
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and each
Lender hereby authorizes GSCP to act as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in accordance
with the terms hereof and the other Credit Documents. Each of HSH Nordbank, AG, New York Branch
(“HSH Nordbank”), BNP Paribas, and Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A. are hereby appointed Co-Documentation
Agents hereunder, and each Lender hereby authorizes each of HSH Nordbank, BNP Paribas, and Xxxxx
Fargo Bank, N.A. to act as Co-Documentation Agents in accordance with the terms hereof and the
other Credit Documents. Each Agent hereby agrees to act in its capacity as such upon the express
conditions contained herein and the other Credit Documents, as applicable. The provisions of this
Section 9 are solely for the benefit of Agents and Lenders and no Credit Party shall have any
rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions thereof. In performing its functions
and duties hereunder, each Agent shall act solely as an agent of Lenders and does not assume and
shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with
or for any Group Member. Syndication Agent and the Co-Documentation Agents, without consent of or
notice to any party hereto, may assign any and all of its rights or obligations hereunder to any of
its Affiliates. As of the Restatement Closing, HSH Nordbank, BNP Paribas, and Xxxxx Fargo Bank,
N.A. in their capacities as Co-Documentation Agents and Wachovia in its capacity as Syndication
Agent shall have no obligations but shall be entitled to all benefits of this Section 9.
9.2. Powers and Duties. Each Lender irrevocably authorizes each Agent to take such action on
such Lender’s behalf and to exercise such powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the other
Credit Documents as are specifically delegated or granted to such Agent by the terms hereof and
thereof, together with such powers, rights and remedies as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each
Agent shall have only those duties and responsibilities that are expressly specified herein and the
other Credit Documents. Each Agent may exercise such powers, rights and remedies and perform such
duties by or through its agents or employees. No Agent shall have, by reason hereof or any of the
other Credit Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender; and nothing herein or
any of the other Credit Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as
to impose upon any Agent any obligations in respect hereof or any of the other Credit Documents
except as expressly set forth herein or therein.
9.3. General Immunity.
(a) No Responsibility for Certain Matters. No Agent shall be responsible to any
Lender for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability or
sufficiency hereof or any other Credit Document or for any representations, warranties, recitals or
statements made herein or therein or made in any written or oral statements or in any financial or
other statements, instruments, reports or certificates or any other documents furnished or made by
any Agent to Lenders or by or on behalf of any Credit Party, and Lender or any person providing the
Settlement Service to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the Credit Documents and the
transactions contemplated thereby or for the financial condition or business affairs of any Credit
Party or any other Person liable for the payment of any Obligations, nor
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shall any Agent be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any
of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained in any of the Credit
Documents or as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans or as to the existence or possible
existence of any Event of Default or Default or to make any disclosures with respect to the
foregoing. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Administrative Agent shall
not have any liability arising from confirmations of the amount of outstanding Loans or the Letter
of Credit Usage or the component amounts thereof.
(b) Exculpatory Provisions. No Agent nor any of its officers, partners, directors,
employees or agents shall be liable to Lenders for any action taken or omitted by any Agent under
or in connection with any of the Credit Documents except to the extent caused by such Agent’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Each Agent shall be entitled to refrain from any act or the
taking of any action (including the failure to take an action) in connection herewith or any of the
other Credit Documents or from the exercise of any power, discretion or authority vested in it
hereunder or thereunder unless and until such Agent shall have received instructions in respect
thereof from Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such instructions
under Section 10.5) and, upon receipt of such instructions from Requisite Lenders (or such other
Lenders, as the case may be), such Agent shall be entitled to act or (where so instructed) refrain
from acting, or to exercise such power, discretion or authority, in accordance with such
instructions. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, (i) each Agent shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any communication, instrument or
document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper
Person or Persons, including any Settlement Confirmation or other communication issues by any
Settlement Service, and shall be entitled to rely and shall be protected in relying on opinions and
judgments of attorneys (who may be attorneys for any Group Members), accountants, experts and other
professional advisors selected by it; and (ii) no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever
against any Agent as a result of such Agent acting or (where so instructed) refraining from acting
hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents in accordance with the instructions of Requisite
Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such instructions under Section 10.5).
(c) Delegation of Duties. Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties
and exercise its rights and powers under this Agreement or under any other Credit Document by or
through any one or more sub-agents appointed by Administrative Agent. 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 Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions of this
Section 9.3 and of Section 9.6 shall apply to any the Affiliates of Administrative 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. All of the rights, benefits,
and privileges (including the exculpatory and indemnification provisions) of this Section 9.3 and
of Section 9.6 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of any such sub-agent, and
shall apply to their respective activities as sub-agent as if such sub-agent and Affiliates were
named herein. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent
appointed by Administrative Agent, (i) such sub-agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this
Agreement with respect to all such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights
and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party
beneficiary, including an independent right of action to
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enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to
indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all
of the Credit Parties and the Lenders, (ii) such rights, benefits and privileges (including
exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the
consent of such sub-agent, and (iii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to Administrative
Agent and not to any Credit Party, Lender or any other Person and no Credit Party, Lender or any
other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or
otherwise, against such sub-agent.
