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) February 13, 2007
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 (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.
$950 Million Unsecured Credit Agreement
On February 13, 2007, TC PipeLines, LP (the Partnership) entered into an unsecured amended and restated credit agreement (the Credit Agreement) for a $950 million credit facility with SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent and a lender, SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., as arranger and book manager, 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 Securities Inc. and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as managing agents, and UBS Loan Finance LLC, Royal Bank of Canada, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Citicorp North America, Inc., BNP Paribas, HSBC Bank USA National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Export Development Canada, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Bank Hapoalim B.M. and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., New York Branch, as lenders. The Credit Agreement includes a $700 million term loan facility and a $250 million revolving loan facility. The Credit Agreement amends and restates the credit agreement entered into by the Partnership on December 12, 2006 (the Original Credit Agreement). Except as described below, the pricing and other material terms of the Credit Agreement remain the same as the pricing and material terms of the Original Credit Agreement.
As of February 13, 2007, the Partnership had borrowed $380 million in term loans under the Credit Agreement. The Partnership must use the remaining $320 million term loan commitment within six months of the closing of the Credit Agreement, and the Partnership may only use the remaining term loan commitment to finance the previously announced acquisition of a 46.45% general partnership interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (the GLGT Acquisition). The Credit Agreement has a term of five years, and all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement 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 thereunder.
The Credit Agreement 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 (the Required Threshold) at the end of any fiscal quarter. The permitted leverage ratio will increase to 5.50 to 1.00 for the first three fiscal reporting periods during any 12-month period immediately following the consummation of specified material acquisitions; provided, however, that in determining compliance with the leverage ratio, up to $300 million of loans under the Subordinated Credit Agreement described below is excluded from such calculation.
The Partnership may elect (or, under certain circumstances, may be deemed to have elected), after giving effect to the GLGT Acquisition, to increase the Required Threshold to 6.00 to 1.00 through the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2007. If the Partnership makes such an election, it shall pay certain increased fees, until such time as the Partnerships leverage ratio is 5.50 to 1.00.
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Moreover, if the Partnership elects to increase the Required Threshold to 6.00 to 1.00, it must maintain, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2007, a leverage ratio of not greater than 4.75 to 1.00, subject to the allowances for temporary increases in the Required Threshold to 5.50 to 1.00 following the consummation of specified material acquisitions, as described above. The Credit Agreement also requires the Partnership to maintain an interest coverage ratio of not less than 3.00 to 1.00 at the end of each fiscal quarter; provided, however, that in determining compliance with the interest coverage ratio, interest expense with respect to the Subordinated Credit Agreement shall be excluded from such calculation.
In the event of a default by the Partnership under the Credit Agreement, 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 rights and remedies created under the Credit Agreement or applicable law. For events of default relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or receivership, the amounts outstanding become payable immediately.
The agents and certain lenders under the Credit Agreement 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.
$300 Million Unsecured Subordinated Credit Agreement and Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement
On February 13, 2007, the Partnership entered into an unsecured subordinated loan agreement (the Subordinated Credit Agreement) for up to a $300 million credit facility with TransCanada PipeLines Limited (TransCanada), an affiliate of the Partnership. The Partnership must borrow the loans available under the Subordinated Credit Agreement within six months of the closing of the Subordinated Credit Agreement. The Subordinated Credit Agreement has a term of seven years and all amounts outstanding under the Subordinated Credit Agreement will be due and payable on February 13, 2014.
Under the Subordinated Credit Agreement, the Partnership covenants and agrees that it will comply with each of the affirmative, negative and financial covenants set forth in the Credit Agreement except that dollar thresholds in the negative covenants are increased by 15% and the ratios in the financial covenants have a cushion of 15%.
On February 13, 2007, the Partnership, TransCanada and SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent, entered into the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement (the Subordination Agreement). Under the Subordination Agreement, TransCanada agreed to subordinate the payment of any amount due under the Subordinated Credit Agreement to the payment in full of the Credit Agreement and termination of all commitments to lend under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Partnership agreed not to make, and TransCanada agreed not to accept, any payment with respect to the Subordinated Credit Agreement until the Credit Agreement is paid in full and all commitments to lend under the Credit Agreement are terminated, other than payments on the
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Subordinated Credit Agreement that are permitted under the Subordination Agreement. Under the Subordination Agreement, payments of interest on the Subordinated Credit Agreement cannot exceed a certain specified amount and payments of principal can only be made under certain specified conditions.
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On February 15, 2007, the Partnership issued a press release announcing financial results for the Partnerships fourth quarter and fiscal year 2006 earnings. A copy of the press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information in this Item 2.02 and Exhibit 99.1 hereto are being furnished and are not deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Accordingly, the information in this Item 2.02 and Exhibit 99.1 hereto will not be incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Partnership under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.
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 Credit Agreement and the Subordinated Credit Agreement, each dated as of February 13, 2007, is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) |
Exhibits. |
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10.1 |
Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007 among TC PipeLines, LP, SunTrust Bank, and other parties named therein. |
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10.2 |
Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007 between TC PipeLines, LP and TransCanada PipeLines Limited. |
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10.3 |
Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007 among TC PipeLines, LP, TransCanada PipeLines Limited and SunTrust Bank. |
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99.1 |
Press Release dated February 15, 2007. |
4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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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 |
Dated: February 15, 2007
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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10.1 |
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Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated February 13, 2007 among TC PipeLines, LP, SunTrust Bank, and other parties named therein. |
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10.2 |
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Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007, between TC PipeLines, LP and TransCanada PipeLines Limited. |
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10.3 |
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Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007 among TC PipeLines, LP, TransCanada PipeLines Limited and SunTrust Bank. |
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99.1 |
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Press Release dated February 15, 2007. |
EXHIBIT 10.1
Execution Version
AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
dated as of February 13, 2007
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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24 |
Section 1.3. |
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Accounting Terms and Determination |
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24 |
Section 1.4. |
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Terms Generally |
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24 |
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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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25 |
Section 2.2. |
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Revolving Loans |
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25 |
Section 2.3. |
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Procedure for Borrowings |
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25 |
Section 2.4. |
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Swingline Commitment |
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26 |
Section 2.5. |
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Term Loan Commitments |
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27 |
Section 2.6. |
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Funding of Borrowings |
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28 |
Section 2.7. |
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Interest Elections |
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28 |
Section 2.8. |
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Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments |
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29 |
Section 2.9. |
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Repayment of Loans |
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30 |
Section 2.10. |
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Evidence of Indebtedness |
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30 |
Section 2.11. |
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Optional Prepayments |
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31 |
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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32 |
Section 2.14. |
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Fees |
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32 |
Section 2.15. |
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Computation of Interest and Fees |
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33 |
Section 2.16. |
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Inability to Determine Interest Rates |
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34 |
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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36 |
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
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 |
Exhibits
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 |
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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
AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this Agreement)is made and entered into as of February 13, 2007, 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, Borrower, certain of the lenders and SunTrust Bank as administrative agent, issuing bank and swingline lender are parties to that certain Revolving Credit and Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Existing Credit Agreement), pursuant to which the Lenders established a $30,000,000 revolving credit facility and made term loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to $380,000,000 in favor of Borrower;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the lenders party to the Existing Credit Agreement amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in order to modify certain provisions thereof;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank to the extent of their respective Commitments as defined herein, are willing to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement and to severally establish a $250,000,000 revolving credit facility, a letter of credit subfacility and the swingline subfacility in favor of and to make term loans in an aggregate principal amount up to $700,000,000 in favor of 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 that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated 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 $250,000,000.
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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.
Applicable Margin shall mean, as of any date and subject to Section 6.1(b) hereof, (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 but subject to Section 6.1(b), 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 and subject to Section 6.1(b) hereof, with respect to the facility fee or the commitment fee as of any date, the percentage per
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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 the foregoing but subject to Section 6.1(b), 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
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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.
Borrowingshall 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
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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, (v) the failure of the Borrower to own, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens, at least 98% of the partnership interests in Tuscarora or (vi) after the consummation of the GLGT Acquisition, the failure of the Borrower to own, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens, at least 46.45% of the partnership interests in GLGT.
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 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
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(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.
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.
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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 Eventshall 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 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 have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
Existing Lenders shall mean each of the lenders party to the Existing Credit Agreement.
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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 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 January 18, 2007, 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 Lendershall 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.
GLGT shall mean Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.
GLGT Acquisition means that acquisition described in detail in the GLGT Purchase and Sale Agreement.
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GLGT Partnership Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership to be dated as of the closing date of the GLGT Acquisition, 2007, as amended and restated from time to time.
GLGT Purchase and Sale Agreement means that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2006, among El Paso Great Lakes Company, L.L.C., as seller, and TC GL ILP and TransCanada PipeLine USA Ltd., as buyers.
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 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.
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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, 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 January 2007 (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.
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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:
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.
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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.
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 Yorktime) 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).
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Loan Documents shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes (if any), the LC Documents, the Fee Letter, the Subordination Agreement, 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.
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
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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 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.
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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/Continuationshall 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).
Notice of Revolving Borrowing shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.3.
Notice of Swingline Borrowingshall 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
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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.
PBGCshall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Permitted Encumbrances shall mean:
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provided, that the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(vi) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business at a bank or trust company satisfying the requirements specified in (a) or (b) of clause (iii) above;
(vii) any other securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case, maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
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(viii) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (vii) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution; and
(ix) other cash equivalents and securities reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
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 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.
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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.
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.
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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, even if Northern Border and GLGT would not otherwise constitute a Subsidiary of the Borrower, each of Northern Border and GLGT 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, Northern Border is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower as of the Closing Date and GLGT will not be a Subsidiary of the Borrower as of the closing of the GLGT Acquisition.
Subordination Agreement shall mean that certain Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the date hereof among TransCanada PipeLines Limited, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
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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.
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 GL ILP means TC GL Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.
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.
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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 Commitmentshall 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 $700,000,000.
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.
TransCanada Subordinated Debt shall mean all Indebtedness arising under the TransCanada Credit Agreement and the other TransCanada Subordinated Debt Documents.
TransCanada Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007 between the Borrower and TransCanada Pipelines Limited.
TransCanada Subordinated Debt Documents shall mean the TransCanada Credit Agreement and all other Subordinated Loan Documents (as defined in the TransCanada Credit Agreement).
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 and Tuscarora ILP.
Tuscarora ILP shall mean TC Tuscarora Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.
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Tuscarora ILP 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 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
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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.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the lesser of (i) the Swingline Commitment then in effect and (ii) the difference between the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount and the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders; provided, that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. The Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, repay and reborrow Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Swingline Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.4 attached hereto (Notice of Swingline Borrowing) prior to 12:00 p.m. (New Yorktime) on the requested date of each Swingline Borrowing. Each Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the principal amount of such Swingline Loan, (ii) the date of such Swingline Loan (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the account of the Borrower to which the proceeds of such Swingline Loan should be credited. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of each Notice of Swingline Borrowing. Each Swingline Loan shall accrue interest at the Swingline Rate and shall have an Interest Period (subject to the definition thereof) as agreed between the Borrower and the Swingline Lender. The aggregate principal amount of each Swingline Loan shall be not less than$100,000 or a larger multiple of $50,000, or such other minimum amounts agreed to by the Swingline Lender and the Borrower. The Swingline Lender will make the proceeds of each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower in Dollars in immediately available funds at the account specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Swingline Borrowing not later than 1:00 p.m. (New Yorktime) on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
(c) The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion, may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the
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(d) If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) shall purchase an undivided participating interest in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share thereof on the date that such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. On the date of such required purchase, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participating interest to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender. If such Swingline Loan bears interest at a rate other than the Base Rate, such Swingline Loan shall automatically become a Base Rate Loan on the effective date of any such participation and interest shall become payable on demand.
