Exhibit 10.1

UNCOMMITTED SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated to be Effective as of March 30, 2005

among

ATMOS ENERGY MARKETING, LLC,

as Borrower,

FORTIS CAPITAL CORP.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, an Issuing Bank, and a Bank,

BNP PARIBAS,

as Documentation Agent, an Issuing Bank, and a Bank

and

THE OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH

MAY BECOME PARTIES HERETO

THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR AN

UNCOMMITTED FACILITY WITH A DEMAND FEATURE.

ALL ADVANCES AND ISSUANCES OF LETTERS OF CREDIT

ARE DISCRETIONARY ON THE PART OF THE BANKS

IN THEIR SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION.

THE BANKS MAY MAKE DEMAND FOR PAYMENT AT ANY TIME

IN THEIR SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION.

UNCOMMITTED SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This UNCOMMITTED SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into effective as of March 30, 2005, among ATMOS ENERGY MARKETING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), FORTIS CAPITAL CORP., a Connecticut corporation (“ Fortis ”), as a Bank, as an Issuing Bank, and as Administrative Agent for the Banks (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as Collateral Agent, BNP PARIBAS, a bank organized under the laws of France (“ BNP Paribas ”), as a Bank, as an Issuing Bank, and as Documentation Agent (together with the Administrative Agent, the “ Agents ”), and each other financial institution which may become a party hereto (collectively the “ Banks ”).

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Banks entered into that certain Uncommitted Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 1, 2002 (as amended through the date hereof, the “ Original Credit Agreement ”) with respect to an uncommitted facility of up to $250,000,000, including an uncommitted letter of credit facility.

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Banks desire to amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement so that, from time to time, the Banks, on an uncommitted and fully discretionary basis, continue to make loans to the Borrower and continue to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower in order to provide working capital to the Borrower, to facilitate the Borrower’s purchases of natural gas in the ordinary course of business, to secure swap counterparties for out-of-the-money swap obligations, and for such other purposes set forth herein. The Banks have indicated their willingness to consider to continue to lend such amounts and to consider to continue to issue and participate in such Letters of Credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.01 Certain Defined Terms . The following terms have the following meanings:

“ Account ” has the meaning stated in the New York Uniform Commercial Code.

“ Account Debtor ” means a Person who is obligated to the Borrower under an Account of the Borrower.

“ Acquisition ” means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital stock, partnership interests or equity of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary); provided , however , that the relevant Borrower or the Subsidiary is the surviving entity.

“ Activation Period ” means the period which commences within a reasonable period of time not to exceed two Business Days after receipt by Bank of America, N.A. of a written notice from Fortis in the form of Exhibit B to the Three Party Agreement Relating to Lockbox Services (With Activation) dated as of April 15, 2002 among the Borrower, Fortis and Bank of America, N.A.

“ Adjusted Pro Rata Share ” means, as to any Bank at any particular time, the percentage equivalent (expressed as a decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) at such time of (a) an amount equal to such Bank’s Effective Amount plus, in the case of any Swap Bank, the amount of advances made in excess of the Borrowing Base Advance Cap to fund Obligations of the Borrower under Swap Contracts, divided by (b) the combined total of the Effective Amount of all the Banks plus, in the case of any Swap Bank, the amount of advances made in excess of the Borrowing Base Advance Cap to fund Obligations of the Borrower under Swap Contracts.

“ Administrative Agent ” means Fortis in its capacity as administrative agent for the Banks hereunder, and any successor agent arising under Section 10.09 .

“ Administrative Agent’s Payment Office ” means the address for payments set forth on Schedule 11.02 hereto in relation to the Administrative Agent, or such other address as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify.

“ Advance Maturity Date ” means the maturity date of advances made hereunder which for Base Rate Loans will be the earliest to occur of (a) written demand by any Agent, or (b) 60 days from the date of the Borrowing, and for Offshore Rate Loans will be the earliest to occur of (i) written demand by any Agent, or (ii) 60 days from the date of the Borrowing, or (iii) the end of the Interest Period for such Offshore Rate Loan.

“ Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

“ Agents ” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Documentation Agent.

“ Agent-Related Persons ” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Documentation Agent, together with their respective Affiliates and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

“ Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement.

“ Applicable Margin ” means (i) with respect to Base Rate Loans, .50% per annum and (ii) with respect to Offshore Rate Loans and Letters of Credit, during the period from the Closing Date until delivery pursuant to Sections 7.01(c) of the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements for the calendar month ended January 31, 2005, 1.75% per annum in the case of Offshore Rate Loans, 1.50% per annum in the case of Letters of Credit (other than Swap-Related Standby Letters of Credit) and 2.00% in the case of Swap-Related Standby Letters of Credit, and (ii) thereafter, for any day, the applicable rate per annum set forth below, based upon the Excess Tangible Net Worth determined as the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter:

For the purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Excess Tangible Net Worth shall be determined based upon the Borrower’s most recent consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(c), and each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Excess Tangible Net Worth shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change; provided that the Excess Tangible Net Worth shall be deemed to be less than or equal to $25,000,000 at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

“ Approving Banks ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14 .

“ Assets from Risk Management Activities ” means unrealized gains resulting from Mark-to-Market valuation of storage, transportation, and requirements contracts, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options, and forwards, futures, and swap contracts.

“ Assignee ” has the meaning specified in Subsection 11.08(a) .

“ Atmos Support Agreement ” means an agreement of Atmos Energy Corporation to provide certain support for Borrower and its operations and to remit insurance proceeds to the Agents as provided therein, such agreement to be in form and substance acceptable to Agents.

“ Attorney Costs ” means and includes all reasonable fees and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel, the allocated cost of internal legal services and all disbursements of internal counsel.

“ Bank Blocked Account ” means the Collateral Agent’s account no. 323373461 maintained with Chase into which collections and available balances from the Lock Box will be deposited pursuant to Section 7.14 .

“ Bankruptcy Code ” means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended (11 U.S.C. §101, et seq. ).

“ Banks ” shall mean Fortis, BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Natexis Banques Populaires, RZB Finance, LLC, UFJ Bank Limited, New York Branch, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., and each additional lending institution added to this Agreement, either through an amendment to this Agreement or through an Assignment and Acceptance in accordance with Subsection 11.08(a) hereof. References to the “Banks” shall include Fortis and BNP Paribas, including each in its capacity as an Issuing Bank; for purposes of clarification only, to the extent that Fortis or BNP Paribas may have any rights or obligations in addition to those of the Banks due to their status as an Issuing Bank and as Agents, Fortis’ and BNP Paribas’ status as such will be specifically referenced.

“ Base Rate ” means, for any day, the higher of: (a) 0.50% per annum above the latest Federal Funds Rate; or (b) the per annum rate of interest established by Chase from time to time at its principal office in New York City as its “prime rate” or “base rate” for U.S. dollar loans (with any change in such prime rate or base rate to become effective as and when such prime rate or base rate changes). (The “prime rate” or “base rate” is a rate set by Chase based upon various factors including Chase’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above or below such announced rate.)

“ Base Rate Loan ” means any Loan bearing interest based upon the Base Rate.

“ BNP Paribas ” means BNP Paribas, a bank organized under the laws of France.

“ Borrower ” means Atmos Energy Marketing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

“ Borrowing ” means a borrowing hereunder consisting of Revolving Loans made to the Borrower on the same day by the Banks under Article II.

“ Borrowing Base Advance Cap ” means at any time an amount equal to the least of:

(a) $250,000,000;

(b) the Total Subscribed Line Portions;

(c) the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap; or

(d) the sum of:

(i) the amount of Cash Collateral and other liquid investments which are acceptable to the Banks in their sole discretion and which are subject to a first perfected security interest in favor of Administrative Agent, as collateral agent for the Banks, and which have not been used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance; plus

(ii) 90% of Borrower’s equity in Eligible Broker accounts from and after the date that a tri-party agreement with respect to such accounts is entered into, to the extent such equity is not being used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance; plus

(iii) 90% of the amount of Tier I Accounts which are not being used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance, net of deductions, offsets and counterclaims; plus

(iv) 85% of the amount of Tier II Accounts which are not being used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance, net of deductions, offsets and counterclaims; plus

(v) 85% of the amount of Tier I Unbilled Accounts which are not being used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance; plus

(vi) 80% of the amount of Tier II Unbilled Accounts which are not being used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance; plus

(vii) 80% of the amount of Eligible Inventory which are not being used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance; plus

(viii) 80% of the amount of Eligible Exchange Receivables which are not being used in determining availability for any other advance (other than advances made under the Borrowing Base Line) or Letter of Credit Issuance; plus

(ix) 80% of the amount of Undelivered Product Value; plus

(x) 70% of Realizable Unrealized Profits, up to a maximum amount of $50,000,000, less

(xi) the amounts which would be subject to a so-called “First Purchaser Lien” as defined in Texas Bus. & Com. Code Section 9.343, comparable laws of the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming or New Mexico, or any other comparable law, unless a Letter of Credit secures payment of all amounts subject to such First Purchaser Lien; less

(xii) 125% of the mark to market amounts owed to BNP Paribas and/or its Affiliates and Société Générale and/or its Affiliates under Swap Contracts; and less

(xiii) 100% of Borrower’s Unrealized Mark-to-Market Losses as of the date of determination of the Borrowing Base Advance Cap.

In no event shall any amounts described in (d)(i) through (d)(x) above which may fall into more than one of such categories be counted more than once when making the calculation under this definition.

“ Borrowing Base Collateral Position Report ” means a report detailing all Collateral which has been or is being used in determining availability for an advance or letter of credit issuance under the Borrowing Base Line, such report to be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E .

“ Borrowing Base Line ” means the uncommitted line of credit for the purpose of (a) providing working capital and to fund payments to suppliers of Product; (b) to provide for Letters of Credit to secure suppliers of Product; and (c) to fund payments due to a Swap Bank under any Swap Contract.

“ Borrowing Base Sub-Cap ” means (a) from the date of this Agreement until the date the first election is made by the Borrower pursuant to clause (b) of this definition, $125,000,000, and (b) thereafter, at any time, the amount set forth in the table below under the heading “ Borrowing Base Sub-Cap ” elected by the Borrower from time to time by written notice to the Agents, provided that, at the time of any such election of any such amount as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap, but not for any other purpose herein, each of the Borrower’s Net Working Capital, Tangible Net Worth and ratio of Total Liabilities to Tangible Net Worth at such time of election, and the maximum Cumulative Loss for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date of such election (determined as a single accounting period), each as determined by the most recent monthly financial statements received pursuant to Section 7.01(c), are within the requirements set forth opposite such amount in the table below. For purposes of testing whether such requirements have been met, the highest amount elected by the Borrower for the month being tested shall be used, where during the same month being tested the Borrower elected to either increase or decrease the availability by selecting a different amount under the column entitled “Borrowing Base Sub-Cap”.

“ Borrowing Date ” means any date on which a Borrowing occurs under Section 2.03 .

“ Business Day ” (a) with respect to all matters other than those related to Offshore Rate Loans, means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, are authorized, or required, by law to close and (b) means, for purposes of determining business days in connection with Offshore Rate Loans, any day on which transactions are made in the applicable offshore dollar interbank market other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York, are authorized or required, by law to close.

“ Capital Adequacy Regulation ” means any guideline, request or directive of any central bank or other Governmental Authority, or any other law, rule or regulation, whether or not having the force of law, in each case, regarding capital adequacy of any Bank or of any corporation controlling a Bank.

“ Capital Stock ” means capital stock, membership interest, equity interest or other obligations or securities of, or any interest in, any Person.

“ Cash Collateral ” means currency issued by the United States and Marketable Securities which have been Cash Collateralized for the benefit of the Banks.

“ Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Banks, Cash Collateral as collateral for the Obligations pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Agents (which documents are hereby consented to by the Banks). The Borrower hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Banks, a security interest in all such Cash Collateral. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in the Bank Blocked Account.

“ Change of Control ” means, at any time:

(a) Atmos Energy Corporation shall cease to own and control legally and beneficially, either directly or indirectly, Voting Interests in Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. representing 100% of the combined voting power of all of the Voting Interests in Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. (on a fully diluted basis); or

(b) Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. shall cease to own and control directly or indirectly, beneficial interest in Equity Interests representing 100% of the economic equity interest in the Borrower.

“ Chase ” means JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. (or any successor).

“ Closing Date ” means the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.01 are satisfied or waived by all Banks.

“ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“ Collateral ” means all assets of the Borrower including, without limitation, all accounts, equipment, chattel paper, inventory, natural gas in transit, instruments, contract rights, the Bank Blocked Account, stock, partnership interests, and general intangibles, whether presently existing or hereafter acquired or created and the proceeds thereof.

“ Collateral Agent ” means Fortis Capital Corp.

“ Collateral Position ” means the total availability under the Borrowing Base Advance Cap.

“ Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate, in form attached hereto as Exhibit C , whereby the Borrower certifies that it is in compliance with this Agreement.

“ Consolidated ” means the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP.

“ Contingent Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability of that Person, whether or not contingent, with or without recourse, (a) with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other obligation (the “primary obligations”) of another Person (which obligations and Person are referred to herein as the “primary obligation” and the “primary obligor,” respectively), including any obligation of that Person (i) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary obligations or any security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the payment or discharge of any such primary obligation, or to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation, or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof (each, a “ Guaranty Obligation ”); (b) with respect to any Surety Instrument (other than any Letter of Credit) issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings or payments; (c) to purchase any materials, supplies or other property from, or to obtain the services of, another Person if the relevant contract or other related document or obligation requires that payment for such materials, supplies or other property, or for such services, shall be made regardless of whether delivery of such materials, supplies or other property is ever made or tendered, or such services are ever performed or tendered; or (d) in respect of any swap contract.

“ Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

“ Conversion/Continuation Date ” means any date on which, under Section 2.04 , the Borrower (a) converts Loans of one Type to another Type, or (b) continues such Loans as Loans of the same Type, but with a new Interest Period.

“ Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 .

“ Credit Extension ” means and includes (a) the making of any Loans hereunder, and (b) the Issuance of any Letters of Credit hereunder.

“ Cumulative Loss ” means, as of the date of any election of a Borrowing Base Sub-Cap, the consolidated net loss of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date of such election (determined as a single accounting period) as defined according to GAAP, but excluding from net income any gains or losses attributable solely to accounting changes adopted by Borrower to achieve consistency with the consensus reached on Issue 02-3 (Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities) by the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board reflected in the minutes of the October 25, 2002 meeting of the EITF.

“ Current Assets ” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, all assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as current assets on the balance sheet of a Person conducting a business the same as or similar to that of such Person, after deducting appropriate and adequate reserves therefrom in accordance with GAAP, determined on a Consolidated basis, and excluding any accounts receivable owed by any Affiliate of the Borrower to the extent such accounts receivable arose in transactions conducted other than on an arms-length basis.

“ Current Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, all liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as current liabilities on the balance sheet of a Person conducting a business the same as or similar to that of such Person, as determined on a Consolidated basis, but excluding to the extent otherwise included therein any current portion of the Subordinated Debt.

“ Declining Bank ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 .

“ Default ” means any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“ Default Rate ” has the meaning specified in Subsection 2.08(a) .

“ Documentation Agent ” means BNP Paribas in its capacity as documentation agent for the Banks hereunder.

“ Dollar Advance Cap ” means a cap upon Revolving Loans under the Borrowing Base Line with the following limits:

(a) $50,000,000 at such times as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $100,000,000; and

(b) $60,000,000 at such times as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $125,000,000; and

(c) $70,000,000 at such times as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $150,000,000; and

(d) $80,000,000 at such times as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $175,000,000; and

(e) $90,000,000 at such times as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $200,000,000; and

(f) $100,000,000 at such times as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $225,000,000; and

(g) $100,000,000 at such times as the Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $250,000,000.

“ Dollars ,” and “ $ ” each mean lawful money of the United States.