9.4. Agents Entitled to Act as Lender. The agency hereby created shall in no way impair or
affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, any Agent in its
individual capacity as a Lender hereunder. With respect to its participation in the Loans and the
Letters of Credit, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender
and may exercise the same as if it were not performing the duties and functions delegated to it
hereunder, and the term “Lender” shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include
each Agent in its individual capacity. Any Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend
money to, own securities of, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory
or other business with any Credit Party or any of its Affiliates as if it were not performing the
duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from such Credit Parties for
services in connection herewith and otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders.
9.5. Lenders’ Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment.
(a) Each Lender represents and warrants that it has made its own independent investigation of
the financial condition and affairs of the Group Members in connection with Credit Extensions
hereunder and that it has made and shall continue to make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness
of the Group Members. No Agent shall have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a
continuing basis, to make any such investigation or any such appraisal on behalf of Lenders or to
provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into
its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter, and no Agent
shall have any responsibility with respect to the accuracy of or the completeness of any
information provided to Lenders.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement, a Conversion Notice,
Lender Addendum, an Assignment or a Joinder Agreement and funding its Series B Term Loan Revolving
Loans on the Restatement Closing Date (or thereafter as contemplated by Section 2.24), shall be
deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit Document and
each other document required to be approved by any Agent, Requisite Lenders or Lenders, as
applicable on the Restatement Closing Date (or on the date of such later funding as contemplated by
Section 2.24).
9.6. Right to Indemnity. Each Lender, in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, severally agrees
to indemnify each Agent, to the extent that such Agent shall not have been reimbursed by any Credit
Party, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) or disbursements of
any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or
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asserted against such Agent in exercising its powers, rights and remedies or performing its
duties hereunder or under the other Credit Documents or otherwise in its capacity as such Agent in
any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents;
provided, no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting
from such Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. If any indemnity furnished to
any Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of such Agent, be insufficient or become impaired,
such Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified
against until such additional indemnity is furnished; provided, in no event shall this
sentence require any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage,
penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such Lender’s Pro Rata
Share thereof; and provided, further, this sentence shall not be deemed to require
any Lender to indemnify any Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action,
judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement described in the proviso in the immediately preceding
sentence.
9.7. Successor Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and Swing Line Lender. Administrative
Agent may resign at any time by giving thirty days’ prior written notice thereof to Lenders and
Borrowers, and Administrative Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause by an
instrument or concurrent instruments in writing delivered to Borrowers and Administrative Agent and
signed by Requisite Lenders. Upon any such notice of resignation or any such removal, Requisite
Lenders shall have the right, upon five Business Days’ notice to and in consultation with
Borrowers, to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as
Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, that successor Administrative
Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and
duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent and the retiring or removed Administrative
Agent shall promptly (i) transfer to such successor Administrative Agent all sums, Securities and
other items of Collateral held under the Collateral Documents, together with all records and other
documents necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of the duties of the
successor Administrative Agent under the Credit Documents, and (ii) execute and deliver to such
successor Administrative Agent such amendments to financing statements, and take such other
actions, as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the assignment to such successor
Administrative Agent of the security interests created under the Collateral Documents, whereupon
such retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder. After any retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder
as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 shall inure to its benefit as to any
actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent hereunder. Any
resignation or removal of GSCP as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also
constitute the resignation or removal of GSCP or its successor as Collateral Agent, and any
successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to this Section shall, upon its acceptance of
such appointment, become the successor Collateral Agent for all purposes hereunder. Any
resignation or removal of GSCP or its successor as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section
shall also constitute the resignation or removal of GSCP or its successor as Swing Line Lender, and
any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to this Section shall, upon its acceptance of
such appointment, become the successor Swing Line Lender for all purposes hereunder. In such event
(a) Borrowers shall prepay any outstanding Swing Line Loans made by the retiring or removed
Administrative Agent in its capacity as Swing Line Lender, (b) upon such prepayment, the
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retiring or removed Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender shall surrender any Swing Line
Note held by it to Borrowers for cancellation, and (c) Borrowers shall issue, if so requested by
successor Administrative Agent and Swing Line Loan Lender, a new Swing Line Note to the successor
Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender, in the principal amount of the Swing Line Loan Sublimit
then in effect and with other appropriate insertions.