(e) Each Lenders obligation to make a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or to purchase the participating interests pursuant to Section 2.4(d) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including without limitation (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have or claim against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of any Lenders Revolving Commitment, (iii) the existence (or alleged existence) of any event or condition which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. If such amount is not in fact made available to the Swingline Lender by any Lender, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon for each day from the date of demand thereof (i) at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and (ii) at the Base Rate at all times thereafter. Until such time as such Lender makes its required payment, the Swingline Lender shall be deemed to continue to have outstanding Swingline Loans in the amount of the unpaid participation for all purposes of the Loan Documents. In addition, such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments made of principal and interest on its Loans and any other amounts due to it hereunder, to the Swingline Lender to fund the amount of such Lenders participation interest in such Swingline Loans that such Lender failed to fund pursuant to this Section 2.4, until such amount has been purchased in full.
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(a) Each Lender will make available each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 11:00 a.m. (New Yorktime) to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office; provided, that the Swingline Loans will be made as set forth in Section 2.4. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by 1:00 pm (New York time) on such proposed date, to an account maintained by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or at the Borrowers option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to 5:00 p.m. (New Yorktime) one (1) Business Day prior to the date of a Borrowing in which such Lender is to participate that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agents demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for such Borrowing. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Borrowing hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
(c) All Revolving Borrowings shall be made by the Lenders on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Loans hereunder.
(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, and in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert
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(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.7, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.7 attached hereto (a Notice of Conversion/Continuation) that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, (x) prior to 10:00 a.m. (New Yorktime) on the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New Yorktime) three (3) Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a Eurodollar Borrowing. Each such Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Continuation/Conversion applies and if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof that are to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing); (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Continuation/Conversion, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of Interest Period. If any such Notice of Continuation/Conversion requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for Eurodollar Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in Section 2.3.
(c) If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/ Continuation, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any Eurodollar Loans shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.
(d) Upon receipt of any Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lenders portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(a) Unless previously terminated, all Revolving Commitments, Swingline Commitments and LC Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. The Term Loan Commitments (i) previously terminated with respect to $380,000,000 of
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(b) Upon at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable), the Borrower may reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or the Term Loan Commitments in part or terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or the Term Loan Commitments in whole; provided, that (i) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Revolving Commitment or the Term Loan Commitment of each Lender, (ii) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be in an amount of at least $5,000,000 and any larger multiple of $1,000,000, and (iii) no such reduction shall be permitted which would reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount or the Term Loan Commitment to an amount less than the outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures or the Term Loans of all Lenders. Any such reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount below the sum of the principal amount of the Swingline Commitment and the LC Commitment shall result in a proportionate reduction (rounded to the next lowest integral multiple of $100,000) in the Swingline Commitment and the LC Commitment.
(a) The outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
(b) The principal amount of each Swingline Borrowing shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the earlier of (i) the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing and (ii) the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
(c) The outstanding balance of all Term Loans shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Maturity Date.
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(b) At the request of any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) at any time, the Borrower agrees that it will execute and deliver to such Lender a Revolving Credit Note and/or a Term Loan Note and, in the case of the Swingline Lender only, a Swingline Note, payable to the order of such Lender.
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Section 2.14. Fees.
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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
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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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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:
(b) Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Borrower may elect, after giving effect to the GLGT Acquisition, to increase the Required Threshold to 6.00 to 1.00 through the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2007 (and the Borrower shall be deemed to have made such an election at the time the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding exceeds $880,000,000; provided that such increase in the principal amount of the Loans outstanding is a result of the proceeds of such Loans being used to consummate the GLGT Acquisition). If the Borrower makes such an election to increase the Required Threshold (i) the Applicable Margin for Revolving Eurodollar Loans shall be 0.95% per annum and the Applicable Margin for Revolving Base Rate Loans shall be 0.50% per
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annum, (ii) the Applicable Percentage for the Facility Fee for Revolving Loans shall be 0.20% per annum, (iii) the Utilization Premium shall be 0.10% per annum, (iv) the Applicable Margin for Term Loan Eurodollar Loans shall be 1.25% per annum and the Applicable Margin for Term Loan Base Rate Loans shall be 0.50% per annum, and (v) the Applicable Percentage for the Commitment Fee for Term Loans shall be 0.20% per annum, until such time as the Leverage Ratio of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is 5.50:1.00. Solely for the purposes of determining the Leverage Ratio pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, Adjusted Cash Flow shall be deemed to be $174,000,000 until the delivery of the first Compliance Certificate following the closing of the GLGT Acquisition (the First Compliance Certificate); provided that in the event that the First Compliance Certificate reflects a Leverage Ratio in excess of 5.50:1.00, the Borrower shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders the accrued additional interest that would have been owed during the prior period as if the Borrower had never achieved a Leverage Ratio equal to or less than 5.50:1.00. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrower makes the election to increase the Required Threshold as provided for above, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will be required to maintain, on a consolidated basis as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2007, a Leverage Ratio of not greater than 4.75:1.00, subject to allowances for temporary increases in the Required Threshold to 5.50:1.00 as provided in Section 6.1(a) above.
Until the Termination Date, the Borrower covenants and agrees that:
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provided, however, no Indebtedness otherwise permitted under this Section 7.1 shall be permitted if, after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, any Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
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, (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 IX
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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 |
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or Swingline Lender: |
SunTrust Bank |
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303 Peachtree Street, N. E. |
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Atlanta, Georgia 30308 |
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Attention: Joe McCreery |
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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 |
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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(i) Minimum Amounts.
(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
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(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).
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans, Revolving Credit Exposure or the Commitment assigned.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Defaulthas 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 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.
(iv) Assignment and Acceptance. The parties to each assignment shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) a duly executed Assignment and Acceptance, (B) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, (C) an Administrative Questionnaire unless the assignee is already a Lender and (D) the documents required under Section 2.20 if such assignee is a Foreign Lender.
(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
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(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.
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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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 A. P. Zimmerman |
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Name: |
Mark A. P. Zimmerman |
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Title: |
President |
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By |
/s/ |
Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Name: |
Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Title: |
Secretary |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
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 |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING |
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By |
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/s/ Kristina Burden |
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Name: |
Kristina Burden |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC, as |
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By |
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/s/ Matthew J. Main |
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Name: |
Matthew J. Main |
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Title: |
Managing Director |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
UBS SECURITIES LLC, as Co-Documentation Agent |
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By |
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/s/ Richard L. Tavrow |
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Name: |
Richard L. Tavrow |
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Title: |
Director |
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Banking Products |
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Services, US |
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By |
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/s/ Irja R. Otsa |
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Name: |
Irja R. Otsa |
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Title: |
Associate Director |
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Banking Products |
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Services, US |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, as a Lender |
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By |
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/s/ Richard L. Tavrow |
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Name: |
Richard L. Tavrow |
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Title: |
Director |
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Banking Products |
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Services, US |
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By |
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/s/ Irja R. Otsa |
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Name: |
Irja R. Otsa |
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Title: |
Associate Director |
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Banking Products |
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Services, US |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as
Co- |
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By |
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/s/ Suzanne Kaicher |
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Name: |
Suzanne Kaicher |
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Title: |
Attorney-in-Fact |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
DEUTSCHE BANK
SECURITIES, INC., as |
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By |
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/s/ Ming K. Chu |
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Name: |
Ming K. Chu |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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By |
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/s/ Rainer Meier |
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Name: |
Rainer Meier |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW
YORK |
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By |
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/s/ Ming K. Chu |
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Name: |
Ming K. Chu |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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By |
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/s/ Rainer Meier |
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Name: |
Rainer Meier |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
THE BANK OF
TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, |
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By |
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/s/ Kelton Glasscock |
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Name: |
Kelton Glasscock |
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Title: |
Vice President & Manager |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
CITICORP NORTH AMERICA,
INC., as a |
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By |
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/s/ David B. Lawrence, III |
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Name: |
David B. Lawrence, III |
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Title: |
Attorney-In-Fact |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK,
LTD., as a |
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By |
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/s/ Leon Mo |
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Name: |
Leon Mo |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
BNP PARIBAS, as a Lender |
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By |
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/s/ Larry Robinson |
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Name: |
Larry Robinson |
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Title: |
Director |
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By |
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/s/ Greg Smothers |
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Name: |
Greg Smothers |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
WELLS FARGO BANK N.A., as a Lender |
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By |
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/s/ Sushim Shah |
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Name: |
Sushim Shah |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
BANK HAPOALIM B.M., as a Lender |
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By |
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/s/ Marc Bosc |
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Name: |
Marc Bosc |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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By |
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/s/ Lenroy Hackett |
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Name: |
Lenroy Hackett |
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Title: |
First Vice President |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS CO., LTD., |
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By |
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/s/ Shelley He |
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Name: |
Shelley He |
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Title: |
Deputy General Manager |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CANADA, as a |
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By |
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/s/ Mark Doyle |
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Name: |
Mark Doyle |
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Title: |
Financing Manager |
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By |
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/s/ Francois Morel |
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Name: |
Francois Morel |
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Title: |
Senior Financing Manager |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
HSBC BANK USA NATIONAL |
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By |
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/s/ Mark J. Calvert |
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Name: |
Mark J. Calvert |
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Title: |
Authorized Signature ID #15049 |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA, as a Lender |
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By |
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/s/ Tara Narasiman |
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Name: |
Tara Narasiman |
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Title: |
Associate |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Lender |
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By |
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/s/ William E. Zarrett |
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Name: |
William E. Zarrett |
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Title: |
Managing Director |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT]
EXHIBIT 10.2
SUBORDINATED LOAN AGREEMENT
dated as of February13, 2007
between
TC PIPELINES, LP
as
Borrower
and
TRANSCANADA
PIPELINES LIMITED
as
Lender
This instrument and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby are subordinate in the manner and to the extent set forth in that certain Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement (the Subordination Agreement) dated as of February 13, 2007 among, TRANSCANADA PIPELINES LIMITED, a Canada corporation (together with its successors and any permitted assigns, the Subordinated Creditor), TC PIPELINES, LP (the Borrower) and SunTrust Bank (Administrative Agent), to the indebtedness (including interest) owed by the Borrower pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007, among the Borrower, Administrative Agent and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as suchAmended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement has been and hereafter may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and to indebtedness refinancing the indebtedness under that agreement as contemplated by the Subordination Agreement; and each holder of this instrument, by its acceptance hereof, irrevocably agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Subordination Agreement.
ARTICLE I |
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DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION |
2 |
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Section 1.1. |
Definitions |
2 |
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Section 1.2. |
Accounting Terms and Determination |
5 |
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Section 1.3. |
Terms Generally |
6 |
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ARTICLE II |
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AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE SUBORDINATED LOANS |
6 |
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Section 2.1. |
Subordinated Loan Commitment |
6 |
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Section 2.2. |
Borrowing Procedure |
6 |
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Section 2.3. |
Optional Reduction and Termination of Subordinated Loan Commitment |
7 |
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Section 2.4. |
Repayment of Subordinated Loan |
7 |
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Section 2.5. |
Optional Prepayments |
7 |
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Section 2.6. |
Interest on Subordinated Loans |
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Section 2.7. |
Computation of Interest and Fees |
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Section 2.8. |
Payments Generally |
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ARTICLE III |
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CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SUBORDINATED LOANS |
8 |
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Section 3.1. |
Conditions to Effectiveness |
8 |
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Section 3.2. |
Conditions to Subordinated Loans |
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ARTICLE IV |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
9 |
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Section 4.1. |
Existence; Power |
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Section 4.2. |
Organizational Power; Authorization |
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Section 4.3. |
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts |
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Section 4.4. |
Financial Statements |
10 |
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Section 4.5. |
Litigation and Environmental Matters |
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Section 4.6. |
Compliance with Laws and Agreements |
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Section 4.7. |
Investment Company Act, Etc |
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Section 4.8. |
Taxes |
11 |
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Section 4.9. |
Margin Regulations |
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Section 4.10. |
ERISA |
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Section 4.11. |
Ownership of Property |
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Section 4.12. |
Labor Relations |
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Section 4.13. |
Insolvency |
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i
ARTICLE V |
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AFFIRMATIVE, NEGATIVE AND FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
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Section 5.1. |
Affirmative and Negative Covenants |
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Section 5.2. |
Financial Covenants |
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ARTICLE VI |
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
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ARTICLE VII |
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MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 7.1. |
Notices |
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Section 7.2. |
Waiver; Amendments |
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Section 7.3. |
Expenses; Indemnification |
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Section 7.4. |
Successors and Assigns |
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Section 7.5. |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process |
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Section 7.6. |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
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Section 7.7. |
Counterparts; Integration |
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Section 7.8. |
Survival |
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Section 7.9. |
Severability |
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Section 7.10. |
Confidentiality |
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Section 7.11. |
Interest Rate Limitation |
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Section 7.12. |
Non-Recourse to the General Partner and Associated Persons |
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Exhibits |
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Exhibit A |
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Form of Subordinated Note |
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Exhibit 2.2 |
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Form of Notice of Borrowing |
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ii
SUBORDINATED LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS SUBORDINATED LOAN AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of February 13, 2007, by and between TRANSCANADA PIPELINES LIMITED, a Canada corporation (the Lender) and TC PIPELINES, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Borrower).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lender make subordinated loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $300,000,000 to the Borrower; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lender is willing to make the requested subordinated loans to the Borrower.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower and the Lender agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.1. Definitions. Any capitalized term used herein without definition shall have the meaning specified in the Senior Credit Agreement. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
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. For purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower will not be considered an Affiliate of the Lender.
Borrower shall have the meaning in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Borrowing shall mean a borrowing consisting of a Subordinated Loan.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Calgary, Canada and New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
Closing Date shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.1 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 8.2.
Default Interest shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).
2
Deferred Interest shall mean the amount of any accrued interest in excess of interest accrued at the Subordinated Loan Cash-Pay Interest Rate that, but for the terms of the Subordination Agreement and Section 2.4(d), would be payable by the Borrower under this Agreement (including any Default Interest).
Event of Default shall have the meaning provided in Article VI.
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.
Great Lakes means Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company, a Delaware corporation.
Great Lakes Acquisition shall mean that acquisition described in detail in the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of December 22, 2006 among El Paso Great Lakes Company, L.L.C., as Seller and TC GL Intermediate Limited Partnership and TransCanada PipeLine USA Ltd., as Buyers.
Lender shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.
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, Tuscarora and Great Lakes taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under the Subordinated Loan Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Lender under any of the Subordinated Loan Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Subordinated Loan Documents.
Material Indebtedness shall mean (i) Senior Debt and (ii) any other Indebtedness (other than the Subordinated Loans) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $15,000,000.
Maturity Date shall mean the earlier of (i) February 13, 2014 or (ii) the date on which the outstanding principal amount of all Subordinated Loans has been declared, or automatically has become, due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).
Northern Border shall mean Northern Border Pipeline Company, a Texas general partnership.
Notice of Borrowing shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2.
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Obligations shall mean all amounts owing by the Borrower to the Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Subordinated 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, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Lender incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Subordinated 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.
Payment Office shall mean the office of the Lender located at 450 1st Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 5H1, or such other location as to which the Lender shall have given written notice to the Borrower.
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 Lender; and, with respect to the financial covenants only incorporated by reference pursuant to Section 5.2, the chief financial officer, treasurer, vice president of finance or controller of the Borrower
Senior Agent shall mean SunTrust Bank, in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Senior Credit Agreement, and any successor Administrative Agent under the Senior Credit Agreement.
Senior Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2007, by and among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and the Senior Agent.
Senior Debt shall mean the Obligations, as such term is defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.
Senior Lenders shall mean the Lenders, as such term is defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.
Senior Loan Documents shall mean the Loan Documents, as such term is defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.
Senior Term Loan Commitment Availability Period shall mean the Term Loan Commitment Availability Period, as such term is defined in the Senior Credit Agreement.
Subordinated Loan has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
Subordinated Loan Cash-Pay Interest Rate shall mean 6.00% per annum.
4
Subordinated Loan Commitment shall mean the obligation of the Lender to make Subordinated Loans hereunder in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $300,000,000.
Subordinated Loan Commitment Availability Period shall mean the period from the Closing Date through the last day of the Senior Term Loan Commitment Availability Period.
Subordinated Loan Documents shall mean, collectively, this Agreement and the Subordinated Note.
Subordinated Loan Interest Rate shall mean 7.50% per annum.
Subordinated Note shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender in the principal amount of the Subordinated Loan Commitment, in substantially the form of Exhibit A.
Subordination Agreement shall mean that certain Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2007, among the Borrower, the Lender and the Senior Agent.
TC GL Intermediate Limited Partnership means TC GL Intermediate Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership.
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 portion of any Subordinated Loan remains outstanding and unpaid, no other amount is owing to the Lender hereunder or under any of the other Subordinated Loan Documents and the Subordinated Loan Commitment has terminated.
Tuscarora shall mean Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company, a Nevada general partnership.
Section 1.2. Accounting Terms and Determination. Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) of the Senior Credit Agreement; provided, that if the Borrower has notified the Senior Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article VI of the Senior Credit Agreement to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Senior Agent has notified the Borrower that the Required Lenders (as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement) wish to amend Article VI of the Senior Credit Agreement for such purpose), then the Borrowers compliance with such covenant (as
5
incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Section 5.2, including after giving effect to any applicable proviso in Section 5.2) shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.
Section 1.3. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including and the word to means to but excluding. Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (v) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and province or state of the Lenders principal office, unless otherwise indicated. All actions required to be undertaken by the Borrower under the Subordinated Loan Documents shall be undertaken by the Borrower through the General Partner.
ARTICLE II
AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE SUBORDINATED LOANS
Section 2.1. Subordinated Loan Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lender agrees to make subordinated term loans (each, a Subordinated Loan and, collectively, the Subordinated Loans) to the Borrower during theSubordinated Loan CommitmentAvailability Period in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that will not result in the aggregate Subordinated Loans exceeding the Subordinated Loan Commitment. During the Subordinated Loan Commitment Availability Period, the Borrower shall be entitled to borrow and, subject to the terms and conditions of the Subordination Agreement, prepay the Subordinated Loans in accordance with the provisions hereof, but once repaid or prepaid, Subordinated Loans may not be reborrowed.
Section 2.2. Borrowing Procedure. The Borrower shall give the Lender written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.2 (a Notice of Borrowing), each such Notice of Borrowing to be delivered prior to 3:00 p.m. (Calgary time) on the requested date of each Borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be revocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing and (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day).
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Section 2.3. Optional Reduction and Termination of Subordinated Loan Commitment.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Subordinated Loan Commitment shall terminate on the last day of the Subordinated Loan Commitment Availability Period.
(b) By written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Lender, the Borrower may reduce the Subordinated Loan Commitment in part or terminate the Subordinated Loan Commitment in whole.
Section 2.4. Repayment of Subordinated Loan. The outstanding balance of all Subordinated Loans will be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Maturity Date.
Section 2.5. Optional Prepayments. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Subordination Agreement, the Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Subordinated Loan, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving irrevocable written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Lender not less than two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the amount to be prepaid. If such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice will be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with Section 2.6.
Section 2.6. Interest on Subordinated Loans.
(a) Subject to the Subordination Agreement and paragraph (d) of this Section 2.6, the Borrower shall pay interest on each Subordinated Loan at the Subordinated Loan Interest Rate.
(b) While an Event of Default exists or after acceleration, at the option of the Lender, the Borrower shall, subject to the Subordination Agreement and paragraph (d) of this Section 2.6, pay interest (Default Interest) at the Subordinated Loan Interest Rate, plus an additional 2% per annum.
(c) Interest on the principal amount of all Subordinated Loans will accrue from and including the date such Subordinated Loans are made but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Subject to the Subordination Agreement and paragraph (d) of this Section 2.6, interest on all Subordinated Loans will be payable quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December. Subject to the Subordination Agreement and paragraph (d) of this Section 2.6, all Default Interest will be payable on demand.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, so long as any Senior Debt is outstanding, the Borrower shall, subject to the Subordination Agreement, pay interest in cash on all Subordinated Loans at the Subordinated Loan Cash-Pay Interest Rate. Such interest payments shall be made on the 16th calendar day of each May, August, November and February. All accrued and unpaid Deferred Interest will be payable upon the earlier to occur
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of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the date that is six (6) months following the date on which the Senior Debt is paid in full.
Section 2.7. Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest shall be made by the Lender on the basis of a year of 365 days. Each determination by the Lender of an interest amount hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.
Section 2.8. Payments Generally.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower to the Lender hereunder shall be made to the Lender at the Payment Office. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Lender to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due hereunder and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder.
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SUBORDINATED LOANS
Section 3.1. Conditions to Effectiveness. The obligations hereunder of the Lender to make the Subordinated Loans shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.2):
(a) The Lender shall have received amounts due, including reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Lender) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder or under any other Subordinated Loan Document.
(b) The Lender (or its counsel) shall have received the following:
(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of the Borrower or written evidence satisfactory to the Lender (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that the Borrower has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;
(ii) a duly executed Subordinated Note payable to the Lender; and
(iii) a duly executed Notice of Borrowing.
Section 3.2. Conditions to Subordinated Loans. The obligation of the Lender to make each Subordinated Loan is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
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(A) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Subordinated Loan, no Default or Event of Default shall exist;
(B) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Subordinated Loan Documents (other than the representation and warranty set forth in Section 4.4(b)) shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing before and after giving effect thereto;
(C) the Borrower shall have delivered the required Notice of Borrowing; and
(D) the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be used solely to finance the Great Lakes Acquisition.
Each Subordinated Loan 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.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lender as follows:
Section 4.1. Existence; Power. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where a failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.2. Organizational Power; Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Subordinated Loan Documents to which it is a party are within the Borrowers organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational, and if required, general partner action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, and constitutes, and each other Subordinated Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party, when executed and delivered by the Borrower, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.
Section 4.3. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, and of the other Subordinated Loan Documents to which it is a party (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority, except those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any Requirements of Law applicable to the Borrower
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or any of its Subsidiaries or any judgment, order or ruling of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its assets or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens (if any) created under the Subordinated Loan Documents.
Section 4.4. Financial Statements.
(a) The Borrower has furnished to each Lender (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of income, partners equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended audited by KPMG LLP and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2006, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the Fiscal Quarter and year-to-date period then ending, certified by a Responsible Officer. Such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations for such periods in conformity with GAAP consistently applied, subject to year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii).
(b) Since December 31, 2005, there have been no changes with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, Northern Border and Tuscarora which have had or could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.5. Litigation and Environmental Matters.
(a) No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities is pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable likelihood of an adverse determination that could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Subordinated Loan Document.
(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
Section 4.6. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all Requirements of Law and all judgments, decrees and orders of any Governmental Authority and (b) all indentures, agreements or other instruments binding upon it or its properties, except where non-compliance, either singly or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.7. Investment Company Act, Etc. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is (a) an investment company or is controlled by an investment company, as such terms are defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) otherwise subject to any other regulatory scheme limiting its ability to incur debt or requiring any approval or consent from or registration or filing with, any Governmental Authority in connection therewith, except those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect.
Section 4.8. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries and each other Person for whose taxes the Borrower or any Subsidiary is liable have timely filed or caused to be filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments made against it or its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except where the same are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of such taxes are adequate, and no tax liabilities that could be materially in excess of the amount so provided are anticipated.
Section 4.9. Margin Regulations. None of the proceeds of any of the Subordinated Loan will be used, directly or indirectly, for purchasing or carrying any margin stock with the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as now and from time to time hereafter in effect or for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulation U. Neither the Borrower nor its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.
Section 4.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to the Plans, (a) the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and (b) the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans, where the liability, if any, in (a) or (b) above could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.11. Ownership of Property. Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property material to the operation of its business, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited consolidated balance
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sheet of the Borrower referred to in Section 4.4 or purported to have been acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement. All leases that individually or in the aggregate are material to the business or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and are in full force.
(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed, or otherwise has the right, to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe in any material respect on the rights of any other Person.
(c) The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, in such amounts with such deductibles and covering such risks of loss or damage of the kinds customarily carried by companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, which may include self-insurance, if determined by the Borrower to be reasonably prudent and consistent with business practices as in effect on the date hereof.
Section 4.12. Labor Relations. There are no strikes, lockouts or other material labor disputes or grievances against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the Borrowers knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and no significant unfair labor practice, charges or grievances are pending against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Borrowers knowledge, threatened against any of them before any Governmental Authority. All payments due from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.13. Insolvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Subordinated Loan Documents, the making of the Subordinated Loan under this Agreement, neither the Borrower nor its Subsidiaries will be insolvent, within the meaning of such term as defined in § 101 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time, or be unable to pay its debts generally as such debts become due, or have an unreasonably small capital to engage in any business or transaction, whether current or contemplated.
ARTICLE V
AFFIRMATIVE, NEGATIVE AND FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Section 5.1. Affirmative and Negative Covenants. Until the Termination Date, the Borrower covenants and agrees that it shall comply with each of the covenants set forth in Articles V and VII of the Senior Credit Agreement, which covenants are incorporated herein in their entirety, mutatis mutandis, such that any reference in such covenants to the Administrative Agent shall mean, for purposes of this Article V, the Lender; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 5.1, any references to dollar amounts in Article VII
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(including after giving effect to any amendments to the Senior Credit Agreement) shall be increased by 15%.
Section 5.2. Financial Covenants. Until the Termination Date, the Borrower covenants and agrees that it shall comply with each of the covenants set forth in Article VI of the Senior Credit Agreement, which covenants are incorporated herein in their entirety, mutatis mutandis; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 5.2:
(a) The numerator in each ratio referred to in Section 6.1(a) of the Senior Credit Agreement shall be increased by 15% (including after giving effect to any amendments to the Senior Credit Agreement);
(b) The numerator in each ratio referred to in Section 6.1(b) of the Senior Credit Agreement shall be decreased by 15% (including after giving effect to any amendments to the Senior Credit Agreement); and
(c) Any change from time to time in the Required Threshold (as defined in Section 6.1(a) of the Senior Credit Agreement) shall result in a corresponding change in the Required Threshold under this Section 5.2 (subject always to subsection (a) of this Section 5.2).
ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If any of the following events (each an Event of Default) shall occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Subordinated Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment or otherwise and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) days (it being understood that the failure of the Borrower to make any such payment as a result of a prohibition thereon under the Subordination Agreement shall not constitute an Event of Default); or
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Subordinated Loan or any other amount (other than an amount payable under clause (a) of this Section 6.1) payable under this Agreement or any other Subordinated Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of ten (10) days (it being understood that the failure of the Borrower to make any such payment as a result of a prohibition thereon under the Subordination Agreement shall not constitute an Event of Default); or
(c) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2, or 5.3(a), Article VI or Article VII of the Senior Credit Agreement, as incorporated by reference in this Agreement pursuant to Article V of this Agreement (including after giving effect to the provisos in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this Agreement), and such failure shall remain unremedied for 5 days after the earlier of (i) any
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Responsible Officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure, or (ii) written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Senior Agent or the Lender; or
(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in the Senior Credit Agreement (other than those referred to in clause (c) above) or any other Senior Loan Document, and such failure shall remain unremedied for 35 days after the earlier of (i) any Responsible Officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure, or (ii) written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Senior Agent or the Lender; or
(e) the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) shall fail to pay any principal of, or premium or interest on, (i) any Material Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Agreement and the other Senior Loan Documents) that is outstanding, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument evidencing or governing such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; (ii) any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or any offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or (iii) (A) there occurs under any Hedging Transaction an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Hedging Transaction) resulting from an event of default under such Hedging Transaction as to which the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Hedging Transaction) and the value owed by the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries as a result thereof is greater than (individually or collectively) $17,250,000 and such amount is not paid when due under such Hedging Transaction, or (B) there occurs under any Hedging Transaction an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Hedging Transaction) resulting from any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Hedging Transaction as to which the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is an Affected Party (as defined in such Hedging Transaction) and the value owed by the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries as a result thereof is greater than (individually or collectively) $17,250,000 and such amount is not paid when due under such Hedging Transaction; or
(f) the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall (i) commence a voluntary case or other proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official of them or any substantial part of their property, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (g) of this Section 6.1, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of their assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a
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petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vi) take any partnership action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or
(g) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or their debts, or any substantial part of their assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of their assets, and in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall remain undismissed for a period of 65 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or
(h) the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due; or
(i) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Lender, when taken together with other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $17,250,000; or
(j) any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $17,250,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be a period of 35 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; provided, however, that any such judgment or order shall not be an Event of Default under this Section 6.1(j) if and for so long as (i) the amount of such judgment or order is covered (subject to customary deductibles) by a valid and binding policy of insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering payment thereof and (ii) such insurer, which shall be rated at least A- by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of, and has not denied coverage of, the amount of such judgment or order; or
(k) any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be a period of 35 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(l) a Change in Control shall occur or exist;
then, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Subordination Agreement, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries described in clause (f) or (g) of this Section 6.1) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Lender may, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Subordinated Loan Commitment, whereupon the Subordinated Loan Commitment shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest on the Subordinated Loans, and all other
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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, (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 (f) or (g) shall occur, the Subordinated Loan Commitment shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Subordinated 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.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1. Notices.
(a) Written Notices. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
To the Borrower: |
TC PipeLines, LP |
|
|
To the Lender: |
TransCanada PipeLines Limited |
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 provided under Section 5.2 or 5.3 of the Senior Credit Agreement (as incorporated in this Agreement by reference pursuant to Article V of this Agreement) delivered to the Lender shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section 7.1.
(b) E-Mail Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by e-mail. Unless the Lender otherwise
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prescribes, notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
Section 7.2. Waiver; Amendments.
(a) No failure or delay by the Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or any other Subordinated Loan Document, and no course of dealing between the Borrower and the Lender, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies of the Lender hereunder and under the other Subordinated Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Subordinated Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section 7.2, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.
(b) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Subordinated Loan Documents, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower and the Lender, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower and/or the required lenders under the Senior Credit Agreement agree upon a waiver or amendment of any of the terms and conditions in the Senior Credit Agreement, such waiver or amendment, if applicable, shall apply to this Agreement and the other Subordinated Loan Documents without any action on the part of the parties hereto. The Lender agrees to execute a written waiver or amendment to memorialize any waiver or amendment effected pursuant to the preceding sentence.
Section 7.3. Expenses; Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the Subordination Agreement, the Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Lender and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Lender and its Affiliates, in connection with the preparation and administration of the Subordinated Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any other Subordinated Loan Document shall be consummated), and (ii) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, but limited to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one outside counsel for the Lender) incurred by the Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement,
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including its rights under this Section 7.3, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of the Subordinated Loan.
(b) Subject to the Subordination Agreement, the Borrower shall indemnify the Lender, and each Related Party of the Lender (other than the General Partner) (each such Person being called an Indemnitee) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Subordinated Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitees obligations hereunder or under any other Subordinated Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Subject to the Subordination Agreement, the Borrower shall pay, and hold the Lender harmless from and against, any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar taxes with respect to this Agreement and any other Subordinated Loan Documents, any collateral described therein, or any payments due thereunder, and save the Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such taxes.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, each party shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee or the other party, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, the Subordinated Loan or the use of proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section 7.3 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
Section 7.4. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
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assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder, and, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Borrower. Any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of the Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 7.5. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) This Agreement and the other Subordinated Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof except for Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law) of the State of New York.
(b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York county and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Subordinated Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(c) Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in paragraph (b) of this Section 7.5 and brought in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 7.5. Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 7.1. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Subordinated Loan Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 7.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER SUBORDINATED LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT
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OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER SUBORDINATED LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
Section 7.7. Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement and the other Subordinated Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matters.
Section 7.8. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lender and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Subordinated Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any the Lender or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on the Subordinate Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid. The provisions of Section 7.3 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Subordinated Loans or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. All representations and warranties made herein, in the certificates, reports, notices, and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Subordinated Loan Documents, and the making of the Subordinate Loans.
Section 7.9. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Subordinated Loan Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 7.10. Confidentiality. The Lender agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information provided to it by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except that such information may be disclosed (i) to any Related Party of the Lender, including without limitation accountants, legal counsel and other advisors with a reasonable need for such information (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential on substantially the same terms as provided herein), (ii) to
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the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iii) to the extent requested by any regulatory agency or authority or self-regulatory body having or claiming authority to regulate or oversee any aspect of the Lenders business or businesses, (iv) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 9.10, or which becomes available to the Lender or any of its Related Party on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, and (ix) subject to provisions substantially similar to this Section 9.10, to any actual or prospective assignee, or (vi) with the consent of the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of any information as provided for in this Section 7.10 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such information as such Person would accord its own confidential information; provided that, in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), with the exception of disclosure to regulatory authorities, the Lender agrees, to the extent practicable and legally permissible, to give the Borrower prompt prior notice so that it may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy.
Section 7.11. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Subordinated Loan, together with all charges and other amounts which may be treated as interest on such Subordinated Loan under applicable law (collectively, the Charges), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate of interest (the Maximum Rate) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by a lender holding such a loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Subordinated Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate.
Section 7.12. Non-Recourse to the General Partner and Associated Persons. The Lender agrees on behalf of itself and its successors, assigns and legal representatives, that neither the General Partner nor any Person which is a partner, shareholder, member, owner, officer, director, supervisor, trustee or other principal (collectively, Associated Persons) of the Borrower, the General Partner, or any of their respective successors or assigns, shall have any personal liability for the payment or performance of any of the Borrowers obligations hereunder or under the Subordinated Note and no monetary or other judgment shall be sought or enforced against the General Partner or any of such Associated Persons or any of their respective successors or assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lender shall not be deemed barred by this Section 7.12 from asserting any claim against any Person based upon an allegation of fraud or misrepresentation.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed 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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/s/ Mark A.P. Zimmerman |
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Name: Mark A.P. Zimmerman |
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Title: President |
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/s/ Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Name: Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Title: Secretary |
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TRANSCANADA PIPELINES LIMITED |
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/s/ Donald R. Marchand |
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Name: Donald R. Marchand |
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Title: Vice-President, Finance & Treasurer |
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/s/ Ronald L. Cook |
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Name: Ronald L. Cook |
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Title: Vice-President, Taxation |
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EXHIBIT 10.3
Execution Version
THIS SUBORDINATION AND INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is entered into as of this February 13, 2007, by and among TRANSCANADA PIPELINES LIMITED, a Canada corporation (together with its successors and any permitted assigns, the Subordinated Creditor),(1) TC PIPELINES, LP a Delaware limited partnership (the Borrower) and SUNTRUST BANK, as Administrative Agent for all Senior Lenders party to the Senior Credit Agreement defined below (Administrative Agent).
R E C I T A L S
A. The Borrower, Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders (as hereinafter defined) have entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement of even date herewith (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Senior Credit Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, Senior Lenders have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Senior Credit Agreement, to make certain loans and financial accommodations to the Borrower.
B. The Borrower and Subordinated Creditor have entered into a Subordinated Loan Agreement of even date herewith (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time as permitted hereunder, the Subordinated Loan Agreement), pursuant to which Subordinated Creditor is extending credit to the Borrower as evidenced by a Subordinated Note of even date herewith in the principal amount of up to $300,000,000 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time as permitted hereunder, the Subordinated Note).
C. As an inducement to and as one of the conditions precedent to the agreement of Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Senior Credit Agreement, Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders have required the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Subordinated Creditor and the Borrower in order to set forth the relative rights and priorities of Administrative Agent, Senior Lenders and Subordinated Creditor under the Senior Loan Documents and the Subordinated Loan Documents (as hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Senior Credit Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
(1) If additional subordinated lenders are added, this agreement will need to be revised accordingly.
1. Definitions. Terms defined in the Senior Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. The following terms shall have the following meanings in this Agreement:
Administrative Agent shall mean SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent for the Senior Lenders, or any other Person appointed by the holders of the Senior Debt as Administrative Agent for purposes of the Senior Loan Documents and this Agreement.
Bankruptcy Code shall mean Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time and any successor statute and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Distribution means, with respect to any indebtedness or obligation, (a) any payment or distribution by any Person of cash, securities or other property, by set-off or otherwise, on account of such indebtedness or obligation, (b) any redemption, purchase or other acquisition of such indebtedness or obligation by any Person or (c) the granting of any lien or security interest to or for the benefit of the holders of such indebtedness or obligation in or upon any property of any Person.
Enforcement Action shall mean (a) to take from or for the account of the Borrower or any guarantor of the Subordinated Debt, by set-off or in any other manner, the whole or any part of any moneys which may now or hereafter be owing by the Borrower or any such guarantor with respect to the Subordinated Debt, (b) to sue for payment of, or to initiate or participate with others in any suit, action or proceeding against the Borrower or any such guarantor to (i) enforce payment of or to collect the whole or any part of the Subordinated Debt or (ii) commence judicial enforcement of any of the rights and remedies under the Subordinated Loan Documents or applicable law with respect to the Subordinated Debt, (c) to accelerate the Subordinated Debt, (d) to exercise any put option or to cause the Borrower or any such guarantor to honor any redemption or mandatory prepayment obligation under any Subordinated Loan Document or (e) to take any action under the provisions of any state or federal law, including, without limitation, the Uniform Commercial Code, or under any contract or agreement, to enforce, foreclose upon, take possession of or sell any property or assets of the Borrower or any such guarantor.
Permitted Subordinated Debt Payments means (a) regularly scheduled payments of interest on the Subordinated Note due and payable on a non-accelerated basis in accordance with the terms of the Subordinated Loan Documents as in effect on the date hereof or as modified in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, provided that such cash payments of interest cannot exceed 6% of then outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Note and (b) so long as the total principal amount outstanding with respect to the Senior Debt is less than $600,000,000 and so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would occur as a result thereof, voluntary payments of principal of the Subordinated Note, in whole or in part, by the Borrower with the proceeds of the issuance of common units by the Borrower, provided that no other
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payments (either mandatory or voluntary prepayments) of principal of the Subordinated Note shall constitute Permitted Subordinated Debt Payments.
Person shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity, or any Governmental Authority.
Proceeding shall mean any voluntary or involuntary insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, custodianship, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers or any other proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries.
Senior Debt shall mean all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every nature of the Borrower or any guarantor from time to time owed to Administrative Agent or any Senior Lender under the Senior Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the principal amount of all debts, claims and indebtedness, accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all fees, costs and expenses owed thereunder or pursuant thereto, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise, heretofore, now and from time to time hereafter owing, due or payable, whether before or after the filing of a Proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code together with (a) any amendments, modifications, renewals or extensions thereof to the extent not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and (b) any interest accruing thereon after the commencement of a Proceeding, without regard to whether or not such interest is an allowed claim. Senior Debt shall be considered to be outstanding whenever any loan commitment under the Senior Loan Document is outstanding.
Senior Default shall mean any Event of Default as that term is defined the Senior Loan Documents, or any condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an Event of Default if that condition or event were not cured or removed within any applicable grace or cure period set forth therein.
Senior Default Notice shall mean a written notice from Administrative Agent to Subordinated Creditor pursuant to which Subordinated Creditor is notified of the occurrence of a Senior Default, which notice incorporates a reasonably detailed description of such Senior Default.
Senior Lenders shall mean the holders of the Senior Debt from time to time.
Senior Loan Documents shall mean the Senior Credit Agreement and all other agreements, documents and instruments executed from time to time in connection therewith, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
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Subordinated Debt shall mean all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Borrower, or any guarantor, to Subordinated Creditor evidenced by, incurred pursuant to, or arising from the Subordinated Loan Documents.
Subordinated Loan Documents shall mean the Subordinated Note, theSubordinated Loan Agreement and any guaranty with respect to the Subordinated Debt, and all other documents, agreements and instruments now existing or hereinafter entered into evidencing or pertaining to all or any portion of the Subordinated Debt.
Subordinated Debt Default shall mean any Event of Default as that term is defined the Subordinated Loan Documents, or any condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an Event of Default if that condition or event were not cured or removed within any applicable grace or cure period set forth therein.
Subordinated Debt Default Notice shall mean a written notice from Subordinated Creditor or the Borrower to Administrative Agent pursuant to which Administrative Agent is notified of the occurrence of a Subordinated Debt Default, which notice incorporates a reasonably detailed description of such Subordinated Debt Default.
2. Subordination.
2.1 Subordination of Subordinated Debt to Senior Debt. The Borrower covenants and agrees, and Subordinated Creditor by its acceptance of the Subordinated Loan Documents (whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment) likewise covenants and agrees, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any of the Subordinated Loan Documents, that the payment of any and all of the Subordinated Debt shall be subordinate and subject in right and time of payment, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt and termination of all lending commitments under the Senior Loan Documents. Each holder of Senior Debt, whether now outstanding or hereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, shall be deemed to have acquired Senior Debt in reliance upon the provisions contained in this Agreement.
2.2 Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy. In the event of any Proceeding involving the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries:
(a) All Senior Debt shall first be indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Documents shall be terminated before any Distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to Subordinated Creditor on account of any Subordinated Debt.
(b) Any Distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property which would otherwise, but for the terms hereof, be payable or deliverable in respect of the Subordinated Debtshall be paid or delivered directly to Administrative Agent (to be held and/or applied by Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of the Senior Loan Documents) until all Senior Debt is indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all commitments
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to lend under the Senior Loan Documents shall have been terminated. Subordinated Creditor irrevocably authorizes, empowers and directs any debtor, debtor in possession, receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian, conservator or other Person having authority, to pay or otherwise deliver all such Distributions to Administrative Agent. Subordinated Creditor also irrevocably authorizes and empowers Administrative Agent, in its name or in the name of Subordinated Creditor, to demand, sue for, collect and receive any and all such Distributions.
(c) Subordinated Creditor agrees not to initiate, prosecute or participate in any claim, action or other proceeding challenging the creation, attachment, enforceability, validity of the Senior Debt. None of the Subordinated Creditors will take any action that would interfere with any exercise of any remedies undertaken by the Administrative Agent or any other Senior Secured Party under the Senior Loan Documents. No Subordinated Creditor shall object to any provision in any DIP financing relating to any provision or content of a plan of reorganization or to any plan of reorganization supported by the Senior Lenders.
(d) Subordinated Creditor agrees to execute, verify, deliver and file any proofs of claim in respect of the Subordinated Debt requested by Administrative Agent in connection with any such Proceeding and hereby irrevocably authorizes, empowers and appoints Administrative Agent its attorney-in-fact to (i) execute, verify, deliver and file such proofs of claim and (ii) vote such claim in any such Proceeding; provided Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to execute, verify, deliver, file and/or vote any such proof of claim. In the event that Administrative Agent votes any claim in accordance with the authority granted hereby, Subordinated Creditor shall not be entitled to change or withdraw such vote.
(e) The Senior Debt shall continue to be treated as Senior Debt and the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to govern the relative rights and priorities of Senior Lenders and Subordinated Creditor even if all or part of the Senior Debt or the security interests securing the Senior Debt are subordinated, set aside, avoided, invalidated or disallowed in connection with any such Proceeding or otherwise, and this Agreement shall be reinstated if at any time any payment of any of the Senior Debt is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any holder of Senior Debt or any representative of such holder.
2.3 Subordinated Debt Payment Restrictions.
(a) Notwithstanding the terms of the Subordinated Loan Documents, the Borrower hereby agrees that it may not make, directly or indirectly, and Subordinated Creditor hereby agrees that it will not accept, take or claim from the Borrower or any guarantor, any Distribution with respect to the Subordinated Debt until the Senior Debt is indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Documents have terminated, other than Permitted Subordinated Debt Payments subject to the terms of Section 2.2; provided, however, that the Borrower and Subordinated Creditor
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further agree that no Permitted Subordinated Debt Payment may be made by the Borrower, directly or indirectly, or accepted, taken or claimed by Subordinated Creditor from the Borrower or any guarantor if, at the time of such payment a Senior Default exists or would result therefrom and such Senior Default shall not have been waived.
(b) The Borrower may resume Permitted Subordinated Debt Payments in respect of the Subordinated Debt or any judgment with respect thereto in the case of a Senior Default referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 2.3, upon a waiver thereof.
(c) No Senior Default shall be deemed to have been waived for purposes of this Section 2.3 unless and until the Borrower shall have received a written waiver from Administrative Agent or all Senior Lenders.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 2.3 to the contrary, the failure of the Borrower to make any Distribution with respect to the Subordinated Debt by reason of the operation of this Section 2.3 shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Subordinated Debt Default under the applicable Subordinated Loan Documents.
2.4 Subordinated Debt Standstill Provisions. Until the Senior Debt is indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Documents shall be terminated, Subordinated Creditor shall not, without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent, take any Enforcement Action with respect to the Subordinated Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Distributions or other proceeds of any Enforcement Action obtained by Subordinated Creditor in breach of this Section 2.4 shall in any event be held in trust by it for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders and promptly be paid or delivered to Administrative Agent for the benefit of Senior Lenders in the form received until all Senior Debt is indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all commitments to lend under the Senior Loan Documents shall have been terminated.
2.5 Incorrect Payments. If any Distribution on account of the Subordinated Debt not permitted to be made by the Borrower or accepted, taken or claimed by Subordinated Creditor under this Agreement is made and received by Subordinated Creditor, whether from Borrower or any guarantor, such Distribution shall not be commingled with any of the assets of Subordinated Creditor, shall be held in trust by Subordinated Creditor for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders and shall be promptly paid over to Administrative Agent for application (in accordance with the Senior Loan Documents ) to the payment of the Senior Debt then remaining unpaid, until all of the Senior Debt is paid in full.
2.6 Sale, Transfer or other Disposition of Subordinated Debt.
(a) Subordinated Creditor shall not sell, assign, pledge, dispose of or otherwise transfer all or any portion of the Subordinated Debt or any Subordinated Loan Document:(i) withoutgiving prior written notice of such action to Administrative Agent,(ii) unless, prior to the consummation of any such action, the transferee thereof shall
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execute and deliver to Administrative Agent an agreement substantially identical to this Agreement, providing for the continued subordination of the Subordinated Debt to the Senior Debt as provided herein and for the continued effectiveness of all of the rights of Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders arising under this Agreement, and (iii) unless, following the consummation of any such action, there shall beno more than four holders of the Subordinated Debt.
(b) Notwithstanding the failure of any transferee to execute or deliver an agreement substantially identical to this Agreement, the subordination effected hereby shall survive any sale, assignment, pledge, disposition or other transfer of all or any portion of the Subordinated Debt, and the terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of Subordinated Creditor, as provided in Section 9 hereof.
2.8 Legends. Until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 15 hereof, Subordinated Creditor will cause to be clearly, conspicuously and prominently inserted on the face of the Subordinated Note, and any other Subordinated Debt Document, as well as any renewals or replacements thereof, the following legend:
This instrument and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby are subordinate in the manner and to the extent set forth in that certain Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement (the Subordination Agreement) dated as of February 13, 2007 among TRANSCANADA PIPELINES LIMITED(2) (the Subordinated Creditor), TC PIPELINES, LP (the Borrower) and SunTrust Bank (Administrative Agent), to the indebtedness (including interest) owed by the Borrower pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of February 13, 2007, among the Borrower, Administrative Agent and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as suchAmended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement has been and hereafter may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and to indebtedness refinancing the indebtedness under that agreement as contemplated by the Subordination Agreement; and each holder of this instrument, by its acceptance hereof, irrevocably agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Subordination Agreement.
3. Modifications.
3.1 Modifications to Senior Loan Documents. Senior Lenders may at any time and from time to time without the consent of or notice to Subordinated Creditor, without incurring liability to Subordinated Creditor and without impairing or releasing the obligations of Subordinated Creditor under this Agreement, change the manner or place of payment or extend the time of payment of or renew or alter any of the terms of the Senior Debt, or amend in any manner any agreement, note, guaranty or other instrument evidencing or securing or otherwise relating to the Senior Debt.
(2) If additional subordinated lenders are added, this legend will need to be revised accordingly.
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3.2 Modifications to Subordinated Loan Documents. Until the Senior Debt has been indefeasibly paid in full in cash and all lending commitments under the Senior Loan Documents have terminated, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Subordinated Loan Documents, Subordinated Creditor shall not, without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent, agree to any amendment, modification or supplement to the Subordinated Loan Documents the effect of which is to (a) increase the maximum principal amount of the Subordinated Debt or rate of interest (or cash pay rate of interest) on any of the Subordinated Debt, (b) change the dates upon which payments of principal or interest on the Subordinated Debt are due, (c) change or add any event of default or any covenant with respect to the Subordinated Debt, (d) change any redemption or prepayment provisions of the Subordinated Debt, (e) alter the subordination provisions with respect to the Subordinated Debt, including, without limitation, subordinating the Subordinated Debt to any other indebtedness, (f) take any liens or security interests in any assets of the Borrower or any guarantor of the Subordinated Debt or (g) change or amend any other term of the Subordinated Loan Documents if such change or amendment would result in a Senior Default, increase the obligations of the Borrower or any guarantor of the Subordinated Debt or confer additional material rights on Subordinated Creditor or any other holder of the Subordinated Debt in a manner materially adverse to the Borrower, any such guarantor or Senior Lenders.
4. Representations and Warranties.
4.1 Representations and Warranties of Subordinated Creditor. Subordinated Creditor hereby represents and warrants to Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders that as of the date hereof: (a) Subordinated Creditor is a corporationduly formed and validly existing under the laws of Canada; (b) Subordinated Creditor has the power and authority to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Agreement, all of which have been duly authorized by all proper and necessary action; (c) the execution of this Agreement by Subordinated Creditor will not violate or conflict with the organizational documents of Subordinated Creditor, any material agreement binding upon Subordinated Creditor or any law, regulation or order or require any consent or approval which has not been obtained; (d) this Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Subordinated Creditor, enforceable against Subordinated Creditor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by equitable principles; (e) Subordinated Creditor is the sole owner, beneficially and of record, of the Subordinated Loan Documents and the Subordinated Debt; and (f) the Subordinated Debt is, and at all times prior to the termination of this Agreement shall remain, an unsecured obligation of the Borrower.
4.2 Representations and Warranties of Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent hereby represents and warrants to Subordinated Creditor that as of the date hereof: (a) Administrative Agent is a corporation duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the State of Georgia; (b) Administrative Agent has the power and authority to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Agreement, all of which have been duly authorized by all proper and necessary action; (c) the execution of this Agreement by Administrative Agent will
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not violate or conflict with the organizational documents of Administrative Agent, any material agreement binding upon Administrative Agent or any law, regulation or order or require any consent or approval which has not been obtained; and (d) this Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Administrative Agent, enforceable against Administrative Agent in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles.
5. Subrogation. Subject to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all Senior Debt and the termination of all lending commitments under the Senior Loan Documents, Subordinated Creditor shall be subrogated to the rights of Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders to receive Distributions with respect to the Senior Debt until the Subordinated Debt is paid in full. Subordinated Creditor agrees that in the event that all or any part of a payment made with respect to the Senior Debt is recovered from the holders of the Senior Debt in a Proceeding or otherwise, any Distribution received by Subordinated Creditor with respect to the Subordinated Debt at any time after the date of the payment that is so recovered, whether pursuant to the right of subrogation provided for in this Agreement or otherwise, shall be deemed to have been received by Subordinated Creditor in trust as property of the holders of the Senior Debt and Subordinated Creditor shall forthwith deliver the same to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Senior Lenders for application to the Senior Debt until the Senior Debt is paid in full. A Distribution made pursuant to this Agreement to Administrative Agent or Senior Lenders which otherwise would have been made to Subordinated Creditor is not, as between the Borrower and Subordinated Creditor, a payment by the Borrower to or on account of the Senior Debt.
6. Modification. Any modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, or any consent to any departure by any party from the terms hereof, shall not be effective in any event unless the same is in writing and signed by Administrative Agent and Subordinated Creditor, and then such modification, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose given. Any notice to or demand on any party hereto in any event not specifically required hereunder shall not entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances unless specifically required hereunder.
7. Further Assurances. Each party to this Agreement promptly will execute and deliver such further instruments and agreements and do such further acts and things as may be reasonably requested in writing by any other party hereto that may be necessary or desirable in order to effect fully the purposes of this Agreement.
8. Notices. Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, any notice delivered under this Agreement shall be in writing addressed to the respective party as set forth below and may be personally served, telecopied or sent by overnight courier service or certified or registered United States mail and shall be deemed to have been given (a) if delivered in person, when delivered; (b) if delivered by telecopy, on the date of transmission if transmitted on a business day before 4:00 p.m. New York, New York time or, if not, on the next succeeding business day; (c) if delivered by overnight courier, one business day after delivery to such courier properly
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addressed; or (d) if by United States mail, four business days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed.
Notices shall be addressed as follows:
If to Subordinated Creditor:
TransCanada PipeLines Limited
c/o TransCanada Corporation
450 1st Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P 5H1
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telecopy: (403) 920-2200
If to Borrower:
TC PipeLines, LP
c/o TC PipeLines GP
450-1 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P5H1
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telecopy Number: (403) 920-2467
With a copy to:
TC PipeLines, LP
c/o TC PipeLines GP
450-1 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P5H1
Attention: Vice President and Treasurer
Telecopy Number: (403) 920-2358
If to Administrative Agent or Senior Lenders:
SunTrust Bank
303 Peachtree Street, N. E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: David Edge
Telecopy Number: (404) 827-6270
10
With a copy to:
SunTrust Bank
Agency Services
303 Peachtree Street, N. E./ 25th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: Ms. Dorris Folsom
Telecopy Number: (404) 658-4906
and
King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attention: W. Todd Holleman
Telecopy Number: (404) 572-5128
or in any case, to such other address as the party addressed shall have previously designated by written notice to the serving party, given in accordance with this Section 8.
9. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the respective successors and assigns of Administrative Agent, Senior Lenders, Subordinated Creditor and the Borrower. To the extent permitted under the Senior Loan Documents, Senior Lenders may, from time to time, without notice to Subordinated Creditor, assign or transfer any or all of the Senior Debt or any interest therein to any Person and, notwithstanding any such assignment or transfer, or any subsequent assignment or transfer, the Senior Debt shall, subject to the terms hereof, be and remain Senior Debt for purposes of this Agreement, and every permitted assignee or transferee of any of the Senior Debt or of any interest therein shall, to the extent of the interest of such permitted assignee or transferee in the Senior Debt, be entitled to rely upon and be the third party beneficiary of the subordination provided under this Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the terms and provisions hereof to the same extent as if such assignee or transferee were initially a party hereto.
10. Relative Rights. This Agreement shall define the relative rights of Administrative Agent, Senior Lenders and Subordinated Creditor with respect to the payment of the Senior Debt and the Subordinated Debt in accordance with their respective terms. Nothing in this Agreement shall (a) impair, as among the Borrower, Administrative Agent and Senior Lenders and as between the Borrower and Subordinated Creditor, the obligation of the Borrower with respect to the payment of the Senior Debt and the Subordinated Debt in accordance with their respective terms or (b) affect the relative rights of Administrative Agent, Senior Lenders or Subordinated Creditor with respect to any other creditors of the Borrower.
11. Conflict. In the event of any conflict between any term, covenant or condition of this Agreement and any term, covenant or condition of any of the Subordinated Loan Documents, the provisions of this Agreement shall control and govern.
11
12. Headings. The paragraph headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
14. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by reason of the operation of any law or by reason of the interpretation placed thereon by any court or governmental authority, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and the affected provision shall be modified to the minimum extent permitted by law so as most fully to achieve the intention of this Agreement.
15. Continuation of Subordination; Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Senior Debt and the termination of all lending commitments under the Senior Loan Documents after which this Agreement shall terminate without further action on the part of the parties hereto.
16. Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF EXCEPT FOR SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).
17. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR AND THE BORROWER HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS ELECTION, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS. EACH OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR AND THE BORROWER EXPRESSLY SUBMITS AND CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS. EACH OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR AND THE BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS AND AGREES THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, ADDRESSED TO SUBORDINATED CREDITOR AND THE BORROWER AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ADDRESSES SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT AND SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE COMPLETE TEN (10) DAYS AFTER THE SAME HAS BEEN POSTED. IN ANY LITIGATION, TRIAL, ARBITRATION OR OTHER DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ALL DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS OF
12
SUBORDINATED CREDITOR, THE BORROWER OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE EMPLOYEES OR MANAGING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR OR THE BORROWER, AS APPLICABLE, FOR PURPOSES OF ALL APPLICABLE LAW OR COURT RULES REGARDING THE PRODUCTION OF WITNESSES BY NOTICE FOR TESTIMONY (WHETHER IN A DEPOSITION, AT TRIAL OR OTHERWISE). EACH OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR AND THE BORROWER AGREES THAT ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS OR ANY SENIOR LENDERS COUNSEL IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDING MAY EXAMINE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AS IF UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION AND THAT ANY DISCOVERY DEPOSITION OF ANY OF THEM MAY BE USED IN THAT PROCEEDING AS IF IT WERE AN EVIDENCE DEPOSITION. EACH OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR AND THE BORROWER IN ANY EVENT WILL USE ALL COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE EFFORTS TO PRODUCE IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDING, AT THE TIME AND IN THE MANNER REQUESTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER, ALL PERSONS, DOCUMENTS (WHETHER IN TANGIBLE, ELECTRONIC OR OTHER FORM) OR OTHER THINGS UNDER ITS CONTROL AND RELATING TO THE DISPUTE.
18. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. SUBORDINATED CREDITOR, THE BORROWER AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE SUBORDINATED LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE SENIOR LOAN DOCUMENTS. EACH OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR, THE BORROWER AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS RELIED ON THE WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE SENIOR LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE WAIVER IN THEIR RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH OF SUBORDINATED CREDITOR, THE BORROWER AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT EACH HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF REVIEWING THIS JURY WAIVER WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS.
(Signature Page follows)
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Subordinated Creditor, the Borrower and Administrative Agent have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
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SUBORDINATED CREDITOR: |
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TRANSCANADA PIPELINES LIMITED |
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By |
/s/ Donald R. Marchand |
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Name: |
Donald R. Marchand |
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Title: |
Vice President, Finance & Treasurer |
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By |
/s/ Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Name: |
Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Title: |
Secretary |
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BORROWER: |
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TC PIPELINES, LP, |
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By |
/s/ Mark Zimmerman |
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Name: |
Mark Zimmerman |
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Title: |
President |
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By |
/s/ Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Name: |
Donald J. DeGrandis |
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Title: |
Secretary |
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ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT: |
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SUNTRUST BANK |
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By |
/s/ Peter Panos |
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Name: |
Peter Panos |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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14
Exhibit 99.1
NewsRelease
TC PipeLines, LP Announces 2006 Fourth Quarter Results
CALGARY, Alberta - February 15, 2007 - (Nasdaq: TCLP) - TC PipeLines, LP (the Partnership) today reported fourth quarter 2006 net income of $11.3 million or $0.60 per common unit (all amounts in U.S. dollars) compared to $12.3 million or $0.65 per common unit for the same period last year. The decrease in net income is primarily due to increased financial charges on higher outstanding debt balances and lower earnings from Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company (Tuscarora), partially offset by the net positive impact resulting from the additional 20 per cent general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline Company (Northern Border Pipeline).
In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Partnership received cash distributions from its investments of $25.8 million, of which $9.7 million relates to the additional interest in Northern Border Pipeline. The total cash distributions of $25.8 million received in the fourth quarter of 2006 represent a $6.7 million increase compared to the same quarter last year. The Partnership incurred financing and other costs of $6.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to $0.7 million in the same period last year. The total cash distributions from Northern Border Pipeline and Tuscarora net of Partnership costs increased $0.8 million to $19.2 million in fourth quarter 2006 from $18.4 million in fourth quarter 2005.
For the year ended December 31, 2006, the Partnership received cash distributions from its investments of $88.1 million, of which $26.7 million relates to the additional interest in Northern Border Pipeline. The total cash distributions of $88.1 million received in 2006 represent an $18.9 million increase compared to the same period last year. The Partnership incurred financing and other costs of $18.2 million in 2006 compared to $3.0 million in 2005. The total cash distributions from Northern Border Pipeline and Tuscarora net of Partnership costs increased $3.7 million to $69.9 million in 2006 from $66.2 million in 2005.
The increased total cash distributions received and Partnerships cash distributions received net of Partnership costs in the quarter are a direct result of the increased ownership of Northern Border Pipeline, said Russ Girling, CEO and Chairman of TC PipeLines GP, Inc. We are pleased we were able to make three acquisition announcements in 2006 that will all contribute significant additional cash distributions to the Partnership. We look forward to 2007.
1
Financial Highlights
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Twelve months ended |
|
||||||||
(unaudited) |
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
||||||||
(millions of dollars except per unit amounts) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
||||
Net income |
|
11.3 |
|
12.3 |
|
44.7 |
|
50.2 |
|
||||
Per common unit (1) |
|
$ |
0.60 |
|
$ |
0.65 |
|
$ |
2.39 |
|
$ |
2.70 |
|
Cash distributions paid |
|
11.3 |
|
10.8 |
|
43.5 |
|
43.0 |
|
||||
Cash distributions declared per unit (2) |
|
$ |
0.60 |
|
$ |
0.575 |
|
$ |
2.35 |
|
$ |
2.30 |
|
Units outstanding (millions) |
|
17.5 |
|
17.5 |
|
17.5 |
|
17.5 |
|
(1) Net income per common unit is computed by dividing net income, after deduction of the general partners allocation, by the number of common units outstanding. The general partners allocation is computed based upon the general partners two percent interest plus an amount equal to incentive distributions.
(2) The Partnerships 2006 fourth quarter cash distribution will be paid on February 14, 2007 to unitholders of record as of
January 31, 2007.
Recent Developments
On December 19, 2006 the Partnership acquired an additional 49 per cent general partnership interest in Tuscarora from Sierra Pacific Resources for approximately $100 million, with the option to purchase Sierra Pacific Resources remaining one per cent interest in Tuscarora in approximately one year. The Partnership has also indirectly assumed $37 million of Tuscarora debt and now owns or controls 99 per cent of Tuscarora. TransCanada Corporation, the parent company of the Partnerships general partner, TC PipeLines GP, Inc., indirectly holds the remaining one per cent ownership interest. Additionally, a TransCanada subsidiary became the operator of Tuscarora, which was previously operated by an affiliate of Sierra Pacific Resources.
On December 22, 2006 the Partnership announced plans to more than double its interstate natural gas pipeline assets with the acquisition of a 46.45 per cent interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (Great Lakes) from El Paso Corporation. The total purchase price is $962 million, subject to certain closing adjustments, and includes the indirect assumption of approximately $212 million of debt. A subsidiary of TransCanada will also become the operator of Great Lakes. This acquisition is expected to close by the end of the first quarter, pending customary transaction closing conditions.
On February 13, 2007 the Partnership amended and restated its existing senior revolving credit facility, which increased the amount available under the facility from $410 million to $950 million. The facility includes a $700 million senior term loan and a $250 million senior revolving credit facility. The proceeds of the facility will provide for working capital and general corporate purposes including the purchase of 46.45 per cent interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission. The facility matures on December 12, 2011.
2
Net Income
Fourth Quarter 2006
The Partnership reported fourth quarter 2006 net income of $11.3 million or $0.60 per unit, a decrease of $1.0 million compared to $12.3 million or $0.65 per unit for the same quarter last year.
Equity income from Northern Border Pipeline was $16.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, an increase of $5.5 million, compared to $11.0 million for the same period last year. The increase in equity income was primarily due to the additional 20 per cent general partner interest which provided an incremental $6.5 million in equity income for the fourth quarter; however, Northern Border Pipelines net income for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $3.2 million lower (approximately $1.0 million reduction to the Partnerships net income) when compared to the same period last year. The reduction in Northern Border Pipelines net income for the fourth quarter is primarily due to increased operations and maintenance expenses.
Equity income from Tuscarora was $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, a decrease of $1.0 million, compared to $2.0 million for the same period last year. With the acquisition of an additional 49 per cent general partner interest in Tuscarora on December 19, 2006, the Partnership now consolidates its interest in Tuscarora. The $0.4 million impact of earnings for the last twelve days of 2006 together with the $1.0 million of equity earnings for the fourth quarter of 2006 up to December 19 resulted in total net income from Tuscarora of $1.4 million, which was $0.6 million lower compared to the fourth quarter of 2005. The decrease in net income from Tuscarora was primarily due to lower net revenues resulting from settlement rates effective June 1, 2006.
The Partnership reported transmission revenues of $0.9 million and depreciation expense of $0.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2006 related to the Tuscarora operations for the last twelve days of 2006.
The Partnerships operations, maintenance and administrative expenses of $0.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, increased $0.4 million compared to $0.5 million for the same period in 2005. The increase was primarily due to increased legal and accounting costs. Financial charges were $6.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, an increase of $5.8 million, compared to $0.2 million for the same period last year due to higher average debt outstanding. The higher average debt outstanding was the result of additional financing in 2006 for acquisitions. Approximately $0.1 million of operations, maintenance and administrative expenses and $0.2 million of financial charges relate to Tuscarora operations for the last twelve days in December.
Year Ended December 31, 2006
The Partnership reported net income of $44.7 million or $2.39 per unit for the year ended December 31, 2006, a decrease of
3
$5.5 million compared to $50.2 million or $2.70 per unit for 2005.
Equity income from Northern Border Pipeline was $56.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $10.9 million compared to $45.7 million in 2005. The increase in equity income was due to the additional 20 per cent general partner interest which provided an incremental $17.6 million in equity income; however, Northern Border Pipelines net income for 2006 was $22.4 million lower (approximately $6.7 million reduction in equity income to the Partnership) when compared to the same period last year. The reduction in Northern Border Pipelines net income is primarily due to decreased net operating revenues and increased operations and maintenance expenses. The decrease in net operating revenues of Northern Border Pipeline is mainly due to a one-time increase in revenues in the third quarter of 2005 of $9.4 million due to the recognition of the sale of its bankruptcy claims against Enron and Enron North America. The increased operations and maintenance expenses of Northern Border Pipeline as compared to last year is due to increased general and administrative expenses.
Equity income from Tuscarora was $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, a decrease of $1.6 million, compared to $7.5 million for the same period last year. With the acquisition of an additional 49 per cent general partner interest in Tuscarora on December 19, 2006, the Partnership now consolidates its interest in Tuscarora. The $0.4 million of earnings for the last twelve days of 2006 together with the $5.9 million of equity earnings up to December 19 resulted in total net income from Tuscarora of $6.3 million. This amount was $1.2 million lower than the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 primarily due to lower net revenues resulting from settlement rates effective June 1, 2006. Financial charges were $15.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $14.8 million, compared to $1.0 million for the same period last year due to higher average debt outstanding. The higher average debt outstanding was the result of additional financing in 2006 for acquisitions.
4
Cash Flow
Cash Distributions Received (a)
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Twelve months ended |
|
||||
(unaudited) |
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
Cash distributions from original 30% general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline |
|
14.6 |
|
17.1 |
|
53.7 |
|
60.9 |
|
Cash distributions from original 49% general partner interest in Tuscarora |
|
1.5 |
|
2.0 |
|
7.7 |
|
8.3 |
|
|
|
16.1 |
|
19.1 |
|
61.4 |
|
69.2 |
|
Increase in cash distributions due to 2006 acquisitions(b) |
|
9.7 |
|
|
|
26.7 |
|
|
|
Total cash distributions received(a) |
|
25.8 |
|
19.1 |
|
88.1 |
|
69.2 |
|
(a) Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measure: Total cash distributions received is a non-GAAP financial measure which is the sum of equity income from investment in Northern Border Pipeline, equity income from investment in Tuscarora, return of capital from Northern Border Pipeline and return of capital from Tuscarora. It is provided as a supplement to results reported in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that this is an important measure to assist the Partnerships investors in evaluating the Partnerships business performance.
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Twelve months ended |
|
||||
(unaudited) |
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
Equity income from investment in Northern Border Pipeline |
|
16.5 |
|
11.0 |
|
56.6 |
|
45.7 |
|
Equity income from investment in Tuscarora |
|
1.0 |
|
2.0 |
|
5.9 |
|
7.5 |
|
Return of capital from Northern Border Pipeline |
|
7.8 |
|
6.1 |
|
23.8 |
|
15.2 |
|
Return of capital from Tuscarora |
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
|
0.8 |
|
Total cash distributions received |
|
25.8 |
|
19.1 |
|
88.1 |
|
69.2 |
|
(b) 2006 acquisitions include a 20% general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline on April 6th and a 49% general partner interest in Tuscarora on December 19th.
Fourth Quarter 2006
The Partnership received cash distributions from Northern Border Pipeline and Tuscarora in the fourth quarter of 2006 of $25.8 million, an increase of $6.7 million, compared to $19.1 million for the same period last year. The acquisition of the additional 20 per cent general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline contributed $9.7 million to cash distributions received. Cash distributions received in the quarter are based on the respective financial results of Northern Border Pipeline and Tuscarora.
Distributions from Northern Border Pipeline decreased in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the same period last year, resulting in a $2.5 million decrease in distributions received from the original 30 per cent general partner interest. The 2005 distributions were greater because of Northern Border Pipelines $9.4 million gain on the sale of its unsecured bankruptcy claims for transportation contracts and associated guarantees held against Enron Corp. and Enron North America Corp.
Distributions from Tuscarora decreased in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the same period last year, resulting in a $0.5 million decrease in distributions received from the original 49 per cent general partner interest. This decrease is primarily due to lower net revenues resulting from new settlement rates effective June 1, 2006.
5
The Partnership paid $11.3 million of cash distributions to unitholders and its general partner in the fourth quarter of 2006, an increase of $0.5 million compared to $10.8 million for the same period of 2005. This cash distribution represents a payment of $0.60 per common unit.
The Partnership paid $97.2 million, net of cash acquired, in the three months ended December 31, 2006 for its acquisition of an additional 49 per cent general partner interest in Tuscarora which closed on December 19, 2006. To finance the acquisition, the Partnership borrowed $100 million under a term credit facility. In addition, the Partnership repaid $307 million of the outstanding balance on its bridge loan credit facility, by drawing $297 million on term and revolving credit facilities and using $10 million of cash on hand. Tuscarora repaid $2.4 million of the outstanding balance on its senior secured notes during the last twelve days in December.
Year Ended December 31, 2006
Total cash distributions received from its investments in Northern Border Pipeline and Tuscarora for the year ended December 31, 2006 were $88.1 million, an increase of $18.9 million, compared to $69.2 million for the same period last year. Acquisition of the additional 20 per cent general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline contributed $26.7 million.
Distributions from Northern Border Pipeline decreased in 2006 compared to 2005, resulting in a $7.2 million reduction in distributions received by the Partnership for its original 30 per cent general partner interest. Distributions made by Northern Border Pipeline were higher in 2005 due to higher revenues and the recognition of $9.4 million for the sale of its unsecured bankruptcy claims for transportation contracts and associated guarantees held against Enron Corp. and Enron North America Corp. The Partnerships then 30 per cent interest in this additional revenue was $2.8 million.
Distributions from Tuscarora decreased in 2006 compared to 2005, resulting in a $0.6 million reduction in distributions received by the Partnership for its original 49 per cent general partner interest. This decrease is primarily due to lower net revenues resulting from settlement rates effective June 1, 2006.
The Partnership paid $43.5 million of cash distributions to unitholders and its general partner in 2006, an increase of $0.5 million compared to $43.0 million for 2005.
The Partnership paid $311.1 million and $97.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, for the acquisitions of an additional 20 per cent general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline and an additional 49 per cent general partner interest in Tuscarora, respectively. To finance these acquisitions, the Partnership borrowed a net $383.5 million
6
from bridge, term and revolving credit facilities. Tuscarora repaid $2.4 million of the outstanding balance on its senior secured notes between December 19 and December 31, 2006.
Conference Call
The Partnership will hold a conference call Thursday, February 15, 2007 at 12 p.m. (Eastern) to discuss the fourth quarter 2006 financial results and general developments and issues concerning the Partnership. Those interested in listening to the call may dial (866) 898-9626. A replay of the conference call will also be available two hours after the call and until midnight (Eastern), Thursday, February 22, 2007, by dialing (800) 408-3053, then entering passcode 3211101.
A live webcast of the conference call will also be available through the Partnerships website at www.tcpipelineslp.com. An audio replay of the call will be available on the website.
TC PipeLines, LP is a publicly traded limited partnership. Pending the closing of the acquisition of a 46.45 per cent interest in Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership announced December 22, 2006, TC PipeLines, LP will have interests in more than 3,600 miles of federally regulated U.S. interstate natural gas pipelines including Northern Border Pipeline Company (50 per cent ownership) and Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company (99 per cent owned or controlled). The 1,249-mile Northern Border Pipeline transports natural gas from the Montana-Saskatchewan border to markets in the midwestern United States. Tuscarora owns a 240-mile pipeline system that transports natural gas from Oregon where it interconnects to TransCanadas Gas Transmission Northwest System. Great Lakes is a 2,115-mile pipeline serving markets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and eastern Canada. TC PipeLines, LP is managed by its general partner, TC PipeLines GP, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of TransCanada Corporation. TC PipeLines GP, Inc., also holds common units of the Partnership. Common units of TC PipeLines, LP are quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market and trade under the symbol TCLP. For more information about TC PipeLines, LP, visit the Partnerships website at www.tcpipelineslp.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release may include forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future financial performance of TC PipeLines, LP. Words such as believes, expects, intends, forecasts, projects, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on the Partnerships current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Partnership. These statements reflect the Partnerships current views with respect to future events. The Partnership assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof. Important factors that could cause actual results to
7
materially differ from the Partnerships current expectations include the ability to close the Great Lakes acquisition, regulatory decisions, particularly those of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the ability of Northern Border Pipeline to recontract its available capacity at maximum rates, operational decisions of Northern Border Pipelines operator, the failure of a shipper on either one of the Partnerships pipelines to perform its contractual obligations, cost of acquisitions, future demand for natural gas, overcapacity in the industry, and other risks inherent in the transportation of natural gas as discussed in the Partnerships filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Partnerships Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
- 30 -
Media Inquiries: |
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Shela Shapiro |
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(403) 920-7859 |
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(800) 608-7859 |
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Unitholder and Analyst Inquiries: |
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Myles Dougan |
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(877) 290-2772 |
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investor_relations@tcpipelineslp.com |
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8
TC PipeLines, LP
Financial Highlights
Statement of Income
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Twelve months ended |
|
||||||||
(unaudited) |
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
||||||||
(millions of U.S. dollars except per unit amounts) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Equity income from investment in Northern Border Pipeline (1) |
|
16.5 |
|
11.0 |
|
56.6 |
|
45.7 |
|
||||
Equity income from investment in Tuscarora (2) |
|
1.0 |
|
2.0 |
|
5.9 |
|
7.5 |
|
||||
Transmission revenues |
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
||||
Operations, maintenance and administrative expenses |
|
(0.9 |
) |
(0.5 |
) |
(2.7 |
) |
(2.0 |
) |
||||
Depreciation |
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
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|
||||
Financial charges, net and other |
|
(6.0 |
) |
(0.2 |
) |
(15.8 |
) |
(1.0 |
) |
||||
Net income |
|
11.3 |
|
12.3 |
|
44.7 |
|
50.2 |
|
||||
Net income per common unit (3) |
|
$ |
0.60 |
|
$ |
0.65 |
|
$ |
2.39 |
|
$ |
2.70 |
|
Balance Sheet
(unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
(millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
December 31, 2006 |
|
December 31, 2005 |
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and short-term investments |
|
4.0 |
|
2.3 |
|
Accounts receivable and other |
|
2.5 |
|
|
|
Investment in Northern Border Pipeline (1) |
|
561.2 |
|
274.5 |
|
Investment in Tuscarora (2) |
|
|
|
38.9 |
|
Plant, property and equipment |
|
127.0 |
|
|
|
Goodwill |
|
79.2 |
|
|
|
Other assets |
|
3.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
777.8 |
|
315.7 |
|
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
3.3 |
|
0.5 |
|
Accrued interest |
|
1.3 |
|
0.1 |
|
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
4.7 |
|
13.5 |
|
Long-term debt |
|
463.4 |
|
|
|
Non-controlling interests |
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
Partners equity |
|
303.9 |
|
301.6 |
|
|
|
777.8 |
|
315.7 |
|
9
Statement of Cash Flows
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Twelve months ended |
|
||||
(unaudited) |
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
||||
(millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Generated From Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
11.3 |
|
12.3 |
|
44.7 |
|
50.2 |
|
Depreciation |
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
Amortization of other assets |
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
Change in operating working capital |
|
(4.2 |
) |
(0.2 |
) |
0.3 |
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
8.0 |
|
12.1 |
|
46.1 |
|
50.1 |
|
Investing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return of capital from Northern Border Pipeline |
|
7.8 |
|
6.1 |
|
23.8 |
|
15.2 |
|
Return of capital from Tuscarora |
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
|
0.8 |
|
Investment in Northern Border Pipeline |
|
|
|
|
|
(311.1 |
) |
|
|
Investment in Tuscarora, net of cash acquired |
|
(97.2 |
) |
|
|
(97.2 |
) |
(0.3 |
) |
Increase in cash on consolidation of Tuscarora |
|
2.6 |
|
|
|
2.6 |
|
|
|
Other assets |
|
(1.0 |
) |
|
|
(1.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(87.3 |
) |
6.1 |
|
(382.0 |
) |
15.7 |
|
Financing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions paid |
|
(11.3 |
) |
(10.8 |
) |
(43.5 |
) |
(43.0 |
) |
Long-term debt issued |
|
397.0 |
|
|
|
707.0 |
|
|
|
Long-term debt repaid |
|
(309.4 |
) |
(6.5 |
) |
(325.9 |
) |
(23.0 |
) |
|
|
76.3 |
|
(17.3 |
) |
337.6 |
|
(66.0 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Short-Term Investments |
|
(3.0 |
) |
0.9 |
|
1.7 |
|
(0.2 |
) |
Cash and Short-Term Investments, Beginning of Period |
|
7.0 |
|
1.4 |
|
2.3 |
|
2.5 |
|
Cash and Short-Term Investments, End of Period |
|
4.0 |
|
2.3 |
|
4.0 |
|
2.3 |
|
10
(1) Northern Border Pipeline Company
As at December 31, 2006 TC PipeLines held a 50 per cent general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline Company. For the year ended December 31, 2005, and prior to April 5, 2006, TC PipeLines held a 30 per cent general partner interest in Northern Border Pipeline Company. Summarized operating and financial information of Northern Border Pipeline for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and as at December 31, 2006 and 2005 is as follows:
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Twelve months ended |
|
||||
|
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
||||
(unaudited) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas delivered (million cubic feet) |
|
195,361 |
|
195,086 |
|
799,301 |
|
807,531 |
|
Average throughput (million cubic feet per day) |
|
2,178 |
|
2,173 |
|
2,246 |
|
2,277 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Results (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating revenues, net |
|
79.4 |
|
80.1 |
|
310.9 |
|
321.7 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operations and maintenance |
|
13.6 |
|
10.1 |
|
49.5 |
|
39.5 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
14.7 |
|
14.9 |
|
58.7 |
|
58.1 |
|
Taxes other than income |
|
7.3 |
|
7.9 |
|
31.5 |
|
31.3 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
35.6 |
|
32.9 |
|
139.7 |
|
128.9 |
|
Operating income |
|
43.8 |
|
47.2 |
|
171.2 |
|
192.8 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
(10.6 |
) |
(10.7 |
) |
(43.1 |
) |
(42.6 |
) |
Other income, net |
|
0.3 |
|
0.2 |
|
1.8 |
|
2.1 |
|
Net income |
|
33.5 |
|
36.7 |
|
129.9 |
|
152.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Expenditures (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
|
3.7 |
|
6.3 |
|
10.4 |
|
18.3 |
|
Growth |
|
0.2 |
|
5.3 |
|
10.5 |
|
10.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to Partners (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
48.8 |
|
57.0 |
|
178.8 |
|
202.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
Summary Balance Sheet Data (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
1,544.7 |
|
1,604.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities and reserves and deferred credits |
|
69.8 |
|
87.8 |
|
Long-term debt (including current maturities) |
|
599.8 |
|
601.9 |
|
Partners capital |
|
874.1 |
|
912.7 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
1.0 |
|
2.3 |
|
Total liabilities and partners equity |
|
1,544.7 |
|
1,604.7 |
|
11
(2) Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company
As at December 31, 2006 TC PipeLines owned or controlled a 99 per cent general partner interest in Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company. For the year ended December 31, 2005, and prior to December 18, 2006, TC PipeLines held a 49 per cent general partner interest in Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company. Summarized operating and financial information of Tuscarora for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and as at December 31, 2006 and 2005 is as follows:
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Twelve months ended |
|
||||
|
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
||||
(unaudited) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Results |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas delivered (million cubic feet) |
|
8,216 |
|
7,954 |
|
28,067 |
|
25,286 |
|
Average throughput (million cubic feet per day) |
|
89 |
|
86 |
|
77 |
|
69 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Results (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating revenue |
|
6.9 |
|
8.2 |
|
29.5 |
|
32.3 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operations and maintenance |
|
1.0 |
|
0.9 |
|
3.5 |
|
3.2 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
1.5 |
|
1.6 |
|
6.2 |
|
6.2 |
|
Taxes other than income |
|
0.3 |
|
0.3 |
|
1.2 |
|
1.2 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
2.8 |
|
2.8 |
|
10.9 |
|
10.6 |
|
Operating income |
|
4.1 |
|
5.4 |
|
18.6 |
|
21.7 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
(1.4 |
) |
(1.4 |
) |
(5.5 |
) |
(5.8 |
) |
Other income |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
0.2 |
|
0.2 |
|
Net income |
|
2.7 |
|
4.1 |
|
13.3 |
|
16.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Expenditures (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maintenance |
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
0.2 |
|
Growth |
|
1.3 |
|
|
|
1.3 |
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to Partners (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
3.2 |
|
4.1 |
|
15.8 |
|
17.0 |
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
Summary Balance Sheet Data (millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
|
Total assets |
|
132.9 |
|
139.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities and reserves and deferred credits |
|
2.4 |
|
2.0 |
|
Long-term debt (including current maturities) |
|
71.1 |
|
75.9 |
|
Partners capital |
|
59.3 |
|
61.8 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
0.1 |
|
0.1 |
|
Total liabilities and partners equity |
|
132.9 |
|
139.8 |
|
(3) Net income per common unit is computed by dividing net income, after deduction of the general partners allocation, by the number of common and subordinated units outstanding. The general partners allocation is computed based upon the general partners two per cent interest plus an amount equal to incentive distributions.
12