UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) May 23, 2005
PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Oregon |
Commission File Number |
93-0256820 |
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
1-5532-99 |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
121 SW Salmon Street, Portland, Oregon 97204
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (503) 464-8000
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: |
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Section 2 - Financial Information
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under
an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
Credit Facility
On May 27, 2005, Portland General Electric Company (PGE, or the Company) entered into a $400 million five-year, unsecured, revolving credit facility (Facility) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and various banks. The Facility will be available for general corporate purposes and replaces the Company's $50 million 364-day and $100 million three-year revolving credit facilities. The maximum amount of the Facility is available to PGE for borrowings and/or the issuance of standby letters of credit. The Facility allows the Company to borrow for one, two, three or six months at a fixed interest rate established at the time of the borrowing or at a variable interest rate for any period up to the then remaining term of the Facility. The Facility provides that all outstanding loans mature on the termination date of the Facility, provided that the Company may annually extend the termination date for an additional year upon approval of the lenders holding a majority of t he total commitments under the Facility. The Facility requires annual facility fees based on PGE's unsecured credit rating, and contains customary covenants and default provisions, including a requirement that limits consolidated indebtedness, as defined in the facilities, to 65% of total capitalization.
Section 8 - Other Events
Item 8.01 Other Events
Trojan Decommissioning
On May 23, 2005, following the completion of radiological decommissioning of the Trojan Nuclear Plant (Trojan), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the termination of Trojan's Facility Operating License and released the plant site for unrestricted use. In addition, pursuant to the determination by Oregon's Energy Facility Siting Council that the radiological decommissioning of Trojan is complete and the site meets all criteria for unrestricted release, the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) has amended applicable Oregon Administrative Rules to reflect the termination of Trojan's operating license. As a condition of the termination, PGE is required to maintain $100 million in nuclear liability insurance coverage until all radioactive material has been removed and transported from the location, or until the NRC authorizes the termination or modification of such financial protection.
PGE maintains a separate NRC license to store spent nuclear fuel in an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation at the Trojan plant site until a federal waste repository is completed and spent fuel is removed from the site. The storage facility continues to be monitored by PGE, the NRC, and the ODOE to ensure safe storage.
Information Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the time the statements are made and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, political developments affecting federal and state regulatory agencies, and developments with respect to the bankruptcy of Enron Corp. Except as required by law, Portland General Elec tric Company does not under-take any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit Description
(4) Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures
4.1 Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2005, among Portland General Electric Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and a group of lenders
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY |
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(Registrant) |
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June 2, 2005 |
By: |
/s/ James J. Piro |
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James J. Piro Executive Vice President, Finance Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
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June 2, 2005 |
By: |
/s/ Kirk M. Stevens |
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Kirk M. Stevens Controller and Assistant Treasurer |
EXHIBIT 4.1
FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF MAY 27, 2005
AMONG
PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,
THE LENDERS,
AND
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
AS SYNDICATION AGENT,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Deutsche Bank SECURITIES INC.
AND
WACHOVIA BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENTS,
AND
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
J.P. Morgan Securities INC
.LEAD ARRANGER AND SOLE BOOK RUNNER
ARTICLE II THE CREDITS 11
2.1 The Facility 11
2.2 Advances 11
2.3 Reductions of the Aggregate Commitment 12
2.4 Method of Borrowing 13
2.5 Facility Fee; Utilization Fee 13
2.6 Minimum Amount of Each Advance 13
2.7 Optional Principal Payments 13
2.8 Changes in Interest Rate, etc 14
2.9 Rates Applicable After Default 14
2.10 Method of Payment 14
2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness; Recordkeeping 15
2.12 Telephonic Notices 15
2.13 Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis 15
2.14 Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment Reductions 16
2.15 Lending Installations 16
2.16 Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent 16
2.17 Replacement of Lender 16
2.18 Facility LCs 17
2.19 Extension of Final Termination Date 21
ARTICLE III YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES 22
3.1 Yield Protection 22
3.2 Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations 23
3.3 Availability of Types of Advances 23
3.4 Funding Indemnification 23
3.5 Taxes 24
3.6 Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity 26
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 26
4.1 Effectiveness 26
4.2 Each Credit Extension 27
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 27
5.1 Corporate Existence 28
5.2 Litigation and Contingent Obligations 28
5.3 No Breach 28
5.4 Corporate Action 28
5.5 Approvals 28
5.6 Use of Loans 29
5.7 ERISA 29
5.8 Taxes 29
5.9 Subsidiaries 29
5.10 No Material Adverse Change 29
5.11 Financial Statements 30
5.12 No Material Misstatements 30
5.13 Properties 30
5.14 Contracts 30
5.15 Environmental Matters 30
5.16 Investment Company Act 31
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS 31
6.1 Preservation of Existence and Business 31
6.2 Preservation of Property 31
6.3 Payment of Taxes 31
6.4 Compliance with Applicable Laws and Contracts 31
6.5 Preservation of Loan Document Enforceability 32
6.6 Insurance 32
6.7 Use of Proceeds 32
6.8 Visits, Inspections and Discussions 32
6.9 Information to Be Furnished 32
6.10 Liens 34
6.11 Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio 36
6.12 Merger or Consolidation 36
6.13 Disposition of Assets 36
ARTICLE VII DEFAULTS 36
ARTICLE VIII ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES 38
8.1 Acceleration; Facility LC Collateral Account 38
8.2 Amendments 39
8.3 Preservation of Rights 40
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS 40
9.1 Survival of Representations 40
9.2 Governmental Regulation 40
9.3 Headings 40
9.4 Entire Agreement 40
9.5 Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement 41
9.6 Expenses; Indemnification 41
9.7 Numbers of Documents 42
9.8 Accounting 42
9.9 Severability of Provisions 42
9.10 Nonliability of Lenders 42
9.11 Confidentiality 42
9.12 Nonreliance 43
9.13 Disclosure 43
9.14 USA PATRIOT ACT NOTIFICATION 43
ARTICLE X THE AGENT 43
10.1 Appointment; Nature of Relationship 43
10.2 Powers 44
10.3 General Immunity 44
10.4 Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc 44
10.5 Action on Instructions of Lenders 44
10.6 Employment of Agents and Counsel 44
10.7 Reliance on Documents; Counsel 45
10.8 Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification 45
10.9 Notice of Default 45
10.10 Rights as a Lender 45
10.11 Lender Credit Decision 46
10.12 Successor Agent 46
10.13 Agent and Arranger Fees 47
10.14 Delegation to Affiliates 47
10.15 Other Agents 47
ARTICLE XI SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS 47
11.1 Setoff 47
11.2 Ratable Payments 47
ARTICLE XII BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS 48
12.1 Successors and Assigns 48
12.2 Participations 48
12.3 Assignments 49
12.4 Dissemination of Information 49
12.5 Tax Treatment 50
12.6 Designation of SPVs 50
ARTICLE XIII NOTICES 51
13.1 Notices 51
13.2 Change of Address 52
ARTICLE XIV COUNTERPARTS 52
ARTICLE XV CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION 52
15.1 CHOICE OF LAW 52
15.2 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION 52
ARTICLE XVI TERMINATION OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS 53
This Five Year CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of May 27, 2005, is among Portland General Electric Company (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions from time to time parties hereto as lenders (collectively, together with their respective successors and assigns, the "Lenders") and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
As used in this Agreement:
"Advance" means a borrowing hereunder (i) made by the Lenders on the same Borrowing Date, or (ii) converted or continued by the Lenders on the same date of conversion or continuation, consisting, in either case, of the aggregate amount of the several Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, for the same Interest Period.