9.8. Collateral Documents and Guaranty.
(a) Agents under Collateral Documents and Guaranty. Each Lender hereby further
authorizes Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, on behalf of and for the
benefit of Secured Parties, to be the agent for and representative of Lenders with respect to the
Guaranty, the Collateral and the Collateral Documents. Subject to Section 10.5, without further
written consent or authorization from Lenders, Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as
applicable may execute any documents or instruments necessary to (i) release any Lien encumbering
any item of Collateral that is the subject of a sale or other disposition of assets permitted
hereby or to which Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such consent
under Section 10.5) have otherwise consented or (ii) release any Guarantor from the Guaranty
pursuant to Section 7.12 or with respect to which Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may
be required to give such consent under Section 10.5) have otherwise consented.
(b) Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guaranty. Anything contained in any of
the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrowers, Administrative Agent, Collateral
Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize
upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Guaranty, it being understood and agreed that all
powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by Administrative Agent, on behalf of
Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the
Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by Collateral Agent, and (ii) in the event of a
foreclosure by Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale,
Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of such Collateral at any such
sale and Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of Secured Parties (but not any Lender
or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless Requisite Lenders shall
otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or
payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public
sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any
collateral payable by Collateral Agent at such sale.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1. Notices.
(a) Notices Generally. Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted
to be given to a Credit Party, Syndication Agent, Collateral Agent, Administrative Agent, Swing
Line Lender, Issuing Bank or Documentation Agent, shall be sent to such Person’s address as set
forth on Appendix A or in the other relevant Credit Document, and in the case of any Lender, the
address as indicated on Appendix B or otherwise indicated to Administrative
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Agent in writing. Except as otherwise set forth in paragraph (b) below, each notice hereunder
shall be in writing and may be personally served, telexed or sent by telefacsimile or United States
mail or courier service and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by
courier service and signed for against receipt thereof, upon receipt of telefacsimile or telex, or
three Business Days after depositing it in the United States mail with postage prepaid and properly
addressed; provided, no notice to any Agent shall be effective until received by such
Agent; provided further, any such notice or other communication shall at the
request of Administrative Agent be provided to any sub-agent appointed pursuant to Section 9.3(c)
hereto as designated by Administrative Agent from time to time.
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and
the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including
e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent,
provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Bank
pursuant to Section 2 if such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified
Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic
communication. Administrative Agent or Borrowers 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 Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other
communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an
acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as
available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or
other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or
communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day
for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website
shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as
described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is
available and identifying the website address therefor.
10.2. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated,
Borrowers agree to pay promptly (a) all the actual and reasonable costs and expenses of preparation
of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto; (b)
all the costs of furnishing all opinions by counsel for Borrowers and the other Credit Parties; (c)
the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to Administrative Agent and Collateral
Agent (in each case including allocated costs of internal counsel) in connection with the
negotiation, preparation, execution and administration of the Credit Documents and any consents,
amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and any other documents or matters requested by
Borrowers; (d) all the actual costs and reasonable expenses of creating and perfecting Liens in
favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Lenders pursuant hereto, including filing and
recording fees, expenses and taxes, stamp or documentary taxes, search fees and reasonable fees,
expenses and disbursements of counsel to Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and of counsel
providing any opinions that any Agent or Requisite Lenders may request in respect of the Collateral
or the Liens created pursuant to the Collateral Documents; (e) all the actual costs and reasonable
fees, expenses and disbursements of any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers; (f) all
the actual costs and reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements
of any appraisers, consultants,
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advisors and agents employed or retained by Collateral Agent and its counsel) in connection
with the custody or preservation of any of the Collateral; (g) all other actual and reasonable
costs and expenses incurred by each Agent in connection with the syndication of the Loans and
Commitments and the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Credit Documents and any
consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated
thereby; and (h) after the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, all costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of settlement, incurred by any Agent and Lenders in
enforcing any Obligations of or in collecting any payments due from any Credit Party hereunder or
under the other Credit Documents by reason of such Default or Event of Default (including in
connection with the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon any of the Collateral or
the enforcement of the Guaranty) or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the
credit arrangements provided hereunder in the nature of a “work-out” or pursuant to any insolvency
or bankruptcy cases or proceedings; provided that Agents and Lenders shall use reasonable
efforts, absent conflicts of interest among any such Agents and Lenders, to use joint counsel.
10.3. Indemnity.
(a) In addition to the payment of expenses pursuant to Section 10.2, whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, each Credit Party agrees to defend (subject
to Indemnitees’ selection of counsel), indemnify, pay and hold harmless, each Agent and Lender and
the officers, partners, directors, trustees, employees, agents, sub-agents and Affiliates of each
Agent and each Lender (each, an “Indemnitee”), from and against any and all Indemnified
Liabilities; provided, no Credit Party shall have any obligation to any Indemnitee
hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities
arise from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of that Indemnitee. To the extent
that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section 10.3
may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any law or public policy,
the applicable Credit Party shall contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and
satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities
incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.
