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) December 12, 2006
TC PipeLines, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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000-26091 |
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52-2135448 |
(State or other
jurisdiction |
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(Commission File
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(IRS Employer |
110 Turnpike Road, Suite 203 |
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Westborough, Massachusetts |
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01581 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code |
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(508) 871-7046 |
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address if changed since last report)
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:
¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
$410 Million Unsecured Credit Agreement
On December 12, 2006, TC PipeLines, LP (the Partnership) entered into an unsecured credit agreement for a $410 million credit facility (the Credit Facility) with SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent, arranger and a lender, UBS Securities LLC and Royal Bank of Canada, as co-documentation agents, BMO Capital Markets Financing Inc. and The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc, as co-syndication agents and lenders, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as managing agents and lenders, and UBS Loan Finance LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Citicorp North America, Inc., Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., BNP Paribas, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Bank Hapoalim B.M. and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., New York Branch, as lenders. The Credit Facility includes a $380 million term loan facility and a $30 million revolving loan facility.
On December 12, 2006, the Partnership borrowed $280 million in term loans and $17 million in revolving loans under the Credit Facility. The remaining $100 million term loan commitment must be used within six months of the closing of the Credit Facility and may only be used to finance the previously announced acquisition of additional general partnership interests in Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company. The Credit Facility has a term of five years and all amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility will be due and payable on December 12, 2011, subject to two one-year extensions at the option of the Partnership and with the approval of a majority of the lenders.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility will bear interest based, at the Partnerships election, on the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR) or the prime rate plus, in either case, an applicable margin. The base rate will equal the higher of SunTrusts prime rate or 0.5% above the federal funds rate. The applicable margin is based on the Partnerships leverage ratio. The applicable margin ranges between 0.21% and 0.575% for LIBOR revolving loans, between 0.375% and 0.85% for LIBOR term loans and between 0% and 0.25% for base rate loans.
The Credit Facility includes usual and customary covenants for credit facilities of this type, including covenants limiting subsidiary debt, investments, dividends, transactions with affiliates, liens, mergers, asset sales and material changes in the business of the Partnership or its subsidiaries. The credit agreement also requires the Partnership to maintain a leverage ratio of not more than 4.75 to 1.00 at the end of any fiscal quarter and an interest coverage ratio of not less than 3.00 to 1.00 at the end of any fiscal quarter. The permitted leverage ratio will increase to 5.50 to 1.00 for the first three full fiscal reporting periods during any 12-month period immediately following the consummation of specified material acquisitions.
In the event of a default by the Partnership under the Credit Facility, including cross-defaults relating to specified other debt of the Partnership or its significant subsidiaries in excess of $15 million, the lenders may declare the amounts outstanding, including all accrued interest and unpaid fees, payable immediately. In addition, the lenders may enforce any all rights and remedies created under the Credit Facility or applicable law. For events of default relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or receivership, the amounts outstanding become payable immediately.
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Repayment and Termination of JPMorgan and Citibank Credit Agreements
On December 12, 2006, the Partnership repaid in full and terminated its commitments under its credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and its credit agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and UBS Loan Finance LLC (UBS), as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers, Citicorp North America, Inc., as administrative agent and a lender, UBS, as syndication agent and a lender, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ., as co-documentation agents and lenders, and SunTrust Bank, as a lender.
The agents and certain lenders under the credit facilities described above and their affiliates have in the past provided, and may in the future provide, investment banking, underwriting, lending, commercial banking and other advisory services to the Partnership. These parties have received, and may in the future receive, customary compensation from the Partnership for such services.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information in Item 1.01 with respect to the $410 million credit agreement dated as of December 12, 2006 is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
10.1 Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated December 12, 2006 among TC PipeLines, LP, SunTrust Bank, and other parties named therein.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
TC PipeLines, LP |
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by: TC PipeLines GP, Inc., |
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its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Amy W. Leong |
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Amy W. Leong |
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Controller |
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Dated: December 12, 2006 |
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4
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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10.1 |
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Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated December 12, 2006 among TC PipeLines, LP, SunTrust Bank, and other parties named therein. |
5
EXHIBIT 10.1
Execution Version
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
dated as of December 12, 2006
among
TC PIPELINES, LP
as Borrower
THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO
SUNTRUST BANK
as Administrative Agent
UBS SECURITIES LLC AND ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
as Co-Documentation Agents
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING INC. AND THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
as Co-Syndication Agents
and
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH AND THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD.
as Managing Agents
SUNTRUST CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.,
as Arranger and Book Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I |
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DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION |
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Section 1.1. |
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Definitions |
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Section 1.2. |
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Classifications of Loans and Borrowings |
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Section 1.3. |
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Accounting Terms and Determination |
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Section 1.4. |
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Terms Generally |
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ARTICLE II |
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AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS |
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Section 2.1. |
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General Description of Facilities |
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Section 2.2. |
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Revolving Loans |
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Section 2.3. |
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Procedure for Borrowings |
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Section 2.4. |
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Swingline Commitment |
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Section 2.5. |
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Term Loan Commitments |
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Section 2.6. |
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Funding of Borrowings |
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Section 2.7. |
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Interest Elections |
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Section 2.8. |
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Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments |
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Section 2.9. |
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Repayment of Loans |
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Section 2.10. |
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Evidence of Indebtedness |
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Section 2.11. |
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Optional Prepayments |
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Section 2.12. |
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Mandatory Prepayments |
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Section 2.13. |
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Interest on Loans |
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Section 2.14. |
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Fees |
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Section 2.15. |
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Computation of Interest and Fees |
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Section 2.16. |
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Inability to Determine Interest Rates |
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Section 2.17. |
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Illegality |
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Section 2.18. |
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Increased Costs |
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Section 2.19. |
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Funding Indemnity |
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Section 2.20. |
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Taxes |
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Section 2.21. |
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Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs |
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Section 2.22. |
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Letters of Credit |
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Section 2.23. |
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Increase of Commitments; Additional Lenders |
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Section 2.24. |
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Mitigation of Obligations |
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Section 2.25. |
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Replacement of Lenders |
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Section 2.26. |
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Extensions of Maturity Date or Revolving Commitment Termination Date |
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ARTICLE III |
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CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT |
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Section 3.1. |
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Conditions To Effectiveness |
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Section 3.2. |
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Each Credit Event |
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Section 3.3. |
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Delivery of Documents |
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ARTICLE IV |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
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Section 4.1. |
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Existence; Power |
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Section 4.2. |
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Organizational Power; Authorization |
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Section 4.3. |
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Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts |
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Section 4.4. |
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Financial Statements |
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Section 4.5. |
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Litigation and Environmental Matters |
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Section 4.6. |
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Compliance with Laws and Agreements |
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Section 4.7. |
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Investment Company Act, Etc. |
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Section 4.8. |
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Taxes |
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Section 4.9. |
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Margin Regulations |
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Section 4.10. |
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ERISA |
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Section 4.11. |
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Ownership of Property |
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Section 4.12. |
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Disclosure |
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Section 4.13. |
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Labor Relations |