“ Effective Amount ” means (a) with respect to Loans as of any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans on such date after giving effect to any Borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to L/C Obligations as of any date, the aggregate outstanding amount of L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any Issuances of Letters of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including changes as a result of expiration or cancellation, any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

“ Eligible Accounts ” means, at the time of any determination thereof, each of the Borrower’s Accounts as to which the following requirements have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Banks:

(a) Such Account (i) if for an amount in excess of $750,000, is acceptable to the Banks in their sole discretion and either (x) is the result of a sale to a Tier I or Tier II Account Party, or (y) is secured by letters of credit in form acceptable to the Banks in their sole discretion and issued by banks approved by the Banks in their sole discretion, or (ii) if for an amount of $750,000 or less, such Account will be included as a Tier II Account unless such Account has been previously approved by the Banks as a Tier I Account;

(b) Borrower has lawful and absolute title to such Account;

(c) Such Account is a valid, legally enforceable obligation of the Person who is obligated under such Account for goods actually delivered or to be delivered to such Account Debtor in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s business;

(d) Such Account shall have excluded therefrom any portion that is subject to any dispute, offset, counterclaim or other claim or defense on the part of the Account Debtor or to any claim on the part of the Account Debtor denying liability under such Account; provided , however , that in the event that the portion that is subject to any such dispute, counterclaim or other claim or defense is secured with a Letter of Credit, such portion secured by the Letter of Credit shall not be excluded;

(e) Such Account is not evidenced by any chattel paper, promissory note or other instrument;

(f) Such Account is subject to a fully perfected first priority security interest (or properly filed and acknowledged assignment, in the case of U.S. government contracts, if any) in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, prior to the rights of, and enforceable as such against, any other Person, and such Account is not subject to any security interest or Lien in favor of any Person other than the Liens of the Banks pursuant to the Loan Documents;

(g) Such Account shall have excluded therefrom any portion which is not payable in Dollars in the U.S.;

(h) Such Account has been due and payable for 15 days or less (or 30 days or less, if the Account Debtor is a Governmental Authority) from the date of the invoice and no extension or indulgence has been granted extending the due date beyond a 15 day period (or 30 days, as the case may be), except if such Account by its terms provides for a 15 day payment period, then such Account shall be eligible for up to 30 days from the date of invoice, or as otherwise approved by Banks in writing; and

(i) No Account Debtor in respect of such Account is (i) incorporated in or primarily conducting business in any jurisdiction outside of the U.S., unless such Account Debtor and the Account is approved by the Banks and the Borrower is notified in writing by the Administrative Agent, or (ii) an Affiliate of the Borrower, other than Atmos Energy Corporation, provided, that as long as Atmos Energy Corporation maintains an S&P rating of BBB or a Moody’s rating of Baa2 or better, and such Accounts would otherwise qualify as Eligible Accounts, Accounts of Atmos Energy Corporation (and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates that have been approved by Agents as Tier I Account Parties) may be included as Tier I Accounts to the extent that such Accounts do not exceed 50% of Borrower’s total Accounts, provided, further, should Atmos Energy Corporation not maintain such ratings, and such Accounts would otherwise qualify as Eligible Accounts, Accounts of Atmos Energy Corporation may be included, subject to the approval of the Banks, as Eligible Accounts as a Tier I Account or a Tier II Account.

(j) The balance of such Account shall be the net of , in each case (i) any accounts payable owing to the Account Debtor by the Borrower on such Account and (ii) after application thereof to any Eligible Exchange Receivables, Unbilled Eligible Accounts, and Realizable Unrealized Profits with such Account Debtor, other offsets against amounts owed to such Account Debtor, whether in respect of unbilled purchases, out-of-the-money positions or unperformed contracts for purchase.

“ Eligible Assignee ” means (a) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000; (b) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the “ OECD ”), or a political subdivision of any such country, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000, provided , however , that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States; and (c) a Person that is primarily engaged in the business of commercial lending and that is (i) a Subsidiary of a Bank (or bank referred to in the preceding clauses (a) or (b)), (ii) a Subsidiary of a Person of which a Bank (or bank referred to in the preceding clauses (a) or (b)) is a Subsidiary, or (iii) a Person of which a Bank (or bank referred to in the preceding clauses (a) or (b)) is a Subsidiary.

“ Eligible Broker ” means BNP Paribas, FIMAT USA, Inc., Fortis or any Affiliate of BNP Paribas, FIMAT USA, Inc. or Fortis, or any broker approved in writing by the Agents and the Banks.

“ Eligible Commodity Futures Accounts ” means an account or accounts with an Eligible Broker, in which the Collateral Agent is granted a first and prior security interest as Collateral Agent for the Banks pursuant to Hedging Assignments which security interest is subject only to the rights of the Eligible Broker under such accounts.

“ Eligible Exchange Receivables ” means all enforceable rights of the Borrower to receive Product in exchange for the sale or trade of Product previously delivered to the exchange debtor by the Borrower valued at an independent posting and which (a) are evidenced by a written agreement enforceable against the exchange debtor thereof, (b) are current pursuant to the terms of the contract or invoice, (c) are subject to a perfected, first Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Banks subject only to Permitted Liens, and no other Lien, charge, offset or claim, (d) are not the subject of a dispute between the exchange debtor and the Borrower, (e) are valued at Platt’s spot market price or an independent posting acceptable to the Banks in their sole discretion, (f) if arising pursuant to contracts involving an amount in excess of $750,000, are contracts by exchangers pre-approved by the Banks in their sole discretion, or contracts secured by letters of credit in form acceptable to the Banks in their sole discretion and issued by banks approved by the Banks in their sole discretion, (g) have not been otherwise determined by the Banks in their sole discretion to be unacceptable to them, and (h) are the net of , in each case (i) any payables owing to such exchange debtor by the Borrower and (ii) after application thereof to any Eligible Accounts, Unbilled Eligible Accounts, and Realizable Unrealized Profits with such Account Debtor, other offsets against amounts owed to such exchange debtor, whether in respect of unbilled purchases, out-of-the-money positions or unperformed contracts for purchase. The Product and Account relating to or creating any Eligible Exchange Receivable shall not be simultaneously included in any other availability calculation, including, without limitation, Undelivered Product Value, Eligible Inventory or Eligible Accounts.

“ Eligible Inventory ” means, at the time of determination thereof, all of the Borrower’s inventory stored in terminals (and provided the terminal owners are subject to approval by the Banks in their sole discretion) valued at the lower of cost or current market price (as referenced by a published source acceptable to Banks in their sole discretion), and in all instances as to which the following requirements have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Banks:

(a) The inventory is owned by the Borrower free and clear of all Liens in favor of third parties, except Liens in favor of the Banks under the Loan Documents and except for Permitted Liens;

(b) The inventory has not been identified to deliveries with the result that a buyer would have rights to the inventory that would be superior to the Administrative Agent’s security interest for the benefit of the Banks, nor shall such inventory have become the subject of a customer’s ownership or Lien;

(c) The inventory is in transit in the U.S. under the control and ownership of the Borrower or is in a pipeline or a bill of lading has been issued to the Administrative Agent if such inventory is in the hands of a third party carrier or is located in the U.S. at the locations described on Schedule 7.03(f) , or at such other place as has been specifically agreed to in writing by the Banks and the Borrower; and

(d) The inventory is subject to a fully perfected first priority security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Banks pursuant to the Loan Documents.

“ Embedded Value Difference from General Ledger for the Fixed Price Book ” means, at any time of determination, the Fixed Price Book Embedded Value determined as of the date of the Borrower’s most recent financial statements at such time minus the net Balance sheet value associated with the fixed price natural gas physical delivery contracts and the associated financial positions hedging such delivery contracts on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower at such time.

“ Embedded Value Difference from General Ledger for the Storage Book ” means, at any time of determination, the Storage Book Embedded Value determined as of the date of the Borrower’s most recent financial statements at such time minus the amount of gains and losses due to the mark to market treatment of the derivative positions and natural gas inventory of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries recorded on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower at such time.

“ Embedded Value Report ” means a report substantially in form attached hereto as Exhibit I .

“ Environmental Claims ” means all claims, however asserted, by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the environment.

“ Environmental Laws ” means all federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authorities, in each case relating to environmental, health, safety and land use matters.

“ Equity Interests ”: means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership, beneficial or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or other acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership, beneficial or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership, beneficial or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or other acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership, beneficial or profit interests in such Person (including, without limitation, partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are authorized or otherwise existing on any date of determination.

“ ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“ ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

“ ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

“ Eurodollar Reserve Percentage ” means for any day for any Interest Period the maximum reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the next 1/100th of 1%) in effect on such day (whether or not applicable to any Bank) under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”).

“ Event of Default ” means any of the events or circumstances specified in Section 9.01 .

“ Excess Tangible Net Worth ” means the excess of (a) the arithmetic mean of the Borrower’s Tangible Net Worth for the consecutive six calendar month period ended on the last day of the calendar month for which financial statements have been most recently delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(c), over (b) the arithmetic mean of the minimum Tangible Net Worth amount for each month in such period which corresponds to the highest Borrowing Base Sub-Cap selected by the Borrower for such period.

“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“ Existing Letters of Credit ” means all letters of credit issued by Fortis and BNP Paribas for the account of the Borrower which are outstanding as of the date hereof under the Original Credit Agreement and shall not include any Letter of Credit which is not described on Schedule 3.10 hereto.

“ Expiration Date ” means the earliest to occur of:

(a) March 31, 2006; or

(b) the date demand for payment is made by the Administrative Agent; or

(c) the date an Event of Default occurs.

“ FDIC ” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

“ Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate set forth in the weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519), or any successor publication, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (including any such successor, “H.15(519)”) on the preceding Business Day opposite the caption “Federal Funds (Effective)”; or, if for any relevant day such rate is not so published on any such preceding Business Day, the rate for such day will be the arithmetic mean as determined by the Administrative Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal Funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on that day by each of three leading brokers of Federal Funds transactions in New York City selected by the Administrative Agent.

“ Fixed Price Book Embedded Value ” means, at any time, the forecasted gross profit margin from the Borrower’s forward fixed price sales and purchase commitments for natural gas then in effect reasonably determined based on contracted fixed price physical sales and purchases of natural gas at such time and the associated financial positions hedging those transactions, without regard to associated credit or market risks inherent in the natural gas industry (it being understood for the avoidance of doubt that realization of the Fixed Price Embedded Value is contingent on the performance of those contracts, including the physical delivery or acceptance or the otherwise net settlement of the physical and financial trades).

“ Fortis ” means Fortis Capital Corp., a Connecticut corporation.

“ FRB ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

“ Further Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, assessments, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, withholding or similar charges (including, without limitation, net income taxes and franchise taxes), and all liabilities with respect thereto, imposed by any jurisdiction on account of amount payable or paid pursuant to Section 4.01 .

“ GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession), which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination.

“ Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

“ Guarantor ” means Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.

“ Guaranty ” means a Guaranty Agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the Banks in their sole discretion, which has been executed by a Guarantor and delivered to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Banks.

“ Guaranty Obligation ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Contingent Obligation.”

“ Hedging Assignment ” means a security agreement among Borrower, the Administrative Agent and an Eligible Broker relating to the collateral assignment to the Administrative Agent, as collateral agent for the Banks, of all sums owing from time to time to Borrower with respect to an Eligible Commodities Futures Account, such agreement to be in form and substance acceptable to the Banks in their sole discretion.

“ Honor Date ” has the meaning specified in Subsection 3.03(b) .

“ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business on ordinary terms); (c) all non-contingent reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to Surety Instruments; (d) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (e) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to property acquired by the Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property); (f) all obligations with respect to capital leases; (g) all obligations with respect to swap contracts; (h) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness; and (i) all Guaranty Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above.

“ Indemnified Liabilities ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.05 .

“ Indemnified Person ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.05 .

“ Independent Auditor ” has the meaning specified in Subsection 7.01(a) .

“ Insolvency Proceeding ” means, with respect to any Person (a) any case, action or proceeding with respect to such Person before any court or other Governmental Authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshalling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; undertaken under U.S. Federal, state or foreign law, including the Bankruptcy Code.

“ Interest Payment Date ” means, as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and, as to any Base Rate Loan, the fifth Business Day of each month.

“ Interest Period ” means, as to any Offshore Rate Loan, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date of such Loan or on the Conversion/Continuation Date on which the Loan is converted into or continued as an Offshore Rate Loan, and ending on the date selected by the Borrower as the ending date thereof, not to exceed a period of 60 days, in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation;

provided , however , that:

(a) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall be extended to the following Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month, in which event such Interest Period shall end on the preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period pertaining to an Offshore Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Expiration Date.

“ IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under the Code.

“ Issue ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, to issue or to extend the expiry of, or to renew or increase the amount of, such Letter of Credit; and the terms “ Issued ,” “ Issuing ” and “ Issuance ” have corresponding meanings.

“ Issuing Banks ” initially means Fortis and BNP Paribas, and in the future means any Bank which Issues Letters of Credit hereunder, in such Bank’s capacity as an issuer of one or more Letters of Credit hereunder, together with any replacement letter of credit issuer arising under Section 2.14 .

“ L/C Advance ” means each Bank’s participation in any L/C Borrowing or Reducing L/C Borrowing in accordance with (i) its Pro Rata Share with respect to Letters of Credit Issued prior to the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date and (ii) its proportionate share, if any, as an Approving Bank with respect to all Letters of Credit Issued thereafter.

“ L/C Amendment Application ” means an application form for amendment of outstanding standby or commercial documentary letters of credit as shall at any time be in use at any Issuing Bank, as such Issuing Bank shall request.

“ L/C Application ” means an application form for Issuances of standby or commercial documentary letters of credit as shall at any time be in use at any Issuing Bank, as such Issuing Bank shall request.

“ L/C Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from either a drawing under any Letter of Credit or a Reducing L/C Borrowing, which extension of credit shall not have been reimbursed on the date when made nor converted into a Borrowing of Revolving Loans under Subsection 3.03(c) .

“ L/C Cap ” means the maximum availability for Issuance of Letters of Credit under the Borrowing Base Line which shall be an amount equal to the total Effective Amount of L/C Obligations plus the Effective Amount of then outstanding Loans not to exceed the Borrowing Base Advance Cap.

“ L/C Obligations ” means at any time the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding, plus (b) the amount of all unreimbursed drawings under all Letters of Credit, including all outstanding L/C Borrowings.

“ L/C-Related Documents ” means the Letters of Credit, the L/C Applications, the L/C Amendment Applications, the Continuing Agreement for Letters of Credit dated December 1, 2001, and any other document relating to any Letter of Credit, including, but not limited to, any Issuing Bank’s standard form documents for letter of credit issuances.

“ Lending Office ” means, as to any Bank, the office or offices of such Bank specified as its “Lending Office” on Schedule 11.02 , or such other office or offices as such Bank may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

“ Letter of Credit Facility ” means, at any time, the uncommitted undertaking to provide Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the amount of the aggregate Uncommitted Line Portions at such time and (b) $250,000,000, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to this Agreement.

“ Letters of Credit ” means (a) any letters of credit (whether standby letters of credit or commercial documentary letters of credit) Issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to Article III, (b) any Reducing Letters of Credit, and (c) any of the Existing Letters of Credit.

“ Liabilities from Risk Management Activities ” means unrealized losses resulting from Mark-to-Market valuation of storage, transportation, and requirements contracts, over-the-counter and exchange-traded options, and forwards, futures, and swap contracts.

“ LIBOR ” means the rate of interest per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate at which dollar deposits in the approximate amount of Fortis’ Offshore Rate Loan for such Interest Period would be offered by Fortis’ London branch as stated on Telerate News Service Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the Borrowing Date. If such interest rates shall cease to be available from Telerate News Service, the LIBOR Rate shall be determined from such financial reporting service or other information as shall be mutually acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

“ Lien ” means any security interest, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, charge, encumbrance, or lien, statutory or other in respect of any property, including those created by, arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, the interest of a lessor under a capital lease, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, or the filing of any financing statement naming the owner of the asset to which such lien relates as debtor, under the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable law.