"Affected Lender" is defined in Section 2.17.
"Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person owns 10% or more of any class of voting securities (or other voting ownership interests) of the controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through ownership of stock, by contract or otherwise.
"Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as administrative agent for and contractual representative of the Lenders pursuant to Article X, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor Agent appointed pursuant to Article X.
"Aggregate Commitment" means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders, as changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
"Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure" means, at any time, the aggregate of the Outstanding Credit Exposure of all the Lenders.
"Agreement" means this Credit Agreement, as amended or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Agreement Accounting Principles" means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 5.11.
"Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate of interest per annum equal to the higher of (i) the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the sum of the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day plus 0.5% per annum.
"Applicable Margin" means the percentage rate per annum opposite the heading "Applicable Margin" in the Pricing Schedule which is applicable at such time.
"Arranger" means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and its successors, in its capacity as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner.
"Article" means an article of this Agreement unless another document is specifically referenced.
"Benefit Plan" of any Person, means, at any time, any employee benefit plan (including a Multiemployer Benefit Plan), the funding requirements of which (under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) are, or at any time within six years immediately preceding the time in question were, in whole or in part, the responsibility of such Person.
"Borrower" is defined in the preamble.
"Borrowing Date" means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.
"Borrowing Notice" is defined in Section 2.2.3.
"Business Day" means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate selection of Eurodollar Advances, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in New York for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities, interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system and dealings in United States dollars are carried on in the London interbank market and (ii) for all other purposes, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in New York for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities and interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system.
"Capitalized Lease" of a Person means any lease of Property by such Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.
"Capitalized Lease Obligations" of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.
"Change" is defined in Section 3.2.
"Change in Control" means the acquisition by any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Enron Corp.), or two or more Persons acting in concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Borrower; provided that the transfer of the outstanding shares of stock of the Borrower to a trust, the disbursing agent, the Disputed Claims Reserve or the Disputed Claims Reserve Overseers substantially in accordance with the plan of reorganization with respect to Enron Corp. filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court prior to the date of this Agreement shall not be considered a "Change in Control."
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Collateral Shortfall Amount" is defined in Section 8.1.
"Commitment" means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Loans to, and participate in Facility LCs issued upon the application of, the Borrower in an aggregate amount not exceeding the amount set forth on Schedule 3 or as set forth in any Notice of Assignment relating to any assignment that has become effective pursuant to Section 12.3.2, as such amount may be modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
"Consolidated Indebtedness" means at any time all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time.
"Conversion/Continuation Notice" is defined in Section 2.2.4.
"Credit Extension" means the making of an Advance or the issuance of a Facility LC hereunder.
"Debt" means any Liability that constitutes "debt" or "Debt" under Section 101(11) of the United States Bankruptcy Code or under the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any analogous applicable law, rule or regulation, Governmental Approval, order writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental authority or agency.
"Default" means an event described in Article VII.
"Disclosure Documents" means the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.
"Effective Date" is defined in Section 4.1.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to (i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on human health, (iii) emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or land, or (iv) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any rule or regulation issued thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person, including a Subsidiary or other Affiliate of such first Person, that is a member of any group of organizations within the meaning of Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of which such first Person is a member.
"Eurodollar Advance" means an Advance which bears interest at a Eurodollar Rate requested by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2.
"Eurodollar Base Rate" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance for the relevant Interest Period, the applicable British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars appearing on Reuters Screen FRBD as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, and having a maturity equal to such Interest Period, provided that, (i) if Reuters Screen FRBD is not available to the Agent for any reason, the applicable Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall instead be the applicable British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars as reported by any other generally recognized financial information service as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, and having a maturity equal to such Interest Period, and (ii) if no such British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rate is available to the Agent, the appli cable Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall instead be the rate determined by the Agent to be the rate at which JPMorgan or one of its Affiliate banks offers to place deposits in U.S. dollars with first-class banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, in the approximate amount of JPMorgan's relevant Eurodollar Loan and having a maturity equal to such Interest Period.
"Eurodollar Loan" means a Loan which bears interest at a Eurodollar Rate requested by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2.
"Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance for the relevant Interest Period, the sum of (i) the quotient of (a) the Eurodollar Base Rate applicable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one minus the Reserve Requirement (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such Interest Period, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.
"Excluded Taxes" means, in the case of each Lender or applicable Lending Installation and the Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by either (i) the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the Agent is incorporated or organized or (ii) the jurisdiction in which the Agent's or such Lender's principal executive office or such Lender's applicable Lending Installation is located.
"Exhibit" refers to an exhibit to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.
"Existing Agreements" means each of (i) the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of May 24, 2004, as amended, among the Borrower, various financial institutions and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent, and (ii) the Three Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 24, 2004, as amended, among the Borrower, various financial institutions and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent.
"Existing Letters of Credit" means the letters of credit listed on Schedule 2.
"Facility" means the credit facility established under this Agreement.
"Facility Fee Rate" means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum opposite the heading "Facility Fee Rate" in the Pricing Schedule which is applicable at such time.
"Facility LC" is defined in Section 2.18.1.
"Facility LC Application" is defined in Section 2.18.3.
"Facility LC Collateral Account" is defined in Section 2.18.11.
"Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, an interest rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Agent in its sole discretion.
"Final Termination Date" means the latest Scheduled Termination Date for any Lender or any earlier date on which the Aggregate Commitment is reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.
"Floating Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate for such day, changing when and as the Alternate Base Rate changes.
"Floating Rate Advance" means an Advance which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.9, bears interest at the Floating Rate.
"Governmental Approval" means any authorization, consent, approval, license or exception of, registration or filing with, or report or notice to, any governmental unit.
"Granting Lender" is defined in Section 12.6.
"Guaranty" of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement (including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating agreement, take or pay contract, application for a Letter of Credit or the obligations of any such Person as general partner of a partnership with respect to the liabilities of the partnership) by which such Person (i) assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person, (ii) agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person, or (iii) otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss.