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Section 4.14. |
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Subsidiaries |
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Section 4.15. |
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Insolvency |
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Section 4.16. |
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OFAC |
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Section 4.17. |
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Patriot Act |
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ARTICLE V |
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AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
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Section 5.1. |
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Financial Statements and Other Information |
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Section 5.2. |
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Notices of Material Events |
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Section 5.3. |
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Existence; Conduct of Business |
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Section 5.4. |
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Compliance with Laws, Etc. |
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Section 5.5. |
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Payment of Obligations |
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Section 5.6. |
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Books and Records |
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Section 5.7. |
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Visitation, Inspection, Etc. |
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Section 5.8. |
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Maintenance of Properties; Insurance |
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Section 5.9. |
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Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit |
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Section 5.10. |
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Maintenance of Tax Status |
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ARTICLE VI |
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FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
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Section 6.1. |
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Leverage Ratio |
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Section 6.2. |
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Interest Coverage Ratio |
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ARTICLE VII |
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NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
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Section 7.2. |
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Negative Pledge |
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Section 7.3. |
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Fundamental Changes |
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Section 7.4. |
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Investments, Loans, Etc |
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Section 7.5. |
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Restricted Payments |
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Section 7.6. |
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Transactions with Affiliates |
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Section 7.7. |
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Restrictive Agreements |
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Section 7.8. |
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Sale and Leaseback Transactions |
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Section 7.9. |
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Hedging Transactions |
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Section 7.10. |
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Certain Amendments to Cash Distribution Policies and Partnership Agreements |
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Section 7.11. |
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Accounting Changes |
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ARTICLE VIII |
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
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Section 8.1. |
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Events of Default |
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ARTICLE IX |
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THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
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Section 9.1. |
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Appointment of Administrative Agent |
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Section 9.2. |
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Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent |
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Section 9.3. |
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Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent |
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Section 9.4. |
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Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent |
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Section 9.5. |
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Reliance by Administrative Agent |
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Section 9.6. |
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The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity |
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Section 9.7. |
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Successor Administrative Agent |
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Section 9.8. |
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Authorization to Execute other Loan Documents |
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Section 9.9. |
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Co-Documentation Agents; Co-Syndication Agents; Managing Agents |
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ARTICLE X |
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MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 10.1. |
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Notices |
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Section 10.2. |
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Waiver; Amendments |
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Section 10.3. |
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Expenses; Indemnification |
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Section 10.4. |
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Successors and Assigns |
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Section 10.5. |
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Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process |
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Section 10.6. |
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WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
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Section 10.7. |
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Right of Setoff |
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Section 10.8. |
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Counterparts; Integration |
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Section 10.9. |
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Survival |
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Section 10.10. |
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Severability |
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Section 10.11. |
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Confidentiality |
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Section 10.12. |
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Interest Rate Limitation |
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Section 10.13. |
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Patriot Act |
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Section 10.14. |
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Location of Closing |
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Section 10.15. |
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Non-Recourse |
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iv
Schedules |
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Schedule I |
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Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage Revolving Loans |
Schedule II |
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Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage Term Loans |
Schedule III |
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Commitment Amounts |
Schedule 4.5 |
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Environmental Matters |
Schedule 4.14 |
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Subsidiaries |
Schedule 7.1 |
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Outstanding Indebtedness |
Schedule 7.2 |
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Existing Liens |
Schedule 7.4 |
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Existing Investments |
Schedule 7.6 |
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Transactions with Affiliates |
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Exhibits |
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Exhibit A |
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Form of Revolving Credit Note |
Exhibit B |
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Form of Term Note |
Exhibit C |
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Form of Swingline Note |
Exhibit D |
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Form of Assignment and Acceptance |
Exhibit 2.3(a) |
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Form of Notice of Term Loan Borrowing |
Exhibit 2.3(b) |
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Form of Notice of Revolving Borrowing |
Exhibit 2.4 |
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Form of Notice of Swingline Borrowing |
Exhibit 2.7 |
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Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion |
Exhibit 3.1(b)(iv) |
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Form of Secretarys Certificate |
Exhibit 3.1(b)(viii) |
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Form of Officers Certificate |
Exhibit 5.1(c) |
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Form of Compliance Certificate |
v
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of December 12, 2006, by and among TC PIPELINES, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Borrower), the several banks and other financial institutions and lenders from time to time party hereto (the Lenders), and SUNTRUST BANK, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the Administrative Agent), as issuing bank (the Issuing Bank) and as swingline lender (the Swingline Lender).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders (a) establish a $30,000,000 revolving credit facility in favor of, and (b) make term loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to $380,000,000 to, the Borrower; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender to the extent of their respective Commitments as defined herein, are willing severally to establish the requested revolving credit facility, letter of credit subfacility and the swingline subfacility in favor of and severally to make the term loans to the Borrower.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender agree as follows:
Additional Commitment Amount shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.23.
Additional Lender shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.23.
Adjusted Cash Flow shall mean, with reference to any period (i) the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (ii) to the extent taken into account in determining such consolidated net income (or loss), the sum of interest expense, expense for taxes paid or accrued, depreciation, amortization and extraordinary losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business, minus (iii) to the extent taken into account in determining such consolidated net income (or loss), extraordinary gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business, minus (iv) to the extent taken into account in determining such consolidated net income (or loss), equity earnings of any Person in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an interest (which interest does not cause the net income of such Person to be consolidated
with the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), plus (v) the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and other distributions of cash actually received by the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries during such period from any Person in which the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries has an interest (which interest does not cause the Consolidated Net Income of such other Person to be consolidated with the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), plus (vi) any Material Project EBITDA Adjustment; provided that for purposes of calculating consolidated net income for any four fiscal quarter period, if at any time during that period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have consummated an acquisition, consolidated net income for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of such period.
Adjusted LIBO Rate shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) LIBOR for such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1.00 minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
Administrative Agent shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph hereof.
Administrative Questionnaire shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.
Affiliate means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person. For purposes of this definition the term control (including the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with) of a Person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract or otherwise, provided, that, for purposes of Section 7.6, each of Northern Border and Tuscarora shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Borrower as long as it qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary.
Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount shall mean the aggregate principal amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments from time to time. On the Closing Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount is $30,000,000.
Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall mean, collectively, all Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at any time outstanding.
Applicable Lending Office shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the Lending Office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan in the Administrative Questionnaire submitted by such Lender or such other office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.
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Applicable Margin shall mean, as of any date, (a) with respect to interest on all Revolving Loans outstanding on any date or the letter of credit fee, as the case may be, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Leverage Ratio in effect on such date as set forth on Schedule I and (b) with respect to interest on all Term Loans outstanding on any date a percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Leverage Ratio in effect on such date as set forth on Schedule II; provided, that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall be effective on the second Business Day after which the Borrower delivers the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a) or (b) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(c); provided further, that if at any time the Borrower shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such Compliance Certificate when so required, the Applicable Margin shall be at Level V as set forth on Schedule I, in the case of Revolving Loans, and Level V as set forth on Schedule II, in the case of Term Loans, until such time as such financial statements and Compliance Certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Margin shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin from the Closing Date until the financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2006 are required to be delivered shall be at Level IV as set forth on Schedule I, in the case of Revolving Loans, and at Level IV as set forth on Schedule II, in the case of Term Loans. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, at any time that the Revolving Credit Exposure exceeds 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount, then the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans for all pricing Levels listed on Schedule I shall automatically increase by the Utilization Premium set forth on Schedule I. In the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a), (b) or (c) is shown to be inaccurate (so long as such inaccuracy is discovered within the first anniversary of the Termination Date), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin as set forth on Schedule I, in the case of Revolving Loans, and as set forth on Schedule II, in the case of Term Loans, for any period rather than the Applicable Margin applied for such period, then (i) the Borrower shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a correct Compliance Certificate for such period, (ii) the Applicable Margin shall be determined on the basis of the corrected Compliance Certificate and (iii) the Borrowers shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such period. The provisions of this definition shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to Section 2.13(c) or Article VIII.
Applicable Percentage shall mean, as of any date, with respect to the facility fee or the commitment fee as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Leverage Ratio in effect on such date as set forth on Schedule I, in the case of Revolving Loans, and on Schedule II, in the case of Term Loans; provided, that a change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall be effective on the second Business Day after which the Borrower delivers the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a) or (b) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(c); provided further, that if at any time the Borrower shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such Compliance Certificate, the Applicable Percentage shall be at Level V as set forth on Schedule I, in the case of Revolving Loans, and at Level V as set forth on Schedule II, in the case of Term Loans until such time as such financial statements and Compliance Certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding
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the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage for the facility fee or the commitment fee from the Closing Date until the financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2006 are required to be delivered shall be at Level IV as set forth on Schedule I, in the case of Revolving Loans, and at Level IV as set forth on Schedule II, in the case of Term Loans. In the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a), (b) or (c) is shown to be inaccurate (so long as such inaccuracy is discovered within the first anniversary of the Termination Date), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Percentage as set forth on Schedule I, in the case of Revolving Loans, and as set forth on Schedule II, in the case of Term Loans, for any period rather than the Applicable Percentage applied for such period, then (i) the Borrower shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a correct Compliance Certificate for such period, (ii) the Applicable Percentage shall be determined based upon the corrected Compliance Certificate and (iii) the Borrowers shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Percentage for such period. The provisions of this definition shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to Section 2.13(c) or Article VIII.
Approved Fund shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Assignment and Acceptance shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4(b)) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Availability Period shall mean the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
Base Rate shall mean the higher of (i) the per annum rate which the Administrative Agent publicly announces from time to time to be its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, and (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent (0.50%). The Administrative Agents prime lending rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate charged to customers. The Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Administrative Agents prime lending rate. Each change in the Administrative Agents prime lending rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
Borrower shall have the meaning in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Borrower Partnership Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of TC PipeLines, LP dated May 28, 1999, as amended.
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Borrowing shall mean a borrowing consisting of (i) Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (ii) a Swingline Loan.
Business Day shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Atlanta, Georgia, Calgary, Canada and New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close and (ii) if such day relates to a Borrowing of, a payment or prepayment of principal or interest on, a conversion of or into, or an Interest Period for, a Eurodollar Loan or a notice with respect to any of the foregoing, any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits are carried on in the London interbank market.
Capital Lease Obligations of any Person shall mean all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) of real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Stock shall mean any non-redeemable capital stock (or in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, the partners or members equivalent equity interest) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (to the extent issued to a Person other than the Borrower), whether common or preferred.
Change in Control shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert (other than TransCanada Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of voting stock of the General Partner (or other securities convertible into such voting stock ) (A) representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of all voting stock of the General Partner or (B) representing the combined voting power of all voting stock of the General Partner more than that owned, directly or indirectly, by TransCanada Corporation; or (ii) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert (other than TransCanada Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders) shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation, will result in its or their acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the General Partner; (iii) the General Partner shall for any reason cease to be the managing general partner of the Borrower, (iv) the failure of the Borrower to own, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens, at least 50% of the partnership interests in Northern Border, or (v) the failure of the Borrower to own, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens, (x) prior to the consummation of the Tuscarora Acquisition, at least 49% of the partnership interests in Tuscarora and (y) after the consummation of the Tuscarora Acquisition, at least 99% of the partnership interests in Tuscarora.
Change in Law shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or application thereof, by any Governmental
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Authority after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Issuing Bank (or for purposes of Section 2.18(b), by such Lenders or the Issuing Banks parent corporation, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.
Class, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans or Term Loans and when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, a Swingline Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment.
Closing Date shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.2.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.
Commercial Operation Date means the date on which a Material Project is substantially complete and commercially operable.
Commitment shall mean a Revolving Commitment, a Swingline Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context shall permit or require).
Compliance Certificate shall mean a certificate executed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the controller of the Borrower in the form of, and containing the certifications set forth in, the certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1(c).
Consolidated Interest Expense shall mean, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, without duplication, the sum of (i) total interest expense, including without limitation the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Lease Obligations capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period) plus (ii) the net amount payable (or minus the net amount receivable) with respect to Hedging Transactions during such period (whether or not actually paid or received during such period).
Consolidated Net Worth shall mean, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate amount of Capital Stock, minority interests, and other equity accounts (including, without limitation, retained earnings, paid in capital and accumulated other comprehensive income or loss (but without giving effect to any non-cash pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustments recorded in accordance with GAAP)) of Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Total Funded Debt shall mean, as of any date, all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis as of such date, but excluding Indebtedness of the type described in subsection (xi) of the definition thereto.
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Contractual Obligation of any Person shall mean any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or undertaking under which such Person is obligated or by which it or any of the property in which it has an interest is bound.