(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Credit Party shall assert, and each Credit
Party hereby waives, any claim against Lenders, Agents and their respective Affiliates, directors,
employees, attorneys, agents or sub-agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect,
consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether or not the
claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable legal requirement)
arising out of, in connection with, arising out of, as a result of, or in any way related to, this
Agreement or any Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or
referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use
of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and
Pipeline and Borrowers hereby waive, release and agree not to xxx upon any such claim or any such
damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.
10.4. Set-Off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and
not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default
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each Lender is hereby authorized by each Credit Party at any time or from time to time subject
to the consent of Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
without notice to any Credit Party or to any other Person (other than Administrative Agent), any
such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all
deposits (general or special, including Indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether
matured or unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any time held
or owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party against and on
account of the obligations and liabilities of any Credit Party to such Lender hereunder, the
Letters of Credit and participations therein and under the other Credit Documents, including all
claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected hereto, the Letters of Credit and
participations therein or with any other Credit Document, irrespective of whether or not (a) such
Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or (b) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or
any amounts in respect of the Letters of Credit or any other amounts due hereunder shall have
become due and payable pursuant to Section 2 and although such obligations and liabilities, or any
of them, may be contingent or unmatured.
10.5. Amendments and Waivers.
(a) Requisite Lenders’ Consent. Subject to Sections 10.5(b) and 10.5(c), no
amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, or consent
to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective without the written
concurrence of the Requisite Lenders.
(b) Affected Lenders’ Consent. Without the written consent of each Lender (other than
a Defaulting Lender) that would be affected thereby, no amendment, modification, termination, or
consent shall be effective if the effect thereof would:
(i) extend the scheduled final maturity of any Loan or Note;
(ii) waive, reduce or postpone any scheduled repayment (but not prepayment);
(iii) extend the stated expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the Revolving
Commitment Termination Date;
(iv) reduce the rate of interest on any Loan (other than any waiver of any increase in
the interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.10) or any fee or any premium
payable hereunder;
(v) extend the time for payment of any such interest or fees;
(vi) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or any Reimbursement Obligation in respect
of any Letter of Credit;
(vii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of this Section 10.5(b) or
Section 10.5(c);
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(viii) amend the definition of “Requisite Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share”;
provided, with the consent of Requisite Lenders, additional extensions of credit
pursuant hereto may be included in the determination of “Requisite Lenders” or “Pro Rata
Share” on substantially the same basis as the Term Loan Commitments, the Term Loans, the
Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Loans are included on the Restatement Closing Date;
(ix) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or any of the Guarantors from
the Guaranty except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents; or
(x) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and
obligations under any Credit Document.
(c) Other Consents. No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any
provision of the Credit Documents, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom,
shall:
(i) increase any Revolving Commitment of any Lender over the amount thereof then in
effect without the consent of such Lender; provided, no amendment, modification or
waiver of any condition precedent, covenant, Default or Event of Default shall constitute an
increase in any Revolving Commitment of any Lender;
(ii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision hereof relating to the Swing Line
Sublimit or the Swing Line Loans without the consent of Swing Line Lender;
(iii) amend the definition of “Requisite Class Lenders” without the consent of
Requisite Class Lenders of each Class; provided, with the consent of the Requisite
Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant hereto may be included in the
determination of such “Requisite Class Lenders” on substantially the same basis as the Term
Loan Commitments, the Term Loans, the Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Loans are
included on the Restatement Closing Date;
(iv) alter the required application of any repayments or prepayments as between Classes
pursuant to Section 2.15 without the consent of Requisite Class Lenders of each Class which
is being allocated a lesser repayment or prepayment as a result thereof; provided,
Requisite Lenders may waive, in whole or in part, any prepayment so long as the application,
as between Classes, of any portion of such prepayment which is still required to be made is
not altered;
(v) amend, modify, terminate or waive any obligation of Lenders relating to the
purchase of participations in Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.4(e) without the
written consent of Administrative Agent and of Issuing Bank; or
(vi) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of Section 9 as the same applies
to any Agent, or any other provision hereof as the same applies to the rights or obligations
of any Agent, in each case without the consent of such Agent.
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(d) Execution of Amendments, etc. Administrative Agent may, but shall have no
obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or
consents on behalf of such Lender. Any waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice to or demand on any Credit
Party in any case shall entitle any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in
similar or other circumstances. Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent
effected in accordance with this Section 10.5 shall be binding upon each Lender at the time
outstanding, each future Lender and, if signed by a Credit Party, on such Credit Party.