"Indebtedness" of a Person means such Person's (i) obligations for borrowed money, (ii) obligations representing the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of such Person's business payable on terms customary in the trade), (iii) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out of the proceeds or production from Property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person, (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes, bankers' acceptances, or other instruments, (v) obligations of such Person to purchase accounts, securities or other Property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar accounts, securities or Property, (vi) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (vii) any other obligation for borrowed money or other financial accommodation which in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles would be shown as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person, (viii) net liabilities under interest rate swap, exchange or cap agreements, obligations or other liabilities with respect to accounts or notes, (ix) sale and leaseback transactions which do not create a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person, (x) other transactions which are the functional equivalent, or take the place, of borrowing but which do not constitute a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and (xi) Guaranties; provided that there shall be excluded from this definition (x) (except for the purposes of Section 7.5) Interest Deferral Obligations up to an amount outstanding at any one time equal to 15% of the amount described in clause (a) of the definition of "Total Capitalization," excluding in the calculation thereof for the purposes of this proviso, however, preferred and preference stock, and (y) the agreements listed on Schedule 4 and similar agreements entered into for the operation and maintenance of power plants or th e purchase of power or transmission services.
"Interest Deferral Obligations" means obligations and guaranties related thereto, which obligations and guaranties are junior and subordinated in all respects to all amounts owing under the Loan Documents, that contain provisions allowing the obligor to extend the interest payment period from time to time and defer any interest payments (however denominated) due during such extended interest payment period.
"Interest Period" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance, a period of one, two, three or six months commencing on a Business Day selected by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end on the day which corresponds numerically to such date one, two, three or six months thereafter, provided that if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such next, second, third or sixth succeeding month, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such next, second, third or sixth succeeding month. If a Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day, provided that if said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that would extend beyond the Sche duled Termination Date of any Lender.
"JPMorgan" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.
"LC Fee" is defined in Section 2.18.4.
"LC Fee Rate" means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum opposite the heading "LC Fee Rate" in the Pricing Schedule which is applicable at such time.
"LC Issuer" means JPMorgan (or any subsidiary or affiliate of JPMorgan designated by JPMorgan) or U.S. Bank National Association, as applicable, in its capacity as issuer of Facility LCs hereunder and any other Lender which, with the consent of the Agent and the Borrower, agrees to be an issuer of Facility LCs hereunder.
"LC Obligations" means, at any time, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the aggregate undrawn stated amount under all Facility LCs outstanding at such time plus (ii) the aggregate unpaid amount of all Reimbursement Obligations at such time.
"LC Payment Date" is defined in Section 2.18.5.
"Lenders" is defined in the preamble.
"Lending Installation" means, with respect to a Lender or the Agent, the office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Agent listed on Schedule 13.1 or otherwise selected by such Lender or the Agent pursuant to Section 2.15.
"Letter of Credit" of a Person means a letter of credit or similar instrument which is issued upon the application of such Person or upon which such Person is an account party or for which such Person is in any way liable.
"Lien" means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale, Capitalized Lease or other title retention agreement).
"Loan" means, with respect to a Lender, any loan made by such Lender pursuant to Article II (including, in the case of a loan made pursuant to Section 2.2, any conversion or continuation thereof).
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement, each Note and each Facility LC Application.
"Margin Stock" means margin stock as defined in Regulation U.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Agent or the Lenders thereunder, it being understood that if the Moody's Rating and/or the S&P Rating (as such terms are defined in the Pricing Schedule) is downgraded to Baa3 or below or BBB- or below, respectively, such downgrade in and of itself shall not constitute a Material Adverse Effect (but shall only constitute a Material Adverse Effect if such downgrade results in a material adverse effect of the type described in clause (i) or (ii) above).
"Material Indebtedness" is defined in Section 7.5.
"Money Transfer Instructions" is defined in Section 4.1(vi).
"Mortgage" is defined in Section 6.10(v).
"Multiemployer Benefit Plan" means any Benefit Plan that is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
"Note" is defined in Section 2.11.
"Notice of Assignment" is defined in Section 12.3.2.
"Obligations" means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all Reimbursement Obligations, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders or to any Lender, the Agent, any LC Issuer or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.
"Other Agents" is defined in Section 10.15.
"Other Taxes" is defined in Section 3.5(ii).
"Outstanding Credit Exposure" means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of its Loans outstanding at such time, plus (ii) an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the LC Obligations at such time.
"Participants" is defined in Section 12.2.1.
"Payment Date" means the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.
"Person" means any natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, association, enterprise, trust or other entity or organization, or any government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.
"Pricing Schedule" means Schedule 1 attached hereto.
"Prime Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of interest announced by JPMorgan from time to time, changing when and as said prime rate changes.
"Property" of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned or leased by such Person.
"Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage that the amount of such Lender's Commitment is of the Aggregate Commitment (or, if the Commitments have terminated, that such Lender's Outstanding Credit Exposure is of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure).
"PUHCA" means the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
"Purchasers" is defined in Section 12.3.1.
"Reportable Event" means a reportable event described in Section 4043 of ERISA.
"Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to reserve requirements applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.
"Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.
"Reimbursement Obligations" means, at any time, the aggregate of all obligations of the Borrower then outstanding under Section 2.18 to reimburse the applicable LC Issuer for amounts paid by such LC Issuer in respect of any one or more drawings under Facility LCs.
"Required Lenders" means Lenders in the aggregate having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, Lenders in the aggregate holding more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure.
"Reserve Requirement" means, with respect to an Interest Period, the maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic, supplemental, marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on Eurocurrency liabilities.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Schedule" refers to a specific schedule to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.
"Scheduled Termination Date" means, for any Lender, May 27, 2010 or such later date as may be established for such Lender pursuant to Section 2.19.
"Section" means a numbered section of this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.
"Significant Subsidiary" means a "significant subsidiary" (as defined in Regulation S-X of the SEC as in effect on the date of this Agreement) of the Borrower.
"SPV" is defined in Section 12.6.
"Subsidiary" of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
"Substantial Portion" means, with respect to the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Property which (i) represents more than 10% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as would be shown in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the month in which such determination is made, or (ii) is responsible for more than 10% of the consolidated net sales or of the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial statements referred to in clause (i) above.
"Tax-Free Debt" means Debt of the Borrower to a state, territory or possession of the United States or any political subdivision thereof issued in a transaction in which such state, territory, possession or political subdivision issued obligations the interest on which is excludable from gross income pursuant to the provisions of Section 103 of the Code (or similar provisions), as in effect at the time of issuance of such obligations, and debt to a bank issuing a letter of credit with respect to the principal of or interest on such obligations.
"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, charges or withholdings imposed by or payable to any governmental or regulatory authority or agency, and any and all liabilities with respect to the foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.
"Total Capitalization" means, at any time, the sum of the following for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles (without duplication and excluding minority interests in Subsidiaries):
(a) the amount of capital stock, including preferred and preference stock (less cost of treasury shares), plus any amounts deducted from stockholders' equity as unearned compensation on the Borrower's balance sheet, plus (or minus in the case of a deficit) capital surplus and earned surplus, but including current sinking fund obligations; plus
(b) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Interest Deferral Obligations excluded by the proviso in the definition of "Indebtedness"; plus
(c) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Consolidated Indebtedness.
"Transferee" is defined in Section 12.4.
"Type" means, with respect to any Advance, its nature as a Floating Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Advance.
"Unmatured Default" means an event which but for the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.