“ Line ” means the Borrowing Base Line.

“ Loan ” means any extension of credit by a Bank to the Borrower under Article II or Article III in the form of a Revolving Loan or an L/C Advance. All Loans are demand in nature and Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees the Banks’ right to demand payment at any time and for any reason or for no reason, and such right is absolute and unconditional.

“ Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty, the Security Agreements, the L/C-Related Documents, Swap Contracts, the Three Party Agreement, the Atmos Support Agreement, and all other documents delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Bank in connection herewith.

“ Lock Box ” has the meaning specified in Section 7.14 .

“ Long Position ” means the aggregate number of MMBTUS of Product, including that of the Prompt Month, which are either held in inventory by the Borrower or which the Borrower has contracted to purchase (whether by purchase of a contract on a commodities exchange or otherwise), or which the Borrower will receive on exchange or the notional quantity under a swap contract including, without limitation, all option contracts representing the obligation of the Borrower to purchase Product at the option of a third party, and in each case, for which a fixed purchase price has been set. Long Positions will be expressed as a positive number.

“ Margin Stock ” means “margin stock” as such term is defined in Regulation G, T, U or X of the FRB.

“ Mark-to-Market ” means, the method of accounting used to account for derivative commodity instruments entered into for trading purposes, in accordance with EITF 98-10, “Accounting for Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities” and any future open obligation.

“ Marketable Securities ” means (a) certificates of deposit issued by any bank with a Fitch rating of A or better, (b) commercial paper rated P-1, A-1 or F-1, (c) bankers acceptances rated prime, or (d) U.S. Government obligations with tenors of 90 days or less.

“ Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform under any Loan Document and to avoid any Event of Default, or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

“ Maturity Date ” means June 30, 2006.

“ Multiemployer Plan ” means a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions or, during the preceding three (3) calendar years, has made, or been obligated to make, contributions.

“ Net Position ” means the sum of all Long Positions and Short Positions of the Borrower.

“ Net Position Report ” means a report in form attached hereto as Exhibit F .

“ Net Working Capital ” means, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the excess of Current Assets (minus all amounts due from employees, owners, Subsidiaries and Affiliates other than Accounts of Atmos Energy Corporation and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates permitted to be included as Eligible Accounts in the calculation of the Borrowing Base Advance Cap) over Current Liabilities (excluding the current portion of the Subordinated Debt), minus (a) the net impact on the value of Net Working Capital attributable to accumulated other comprehensive income, as of the date of determination prepared in accordance with GAAP, minus (b) investments in Capital Stock.

“ Notes ” means the promissory notes executed by the Borrower in favor of a Bank pursuant to Subsection 2.02(b) , in form approved by the Banks. A Note will be issued by the Borrower to each entity that becomes a Bank hereunder from time to time, but will not be issued to Participants of a Bank.

“ Notice of Borrowing ” means the applicable notice in substantially the form of Exhibit A .

“ Notice of Conversion/Continuation ” means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit B .

“ Obligations ” means all advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties arising under any Loan Document, owing by the Borrower to any Bank, or any affiliate of any Bank, Agents, or any Indemnified Person, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, including, without limitation, all obligations of the Borrower under Revolving Loans, Letters of Credit, and any Swap Contracts.

“ Offshore Effective Amount ” means the product of the principal amount of an Offshore Rate Loan or requested Offshore Rate Loan and the number of days in the applicable Interest Period for such Offshore Rate Loan.

“ Offshore Rate ” means, for any Interest Period, with respect to Offshore Rate Loans comprising part of the same Borrowing, the rate of interest per annum (rounded upward to the next 1/16th of 1%) determined by Agents as follows:

The Offshore Rate shall be adjusted automatically as to all Offshore Rate Loans then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

“ Offshore Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Offshore Rate.

“ One-Year NYMEX Natural Gas Strip ” means, for any date of determination, the average of the monthly NYMEX price of natural gas for the succeeding twelve-month period.

“ Organization Documents ” means (a) for any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation, the bylaws, any certificate of determination or instrument relating to the rights of preferred shareholders of such corporation, any shareholder rights agreement, and all applicable resolutions of the board of directors (or any committee thereof) of such corporation, and (b) for any partnership, the partnership agreement, and all other documents or filings as may be required by the Secretary of State (or other applicable governmental agency) in the state of such partnership’s formation.

“ Original Credit Agreement ” means that certain Uncommited Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2002 (as amended through the date hereof), between the Borrower, the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Banks, with respect to an uncommitted facility of up to $250,000,000, including an uncommitted letter of credit facility.

“ Other Taxes ” means any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Documents.

“ Participant ” has the meaning specified in Subsection 11.08(d) .

“ PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under ERISA.

“ Pension Plan ” means a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA which the Borrower sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a multiple employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

“ Permitted Liens ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01 .

“ Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.

“ Plan ” means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which the Borrower sponsors or maintains or to which the Borrower makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions and includes any Pension Plan.

“ Product ” means natural gas.

“ Pro Rata Share ” means, as to any Bank at any time, the percentage equivalent (expressed as a decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) at such time of such Bank’s total Effective Amount divided by the combined total Effective Amount of all Banks.

“ Prompt Month ” means, as of any Reporting Effective Date, the month following the month such reporting occurs.

“ Realizable Unrealized Profits ” means at any time, the sum of the Borrower’s net unrealized cash market profits realizable within six months from such time, from Accounts of the Borrower which are Eligible Accounts (other than the requirement of subparagraph (h) in the definition of “Eligible Accounts”) and which are attributable to Product which has been contracted to be delivered to an Account Debtor, net of , in each case (i) any accounts payable owing to the Account Debtor from the Borrower on such Account and (ii) after application thereof to any Eligible Accounts, Eligible Exchange Receivables, and Unbilled Eligible Accounts with such Account Debtor, other offsets against amounts owed to such Account Debtor, whether in respect of unbilled purchases, out-of-the-money positions or unperformed contracts for purchase.

“ Reducing Letters of Credit ” means any letters of credit (whether standby letters of credit or commercial documentary letters of credit) that (a) are Issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to Article III, and (b) specifically provide that the amount available for drawing under such letters of credit will be reduced, automatically and without any further amendment or endorsement to such letters of credit, by the amount of any payment or payments made to the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit by the Borrower if such payment or payments (i) are made through a bank and (ii) reference such letters of credit by the letter of credit numbers thereof, notwithstanding the fact that such payment or payments are not made pursuant to conforming and proper draws under such letters of credit.

“ Reducing L/C Borrowing ” means any extension of credit by the Banks to the Borrower for the purpose of funding any payment or payments made to the beneficiary of a Reducing Letter of Credit by the Borrower if such payment or payments (a) are made through the Issuing Bank of such Reducing Letter of Credit, (b) reference the Reducing Letter of Credit by the letter of credit number thereof, and (c) are not made pursuant to a conforming and proper draws under such Reducing Letter of Credit.

“ Replacement Bank ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.08 .

“ Reportable Event ” means, any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder, other than any such event for which the 30-day notice requirement under ERISA has been waived in regulations issued by the PBGC.

“ Reporting Effective Date ” means the effective date of any report required to be made hereunder.

“ Required Banks ” means, at any time, Banks holding at least two-thirds of all the Effective Amount.

“ Requirement of Law ” means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or any of its property or to which the Person or any of its property is subject.

“ Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive officer and the president of the Borrower or, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer of the Borrower, or such other officer of the Borrower that is acceptable to the Agents in their sole discretion.

“ Revolving Loan ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .

“ Security Agreements ” means a security agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent and the Banks, duly executed by the Borrower and delivered to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Banks granting to the Collateral Agent, as collateral agent for the Banks, a first and prior security interest in and Lien upon the Collateral, and all Hedging Assignments.

“ Short Position ” means the aggregate number of MMBTUS of Product, including that of the Prompt Month, which the Borrower has contracted to sell (whether by sale of a contract on a commodities exchange or otherwise) or deliver on exchange or under a swap contract, including, without limitation, all option contracts representing the obligation of the Borrower to sell Product at the option of a third party and in each case for which a fixed sales price has been set. Short Positions shall be expressed as a negative number.

“ Storage Book Embedded Value ” means, at any time, the forecasted gross profit margin from natural gas storage operations based on the Borrower’s natural gas inventory at such time and the associated financial positions at such time hedging such inventory, reasonably determined based on the Borrower’s planned natural gas injection and withdrawal schedules (it being understood for the avoidance of doubt that the actual realization of the Storage Book Embedded Value is contingent on the execution of planned injections and withdrawals and is subject to weather and other execution factors).

“ Subordinated Debt ” means Indebtedness of the Borrower which has been reported to the Banks and which has been subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to a Subordination Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G .

“ Subsidiary ” of a Person means any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which more than 50% of the voting stock or other equity interests (in the case of Persons other than corporations), is owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Person, or one or more of the Subsidiaries of the Person, or a combination thereof. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, references herein to a “Subsidiary” refer to a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“ Surety Instruments ” means all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), banker’s acceptances, bank guaranties, shipside bonds, surety bonds and similar instruments.

“ Swap Bank ” means BNP Paribas, Société Générale, or Fortis, or any Affiliate of BNP Paribas, Société Générale, or Fortis, or any other Bank approved by the Agents.

“ Swap Contract ” means any agreement entered into with a Swap Bank, whether or not in writing, relating to any single transaction that is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond, note or bill option, interest rate option, forward foreign exchange transaction, cap, collar or floor transaction, currency swap, cross-currency rate swap, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option to enter into any of the foregoing) or any combination of the foregoing and, unless the context clearly requires, any master agreement relating to or governing any or all of the foregoing.

“ Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit ” means any Letter of Credit issued under the Letter of Credit Facility to support obligations of the Borrower under a Swap Contract.

“ Tangible Net Worth ” means (a) the sum of the Borrower’s assets, as determined in accordance with GAAP, minus (b) the sum of the Borrower’s liabilities excluding Subordinated Debt, as determined in accordance with GAAP, minus (c) all amounts due from employees, owners, Subsidiaries and Affiliates other than Accounts permitted to be included as Eligible Accounts in the calculation of the Borrowing Base Advance Cap, minus (d) investments in Capital Stock, minus (e) the intangible assets of the Borrower, as determined in accordance with GAAP, minus (f) if the Embedded Value Difference from General Ledger for the Fixed Price Book is negative, the absolute value thereof, minus (g) the amount of accumulated other comprehensive income, minus (h) if the Embedded Value Difference from General Ledger for the Storage Book is negative, the absolute value thereof.

“ Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, assessments, imposts, duties, deductions, fees, withholdings, or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Bank and the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on or measured by each Bank’s net income or capital (with respect to franchise taxes or similar taxes) by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending office.

“ Three Party Agreement ” means the Three Party Agreement Relating to Lockbox Services (With Activation) dated April 15, 2002, among the Borrower, Fortis Capital Corp. and Bank of America, N.A.

“ Tier I Account ” means an Eligible Account with a Tier I Account Party.

“ Tier I Account Party ” means an Account Debtor which is approved by the Banks in their sole discretion as a Tier I Account Party.

“ Tier I Unbilled Account ” means Unbilled Eligible Accounts with a Tier I Account Party.

“ Tier II Account ” means Eligible Accounts with a Tier II Account Party.

“ Tier II Account Party ” means any Account Debtor approved by the Banks in their sole discretion as a Tier II Account Party.

“ Tier II Unbilled Account ” means Unbilled Eligible Accounts with a Tier II Account Party.

“ Total Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, all liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as liabilities on the balance sheet of a Person conducting a business the same as or similar to that of such Person, as determined on a Consolidated basis, but excluding to the extent otherwise included therein any portion of the Subordinated Debt.

“ Total Subscribed Line Portions ” means the Dollar amount shown in Schedule 2.01 across from the phrase “Total Subscribed Line Portions”.

“ Type ” means either a Base Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate Loan.

“ Unbilled Eligible Accounts ” means Accounts of the Borrower for Product which has been delivered to an Account Debtor and which would be Eligible Accounts but for the fact that such Accounts have not actually been invoiced at such time, net of , in each case (i) any accounts payable owing to the Account Debtor from the Borrower on such Account and (ii) after application thereof to any Eligible Accounts, Eligible Exchange Receivables, and Realizable Unrealized Profits with such Account Debtor, other offsets against amounts owed to such Account Debtor, whether in respect of unbilled purchases, out-of-the-money positions or unperformed contracts for purchase.

“ Uncommitted Line ” means the aggregate Line limits of all the Banks as is set forth on Schedule 2.01.

“ Uncommitted Line Portion ” means for each Bank the portion of each of the Line limits assigned to such Bank as set forth on Schedule 2.01 .

“ Undelivered Product Value ” means the lesser of the (a) cost or (b) current market value of Product purchased by the Borrower under the Letters of Credit but which has not been physically delivered to the Borrower. Undelivered Product Value cannot simultaneously be included in an Eligible Exchange Receivable.

“ Unfunded Pension Liability ” means the excess of a Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

“ United States ” and “ U.S. ” each means the United States of America.

“ Unrealized Mark-to-Market Losses ” means Borrower’s unrealized Mark-to-Market losses as of the day of determination of Borrower’s Borrowing Base to be reported on a Borrowing Base Collateral Position Report. Such losses, if any, to be calculated by subtracting (a) the sum of the current Liabilities from Risk Management Activities and noncurrent Liabilities from Risk Management Activities from (b) the sum of current Assets from Risk Management Activities and noncurrent Assets from Risk Management Activities on the day of determination of the Borrower’s Borrowing Base. If this amount is less than zero, the Unrealized Mark-to-Market Loss is the absolute value of the difference. If this amount is greater than zero, the Unrealized Mark-to-Market Loss is zero.

“ Voting Interests ” means shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent Equity Interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right to so vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions .

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and Subsection, Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

(c) (i) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, indentures, notices and other writings, however evidenced.

(ii) The term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation.”

(iii) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding,” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(d) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.

(e) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

(f) This Agreement and other Loan Documents may use several different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be performed in accordance with their terms.

(g) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to the Agents, the Banks, the Borrower and the other parties, and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, they shall not be construed against the Banks or Agents merely because of Agents’ or Banks’ involvement in their preparation.

1.03 Accounting Principles .

(a) Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be construed, and all financial computations required under this Agreement shall be made in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.

(b) References herein to “fiscal year” and “fiscal quarter” refer to such fiscal periods of the Borrower.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

2.01 Amounts and Terms of Uncommitted Line .

(a) Each Bank severally agrees, on an UNCOMMITTED AND ABSOLUTELY DISCRETIONARY basis, and on the terms and conditions set forth herein, to consider making Loans, from time to time, to the Borrower under the Borrowing Base Line (each such loan, a “ Revolving Loan ”) on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Expiration Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding (i) such Bank’s Uncommitted Line Portion for the Borrowing Base Line; or (ii) the Dollar Advance Cap; provided , however , that, after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans, the Effective Amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, plus the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations, shall not exceed the Borrowing Base Advance Cap. At no time shall the Dollar Advance Cap be exceeded.

(b) Advances Related to the Swap Contracts . In addition to advances requested from time to time by the Borrower, in the event that either (i) any amounts owing to

any Swap Bank or any of its Affiliates under any Swap Contract are not paid within two (2) Business Days after such obligation arises, then such Swap Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent of such failure to pay and the Administrative Agent (without the necessity of any instructions or request from the Borrower) shall make a Revolving Loan in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.03 of this Agreement under the Borrowing Base Line for any amounts due by the Borrower to such Swap Bank or any of its Affiliates under any Swap Contract, and then apply the proceeds of such advance to pay to such Swap Bank or any of its Affiliates all amounts owed to such Person under such Swap Contract. Upon making any such Revolving Loan, the Administrative Agent shall send notice of such Revolving Loan to the Borrower and the Banks. Any such advance shall initially be a Base Rate Loan. In the event that any such advance made to fund such Swap Bank or any of its Affiliates results in an advance in excess of the Borrowing Base Advance Cap, the Banks shall have no duty to fund their pro rata share of any excess resulting from such advance made to repay amounts owing to such Swap Bank or any of its Affiliates under any Swap Contract, but such Swap Bank’s or any of its Affiliates’ outstandings hereunder shall be deemed to be increased by the amount of such excess. In the event any advance described above does exceed the Borrowing Base Advance Cap, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of such Swap Bank or any of its Affiliates, the amount of such excess, together with interest thereon, within one (1) Business Day after the date of such advance and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Banks shall not share in such payment.

THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE BANKS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DUTY TO FUND ANY REVOLVING LOAN REQUESTED BY THE BORROWER BUT WILL EVALUATE EACH LOAN REQUEST AND IN EACH BANK’S ABSOLUTE AND SOLE DISCRETION WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO FUND SUCH LOAN REQUEST. THE BORROWER FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE SWAP BANKS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DUTY TO ENTER INTO ANY SWAP CONTRACT, AND THE ENTERING INTO OF ANY SWAP CONTRACT SHALL BE AT THE ABSOLUTE AND SOLE DISCRETION OF THE SWAP BANKS.

2.02 Loan Accounts .

(a) The Loans made by each Bank and the Letters of Credit Issued by an Issuing Bank shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Banks to the Borrower and the Letters of Credit Issued for the account of the Borrower hereunder, and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure so to record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the Obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Loans or any Letter of Credit.

(b) Upon the request of any Bank made through the Administrative Agent, the Loans made by such Bank may be evidenced by one or more Notes, instead of loan accounts. Each such Bank may endorse on the schedules annexed to its Note(s) the date, amount and maturity of each Loan made by it and the amount of each payment of principal made by the Borrower with respect thereto. Each such Bank is irrevocably authorized by the Borrower to endorse its Note(s) and each Bank’s record shall be conclusive absent manifest error; provided , however , that the failure of a Bank to make, or an error in making, a notation thereon with respect to any Loan shall not limit or otherwise affect the Obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any such Note to such Bank.

2.03 Procedure for Borrowing .

(a) Each Borrowing of Revolving Loans consisting only of Base Rate Loans, if approved by the Banks in their sole discretion, shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Banks in the form of a Notice of Borrowing (Revolving Loan), which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent and the Banks by no later than 12:00 p.m. noon (New York City time) on the Borrowing Date specifying the amount of the Borrowing. Each such Notice of Borrowing shall be by electronic transfer or facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original writing. Each Borrowing of Revolving Loans that includes any Offshore Rate Loans, if approved by the Banks in their sole discretion, shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Banks in the form of a Notice of Borrowing (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent by no later than 12:00 p.m. noon (New York City time) four (4) Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date), specifying the amount of the Borrowing. Each such Notice of Borrowing shall be by electronic transfer or facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original writing. Each requested Offshore Rate Loan must have an Offshore Effective Amount of at least $15,000,000.

(b) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Bank of its receipt of any Notice of Borrowing and of the amount of such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of that Borrowing.

(c) Unless a Bank has provided the Administrative Agent with, and the Administrative Agent has actually received, a written notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the proposed Borrowing Date that such Bank does not approve further Borrowings and/or Issuances of Letters of Credit, if the Administrative Agent elects in its sole discretion to advance a Loan pursuant to a Notice of Borrowing, each Bank will be deemed to have approved such Borrowing and will make the amount of its Pro Rata Share of such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s payment office by 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. The proceeds of all such Loans will then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent at such office by crediting the Lock Box with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Banks and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent. If any Bank in a timely manner provides the Administrative Agent with such a written notice of its disapproval of further Borrowings and/or Issuances of Letters of Credit, then the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower that one or more of the Banks have elected not to fund further Borrowings and/or participate in further Issuances of Letters of Credit and whether a Bank (or Banks) has (have) elected to become the Approving Bank(s) thereby triggering the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date.

2.04 Conversion and Continuation Elections .

(a) Borrower may, upon irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Subsection 2.04(b) :

(i) elect, as of any Business Day, in the case of Base Rate Loans, or as of the last day of the applicable Interest Period, in the case of any Offshore Rate Loan, to convert any such Loans into Loans of any other Type ( provided , however , that the Offshore Effective Amount of each Offshore Rate Loan must be at least $15,000,000); or

(ii) elect, as of the last day of the applicable Interest Period, to continue any Revolving Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such day ( provided , however , that the Offshore Effective Amount of each Offshore Rate Loan must be at least $15,000,000);

provided , however , that if at any time the aggregate amount of Offshore Rate Loans in respect of any Borrowing is reduced, by payment, prepayment, or conversion of part thereof, to have an Offshore Effective Amount of less than $15,000,000, such Offshore Rate Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans, and on and after such date the right of the Borrower to continue such Loans as, and convert such Loans into, Offshore Rate Loans shall terminate.

(b) Borrower shall deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation to be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. noon (New York City time) on the Conversion/Continuation Date if the Loans are to be converted into Base Rate Loans; and four (4) Business Days in advance of the Conversion/Continuation Date, if the Loans are to be converted into or continued as Offshore Rate Loans, specifying:

(i) the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date;

(ii) the aggregate amount of Loans to be converted or continued;

(iii) the Type of Loans resulting from the proposed conversion or continuation; and

(iv) other than in the case of conversions into Base Rate Loans, the duration of the requested Interest Period.

(c) If upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to Offshore Rate Loans, the Borrower has failed to timely select a new Interest Period to be applicable to its Offshore Rate Loans, or if any Default or Event of Default then exists, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Offshore Rate Loans into Base Rate Loans effective as of the expiration date of such Interest Period.

(d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Bank of its receipt of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, or, if no timely notice is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Bank of the details of any automatic conversion. All conversions and continuations shall be made ratably according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Loans, with respect to which the notice was given, held by each Bank.

(e) Unless the Required Banks otherwise agree, during the existence of a Default or Event of Default, the Borrower may not elect to have a Loan converted into or continued as an Offshore Rate Loan.

(f) After giving effect to any Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Loans, there may not be more than five (5) Interest Periods in effect.

(g) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify, in writing, each Bank of the amount of such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of that Borrowing.

(h) If any Bank has provided the Administrative Agent with, and the Administrative Agent has actually received, a written notice in the form of Exhibit H by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the requested Conversion/Continuation Date, then the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the other Banks by no later than 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) that one or more of the Banks has (have) elected not to convert/continue such Loan and whether Bank(s) has (have) elected to become the Approving Bank(s) thereby triggering the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date.

2.05 Optional Prepayments. Subject to Section 2.14 , the Borrower may, at any time or from time to time, upon the Borrower’s irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent received prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of prepayment, prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium except any amounts due by Borrower pursuant to Article IV. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Bank of its receipt of any such prepayment, and of such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of such prepayment.

2.06 Mandatory Prepayments of Loans; Mandatory Commitment Reductions. If on any date the Effective Amount of L/C Obligations exceeds the L/C Cap, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize on such date the outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the excess above any such cap. If on any date after giving effect to any Cash Collateralization made on such date pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans then outstanding plus the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the lesser of (a) the Collateral Position or (b) the total Uncommitted Line, or if the Effective Amount of all Revolving Loans under the Borrowing Base Line then outstanding, plus the Effective Amount of all L/C Obligations under such Line exceed the Borrowing Base Advance Cap, the Borrower shall immediately, and without notice or demand, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans and L/C Advances by an amount equal to the applicable excess.

2.07 Repayment. The Borrower shall repay the principal amount of each Revolving Loan to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Banks, on the Advance Maturity Date for such Loan. All amounts owing a Swap Bank under any Swap Contract, to the extent such amounts have not been repaid from the proceeds of a Revolving Loan, shall be paid on demand, or if no demand is made, on the first (1st) Business Day after the Borrower receives notice that such amount was advanced by or becomes owing to a Swap Bank.

2.08 Interest .

(a) Each Revolving Loan (except for a Revolving Loan made as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit or a Reducing L/C Borrowing) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing Date at a floating rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin at all times such Loan is a Base Rate Loan or at the Offshore Rate plus the Applicable Margin at all times such Loan is an Offshore Rate Loan. Each Revolving Loan made as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit or a Reducing L/C Borrowing, all amounts owing to BNP Paribas with respect to any Swap Contract shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date funded at a floating rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin until such Loan has been outstanding for more than two (2) Business Days and, thereafter, shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof at a floating rate per annum equal to the Base Rate, plus three percent (3.0%) per annum (the “ Default Rate ”).

(b) Interest on each Revolving Loan shall be paid upon demand, or if no demand is made, shall be paid in arrears on each Interest Payment Date.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, if any amount of principal of or interest on any Loan, or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document is not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, demand or otherwise), the Borrower agrees to pay interest on such unpaid principal or other amount, from the date such amount becomes due until the date such amount is paid in full, and after as well as before any entry of judgment thereon to the extent permitted by law, payable on demand, at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the Default Rate.

(d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Obligations of the Borrower to any Bank hereunder shall be subject to the limitation that payments of interest shall not be required for any period for which interest is computed hereunder, to the extent (but only to the extent) that contracting for or receiving such payment by such Bank would be contrary to the provisions of any law applicable to such Bank limiting the highest rate of interest that may be lawfully contracted for, charged or received by such Bank, and in such event the Borrower shall pay such Bank interest at the highest rate permitted by applicable law.

(e) Regardless of any provision contained in any Note or in any of the Loan Documents, none of the Banks shall ever be deemed to have contracted for or be entitled to receive, collect or apply as interest under any such Note or any Loan Document, or otherwise, any amount in excess of the maximum rate of interest permitted to be charged by applicable law, and, in the event that any of the Banks ever receive, collect or apply as interest any such excess, such amount which would be excessive interest shall be applied to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of the Note, and, if the principal balance of such Note is paid in full, any remaining excess shall forthwith be paid to the Borrower. In determining whether or not the interest paid or payable under any specific contingency exceeds the highest lawful rate, the Borrower and such Bank shall, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, (i) characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee, or premium, rather than as interest, (ii) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effect thereof, and (iii) spread the total amount of interest throughout the entire contemplated term of such Note so that the interest rate is uniform throughout such term; provided , however , that if all Obligations under the Note and all Loan Documents are performed in full prior to the end of the full contemplated term thereof, and if the interest received for the actual term thereof exceeds the maximum lawful rate, such Bank shall refund to the Borrower the amount of such excess, or credit the amount of such excess against the aggregate unpaid principal balance of such Bank’s Note at the time in question.

2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Section 3.08 , the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Bank, fees in accordance with a separate letter agreement between the Agents, the Banks and the Borrower. The Borrower shall also pay to the Agents, for their own accounts, fees in accordance with a separate letter agreement between the Agents and the Borrower.

2.10 Computation of Fees and Interest .

(a) All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more interest being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest and fees shall accrue during each period during which interest or such fees are computed from the first day thereof through the last day thereof.

(b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Banks in the absence of manifest error.

2.11 Payments by the Borrower .

(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks at the Administrative Agent’s Payment Office, and shall be made in dollars and in immediately available funds, no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Bank its Pro Rata Share or Adjusted Pro Rata Share, as the case may be, of such payment in like funds as received. Any payment received by the Administrative Agent later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) Subject to the provisions set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” herein, whenever any payment is due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the following Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees, as the case may be.

(c) Unless the Administrative Agent receives notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks that the Borrower will not make such payment in full as and when required, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date in immediately available funds and the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to each Bank on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Bank. If and to the extent the Borrower has not made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Bank shall repay to the Administrative Agent on demand such amount distributed to such Bank, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Bank until the date repaid.

2.12 Payments by the Banks to the Administrative Agent. If and to the extent any Bank shall not have made its full amount available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds and the Administrative Agent in such circumstances has made available to the Borrower such amount, that Bank shall on the Business Day following such Borrowing Date make such amount available to the Administrative Agent, together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate for each day during such period. A notice of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Bank with respect to amounts owing under this Section 2.12 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such amount is so made available, such payment to the Administrative Agent shall constitute such Bank’s Loan on the date of Borrowing for all purposes of this Agreement. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent on the Business Day following the Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower of such failure to fund and, upon demand by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent for the Administrative Agent’s account, together with interest thereon for each day elapsed since the date of such Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.

2.13 Sharing of Payments, Etc. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Bank shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its Pro Rata Share or Adjusted Pro Rata Share, as the case may be at such time (other than payments to BNP Paribas with respect to advances made in excess of the Borrowing Base Advance Cap as a result of payment under a Swap Contract), such Bank shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Banks such participations in the Loans made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Bank to share the excess payment pro rata with each of them; provided , however , that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Bank, such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Bank shall repay to the purchasing Bank the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Bank’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Bank’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Bank) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Bank in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Bank so purchasing a participation from another Bank may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off, but subject to Section 11.09 ) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Bank were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. the Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Banks following any such purchases or repayments.

2.14 The Election of Approving Banks to Continue Funding. If on any Business Day one or more Banks (the “ Declining Bank ” or “ Declining Banks ” in respect of such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date) provides the Administrative Agent with, and the Administrative Agent has actually received, a written notice in the form of Exhibit H for reasons other than a Default and the other Bank or Banks do approve further Revolving Loans (including the conversion and extension of such Revolving Loans) or the further issuances of, extensions of, the automatic renewal of or amendments to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Banks by 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) that same day. If the Bank or Banks which are not the Declining Banks desire, they may (on a pro rata basis, based on the Uncommitted Line Portion of all Banks that have elected to continue funding, as adjusted after such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date, after which date the Uncommitted Line Portion of all Declining Banks shall be reduced to zero) make the full or partial amount of such requested Revolving Loan or issue or amend the requested Letter of Credit irrespective of the Declining Banks’ disapproval (in such case, the Banks that elect to continue funding shall be referred to as the “ Approving Banks ” in respect of such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date). In such event, from each such date (each, a “ Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date ”) forward (or until the next Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date, if any, at which time one or more Banks that had been Approving Banks may become a Declining Bank), all subsequent Revolving Loans and Issuances of Letters of Credit or Amendments to Letters of Credit (subject to Section 11.01 ) that increase the face amount of a Letter of Credit or extend the term of a Letter of Credit shall be made unilaterally by the Approving Banks in respect of such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date and no Letter of Credit thereafter Issued shall be participated in by the Declining Banks in respect of such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, for purposes of allocating repayments prior to the occurrence of a Default hereunder, the Adjusted Pro Rata Share of each Bank, with respect to Loans and Letters of Credit outstanding on a specified Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date shall remain fixed at the percentage held by such Bank the day before such specified Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date, without respect to any changes which may subsequently occur in such Bank’s Pro Rata Share (prior to the next Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date) except that in the event that Obligations become owing to any Swap Bank and its Affiliates after such date pursuant to Swap Contracts as a result of contracts or transactions existing on such specified Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date, the Adjusted Pro Rata Share of each Bank shall be recalculated to account for the increase in Obligations that have become owing to such Swap Bank or its Affiliates until such time, if any, that all Declining Banks are fully repaid. Upon the occurrence of the first Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date and thereafter, prepayments of all outstanding Loans shall be applied to the Loans with the earliest advance date, notwithstanding the tenor of the Loans. Upon the occurrence of a Default and thereafter, repayments shall be allocated according to the Adjusted Pro Rata Share of the outstanding balances held by the Banks on the date of Default except that in the event that Obligations become owing to any Swap Bank or its Affiliates after such date pursuant to Swap Contracts as a result of contracts or transactions existing on the date of such Default, the Adjusted Pro Rata Share of each Bank shall be recalculated to account for the increase in Obligations owing to such Swap Bank or its Affiliates.

2.15 Payments from Guarantor and Liquidation of Collateral. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event repayment is made to the Banks by Guarantor or pursuant to a liquidation of Collateral, such repayment shall be shared by the Banks on the basis of each Bank’s then existing Adjusted Pro Rata Share rather than each Bank’s Pro Rata Share.