10.6. Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a) Generally. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the
successors and assigns of Lenders. No Credit Party’s rights or obligations hereunder nor any
interest therein may be assigned or delegated by any Credit Party without the prior written consent
of all Lenders. 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
and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, Affiliates of each of the Agents and Lenders) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Register. Borrowers, Administrative Agent and Lenders shall deem and treat the
Persons listed as Lenders in the Register as the holders and owners of the corresponding
Commitments and Loans listed therein for all purposes hereof, and no assignment or transfer of any
such Commitment or Loan shall be effective, in each case, unless and until recorded in the Register
following receipt of an Assignment Agreement effecting the assignment or transfer thereof, in each
case, as provided in Section 10.6(d). Each assignment shall be recorded in the Register on the
Business Day the Assignment Agreement is received by Administrative Agent, if received by 12:00
noon New York City time, and on the following Business Day if received after such time, prompt
notice thereof shall be provided to Borrowers and a copy of such Assignment Agreement shall be
maintained, as applicable. The date of such recordation of a transfer shall be referred to herein
as the “Assignment Closing Date.” Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time
of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is listed in the Register as a Lender
shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or transferee of the
corresponding Commitments or Loans.
(c) Right to Assign. Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell, assign or
transfer all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, including, without
limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment or Loans owing to it or other Obligations
(provided, however, that each such assignment shall be of a uniform, and not
varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under and in respect of any Loan and any related
Commitments):
(i) to any Person meeting the criteria of clause (i) of the definition of the term of
“Eligible Assignee” upon the giving of notice to Borrowers and Administrative Agent; and
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(ii) to any Person meeting the criteria of clause (ii) of the definition of the term of
“Eligible Assignee” upon giving of notice to Borrowers and Administrative Agent and, in the
case of assignments of Revolving Loans or Revolving Commitments to any such Person (except
in the case of assignments made by or to GSCP), consented to by each of Borrowers and
Administrative Agent (such consent not to be (x) unreasonably withheld or delayed or, (y) in
the case of Borrowers, required at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and then
be continuing); provided, further each such assignment pursuant to this Section
10.6(c)(ii) shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than (A) $2,500,000 (or such lesser
amount as may be agreed to by Borrowers and Administrative Agent or as shall constitute the
aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans of the assigning Lender)
with respect to the assignment of the Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans and (B)
$1,000,000 (or such lesser amount as may be agreed to by Borrowers and Administrative Agent
or as shall constitute the aggregate amount of the Series B Term Loans or New Term Loans of
a series of the assigning Lender) with respect to the assignment of Term Loans.
(d) Mechanics. Subject to the other requirements of this Section 10.6, assignments
and assumptions of Term Loans may also be effected by manual execution delivery to Administrative
Agent of an Assignment Agreement with the prior written consent of each of Borrowers and
Administrative Agent (such consent not to be (x) unreasonably withheld or delayed or (y) in the
case of Borrowers, required at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and then be
continuing). Initially, assignments and assumptions of Term Loans shall be effected by such manual
execution until Administrative Agent notifies Lenders to the contrary. Assignments and assumptions
of Revolving Loans and Revolving Commitments shall only be effected by manual execution and
delivery to Administrative Agent of an Assignment Agreement. Assignments made pursuant to the
foregoing provision shall be effective as of the Assignment Closing Date. In connection with all
assignments there shall be delivered to Administrative Agent such forms, certificates or other
evidence, if any, with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters as the
assignee under such Assignment Agreement may be required to deliver pursuant to Section 2.20(c).
(e) Representations and Warranties of Assignee. Each Lender, upon execution and
delivery hereof or upon succeeding to an interest in the Commitments and Loans, as the case may be,
represents and warrants as of the Restatement Closing Date or as of the Assignment Closing Date
that (i) it is an Eligible Assignee; (ii) it has experience and expertise in the making of or
investing in commitments or loans such as the applicable Commitments or Loans, as the case may be;
and (iii) it will make or invest in, as the case may be, its Commitments or Loans for its own
account in the ordinary course of its business and without a view to distribution of such
Commitments or Loans within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or other federal
securities laws (it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Section 10.6, the
disposition of such Commitments or Loans or any interests therein shall at all times remain within
its exclusive control).
(f) Effect of Assignment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 10.6,
as of the “Assignment Closing Date” (i) the assignee thereunder shall have the rights and
obligations of a “Lender” hereunder to the extent of its interest in the Loans and Commitments as
reflected in the Register and shall thereafter be a party hereto and a “Lender” for all purposes
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hereof; (ii) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations
hereunder have been assigned to the assignee, relinquish its rights (other than any rights which
survive the termination hereof under Section 10.8) and be released from its obligations hereunder
(and, in the case of an assignment covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s
rights and obligations hereunder, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto on the Assignment
Closing Date; provided, anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary
notwithstanding, (y) Issuing Bank shall continue to have all rights and obligations thereof with
respect to such Letters of Credit until the cancellation or expiration of such Letters of Credit
and the reimbursement of any amounts drawn thereunder and (z) such assigning Lender shall continue
to be entitled to the benefit of all indemnities hereunder as specified herein with respect to
matters arising out of the prior involvement of such assigning Lender as a Lender hereunder); (iii)
the Commitments shall be modified to reflect any Commitment of such assignee and any Revolving
Commitment of such assigning Lender, if any; and (iv) if any such assignment occurs after the
issuance of any Note hereunder, the assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness of such
assignment or as promptly thereafter as practicable, surrender its applicable Notes to
Administrative Agent for cancellation, and thereupon Borrowers shall issue and deliver new Notes,
if so requested by the assignee and/or assigning Lender, to such assignee and/or to such assigning
Lender, with appropriate insertions, to reflect the new Revolving Commitments and/or outstanding
Loans of the assignee and/or the assigning Lender.