The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
2.1.1 Description of Facility. The Lenders grant to the Borrower a revolving credit facility pursuant to which, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth:
(i) each Lender severally agrees to make Loans to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2;
(ii) the LC Issuers agree to issue Facility LCs for the account of the Borrower; and
(iii) each Lender severally agrees to participate in Facility LCs issued upon the request of the Borrower.
2.1.2 Amount of Facility. In no event may the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure exceed the Aggregate Commitment.
2.1.3 Availability of Facility. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Facility is available from the date hereof to the Final Termination Date, and the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow, and (subject to Section 2.18.1) obtain Facility LCs, at any time prior to the Final Termination Date; provided that, if not earlier terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, the Commitment of each Lender shall expire on such Lender's Scheduled Termination Date.
2.1.4 Repayment of Facility. The Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure and all other unpaid Obligations shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the Final Termination Date; provided that, if not earlier paid in accordance with the terms hereof, all of the Loans of each Lender and all other Obligations owed to such Lender shall be paid on such Lender's Scheduled Termination Date.
2.2.1 Advances. Each Advance hereunder shall consist of Loans made by the several Lenders ratably in proportion to the ratio that their respective Commitments bear to the Aggregate Commitment.
2.2.2 Types of Advances. The Advances may be Floating Rate Advances or Eurodollar Advances, or a combination thereof, as selected by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2.3.
2.2.3 Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for Advances. The Borrower shall select the Type of Advance and, in the case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period applicable thereto, from time to time. The Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable notice (a "Borrowing Notice") not later than 11:30 a.m. (New York time) at least one Business Day before the Borrowing Date of each Floating Rate Advance and at least three Business Days before the Borrowing Date for each Eurodollar Advance. Each Borrowing Notice shall specify:
(i) the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such Advance,
(ii) the aggregate amount of such Advance,
(iii) the Type of Advance selected, and
(iv) in the case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period applicable thereto.
2.2.4 Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances. Floating Rate Advances shall continue as Floating Rate Advances unless and until such Floating Rate Advances are either converted into Eurodollar Advances in accordance with this Section 2.2.4 or are repaid in accordance with Section 2.7. Each Eurodollar Advance shall continue as a Eurodollar Advance until the end of the then applicable Interest Period therefor, at which time such Eurodollar Advance shall be automatically converted into a Floating Rate Advance unless (x) such Eurodollar Advance is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.7 or (y) the Borrower shall have given the Agent a Conversion/Continuation Notice (as defined below) requesting that, at the end of such Interest Period, such Eurodollar Advance continue as a Eurodollar Advance for the same or another Interest Period. Subject to the terms of Section 2.6, the Borrower may elect from time to time to convert all or any part of a Fl oating Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Advance. The Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable notice (a "Conversion/Continuation Notice") of each conversion of a Floating Rate Advance into a Eurodollar Advance, or continuation of a Eurodollar Advance, not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York time) at least three Business Days prior to the date of the requested conversion or continuation, specifying:
(i) the requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such conversion or continuation,
(ii) the aggregate amount and Type of the Advance which is to be converted or continued, and
(iii) the amount of such Advance which is to be converted or continued as a Eurodollar Advance and the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
2.3 Reductions of the Aggregate Commitment.
(a) The Borrower may permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment (i) in part ratably among the Lenders in integral multiples of $5,000,000, upon at least five Business Days' written notice to the Agent, which notice shall specify the amount of any such reduction, or (ii) in whole upon at least one Business Days' written notice to the Agent, provided that in either case the amount of the Aggregate Commitment may not be reduced below the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure.
(b) The Aggregate Commitment shall automatically be reduced to zero immediately upon the occurrence of a Change in Control.
(c) On the Scheduled Termination Date for each Lender, the Aggregate Commitment shall be reduced by the amount of the Commitment of such Lender as in effect immediately prior to such date (and the Pro Rata Shares of the Lenders shall be adjusted accordingly).
2.5 Facility Fee; Utilization Fee.
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a utilization fee at a per annum rate equal to 0.10% on the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure for each day on which the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure exceeds 50% of the Aggregate Commitment, payable on each Payment Date and on the Final Termination Date.
2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness; Recordkeeping.
(i) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(ii) Upon the request of any Lender, the Loans made by such Lender also may be evidenced by a promissory note in favor of each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit E (a "Note"). In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to the order of such Lender.
(iii) The Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (a) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period with respect thereto, (b) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (c) the original stated amount of each Facility LC and the amount of LC Obligations outstanding at any time, and (d) the amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.
(iv) The entries set forth in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (i) and (iii) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the Obligations therein recorded and outstanding hereunder; provided that the failure of the Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Obligations in accordance with their terms.
2.18.1 Issuance. Each LC Issuer hereby agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to issue standby letters of credit (together with the Existing Letters of Credit, collectively the "Facility LCs" and individually each a "Facility LC") and to renew, extend, increase, decrease or otherwise modify Facility LCs ("Modify," and each such action a "Modification") issued by such LC Issuer from time to time from and including the date of this Agreement and prior to the date that is seven Business Days prior to the Final Termination Date upon the request of the Borrower; provided that immediately after each such Facility LC is issued or Modified, (i) the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment and (ii) the undrawn stated amount of all Facility LCs ending after the next Scheduled Termination Date for any Lender shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments of all Lenders that have later Scheduled Termination Dates. No Facility LC shall have an expiry date later than the earlier of (a) 12 months after its issuance and (b) the scheduled Final Termination Date. On the Effective Date, all Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto.
2.18.2 Participations. Upon the issuance or Modification of a Facility LC in accordance with this Section 2.18 (or, in the case of the Existing Letters of Credit, on the date of this Agreement), the applicable LC Issuer shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably sold to each Lender, and each Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from such LC Issuer, a participation in such Facility LC (and each Modification thereof) and the related LC Obligations in proportion to its Pro Rata Share.
2.18.3 Notice. Subject to Section 2.18.1, the Borrower shall give the applicable LC Issuer notice prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) at least three Business Days prior to the proposed date of issuance or Modification of each Facility LC, specifying the beneficiary, the proposed date of issuance (or Modification) and the expiry date of such Facility LC, and describing the proposed terms of such Facility LC and the nature of the transactions proposed to be supported thereby. Upon receipt of such notice, such LC Issuer shall promptly notify the Agent, and the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender, of the contents thereof and of the amount of such Lender's participation in such proposed Facility LC. The issuance or Modification by an LC Issuer of any Facility LC shall, in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV (the satisfaction of which such LC Issuer shall have no duty to ascertain), be subject to the conditions precedent that such Facility LC sha ll be satisfactory to such LC Issuer and that the Borrower shall have executed and delivered such application agreement and/or such other instruments and agreements relating to such Facility LC as such LC Issuer shall have reasonably requested (each a "Facility LC Application"). In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Facility LC Application, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
2.18.4 LC Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares, with respect to each Facility LC, a letter of credit fee (the "LC Fee") at a per annum rate equal to the LC Fee Rate in effect from time to time on the undrawn stated amount available under such Facility LC, such fee to be payable in arrears on each Payment Date. The Borrower shall also pay to each LC Issuer for its own account (x) a fronting fee in the amount agreed to by such LC Issuer and the Borrower from time to time (but not more than 0.125% per annum), with such fee to be payable in arrears on each Payment Date, and (y) documentary and processing charges in connection with the issuance or Modification of and draws under Facility LCs in accordance with such LC Issuer's standard schedule for such charges as in effect from time to time.