ARTICLE III

THE LETTERS OF CREDIT

3.01 The Letter of Credit Lines .

(a) On an uncommitted basis and on the terms and conditions set forth herein and unless a Bank has provided the Administrative Agent with, and the Administrative Agent has actually received, a written notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the proposed date of Issuance of a Letter of Credit that such Bank does not approve further Borrowings and/or Issuances of Letters of Credit, (i) each Issuing Bank agrees, (A) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Expiration Date, to consider the Issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower under the Borrowing Base Line and to consider whether to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously Issued by it, in accordance with Subsections 3.02(b), 3.02(c), and 3.02(d) and (B) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit; and (ii) each of the Banks will be deemed to have approved such Issuance, amendment or renewal, and shall participate in Letters of Credit Issued for the account of the Borrower. If any Bank gives the Administrative Agent timely notice of its disapproval of further Borrowings and/or Issuances of Letters of Credit, then the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower that one or more of the Banks have elected not to fund further Borrowings or participate in the further Issuances of Letters of Credit, and whether a Bank (or Banks) has (have) elected to become the Approving Bank(s) thereby triggering the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date. No Declining Bank shall have any obligation to or shall be deemed to have participated in any Letters of Credit which are Issued on or after the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date. No Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit shall be Issued if, after giving effect to such Issuance, the outstanding amounts of all Swap-Related Standby Letters of Credit plus the Mark-to-Market value of amounts owed to Swap Banks by the Borrower under Swap Contracts would exceed $50,000,000. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof including, without limitation, the approval of all Banks (or after the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks, all Approving Banks) in their sole discretion, the Borrower’s ability to request that an Issuing Bank Issue Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and, accordingly, the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, request that an Issuing Bank Issue Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit which have expired or which have been drawn upon and reimbursed. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the Existing Letters of Credit are an Obligation under this Agreement.

(b) Each Issuing Bank is under no obligation to consider the Issuance of or to Issue any Letter of Credit unless all Banks shall have consented (deemed or explicit) to the Issuance of such Letter of Credit in their sole discretion. An Issuing Bank is under no obligation to Issue any Letter of Credit if:

(i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from Issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Requirement of Law applicable to such Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it;

(ii) such Issuing Bank has received written notice from any Bank, any other Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, on or prior to the Business Day prior to the requested date of Issuance of such Letter of Credit, that one or more of the applicable conditions contained in Article V is not then satisfied;

(iii) the expiry date of any requested Letter of Credit is after the earlier to occur of (A) 90 days after the date of Issuance of such Letter of Credit or (B) the Maturity Date, unless all the Banks have approved such expiry date in writing, but any Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit may by its terms be renewable for successive 90-day periods unless a notice that the applicable Issuing Bank declines to renew such Letter of Credit is given to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent on or prior to any date for notice of non-renewal to the beneficiary set forth in such Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit, but in any event at least five Business Days prior to the date of the notice of non-renewal of such Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit, any such automatic renewal of a Letter of Credit being subject to the fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article V; provided that the terms of each of the Swap-Related Standby Letters of Credit that is automatically renewable (1) shall require the applicable Issuing Bank to give the beneficiary of such Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit notice of any non-renewal prior to the expiry date, (2) shall permit such beneficiary, upon receipt of such notice, to draw under such Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit prior to the expiry date of the Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit, and (3) shall not permit the expiry date (after giving effect to any renewal) of such Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit in any event to be extended to a date that is later than the Maturity Date. If a notice of non-renewal is given by the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the related Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit shall expire on its expiry date;

(iv) the expiry date of any such requested Letter of Credit is prior to the maturity date of any financial obligation to be supported by the requested Letter of Credit;

(v) such requested Letter of Credit is not in form and substance acceptable to such Issuing Bank, or the Issuance of a Letter of Credit shall violate any applicable policies of such Issuing Bank;

(vi) such Letter of Credit is for the purpose of supporting the Issuance of any letter of credit by any other Person;

(vii) such Letter of Credit is denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or

(viii) the amount of such requested Letter of Credit together with outstanding Letters of Credit and Revolving Loans exceeds the Borrowing Base Advance Cap.

3.02 Issuance, Amendment and Renewal of Letters of Credit .

(a) Each Letter of Credit which is Issued hereunder shall be Issued upon the irrevocable written request of the Borrower pursuant to a Notice of Borrowing (Letter of Credit) in the applicable form attached hereto as Exhibit A received by an Issuing Bank (with a copy sent by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent) by no later than 12:00 p.m. noon (New York City time) on the proposed date of Issuance. Each such request for Issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be by electronic transfer or facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original writing or by electronic transfer, in the form of an L/C Application, and shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to such Issuing Bank: (i) the proposed date of Issuance of the Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (ii) whether the requested Letter of Credit would be a commercial documentary letter of credit, Swap-Related Standby Letter of Credit or other standby letter of credit; (iii) the face amount of the Letter of Credit; (iv) the expiry date of the Letter of Credit; (v) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (vi) the documents to be presented by the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit in case of any drawing thereunder; (vii) the full text of any certificate to be presented by the beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (viii) such other matters as such Issuing Bank may require. Upon receipt of such request, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Banks of the receipt by it of any L/C Application. No such Issuance will be made if prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the proposed date of Issuance, a Bank has provided the Administrative Agent with, and the Administrative Agent has actually received, a written notice in the form of Exhibit H . If the Administrative Agent does timely receive a written notice in the form of Exhibit H , the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower, such Issuing Bank and the Banks by 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the proposed date of Issuance, and the proposed Letter of Credit will not be Issued, unless one or more of the Banks have elected to become Approving Banks thereby triggering the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date.

(b) From time to time while a Letter of Credit is outstanding and prior to the Expiration Date, an Issuing Bank will, upon the written request of the Borrower received by such Issuing Bank (with a copy sent by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent) by no later than 12:00 p.m. noon (New York City time) on the proposed date of amendment, consider the amendment of any Letter of Credit Issued by it. Each such request for amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be made by electronic transfer or facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original writing or by electronic transfer, made in the form of an L/C Amendment Application and shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to such Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent: (i) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (ii) the proposed date of amendment of the Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (iv) such other matters as such Issuing Bank may require. Such Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit. No such amendment will be made if a Bank has provided the Administrative Agent with, and the Administrative Agent has actually received, a written notice in the form of Exhibit H by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the proposed date of amendment. If the Administrative Agent does timely receive a written notice in the form of Exhibit H , the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower, such Issuing Bank and the Banks by 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the proposed date of amendment, and the Letter of Credit will not be amended; provided , however , that one or more Banks may elect to become the Approving Banks and amend such Letter of Credit, thereby triggering the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date.

(c) The Issuing Banks and the Banks agree that, while a Letter of Credit is outstanding and prior to the Expiration Date, at the option of the Borrower and upon the written request of the Borrower received by an Issuing Bank (with a copy sent to the Administrative Agent and the other Issuing Banks) by no later than 12:00 p.m. noon (New York City time) on the proposed date of renewal, the Issuing Bank may consider the renewal of any Letter of Credit Issued by it. No such renewal will be made if prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the proposed date of renewal, a Bank has provided the Administrative Agent with, and the Administrative Agent has actually received, a written notice in the form of Exhibit H . If the Administrative Agent does timely receive a written notice in the form of Exhibit H , the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower, such Issuing Bank and the Banks by 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) one Business Day immediately prior to the proposed date of renewal, and the Letter of Credit will not be renewed, unless one or more of the Banks have elected to become Approving Banks. Each such request for renewal of a Letter of Credit made by the Borrower shall be made by electronic transfer or facsimile, confirmed immediately in an original writing or by electronic transfer, in the form of an L/C Amendment Application, and shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to such Issuing Bank and the Banks: (i) the Letter of Credit to be renewed; (ii) the proposed date of renewal of the Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the revised expiry date of the Letter of Credit; and (iv) such other matters as such Issuing Bank may require. The Issuing Banks shall be under no obligation to renew any Letter of Credit.

(d) If any outstanding Letter of Credit Issued by an Issuing Bank shall provide that it shall be automatically renewed unless the beneficiary thereof receives notice from such Issuing Bank that such Letter of Credit shall not be renewed, and if at the time of renewal such Issuing Bank would be entitled to authorize the automatic renewal of such Letter of Credit in accordance with this Subsection 3.02(d) upon the request of the Borrower, then such Issuing Bank shall nonetheless be permitted to allow such Letter of Credit to renew, and, provided that no Bank has elected to become a Declining Bank by 5:00 p.m. one Business Day immediately prior to the day that the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit would receive notice from the Issuing Bank that such Letter of Credit shall not be renewed, the Borrower and the Banks hereby authorize such renewal, and, accordingly, such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have received an L/C Amendment Application from the Borrower requesting such renewal. The Issuing Banks shall be under no obligation to allow the automatic renewal of any Letter of Credit.

(e) Any Issuing Bank may, at its election, deliver any notices of termination or other communications to any Letter of Credit beneficiary or transferee, and take any other action as necessary or appropriate, at any time and from time to time, in order to cause the expiry date of such Letter of Credit to be a date not later than the Expiration Date.

(f) This Agreement shall control in the event of any conflict with any L/C-Related Document (other than any Letter of Credit).

(g) Each Issuing Bank will also deliver to the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of each Letter of Credit or amendment to or renewal of a Letter of Credit Issued by it.

3.03 Risk Participations, Drawings, Reducing Letters of Credit and Reimbursements .

(a) Immediately upon the Issuance of each Letter of Credit by an Issuing Bank which is Issued prior to the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date, each Bank shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from such Issuing Bank a participation in such Letter of Credit and each drawing or Reducing Letter of Credit Borrowing thereunder in an amount equal to the product of (i) the Pro Rata Share of such Bank, times (ii) the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such drawing or Reducing Letter of Credit Borrowing, respectively. All Letters of Credit Issued after the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date shall be participated in only by the Approving Banks. For purposes of Section 2.01 , each Issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to utilize the Uncommitted Line Portion of each Bank by an amount equal to the amount of such participation.

(b) In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of Credit Issued by an Issuing Bank by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, such Issuing Bank will promptly notify the Borrower. Any notice given by an Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Subsection 3.03(b) may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing (including by facsimile); provided , however , that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice. The Borrower shall reimburse an Issuing Bank prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on each date that any amount is paid by such Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit or to the beneficiary of a Reducing Letter of Credit in the form of a Reducing L/C Borrowing (each such date, an “ Honor Date ”), in an amount equal to the amount so paid by such Issuing Bank. In the event the Borrower fails to reimburse such Issuing Bank for the full amount of any drawing under any Letter of Credit or of any Reducing L/C Borrowing, as the case may be, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Honor Date, such Issuing Bank will promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Bank thereof, and the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that Revolving Loans be made by the Banks to be disbursed to such Issuing Bank not later than one (1) Business Day after the Honor Date under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Borrowing Base Line.

(c) In the event of any request for a Reducing L/C Borrowing by the Borrower in association with any Reducing Letter of Credit, the amount available for drawing under such Reducing Letter of Credit will be reduced automatically, and without any further amendment or endorsement to such Reducing Letter of Credit, by the amount actually paid to such beneficiary, notwithstanding the fact that the payment creating such Reducing L/C Borrowing is not made pursuant to a conforming and proper draw under the corresponding Reducing Letter of Credit; provided , however , that if any Bank has given the Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each of the other Banks written notice that such Bank objects to further Reducing L/C Borrowings at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date the Borrower requests the Reducing L/C Borrowing, then the relevant Issuing Bank will not make such Reducing L/C Borrowing unless all Banks consent thereto.

(d) Each Bank shall upon any notice pursuant to Subsection 3.03(b) make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Issuing Bank an amount in Dollars and in immediately available funds equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount of the drawing or of the Reducing L/C Borrowing, as the case may be, whereupon the participating Banks shall (subject to Subsection 3.03(e) ) each be deemed to have made a Revolving Loan to the Borrower in that amount. If any Bank so notified fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank the amount of such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of the drawing or of the Reducing L/C Borrowing, as the case may be, by no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day following the Honor Date, then interest shall accrue on such Bank’s obligation to make such payment, from the Honor Date to the date such Bank makes such payment, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time during such period. The Administrative Agent will promptly give notice of the occurrence of the Honor Date, but failure of the Administrative Agent to give any such notice on the Honor Date or in sufficient time to enable any Bank to effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Bank from its obligations under this Section 3.03 .

(e) With respect to any unreimbursed drawing or Reducing L/C Borrowing, as the case may be, that is not converted into Revolving Loans in whole or in part for any reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the relevant Issuing Bank an L/C Borrowing in the amount of such drawing or Reducing L/C Borrowing, as the case may be, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Default Rate, and each Bank’s payment to such Issuing Bank pursuant to Subsection 3.03(d) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Bank in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 3.03 .

(f) In the event that payment under any Letter of Credit Issued by an Issuing Bank is drawn or purported to be drawn in a currency other than United States Dollars, the amount of reimbursement to such Issuing Bank therefor shall be calculated on the basis of such Issuing Bank’s selling rate of exchange in effect (for the date on which such Issuing Bank pays such draft or reimburses any of its correspondents which paid such draft) for cable transfers to the place where and in the currency in which such draft is payable. The Borrower shall comply with any and all governmental exchange regulations now or hereafter applicable to any foreign exchange, and shall indemnify and hold the Banks harmless from any failure of the Borrower so to comply. If for any cause whatsoever, there exists at the time in question no rate of exchange generally current at such Issuing Bank for effective cable transfer of the sort above provided for, the Borrower agrees to pay the Banks on demand an amount in United States Dollars equivalent to the actual cost of settlement of such Issuing Bank’s obligation to the payor of the draft or acceptance or any holder thereof, as the case may be, and however and whenever such settlement may be made by such Issuing Bank.

(g) Each Bank’s obligation in accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving Loans or L/C Advances, as contemplated by this Section 3.03 , as a result of a drawing under a Letter of Credit or Reducing L/C Borrowing, shall be absolute and unconditional and without recourse to the relevant Issuing Bank and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Bank may have against such Issuing Bank, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, an Event of Default or a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Revolving Loan and L/C Advance made to fund payment of any Letter of Credit which was Issued or amended on or after the Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date shall be made only by the Approving Banks.

3.04 Repayment of Participations .

(a) Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Administrative Agent for the account of an Issuing Bank of immediately available funds from the Borrower (i) in reimbursement of any payment made by such Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit or in connection with a Reducing L/C Borrowing with respect to which any Bank has paid the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank for such Bank’s participation in the Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 3.03 or (ii) in payment of interest thereon, the Administrative Agent will pay to each Bank, in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank, the amount of such Bank’s Pro Rata Share of such funds, and such Issuing Bank shall receive the amount of the Pro Rata Share of such funds of any Bank that did not so pay the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank.

(b) If the Administrative Agent or an Issuing Bank is required at any time to return to the Borrower, or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or any official in any Insolvency Proceeding, any portion of the payments made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank pursuant to Subsection 3.04(a) in reimbursement of a payment made under a Letter of Credit or in connection with a Reducing L/C Borrowing or interest or fee thereon, each Bank shall, on demand of such Issuing Bank, forthwith return to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank the amount of its Pro Rata Share of any amounts so returned by the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank plus interest thereon from the date such demand is made to the date such amounts are returned by such Bank to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time.

3.05 Role of the Issuing Banks .

(a) Each Bank and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit Issued by an Issuing Bank or funding any Reducing L/C Borrowing, such Issuing Bank shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft or certificates expressly required by such Letter of Credit, but with respect to Reducing Letter of Credit Borrowings, no document of any kind need be obtained) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.

(b) No Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any Issuing Bank shall be liable to any Bank for: (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Banks; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any L/C-Related Document.