(g) Participations. Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell one or more
participations to any Person (other than any Group Member or any of its Affiliates) in all or any
part of its Commitments, Loans or in any other Obligation. The holder of any such participation,
other than an Affiliate of the Lender granting such participation, shall not be entitled to require
such Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder except with respect to any amendment,
modification or waiver that would (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Loan, Note or
Letter of Credit (unless such Letter of Credit is not extended beyond the Revolving Commitment
Termination Date) in which such participant is participating, or reduce the rate or extend the time
of payment of interest or fees thereon (except in connection with a waiver of applicability of any
post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the principal amount thereof, or increase the
amount of the participant’s participation over the amount thereof then in effect (it being
understood that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or of a mandatory reduction in the
Commitment shall not constitute a change in the terms of such participation, and that an increase
in any Commitment or Loan shall be permitted without the consent of any participant if the
participant’s participation is not increased as a result thereof), (ii) consent to the assignment
or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or (iii)
release all or substantially all of the Collateral under the Collateral Documents (except as
expressly provided in the Credit Documents) supporting the Loans hereunder in which such
participant is participating. Borrowers agree that each participant shall be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.18(c), 2.19 and 2.20 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had
acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section; provided,
(i) a participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.19 or 2.20
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
Borrowers’ prior written consent and (ii) a participant that would be a Non-US Lender if it were a
Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.20 unless Borrowers are notified of the
participation sold to such participant and such participant agrees, for the
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benefit of Borrowers, to comply with Section 2.20 as though it were a Lender. To the extent
permitted by law, each participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.4 as though
it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17 as though it were
a Lender.
(h) Certain Other Assignments. In addition to any other assignment permitted pursuant
to this Section 10.6, any Lender may assign and/or pledge all or any portion of its Loans, the
other Obligations owed by or to such Lender, and its Notes, if any, to secure obligations of such
Lender including, without limitation, any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to
Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any operating circular
issued by such Federal Reserve Bank; provided, no Lender, as between Borrowers and such
Lender, shall be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of any such assignment
and pledge, and provided further, in no event shall the applicable Federal Reserve
Bank, pledgee or trustee be considered to be a “Lender” or be entitled to require the assigning
Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder.
10.7. Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so
that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that
it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the limitations of, another
covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken
or condition exists.
10.8. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. All representations, warranties
and agreements made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and the making of any
Credit Extension. Notwithstanding anything herein or implied by law to the contrary, the
agreements of each Credit Party set forth in Sections 2.18(c), 2.19, 2.20, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 and
the agreements of Lenders set forth in Sections 2.17, 9.3(b) and 9.6 shall survive the payment of
the Loans, the cancellation or expiration of the Letters of Credit and the reimbursement of any
amounts drawn thereunder, and the termination hereof.
10.9. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of any Agent or any
Lender in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit
Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default
or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or
privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege.
The rights, powers and remedies given to each Agent and each Lender hereby are cumulative and shall
be in addition to and independent of all rights, powers and remedies existing by virtue of any
statute or rule of law or in any of the other Credit Documents or any of the Hedge Agreements. Any
forbearance or failure to exercise, and any delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy
hereunder shall not impair any such right, power or remedy or be construed to be a waiver thereof,
nor shall it preclude the further exercise of any such right, power or remedy.
10.10. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside. Neither any Agent nor any Lender shall be under any
obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Credit Party or any other Person or against or in
payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that any Credit Party makes a payment or
payments to Administrative Agent or Lenders (or to Administrative Agent, on
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behalf of Lenders), or any Agent or Lenders enforce any security interests or exercise their
rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any
part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside
and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law,
any other state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, to the extent of such
recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights
and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect
as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.
10.11. Severability. In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other
Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or
obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
10.12. Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders’ Rights. The obligations of Lenders
hereunder are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitment of any
other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other Credit Document, and no action
taken by Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute Lenders as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at
any time hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall
be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out hereof and it shall not be necessary for
any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
10.13. Headings. Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference
only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive
effect.
10.14. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
10.15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PERSON PARTY
HERETO ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS,
MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN XXX XXXXX, XXXXXX XXX
XXXX XX XXX XXXX. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PERSON PARTY HERETO, FOR ITSELF
AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE
NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS; (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS;
(C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY
REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY AT ITS
ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE
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WITH SECTION 10.1; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO
CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE APPLICABLE CREDIT PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH
COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES
THAT AGENTS AND LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR
TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
10.16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RESPECTIVE
RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY
OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS
LOAN TRANSACTION OR THE LENDER/COMPANY RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. THE SCOPE OF THIS
WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT
AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS,
BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT
EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE
TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND
REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND
VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS
IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A
MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 10.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR
MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS
RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A
WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
10.17. Confidentiality. Each Lender shall hold all non-public information regarding any Group
Members and their businesses obtained by such Lender pursuant to the requirements hereof in
accordance with such Lender’s customary procedures for handling confidential information of such
nature, it being understood and agreed that, in any event, a Lender may make (i) disclosures of
such information to Affiliates of such Lender and to their agents and advisors (and to other
persons authorized by a Lender or Agent to organize, present or disseminate such information in
connection with disclosures otherwise made in accordance with this Section 10.17), (ii) disclosures
of such information reasonably required by any bona fide or potential assignee, transferee or
participant in connection with the contemplated assignment,
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transfer or participation by such Lender of any Loans or any participations therein or by any
direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) in Hedge
Agreements (provided, such counterparties and advisors are advised of and agree to be bound
by the provisions of this Section 10.17), (iii) disclosure to any rating agency when required by
it, provided that, prior to any disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake in writing
to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Credit Parties
received by it from any of the Agents or any Lender, and (iv) disclosures required or requested by
any governmental agency or representative thereof or by the NAIC or pursuant to legal or judicial
process; provided, unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each
Lender shall make reasonable efforts to notify MLP (or, prior to the IPO, Pipeline) of any request
by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection
with any examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of such Lender by such
governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such
information.
10.18. Usury Savings Clause. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the aggregate
interest rate charged with respect to any of the Obligations, including all charges or fees in
connection therewith deemed in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not exceed the
Highest Lawful Rate. If the rate of interest (determined without regard to the preceding sentence)
under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the outstanding amount of the
Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate until the total amount of
interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the
stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition,
if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into
account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have
been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times
been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, MLP and Gathering shall pay to Administrative
Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of
interest which would have been paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of Lenders, MLP and Gathering to conform
strictly to any applicable usury laws. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for, charges, or
receives any consideration which constitutes interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then
any such excess shall be cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such Lender’s
option be applied to the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder or be refunded to MLP and
Gathering.
10.19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
10.20. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution of a
counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by MLP, Pipeline, Gathering and
Administrative Agent of written or telephonic notification of such execution and authorization of
delivery thereof.
10.21. Patriot Act. Each Lender and Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any
Lender) hereby notifies Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is
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required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrowers, which information
includes the name and address of each Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or
Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Borrower in accordance with the Act.
10.22. Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and
words of like import in any Assignment Agreement 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.
10.23. No Liability of General Partner. It is hereby understood and agreed that the General
Partner shall not have any personal liability, as general partner of the MLP or otherwise, for the
payment of any Obligations hereunder or under any other Credit Document. Upon and following the
IPO, and the release of Eagle Rock Energy G&P from its guarantee obligations pursuant to Section
7.12, Eagle Rock Energy G&P, in its capacity as general partner of the General Partner shall not
have any personal liability for the payment of any Obligations hereunder or under any other Credit
Document.
10.24. Consent to IPO. Each Agent and each Lender hereby expressly consents to the IPO on
substantially the terms as set forth in the S-1 and any and all transactions with respect to MLP,
Gathering, Pipeline and/or any of their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates undertaken
substantially concurrently with the IPO and described in the S-1.
10.25. Amendment and Restatement. It is the intention of each of the parties hereto that the
Existing Credit Agreement be amended and restated so as to preserve the perfection and priority of
all security interests securing indebtedness and obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement
and that all Indebtedness and Obligations of each of MLP, Pipeline, Gathering and their respective
Subsidiaries hereunder shall be secured by the Collateral Documents and that this Agreement does
not constitute a novation of the obligations and liabilities existing under the Existing Credit
Agreement. The parties hereto further acknowledge and agree that this Agreement constitutes an
amendment of the Existing Credit Agreement made under and in accordance with the terms of Section
10.5 of the Existing Credit Agreement. In addition, unless specifically amended hereby, each of
the Credit Documents, the Exhibits and Schedules to the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue in
full force and effect and that, from and after the Restatement Closing Date, all references to the
“Credit Agreement” contained therein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement.
10.26. Reaffirmation and Grant of Security Interests.
(a) Each Credit Party (other than MLP and Gathering) has (i) guaranteed the
Obligations and (ii) created Liens in favor of Lenders on certain Collateral to secure its
obligations hereunder, under Article Seven hereof and the Pledge and Security Agreement,
respectively. Each Credit Party hereby acknowledges
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that it has reviewed the terms and provisions of this Agreement and consents to the
amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement effected pursuant to this
Agreement. Each Credit Party hereby (i) confirms that each Credit Document to which it is
a party or is otherwise bound and all Collateral encumbered thereby will continue to
guarantee or secure, as the case may be, to the fullest extent possible in accordance with
the Credit Documents, the payment and performance of the Obligations, as the case may be,
including without limitation the payment and performance of all such Obligations which are
joint and several obligations of each grantor now or hereafter existing, and (ii) grants
to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing lien on and
security interest in and to such Credit Party’s right, title and interest in, to and under
all Collateral as collateral security for the prompt payment and performance in full when
due of the Obligations (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise).
(b) Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that any of the Credit Documents to
which it is a party or otherwise bound shall continue in full force and effect and that
all of its obligations thereunder shall be valid and enforceable and shall not be impaired
or limited by the execution or effectiveness of the amendment and restatement of the
Existing Credit Agreement. Each Credit Party represents and warrants that all
representations and warranties contained in the Credit Documents to which it is a party or
otherwise bound are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the
Restatement Closing Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except
to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date,
in which case they were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of
such earlier date.
10.27. Lender Addendum. Each Additional Lender shall become a party to this Agreement by
delivering to Administrative Agent a Lender Addendum duly executed by such Lender.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and
delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written
above.
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Borrower:
EAGLE ROCK GAS GATHERING & PROCESSING, LTD.
By: Eagle Rock Energy G&P, LLC, its general partner
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President - Corporate Development |
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Borrower:
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Eagle Rock Energy GP, L.P., its general partner
By: Eagle Rock Energy G&P, LLC, its general partner
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President - Corporate Development |
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Guarantor:
EAGLE ROCK MIDSTREAM RESOURCES, L.P.
By: Eagle Rock Ventures GP, LLC, its general partner
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By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President - Corporate Development |
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Guarantor: |
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EAGLE ROCK OPERATING, L.P. |
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By: Eagle Rock Energy G&P, LLC, its general partner |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: Senior Vice President — Corporate Development |
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Guarantor: |
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EAGLE ROCK FIELD SERVICES, L.P. |
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By: Eagle Rock Energy G&P, LLC, its general partner |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: Senior Vice President — Corporate Development |
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Guarantor: |
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EAGLE ROCK ENERGY SERVICES, L.P. |
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By: Eagle Rock Energy G&P, LLC, its general partner |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: Senior Vice President — Corporate Development |
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Guarantor: |
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EAGLE ROCK PIPELINE, L.P., |
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By: Eagle Rock Pipeline GP, LLC, its general partner |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: Senior Vice President — Corporate Development |
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Guarantor: |
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EAGLE ROCK ENERGY G&P, LLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: Senior Vice President — Corporate Development |
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Guarantor: |
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HEATHROW ENERGY, LLC |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Title: Senior Vice President — Corporate Development |
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XXXXXXX XXXXX CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., |
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as Lead Arranger, Sole Book Runner, |
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Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent |
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By:
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/s/ XX Xxxxxx |
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Authorized Signatory |
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WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, |
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as Syndication Agent |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
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Title: Director |
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HSH NORDBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, |
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as Co-Documentation Agent |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
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Title: Senior Vice President |
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HSH Nordbank AG, New York Branch |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx |
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Title: Vice President |
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HSH Nordbank AG, New York Branch |
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XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
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as Co-Documentation Agent |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
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Title: Vice President |
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BNP PARIBAS, |
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as Co-Documentation Agent |
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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Title: Director |
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/s/ Xxxx Xxx |
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Name: Xxxx Xxx |
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Title: Director |
Notice Addresses
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.
EAGLE ROCK GAS GATHERING & PROCESSING, LTD.
EAGLE ROCK OPERATING, L.P.
EAGLE ROCK FIELD SERVICES, L.P.
EAGLE ROCK PIPELINE, L.P.
EAGLE ROCK MIDSTREAM RESOURCES, L.P.
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY SERVICES, L.P.
EAGLE ROCK ENERGY G & P, LLC
HEATHROW ENERGY, LLC
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx XxxxXxxxxx
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
in each case, with a copy to:
Natural Gas Partners
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
A-1
XXXXXXX XXXXX CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.,
as
Lead Arranger, Administrative Agent,
Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender, and a Lender
Xxxxxxx Sachs Credit Partners, L.P.
0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Sachs Credit Partners, L.P.
0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Email: xxx.xxxx@xx.xxx
X-0
XXX XXXXXXXX XX, XXX XXXX BRANCH,
as Co-Documentation Agent
HSH Nordbank AG, New York Branch
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Email: Xxxxx.Xxxxx@xxx-xxxxxxxx.xxx
A-3
BNP Paribas,
as Co-Documentation Agent
BNP Paribas
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
A-4
XXXXX FARGO BANK, NA
as Co-Documentation Agent
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx or Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
A-5