2.18.5 Administration; Reimbursement by Lenders. Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Facility LC of any demand for payment under such Facility LC, the applicable LC Issuer shall notify the Agent and the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each other Lender as to the amount to be paid by such LC Issuer as a result of such demand and the proposed payment date (the "LC Payment Date"). The responsibility of the applicable LC Issuer to the Borrower and each Lender shall be only to determine that the documents (including each demand for payment) delivered under each Facility LC in connection with such presentment shall be in conformity in all material respects with such Facility LC. Each LC Issuer shall endeavor to exercise the same care in its issuance and administration of Facility LCs as it does with respect to letters of credit in which no participations are granted, it being understood that in the absence of any gross negligence or willful misconduct by an LC Iss uer, each Lender shall be unconditionally and irrevocably obligated, without regard to the occurrence of any Default or any condition precedent whatsoever, to reimburse such LC Issuer on demand for (i) such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the amount of each payment made by such LC Issuer under each applicable Facility LC to the extent such amount is not reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18.6 below, plus (ii) interest on the foregoing amount for each day from the date of the applicable payment by such LC Issuer to the date on which such Lender pays the amount to be reimbursed by it, at a rate of interest per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate or, beginning on third Business Day after demand for such amount by such LC Issuer, the rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances.
2.18.6 Reimbursement by Borrower. The Borrower shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse the applicable LC Issuer on or before the applicable LC Payment Date for any amount to be paid by such LC Issuer upon any drawing under any Facility LC issued by such LC Issuer, without presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind; provided that the Borrower shall not hereby be precluded from asserting any claim for direct (but not consequential) damages suffered by the Borrower to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (i) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such LC Issuer in determining whether a request presented under any Facility LC issued by it complied with the terms of such Facility LC or (ii) such LC Issuer's failure to pay under any Facility LC issued by it after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Facility LC. All such amounts paid by an LC Issuer and remaining unpai d by the Borrower shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances. The applicable LC Issuer will pay to each Lender ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata Share all amounts received by it from the Borrower for application in payment, in whole or in part, of the Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Facility LC issued by such LC Issuer, but only to the extent such Lender has made payment to such LC Issuer in respect of such Facility LC pursuant to Section 2.18.5.
2.18.7 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligations under this Section 2.18 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had against the applicable LC Issuer, any Lender or any beneficiary of a Facility LC. The Borrower further agrees with each LC Issuer and the Lenders that neither such LC Issuer nor any Lender shall be responsible for, and the Borrower's Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Facility LC shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower, any of its Affiliates, the beneficiary of any Facility LC or any financing institution or other party to whom any Facility LC may be transferred or any claims or defenses whatso ever of the Borrower or of any of its Affiliates against the beneficiary of any Facility LC or any such transferee. No LC Issuer shall be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Facility LC. The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the applicable LC Issuer or any Lender under or in connection with any Facility LC and the related drafts and documents, if done without gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not put such LC Issuer or any Lender under any liability to the Borrower. Nothing in this Section 2.18.7 is intended to limit the right of the Borrower to make a claim against any LC Issuer for damages as contemplated by the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.18.6.
2.18.8 Actions of LC Issuers. Each LC Issuer shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Facility LC, draft, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by such LC Issuer. Each LC Issuer shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement unless it shall first have received such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it reasonably deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Notwithstanding any other pr ovision of this Section 2.18, each LC Issuer shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Lenders and any future holders of a participation in any Facility LC.
2.18.9 Indemnification. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, each LC Issuer and the Agent, and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all claims and damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses which such Lender, such LC Issuer or the Agent may incur (or which may be claimed against such Lender, such LC Issuer or the Agent by any Person whatsoever) by reason of or in connection with the issuance, execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or failure to pay under any Facility LC or any actual or proposed use of any Facility LC, including, without limitation, any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses which such LC Issuer may incur by reason of or in connection with (i) the failure of any other Lender to fulfill or comply with its obligations to such LC Issuer hereunder (but nothing herein contained shall affect any rights the Borrower may have against any defaulting Lender) or (ii) by reason of or on account of such LC Issuer issuing any Facility LC which specifies that the term "Beneficiary" included therein includes any successor by operation of law of the named Beneficiary, but which Facility LC does not require that any drawing by any such successor Beneficiary be accompanied by a copy of a legal document, satisfactory to such LC Issuer, evidencing the appointment of such successor Beneficiary; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any Lender, any LC Issuer or the Agent for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (x) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the applicable LC Issuer in determining whether a request presented under any Facility LC issued by such LC Issuer complied with the terms of such Facility LC or (y) the applicable LC Issuer's failure to pay under any Facility LC after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and cond itions of such Facility LC. Nothing in this Section 2.18.9 is intended to limit the obligations of the Borrower under any other provision of this Agreement.
2.18.10 Lenders' Indemnification. Each Lender shall, ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, indemnify each LC Issuer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result from such indemnitees' gross negligence or willful misconduct or such LC Issuer's failure to pay under any Facility LC after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of the Facility LC) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with this Section 2.18 or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.
2.18.11 Facility LC Collateral Account. The Borrower agrees that it will, upon the request of the Agent or the Required Lenders and until the final expiration date of any Facility LC and thereafter as long as any amount is payable to any LC Issuer or the Lenders in respect of any Facility LC, maintain a special collateral account pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the Agent (the "Facility LC Collateral Account") at the Agent's office at the address specified pursuant to Article XIII, in the name of such Borrower but under the sole dominion and control of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and in which the Borrower shall have no interest other than as set forth in Section 8.1. The Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the LC Issuers, a security interest in all of the Borrower's right, title and interest in and to all funds which may from time to time be on deposit in the Facility LC Collateral Account to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Obligations. The Agent will invest any funds on deposit from time to time in the Facility LC Collateral Account in certificates of deposit of JPMorgan having a maturity not exceeding 30 days. Nothing in this Section 2.18.11 shall either obligate the Agent to require the Borrower to deposit any funds in the Facility LC Collateral Account or limit the right of the Agent to release any funds held in the Facility LC Collateral Account, in each case other than as required by Section 8.1; provided that if one or more Letters of Credit are outstanding on the Final Termination Date, the Borrower shall deposit funds in the Facility LC Collateral Account in an amount equal to the stated amount of all such Letters of Credit, and such account shall at all times thereafter have a balance in excess of the full amount available to be drawn under such Letters of Credit.
2.18.12 Rights as a Lender. In its capacity as a Lender, each LC Issuer shall have the same rights and obligations as any other Lender.