(c) The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided , however , that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. No Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any Issuing Bank shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (a) through (g) of Section 3.06 ; provided , however , that anything in such clauses or elsewhere herein to the contrary notwithstanding, that the Borrower may have a claim against an Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such Issuing Bank’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing: (i) the Issuing Banks may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary; and (ii) the Issuing Banks shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

3.06 Obligations Absolute . The Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and any L/C-Related Document to reimburse an Issuing Bank for a drawing under a Letter of Credit or for a Reducing L/C Borrowing, and to repay any L/C Borrowing and any drawing under a Letter of Credit or Reducing L/C Borrowing converted into Revolving Loans, shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and each such other L/C-Related Document under all circumstances, including the following:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any L/C-Related Document;

(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations of the Borrower in respect of any Letter of Credit or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the L/C-Related Documents;

(c) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any Issuing Bank or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by the L/C-Related Documents or any unrelated transaction;

(d) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter of Credit;

(e) any payment by any Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of any Letter of Credit; or any payment made by any Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any Insolvency Proceeding;

(f) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of the Borrower in respect of any Letter of Credit; or

(g) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.06 or in the Continuing Agreement for Letters of Credit, the Issuing Banks shall not be excused from liability to Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential, indirect and punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by Borrower) suffered by Borrower that are caused by any of the Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof, provided , however , that the parties hereto expressly agree that:

(i) the Issuing Banks may accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and may make payment upon presentation of documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

(ii) the Issuing Banks shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to decline to accept documents and to make such payment if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and

(iii) this sentence shall establish the standard of care to be exercised by the Banks when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof (and the parties hereto hereby waive, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any standard of care inconsistent with the foregoing).

3.07 Cash Collateral Pledge . Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if an Issuing Bank has honored any full or partial drawing request on any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing hereunder, or (ii) if, as of the Expiration Date, any Letters of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to such L/C Obligations. Upon the occurrence of the circumstances described in Section 2.06 requiring the Borrower to Cash Collateralize Letters of Credit, then, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to the applicable excess.

3.08 Letter of Credit Fees .

(a) The Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, such customary fees and charges in connection with the issuance, administration, payment, negotiation and amendment of each Letter of Credit as the Borrower and the Issuing Bank shall from time to time agree.

(b) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each of the Banks a letter of credit fee with respect to each of the Letters of Credit Issued hereunder equal to the greater of (i) $700 or (ii) the Applicable Margin, together with any related fees such as telecopy, facsimile and courier fees, such letter of credit fees to be due and payable monthly in arrears for the preceding month during which Letters of Credit are outstanding, commencing on the first such monthly date to occur after the Closing Date.

3.09 Applicability of Uniform Customs and Practice and ISP98 . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by an Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is Issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ ICC ”) at the time of Issuance (including the ICC decision published by the Commission on Banking Technique and Practice on April 6, 1998 regarding the European single currency (euro)) shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit and documentary Letter of Credit. If Borrower desires to use the rules of the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of Issuance) for standby Letters of Credit, Borrower shall request and note this explicitly on the standby Letter of Credit application.

3.10 Existing Letters of Credit . Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Existing Letters of Credit listed on Schedule 3.10 hereto shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit Issued under this Agreement for all purposes.

ARTICLE IV

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

4.01 Taxes .

(a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to each Bank or either or both of the Agents under this Agreement and any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for, any Taxes. In addition, the Borrower shall pay all Other Taxes.

(b) If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Bank or the Administrative Agent, then:

(i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) such Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, receives and retains an amount equal to the sum it would have received and retained had no such deductions or withholdings been made;

(ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and withholdings;

(iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant taxing authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law; and

(iv) the Borrower shall also pay to each Bank or the Administrative Agent for the account of such Bank, at the time interest is paid, Further Taxes in the amount that Bank specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield the Bank would have received if such Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes had not been imposed.

(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Bank and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of (i) Taxes, (ii) Other Taxes, and (iii) Further Taxes in the amount that the Administrative Agent or such Bank specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield the Administrative Agent or such Bank would have received if such Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes had not been imposed, and any liability (including penalties, interest, additions to tax and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes were correctly or legally asserted, provided , however , that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify or hold harmless any Bank to the extent (but only to the extent) of such Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Payment under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days after the date the Bank or the Administrative Agent makes written demand therefor.

(d) Within 30 days after the date of any payment by the Borrower of Taxes, Other Taxes or Further Taxes, the Borrower shall furnish the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof, or other evidence of payment satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) If the Borrower is required to pay any amount to the Administrative Agent or any Bank pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this Section, then such Bank shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office so as to eliminate any such additional payment by the Borrower which may thereafter accrue, if such change in the judgment of such Bank is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank.

4.02 Illegality .

(a) If any Bank determines that the introduction of any Requirement of Law, or any change in any Requirement of Law, or in the interpretation or administration of any Requirement of Law, has made it unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for such Bank or its applicable Lending Office to make Offshore Rate Loans, then, on notice thereof by such Bank to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of that Bank to make Offshore Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Bank notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.

(b) If a Bank determines that it is unlawful to maintain any Offshore Rate Loan, the Borrower shall, upon receipt of notice of such fact and demand from such Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay in full, without premium or penalty, such Offshore Rate Loans of that Bank then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon either on the last day of the Interest Period thereof, if the Bank may lawfully continue to maintain such Offshore Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if the Bank may not lawfully continue to maintain such Offshore Rate Loan. If the Borrower is required to so prepay any Offshore Rate Loan, then concurrently with such prepayment, the Borrower shall borrow from the affected Bank, in the amount of such repayment, a Base Rate Loan.

4.03 Increased Costs and Reduction of Return .

(a) If any Bank determines that, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change by way of imposition of or increase in reserve requirements included in the calculation of the Offshore Rate or in respect of the assessment rate payable by any Bank to the FDIC for insuring U.S. deposits) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance by that Bank with any guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to such Bank of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Offshore Rate Loans or participating in Letters of Credit, or, in the case of an Issuing Bank, any increase in the cost to such Issuing Bank of agreeing to issue, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any unpaid drawing under any Letter of Credit, then the Borrower shall be liable for, and shall from time to time, within 30 days of demand (with a copy of such demand to be sent to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Bank, additional amounts as are sufficient to compensate such Bank for such increased costs, provided , however , that the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such amount to the extent that such amount is reflected in changes in the Base Rate, the Offshore Rate or other fees or charges of such Bank.

(b) If any Bank shall have determined that (i) the introduction of any Capital Adequacy Regulation, (ii) any change in any Capital Adequacy Regulation, (iii) any change in the interpretation or administration of any Capital Adequacy Regulation by any central bank or other Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or (iv) compliance by the Bank (or its Lending Office) or any corporation controlling the Bank with any Capital Adequacy Regulation, affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by the Bank or any corporation controlling the Bank and (taking into consideration such Bank’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Bank’s desired return on capital) determines that the amount of such capital is increased as a consequence of its loans, credits or obligations under this Agreement, then, within 30 days of demand of such Bank to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay to the Bank, from time to time as specified by the Bank, additional amounts sufficient to compensate the Bank for such increase, provided , however , that the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such amount to the extent that such amount is reflected in changes in the Base Rate.

4.04 Funding Losses. The Borrower shall reimburse each Bank and hold each Bank harmless from any loss or expense which the Bank may sustain or incur as a consequence of:

(a) the failure of the Borrower to make on a timely basis any payment of principal of any Offshore Rate Loan;

(b) the failure of the Borrower to borrow, continue or convert a Loan after the Borrower has given (or are deemed to have given) a Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation;

(c) the failure of the Borrower to make any prepayment in accordance with any notice delivered under Section 2.06 ;

(d) the prepayment (including prepayments made pursuant to Article II but excluding prepayments made pursuant to Section 4.02 ) or other payment (including after acceleration thereof) of an Offshore Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the relevant Interest Period; or

(e) the automatic conversion under Section 2.04 of any Offshore Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the relevant Interest Period except any such automatic conversion resulting from prepayments required by Section 4.02 ;

including any such loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain its Offshore Rate Loans or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Banks under this Section and under Section 4.03 , each Offshore Rate Loan made by a Bank (and each related reserve, special deposit or similar requirement) shall be conclusively deemed to have been funded at the LIBOR used in determining the Offshore Rate for such Offshore Rate Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Offshore Rate Loan is in fact so funded.

4.05 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Administrative Agent and the Banks determine that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Offshore Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Offshore Rate Loan, or that the Offshore Rate applicable pursuant to Subsection 2.08(a) for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Offshore Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Banks of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Bank. Thereafter, the obligation of the Banks to make or maintain Offshore Rate Loans, as the case may be, hereunder shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent upon the instruction of the Banks revokes such notice in writing. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation then submitted by it. If the Borrower does not revoke such Notice, the Banks shall make, convert or continue the Loans, as proposed by the Borrower, in the amount specified in the applicable notice submitted by the Borrower, but such Loans shall be made, converted or continued as Base Rate Loans instead of Offshore Rate Loans.

4.06 Reserves on Offshore Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Bank, as long as such Bank shall be required under regulations of the FRB to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional costs on the unpaid principal amount of each Offshore Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by the Bank (as determined by the Bank in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided , however , that the Borrower shall have received at least 15 days’ prior written notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from the Bank. If a Bank fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be payable 15 days from receipt of such notice.

4.07 Certificates of Banks. Together with any demand by a Bank for reimbursement or compensation pursuant to this Article IV, such Bank shall provide to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a certificate signed by an authorized officer of the Bank (a) describing the event giving rise to such demand, and (b) showing the method and detailed calculations (which may include any reasonable averaging, attribution or allocation procedures) used by the Bank to determine the amount demanded by the Bank. In calculating the amount of costs, expenses, capital requirements or rate of reduction allocable to the Borrower, such Bank shall use such reasonable methods as such Bank shall determine. Such calculation and certification shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower in the absence of manifest error.

4.08 Substitution of Banks. Upon the receipt by the Borrower from any Bank (an “ Affected Bank ”) of a claim for compensation under Section 4.03 , the Borrower may: (a) request the Affected Bank to use its best efforts to obtain a replacement bank or financial institution satisfactory to the Borrower to acquire and assume all or a ratable part of all of such Affected Bank’s Loans and Uncommitted Line Portion (a “ Replacement Bank ”); (b) request one or more of the other Banks to acquire and assume all or part of such Affected Bank’s Loans and Uncommitted Line Portion; or (c) designate a Replacement Bank. Any such designation of a Replacement Bank under clause (a) or (c) shall be subject to the prior written consent of Agents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

4.09 Survival. The agreements and Obligations of the Borrower in this Article IV shall survive the payment of all other Obligations.

ARTICLE V

CLOSING ITEMS

5.01 Matters to be Satisfied Upon Execution of Agreement. At the time the Banks execute this Agreement, unless otherwise waived by the Banks, the Documentation Agent shall have received all of the following, in form and substance satisfactory to the Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent, and each Bank, and in sufficient copies for each Bank:

(a) Loan Documents . This Agreement, the Notes, Amendment No. 1 to Security Agreement and Reaffirmation dated as of the date hereof, that certain Subordination Agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Guarantor, as subordinated creditor, and the Administrative Agent, and certain other documents executed in connection with the Original Credit Agreement, and each other document or certificate executed in connection with this Agreement, executed by each party thereto;

(b) Resolutions; Incumbency . Copies of the resolutions of the members of the Borrower authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby, certified as of the Closing Date by the Secretary of the Borrower, and certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to execute, deliver and perform, as applicable, this Agreement, and all other Loan Documents to be delivered by the Borrower hereunder;

(c) Organization Documents; Existence; Good Standing . The articles or certificate of formation and the regulations of the Borrower as in effect on the Closing Date, all certified by the Secretary of the Borrower as of the Closing Date, and the articles or certificate of formation and the Bylaws or regulations of Atmos Energy Corporation and Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. as in effect on the Closing Date, all certified by the Secretary of Atmos Energy Corporation and Guarantor as of the Closing Date together with certificates of existence and good standing for the Borrower, Atmos Energy Corporation and Guarantor from the Secretary of State (or similar, applicable Governmental Authority) of its state of incorporation and each state where the member of the Borrower is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, certified as of, or reasonably close to, the Closing Date;

(d) Legal Opinions . Legal opinion of counsel to the Borrower and counsel to Guarantor each addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Banks, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Banks;

(e) Payment of Fees . Evidence of payment by the Borrower of all accrued and unpaid fees, costs and expenses to the extent then due and payable on the Closing Date, together with Attorney Costs of Agents to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of Attorney Costs as shall constitute the Agents’ reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by them through the closing proceedings ( provided , however , that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude final settling of accounts between the Borrower and Agents); including any such costs, fees and expenses arising under or referenced in Sections 2.09 and 11.04(a) and all costs of the auditors and consultants retained by the Banks in connection with the Obligations of the Borrower to Agents;

(f) Certificate . A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, dated as of the Closing Date, stating to the best of such officer’s knowledge that:

(i) The representations and warranties contained in Article VI are true and correct on and as of such date, as though made on and as of such date; and

(ii) No Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the Credit Extension.

(iii) There has occurred since December 31, 2004, no event or circumstance that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(g) Insurance . Evidence of insurance required to be maintained by the Borrower hereunder;

(h) Filings . Evidence that all filings needed to perfect the security interests granted by the Security Agreements have been completed or due provision has been made therefor;

(i) Service of Process Form . An acknowledgement letter from Corporation Service Company as contemplated by Subsection 11.16(b) ; and

(j) Other Documents . Such other approvals, opinions, documents or materials as the Agents or any Bank may request.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agents and each Bank that:

6.01 Existence and Power. Each of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and Guarantor:

(a) is a limited liability company or corporation, as the case may be, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization;

(b) has the power and authority and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to own its assets, carry on their business and to execute, deliver, and perform their respective Obligations under the Loan Documents;

(c) is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company or corporation, as the case may be, and is licensed and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; and

(d) to the best knowledge of such Person, is in compliance with all Requirements of Law.

6.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and Guarantor of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized, and do not and will not:

(a) contravene the terms of the Organization Documents of such Person;

(b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which such Person or its property is subject; or

(c) to the best knowledge of the Borrower, violate any Requirement of Law.

6.03 Governmental Authorization. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor, as applicable, of any Loan Document.

6.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Person to the extent it is a party thereto, enforceable against such Person in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity.

6.05 Litigation. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.05 , there are no actions, suits or proceedings, pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower, or Guarantor threatened at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, against the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries or Guarantor or any of their respective properties which purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; and no injunction, writ, temporary restraining order or any order of any nature has been issued by any court or other Governmental Authority purporting to enjoin or restrain the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or directing that the transactions provided for herein or therein not be consummated as herein or therein provided.

6.06 No Default. No Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the incurring of any Obligations by the Borrower. As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries are in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation in any respect which, individually or together with all such defaults, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 ERISA Compliance. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.07 :

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law. Each Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS and to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would cause the loss of such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan which have resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) To the Borrower’s best knowledge, no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) or ERISA.

6.08 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. The proceeds of the Loans are to be used solely for the purposes set forth in and permitted by Section 7.12 . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is generally engaged in the business of purchasing or selling Margin Stock or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

6.09 Title to Properties. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of their respective businesses, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

6.10 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges shown thereon to be due and payable, and have paid all material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets as due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.11 Financial Condition .

(a) The unaudited balance sheet of the Borrower dated as of December 31, 2004:

(i) fairly presents the financial condition of the Borrower as of the date thereof; and

(ii) shows all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Contingent Obligations.

(b) Since December 31, 2004, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

6.12 Environmental Matters. The Borrower conducts in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and existing Environmental Claims on its business, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that, except as previously specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.12 , such Environmental Laws and Environmental Claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.13 Regulated Entities. Neither the Borrower, nor any Person controlling the Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, is an “Investment Company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Borrower is not subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any state public utilities code, or any other Federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness.

6.14 No Burdensome Restrictions. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Contractual Obligation, or subject to any restriction in any Organization Document, or any Requirement of Law, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.15 Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, Etc. To the Borrower’s best knowledge, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries own or are licensed or otherwise have the right to use all of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, contractual franchises, authorizations and other rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.05 , no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or threatened, and no patent, invention, device, application, principle or any statute, law, rule, regulation, standard or code is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, proposed.

6.16 Subsidiaries. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in part (a) of Schedule 6.16 hereto and have no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in part (b) of Schedule 6.16 .