Default shall mean any condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Defaulting Lender shall mean a Lender that (a) has failed to fund its portion of any Borrowing or any participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans that it is required to fund under this Agreement and has continued in such failure for three (3) Business Days after written notice from the Administrative Agent, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
Default Interest shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(c).
Dollar(s) and the sign $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Environmental Laws shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
Environmental Liability shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (v) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
ERISA Affiliate shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated), which, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for the purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event shall mean (i) any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (ii) the existence with respect to any Plan of an
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accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (iii) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (iv) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (v) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator appointed by the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (vi) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
Eurodollar when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
Eurodollar Reserve Percentage shall mean the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental, special or other marginal reserves) expressed as a decimal (rounded upwards to the next 1/100th of 1%) in effect on any day to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate pursuant to regulations issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as eurocurrency liabilities under Regulation D). Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D. The Eurodollar Reserve Percentage shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
Event of Default shall have the meaning provided in Article VIII.
Existing Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2006, among Borrower, the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as agent for the lenders, as amended through the Closing Date.
Existing Lenders shall mean each of the lenders party to the Existing Credit Agreement.
Excluded Taxes shall mean with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes in each case imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, any state or local taxing authority in the United States of America or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in
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which its Applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any Lender is located, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that (i) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender under the law applicable at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (ii) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender under the law applicable at any time that such Foreign Lender designates a new lending office, other than taxes that have accrued prior to the designation of such lending office that are otherwise not Excluded Taxes, or (iii) is attributable to such Foreign Lenders failure to comply with Section 2.20(e), and (d) any backup withholding tax imposed under Section 3406 of the Code.
Federal Funds Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day or if such rate is not so published for any Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1% of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.
Fee Letter shall mean that certain fee letter, dated as of November 3, 2006, executed by SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. and SunTrust Bank and accepted by Borrower.
Fiscal Quarter shall mean any fiscal quarter of the Borrower.
Fiscal Year shall mean any fiscal year of the Borrower.
Foreign Lender shall mean any Lender that is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
General Partner shall mean TC PipeLines GP, Inc. a Delaware corporation.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.3.
Governmental Authority shall mean the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
Guarantee of or by any Person (the guarantor) shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly and including any obligation, direct or indirect, of the guarantor (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or
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services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued in support of such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which Guarantee is made or, if not so stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith. The term Guarantee used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Hazardous Materials shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Hedging Obligations of any Person shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.
Hedging Transaction of any Person shall mean any transaction (including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collateral transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.
Hybrid Securities shall mean any trust preferred securities, or deferrable interest subordinated debt with a maturity of at least 20 years, which provides for the optional or mandatory deferral of interest or distributions, issued by the Borrower, or any business trusts, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or similar entities (i) substantially all of the common equity, general partner or similar interests of which are owned (either directly or indirectly through one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries) at all times by the Borrower or any Subsidiaries, (ii) that have been formed for the purpose of issuing such securities or deferrable interest subordinated debt, and (iii) substantially all the assets of which consist of (A) subordinated debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (B) payments made from time to time on the subordinated debt.
Indebtedness of any Person shall mean, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
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debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all Guarantees of such Person of the type of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, (ix) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any common stock of such Person, (x) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities and (xi) all Hedging Obligations. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Indemnified Taxes shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
Information Memorandum shall mean the Confidential Information Memorandum dated November 2006 (as amended) relating to the Borrower and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Interest Coverage Ratio shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (i) Adjusted Cash Flow for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date.
Interest Period shall mean with respect to (i) any Swingline Borrowing, such period as the Swingline Lender and the Borrower shall mutually agree and (ii) any Eurodollar Borrowing, a period of one, two, three, six and, subject to clause (iii) of this definition, nine or twelve months; provided, that:
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Issuing Bank shall mean SunTrust Bank or any other Lender, each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.22.
LC Commitment shall mean that portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount that may be used by the Borrower for the issuance of Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $30,000,000.
LC Disbursement shall mean a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
LC Documents shall mean the Letters of Credit and all applications, agreements and instruments relating to the Letters of Credit.
LC Exposure shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender shall be its Pro Rata Share of the total LC Exposure at such time.
Lenders shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement and shall include, where appropriate, the Swingline Lender and each Additional Lender that joins this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.23.
Letter of Credit shall mean any stand-by letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.22 by the Issuing Bank for the account of the Borrower pursuant to the LC Commitment.
Leverage Ratio shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Funded Debt as of such date to (ii) Adjusted Cash Flow for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date.
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LIBOR shall mean, for any applicable Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate per annum for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to such Interest Period appearing on the display designated as Page 3750 on the Dow Jones Markets Service (or such other page on that service or such other service designated by the British Bankers Association for the display of such Associations Interest Settlement Rates for Dollar deposits) as of 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on the day that is two Business Days prior to the first day of the Interest Period or if such Page 3750 is unavailable for any reason at such time, the rate which appears on the Reuters Screen ISDA Page as of such date and such time; provided, that if the Administrative Agent determines that the relevant foregoing sources are unavailable for the relevant Interest Period, LIBOR shall mean the rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered to the Administrative Agent two (2) Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period by leading banks in the London interbank market as of 10:00 a.m. (New York time) for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period, for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of the Eurodollar Loan of the Administrative Agent.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or other arrangement having the practical effect of the foregoing or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
Loan Documents shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes (if any), the LC Documents, the Fee Letter, all Notices of Borrowing, all Notices of Conversion/Continuation, and all Compliance Certificates.
Loans shall mean all Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and Term Loans in the aggregate or any of them, as the context shall require.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singularly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences whether or not related, a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, (i) the business, results of operations, financial condition, assets, or liabilities of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, Northern Border and Tuscarora, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, Swingline Lender, and the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.
Material Indebtedness shall mean Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $15,000,000.
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Material Project means the construction or expansion of any capital project of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the aggregate capital cost of which exceeds $25,000,000.
Material Project EBITDA Adjustment means, with respect to each Material Project:
(A) prior to the Commercial Operation Date of a Material Project (but including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs), a percentage (based on the then-current completion percentage of such Material Project) of an amount to be approved by the Administrative Agent as the projected EBITDA of Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project for the first 12-month period following the scheduled Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (such amount to be determined based on customer contracts or tariff-based customers relating to such Material Project, the creditworthiness of the other parties to such contracts or such tariff-based customers, and projected revenues from such contracts, tariffs, capital costs and expenses, scheduled Commercial Operation Date, oil and gas reserve and production estimates, commodity price assumptions and other factors deemed appropriate by Administrative Agent), which may, at the Borrowers option, be added to actual EBITDA for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter in which construction of such Material Project commences and for each fiscal quarter thereafter until the Commercial Operation Date of such Material Project (including the fiscal quarter in which such Commercial Operation Date occurs, but net of any actual EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project following such Commercial Operation Date); provided that if the actual Commercial Operation Date does not occur by the scheduled Commercial Operation Date, then the foregoing amount shall be reduced, for quarters ending after the scheduled Commercial Operation Date to (but excluding) the first full quarter after its Commercial Operation Date, by the following percentage amounts depending on the period of delay (based on the period of actual delay or then-estimated delay, whichever is longer): (i) 90 days or less, 0%, (ii) longer than 90 days, but not more than 180 days, 25%, (iii) longer than 180 days but not more than 270 days, 50%, and (iv) longer than 270 days, 100%; and
(B) beginning with the first full fiscal quarter following the Commercial Operation Date of a Material Project and for the three immediately succeeding fiscal quarters, an amount to be approved by the Administrative Agent as the projected EBITDA of Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project (determined in the same manner as set forth in clause (A) above) for the balance of the four full fiscal quarter period following such Commercial Operation Date, which may, at the Borrowers option, be added to actual EBITDA for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarters.
Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) no such additions shall be allowed with respect to any Material Project unless:
(a) not later than 30 days prior to the delivery of any certificate required by the Reporting Requirements to the extent Material Project EBITDA Adjustments will be made to EBITDA in determining compliance with the Leverage Ratio, the Borrower shall
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have delivered to the Administrative Agent written pro forma projections of EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attributable to such Material Project, and
(b) prior to the date such certificate is required to be delivered, the Administrative Agent shall have approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) such projections and shall have received such other information and documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and
(ii) the aggregate amount of all Material Project EBITDA Adjustments during any period shall be limited to 20% of the total actual EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period (which total actual EBITDA shall be determined without including any Material Project EBITDA Adjustments).
Maturity Date shall mean, with respect to the Term Loans, the earlier of (i) December 12, 2011 or such later date approved by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 2.26 or (ii) the date on which the principal amount of all outstanding Term Loans have been declared or automatically have become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).
Moodys shall mean Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Moodys Equity Credit shall mean the percentage of equity credit ascribed to a Hybrid Security by Moodys as demonstrated by the Borrower to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
Multiemployer Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Northern Border shall mean Northern Border Pipeline Company, a Texas general partnership.
Northern Border Partnership Agreement means that certain First Amended and Restated General Partnership Agreement relating to the formation of Northern Border effective as of August 6, 2006, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
Notes shall mean, collectively, the Revolving Credit Notes, the Swingline Note and the Term Notes.
Notices of Borrowing shall mean, collectively, the Notices of Revolving Borrowing and the Notices of Swingline Borrowing.
Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall mean the notice given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in respect of the conversion or continuation of an outstanding Borrowing as provided in Section 2.7(b).
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Notice of Revolving Borrowing shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.3.
Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.4.
Notice of Term Loan Borrowing shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.3.
Obligations shall mean all amounts owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all reimbursement obligations, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, and all obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with collecting and enforcing the foregoing, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings thereof.
Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities of any Person shall mean (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (ii) any liability of such Person under any sale and leaseback transactions that do not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) any Synthetic Lease Obligation or (iv) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.
OSHA shall mean the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Other Taxes shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Participant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(d).
Payment Office shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.
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Permitted Encumbrances shall mean:
provided, that the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
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Permitted Subordinated Debt shall mean any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) that is expressly subordinated to the Obligations and any Hedging Obligations entered into with the Administrative Agent or any Lender on terms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, (ii) that matures by its terms no earlier than six months after the later of the Revolving Commitment Termination Date or the Maturity Date then in effect with no scheduled principal payments permitted prior to such maturity, and (iii) that is evidenced by an indenture or other similar agreement that is in a form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.
Permitted Tax Distributions shall mean cash dividends or distributions to the partners of the Borrower with respect to each taxable year during which the Borrower is a partnership in an amount not to exceed the aggregate of the maximum federal and state income tax liability of the partners of the Borrower (assuming that all of such partners are taxed at the
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maximum permissible federal and state rates of such partners or members) attributable to the taxable income of the Borrower for such taxable year, computed in accordance with the Code.
Person shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity, or any Governmental Authority.
Plan shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an employer as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA
Pro Rata Share shall mean (i) with respect to any Commitment of any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lenders Commitment (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure or Term Loan, as applicable), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of such Commitments of all Lenders (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure or Term Loans, as applicable, of all Lenders) and (ii) with respect to all Commitments of any Lender at any time, the numerator of which shall be the sum of such Lenders Revolving Commitment (or if such Revolving Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure) and Term Loan and the denominator of which shall be the sum of all Lenders Revolving Commitments (or if such Revolving Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders funded under such Commitments) and Term Loans.
Regulation D shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Persons Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Persons Affiliates.
Release shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
Required Lenders shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Commitments and Term Loans at such time or if the Lenders have no Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding more than 50% of the Revolving Credit Exposure and Term Loans. In each case, at any time any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, all Defaulting Lenders shall be excluded in determining Required Lenders and Required Lenders shall mean non-Defaulting Lenders otherwise meeting the criteria set forth in this definition.
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Requirement of Law for any Person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership certificate and agreement, or limited liability company certificate of organization and agreement, as the case may be, and other organizational and governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
Responsible Officer shall mean any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or a vice president of the Borrower or such other representative of the Borrower as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Administrative Agent; and, with respect to the financial covenants only, the chief financial officer, treasurer, vice president of finance or controller of the Borrower.
Restricted Payment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
Revolving Commitment shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule III, as such schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 2.23, or in the case of a Person becoming a Lender after the Closing Date, the amount of the assigned Revolving Commitment as provided in the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such Person as an assignee, or the joinder executed by such Person, in each case as such commitment may subsequently be increased or deceased pursuant to terms hereof.
Revolving Commitment Termination Date shall mean the earliest of (i) December 12, 2011 or such later date approved by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 2.26, (ii) the date on which the Revolving Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 2.8 and (iii) the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been declared or have automatically become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).
Revolving Credit Exposure shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure.
Revolving Credit Note shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of a requesting Lender in the principal amount of such Lenders Revolving Commitment, in substantially the form of Exhibit A.
Revolving Loan shall mean a loan made by a Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) to the Borrower under its Revolving Commitment, which may either be a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.
S&P shall mean Standard & Poors, a Division of the McGraw-Hill Companies.
Significant Subsidiary has the meaning specified in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the Effective Date, provided, that,
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even if Northern Border and Tuscarora would not otherwise constitute a Subsidiary of the Borrower, each of Northern Border and Tuscarora shall be deemed to be a Significant Subsidiary of the Borrower if it would otherwise qualify as a Significant Subsidiary under Article 1, Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X as of the Closing Date.
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person (the parent), any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parents consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity (i) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power, or in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (ii) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Subsidiary hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Northern Border nor Tuscarora is a Subsidiary of the Borrower as of the Closing Date.
Swingline Commitment shall mean the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $5,000,000.
Swingline Exposure shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the principal amount of the Swingline Loans in which such Lender is legally obligated either to make a Base Rate Loan or to purchase a participation in accordance with Section 2.4, which shall equal such Lenders Pro Rata Share of all outstanding Swingline Loans.
Swingline Lender shall mean SunTrust Bank, or any other Lender that may agree to make Swingline Loans hereunder.
Swingline Loan shall mean a loan made to the Borrower by the Swingline Lender under the Swingline Commitment.
Swingline Note shall mean the promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of the Swingline Lender in the principal amount of the Swingline Commitment, substantially the form of Exhibit C.
Swingline Rate shall mean the Base Rate, or such other interest rate (and with respect to a Swingline Loan that is a Eurodollar Loan, for any Interest Period) as may be mutually agreed between the Swingline Lender and the Borrower.
Synthetic Lease shall mean a lease transaction under which the parties intend that (i) the lease will be treated as an operating lease by the lessee pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13, as amended and (ii) the lessee will be entitled to various tax and other benefits ordinarily available to owners (as opposed to lessees) of like property.
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Synthetic Lease Obligations shall mean, with respect to any Person, the sum of (i) all remaining rental obligations of such Person as lessee under Synthetic Leases which are attributable to principal and, without duplication, (ii) all rental and purchase price payment obligations of such Person under such Synthetic Leases assuming such Person exercises the option to purchase the lease property at the end of the lease term.
Taxes shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
TC PipeLines ILP means TC PipeLines Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.
TC PipeLines ILP Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership relating to the formation of TC PipeLines ILP effective as of May 28, 1999, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
Termination Date the date that no Loan, Note or LC Exposure remains outstanding and unpaid, no amount remains available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit (unless such Letter of Credit is cash collateralized or supported by a letter of credit on terms and in amount acceptable to the Administrative Agent), no other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents and the Revolving Commitments and Term Loan Commitments have been terminated.
Term Loan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
Term Loan Commitment shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make a Term Loan hereunder in a principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule III. The aggregate principal amount of all Lenders Term Loan Commitments is $380,000,000.
Term Loan Commitment Availability Period shall mean the period from the Closing Date through the sixth month anniversary of the Closing Date.
Term Note shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of a requesting Lender in the principal amount of such Lenders Term Loan Commitment, in substantially the form of Exhibit B.
Total Capitalization shall mean at any date, the sum of Consolidated Net Worth and Consolidated Total Funded Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Tuscarora shall mean Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company, a Nevada general partnership.
Tuscarora Acquisition means that acquisition described in detail in the General Partnership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of November 1, 2006 by and between Tuscarora Gas Pipeline Company and TC Tuscarora Intermediate Limited Partnership.
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Tuscarora Intermediate Partnership shall mean TC Tuscarora Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.
Tuscarora Intermediate Partnership Agreement means that certain Agreement of Limited Partnership relating to the formation of Tuscarora Intermediate Partnership effective as of July 19, 2000, as amended supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
Tuscarora Partnership Agreement means that certain General Partnership Agreement relating to the formation of Tuscarora effective as of June 11, 1993, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
Type, when used in reference to a Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Base Rate.
Withdrawal Liability shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
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The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Term Loan Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3(a) (a Notice of Term Loan Borrowing) and each Revolving Borrowing
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substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3(b) (a Notice of Revolving Borrowing, and with the Notice of Term Loan Borrowing, each a Notice of Borrowing), each such Notice of Borrowing to be delivered (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the requested date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of each Eurodollar Borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Revolving Loan comprising such Borrowing and (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period). Each Revolving Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as the Borrower may request. The aggregate principal amount of each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be not less than $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, and the aggregate principal amount of each Base Rate Borrowing shall not be less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000; provided, that Base Rate Loans made pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.22(d) may be made in lesser amounts as provided therein. At no time shall the total number of Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding at any time exceed six. Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lenders Revolving Loan to be made as part of the requested Revolving Borrowing.
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All computations of interest based on the Base Rate shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based on LIBOR or the Federal Funds Rate and of fees hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable (to the extent computed on the basis of days elapsed). Each determination by the Administrative
32
Agent of an interest amount or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.
the Administrative Agent shall give written notice (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. Until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Revolving Loans or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (ii) all such affected Loans shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto unless the Borrower prepays such Loans in accordance with this Agreement. Unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before the date of any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing for which a Notice of Revolving Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on such date, then such Revolving Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing.
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and the result of either of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining a Eurodollar Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender or the Issuing Bank of participating in or issuing any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount received or receivable by such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then the Borrower shall promptly pay, upon written notice from and demand by such Lender on the Borrower (with a copy of such notice and demand to the Administrative Agent), to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, within five Business Days after the date of such notice and demand, additional amount or amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided, that amounts paid under this Section 2.18(a) shall be without duplication of amounts paid under Section 2.20 and shall not include Excluded Taxes.
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Neither the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Lenders nor any Related Party of any of the foregoing shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to above), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided, that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any actual direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect (including claims for lost profits or other consequential damages), or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to
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the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Banks failure to exercise due care when determining whether drafts or other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree, that in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised due care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
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After the first anniversary of the Closing Date and at least 45 days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date and Revolving Commitment Termination Date then in effect, the Borrower may (but in no event more than once per year or twice during the term of this Agreement), by written notice to the Administrative Agent, request that the scheduled Maturity Date and Revolving Commitment Termination Date then in effect be extended for a twelve-month period, effective as of a date selected by the Borrower (the Extension Effective Date); the Extension Effective Date shall be at least 45 days, but not more than 60 days, after the date such extension request is received by the Administrative Agent (the Extension Request Date). Upon receipt of the extension request, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof, and approval by the Required Lenders shall be necessary for the extension to become effective. If a Lender agrees, in its individual and sole discretion, to so extend its Revolving Credit Commitment or Maturity Date, as applicable, (an Extending Lender), it shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a written notice of its agreement to do so no later than 15 days after the Extension Request Date (or such later date to which the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify the Borrower of such Extending Lenders agreement to extend its Revolving Credit Commitment or Maturity Date, as applicable, (and such agreement shall be irrevocable until the Extension Effective Date). The Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment of any Lender that fails to accept or respond to the Borrowers request for extension of the Maturity Date and Revolving Commitment Termination Date (a Declining Lender) shall be terminated on the Maturity Date and Revolving Commitment Termination Date then in effect for such Lender (without regard to any extension by other Lenders) and on such Maturity Date and Revolving Commitment Termination Date the Borrower shall pay in full the unpaid principal amount of all Loans owing to such Declining Lender, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all fees accrued and unpaid under this Agreement to the date of such payment of principal and all other amounts due to such Declining Lender under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Extending Lender of the aggregate Commitments of the Declining Lenders.
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Each Extending Lender may offer to increase its respective Commitment by an amount not to exceed the aggregate amount of the Declining Lenders Commitments, and such Extending Lender shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a notice of its offer to so increase its Commitment no later than 30 days after the Extension Request Date (or such later date to which the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree), and such offer shall be irrevocable until the Extension Effective Date. To the extent the aggregate amount of additional Commitments that the Extending Lenders offer pursuant to the preceding sentence exceeds the aggregate amount of the Declining Lenders Commitments, such additional Commitments shall be reduced on a pro rata basis. To the extent the aggregate amount of Commitments that the Extending Lenders have so offered to extend is less than the aggregate amount of Commitments that the Borrower has so requested to be extended, the Borrower shall have the right but not the obligation to require any Declining Lender to (and any such Declining Lender shall) assign in full its rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more banks or other financial institutions (which may be, but need not be, one or more of the Extending Lenders) which at the time agree to, in the case of any such Person that is an Extending Lender, increase its Commitment and in the case of any other such Person (a New Lender) become a party to this Agreement; provided that (i) such assignment is otherwise in compliance with Section 10.04, (ii) such Declining Lender receives payment in full of the unpaid principal amount of all Loans owing to such Declining Lender, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all fees accrued and unpaid under this Agreement to the date of such payment of principal and all other amounts due to such Declining Lender under this Agreement and (iii) any such assignment shall be effective on the date on or before such Extension Effective Date as may be specified by the Borrower and agreed to by the respective New Lenders and Extending Lenders, as the case may be, and the Administrative Agent. If, but only if, Extending Lenders and New Lenders, as the case may be, have agreed to provide Commitments in an aggregate amount greater than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments outstanding immediately prior to such Extension Effective Date and the conditions precedent in Section 3.2 are met, the Termination Date in effect with respect to such Extending Lenders and New Lenders shall be extended by twelve months.
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Each Loan and each issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of any Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 3.2.
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Section 3.3. Delivery of Documents. All of the Loan Documents, certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this Article III, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of each of the Lenders and, except for the Notes, in sufficient counterparts or copies for each of the Lenders and shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory in all respects to the Administrative Agent.
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:
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Until the Termination Date, the Borrower covenants and agrees that:
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So long as the Borrower is required to file periodic reports under Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Borrowers obligation to deliver the financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) shall be deemed satisfied upon the filing of such financial statements in the EDGAR system and the giving by the Borrower of notice to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent as to the public availability of such financial statements from such source.
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Until the Termination Date, the Borrower covenants and agrees that:
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Until the Termination Date, the Borrower covenants and agrees that:
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Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, issue any preferred shares or other preferred partnership, limited liability company or other equity interests that (i) mature or are mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) are or may become redeemable or repurchaseable by Borrower or such Subsidiary at the option of any holders thereof, in whole or in part or (iii) are convertible or exchangeable at the option of any holders thereof for Indebtedness not permitted by this Agreement, on or prior to, in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), the first anniversary of the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
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then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the General Partner, the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries described in clause (g) or (h) of this Section 8.1) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the written request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, whereupon the Commitment of each Lender shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest on the Loans, and all other Obligations owing hereunder, to be, whereupon the same shall become, due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower,
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(iii) exercise all remedies contained in any other Loan Document, and (iv) exercise any other remedies available at law or in equity; and that, if an Event of Default specified in either clause (g) or (h) shall occur, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon, and all fees, and all other Obligations shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
To the Borrower: |
TC PipeLines, LP |
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c/o TC PipeLines GP |
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450-1 Street SW |
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Calgary, AB T2P5H1 |
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Attention: Corporate Secretary |
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Telecopy Number: 403.920.2467 |
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With a copy to: |
TC PipeLines, LP |
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c/o TC PipeLines GP |
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450-1 Street SW |
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Calgary, AB T2P5H1 |
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Attention: Vice President and Treasurer |
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Telecopy Number: 403.920.2358 |
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To the Administrative Agent |
SunTrust Bank |
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303 Peachtree Street, N. E. |
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Atlanta, Georgia 30308 |
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Attention: David Edge |
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Telecopy Number: |
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With a copy to: |
SunTrust Bank |
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Agency Services |
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303 Peachtree Street, N. E./ 25th Floor |
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Atlanta, Georgia 30308 |
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Attention: Ms. Dorris Folsom |
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Telecopy Number: (404) 658-4906 |
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and |
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King & Spalding LLP |
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1180 Peachtree Street, N.W. |
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Atlanta, Georgia 30309 |
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Attention: W. Todd Holleman |
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Telecopy Number: (404) 572-5100 |
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To the Issuing Bank: |
SunTrust Bank |
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25 Park Place, N. E./Mail Code 3706 |
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Atlanta, Georgia 30303 |
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Attention: John Conley |
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Telecopy Number: (404) 588-8129 |
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To the Swingline Lender: |
SunTrust Bank |
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Agency Services |
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303 Peachtree Street, N.E./25th Floor |
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Atlanta, Georgia 30308 |
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Attention: Ms. Dorris Folsom |
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Telecopy Number: (404) 658-4906 |
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To any other Lender: |
the address set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire or the Assignment and Acceptance Agreement executed by such Lender |
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Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mail or if delivered, upon delivery; provided, that any Notices of Borrowing, any Notices of Conversion/Continuation, and any notices provided under Section 5.2 or 5.3 delivered to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section 10.1.
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(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is specified in the Assignment and Acceptance, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $1,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment; and
(C) the consent of the Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of
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Credit (whether or not then outstanding), and the consent of the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 10.4, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 10.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section 10.4.
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81
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed under seal in the case of the Borrower by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
TC PIPELINES, LP |
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By: TC PipeLines GP, Inc., its General Partner |
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By |
/s/ Mark Zimmerman |
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Name: Mark A.P. Zimmerman |
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Title: Vice-President, Business Development |
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By |
/s/ Donald R. Marchand |
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Name: Donald R. Marchand |
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Title: Vice-President and Treasurer |
SUNTRUST BANK |
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as Administrative Agent, as Issuing Bank, as |
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By |
/s/ Peter Panos |
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Name: Peter Panos |
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Title: Vice President |
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING |
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By |
/s/ Kristina Burden |
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Name: Kristina Burden |
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Title: Vice President |
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC, as |
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By |
/s/ Kevin Howard |
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Name: Kevin Howard |
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Title: Managing Director |
UBS SECURITIES LLC, as Co-Documentation |
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By |
/s/ Richard L. Tavrow |
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Name: |
Richard L. Tavrow |
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Title: |
Director |
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Banking Products Services, US |
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By |
/s/ Barbara Ezell-McMichael |
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Name: |
Barbara Ezell-McMichael |
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Title: |
Associate Director |
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Banking Products Services, US |
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UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, as a Lender |
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By |
/s/ Richard L. Tavrow |
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Name: |
Richard L. Tavrow |
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Title: |
Director |
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Banking Products Services, US |
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By |
/s/ Christopher M. Aitkin |
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Name: |
Christopher M. Aitkin |
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Title: |
Associate Director |
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Banking Products Services, US |
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ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as |
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By |
/s/ Dustin Craven |
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Name: |
Dustin Craven |
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Title: |
Attorney-in-Fact |
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DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK |
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By |
/s/ Marcus Tarkington |
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Name: Marcus Tarkington |
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Title: Director |
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By |
/s/ Rainer Meier |
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Name: Rainer Meier |
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Title: Vice President |
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THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, |
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By |
/s/ John W. McGhee |
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Name: John W. McGhee |
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Title: Vice President & Manager |
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CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., as a |
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By |
/s/ David B. Lawrence |
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Name: David B. Lawrence, III |
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Title: Attorney-in-Fact |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD., as a |
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By |
/s/ Leon Mo |
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Name: Leon Mo |
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Title: Senior Vice President |
BNP PARIBAS, as a Lender |
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By |
/s/ Larry Robinson |
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Name: Larry Robinson |
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Title: Director |
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By |
/s/ Greg Smothers |
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Name: Greg Smothers |
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Title: Vice President |
WELLS FARGO BANK N.A., as a Lender |
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By |
/s/ Richard Gan |
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Name: Richard Gan |
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Title: Vice President/Loan Team Manager |
BANK HAPOALIM B.M., as a Lender |
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By |
/s/ Marc Bosc |
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Name: Marc Bosc |
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Title: Vice President |
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By |
/s/ Charles McLaughlin |
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Name: Charles McLaughlin |
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Title: Senior Vice President |
BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS CO., LTD., |
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By |
/s/ Shelly He |
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Name: |
Shelly He |
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Title: |
Deputy General Manager |
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Schedule I
APPLICABLE MARGIN AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE FOR REVOLVING LOANS
Pricing |
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Leverage |
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Applicable |
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Applicable |
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Applicable |
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Utilization |
I |
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Less than or equal to |
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0.21% per |
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0.0% per |
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0.065% per |
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0.10% per |
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II |
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Less than or equal to 2.50:1.00 but greater than 1.50:1.00 |
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0.27% per |
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0.0% per |
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0.08% per |
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0.10% per |
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III |
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Less than or equal to |
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0.35% per |
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0.0% per |
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0.10% per |
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0.10% per |
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IV |
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Less than or equal to 4.50:1.00 but greater than 3.50:1.00 |
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0.50% per |
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0.0% per |
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0.125% per |
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0.10% per |
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V |
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Greater than 4.50:1.00 |
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0.575% per |
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0.25% per |
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0.175% per |
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0.10% per |
Schedule II
APPLICABLE MARGIN AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE FOR TERM LOANS
Pricing |
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Leverage |
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Applicable |
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Applicable |
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Applicable |
I |
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Less than or equal to 1.50:1.00 |
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0.375% per annum |
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0.0% per annum |
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0.065% per annum |
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II |
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Less than or equal to 2.50:1.00 but greater than 1.50:1.00 |
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0.45% per annum |
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0.0% per annum |
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0.08% per annum |
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III |
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Less than or equal to 3.50:1.00 but greater than 2.50:1.00 |
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0.55% per annum |
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0.0% per annum |
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0.10% per annum |
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IV |
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Less than or equal to 4.50:1.00 but greater than 3.50:1.00 |
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0.725% per annum |
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0.0% per annum |
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0.125% per annum |
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V |
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Greater than 4.50:1.00 |
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0.85% per annum |
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0.25% per annum |
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0.175% per annum |
II-2
Schedule III
COMMITMENT AMOUNTS
Lender |
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Revolving |
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Term Loan |
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SunTrust Bank |
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$ |
3,292,682.92 |
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$ |
41,707,317.08 |
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BMO Capital Markets Financing Inc. |
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$ |
2,926,829.27 |
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$ |
37,073,170.73 |
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The Royal Bank of Scotland plc |
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$ |
2,926,829.27 |
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$ |
37,073,170.73 |
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UBS Loan Finance LLC |
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$ |
2,926,829.27 |
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$ |
37,073,170.73 |
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Royal Bank of Canada |
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$ |
2,926,829.27 |
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$ |
37,073,170.73 |
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Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch |
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$ |
2,926,829.27 |
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$ |
37,073,170.73 |
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The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. |
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$ |
2,926,829.27 |
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$ |
37,073,170.73 |
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Citicorp North America, Inc. |
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$ |
2,012,195.12 |
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$ |
25,487,804.88 |
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Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. |
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$ |
2,012,195.12 |
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$ |
25,487,804.88 |
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BNP Paribas |
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$ |
2,012,195.12 |
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$ |
25,487,804.88 |
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Wells Fargo Bank N.A. |
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$ |
1,646,341.46 |
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$ |
20,853,658.54 |
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Bank Hapoalim B.M. |
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$ |
1,097,560.98 |
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$ |
13,902,439.02 |
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Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., New York Branch |
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$ |
365,853.66 |
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$ |
4,634,146.34 |
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SCHEDULE 4.5
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
None
SCHEDULE 4.14
SUBSIDIARIES
1. TC PipeLines ILP, a Delaware limited partnership and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower |
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2. Tuscarora Intermediate Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower |
SCHEDULE 7.1
OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS
None
SCHEDULE 7.2
EXISTING LIENS
1. NEC Financial Services, Inc. has a lien on certain telephone equipment that the Borrower leases, which lien is more particularly described on UCC-1 financing statement 43586700 filed on December 15, 2004.
SCHEDULE 7.4
EXISTING INVESTMENTS
1. Northern Border
2. TC PipeLines ILP
3. Tuscarora
4. Tuscarora Intermediate Partnership
SCHEDULE 7.6
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
1. Tuscarora Acquisition
2. Borrower Partnership Agreement