ARTICLE III
YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES
(i) subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or any LC Issuer to any Taxes, or changes the basis of taxation of payments (other than with respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Lender or any LC Issuer in respect of its Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein, or
(ii) imposes or increases or deems applicable any reserve, assessment, insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or any LC Issuer or any applicable Lending Installation (other than reserves and assessments taken into account in determining the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Advances), or
(iii) imposes any other condition the result of which is to increase the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or any LC Issuer of making, funding or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans or of issuing or participating in Facility LCs or reduces any amount receivable by any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation in connection with its Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein, or requires any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or any LC Issuer to make any payment calculated by reference to the amount of Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein held or interest received by it, by an amount deemed material by such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be,
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or applicable Lending Installation or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, of making or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans, Commitment, Facility LCs or participations therein or to reduce the return received by such Lender or applicable Lending Installation in connection with such Eurodollar Loans, Commitment, Facility LCs or participations therein, then, within 15 days of demand by such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, the Borrower shall pay such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such LC Issuer, as the case may be, for such increased cost or reduction in amount received.
(i) All payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all Taxes. If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender, any LC Issuer or the Agent, (a) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.5) such Lender, such LC Issuer or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (b) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (c) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law and (d) the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent the original copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof within 30 days after such payment is made.
(ii) In addition, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder, under any Facility LC Application or from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any Facility LC Applications ("Other Taxes").
(iii) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent, each LC Issuer and each Lender for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on amounts payable under this Section 3.5) paid by the Agent, such LC Issuer or such Lender and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. Payments due under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days of the date the Agent, such LC Issuer or such Lender makes demand therefor pursuant to Section 3.6.
(iv) Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof (each a "Non-U.S. Lender") agrees that it will, not less than ten Business Days after the date of this Agreement, (i) deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent two duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, certifying in either case that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes, and (ii) deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent a United States Internal Revenue Form W-8 or W-9, as the case may be, and certify that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax. Each Non-U.S. Lender further undertakes to deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent (x) renewals or additional copies of such form (or any successor form) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete, and (y) after the oc currence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms so delivered by it, such additional forms or amendments thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent. All forms or amendments described in the preceding sentence shall certify that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes, unless an event (including without limitation any change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form or amendment with respect to it and such Lender advises the Borrower and the Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without any deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax.
(v) For any period during which a Non-U.S. Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with an appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv), above (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 3.5 with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that, should a Non-U.S. Lender which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required under clause (iv), above, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Non-U.S. Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Non-U.S. Lender to recover such Taxes.
(vi) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement pursuant to the law of any relevant jurisdiction or any treaty shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.
(vii) If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental authority of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof asserts a claim that the Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered or properly completed, because such Lender failed to notify the Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered its exemption from withholding ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Agent as tax, withholding therefor, or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to the Agent under this subsection, together with all costs and expenses related thereto (including attorneys fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which attorneys may be employees of the Agent). The obligations of the Lenders under this < U>Section 3.5(vii) shall survive the payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
(i) Copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation of the Borrower, together with all amendments, and a certificate of existence, certified by the appropriate governmental officer in its jurisdiction of incorporation.
(ii) Copies, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, of its bylaws and of its Board of Directors' resolutions authorizing the execution of the Loan Documents by the Borrower.
(iii) An incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign the Loan Documents, upon which certificate the Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any change in writing by the Borrower.
(iv) A certificate, signed by the chief financial officer or the controller of the Borrower, stating that on the Effective Date, no Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower is in compliance with Section 6.11 and the representations and warranties contained in Article V are true and correct.
(v) Written opinions of counsel to the Borrower, substantially in the forms of Exhibits B-1 and B-2.
(vi) Loan/Credit Related Money Transfer Instructions, in substantially the form of Exhibit C (as modified from time to time, the "Money Transfer Instructions"), addressed to the Agent and signed by an officer of the Borrower, together with such other related money transfer authorizations as the Agent may have reasonably requested.
(vii) Evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, that the Borrower has obtained all governmental approvals, if any, necessary for it to enter into the Loan Documents.
(viii) A Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender that has requested a Note pursuant to Section 2.11.
(ix) Such other documents as any Lender or its counsel may have reasonably requested.
(i) No Default or Unmatured Default exists or will result after giving effect to such Credit Extension.
(ii) The representations and warranties contained in Article V (other than Section 5.10) are true and correct as of the date of such Credit Extension except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct on and as of such earlier date.
Each Borrowing Notice and each request for the issuance of a Facility LC shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions contained in Sections 4.2(i) and (ii) have been satisfied.
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders as follows:
(i) the Disclosure Documents (excluding any exhibits referred to in the annual and quarterly reports comprising such Disclosure Documents);
(ii) any report delivered to the Agent or any Lender pursuant to Section 6.9(i), (ii), (iv) or (v) (excluding exhibits referred to in any such report); or
(iii) to the best knowledge of the Borrower, the Information Memorandum, dated May 2005, delivered by the Borrower to the Lenders (when read in conjunction with the items referred to in (i) and (ii) above and excluding any financial forecasts included in such Information Memorandum).
To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no other written information delivered to the Agent or any Lender pursuant to Section 6.9 contained, contains or will contain as of the date thereof any material misstatement of fact.
So long as any Bank has any Commitment hereunder or any Obligations are outstanding, the Borrower shall, unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent in writing:
6.9 Information to Be Furnished. Furnish to the Agent with copies sufficient for each Lender:
(i) Form 10-Q; Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the close of each of the first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (or any successor form) for the Borrower for such quarter.
(ii) Form 10-K; Year-End Financial Statements; Accountants' Certificates. As soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the Annual Report on Form 10-K (or any successor form) for the Borrower for such year, a copy of the accompanying report of the Borrower's independent certified public accounting firm.
(iii) Officer's Certificate as to Calculations. At the time that financial statements are furnished pursuant to Section 6.9(i) or (ii), a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or any other financial officer of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
(iv) Other Reports. Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (excluding Registration Statements on Form S-8), or other regular reports of the Company, including reports on Form 8-K (or any successor form), filed with the SEC.
(v) Requested Information. From time to time, such other information regarding the business, affairs, insurance or financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any Benefit Plan and any reports of other information required to be filed under ERISA) as any Lender or the Agent may reasonably request.
(vi) Notice of Defaults, Material Adverse Changes and Other Matters. Prompt notice of:
(a) any Default or Unmatured Default, and
(b) any circumstance that has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect or an adverse effect on the binding nature, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document as an obligation of the Borrower.
The Borrower may provide information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, including all items described above in this Section 6.9 and all other notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any communication that (i) relates to a request for a new, or the conversion or continuation of an existing, Loan, (ii) relates to the payment of any amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor or any reduction of the Commitments, (iii) provides notice of any Default or Unmatured Default or (iv) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement or any Loan hereunder (any non-excluded communication described above, a "Communication"), electronically (including by posting such documents, or providing a link thereto, on the Borrower's Internet website). Notwithstan ding the foregoing, the Borrower agrees that, to the extent requested by the Agent, it will continue to provide "hard copies" of Communications to the Agent.