6.17 Insurance. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.17 , the properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates.

6.18 Full Disclosure. To the Borrower’s best knowledge, none of the representations or warranties made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the Loan Documents as of the date such representations and warranties are made or deemed made, and none of the statements contained in any exhibit, report, statement or certificate furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Loan Documents (including the offering and disclosure materials delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Banks prior to the Closing Date), contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading as of the time when made or delivered.

ARTICLE VII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Bank shall be continuing to consider making Revolving Loans or Issuing Letters of Credit hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding:

7.01 Financial Statements. The Borrower shall deliver to the Banks, in form and detail satisfactory to the Banks:

(a) as soon as available, but not later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, (i) a copy of the consolidated audited financial statements to include a balance sheet as at the end of such year for each of (A) Atmos Energy Corporation, (B) Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc., and (C) the Borrower, and (ii) a copy of the consolidating unaudited financial statements to include a consolidating balance sheet as at the end of such year for Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. and the Borrower, and (iii) a copy of the consolidated audited financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and the related statements of income or operations, members’ capital and cash flows for such year for such entities, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, and accompanied by the opinion of a nationally-recognized independent public accounting firm (“ Independent Auditor ”) which report shall state that such financial statements present fairly the financial position for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years. Such opinion shall not be qualified or limited because of a restricted or limited examination by the Independent Auditor of any material portion of the records of such entities;

(b) as soon as available, but not later than 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc. and Atmos Energy Corporation, (i) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Atmos Energy Corporation and Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc., each to include a balance sheet as at the end of such fiscal quarter, with the related statements of income and or operations, members’ capital and cash flows for such year for such entities, for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal quarter and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter and for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, setting forth in comparative form, in the case of each such consolidated balance sheet, the corresponding figures as of the last day of the corresponding period in the immediately preceding fiscal year and, in the case of each such consolidated statement of income and operations, members’ capital and cash flows, the corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding fiscal year, and (ii) the unaudited consolidating balance sheet and income statement of Atmos Energy Holdings, Inc.; and

(c) as soon as available, but not later than 45 days after the end of each month, the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries in form acceptable to Banks.

7.02 Certificates; Other Information. The Borrower shall furnish to the Agents and the Banks:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Subsections 7.01(a) , (b) , and (c) , an Embedded Value Report as of the date of such financial statements and a Compliance Certificate, each executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(b) a Borrowing Base Collateral Position Report executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as of 15th day of each month and as of the last Business Day of each month, in each case delivered within ten (10) days of such reporting date;

(c) on or before the tenth (10 ^th ) day of each month, a Net Position Report as of the first (1 ^st ) day of said month, and on or before the twenty-fifth (25 ^th ) day of each month, a Net Position Report as of the fifteenth (15 ^th ) day of such month, in each case certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(d) promptly when available, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as the Agents, at the request of any Bank, may from time to time reasonably request; and

(e) a quarterly report of inventory storage locations at each quarter end.

7.03 Notices. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Agents and each Bank:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, and of the occurrence or existence of any event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to become a Default or Event of Default;

(b) of the occurrence of any event which could reasonably be expected to cause a material impairment of the Collateral Position;

(c) of the occurrence of any event which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a material Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any material dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

(d) of the occurrence of any of the following events affecting the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (but in no event more than 10 days after the Borrower receives notice or becomes aware of such event), and deliver to the Agents and each Bank a copy of any notice with respect to such event that is filed with a Governmental Authority and any notice delivered by a Governmental Authority to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such event:

(i) an ERISA Event;

(ii) a material increase in the Unfunded Pension Liability of any Pension Plan;

(iii) the adoption of, or the commencement of contributions to, any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; or

(iv) the adoption of any amendment to a Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, if such amendment results in a material increase in contributions or Unfunded Pension Liability;

(e) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower; and

(f) of any intended relocation of inventory or any intended new location of inventory owned by the Borrower, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date such inventory is to be stored at such location.

Each notice under this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein, and stating what action the Borrower or any affected Subsidiary proposes to take with respect thereto and at what time. Each notice under Subsection 7.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all clauses or provisions of this Agreement or other Loan Document that have been (or reasonably could be expected to be) breached or violated as therein provided.

7.04 Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

(a) preserve and maintain in full force and effect its existence and good standing under the laws of its state or jurisdiction of organization;

(b) preserve and maintain in full force and effect all governmental rights, privileges, qualifications, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business;

(c) use reasonable efforts, in the ordinary course of business, to preserve its business organization and goodwill; and

(d) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.05 Maintenance of Property. The Borrower shall maintain, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, and preserve all its property which is used or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except in any case where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.06 Insurance. The Borrower shall maintain, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, with financially sound and reputable independent insurers, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons, including, without limitation, marine cargo insurance, if appropriate.

7.07 Payment of Obligations. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all their respective obligations and liabilities, including:

(a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

(b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or Subsidiary, and provided that at such time the claim becomes a Lien (other than a lis pendens notice), it shall be promptly paid; and

(c) all indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.

7.08 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower shall comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all Requirements of Law of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business (including the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act).

7.09 Compliance with ERISA. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law; (b) cause each Plan which is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code to maintain such qualification; and (c) make all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code.

7.10 Inspection of Property and Books and Records. The Borrower shall maintain and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower and such Subsidiary. The Borrower shall permit, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to permit representatives and independent contractors of either of the Agents or any Bank to visit and inspect any of their respective properties, to examine their respective corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Agent or Bank causing such inspection and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided , however , that when an Event of Default exists either of the Agents or any Bank may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

7.11 Environmental Laws. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, conduct its operations and keep and maintain its property in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws.

7.12 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loans for the uses described in this Agreement and not in contravention of any Requirement of Law or of any Loan Document restrictions on use of loan proceeds.

The Borrower shall not use the proceeds of the Loan or any Letter of Credit to acquire, directly or indirectly, any Margin Stock.

7.13 Collateral Position Audit. At such times as Agents deem advisable, the Borrower will allow Agents or an entity satisfactory to Agents to conduct a thorough examination of the Collateral, and the Borrower will fully cooperate in such examination. The Borrower will pay the costs and expenses of one such examination each calendar year.

7.14 Lock Box. The Borrower shall (i) maintain a lock box with Bank of America, N.A. (the “ Lock Box ”) and shall notify in writing and otherwise take such reasonable steps to ensure that all Account Debtors under any of its Accounts forward payment in the form of cash, checks, drafts or other similar items of payment directly to such Lock Box and shall provide Banks with reasonable evidence of such notification, and (ii) deposit and cause its Subsidiaries to deposit or cause to be deposited all payments under such Accounts to the Lock Box. In the event that any Account Debtor does make any payment directly to the Borrower, the Borrower shall promptly deposit such amounts into the Lock Box. The Borrower and each Bank acknowledge and agree that prior to the Activation Period, the Borrower may operate and transact business through the Lock Box account in its normal fashion, including making withdrawals from the Lock Box account. The Borrower and each Bank further acknowledge and agree that during the Activation Period, Bank of America, N.A. shall transfer all collected and available balances in the Lock Box to the Bank Blocked Account pursuant to the Three Party Agreement. The Borrower and each Bank acknowledge and agree that the Bank Blocked Account is owned by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Banks and the Lock Box is under the dominion and control of the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent at any time may apply amounts contained in the Bank Blocked Account toward satisfaction of the Obligations.

7.15 Financial Covenants. The Borrower will, at all times, observe the following financial covenants:

(a) minimum Net Working Capital as follows:

(i) $20,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $100,000,000 or less;

(ii) $25,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $125,000,000 or less but greater than $100,000,000;

(iii) $30,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sup-Cap is $150,000,000 or less but greater than $125,000,000;

(iv) $35,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $175,000,000 or less but greater than $150,000,000;

(v) $40,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $200,000,000 or less but greater than $175,000,000;

(vi) $45,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $225,000,000 or less but greater than $200,000,000; and

(vii) $50,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $250,000,000 or less but greater than $225,000,000.

(b) minimum Tangible Net Worth as follows:

(i) $21,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $100,000,000 or less;

(ii) $26,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $125,000,000 or less but greater than $100,000,000;

(iii) $31,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $150,000,000 or less but greater than $125,000,000;

(iv) $36,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $175,000,000 or less but greater than $150,000,000;

(v) $41,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $200,000,000 or less but greater than $175,000,000;

(vi) $46,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $225,000,000 or less but greater than $200,000,000; and

(vii) $51,000,000 at such time as the elected Borrowing Base Sub-Cap is $250,000,000 or less but greater than $225,000,000.

(c) at all times, a ratio of Total Liabilities (excluding the amount of Subordinated Debt that is included in the calculation of Tangible Net Worth) to Tangible Net Worth not to exceed 5.0:1.0.

ARTICLE VIII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Loan or other Obligation shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, unless the Banks waive compliance in writing:

8.01 Limitation on Liens. The Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any part of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following (“ Permitted Liens ”):

(a) any Lien existing on property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 8.01 securing Indebtedness outstanding on such date;

(b) any Lien created under any Loan Document;

(c) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty, or to the extent that non-payment thereof is permitted by Section 7.07 , provided , however , that no notice of lien has been filed or recorded under the Code;

(d) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, landlords’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty and, with respect to any such warehousemen’s or landlord’s lien, such liens only secure accrued rental charges;

(e) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) consisting of pledges or deposits required in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

(f) Liens on the property of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries securing (i) the non-delinquent performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, (ii) contingent obligations on surety and appeal bonds, and (iii) other non-delinquent obligations of a like nature; in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided , however , that all such Liens in the aggregate would not (even if enforced) cause a Material Adverse Effect;

(g) Liens consisting of judgment or judicial attachment liens; provided , however , that the enforcement of such Liens is effectively stayed and all such unstayed liens in the aggregate at any time outstanding for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not exceed $250,000;

(h) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(i) purchase money security interests (other than capital leases) on any property acquired or held by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such property; provided , however , that (i) any such Lien attaches to such property concurrently with or within 20 days after the acquisition thereof, (ii) such Lien attaches solely to the property so acquired in such transaction, (iii) the principal amount of the debt secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of such property, and (iv) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by any and all such purchase money security interests shall not at any time exceed $250,000;

(j) Liens of interest owners, including without limitation, Liens arising as would be defined in Texas Bus. & Com. Code Section 9.343, comparable laws of the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming or New Mexico, or other comparable law; and

(k) Liens not permitted by clause 8.01 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (i), in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000.

(l) Liens securing contractual obligations permitted by section 8.06.

8.02 Consolidations and Mergers. The Borrower shall not, nor shall it suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, merge, consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person.

8.03 Limitation on Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume, suffer to exist, or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to, any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement;

(b) Indebtedness consisting of trade payables in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date, and described on Schedule 8.01 ;

(d) Indebtedness in respect of purchase money security interests permitted by Section 8.01 hereof;

(e) Indebtedness in respect of Contingent Obligations permitted by Section 8.06 hereof; and

(f) Subordinated Debt.

8.04 Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower shall not, and shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction with any Affiliate of the Borrower, except upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than would obtain in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the Borrower or such Subsidiary. Without limiting the foregoing, all sales of Product by Borrower to, and purchases of Product by Borrower from, any Affiliate of Borrower shall be at the market price on the day of sale, except for transactions made in connection with Borrower’s index sales strategies which strategies shall have been approved by the Banks prior to any such transactions.

8.05 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, use any portion of the Loan proceeds or any Letter of Credit, directly or indirectly, (a) to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (b) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Borrower or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (c) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock, or (d) to acquire any security in any transaction that is subject to Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act.

8.06 Contingent Obligations. The Borrower shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Contingent Obligations except:

(a) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(b) swap contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business as bona fide hedging transactions; and

(c) Contingent Obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing as of the Closing Date and described on Schedule 8.07 .

8.07 Restricted Payments. The Borrower shall not suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly declare or make, any distribution of income or capital on account of any membership interest of the Borrower now or hereafter in existence (“ Distributions ”), or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, except, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, Distributions to the Guarantor.

8.08 ERISA. The Borrower shall not, nor suffer or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a) engage in a prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan; or (b) engage in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

8.09 Change in Business. The Borrower shall not, nor suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any line of business different from the line of business carried on by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof.

8.10 Accounting Changes. The Borrower shall not, nor suffer or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of the Borrower or of any Subsidiary.

8.11 Net Position. At no time will the Borrower allow its Net Position to exceed 5,000,000 MMBTUS of natural gas. At no time will the Borrower allow the sum of the following: (a) 25% of the Borrower’s Net Position Value, plus (b) Borrower’s Transportation and Storage Exposure, plus (c) Borrower’s Below Index Sales Exposure, to exceed 33% of Borrower’s Net Working Capital at such time, where,

“ Net Position Value ” means Borrower’s Net Position valued at the One-Year NYMEX Natural Gas Strip as quoted by BNP Paribas’ Commodity Indexed Transactions Group, such Net Position Value to be adjusted on the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October.

“ Below Index Sales Exposure ” means (the maximum volume of gas required to be sold at below index prices multiplied by the discount from index), minus (the net positive value of all hedge contracts related to the utilization of the related storage & transportation assets).

“ Transportation and Storage Exposure ” means the aggregate contractual cost of transportation & storage contracts for a term of in excess of 3 months.

8.12 Loans and Investments. The Borrower shall not purchase or acquire, or suffer or permit any Subsidiary to purchase or acquire, or make any commitment therefor, any capital stock, equity interest, or any obligations or other securities of, or any interest in, any Person, or make or commit to make any Acquisitions, or make or commit to make any advance, loan, extension of credit or capital contribution to or any other investment in, any Person including any Affiliate of Borrower, except for:

(a) investments in cash equivalents and Marketable Securities; and

(b) extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the sale or lease of goods or services in the ordinary course of business.

8.13 Change of Management. Borrower shall not permit any Change of Management. For purposes of this Section 8.13 , “Change of Management” shall mean that J. D. Woodward III is acting neither as the chief executive officer nor as the Chairman of the Board of the Borrower.

8.14 Deposit Accounts. Borrower shall not maintain any deposit accounts with a bank or financial institution other than the Bank Blocked Account with the Collateral Agent, except that the Borrower may maintain the Lock Box with Bank of America, N.A. which shall be pledged to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Agents, the Issuing Banks and the Banks pursuant to the Three Party Agreement.

8.15 Risk Management Policy. The Borrower will not materially change its risk management policies without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Banks. Borrower agrees that upon request by Agents, from time to time, the Borrower and the Banks will review and evaluate Borrower’s risk management policies.

8.16 Swap-Related Standby Letters of Credit. The Borrower shall not permit outstanding Swap-Related Standby Letters of Credit plus any net Mark-to-Market values of amounts owed to Swap Banks by the Borrower under Swap Contracts to exceed $50,000,000.

ARTICLE IX

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

9.01 Event of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(a) Non-Payment . The Borrower fails to pay any amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document when due including without limitation such amounts as may come due as a result of a “demand” made by the Banks under the Notes; or

(b) Representation or Warranty . Any representation or warranty made or deemed made herein, in any other Loan Document, or which is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement by the Borrower, or any Responsible Officer furnished at any time under this Agreement, or in or under any other Loan Document, is incorrect or incomplete in any respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

(c) Covenant Defaults . The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in any of the Loan Documents; or

(d) Cross-Default . The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) fails to make any payment in respect of any Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $250,000 when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise); or (ii) fails to perform or observe any other material condition or covenant, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation, if, after expiration of any grace or cure period therein provided, the effect of such failure, event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause such Indebtedness to be declared to be due and payable prior to its stated maturity, or such Contingent Obligation to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded, except to the extent that any such amounts are in bona fide dispute in an aggregate amount not exceeding $250,000 for which adequate reserves are maintained in accordance with GAAP; or

(e) Insolvency; Voluntary Proceedings . The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) ceases or fails to be solvent, or generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, whether at stated maturity or otherwise; (ii) commences any Insolvency Proceeding with respect to itself; or (iii) takes any action to effectuate or authorize any of the foregoing; or

(f) Involuntary Proceedings . (i) Any involuntary Insolvency Proceeding is commenced or filed against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or any writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process, is issued or levied against a substantial part of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of any of the Borrower’s properties, and any such proceeding or petition shall not be dismissed, or such writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall not be released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after commencement, filing or levy; (ii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower admits the material allegations of a petition against it in any Insolvency Proceeding, or an order for relief (or similar order under non-U.S. law) is ordered in any Insolvency Proceeding; or (iii) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower acquiesces in the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, mortgagee in possession (or agent therefor), or other similar Person for itself or a substantial portion of its property or business; or

(g) ERISA . (i) An ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $250,000; (ii) the aggregate amount of Unfunded Pension Liability among all Pension Plans at any time exceeds $250,000; or (iii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when due, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $250,000; or

(h) Monetary Judgments . One or more non-interlocutory judgments, non-interlocutory orders, decrees or arbitration awards is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, which such judgment, order, decree or award is not effectively stayed pending appeal thereof, involving in the aggregate a liability as to any single or related series of transactions, incidents or conditions, to pay an amount of $250,000 or more; or

(i) Non-Monetary Judgments . Any non-monetary judgment, order or decree is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which does or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(j) Change of Control . There occurs any Change of Control not previously approved by the Banks; or

(k) Adverse Change . There occurs a Material Adverse Effect; or

(l) Guarantor Defaults . Any Guarantor fails in any material respect to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement in the Guaranty executed by such Guarantor; or such Guaranty is for any reason (other than satisfaction in full of all Obligations and the termination of the Loans) partially (including with respect to future advances) or wholly revoked or invalidated, or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect, or such Guarantor or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or denies that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder; or any event described at subsections (e) or (f) of this Section occurs with respect to such Guarantor.

IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR SPECIFIC EVENTS OF DEFAULT BE CONSTRUED TO WAIVE, LIMIT OR OTHERWISE MODIFY THE DEMAND NATURE OF THE LOANS WHICH MAY BE MADE PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE BORROWER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE BANKS’ RIGHT TO DEMAND PAYMENT AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON OR FOR NO REASON IS ABSOLUTE AND UNCONDITIONAL.

9.02 Remedies . If any Event of Default occurs, the Administrative Agent may and shall, at the request of the Required Banks:

(a) declare an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount that is or at any time thereafter may become available for drawing by the beneficiary under any outstanding Letters of Credit (whether or not any beneficiary shall have presented, or shall be entitled at such time to present, the drafts or other documents required to draw under such Letters of Credit) to be immediately due and payable, and declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

(b) exercise on behalf of itself and the Banks all rights and remedies available to it and the Banks under the Loan Documents or applicable law including, without limitation, seeking to lift the stay in effect under the Proceeding; provided , however , that upon the occurrence of any event specified in subsection (e) or (f) of Section 9.01 , the obligation of each Bank to make Loans and any obligation of an Issuing Bank to Issue Letters of Credit shall automatically terminate and an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount that is or at any time thereafter may become available for drawing by the beneficiary under any outstanding Letters of Credit (whether or not any beneficiary shall have presented, or shall be entitled at such time to present, the drafts or other documents required to draw under such Letters of Credit) together with the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable without further act of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Bank.

9.03 Rights Not Exclusive . The rights provided for in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights, powers, privileges or remedies provided by law or in equity, or under any other instrument, document or agreement now existing or hereafter arising.

ARTICLE X

AGENTS

10.01 Appointment and Authorization .

(a) Each Bank, on its own behalf and, solely with respect to the designation and appointment of Fortis as Collateral Agent under the Security Agreements, on behalf of each of its affiliates and each of its Indemnified Persons, hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 10.09) designates and authorizes the Agents to take such action on its behalf and on behalf of such Persons under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, the Agents shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Agents have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Bank, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Agents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Agreement with reference to the Agents is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) Each Issuing Bank shall act on behalf of the Banks with respect to any Letters of Credit Issued by it and the documents associated therewith until such time and except for so long as the Administrative Agent may agree at the request of the Banks to act for such Issuing Bank with respect thereto; provided , however, that such Issuing Bank shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article X with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such Issuing Bank in connection with Letters of Credit Issued by it or proposed to be Issued by it and the application and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent,” as used in this Article X, included such Issuing Bank with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided in this Agreement with respect to such Issuing Banks. Prior to the issuance of a Letter of Credit by an Issuing Bank other than the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall provide written notice to the Administrative Agent of the dollar amount, the date of such issuance and the expiry date of such Letter of Credit. Such issuance shall be subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent. Such consent shall not result in the imposition of any liability upon the Administrative Agent.

10.02 Delegation of Duties . Each of the Agents may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Neither of the Agents shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects with reasonable care.

10.03 Liability of Agents . None of Agent-Related Persons shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any of the Banks for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by Agents under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the value of or title to any Collateral, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure of the Borrower or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Bank to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

10.04 Reliance by Agents .

(a) Each of the Agents shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by Agents. Each of the Agents shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of all of the Banks or the Required Banks, as applicable, as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each of the Agents shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of all of the Banks or the Required Banks, as applicable, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Banks.

(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 5.01 , each Bank that has executed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter either sent by Agents to such Bank for consent, approval, acceptance or satisfaction, or required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Bank.

10.05 Notice of Default . Agents shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Bank or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the BNP Paribas, as an agent, and the Banks of its receipt of any such notice. The Agents shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by all of the Banks or the Required Banks, as applicable, in accordance with Article IX; provided , however , that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such request, the Agents may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Banks.

10.06 Credit Decision . Each Bank acknowledges that none of Agent-Related Persons has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by Agents hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Bank. Each Bank represents to the Agents that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the value of and title to any Collateral, and all applicable bank regulatory laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Bank also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the Banks by the Agents, the Agents shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Bank with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower which may come into the possession of any of Agent-Related Persons.

10.07 Indemnification . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Banks shall indemnify upon demand Agent-Related Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), pro rata, from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided , however , that no Bank shall be liable for the payment to Agent-Related Persons of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from such Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Bank shall reimburse Agents upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by Agents in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that Agents are not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower. The undertaking in this Section shall survive the payment of all Obligations hereunder and the resignation or replacement of Agents.

10.08 Agents in Individual Capacity . Fortis and its Affiliates and BNP Paribas and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates as though Fortis and BNP Paribas were not Agents or Issuing Banks hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Banks. The Banks acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Fortis or its Affiliates and BNP Paribas or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower or such Subsidiary) and acknowledge that the Agents shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Fortis and BNP Paribas shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Bank and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agents or Issuing Banks, and the terms “Bank” and “Banks” include each of Fortis and BNP Paribas in its individual capacity.

10.09 Successor Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Banks. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, BNP Paribas shall automatically become the successor agent, unless BNP Paribas declines. If BNP Paribas declines, the Required Banks shall appoint, from among the Banks, a successor agent for the Banks. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the resigning Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Banks, a successor agent from among the Banks. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor agent and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article X and Sections 11.04 and 11.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Banks shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Banks appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

10.10 Withholding Tax .

(a) If any Bank is a “foreign corporation, partnership or trust” within the meaning of the Code and such Bank claims exemption from, or a reduction of, U.S. withholding tax under Sections 1441 or 1442 of the Code, such Bank agrees with and in favor of the Administrative Agent, to deliver to the Administrative Agent:

(i) if such Bank claims an exemption from, or a reduction of, withholding tax under a United States tax treaty, properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN before the payment of any interest in the first calendar year and before the payment of any interest in each third succeeding calendar year during which interest may be paid under this Agreement;

(ii) if such Bank claims that interest paid under this Agreement is exempt from United States withholding tax because it is effectively connected with a United States trade or business of such Bank, two properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI before the payment of any interest is due in the first taxable year of such Bank and in each succeeding taxable year of such Bank during which interest may be paid under this Agreement; and

(iii) such other form or forms as may be required under the Code or other laws of the United States as a condition to exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding tax.

Such Bank agrees to promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction.

(b) If any Bank claims exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax under a United States tax treaty by providing IRS Form W-8BEN and such Bank sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations of the Borrower to such Bank, such Bank agrees to notify the Administrative Agent of the percentage amount in which it is no longer the beneficial owner of Obligations of the Borrower to such Bank. To the extent of such percentage amount, the Administrative Agent will treat such Bank’s IRS Form W-8BEN as no longer valid.

(c) If any Bank claiming exemption from United States withholding tax by filing IRS Form W-8ECI with the Administrative Agent sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations of the Borrower to such Bank, such Bank agrees to undertake sole responsibility for complying with the withholding tax requirements imposed by Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code.

(d) If any Bank is entitled to a reduction in the applicable withholding tax, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Bank an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax after taking into account such reduction. However, if the forms or other documentation required by subsection (a) of this Section are not delivered to the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Bank not providing such forms or other documentation an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax imposed by Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code, without reduction.

(e) If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Bank (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Bank failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Bank shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section, together with all costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs), except to the extent caused solely by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent. The obligation of the Banks under this Subsection shall survive the payment of all Obligations and the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

10.11 Collateral Matters . (a) The Agents are authorized on behalf of all the Banks, without the necessity of any notice to or further consent from the Banks, from time to time to take any action with respect to any Collateral or the Loan Documents which may be necessary to perfect and maintain perfected the security interest in and Liens upon the Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.

(b) The Banks irrevocably authorize the Agents, at their option and in their discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Administrative Agent upon any Collateral (I) upon payment in full of all Loans and all other Obligations known to the Agents and payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (ii) constituting property sold or to be sold or disposed of as part of or in connection with any disposition permitted hereunder; (iii) constituting property in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary owned no interest at the time the Lien was granted or at any time thereafter; (iv) constituting property leased to the Borrower or any Subsidiary under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement or is about to expire and which has not been, and is not intended by the Borrower or such Subsidiary to be, renewed or extended; (v) consisting of an instrument evidencing Indebtedness or other debt instrument, if the indebtedness evidenced thereby has been paid in full; or (vi) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the all of the Banks. Upon request by the Agents at any time, the Banks will confirm in writing the Agents’ authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Subsection 10.11(b) ; provided , however , that the absence of any such confirmation for whatever reason shall not affect the Agents’ rights under this Section 10.11 .

(c) Each Bank agrees with and in favor of each other (which agreement shall not be for the benefit of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) that the Borrower’s obligations to such Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents is not and shall not be secured by any real property collateral now or hereafter acquired by such Bank.

10.12 Monitoring Responsibility . Each Bank will make its own credit decisions hereunder, including the decision whether or not to make advances or consent to the Issuance of Letters of Credit, thus the Agents shall have no duty to monitor the Collateral Position, the amounts outstanding under sub-lines or the reporting requirements or the contents of reports delivered by the Borrower. Each Bank assumes the responsibility of keeping itself informed at all times.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendments and Waivers . No amendment, supplement, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with respect to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.01. The Required Banks may, or, with the written consent of the Required Banks, the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, (a) enter into with the Borrower written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Banks or of the Borrower hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Banks or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided , however , that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (i) reduce the amount or extend the scheduled date of maturity of any Loan or of any installment thereof, or reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee payable hereunder or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of any Bank’s Uncommitted Line Portion, in each case without the consent of each Bank affected thereby, or (ii) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 11.01 or reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Banks, or consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release a Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty, in each case without the written consent of each of the Banks directly affected thereby, or (iii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 10 without the written consent of the Agents provided , further , that from each Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date forward (or until the next Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date, if any, at which time one or more Banks that had been Approving Banks may become a Declining Bank), (x) all amendments to any Letter of Credit that are issued after such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date that increase the face amount of such Letter of Credit or extend the term of such Letter of Credit shall be made unilaterally by the Approving Banks in respect of such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date, and (y) there shall be no amendments to any Letter of Credit that was issued before such Conversion to Reduced Funding Banks Date that increases the face amount of such Letter of Credit or extends the term of such Letter of Credit. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the Banks and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Banks, the Agents and all future holders of the Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower, the Banks and the Agents shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

11.02 Notices .

(a) All notices, requests and other communications shall be in writing (including, unless the context expressly otherwise provides, by facsimile transmission; provided , however , that any matter transmitted by the Borrower by facsimile (i) shall be immediately confirmed by a telephone call to the recipient at the number specified on Schedule 11.02 , and (ii) shall be followed promptly by delivery of a hard copy original thereof) and mailed, faxed or delivered, to the address or facsimile number specified for notices on Schedule 11.02 ; or, as directed to the Borrower or the Agents, to such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties, and as directed to any other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower and the Agents.

(b) All such notices, requests and 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 U.S. mail, or if delivered, upon delivery; except that notices pursuant to Articles II, III or X shall not be effective until actually received by the Administrative Agent or Agents, as applicable.

(c) Any agreement of the Agents and the Banks herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower. The Agents and the Banks shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Borrower to give such notice and the Agents and the Banks shall not have any liability to the Borrower or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Agents or the Banks in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice, except to the extent of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agents or any Bank. The obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and L/C Obligations shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure by the Agents and the Banks to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Agents and the Banks of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Agents and the Banks to be contained in the telephonic or facsimile notice.

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies . No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Agents or any Bank, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

11.04 Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall:

(a) whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, pay or reimburse Fortis and BNP Paribas (including in their capacity as Agents) within five (5) Business Days after demand (subject to Subsection 5.01(e) ) for all the actual and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Fortis and BNP Paribas (including in their capacity as Agents) in connection with the preparation, delivery, and execution of, and any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification to (in each case, whether or not consummated), this Agreement, any Loan Document and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including reasonable Attorney Costs and costs of commercial finance examinations, incurred by Fortis and BNP Paribas (including in their capacity as Agents) excluding, however, any costs or expenses incurred in connection with any negotiation, dispute or claim solely between or among either of the Agents and/or one or more of the Banks; and

(b) pay or reimburse the Agents and each Bank within five Business Days after demand (subject to Subsection 5.01(e) ) for all actual and reasonable costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by them in connection with the monitoring, administration, enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document excluding, however, any costs or expenses incurred in connection with any negotiation, dispute or claim solely between or among the Agents and/or one or more of the Banks; and all such costs and expenses during the existence of an Event of Default or after acceleration of the Loans (including in connection with any “workout” or restructuring regarding the Loans, and including in any Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceeding).

11.05 Indemnity. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold Agent-Related Persons, and each Bank and each of its respective officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”) harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, charges, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time (including at any time following repayment of the Loans, the termination of the Letters of Credit and the termination, resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or replacement of any Bank) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Person in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, or the transactions contemplated hereby, or any action taken or omitted by any such Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing, including with respect to any investigation, litigation or proceeding (including any Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceeding) related to or arising out of this Agreement or the Loans or Letters of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof, whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”); provided , however , that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Person for that portion of any Indemnified Liabilities that is adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person or that portion of any Indemnified Liabilities which are owed by an Indemnified Person to any other Indemnified Person, but in all events, the Borrower shall remain liable for the remainder of the Indemnified Liabilities not so excluded. The agreements in this Section shall survive payment of all other Obligations.

11.06 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that the Borrower makes a payment to the Agents or the Banks, or the Agents or the Banks exercise their right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Agents or such Bank in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Bank severally agrees to pay to each of the Agents upon demand its pro rata share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agents.

11.07 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 assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights or Obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Agents and each Bank.

11.08 Assignments, Participations, Etc .

(a) Any Bank, at any time may assign and delegate to one or more Eligible Assignees (each an “ Assignee ”) all, or any ratable part of all, of the Loans, the Uncommitted Line, the L/C Obligations and the other rights and obligations of such Bank hereunder, in a minimum amount of $1,000,000; provided , however , that (i) any such disposition shall not, without the prior consent of the Borrower, require the Borrower to apply to register or qualify the Loan or any Note under the securities laws of any