The Borrower further agrees that the Agent may make Communications available to the Lenders by posting such Communications on Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the "Platform").
THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE". THE AGENT DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY COMMUNICATION OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN ANY COMMUNICATION. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT IN CONNECTION WITH ANY COMMUNICATION OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AGENT HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE BORROWER, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF THE BORROWER'S OR THE AGENT'S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH DAMAGES ARE FOUND IN A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED FROM SUCH PERSON'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT. WITHOUT LI MITING THE FOREGOING, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE AGENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE PLATFORM OR THE BORROWER'S OR THE AGENT'S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET.
Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that a Communication has been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of such Communication to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Agent from time to time of the e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent and (ii) that such notice may be sent to such e-mail address.
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments or charges imposed on the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their property by any governmental authority not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles;
(ii) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's or other like Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and Liens arising out of judgments or awards which secure payment of legal obligations that would not constitute a Default under Section 7.9;
(iii) pledges or deposits in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws, or to secure the performance of bids, tenders contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, or indemnity, performance or other similar bonds, in the ordinary course of business;
(iv) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, restrictions on the use of property or minor imperfections in title thereto which, in the aggregate, are not material in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(v) the Lien of the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated July 1, 1945, as supplemented and in effect from time to time, from the Borrower to HSBC Bank USA (f/k/a Marine Midland Bank, N.A.) (the "Mortgage");
(vi) Permitted Encumbrances (as defined in Section 1.11 of the Mortgage);
(vii) Liens securing the payment of Tax-Free Debt, provided that each such Lien shall extend only to the property, and proceeds thereof, being financed by the Tax-Free Debt secured thereby;
(viii) Liens on or over the whole or any part of the assets of the Borrower as security for any indebtedness owing by the Borrower to any Subsidiary whose primary function is that of acting as a financing Subsidiary of the Borrower and consisting of one or more loans made to the Borrower by such Subsidiary and repayable on the same date as a loan or other indebtedness incurred by such Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate principal amount of the indebtedness secured by all such Liens shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of all such indebtedness incurred by such Subsidiary; and provided further that the aggregate principal amount of the indebtedness secured by all such Liens shall not exceed $100,000,000;
(ix) Liens over all or any part of the assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary constituting a specific construction project or generating plant as security for any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or such part, as the case may be, of such construction project or generating plant, and Liens and charges incidental to such construction;
(x) the right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or public authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit, or by any provision of law, to purchase or recapture or designate a purchaser of any property;
(xi) Liens on property or assets of any Subsidiary in favor of the Borrower;
(xii) Liens with respect to which cash in the amount of such Liens has been deposited with the Agent;
(xiii) Liens on or over specific assets hereafter acquired which are created or assumed contemporaneously with, or within 120 days after, such acquisition, for the sole purpose of financing or refinancing the acquisition of such assets;
(xiv) Liens on conservation investment assets as security for obligations incurred in financing or refinancing bondable conservation investments in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes Section 757.400-450;
(xv) Liens on cash collateral deposited by the Borrower with counterparties in the ordinary course of the Borrower's purchase and sale of electric energy, oil and natural gas; and
(xvi) Liens, in addition to those listed in clauses (i) through (xv) above, incurred in the ordinary course of the Borrower's business that in the aggregate do not exceed $20,000,000.
6.11 Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio. Not permit the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Consolidated Indebtedness to exceed 65% of Total Capitalization.
6.12 Merger or Consolidation. Not merge with or into or consolidate with or into any other corporation or entity, unless (i) immediately after giving effect thereto, no event shall occur and be continuing which constitutes a Default or Unmatured Default, (ii) the surviving or resulting person, as the case may be, assumes and agrees in writing to pay and perform all of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder, (iii) the surviving or resulting person, as the case may be, qualifies to do business in the State of Oregon, and (iv) the surviving or resulting person, as the case may be, has a net worth (as determined in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles) at least equal to the net worth of the Borrower at the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the effective date of such consolidation or merger.
The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a Default:
7.11 (a) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents or on Schedule 7.11, the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate incurs any liability to the PBGC (other than liability for premium payments which are paid when due) or a Benefit Plan pursuant to Title IV of ERISA or the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate incurs, or receives notice of, any withdrawal liability pursuant to Title IV of ERISA to, or from, a Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Benefit Plan (determined as of the date of notice of such withdrawal liability) in excess of $10,000,000; or (b) except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents or on Schedule 7.11, any of the following events occur with respect to any Benefit Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate: (i) a Reportable Event, (ii) the failure to make a required installment or other payment (within the meaning of section 302(f) of ERISA), (iii) the appointment of a trustee to administer any such Benefit Plan, (iv) at any time after June 23, 2004, the PBGC takes a ny action in furtherance of the termination of any such Benefit Plan and the Required Lenders reasonably determine that such event would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (v) the implementation by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any steps to terminate any such Benefit Plan, or (vi) the receipt of notice by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate that any Multiemployer Benefit Plan is in reorganization or is insolvent.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES
(ii) If at any time while any Default exists, the Agent determines that the Collateral Shortfall Amount at such time is greater than zero, the Agent may make demand on the Borrower to pay, and the Borrower will, forthwith upon such demand and without any further notice or act, pay to the Agent in immediately available funds the Collateral Shortfall Amount, which funds shall be deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account.
(iii) The Agent may at any time or from time to time, after funds are deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account, apply such funds to the payment of the Obligations and any other amounts as shall from time to time have become due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders or any LC Issuer under the Loan Documents.
(iv) At any time while any Default is continuing, neither the Borrower nor any Person claiming on behalf of or through the Borrower shall have any right to withdraw any of the funds held in the Facility LC Collateral Account. After all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, any funds remaining in the Facility LC Collateral Account shall be returned by the Agent to the Borrower or paid to whomever may be legally entitled thereto at such time.
(i) Extend the final maturity of any Loan, or extend the expiry date of any Facility LC to a date after the Final Termination Date, or forgive all or any portion of the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon or any Reimbursement Obligation related thereto.
(ii) Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders.
(iii) Extend the Final Termination Date (except as provided in Section 2.19), increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder or permit the Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement.
(iv) Amend this Section 8.2.
(v) Amend Section 11.2.
No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Agent, and no amendment of any provision relating to the LC Issuers shall be effective without the written consent of all LC Issuers. The Agent may waive payment of any fee required under Section 12.3.2 without obtaining the consent of any other party to this Agreement.
9.6 Expenses; Indemnification.
(i) The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent and the Arranger for all reasonable costs, internal charges and out of pocket expenses (including attorneys' fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which attorneys may be employees of the Agent) paid or incurred by the Agent or the Arranger in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication, review, amendment, modification, and administration of the Loan Documents. The Borrower also agrees to reimburse the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuers and the Lenders for all reasonable costs, internal charges and out of pocket expenses (including attorneys' fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuers and the Lenders, which attorneys may be employees of the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuers or the Lenders) paid or incurred by the Agent, the Arranger, any LC Issuer or any Lender in connection with the collection and enforcement of the Loan Documents.
(ii) The Borrower hereby further agrees to indemnify the Agent, the Arranger, each LC Issuer, each Lender, their respective affiliates, and each of their directors, officers and employees against all losses, claims, damages, penalties, judgments, liabilities and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, all reasonable expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Agent, the Arranger, any LC Issuer, any Lender or any affiliate is a party thereto) which any of them may pay or incur arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the transactions contemplated hereby or the direct or indirect application or proposed application of the proceeds of any Credit Extension hereunder except to the extent that they are determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification. The obligations of the Borrower under this Sect ion 9.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT. To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account, including any deposit account, treasury management account, loan, other extension of credit, or other financial services product. What this means for the Borrower: When the Borrower opens an account, if the Borrower is an individual, the Agent and the Lenders will ask for the Borrower's name, residential address, tax identification number, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Agent and the Lenders to identify the Borrower, and, if the Borrower is not an individual, the Agent and the Lenders will ask for the Borrower's name, tax identification number, business address, and other information that will allow the Agent and the Lenders to identify the Borrower. The Agent and t he Lenders may also ask, if the Borrower is an individual, to see the Borrower's driver's license or other identifying documents, and, if the Borrower is not an individual, to see the Borrower's legal organizational documents or other identifying documents.
ARTICLE XI
SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS
ARTICLE XII
BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS
12.2.1 Permitted Participants; Effect. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities ("Participants") participating interests in any Outstanding Credit Exposure of such Lender, any Commitment of such Lender or any other interest of such Lender under the Loan Documents. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant, such Lender's obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the owner of its Outstanding Credit Exposure for all purposes under the Loan Documents, all amounts payable by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating interests, and the Borrower and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.
12.2.2 Voting Rights. Each Lender shall retain the sole right to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents other than any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any Credit Extension or Commitment in which such Participant has an interest which forgives principal, interest, fees or Reimbursement Obligations or reduces the interest rate or fees payable with respect to any such Loan or Commitment, extends the Final Termination Date, postpones any date fixed for any regularly scheduled payment of principal of, or interest or fees on, any such Credit Extension or Commitment.
12.3.1 Permitted Assignments. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any time assign to one or more banks or other entities ("Purchasers") all or any part of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents. Such assignment shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A or in such other form as may be agreed to by the parties thereto. The consent of the Borrower and the Agent shall be required prior to an assignment becoming effective with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or an Affiliate thereof; provided that if a Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower shall not be required. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Each such assignment with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or an Affiliate thereof shall (unless each of the Borrower and the Agent otherwise consents) be in an amount not less than the lesser of (i) $5,000,000 or (ii) the remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment (calculated as at the date of such assignment) or outstanding Loans (if the applicable Commitment has been terminated).
12.3.2 Effect; Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Agent of an assignment, together with any consents required by Section 12.3.1, and (ii) payment of a $3,500 fee by the transferor Lender or the Purchaser, as the case may be, to the Agent for processing such assignment (unless such fee is waived by the Agent), such assignment shall become effective on the effective date specified in such assignment. The assignment shall contain a representation by the Purchaser to the effect that none of the consideration used to make the purchase of the Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure under the applicable assignment agreement constitutes "plan assets" as defined under ERISA and that the rights and interests of the Purchaser in and under the Loan Documents will not be "plan assets" under ERISA. On and after the effective date of such assignment, such Purchaser shall for all purposes be a Lender party to this Agreement and any other Loan Document executed by or on behalf of the Lenders and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, to the same extent as if it were an original party hereto, and no further consent or action by the Borrower, the Lenders or the Agent shall be required to release the transferor Lender with respect to the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment and Loans assigned to such Purchaser.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPV", identified as such in writing from time to time by such Granting Lender to the Agent and the Borrower) the option to fund all or any part of any Obligations that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to fund pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPV to fund any Obligations, (ii) if an SPV elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to fund all or any part of such Obligations, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to fund such Obligations pursuant to the terms hereof, (iii) no SPV shall exercise any voting rights pursuant to Section 8.2 (such voting rights to be exercised instead by such Granting Lender) and (iv) with respect to notices, payments and other matters hereunder, the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall not be obl igated to deal with an SPV, but may limit their communications and other dealings relevant to such SPV to the applicable Granting Lender. The funding of any Obligations by an SPV hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent that, and as if, such Obligations were funded by such Granting Lender.
(b) As to any Obligations or portion thereof made by it, each SPV shall have all the rights that its applicable Granting Lender making such Obligations or portion thereof would have had under this Agreement; provided that each SPV shall have granted to its Granting Lender an irrevocable power of attorney to deliver and receive all communications and notices under this Agreement (and any related documents) and to exercise on such SPV's behalf, all of such SPV's voting rights under this Agreement. No additional Note shall be required to evidence the Obligations or portion thereof made by an SPV; and the related Granting Lender shall be deemed to hold its Note as agent for such SPV to the extent of the Obligations or portion thereof funded by such SPV. In addition, any payments for the account of any SPV shall be paid to its Granting Lender as agent for such SPV.
(c) Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPV shall be liable for any indemnity or payment under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable for so long as, and to the extent, the Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreements shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPV, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPV any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.
(d) In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any SPV may (i) at any time and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign or participate all or a portion of its interest in any Obligations to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPV to support the funding or maintenance of Obligations and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Obligations to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancements to such SPV. This Section 12.6 may not be amended without the written consent of any Granting Lender affected thereby.
(a) Except as otherwise permitted by Section 2.12 with respect to borrowing notices, all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including electronic transmission, facsimile transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party at its address or facsimile number set forth on Schedule 13.1 or at such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the Agent and the Borrower in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.1. Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section and confirmation of receipt is received, (ii) if given by mail, 72 hours after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, (iii) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address specified in this S ection or (iv) if given by electronic transmission, as provided in Section 13.1(b); provided that notices to the Agent under Article II shall not be effective until received.
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent or as otherwise determined by the Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Agent or the Borrower may, in its respective discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it or as it otherwise determines, provided that such determination or approval may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the 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 given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given 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.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart hereof or a signature page hereto by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart.
ARTICLE XV
CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
ARTICLE XVI
TERMINATION OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS
The Borrower and the Lenders which are parties to the Existing Agreements (which Lenders constitute "Required Lenders" under, and as such term is defined in, the applicable Existing Agreement) agree that, concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement (and without regard to any requirement for prior notice of termination of the commitments under the applicable Existing Agreement), (a) the commitments under the Existing Agreements shall terminate and (b) the Existing Agreements shall be of no further force or effect (except for provisions thereof which by their terms survive termination thereof).
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders, the LC Issuers and the Agent have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Individually, as an LC Issuer and as Agent
By:
Name:
Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Individually and as an LC Issuer
By:
Name:
Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
By:
Name:
Title:
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as a Lender
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
Deutsche Bank SECURITIES INC., as Co-Documentation Agent
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
WACHOVIA BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:
Name:
Title:
Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB
By:
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:
Name:
Title:
COLUMBIA STATE BANK
By:
Name:
Title: