-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, QlsstKwZsgm78euCcfighZA3EsfM69+8dT3x4iXgmlz/PfAPPvcTUrbKYebV4ltq W9iIVp5m9OZenPXxcTtTFQ== 0000950127-04-000913.txt : 20040930 0000950127-04-000913.hdr.sgml : 20040930 20040929211940 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950127-04-000913 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040929 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Triggering Events That Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement ITEM INFORMATION: Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20040930 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20040929 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NUI CORP /NJ/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001105192 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: GAS & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4932] IRS NUMBER: 223708029 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NJ FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-16385 FILM NUMBER: 041053948 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 550 ROUTE 202-206, PO BOX 760 CITY: BEDMINSTER STATE: NJ ZIP: 07921 BUSINESS PHONE: 9087810500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 550 ROUTE 202-206, P. O. BOX 760 CITY: BEDMINSTER STATE: NJ ZIP: 07921 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: NUI HOLDING CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20000203 8-K 1 a4350906_8-k.txt CURRENT REPORT SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 29, 2004 NUI Corporation (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) New Jersey (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 001-16385 (Commission File Number) 22-3708029 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 550 Route 202-206, PO Box 760 Bedminster, New Jersey 07921 (Address and zip code of principal executive offices) (908) 781-0500 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Not applicable (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 1.01--Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. On September 29, 2004, NUI Corporation (the "Company" or "NUI") announced that the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, NUI Utilities Corporation ("NUI Utilities"), have obtained credit facilities aggregating $95 million. The new credit facilities are comprised of (1) a $75 million senior secured credit facility, dated as of August 20, 2004, among NUI Utilities and Credit Suisse First Boston, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch ("CSFB"), as administrative agent, collateral agent, lead arranger and bookrunner, and the other financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the "New NUI Utilities Facility"), which is secured by NUI Utilities' receivables and related proceeds pursuant to the Security Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004, between NUI Utilities and CSFB, as collateral agent, and (2) a $20 million senior unsecured credit facility (the "New NUI Facility" and, together with the New NUI Utilities Facility, the "Bridge Facilities") consisting of an increase to the Company's existing senior unsecured credit facility pursuant to the NUI Amendment (described below). Although the Bridge Facilities are dated as of August 20, 2004, the closing of such facilities occurred on September 29, 2004. The current lender under the Bridge Facilities is, and future lenders under the Bridge Facilities may be, party to agreements with the Company and NUI Utilities in addition to the New NUI Utilities Facility and the Company's existing senior unsecured credit facility. In addition, CSFB is acting as NUI's financial advisor in connection with the sale of the Company. The Bridge Facilities will be used by NUI and NUI Utilities, as applicable, to pay interest on NUI's existing credit facility, to meet NUI Utilities' gas purchase prepayment requirements, and to provide additional liquidity for working capital and for general corporate purposes to facilitate a smooth closing and transition of operations to AGL Resources Inc. ("AGL") upon consummation of the pending merger transaction. The New NUI Utilities Facility bears an interest rate per annum at the option of NUI Utilities of either the eurodollar rate (as in effect from time to time for the relevant interest period) plus 4.75 percent or a base rate option plus 3.75 percent and matures on May 15, 2005, and the New NUI Facility bears an interest rate per annum at the option of NUI of either the eurodollar rate plus 6.00 percent or a base rate option plus 5.00 percent and matures on November 21, 2005. For both of the Bridge Facilities, the eurodollar rate is subject to a 2.00 percent floor and the base rate is subject to a floor of 3.00 percent. The New NUI Utilities Facility contains customary affirmative covenants regarding, among other things, NUI Utilities' use of proceeds, delivery of financial and other information, maintenance of records, compliance with law, maintenance of property and insurance. The New NUI Utilities Facility also contains customary negative covenants limiting the ability of NUI Utilities to, among other things, change its business, create subsidiaries, acquire or dispose of assets, pay dividends, incur liens or indebtedness, make loans or investments, engage in affiliate transactions, and make capital expenditures, and which require NUI Utilities to maintain a maximum leverage ratio and minimum interest coverage ratio. Most of these restrictions are subject to limited exceptions. The New NUI Utilities Facility includes events of default (and related remedies, including acceleration) usual for facilities of this type, i.e. payment default, covenant default (including breaches of the covenants described above), material inaccuracy of representations and warranties, bankruptcy and involuntary proceedings, materially adverse regulatory decision, failure of security, change of control, default under other agreements, ERISA default and judgment default. Many of the defaults are subject to limited materiality thresholds and grace periods. In addition to the New NUI Utilities Facility, on September 29, 2004, the Company announced that (1) the Company had entered into Agreement and Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement (the "NUI Amendment"), dated as of August 20, 2004, among the Company, CSFB, as administrative agent, the Company's subsidiary guarantors party thereto, and the financial institutions party thereto, to the Company's existing senior unsecured credit facility and (2) NUI Utilities had entered into Agreement and Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement (the "NUI Utilities Amendment" and, together with the NUI Amendment, the "Amendments"), dated as of August 20, 2004, between the Company and CSFB, as administrative agent, to NUI Utilities' existing senior unsecured credit facility. The Amendments extend the facilities' maturities until November 21, 2005 and revise certain covenants and financial definitions, among other things. The NUI Amendment also provides for the New NUI Facility and, as described in Item 3.03 below, prohibits the payment of cash dividends on the Company's equity interests so long as the Company's existing unsecured credit facilities are outstanding. Although the Amendments are dated as of August 20, 2004, the closing of such Amendments occurred on September 29, 2004. Item 1.02--Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement On September 29, 2003, NUI Utilities defeased its $50 million medium term notes due February 2005 by depositing in trust with Wachovia Bank, N.A., the indenture trustee, an amount sufficient to pay when due all principal and interest on the medium term notes. The indenture trustee then cancelled the indenture at NUI Utilities' request. Item 2.04--Triggering Events that Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement In addition to entering into the New NUI Facility, as described in Item 1.01 above, on September 29, 2004, NUI Utilities borrowed the full $50 million in delayed draw term loans available under its existing senior unsecured credit facility to defease its $50 million medium term notes, as described in Item 1.02 above. In addition, NUI Utilities borrowed the full $75 million in term loans available under the New NUI Utilities Facility, which it intends to use to meet its gas purchase prepayment requirements and to provide additional liquidity for working capital and for general corporate purposes to facilitate a smooth closing and transition of operations to AGL upon consummation of the pending merger transaction. In addition to entering into the NUI Amendment, as described in Item 1.01 above, the Company also borrowed the full $20 million in term loans available under the New NUI Facility, which it intends to use to provide additional liquidity for working capital and for general corporate purposes. Item 3.03--Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. As discussed in Item 1.02 above, NUI Utilities defeased its $50 million medium term notes and, at NUI Utilities' request, the indenture trustee cancelled the indenture governing the medium term notes. In addition, the Bridge Facilities contain limitations on dividends on the common stock issued by NUI Utilities and the common stock issued by NUI, as applicable. NUI had previously announced that under the previous amendments to the existing senior unsecured credit facilities NUI was prohibited from paying cash dividends during any fiscal quarter in which NUI's consolidated total debt represented more than 60 percent of its total capitalization. As a result of the NUI Amendment, NUI now is prohibited from paying cash dividends on the Company's equity interests so long as the Company's existing unsecured credit facilities are outstanding. Item 7.01--Regulation FD Disclosure A copy of the press release announcing the above transactions is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report. The exhibit is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, except as otherwise stated in such filing. Item 9.01--Financial Statements and Exhibits 10.1 NUI Utilities Credit Facility dated as of August 20, 2004 10.2 Amendment No. 3 to NUI Credit Agreement dated as of August 20, 2004 10.3 Amendment No. 3 to NUI Utilities Credit Agreement dated as of August 20, 2004 10.4 Security Agreement dated as of August 20, 2004 99.1 Press Release dated September 29, 2004 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. NUI CORPORATION By: /s/ Steven D. Overly ------------------------------------------------ Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Treasurer and Secretary Dated: September 29, 2004 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description 10.1 NUI Utilities Credit Facility dated as of August 20, 2004 10.2 Amendment No. 3 to NUI Credit Agreement dated as of August 20, 2004 10.3 Amendment No. 3 to NUI Utilities Credit Agreement dated as of August 20, 2004 10.4 Security Agreement dated as of August 20, 2004 99.1 Press Release dated September 29, 2004 EX-10.1 2 exh_10-1.txt CREDIT AGREEMENT EXECUTION COPY CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of August 20, 2004 By and Among NUI UTILITIES, INC., as the Borrower, THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO, as the Lenders hereunder, and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as sole Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Lead Arranger and Bookrunner TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS........................................................1 1.1 Defined Terms...........................................................1 1.2 GAAP Definitions.......................................................15 1.3 Other Definitional Conventions and Rules of Construction...............15 ARTICLE II. THE LOANS........................................................15 2.1 Commitments............................................................15 2.1a Loans..................................................................15 2.1b Obligations of Each Lender.............................................16 2.1c Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans...................................16 2.1d Loan Request...........................................................16 2.1e Making Loans...........................................................17 2.2 Interest Rates, Interest Payment and Certain Provisions Relating to Interest and Fees..........................................17 2.2a Payments of Interest...................................................17 2.2b Interest Rate Options..................................................17 2.2c Interest Periods; Limitations on Elections.............................18 2.2d Election, Conversion or Renewal of Interest Rate Options...............18 2.2e Notification of Election of an Interest Rate Option....................19 2.2f Default Interest.......................................................19 2.3 Yield-Protection, Capital Adequacy and Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Euro-Rate.......................................20 2.3a Yield Protection.......................................................20 2.3c Euro-Rate Unascertainable..............................................21 2.3c Illegality.............................................................21 2.3e Change of Lending Office...............................................22 i 2.4 Fees...................................................................22 2.5 Calculation of interest................................................22 2.6 Substitution or Replacement of a Lender................................22 2.7 Loan Repayment.........................................................23 2.8 Additional Payments by the Borrower....................................23 2.9 Time, Place and Manner of Payments.....................................24 2.10 Mandatory Prepayments..................................................24 ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..................................25 3.1 Corporate Existence....................................................25 3.2 Corporate Authority....................................................25 3.3 Enforceability.........................................................25 3.4 No Restrictions, No Default............................................25 3.5 Financial Statements...................................................26 3.6 Absence of Litigation..................................................26 3.7 Tax Returns and Payments...............................................26 3.8 Pension Plans..........................................................27 3.9 Compliance with Applicable Laws........................................27 3.10 Environmental Matters..................................................27 3.11 Governmental Approval..................................................28 3.12 Regulations T, U and X.................................................28 3.13 Investment Company Act.................................................28 3.14 Public Utility Holding Company Act.....................................28 3.15 Disclosure.............................................................28 3.16 No Subsidiaries........................................................29 3.17 Insurance..............................................................29 ii 3.18 Labor Matters..........................................................29 ARTICLE IV. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS............................................29 4.1 Use of Proceeds........................................................29 4.2 Furnishing Information.................................................29 4.3 Visitation.............................................................32 4.4 Preservation of Existence; Qualification...............................32 4.5 Compliance with Governmental Rules.....................................32 4.6 Payment of Taxes.......................................................32 4.7 Insurance..............................................................33 4.8 Maintenance of Properties and Assets...................................33 4.9 Plans and Benefit Arrangement..........................................33 4.10 Collateral.............................................................33 4.11 Ownership..............................................................33 ARTICLE V. NEGATIVE COVENANTS................................................33 5.1 Dividends, Etc.........................................................34 5.2 Encumbrances...........................................................34 5.3a Leverage Ratio.........................................................34 5.3b Interest Coverage Ratio................................................34 5.4 Acquisitions...........................................................34 5.5 Sales of Assets........................................................35 5.6 Merger, Dissolution and Liquidation....................................35 5.7 Regulation T, U and X Compliance.......................................35 5.8 ERISA..................................................................35 5.9 Restrictive Agreements.................................................35 5.10 Business of the Borrower...............................................36 iii 5.11 Subsidiaries...........................................................36 5.12 Limitation on Capital Expenditures.....................................36 5.13 Limitation on Indebtedness.............................................36 5.14 Limitation on Contingent Obligations...................................37 5.15 Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances..........................37 5.16 Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt Instruments............................................................37 5.17 Transactions with Affiliates...........................................37 5.18 Sale and Leaseback.....................................................38 ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT.....................38 6.1 Conditions Precedent to the Effectiveness of this Agreement............38 6.2 Conditions Precedent to the Extensions of Credit.......................39 6.3 Escrow Arrangement.....................................................41 ARTICLE VII. DEFAULTS........................................................42 7.1 Payment Default........................................................42 7.2 Nonpayment of Other Indebtedness.......................................42 7.3 Insolvency.............................................................43 7.3a Involuntary Proceedings................................................43 7.3b Voluntary Proceedings..................................................43 7.4 Security Failure.......................................................43 7.5 Failure to Comply with Covenants.......................................43 7.5a Failure to Comply with Certain Article IV Covenants and Article V Covenants....................................................43 7.5b Failure to Comply with Other Covenants.................................43 7.6 Misrepresentation......................................................44 7.7 Adverse Judgments, Etc.................................................44 iv 7.8 Invalidity or Unenforceability.........................................44 7.9 ERISA..................................................................44 7.10 Change of Control; Change of Beneficial Ownership or Board.............45 7.11 Regulatory Decisions...................................................45 7.12 Consequences of an Event of Default....................................45 7.13 Remedies Upon Default..................................................45 ARTICLE VIII. AGREEMENT AMONG LENDERS........................................46 8.1 Appointment and Grant of Authority.....................................46 8.2 Delegation of Duties...................................................46 8.3 Reliance by Administrative Agent on Lenders for Funding................46 8.4 Non-Reliance on Agents.................................................47 8.5 Responsibility of Agents and Other Matters.............................47 8.5a Ministerial Nature of Duties...........................................47 8.5b Limitation of Liability................................................47 8.5c Reliance...............................................................48 8.6 Actions in Discretion of Agents; Instructions from the Lenders.........48 8.7 Indemnification........................................................48 8.8 Administrative Agent's Rights as a Lender..............................49 8.9 Payment to Lenders.....................................................49 8.10 Pro Rata Sharing.......................................................49 8.11 Successor Agent........................................................49 8.11a Resignation of Agents..................................................49 8.11b Rights of the Former Agents............................................49 8.12 Notice of Default......................................................50 8.13 Notices................................................................50 v 8.14 Holders of Loans.......................................................50 8.15 Calculations...........................................................50 8.16 Beneficiaries..........................................................50 ARTICLE IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS...............................................50 9.1 Amendments and Waivers.................................................50 9.2 Expenses...............................................................51 9.3 Notices................................................................52 9.4 Tax Withholding........................................................53 9.5 Successors and Assigns.................................................55 9.6 Assignments and Participations.........................................56 9.6a Assignments............................................................56 9.6b Assignment Register....................................................57 9.6c Participations.........................................................57 9.7 Severability...........................................................57 9.8 Survival...............................................................57 9.9 Governing Law..........................................................57 9.10 Non-Business Days......................................................57 9.11 Integration............................................................58 9.12 Headings...............................................................58 9.13 Set-Off................................................................58 9.14 Consent to Forum.......................................................58 9.15 Waiver of Jury Trial...................................................58 9.16 Indemnity..............................................................59 9.17 Counterparts...........................................................59 9.18 Confidentiality........................................................59 vi TABLE OF EXHIBITS Name of Exhibit Exhibit A Form of Compliance Certificate Exhibit B Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement Exhibit C Form of Solvency Certificate Exhibit D Form of Section 9.4(e)(ii) Certificate Schedules 2.1 Commitments of Lenders 5.2 Existing Encumbrances Securing Indebtedness 5.13 Indebtedness vii CREDIT AGREEMENT THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 20, 2004, by and among NUI UTILITIES, INC., a New Jersey corporation (as further defined below, the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed on the signature pages hereto, and each other financial institution which, from time to time, becomes a party hereto in accordance with Subsection 9.6a (individually, a "Lender" and collectively, the "Lenders"), and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), as Collateral Agent (in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent"), as Lead Arranger (in such capacity, the "Lead Arranger") and as Bookrunner. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to obtain extensions of credit from each of the Lenders in the form of a Loan (as defined below) made to the Borrower; and WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, to make such extensions of credit to the Borrower. NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, and in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants contained herein, hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS. 1.1 Defined Terms. As used herein the following terms shall have the meaning specified unless the context otherwise requires: "Acquisition" means the acquisition of substantially all of the assets or all of the capital stock of NUI Corporation by AGL, Cougar Corporation or any other Affiliate of AGL. "Acquisition Agreement" means the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of July 14, 2004 by and among AGL, Cougar Corporation and NUI Corporation. "Additional Extension Fee" means "Additional Extension Fee" as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement. "Additional Term Loan" means "Additional Term Loan" as defined in the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement. "Adjusted Base Rate" means the interest rate relating to the Base Rate Option as described in item (i) of subsection 2.2b. "Adjusted Euro-Rate" means the interest rate relating to the Euro-Rate Option as described in item (ii) of subsection 2.2b. "Administrative Agent" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement. "Affiliate" means as to any Person, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary) which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or (b) direct use or cause the direction of the management and the policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise. "Agents" has the meaning given it in Section 8.1. "AGL" means AGL Resources Inc., a Georgia corporation. "Administrative Agent's Account" means the account of the Administrative Agent maintained by the Administrative Agent at The Bank of New York, ABA No. 021000018, Account No. 8900492627, Attn: CSFB Agency Cayman Account, Reference: NUI Utilities, Inc. or such other account as the Administrative Agent may designate from time to time by notice to the Borrower and the Lenders. "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement, together with the exhibits and schedules hereto and all extensions, renewals, amendments, modifications, substitutions and replacements hereto and hereof, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time. "Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement" means Agreement and Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004 between the Borrower and the agent thereunder on behalf of the required lenders thereunder. "Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Corporation Agreement" means Agreement and Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004 among NUI Corporation, the agent thereunder on behalf of the required lenders thereunder, the guarantors party thereto and the lenders listed on Schedule 2.1A thereto. "Assignment and Assumption Agreement" means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto (or such other form as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent). "Authorized Officer" means the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the incumbency certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(v)(C) for the initial designation of each Authorized Officer. Additions or deletions to the list of Authorized Officers may be made by the Borrower at any time by delivering to the Administrative Agent for redelivery to the Collateral Agent and each Lender a revised incumbency certificate. "Bank Indebtedness" means the liability of the Borrower to pay the Loans, Fees, interest on any of the foregoing, and the other amounts, including, without limitation, expenses and indemnities, due hereunder. "Base Rate" means, for any day, the highest of (A) the Prime Rate, (B) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus fifty (50) basis points (0.50%) and (C) three percent (3%) per annum. 2 "Base Rate Option" means the interest rate option described in item (i) of Subsection 2.2b. "Base Rate Portion" means a Loan or a portion thereof which bears, or is to bear, interest at the Adjusted Base Rate. "Borrower" means NUI Utilities, Inc., a New Jersey corporation and its successors and permitted assigns. "Borrowing Date" means the date on which extensions of credit (including by funding the proceeds thereof into the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 6.3) are to be made hereunder; provided that, unless the Lenders agree otherwise, such date shall not be later than September 30, 2004. "Business Day" means, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to be closed for business in New York, New York and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any extension of credit to which the Euro-Rate Option applies, such day must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market. "Closing" means the execution and delivery of this Agreement which execution and delivery shall occur at the offices of Dewey Ballantine LLP in New York, New York on August 20, 2004, or such other location and date as is mutually agreeable to the parties hereto. "Closing Date" means the day on which the Closing occurs. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation thereto. "Collateral" means "Collateral" as defined in the Security Agreement. "Collateral Agent" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement. "Collateral Documents" shall mean, collectively, the Security Agreement and any other documents executed and delivered in connection with the attachment and perfection of the Collateral Agent's security interest and liens arising thereunder, including, without limitation, UCC financing statements filed in connection therewith. "Commitment Letter" means that certain letter agreement, dated as of July 14, 2004, among the Borrower, NUI Corporation and CSFB. "Compliance Certificate" means a Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A. "Confidential Information Memorandum" means that certain Confidential Information Memorandum dated November 2003 and made available to the Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement prior to the date thereof. 3 "Consolidated" means, as to any two or more Persons, the consolidation of the accounts of such Persons in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated EBITDA" for any period means, with respect to the Borrower Consolidated Net Income before interest and taxes, plus (to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income) (i) depreciation, amortization and other similar non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period), (ii) extraordinary losses, losses in connection with asset sales (other than ordinary course sales including sales of inventory) or restructuring charges, (iii) non-recurring items of loss and expense relating to the credit facilities provided under the Existing Credit Agreement to the extent not otherwise reflected in Consolidated Net Income, (iv) all fees, expenses and settlement costs (including the NJBPU Settlement Amount) related to the Focused Audit and Florida Settlement, (v) all severance and retention expenses in the aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000 for all periods, (vi) expenses in connection with explosions and fires related to gas accidents that have occurred prior to July 14, 2004 in the aggregate amount of up to $4,000,000 for all periods, (vii) all commissions and impairment charges related to the sub-leasing of excess office space, (viii) all fees, expenses and prepayment premiums in connection with any prepayment of the Medium Term Notes, (ix) fees and expenses related to amendments to the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement, and (x) all fees and expenses related to the credit facilities provided hereby, Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement, and all prior amendments to, and waivers under, the Existing Credit Agreement, the Extension Fee and the Additional Extension Fee; minus (to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income) extraordinary gains or gains in connection with asset sales (other than ordinary course sales including sales of inventory). "Consolidated Interest Expense" means for any period the amount of interest expense, both expensed and capitalized, of the Borrower, net of cash interest income of the Borrower determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, for such period on the aggregate principal amount of its Indebtedness, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding, in any event (to the extent otherwise included), one-time financing fees relating to the credit facilities provided hereby, by any agreement to refinance or otherwise extend the maturity of the Medium Term Notes as permitted hereunder, by the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement or by the Existing Credit Agreement, interest payments with respect to the credit facilities provided hereby and interest payments that will accrue to the maturity of the Medium Term Notes (to the extent that the Delayed Draw Term Loans are drawn)). "Consolidated Lease Expense" means for any period, the aggregate amount of fixed and contingent rentals payable by the Borrower, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, for such period with respect to leases of real and personal property. "Consolidated Net Income" means for any period, net income (or loss) of the Borrower, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (plus, in any event (to the extent otherwise deducted therefrom), one-time financing fees relating to the credit facilities provided hereby or any agreement to refinance or otherwise extend the maturity of the Medium Term Notes as permitted hereunder, by the Existing Credit Agreement or by the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement), without giving effect to any non-cash gain, any non-cash loss or any 4 reversals or adjustments to, or failure to recognize, revenue due to changes in applicable U.S. accounting rules and regulations, in each case to the extent reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, including without limitation due to the implementation, effective as of October 25, 2002, of EITF 02-03 ("Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities"), the effects of which EITF implementation are hereby deemed acceptable to the Administrative Agent. "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity" means the total of those items enumerated under the heading "Common Shareholders' Equity" in the Borrower's relevant balance sheets determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, plus (to the extent deducted in determining such total and on an after-tax basis) (i) all fees, expenses and settlement costs (including the NJBPU Settlement Amount) related to the Focused Audit and Florida Settlement, (ii) all severance and retention expenses in the aggregate amount of up to $5,000,000, (iii) expenses in connection with explosions and fires related to gas accidents that have occurred prior to July 14, 2004 in the aggregate amount of up to $4,000,000, (iv) all commissions and impairment charges related to the sub-leasing of excess office space, (v) all fees, expenses and prepayment premiums in connection with any prepayment of the Medium Term Notes, (vi) fees and expenses related to amendments to the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement, and (vii) all fees and expenses related to the credit facilities provided hereby, Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement, and all prior amendments to, and waivers under, the Existing Credit Agreement, the Extension Fee and the Additional Extension Fee. "Consolidated Total Capitalization" means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness plus (ii) Consolidated Shareholders' Equity. "Consolidated Total Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of the Borrower, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied. Solely for purposes of this definition, (A) the term "Indebtedness" shall not include (i) letter of credit reimbursement obligations except with respect to drawings actually made under letters of credit which then remain unreimbursed, (ii) Hedging Obligations, and (iii) the outstanding principal amount of the credit facilities provided hereby and (B) if any portion of the Medium Term Notes and the Delayed Draw Term Loans are outstanding at such time, the term "Indebtedness" shall not include the principal amount of the Medium Term Notes to the extent that the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans are held by and under the control of an agent or trustee on behalf of holders of Medium Term Notes in a securities or deposit account or as otherwise provided in Section 4.1 of the Existing Credit Agreement. "Cougar Corporation" means Cougar Corporation, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGL. "CSFB" means Credit Suisse First Boston. "Delayed Draw Term Loan" means "Delayed Draw Term Loan" as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement. "Dollars" or "$" means the legal tender of the United States of America. 5 "Encumbrance" means any encumbrance, mortgage, lien, charge, pledge, security interest, priority payment, conditional sales agreement right, or other title retention agreement right (including any right under a lease which, in accordance with GAAP, would be treated as a capitalized item) in, upon or against any asset of any Person. "Environmental Law(s)" means any and all statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other governmental restrictions of any Federal, state or local governmental authority relating to the environment or the release of any materials into the environment. "Equity Interests" means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, partnership interests, member interests and any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, other than equity interests or warrants, rights or options issued in connection with exercise by a present or former employee, officer or director under a stock incentive plan, stock option plan or other equity-based compensation plan or arrangement. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, together with the regulations thereunder, as now in effect and as hereafter from time to time amended or any successor statute. "ERISA Affiliate" means, as of any date, any member of a controlled group of corporations of which the Borrower is a member, which, in any event together with the Borrower are treated as of such date as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, are treated as of such date as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code. "Escrow Account" has the meaning given it in Section 6.3. "Euro Base Rate" means the higher of (i) the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period by reference to the British Bankers' Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in Dollars (as set forth by any service selected by the Administrative Agent which has been nominated by the British Bankers' Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates) for a period equal to such Interest Period; provided that, to the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition the "Euro Base Rate" shall be the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered for such Interest Period to major banks in the London interbank market in London, England by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date which is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period, and (ii) 2% per annum. "Euro-Rate" means, with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Loan to which the Euro-Rate Option applies, a rate per annum determined for such day in accordance with the following formula: Euro-Rate = Euro Base Rate divided by (1.00 minus the Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage). 6 "Euro-Rate Option" means the interest rate option described in item (ii) of Subsection 2.2b. "Euro-Rate Portion" means a Loan, or portion thereof, which bears, or is to bear, interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate. "Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage" means the maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including basic supplemental, marginal and other reserves) which is imposed on member banks of the Federal Reserve System against Euro currency Liabilities as defined in Regulation D. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.7), any withholding tax that (I) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or (II) is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure to comply with Section 9.4(e), except in the case of clause (c)(I) above to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 9.4(a). "Existing Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2003, among the Borrower, each of the lenders specified therein, and CSFB, as the agent. "Extension Fee" means "Extension Fee" as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement. "Event of Default" has the meaning given it in Article VII. "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (based on a year of 360 days and the actual days elapsed and rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any successor) on such day as being the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions arranged by federal funds brokers on the previous trading day, as computed and announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or any successor) in substantially the same manner as such Federal Reserve Bank of New York computes and announces the weighted average it refers to as the "Federal Funds Effective Rate" as of the date of this Agreement; provided, if such Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or its successor) does not announce such rate on any day, the "Federal Funds Effective Rate" for such day shall be the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the last day for which such rate was announced. "Fee Letter" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. 7 "Fees" means collectively the fees referenced in Section 2.4. "FERC" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the United States or any successor or predecessor agency thereto. "Fiscal Quarter" means the three-month fiscal period of the Borrower beginning on each October 1, January 1, April 1 and July 1 and ending on the succeeding December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30. "Fiscal Year" means each fiscal period of the Borrower beginning October 1 and ending on the succeeding September 30. "Florida Settlement" means the anticipated settlement agreement between the Borrower and the Florida Public Service Commission, for which the Borrower has established a pre-tax reserve of approximately $2,600,000, any fines contemplated thereby, and all actions and negotiations in respect thereof. "Focused Audit" has the meaning given it in Section 3.6. "Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia. "FPSC" means the Florida Public Service Commission. "FPSC Approval" has the meaning given it in Section 3.11. "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. "Gas Revenue Bonds" means the $39,000,000 variable rate revenue bonds of the Borrower due June 1, 2026, issued pursuant to that certain Indenture dated as of June 1, 1996, between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the trustee thereunder, and the related Loan Agreement, dated as of June 1, 1996, between the Borrower and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. "Governmental Authority" means any federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental (or quasi-governmental) agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body. "Governmental Rule" means any law, statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, order, judgment, guideline or decision of any Governmental Authority. "Guaranty" or "Guarantee" means any obligation, direct or indirect, by which a Person undertakes to guaranty, assume or remain liable for the payment or performance of another Person's obligations, including but not limited to (i) endorsements of negotiable instruments other than endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business, (ii) discounts with recourse, (iii) agreements to pay or perform upon a second Person's failure to pay or perform, (iv) remaining liable on obligations assumed by a second Person, (v) agreements to maintain the capital, working capital solvency or general financial condition of a 8 second Person and (vi) agreements for the purchase or other acquisition of products, materials, supplies or services, if in any case payment therefor is to be made regardless of the non-delivery of such products, materials or supplies or the non-furnishing of such services. "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities of such Person under interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements, and all other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or gas prices. "Indebtedness" as applied to any Person means, without duplication, all liabilities of such Person for borrowed money (other than trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), direct or contingent, whether evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or otherwise, all preferred equity interests issued by such Person and which by the terms thereof could be (at the request of the holders thereof or otherwise) subject to mandatory sinking fund payments, redemption or other acceleration at any time during the period ending one year after the term of this Agreement, and all obligations and liabilities in the nature of a capitalized lease obligation, deferred purchase price arrangement (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), title retention device, letter of credit obligation (whether or not the letter of credit has been drawn), letter of credit reimbursement obligation (whether or not the letter of credit has been drawn), Hedging Obligation, reimbursement agreement, Guaranty, obligations relating to securitization transactions, synthetic lease transactions and sale-leaseback transactions. "Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes. "Interest Period" means, subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.2c, as to any Loans bearing interest at the Euro-Rate Option, any individual period of one, two, three or six months selected by the Borrower commencing on the Borrowing Date, conversion date or renewal date of a Euro-Rate Portion to which such period shall apply. "Lead Arranger" has the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement. "Lender" has the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement. "Lender Presentation" means that certain Lender Presentation dated July 2004 and made available to the Lenders prior to the date hereof. "Loans" means term loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1a. "Loan Documents" means collectively this Agreement, each promissory note held by a Lender pursuant to Subsection 2.1c. and the Collateral Documents. "Loan Request" has the meaning given it in Section 2.1d. "Margin Stock" is defined herein as defined in Regulation U. "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to and as a result of the existence or occurrence of any circumstance or event, (a) any material adverse effect upon the validity or 9 enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents has occurred or could reasonably be expect to occur, (b) any material and adverse effect to the business, assets, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Borrower has occurred or could reasonably be expect to occur, or (c) any material impairment of the ability of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any of the Lenders to enforce their legal remedies pursuant to this Agreement, the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur. "Medium Term Notes" means the $50,000,000 8.35% Medium Term Notes of the Borrower due February 1, 2005 issued pursuant that certain Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1995, between the Borrower and the trustee thereunder. "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its successors. "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer Plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA which is contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA affiliate or with respect to which such entities have an obligation to make contributions. "Net Asset Sale Proceeds" means (i) the aggregate cash consideration received by the Borrower in connection with any Recovery Event less (ii) the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in connection with such transaction and the amount of any federal and state taxes incurred in connection with such transaction, in each case as certified by an Authorized Officer to the Administrative Agent at the time of such transaction, and less (iii) the amount thereof applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by an Encumbrance expressly permitted hereunder on any asset that is the subject of such Recovery Event. "Net Proceeds" means (a) in connection with any Recovery Event, Net Asset Sale Proceeds therefrom and (b) in connection with any issuance or sale of equity securities or debt securities or instruments or the incurrence of loans, the cash proceeds received from such issuance or incurrence, net of reasonable attorney's fees, investment banking fees, accountant's fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith. "NJBPU" has the meaning given it in Section 3.6. "NJBPU Approval" has the meaning given it in Section 3.11. "NJBPU Settlement Amount" means an amount equal to $33,000,000 relating to the settlement of the Focused Audit and other restructuring costs and expenses. "NUI Corporation" means NUI Corporation, a New Jersey corporation. "NUI Corporation Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2003, among NUI Corporation, each of the lenders specified therein, and CSFB, as the agent. "NUI Energy Brokers" means NUI Energy Brokers, Inc., a Delaware corporation. 10 "Option" means any one or both of the Base Rate Option or the Euro-Rate Option. "Other Taxes" means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or performance of this Agreement. "Participant" means any financial institution or other Person to which a Lender sells a Participation in its Loan. "Participation" means the sale by a Lender to any Participant of an undivided interest in all or any part of such Lender's Loans. "Patriot Act" means the USA Patriot Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001). "Penn Acquisition" means the Borrower's purchase from Penn-Jersey Pipeline Co. of approximately (i) 21,600 feet of eight-inch pipeline for the transport of natural gas from Forks Township, Pennsylvania to Lopatcong, New Jersey and (ii) related equipment and facilities for an aggregate purchase price (including assumption of liabilities or liens) not to exceed $350,000. "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor Person. "Permitted Encumbrance" means, as to any Person, any of the following: (i) security interests created by the Collateral Documents in favor of the Collateral Agent; (ii) Encumbrances for taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies on any of such Person's properties, which taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies are at the time not due and payable or if they can thereafter be paid without penalty or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves are maintained on the books of such Person in conformity with GAAP; (iii) pledges or deposits (other than Encumbrances imposed by ERISA) incurred or made in the ordinary course of business, to secure payment of workers' compensation obligations, unemployment insurance, deposits or indemnities to secure public or statutory obligations or for similar purposes; (iv) Encumbrances arising out of judgments or awards against such Person but only to the extent that such judgment or award does not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.7 or Potential Default under Section 7.7; (v) mechanics', carriers', workers', repairmen's and other similar statutory Encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of such Person's business, so long as the obligation secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings diligently conducted and as to which reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, satisfying the requirements of GAAP have been made; 11 (vi) security interests in favor of lessors of personal property, which property is the subject of a true lease between such lessor and such Person; (vii) Encumbrances listed on Schedule 5.2, securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 5.13(c)); provided that no such Encumbrance is amended after the date of this Agreement to cover any additional property or to secure additional Indebtedness; (viii) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, leases or subleases to others or other similar Encumbrances created in the ordinary course of business which Encumbrances do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower; (ix) Encumbrances securing (a) the non-delinquent performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases or statutory obligations, (b) contingent obligations on surety and appeal bonds, and (c) other non-delinquent obligations of a like nature; in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business, provided all such Encumbrances in the aggregate would not (even if enforced) cause a Material Adverse Effect; (x) Encumbrances securing Indebtedness of the Borrower permitted by Section 5.13(b) incurred to finance the purchase of new fixed or capital assets (including pursuant to capital leases), provided that (1) such Encumbrances shall be created substantially simultaneously with the acquisition of such fixed or capital assets, (2) such Encumbrances do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, and (3) the Encumbrances are not modified to secure other Indebtedness and the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased; and (xi) Deposits of cash or Permitted Investments (1) securing reimbursement obligations (and related obligations) with respect to letters of credit issued in accordance with Section 5.13(e) or (2) as provided in Section 4.1 of the Existing Credit Agreement. "Permitted Investments" means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America; (b) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings generally obtainable from either S&P or Moody's; (c) commercial paper, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of A-1 (or the equivalent) or higher from S&P and P-1 (or the equivalent) or higher from Moody's; or (d) mutual funds, the assets of which are primarily invested in items of the kind described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition; 12 provided in each case, that such obligations are payable in Dollars and such Permitted Investments by the Borrower are in accordance with Governmental Rules. "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, joint venture, banking association, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or any other entity or enterprise or government or department or agency thereof. "Plan" means an employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code. "Portion" means, with respect to any outstanding Loans, either the Base Rate Portion thereof, the Euro-Rate Portion thereof, or both, as the case may be. "Potential Default" means an event which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, shall be an Event of Default. "Prime Rate" means the interest rate per annum announced from time to time by CSFB as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is announced as being effective. "PUHCA" has the meaning given it in Section 3.14. "Purchasing Lender" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6a. "Recovery Event" means any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of the Borrower in excess of $500,000. "Register" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6b. "Regulation D" means Regulation D promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 204 et seq.) as such regulation is now in effect and as may hereafter be amended. "Regulation T" means Regulation T promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 220 et seq.) as such regulation is now in effect and as may hereafter be amended. "Regulation U" means Regulation U promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 221 et seq.) as such regulation is now in effect and as may hereafter be amended. "Regulation X" means Regulation X promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 224 et seq.) as such regulation is now in effect and as may hereafter be amended. 13 "Release Fee" has the meaning given it in Section 6.3(b). "Reportable Event" means any one or more events, defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than an event for which the requirement for the 30 day notice to the PBGC is waived. "Required Lenders" means as of a particular date Lenders having outstanding Loans representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Loans of all Lenders. "Restricted Payments" has the meaning given to it in Section 5.1. "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Rating Group, a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc. and its successors. "Secured Parties" means "Secured Parties" as defined in the Security Agreement. "Security Agreement" means a security agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Borrower and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders and the Collateral Agent. "Senior Ratings" means, with respect to any Person, the long term senior unsecured public debt ratings in effect from time to time as assigned by Moody's and S&P, as the case may be. "Standby Bond Purchase Agreement" means the amended and restated standby bond purchase agreement, dated as of June 12, 2001 among the Borrower, the Participating Banks referred to therein and The Bank of New York, as purchasing bank. "Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock or other applicable ownership interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person and/or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority, including interest, penalties and other additions thereto. "Termination Date" means May 15, 2005, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms hereof. "Termination Proceedings" means any action taken by the PBGC under ERISA to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Plan. "Transfer Effective Date" has the meaning given it in each respective Assignment and Assumption Agreement. 14 "Transferor Lender" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6a. 1.2 GAAP Definitions. Accounting terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them under GAAP as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. 1.3 Other Definitional Conventions and Rules of Construction. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation". In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but excluding". The word "will" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall". The word "or" as used herein shall mean and connote nonexclusive alternatives, unless expressly stated or the context clearly requires otherwise. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder", and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to a law, code or statute shall be construed to include all laws, codes or statutes varying, consolidating or replacing the same and all regulations, rulings, policies or ordinances issued or otherwise applicable thereunder and (f) the words "asset" and "property" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. ARTICLE II. THE LOANS 2.1 Commitments 2.1a Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally agrees to make a term loan to the Borrower on the Borrowing Date specified in the Loan Request in a principal amount 15 equal to the amount set forth on Schedule 2.1 opposite its name. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Loans may not be reborrowed. 2.1b Obligations of Each Lender. The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several. The failure of any Lender to perform its obligations hereunder shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower, or any other Lender, to any other party nor shall the Borrower, or any other Lender, be liable for the failure of such Lender to perform its obligations hereunder. The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Loans hereunder after the Borrowing Date. 2.1c Evidence of Debt; Repayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on the Termination Date. (b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. (c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof. (d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with their terms. (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event any Lender shall request and receive a promissory note (or promissory notes) in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, payable to such Lender and its registered assigns, the interests represented by such promissory note shall at all times (including after any assignment of all or part of such interests pursuant to Section 9.6) be represented by one or more promissory notes payable to the payee named therein or its registered assigns. 2.1d Loan Request. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may request the Lenders to make the Loans to the Borrower by the delivery to the Administrative Agent, not later than 12:00 Noon (Eastern time) (x) three Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies and (y) one Business Day prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies, of a duly completed request therefor or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter or facsimile transmission in such form (the "Loan Request"), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any person making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. The Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the proposed 16 Borrowing Date; (ii) the aggregate amount of the Loans to be made on such Borrowing Date, which amount, as to Base Rate Portions, shall be in integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 and, as to Euro-Rate Portions, shall be in integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000; (iii) whether the Euro-Rate Option or the Base Rate Option shall apply to the Loans to be made on such Borrowing Date; (iv) in the case of the Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies, an appropriate Interest Period for each Euro-Rate Portion of the Loans to be made on such Borrowing Date; and (v) the remittance instructions. 2.1e Making Loans. Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of Loans to the Administrative Agent such that the Administrative Agent is able to, and the Administrative Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose, fund such Loans to the Borrower in Dollars and immediately available funds in an account specified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in the Loan Request, prior to 2:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on the Borrowing Date set forth in the Loan Request, provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Administrative Agent in a timely manner, or any Lender fails to advise the Administrative Agent of its intention not to fund, then the Administrative Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Loans of such Lender on the Borrowing Date, subject to the provisions of Section 8.3 below. 2.2 Interest Rates, Interest Payment and Certain Provisions Relating to Interest and Fees. 2.2a Payments of Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of the Loans from time to time outstanding hereunder, from the date of incurrence thereof until payment in full, at the rates of interest determined pursuant to this Section 2.2 (including Section 2.2f). The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Loans in arrears: (i) with respect to each Base Rate Portion, at the Adjusted Base Rate on the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter during the term hereof, (ii) with respect to each Euro-Rate Portion, at the Adjusted Euro-Rate on the last day of each Interest Period as provided for in Subsection 2.2(b)(ii) (provided, however, if the Interest Period chosen for a Euro-Rate Portion exceeds three months, interest on that Euro-Rate Portion shall be due and payable on the day which is (A) three months after the first day of such Interest Period and (B) the last day of such Interest Period), and (iii) with respect to all such Portions, at the applicable interest rate (A) when due, at maturity, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and (B) after maturity, on demand until paid in full. 2.2b Interest Rate Options. The unpaid principal amount of the Loans shall bear interest, for each day until due, at one or more rates of interest selected by the Borrower from among the Options set forth below; it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may select different Options to apply simultaneously to different Portions of the Loans and may select different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to different Portions of the Euro-Rate Portions of the Loans. (i) Base Rate Option: A rate of interest per annum equal to the Base Rate plus 3.75% (the "Adjusted Base Rate"). The rate of interest per annum under the Base Rate Option shall be adjusted automatically, from time to time, upon each change in the Adjusted Base Rate. 17 (ii) Euro-Rate Option: A rate of interest per annum equal to the Euro-Rate plus 4.75% (the "Adjusted Euro-Rate"). 2.2c Interest Periods; Limitations on Elections. At any time when the Borrower shall select, convert to or renew at the Euro-Rate Option with respect to all or any Portion of the outstanding Loans, it shall fix one or more Interest Periods during which such Option(s) shall apply. All of the foregoing, however, is subject to the following: (i) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next Business Day unless such Business Day falls in the succeeding calendar month in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; and (ii) any Interest Period which begins on the last day of a calendar month or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the subsequent calendar month during which such Interest Period is to end shall end on the last Business Day of such subsequent month. In addition, elections by the Borrower of the Euro-Rate Option shall be subject to the following further limitations: (iii) If an Interest Period is elected and such Interest Period would end after the Termination Date, such Interest Period shall end on the Termination Date; (iv) At no time may there be more than ten Interest Periods in effect relating to Loans; and (v) the Borrower may not exercise the Euro-Rate Option (and no Loan shall be selected, converted into or renewed as an Euro-Rate Portion) when any Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing. 2.2d Election, Conversion or Renewal of Interest Rate Options. Elections of or conversions to the Base Rate Option shall continue in effect until converted to the Euro-Rate Option as hereinafter provided. Elections of, conversions to or renewals of the Euro-Rate Option shall expire as to each Euro-Rate Portion at the expiration of the applicable Interest Period. At any time, with respect to any Base Rate Portion, or at the expiration of the applicable Interest Period, with respect to any Euro-Rate Portion, the Borrower (subject to Subsection 2.2c) may cause all or any part of the principal amount of such Portion to be converted to and/or (in the case of a Euro-Rate Portion) to be renewed under the Euro-Rate Option by notice to the Administrative Agent for notice to each of the Lenders as hereinafter provided. Such notice (i) shall be irrevocable; (ii) shall be given not later than 12:00 noon (eastern time) in the case of a conversion to or renewal of, either in whole or in part, the Euro-Rate Option on the third Business Day prior to the proposed effective date for the conversion or renewal and (iii) shall set forth: (A) the effective date of such conversion or renewal, which shall be a Business Day; 18 (B) the new Interest Period(s) selected; and (C) with respect to each such Interest Period, the aggregate principal amount of the corresponding Euro-Rate Portion. At the expiration of each Interest Period, any part (including the whole) of the principal amount of the corresponding Euro-Rate Portion as to which no notice of conversion or renewal has been received as provided above, shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option, or if no Interest Period shall be specified in such notice, such Interest Period shall be one month. 2.2e Notification of Election of an Interest Rate Option. The Borrower, by an Authorized Officer, shall notify the Administrative Agent of (i) each election or renewal of an Option and each conversion from one Option to another, (ii) the Portion of the Loans then outstanding to be allocated to each Option and (iii) where relevant, the Interest Periods applicable to each Option, by communication as provided for in this Agreement. Any such communication may be oral or written and if oral, it should be followed immediately by written confirmation of such Option election executed by an Authorized Officer. 2.2f Default Interest. After the principal amount of all or any part of the Base Rate Portions of the Loans shall have become due and payable, whether by acceleration or otherwise and whether or not judgment has been entered against the Borrower thereon, all Base Rate Portions shall bear interest at a rate per annum which shall be two hundred (200) basis points (2%) per annum above the rate otherwise in effect under the Base Rate Option, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time, effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate. After the principal amount of all or any part of the Euro-Rate Portions of the Loans shall have become due and payable, whether by acceleration or otherwise and whether or not judgment has been entered against the Borrower thereon, all such Euro-Rate Portions shall bear interest (i) until the end of the then current Interest Period, at a rate per annum which shall be two hundred (200) basis points (2%) per annum above the rate otherwise in effect under the Euro-Rate Option, and (ii) at the end of the then current Interest Period and thereafter, at a rate per annum which shall be two hundred (200) basis points (2%) per annum above the rate otherwise in effect under the Base Rate Option, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time, effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate. After any other amount shall have become due and payable, whether or not judgment has been entered against the Borrower thereon, such amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum which shall be two hundred (200) basis points (2%) per annum above the rate otherwise in effect under the Base Rate Option, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time, effective as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate. 2.3 Yield-Protection and Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Euro-Rate. 2.3a Yield Protection. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section 2.3: (i) If, at any time after the date hereof, the adoption of any Governmental Rule (including, without limitation, Regulation D), or if any change therein, or in the interpretation thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the administration thereof, shall: 19 (A) subject any Lender to any tax, levy, impost, charge, fee, duty, deduction or withholding of any kind with respect to payments of principal or interest or other amounts due hereunder or pursuant to any Loan outstanding (other than any tax imposed or based upon the net income of a Lender and payable to any Governmental Authority (i) in the United States of America or any state thereof or (ii) the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender is organized or in which its principal office or its applicable lending office is located); or (B) change the basis of taxation of any Lender with respect to payments of principal or interest or other amounts due hereunder or pursuant to any Loan outstanding (other than any change which affects, and only to the extent that it affects, the taxation by the United States or any state thereof of the total net income of such Lender); or (C) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirements against assets held by any Lender applicable to its Loans made hereunder (other than such requirements which are included in the determination of the applicable rate of interest hereunder); or (D) impose upon any Lender any other obligation or condition with respect to this Agreement, and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to the affected Lender, reduce the income receivable by the affected Lender, reduce the rate of return on the affected Lender's capital, or impose any expenses upon the affected Lender, all with respect to any of the Loans (or any portion thereof) by an amount which the affected Lender reasonably deems material, and if the affected Lender is then demanding similar compensation for such occurrences from other borrowers who are similarly situated and who have a similar relationship with the affected Lender and from which the affected Lender has the right to demand such compensation, then and in any such case: (1) the affected Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower of the happening of such event; (2) the Borrower shall pay to the affected Lender, within 10 days following demand, such amount as will compensate the affected Lender for such reduction in its rate of return; and (3) the Borrower may pay the affected portion of the affected Lender's Loans in full without the payment of any additional amount, including prepayment penalties, other than amounts payable on account of the affected Lender's out-of-pocket losses (including funding loss, if any, as provided in Section 2.8) which are not otherwise provided for in subparagraph (2) immediately above. (ii) A certificate (in reasonable detail) as to the increased cost or reduced amount as a result of any event mentioned in this Subsection 2.3a shall be promptly 20 submitted by the affected Lender to the Borrower in accordance with the provisions hereof. Such certificate shall be prima facie evidence as to the amount of such increased cost or reduced amount. 2.3b Euro-Rate Unascertainable. If, on any date on which the Adjusted Euro-Rate would otherwise be set, the Administrative Agent reasonably shall have determined (which determination shall be final and conclusive) that by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Euro-Rate, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice of such determination to the Borrower and the Lenders and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist, the right of the Borrower to borrow under, convert to or renew the Euro-Rate Option shall be suspended. Any notice of borrowing under, conversion to or renewal of the Euro-Rate Option which was to become effective during the period of such suspension shall be treated as a request to borrow under, convert to or renew at the Base Rate Option with respect to the principal amount therein specified. 2.3c Illegality. If a Lender shall determine in good faith (which determination shall be final and conclusive) that compliance by such Lender with any applicable law, treaty or other Governmental Rule (whether or not having the force of law), or the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, has made it unlawful for such Lender to maintain the Loans under the Euro-Rate Option (including but not limited to acquiring Eurodollar liabilities to fund such Loans), such Lender shall give notice of such determination to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, unless and until the affected Lender shall have given notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer apply: (i) with respect to any Interest Periods thereafter commencing, interest on the Loans bearing interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate (whichever one or more have been determined by the affected Lender to be unlawful) shall, unless the Borrower shall have selected a different Option which is then available, be computed and payable under the Base Rate Option; and (ii) on such date, if any, as shall be required by law, any Loans bearing interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate then outstanding shall be automatically converted to the Base Rate Option, and the Borrower shall pay to the affected Lender the accrued and unpaid interest on such Loans to (but not including) the date of such conversion at the applicable interest rate or rates in effect for such Loans prior to such conversion. 2.3e Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.3a or 2.3c with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that such designation is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the rights of any 21 Lender pursuant to Section 2.3a, or 2.3c. In determining whether designating another lending office would cause such Lender or its lending office(s) to suffer economic disadvantage, such Lender may disregard any economic disadvantage that the Borrower agrees in form and substance satisfactory to such Lender to indemnify and hold such Lender harmless therefrom. 2.4 Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Administrative Agent, the fees required to be paid by it as set forth in that certain letter agreement among the Borrower, NUI Corporation and CSFB (the "Fee Letter") dated as of July 14, 2004, as the same may be amended from time to time by the parties thereto, as and when payment of such fees is due as set forth therein. 2.5 Calculation of Interest . Interest computed at the Prime Rate (or clause (C) of the definition of Base Rate) shall be computed upon the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be. All other interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days. In each case, interest shall be calculated for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day and but excluding the last day). The applicable Base Rate and Euro-Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. 2.6 Substitution or Replacement of a Lender. The Borrower shall have the right (provided that at such time, no Event of Default and no Potential Default has occurred and is continuing), in its sole discretion, to seek a substitute lending institution or institutions (which may be one or more of the other Lenders) to assume the Loans and the other obligations of such Lender under this Agreement, if any of the following conditions occur with respect to such Lender: (i) such Lender shall have delivered a notice or certificate pursuant to Section 2.3a; (ii) the obligation of such Lender to make Loans which bear or are to bear interest under the Euro-Rate Option has been suspended pursuant to Subsection 2.3c; or (iii) such Lender refuses to consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Document requested by the Borrower that requires the consent of a greater percentage of the Lenders than the Required Lenders and such amendment, waiver or other modification is consented to by the Required Lenders; and provided, any proposed substitute lending institution, which is not a Lender prior to the Borrower's selection thereof, must be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and provided, further that all of the provisions of Section 9.6 (with respect to any Lender) and Section 8.11 (if the affected Lender is the Administrative Agent) must be complied with. 2.7 Loan Repayment. Each repayment of the Loans shall be in the minimum amount of $1,000,000, in the aggregate, or an integral multiple of $100,000 thereof, or such lesser amount as is actually outstanding thereunder. The Borrower, upon (i) one Business Days' prior oral or written notice to the Administrative Agent, in the case of Loans bearing interest at the Adjusted Base Rate or (ii) three Business Days' prior oral or written notice to the Administrative Agent, in the case of Loans bearing interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate, followed immediately thereafter by the Borrower's written confirmation to the Administrative Agent of any oral notice, may repay the outstanding amount of the Loans in whole or in part with accrued and unpaid interest then due and payable (with respect to each Base Rate Portion, in accordance with Section 2.2a and, with respect to each Euro-Rate Portion, at the time of such repayment), the amount repaid to the date of such repayment, without premium or penalty other than, in the case of repayment of Euro-Rate Loans, the payment of any additional amounts under Section 2.8 below. All Loans outstanding on the Termination Date shall become due and payable in full on such date. 2.8 Additional Payments by the Borrower. If (i) the Borrower shall fail to make any payment due hereunder on the due date thereof, (ii) the Borrower shall make a payment, prepayment or conversion of any Euro-Rate Portion of the Loans on a day other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period, (iii) the Borrower shall convert any Portion to the Base Rate Option from another Option pursuant to Subsection 2.2d on a day other than the last day of the relevant Interest Period, or (iv) the Borrower shall fail on the date specified therefor to consummate any borrowing, conversion or renewal after giving a request for an extension of credit or notice of conversion or renewal, and, as a result of any such action or inaction, a Lender reasonably incurs any losses and expenses which it would not have incurred but for such action or inaction, the Borrower shall pay such additional amounts as will compensate the affected Lender for such losses and expenses, including the cost of reemployment of any funds prepaid at rates lower than the cost to the affected Lender of such funds. Such losses and expenses, which the affected Lender shall exercise reasonable efforts to minimize, shall be specified in writing (setting forth, in reasonable detail, the basis of calculation) to the Borrower by the affected Lender, which writing shall be prima facie evidence of the amounts set forth therein, and such amounts shall be payable within 30 days of demand therefor. 2.9 Time, Place and Manner of Payments. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, (a) Loans to be made on any day shall be made by the Lenders pro rata and, (b) Loans of the Lenders shall be converted and continued pro rata in accordance with their respective amounts of Loans of the type and, in the case of Euro-Rate Portions, having the Interest Period being so converted or continued. All payments to be made by the Borrower of principal and interest on the Loans (other than those provided for in Sections 2.3 and 2.8 hereof) shall be made to the Administrative Agent (at the Administrative Agent's Account) for the ratable account of the Lenders holding Loans. All other payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent (at the Administrative Agent's Account) for the ratable account of the applicable Lenders (or, in the case of Fees and other amounts owing to the Administrative Agent, for its sole account). The Administrative Agent will promptly pay each such payment received to each applicable Lender or its order in accordance with Section 8.9 hereof. All payments due a Lender by reason of Sections 2.3 or 2.8 hereof shall be paid at the principal office of the Lender which invoices the Borrower for such payment. All payments to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be paid in Dollars and in immediately available funds no later than 2:00 P.M. (eastern time) on the date such payment is due, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, and without setoff, counterclaim or other deduction of any nature. Any payment received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be 23 deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. 2.10 Mandatory Prepayments. (a) Unless the Required Lenders otherwise agree, if (i) any Equity Interests of the Borrower shall be issued to a Person other than NUI Corporation, (ii) any Recovery Event shall have occurred (and Net Asset Sale Proceeds thereof have not been reinvested in the same or similar property or assets within 364 days of such Recovery Event (with such reinvestment not to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate)), or (iii) any Indebtedness of the Borrower is incurred (excluding any Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 5.13), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans pro rata with prepayments of the loans then outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Proceeds therefrom no later than the second Business Day following receipt by the Borrower of such Net Proceeds. (b) Amounts to be applied in connection with prepayments made pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be applied to the prepayments of the Loans pro rata. The application of any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be made, first, to Base Rate Loans and, second, to Euro-Rate Loans. Each prepayment of the Loans under this Section 2.10 that are Base Rate Loans shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid. (c) Upon (i) the occurrence of any event described in Section 7.10 hereof with respect to the Borrower or NUI Corporation (including, without limitation, the consummation of the Acquisition) or (ii) the Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant set forth in Section 4.11, then the Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement shall become immediately due and payable. (d) Nothing in this Section 2.10 shall be construed to derogate any restriction or limitation contained in any Loan Document imposed on any transaction of the type described in this Section 2.10, including, without limitation, Sections 5.5, 5.6 and 5.13 hereof. ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. To induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans herein provided for, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent that as of the Borrowing Date: 3.1 Corporate Existence. The Borrower is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and it is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction where, because of the nature of its properties or businesses, such qualification is required or, if not so qualified or in good standing in any state, the lack of such qualification or good standing will not have a Material Adverse Effect. 3.2 Corporate Authority. The Borrower is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is or will become a party; all 24 necessary corporate action to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party has been properly taken; and it is duly authorized to borrow hereunder and to perform all of the other terms and provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is or will become a party. 3.3 Enforceability. Each Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Borrower and each constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws generally affecting creditors' rights and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought at equity or at law). 3.4 No Restrictions, No Default. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is or will become a party, nor the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or of any other Loan Document, (i) will conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws of the Borrower, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any law, statute, rule or regulation or any, order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Agency (including FERC and other applicable Federal and state energy laws and regulations), or (iii) conflict with, result in a breach or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right to accelerate or to require the prepayment, repurchase or redemption of any obligation under any agreement, indenture or other instrument to which the Borrower is a party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject or result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the property or assets of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of any such agreement, indenture or other instrument, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of its other property, including, without limitation, the Collateral and none of such property is subject to any Encumbrance except as permitted by Section 5.2. No event has occurred and is continuing and no condition exists or will exist immediately after giving effect to the borrowings hereunder which constitutes an Event of Default. 3.5 Financial Statements. The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, capitalization, shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Borrower (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, except as expressly noted therein, and, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above. Except as has otherwise been fully disclosed in NUI Corporation's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2002, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003 and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2003, September 25 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Confidential Information Memorandum or the Lender Presentation, since September 30, 2003, nothing has occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect. 3.6 Absence of Litigation. Except as disclosed in NUI Corporation's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2002, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Confidential Information Memorandum or the Lender Presentation, there are no actions, suits, investigations, litigation or proceedings at law or in equity pending or, to the Borrower's knowledge, threatened against the Borrower or any of its properties, which (i) would have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that involve any Loan Document or the transactions hereunder. It is acknowledged and agreed that notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 3.6 to the contrary, nothing in this Section 3.6 shall constitute a representation or warranty by the Borrower with respect to the focused audit of the Borrower initiated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (the "NJBPU") as of March 20, 2003 and conducted by The Liberty Consulting Group (the "Focused Audit"), whether the status of the Focused Audit, the results (or expected results) of the Focused Audit or otherwise. 3.7 Tax Returns and Payments. The Borrower has timely filed all Federal and all other material tax returns required by law to be filed and has paid all material taxes, material assessments and other material governmental charges which are due and payable by the Borrower, other than those payable without penalty or interest or those which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted for which reserves in accordance with GAAP have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower in respect of Federal, state and local income taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate, and the Borrower knows of no unpaid assessments for additional Federal, state or local income taxes for any such fiscal period or any basis therefor. 3.8 Pension Plans. Except to the extent that a breach of any of the following representations would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Plan has been and will be maintained and funded, in all respects, in accordance with its terms and with all provisions of ERISA and the Code applicable thereto; (ii) no Reportable Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Plan; (iii) no liability to PBGC has been incurred with respect to any Plan, other than for premiums due and payable; (iv) no Plan has been terminated, no proceedings have been instituted to terminate any Plan, and there exists no intent to terminate or institute proceedings to terminate any Plan, which has caused or would cause the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to incur any liability to the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA; (v) no withdrawal, either complete or partial, has occurred or commenced with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, and there exists no intent to withdraw either completely or partially from any Multiemployer Plan, (vi) the Borrower is not subject to any liability for unpaid penalties or taxes imposed under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and has not engaged in a prohibited transaction as defined in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, (vii) no conditions have been met for the imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA or Section 412(n) of 26 the Code or for the provision of security pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA with respect to any Plan and (viii) with respect to each Plan, the value of all benefit liabilities under such Plan do not exceed the fair market value of the assets of such plan, as determined in accordance with the most recent actuarial report for such Plan. 3.9 Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Borrower (i) is not in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or of any Federal, state, municipal or other Governmental Authority; and (ii) is complying with all applicable statutes and regulations of each Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over its activities (including FERC and other applicable Federal and state energy laws and regulations); except for those orders, writs, injunctions, decrees, statutes and regulations, non-compliance with which would not have a Material Adverse Effect. It is acknowledged and agreed that notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 3.9 to the contrary, nothing in this Section 3.9 shall constitute a representation or warranty by the Borrower with respect to the Focused Audit, whether the status of the Focused Audit, the results (or expected results) of the Focused Audit or otherwise. 3.10 Environmental Matters. Except to the extent described in NUI Corporation's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2002, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Confidential Information Memorandum or the Lender Presentation, the Borrower is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, except for matters which do not have a Material Adverse Effect. 3.11 Governmental Approval. Other than approval by the NJBPU (the "NJBPU Approval") and approval by the FPSC (the "FPSC Approval"), no action, order, authorization, consent, license, validation or approval of, or notice to, filing, recording, or registration with, any Governmental Authority, or exemption by any Governmental Authority, is or, under existing Governmental Rules, will be required to authorize, or is or, under existing Governmental Rules, will be required in connection with, (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or the transaction thereunder or (ii) the legality, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, except for such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect. 3.12 Regulations T, U and X. The Borrower is not engaged in the business of purchasing or selling Margin Stock or extending credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock and no part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or for any other purpose which would violate or be inconsistent with Regulations T, U or X. 3.13 Investment Company Act. The Borrower is not an "investment company", or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 27 3.14 Public Utility Holding Company Act. The Borrower is a "gas utility company" within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended ("PUHCA") and a "subsidiary company" of NUI Corporation, which is a "holding company" that is exempt from all regulation under PUHCA (except Section (9)(a)(2) thereof) under Section 3(a)(1) thereof pursuant to Rule 2. 3.15 Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any other document, certificate or written statement furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or provided by or on behalf of the Borrower for inclusion in the Lender Presentation) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein taken as a whole, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. There is no fact known to the Borrower which has had or in the future may (so far as the Borrower now foresees) have a Material Adverse Effect, which has not been set forth (or referred to) in this Agreement or in the other documents, certificates and statements (financial or otherwise) furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent or otherwise disclosed in writing to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower prior to or on the date hereof. With respect to projections regarding the future performance of the Borrower, no representation or warranty is made other than that such projections have been prepared in good faith and based on assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation thereof; it being recognized that such projections are not to be viewed as facts and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies many of which are beyond the Borrower's control and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results and such differences may be material. It is acknowledged and agreed that notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 3.15 to the contrary, nothing in this Section 3.15 shall constitute a representation or warranty by the Borrower with respect to the Focused Audit, whether the status of the Focused Audit, the results (or expected results) of the Focused Audit or otherwise. 3.16 No Subsidiaries. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries. 3.17 Insurance. All policies of insurance of any kind or nature owned by or issued to the Borrower are in full force and effect and are of a nature and provide such coverage as is sufficient and as is customarily carried by companies of the size and character of such Person (except to the extent the Borrower is self-insured in compliance with Section 4.7). 3.18 Labor Matters. There are no strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts or other labor disputes pending or threatened against or involving the Borrower, other than those which in the aggregate have no Material Adverse Effect. There are no arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, complaints, representation proceedings or grievances pending against or involving the Borrower, nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, are there any threatened involving the Borrower, based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to individual or group employment, collective bargaining agreements, union organizing or other activities, or employment or other labor matters, other than those which, in the aggregate, would have no Material Adverse Effect. 28 ARTICLE IV. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. From the date hereof and thereafter until all of the Bank Indebtedness (other than indemnity obligations which are not then due and payable) is paid in full, the Borrower agrees that: 4.1 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans may only be used by the Borrower (i) to pay related fees and expenses incurred in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, (ii) for advance payments to gas suppliers, (iii) for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower, and (iv) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower, including the payment of dividends. 4.2 Furnishing Information. The Borrower shall: (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent (with copies for each Lender which the Administrative Agent shall distribute) within 30 days after the date quarterly financial statements would be required to be filed by an "Accelerated Filer" as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (without giving effect to any extension) in a periodic report with the Securities and Exchange Commission, NUI Corporation's Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission together with (A) balance sheets as at the end of such period for the Borrower, and (B) statements of income for such period for the Borrower and, in the case of the second and third quarterly periods, for the period from the beginning of the current Fiscal Year to the end of such quarterly period; and each such statement shall set forth, in comparative form, corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and all such statements shall be prepared in reasonable detail in accordance with GAAP and certified, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, by the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower; (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent (with copies for each Lender which the Administrative Agent shall distribute) within 30 days after the date annual financial statements would be required to be filed by an "Accelerated Filer" as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (without giving effect to any extension) in a periodic report with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (A) balance sheets as at the end of such year for the Borrower, and (B) statements of income for such year for the Borrower; and each such statement shall set forth, in comparative form, corresponding figures for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year; and all such financial statements shall present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Borrower, as at the dates indicated and the results of its operations and its cash flow for the periods indicated, in conformity with GAAP; and the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (with copies for each Lender which the Administrative Agent shall distribute) the audited consolidated financial statements of NUI Corporation (of which the Borrower is a Subsidiary in its consolidated group) for such Fiscal Year furnished under the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement; (iii) deliver to the Administrative Agent (with copies for each Lender which the Administrative Agent shall distribute), together with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to items (i) and (ii) above, a Compliance Certificate of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, properly completed and signed by an 29 Authorized Officer of the Borrower, (A) stating (1) that such officer has reviewed the terms of the Loan Documents and has made, or caused to be made under his supervision, a review of the transactions and condition of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by such financial statements and that such review has not disclosed any failure by the Borrower during such period to observe or perform all of its covenants and other agreements, nor any failure to satisfy every condition contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party during such accounting period, and (2) that the Borrower does not have knowledge of the existence, as at the date of such Compliance Certificate, of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or a Potential Default, or, if any such condition or event existed or exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower has taken or is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and (B) demonstrating in reasonable detail compliance as at the end of such accounting period with the covenants contained in Sections 5.3a and 5.3b hereof; (iv) promptly give written notice to the Administrative Agent of any pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened claim in writing, litigation which arises between the Borrower and any other party or parties (including, without limitation, any Governmental Authority, which claim, litigation or threat of litigation, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, any such notice to be given not later than five Business Days after the Borrower becomes aware of the occurrence of any such claim, litigation or threat of litigation; (v) deliver to the Administrative Agent (with copies for each Lender which the Administrative Agent shall distribute) promptly upon their becoming available, copies of all financial statements, reports, notices and information statements sent or made available generally by the Borrower to its security holders (including, without limitation, proxy materials) and copies of all other regular and periodic reports (including, without limitation, Form 8-K) filed by NUI Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its functions, and of all press releases and other statements made available generally by the Borrower to the public concerning material developments in the business of the Borrower; (vi) promptly after receipt thereof, by the Borrower or the administrator of any Plan, deliver to the Lenders a copy of any notice from the PBGC that the PBGC is instituting Termination Proceedings; (vii) deliver to the Administrative Agent within two Business Days after S&P or Moody's announces a change in the Borrower's Senior Ratings, or the withdrawal of any Senior Ratings, notice of such change or withdrawal, together with a copy of any written notification which Borrower received from the applicable rating agencies regarding such change or withdrawal of Senior Ratings; (viii) promptly and in any event within 30 days after the Borrower or the administrator of any Plan knows or has reason to know that any Reportable Event has occurred that is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent; 30 (ix) promptly, but not later than five Business Days, after any officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge of any development or the occurrence of any event having a Material Adverse Effect or which constitutes an Event of Default or a Potential Default, give written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent, specifying, in the case of an Event of Default or a Potential Default, the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto; (x) promptly, deliver to the Administrative Agent such other information and data with documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable "know your customer" and Anti-Money Laundering rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the Patriot Act), including, without limitation, evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of (y) the listing of Capital Stock of NUI Corporation on the New York Stock Exchange and (z) NUI Corporation's ownership of all of the outstanding equity interests of Borrower as from time to time may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent; and (xi) promptly, deliver to the Lenders such other information and data with respect to the Borrower as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any Lender through the Administrative Agent. Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Lenders when it has been delivered to the Administrative Agent. 4.3 Visitation. The Borrower will keep and maintain complete and proper books of record and account in accordance with GAAP and a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with sound business practice and adequate to permit the preparation of the financial statements required to be delivered under Section 4.2, and permit the Administrative Agent, and, at their own expense, the Lenders and each Lender's designated employees and agents to have access, from time to time, upon reasonable notice (except no such notice shall be required after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default) and during normal business hours at any reasonable time, to visit any of the properties of the Borrower, to examine and make copies of any of its books of record and account, and such reports and returns as the Borrower may file with any Governmental Authority and discuss the Borrower's affairs and accounts with, and be advised about them, by Authorized Officers and the Borrower's independent accountant. 4.4 Preservation of Existence; Qualification. At its own cost and expense, the Borrower will continue to engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it and will do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and qualification under the laws of its state of incorporation and each state where, due to the nature of its activities or the ownership of its properties, qualification to do business is required except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect. It is understood and agreed that the consummation of transactions permitted by Section 5.5 shall not cause a violation of this Section 4.4. 31 4.5 Compliance with Governmental Rules. The Borrower shall comply with all applicable Governmental Rules (including, but not limited to, Environmental Laws), except where failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect. 4.6 Payment of Taxes. The Borrower shall promptly pay and discharge all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any item the payment of which is being contested on a timely basis in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted and as to which the Borrower shall have set aside on its books reserves for such claims as are determined to be adequate pursuant to the accounting procedures employed by the Borrower. 4.7 Insurance. The Borrower will keep and maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies on each of its properties, in such amounts and against such risks as is customarily maintained by similar businesses similarly situated and owning, leasing or operating similar properties. The Borrower may satisfy the requirements of the preceding sentence with self insurance and deductibles consistent with customary and prudent industry standards (if adequate reserves are maintained on its books with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or cash deposits have been made with respect to such self insurance based on historical claim rates and in accordance with prudent industry practice). The Borrower will certify in the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Subsection 4.2(iii) hereof that such insurance is in force, provides coverage consistent with the preceding sentence and complies with the Borrower's obligations under this Section 4.7. 4.8 Maintenance of Properties and Assets. The Borrower shall maintain, preserve, protect and keep its properties in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), maintain and preserve good and marketable title thereto, and make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times, except where the failure to maintain, preserve, protect or keep such properties would not have a Material Adverse Effect. 4.9 Plans and Benefit Arrangement. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each ERISA Affiliate to, comply with ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws which are applicable to Plans, except where the failure to do so, alone or in conjunction with any other failure to do so, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. 4.10 Collateral. The Borrower shall (i) maintain good and valid rights and title to the Collateral (other than accounts receivable disposed of in the ordinary course (in respect of the collection thereof) in accordance with past practice), and (ii) at its sole cost and expense, take all actions necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to maintain each Collateral Document in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms, including (A) making filings and recordations, (B) making payments of fees and other charges, (C) issuing, and if necessary, filing or recording supplemental documentation, including continuation statements, (D) discharging all claims or other Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) 32 adversely affecting the rights of any Secured Party in the Collateral, and (E) publishing or otherwise delivering notices to third parties. 4.11 Ownership. The Borrower shall at all times during the term hereof be a direct 100% wholly owned Subsidiary of NUI Corporation. ARTICLE V. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. From the date hereof and thereafter until the Bank Indebtedness (other than indemnity obligations which are not then due and payable) is paid in full, the Borrower agrees that: 5.1 Dividends, Etc. The Borrower will not declare or make any dividend payment or other distribution of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or securities on account of any shares of any class of equity interests of the Borrower, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire for value any shares of any class of equity interests of the Borrower or any warrants, rights or options to acquire or retire any such shares, now or hereafter outstanding (such declarations, payments, other distributions, purchases, redemptions, or other acquisitions being herein called "Restricted Payments"), except that the Borrower may (a) declare and make any dividend payment or other distribution payable solely in common equity interests of the Borrower, and (b) declare or pay cash dividends to NUI Corporation and purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its equity interests or warrants, rights or options to acquire for consideration of any such shares, so long as the aggregate of such Restricted Payments made, paid or declared since the Closing Date in the aggregate would not exceed $35,000,000; provided, that (x) prior to or immediately after giving effect to any such proposed Restricted Payments, no Potential Default or Event of Default shall have existed or would exist and (y) no such payment shall violate any Governmental Rule. 5.2 Encumbrances. The Borrower will not create, incur, assume, permit or suffer to exist any Encumbrance or any other type of preferential arrangement, upon or with respect to any of its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign any right to receive income, in each case to secure or provide for the payment of any Indebtedness of any Person, other than Permitted Encumbrances. 5.3a Leverage Ratio. At no time shall its ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness to its Consolidated Total Capitalization exceed 0.70:1.00; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the covenant of this Section 5.3a until the earlier of (x) December 31, 2004 and (y) the termination, if any, of the Acquisition Agreement, and such non-compliance shall not constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have to continue within such period of time to deliver a Compliance Certificate pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.2(iii) hereof with the appropriate qualifications). 5.3b Interest Coverage Ratio. At no time shall the Borrower permit, for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or after September 30, 2004, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, to be less than 2.25 to 1.00; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the covenant of this Section 5.3b until the earlier of (x) December 31, 2004 and (y) the termination, if any, of the Acquisition Agreement, and such non-compliance shall not constitute an "Event of Default" 33 hereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have to continue within such period of time to deliver a Compliance Certificate pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.2(iii) hereof with the appropriate qualifications). 5.4 Acquisitions. The Borrower will not acquire (i) the assets of any Person, other than acquisitions of inventory, materials and equipment in the ordinary course of business and capital expenditures permitted under Section 5.12, or (ii) any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interest in, any Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may make the Penn Acquisition. 5.5 Sales of Assets. The Borrower shall not sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of, in a single transaction or a series of transactions, all or any part of its assets (other than dispositions, in the ordinary course, of inventory, accounts receivable (in respect of the collection thereof) and obsolete, uneconomic or worn out materials or other assets, or dispositions in the ordinary course of business in the form of licenses, sublicenses, operating leases or operating subleases). 5.6 Merger, Dissolution and Liquidation. (i) The Borrower shall not merge or consolidate with any other Person. 5.7 Regulation T, U and X Compliance. The Borrower shall not use the proceeds of a Loan to purchase or carry Margin Stock or otherwise act so as to cause any Lender, in extending credit hereunder, to be in contravention of Regulations T, U or X. 5.8 ERISA. Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower shall not and shall not permit any ERISA Affiliate to: (i) engage in any "prohibited transaction", as such term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code; (ii) incur any "accumulated funding deficiency" with respect to a Plan, as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived; (iii) permit a Plan to be terminated in a manner which could result in liability to the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA or the imposition of a lien on the property of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA; (iv) partially or completely withdraw from any Multiemployer Plan, which withdrawal shall subject the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to multiemployer withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4201 of ERISA; (v) permit a Reportable Event to occur with respect to a Plan; or (vi) allow the conditions to be met for the imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA or Section 412(n) of the Code, or for the provision of security pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA, with respect to any Plan. 34 5.9 Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower shall not enter into or otherwise be bound by any agreement not to pay dividends or make distributions to NUI Corporation, except for (i) the Existing Credit Agreement, the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement and the Borrower's settlement with the NJBPU relating to the Focused Audit and (ii) such agreements existing on the date hereof which have been fully disclosed in writing to Administrative Agent, and replacements of such agreements (provided that copies of such replacement agreements are provided to the Administrative Agent and are no more restrictive in any material respect than those agreements being replaced). 5.10 Business of the Borrower. The Borrower shall not make any material change in the nature or conduct of its business as carried on at the date hereof. 5.11 Subsidiaries. The Borrower shall not create, nor permit to exist, any Subsidiary. 5.12 Limitation on Capital Expenditures. The Borrower shall not make or commit to make (by way of the acquisition of securities of a Person or otherwise) any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of fixed or capital assets, except for expenditures, when added to such expenditures made by NUI Corporation and its other Subsidiaries, not exceeding during any of its Fiscal Years ending after the Closing Date, the amount of $75,000,000. 5.13 Limitation on Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except (without duplication): (a) Indebtedness in respect of the Loans and the other obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (b) Indebtedness of the Borrower incurred solely in order to finance the purchase of new fixed or capital assets (including pursuant to capital leases) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $10,000,000 at any time outstanding; (c) Indebtedness listed on Schedule 5.13 and renewals, refinancings, extensions and modifications thereof which do not increase the principal amount thereof (except that in the case of any refinancing of the Gas Revenue Bonds, the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness may be increased by the aggregate amount of interest accrued on, prepayment premiums paid with respect to such refinanced Indebtedness or financing costs paid with respect to such refinancing), nor shorten the maturity thereof; (d) Indebtedness incurred in connection with Hedging Obligations, provided that such Hedging Obligations shall be in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities and not for speculative purposes; (e) Indebtedness with respect to standby letters of credit issued by a bank for the benefit of the Borrower in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding; and 35 (f) intercompany Indebtedness incurred in connection with the provision of services in the ordinary course of business. 5.14 Limitation on Contingent Obligations. The Borrower shall not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Guarantee. 5.15 Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances. The Borrower shall not purchase, hold or acquire beneficially any stock, other securities or evidences of Indebtedness of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, or make or permit to exist any investment or acquire any interest whatsoever in, any other Person, except: (a) extensions of trade credit to customers in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (b) Permitted Investments; (c) loans and advances to employees of the Borrower for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (d) intercompany loans and advances in connection with the provision of services in the ordinary course of business; (e) securities acquired in connection with the bankruptcy of any supplier or customer in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices or in connection with the settlement of delinquent accounts of any such supplier or customer; and (f) advance payments to gas suppliers. 5.16 Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt Instruments. The Borrower shall not make any optional payment or prepayment on or redemption, defeasance or purchase of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement, Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement, Indebtedness to the extent being refinanced in accordance with Section 5.13(c)), or amend, modify or change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification or change to any of the terms relating to the payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, any such Indebtedness, other than any amendment, modification or change which would extend the maturity or reduce the amount of any payment of principal thereof or which would reduce the rate or extend the date for payment of interest thereon. 5.17 Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower shall not enter into any transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate unless such transaction (a) is permitted under this Agreement or is in the ordinary course of the Borrower's business, consistent with past practice, and (b) is upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower than it would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person which is not an Affiliate, it being understood that none of (i) transactions between NUI Corporation and its Subsidiaries pertaining to administrative services, (ii) the repayment of the intercompany receivables owing from NUI 36 Corporation to the Borrower or from the Borrower to NUI Corporation, or (iii) the movement of employees between NUI Corporation and the Borrower, in each case provided at cost (if applicable), shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.17. 5.18 Sale and Leaseback. The Borrower shall not enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower of real or personal property, whether now owned or herein after acquired, which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower to such Person. ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT 6.1 Conditions Precedent to the Effectiveness of this Agreement. The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent: (i) Receipt by the Administrative Agent on behalf of each Lender of a counterpart original of this Agreement executed by the other Lenders and the Borrower, as applicable. (ii) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a copy of Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement and the Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement, in each case fully executed by the parties thereto, and each of Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement (other than Section 2 thereof) and Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement (other than Section 2 thereof) shall have become effective in accordance with the terms thereof. (iii) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of copies of the Collateral Documents, in each case fully executed by the parties thereto, together with all documentation necessary and appropriate to convey (and confirm) a valid and, upon the filing of UCC-1 financing statements in the public offices set forth on Schedule 5(b) to the Security Agreement (to the extent such security interest may be perfected by the filing of such financing statements), perfected first-priority security interest in the Collateral (free and clear of all Encumbrances), to the extent and as more specifically enumerated in the Collateral Documents; (iv) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certified copy (certified by the appropriate governmental official) of the Borrower's Certificate of Incorporation which certification is dated not more than 30 days prior to the Closing Date. (v) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate, duly certified as of the date of the Closing by the secretary or assistant secretary of the Borrower as to (A) the By-Laws of the Borrower in effect as of the Closing, (B) the resolutions of the Borrower's Board of Directors authorizing the borrowings hereunder and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and all documents supplemental hereto, and (C) the names of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and all supplemental documentation, and which contains a true signature of each such officer. 37 (vi) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a good standing certificate for the Borrower from the Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey dated not more than 30 days prior to the Closing Date. (vii) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the certificate of the Borrower required pursuant to Section 4.7 of this Agreement and a solvency certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto. (viii) Receipt by the Administrative Agent on behalf of each Lender of a signed opinion of (a) Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A., New Jersey counsel to the Borrower, (b) White & Case LLP, special counsel for the Borrower, and (c) LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae L.L.P., special regulatory counsel for the Borrower, in each case, dated as of the Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel. (ix) Receipt by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf and on behalf of the Lenders of all invoiced reimbursable expenses incurred on or prior to the Closing Date. (x) The Acquisition Agreement shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date. (xi) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received documentation and other information requested by it and required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable "know your customer" and Anti-Money Laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act). Such documentation shall include, without limitation, evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of (y) the listing of Capital Stock of NUI Corporation on the New York Stock Exchange and (z) NUI Corporation's ownership of all of the outstanding equity interests of the Borrower. (xii) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent, its counsel or any Lender may reasonably request. 6.2 Conditions Precedent to the Extensions of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to make extensions of credit hereunder (it being understood for the purposes of this Section 6.2 that the release of funds from the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 6.3 shall not be deemed to be an extension of credit) is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.1 above: (i) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article III and in the other Loan Documents executed and delivered by the Borrower in connection with the Closing and the extensions of credit hereunder shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Borrowing Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (except representations and warranties which relate solely to an earlier date or time, which 38 representations and warranties shall be true and correct on and as of the specific date or times referred to therein), and the Borrower shall have performed, observed and complied with all covenants and conditions hereof and contained in the other Loan Documents; no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist at the time of and immediately after such extension of credit; except as disclosed in NUI Corporation's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2002 , Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004], and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, the Confidential Information Memorandum or the Lender Presentation, nothing has occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect; and there shall be delivered to the Agent, for the benefit of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Borrowing Date and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, to each such effect. (ii) The Borrower shall have complied with the requirements of Section 2.1d, Section 2.2c or 2.2e, as appropriate, with respect to the requested extension of credit. (iii) Receipt by the Administrative Agent on behalf of each requesting Lender of a promissory note pursuant to Section 2.1c(e), made payable to such Lender in the amount of such Lender's Commitment and otherwise properly completed and executed by the Borrower. (iv) Receipt by the Administrative Agent on behalf of each Lender of a signed opinion of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae L.L.P., special regulatory counsel for the Borrower, dated as of the Borrowing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. (v) Receipt by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf and on behalf of the Lenders of all Fees due and payable on or prior to the Borrowing Date, and all invoiced reimbursable expenses incurred on or prior to the Borrowing Date. (vi) The NUI Corporation Credit Agreement and the Existing Credit Agreement shall be in full force and effect and, on or prior to the Borrowing Date, the conditions precedent to the extension of the Additional Term Loans under the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived and the Medium Term Notes shall have been refinanced or satisfied and discharged through the incurrence of Delayed Draw Term Loans. (vii) The Termination Date (as such term is defined in the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement) under the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement and the Termination Date (as such term is defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) under the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement shall have been extended and the Extension Fee (as such term is defined in the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement) payable under the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement and the Extension Fee payable under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been paid, in each case prior to or on the Borrowing Date in accordance with the terms thereof. 39 (viii) The Acquisition Agreement shall be in full force and effect on the Borrowing Date. (ix) On or prior to the Borrowing Date, all action, orders, authorizations, consents, licenses, validations or approvals of, or notices to, filings, recordings, or registration with, or exemptions by, any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval, required to authorize (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or the transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder, (ii) the legality, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or (iii) granting of the security interest in the Collateral, shall have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, all applicable appeal periods shall have expired (other than with respect to the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval) and there shall be no litigation, governmental, administrative or judicial action that could reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent or impose burdensome conditions on the transactions contemplated hereby. (x) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent, its counsel or any Lender may reasonably request, other than documents substantially similar to those required to be delivered in connection with the Closing Date. 6.3 Escrow Arrangement. (a) At any time prior to the obtaining of the NJBPU Approval and/or the FPSC Approval, the Borrower shall have an option to request, and the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby agrees, subject to satisfaction of the conditions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof (other than (x) the obtaining of the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval, (y) the effectiveness of Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement and Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement and (z) the extension of the Termination Date under each of the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement and the Existing Credit Agreement), and receipt by the Administrative Agent of at least three Business Days prior written notice thereof, that each Lender shall make Loans pursuant to Section 2.1; provided that (i) the proceeds of the Loans and the Arrangement Fee (as such term is defined in the Fee Letter) and all other fees then due and payable pursuant to the Fee Letter shall be funded into an escrow account maintained by the Administrative Agent at The Bank of New York (the "Escrow Account") and (ii) all invoiced reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent incurred on or prior to the date of such funding (including without limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Administrative Agent's special counsel, Dewey Ballantine LLP) shall be paid by the Borrower prior to or substantially contemporaneously with funding the proceeds of the Loans into the Escrow Account. All of such funds shall be automatically released on the date when the Administrative Agent receives the evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 to the Existing Credit Agreement and Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement shall have become effective (regardless of whether the other conditions set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof could be met at such time) to the respective payees as follows: (x) CSFB shall receive, for its 40 own account, an amount equal to the Arrangement Fee and all other fees and expenses then due and payable pursuant hereto or the Fee Letter and (y) the Borrower shall receive the remainder of the funds in the Escrow Account. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the interest on the Loans shall start to accrue and shall be payable to the Lenders from the date of funding of the proceeds of the Loans into the Escrow Account, and (ii) funds in the Escrow Account shall bear interest from such date and such interest shall be paid to the Borrower on the date when such funds are released or returned, as the case may be. (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if funds held in the Escrow Account are not released on or prior to September 30, 2004 (due to the failure to obtain the NJBPU Approval or the FPSC Approval), then (i) the Borrower shall then owe a fee (the "Release Fee") to the Lenders in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of interest which would have accrued on the Loans from the date escrowed through September 30, 2004, (ii) all funds held in the Escrow Account shall be distributed on September 30, 2004 as follows: (A) the Administrative Agent shall receive for the account of each Lender an aggregate amount equal to the proceeds of the Loans and the Release Fee, and (B) the Borrower shall receive the remainder of the funds, if any, in the Escrow Account; provided that in the event that the funds held in the Escrow Account are not sufficient to make the distribution set forth in clause (ii)(A) above the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the amount of such deficiency, and (iii) the compensation, reimbursement and indemnification provisions contained in the Commitment Letter and in the Fee Letter shall be reinstated and in full force and effect on and from the date thereof. ARTICLE VII. DEFAULTS Each of the events or occurrences described in Sections 7.1 to and including 7.11 below shall constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder. 7.1 Payment Default. Default in the payment of (i) interest on any Loan, any other Bank Indebtedness, or any other amount due hereunder, and continuance of any such nonpayment default for five days or (ii) principal of any Loan when due and payable. 7.2 Nonpayment of Other Indebtedness. The Borrower shall fail to pay (beyond the applicable grace period, if any) any Indebtedness of the Borrower other than the Bank Indebtedness, in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or more, as and when the same shall become due, or the occurrence of any default under any agreement or instrument under or pursuant to which such Indebtedness is incurred or issued (including, without limitation, the Existing Credit Agreement) and continuance of such default beyond the period of grace, if any, allowed with respect thereto, if such default permits or causes the acceleration of such Indebtedness or the termination of any commitment to lend with respect thereto. 7.3 Insolvency. 7.3a Involuntary Proceedings. A proceeding shall have been instituted in a court having jurisdiction seeking a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower in an involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, or any other similar applicable Federal or state law, now or hereafter in effect, or for the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator, 41 trustee, sequestrator or similar official for the Borrower or for a substantial part of its property or assets, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the same shall remain undismissed or unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered. 7.3b Voluntary Proceedings. The Borrower shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankrupt, or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization under the Federal bankruptcy laws, or any other similar applicable Federal or state law now or hereinafter in effect, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for the Borrower or for a substantial part of its property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall become unable, admit in writing its inability, or fail generally, to pay its debts generally as they become due, or corporate action shall be taken by the Borrower in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes. 7.4 Security Failure. The Collateral Documents collectively shall cease to create a valid and perfected first priority lien (to the extent purported to be granted by such documents) on any portion of the Collateral, subject to Permitted Encumbrances. 7.5 Failure to Comply with Covenants. 7.5a Failure to Comply with Certain Article IV Covenants and Article V Covenants. The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 4.1, Section 4.2(iv), (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix), Section 4.4, Section 4.11 or of any covenant contained in Article V. 7.5b Failure to Comply with Other Covenants. The Borrower shall default in the due performance or observance of any other covenant, condition or provision set forth herein (other than those specified in Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.5a above) or in any other Loan Document and such default shall not be remedied with respect to any other such default for a period of 30 days after such default is known to any executive officer of the Borrower or notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender (such grace period to be applicable only in the event such default can be remedied by corrective action of the Borrower as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion). 7.6 Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or in any other Loan Document proves to have been untrue in any material respect as of the date when made, or any certificate or other document furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender pursuant to the provisions hereof or of any other Loan Document proves to have been untrue in any material respect on the date as of which the facts set forth therein are stated or certified. 7.7 Adverse Judgments, Etc. (i) Any one or more orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or of any similar process has been levied, issued, entered or filed against the Borrower or any of its properties, in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or more in excess of any third-party insurance protecting against such 42 liability and failure of the Borrower to vacate, pay, bond, stay or contest in good faith (by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted and as to which the Borrower shall have set aside on its books reserves for such claims as are determined to be adequate in accordance with GAAP) such orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or other process within a period of 30 days (or, in the case of contesting the same, the failure of the Borrower to diligently conduct such contest thereafter); or (ii) any one or more fines, penalties, injunctions, charges, orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or any similar action or process (other than (x) in connection with the Focused Audit and (y) any costs related to the Focused Audit) has been levied, issued, entered or filed against the Borrower or any of its properties in connection with any actual or purported conflict with or violation or breach by the Borrower of any Governmental Rule (or the Borrower enters into any agreement or makes any payment in connection with any vacating, stay, settlement or dismissal of any such claim or charge (whether or not such payment by its terms constitutes an admission of liability)), in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or more (if monetary) or which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect in the reasonable judgment of the Required Lenders (if non-monetary), and failure of the Borrower to vacate, stay or contest in good faith (by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted and as to which the Borrower shall have set aside on its books reserves for such claims as are determined to be adequate in accordance with GAAP) such fines, penalties, charges, orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or other action or process within a period of 30 days (or, in the case of contesting the same, the failure of the Borrower to diligently conduct such contest thereafter). 7.8 Invalidity or Unenforceability. This Agreement, the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document ceases to be valid and binding on the Borrower or is declared null and void, or the validity or enforceability thereof is contested by the Borrower or the Borrower denies it has any or further liability under this Agreement, the Security Agreement or under the other Loan Documents to which it is a party. 7.9 ERISA. (i) A trustee shall be appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to administer any Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; (ii) the PBGC shall terminate any Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or appoint a trustee to administer any such Plan; or (iii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall incur any liability to the PBGC in connection with any Plan, which, in any such case, likely would have a Material Adverse Effect. 7.10 Change of Control; Change of Beneficial Ownership or Board. Any Person or group of Persons (within the meaning of Sections 13 or 14 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934), other than the then current officers or directors of the Borrower or an underwriter which obtains such ownership as a result of effecting a firm committed underwriting of a secondary offering of the Borrower's voting stock on behalf of such officers or directors, shall have acquired beneficial ownership of (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act) twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting stock of the Borrower on a fully diluted basis with respect to which such Persons are entitled to vote on the election of directors. 43 7.11 Regulatory Decisions. Any Governmental Authority shall have issued a final decision (other than in connection with the Focused Audit) that could reasonably be likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. 7.12 Consequences of an Event of Default. If one or more of the Events of Default occur then (a) if such Event of Default is set forth in Sections 7.3 with respect to the Borrower, the Loans then outstanding and all other amounts owing under this Agreement shall become immediately due and payable, without necessity of demand, presentation, protest, notice of dishonor or notice of default or (b) if such Event of Default is set forth in any of this Article VII, other than Sections 7.3 with respect to the Borrower, then the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, and upon notice to the Borrower, shall declare the Borrower in default hereunder, and upon such declaration, shall, at the request of the Required Lenders, declare the Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement immediately due and payable, without necessity of any further demand, presentation, protest, notice of dishonor or further notice of default, whereupon the same shall be immediately due and payable. 7.13 Remedies Upon Default. Upon acceleration of the Loans following the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Lenders shall, unless such acceleration subsequently has been rescinded, have the full panoply of rights and remedies granted to them under this Agreement and all those rights and remedies granted by law to creditors, and the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, shall (i) proceed to protect and enforce the Lenders' rights by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any of the other Loan Documents, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law and (ii) direct the Collateral Agent to exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to the other rights and remedies provided for herein and in the Collateral Documents or otherwise available to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, or the Lenders, any or all rights and remedies of a secured party upon default under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York and in effect in any other jurisdiction in which Collateral is located at that time. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any other Loan Document, upon the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. No exercise of any one right or remedy shall be deemed a waiver of other rights or remedies. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders specified herein are for the sole and exclusive benefit, use and protection of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, and the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled, but shall have no duty or obligation, to exercise or to refrain from exercising any right or remedy reserved to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders hereunder. ARTICLE VIII. AGREEMENT AMONG LENDERS. 8.1 Appointment and Grant of Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby appoints CSFB and CSFB hereby agrees to act as the Administrative Agent and as the Collateral Agent (for purposes of this Article 8, collectively, the "Agents"), under this Agreement and the other 44 Loan Documents. As each such Agent, CSFB shall have and may exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to each such Agent, by the terms hereto or thereof, together with such other powers as are incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, the Agents, on behalf of the Lenders, are authorized to execute all of the Loan Documents (other than this Agreement) and to accept all of the Loan Documents and all other agreements, documents or instruments reasonably required to carry out the intent of the parties to this Agreement. 8.2 Delegation of Duties. Each Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder by or through agents or employees (provided such delegation does not constitute a relinquishment of duties as the applicable Agent hereunder) and, subject to Sections 8.7 and 9.2 hereof, shall be entitled to engage and pay for the advice or services of any attorneys, accountants, or other experts concerning all matters pertaining to duties hereunder and to rely upon any advice so obtained. 8.3 Reliance by Administrative Agent on Lenders for Funding. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to any Borrowing Date that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's portion of net disbursements of Loans, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make Loans to the Borrower. If and to the extent that such Lender has not made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on or prior to any Borrowing Date, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent immediately upon demand, in immediately available funds, such unpaid amount, together with interest thereon for each day from the applicable Borrowing Date until such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, at the rate of interest then in effect for such Loan and (ii) in the case of such Lender, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the first three days and the Adjusted Base Rate thereafter. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute a Loan made by such Lender for purposes of this Agreement. The failure by any Lender to pay its portion of a Loan made by the Administrative Agent shall not relieve any other Lender of the obligation to pay its portion of net disbursements of Loans on any Borrowing Date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its net share of Loans to be made by such other Lender on such Borrowing Date. 8.4 Non-Reliance on Agents. Each Lender agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on either Agent, based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and evaluation of the Borrower and its operations and decision to enter into this Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance upon either Agent, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, neither Agent shall have any duty to keep the Lenders informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower of this Agreement or any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or to inspect the properties or books of the Borrower. Neither Agent, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be liable to any Lender for its failure to relay or furnish to the Lender any information. 45 8.5 Responsibility of Agents and Other Matters. 8.5a Ministerial Nature of Duties. As among the Lenders and each Agent, such Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, and those duties and responsibilities shall be subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this Article VIII. The duties of each Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature. 8.5b Limitation of Liability. As among the Lenders and each Agent, neither Agent nor any of its respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable for any action taken or omitted (whether or not such action taken or omitted is within or without such Agent's responsibilities and duties expressly set forth in this Agreement) under or in connection with this Agreement or any other instrument or document in connection herewith except for gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the foregoing, neither Agent nor any of its respective directors, officers or employees shall be responsible for, or have any duty to examine (i) the genuineness, execution, validity, effectiveness, enforceability, value or sufficiency of (A) this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or (B) any other document or instrument furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the collectibility of any amounts owed by the Borrower to the Lenders, (iii) the truthfulness of any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made to such Agent or the Lenders in connection with this Agreement, (iv) any failure of any party to this Agreement to receive any communication sent, including any telegram, teletype, facsimile transmission or telephone message or any writing, application, notice, report, statement, certificate, resolution, request, order, consent letter or other instrument or paper or communication entrusted to the mails or to a delivery service, or (v) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects, or creditworthiness of the Borrower. 8.5c Reliance. Each Agent shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected in acting upon, any telegram, teletype, facsimile transmission or any writing, application, notice, report, statement, certificate, resolution, request, order, consent, letter or other instrument, paper or communication believed by such Agent in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent or made by a proper Person. Each Agent may consult counsel and shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected in taking or refraining from taking any action in good faith, in accordance with advice given by counsel. Each Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be liable for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by such Agent with reasonable care. Neither Agent shall be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents on the part of the Borrower or any other party thereto. 46 8.6 Actions in Discretion of Agents; Instructions from the Lenders. Each Agent agrees, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, to take or refrain from taking any action of the type specified as being within such Agent's rights, powers or discretion herein or under any Loan Documents, provided that neither Agent shall be required to take any action which exposes such Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law. In the absence of a request by the Required Lenders, each Agent shall have authority but is under no duty, in its sole discretion, to take or not to take any such action, unless this Agreement specifically requires the consent of the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders. Any action taken or failure to act pursuant to such instructions or discretion shall be binding on the Lenders, subject to Section 8.5b hereof. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5b, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against either Agent as a result of such Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders. 8.7 Indemnification. To the extent the Borrower does not reimburse and save harmless each Agent according to the terms hereof for and from all costs, expenses and disbursements in connection herewith, such costs, expenses and disbursements shall be borne by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Loans. Each Lender hereby agrees on such basis (i) to reimburse each Agent for such Lender's pro rata share of all such reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements on request and (ii) to the extent of each such Lender's pro rata share, to indemnify and save harmless each Agent against and from any and all losses, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments and suits and other costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent, other than as a consequence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Agent, arising out of or in connection with (i) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other agreement, instrument or document executed or delivered in connection herewith or therewith, or (ii) any action taken (or not taken) at the request of the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders hereunder, as the case may be, including without limitation the reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements in connection with defending themselves against any claim or liability, or answering any subpoena or other process related to the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or any of the other agreements, instruments or documents executed or delivered in connection herewith or the taking or refraining from any action under or in connection with any of the foregoing. 8.8 Administrative Agent's Rights as a Lender. With respect to the Administrative Agent as a Lender hereunder, any Loans of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and any other amounts due to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers, duties and obligations under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or other agreement, instrument or document as any Lender and may exercise such rights and powers and shall perform such duties and fulfill such obligations as though it were not the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage, and continue to engage, in any kind of business with the Borrower as if it were not the Administrative Agent. 8.9 Payment to Lenders. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 8.3 hereof, promptly after receipt from the Borrower of any principal repayment of the Loans, interest due on the Loans and any other amounts due under any of the Loan Documents (except for such 47 amounts which are payable for the sole account of any Lender or either Agent), the Agents shall distribute to each Lender that Lender's share of the funds so received. 8.10 Pro Rata Sharing. Any sums obtained from the Borrower by any Lender by reason of the exercise of its rights of set-off, banker's lien or in collection shall be shared (net of costs) pro rata among the Lenders on the basis of the principal amount of Loans. Nothing in this Section 8.10 shall be deemed to require the sharing among the Lenders of collections specifically relating to, or of the proceeds of any collateral securing, any other Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Lender. 8.11 Successor Agent. 8.11a Resignation of Agents. Either Agent may resign as Agent hereunder by giving 30 days' prior written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If such notice shall be given, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor agent for the Lenders, during such 30 day period, which successor agent shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, to serve as agent hereunder and under the other applicable Loan Documents. If at the end of such 30 day period, the Lenders have not appointed such a successor, such Agent shall use reasonable commercial efforts to procure a successor reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders and the Borrower, to serve as agent for the Lenders hereunder and under the other applicable Loan Documents. Any such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of such Agent. 8.11b Rights of the Former Agents. Upon the appointment of such successor agent or upon the expiration of such 30 day period (or any longer period to which such Agent has agreed), the rights of such former Agent, its powers and duties as an Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement. After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as an Agent hereunder, the provisions of this Article VIII shall inure to the benefit of such retiring Agent as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement. 8.12 Notice of Default. Neither Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default unless such Agent has received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default". 8.13 Notices. Each Agent shall promptly send to each Lender notice of all information or notices received from the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents promptly upon receipt thereof. 8.14 Holders of Loans. Each Agent may deem and treat any payee of any promissory note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. Any request, authority or consent of any person who at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent is the holder of any promissory note shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of such promissory note or of any promissory note or notes issued in exchange therefor. 48 8.15 Calculations. In the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, neither Agent shall be liable for any error in computing the amount payable to any Lender whether in respect of the Loans, Fees or any other amounts due to the Lenders under this Agreement. In the event an error in computing any amount payable to any Lender is made, the applicable Agent, the Borrower and each affected Person shall, forthwith upon discovery of such error, make such adjustments as shall be required to correct such error, and any compensation therefor will be calculated pursuant to the rules on Interbank Compensation. 8.16 Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein, the provisions of this Article VIII are solely for the benefit of each Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have any rights to rely on or enforce any of the provisions hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement, each Agent shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or relationship of agency or trust with or for the Borrower. ARTICLE IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS 9.1 Amendments and Waivers. Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 9.1, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower may, from time to time, enter into amendments or modifications to and of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents and the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, may, from time to time, waive compliance with a provision thereof. No such amendment, modification or waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the written consent of the Required Lenders), and then such amendment, modification or waiver shall be effective only for the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given; provided, however, that no such amendment, modification or waiver shall (i) subject any Lender to any additional obligations hereunder, (ii) decrease the aggregate or individual unpaid principal amount of Loans, or forgive the payment of the principal or interest (other than post-default interest to the extent accruing at a rate in excess of the Base Rate Option or Euro-Rate Option) payable on Loans, of any Lender or postpone any date fixed for the payment thereof, (iii) decrease the interest rate relating to any Loan (other than the post-default interest rate to the extent in excess of the Base Rate Option or Euro-Rate Option) or (iv) decrease, or forgive the payment of, any fee payable to any Lender or postpone any date fixed for the payment thereof, in each case without the consent of each Lender affected thereby; provided further, however, that no amendment, modification or waiver, unless in writing and signed by all of the Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the written consent of all of the Lenders), shall do any of the following: (A) amend the definition of the term "Required Lenders"; (B) release the security interest in all or substantially all of the Collateral; or (C) amend or waive the provisions of this Section 9.1 or the proviso in Section 9.5; provided, further that no such amendment, modification or waiver shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent 49 hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable. Any such amendment, modification or waiver shall apply equally to the Borrower and each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and all successors and assignees thereof. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights, and any Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon. 9.2 Expenses. The Borrower shall pay: (i) all reasonable costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (including without limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Administrative Agent's special counsel, Dewey Ballantine LLP and any reasonable accounting, consulting, brokerage or other similar professional fees or expenses, and any reasonable fees or expenses associated with travel or other costs relating to any appraisals or examinations conducted in connection with the Loans) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any and all other documents and instruments prepared in connection herewith, including but not limited to all amendments, extensions, modifications, replacements, waivers, consents and other documents and instruments prepared or entered into from time to time; (ii) all costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders (including without limitation the fees and disbursements of the Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' counsels, which may be in house counsel) in connection with (A) the enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (or the preservation of any rights thereunder) arising pursuant to a breach by the Borrower of any of the terms, conditions, representations, warranties or covenants of any Loan Document or otherwise arising after the occurrence of an Event of Default, and (B) defending or prosecuting any actions, suits or proceedings relating to any of the Loan Documents. All of such costs and expenses shall be payable by the Borrower to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, upon demand or as otherwise agreed upon by the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, and shall constitute Bank Indebtedness under this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees to pay, and save the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders harmless from any and all liability for, any stamp or other taxes which may be payable with respect to the execution or delivery of this Agreement. The Borrower's obligation to pay such costs and expenses shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the repayment of all other Bank Indebtedness. 9.3 Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made on the earlier of (i) when delivered, or (ii) three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy notice, when received, addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the 50 Administrative Agent, and as set forth in an administrative questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent in the case of the Lenders, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto: Borrower: NUI Utilities, Inc. 1085 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Attention: Treasurer Telecopier: (908) 289-0978 Telephone: (908) 289-5000x6107 with a copy to: Joseph Brazil, Esq. White & Case LLP 1155 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 Telecopier: (212) 354-8113 Telephone: (212) 819-8401 The Administrative Agent: Credit Suisse First Boston 11 Madison Avenue OMA-2 New York, New York 10010 Attention: John Burke/Agency Department Manager Telephone: (212) 325-4708 Telecopier: (212) 325-8304 Electronic mail and intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine information such as financial statements and other information as provided in Section 4.2, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto, and may not be used for any other purpose, except as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. 9.4 Tax Withholding. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 9.4) the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. (b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. 51 (c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 9.4) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender will, at the Borrower's expense, cooperate in good faith with the Borrower in any contest with a Governmental Authority as to whether or not such Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes, penalties, interest or expenses were correctly or legally imposed or asserted in the event such Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes, penalties, interest or expenses were in the good faith judgment of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, not legal or not correctly asserted. If in connection with such contest such Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes, penalties, interest or expenses are refunded to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender will pay such refund to the Borrower to the extent the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender determines in its sole discretion, but acting in good faith, that such refund is attributable to any Indemnified Taxes, Other Taxes, penalties, interest or expenses paid by the Borrower and to the extent the Borrower has previously indemnified the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender therefor pursuant to this Section 9.4, net of expenses and without interest except any interest (net of taxes) included in such refund. The Borrower shall return such refund (together with any taxes, penalties or other charges) in the event the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 9.4 shall be construed to (i) entitle the Borrower or any other Persons to any information determined by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender in each case, in its sole discretion, but acting in good faith, to be confidential or proprietary information of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, to any tax or financial information of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, or to inspect or review any books and records of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender or (ii) interfere with the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender to conduct its fiscal or tax affairs in such matter as it deems fit. A certificate as to the amount of any payment or liability provided for hereunder delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. (d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy, to the extent reasonably available, of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. (e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver 52 to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Each Lender that is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) agrees to deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Effective Date, or in the case of a Lender that is an assignee or transferee of an interest under this Agreement (unless the respective Lender was already a Lender hereunder immediately prior to such assignment or transfer), on the date of such assignment or transfer to such Lender, (i) two accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN (with respect to a complete exemption under an income tax treaty) (or successor forms) certifying to such Lender's entitlement as of such date to a complete exemption from United States withholding tax with respect to payments to be made under this Agreement and under any Note, or (ii) if the Lender is not a "bank" within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and cannot deliver either Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN (with respect to a complete exemption under an income tax treaty) pursuant to clause (i) above, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D (any such certificate, a "Section 9.4(e)(ii) Certificate") and (y) two accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (with respect to the portfolio interest exemption) (or successor form) certifying to such Lender's entitlement as of such date to a complete exemption from United States withholding tax with respect to payments of interest to be made under this Agreement and under any Note. In addition, each Lender agrees that from time to time after the Effective Date, when a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders the previous certification obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, it will deliver to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent two new accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, Form W-8BEN (with respect to the benefits of any income tax treaty), or Form W-8BEN (with respect to the portfolio interest exemption) and a Section 9.4(e)(ii) Certificate, as the case may be, and such other forms as may be required in order to confirm or establish the entitlement of such Lender to a continued exemption from or reduction in United States withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement and any Note, or it shall immediately notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of its inability to deliver any such Form or Certificate, in which case such Lender shall not be required to deliver any such Form or Certificate pursuant to this Section 9.4(e). (f) If the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, but acting in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 9.4, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 9.4 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, as applicable, or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, as applicable, or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such 53 Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section 9.4 shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person. 9.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders and the successors and assigns of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders; provided, that the Borrower shall not assign its rights or duties hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Lenders. 9.6 Assignments and Participations. 9.6a Assignments. Subject to the remaining provisions of this Subsection 9.6a, any Lender (a "Transferor Lender"), at any time, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, may sell to one or more financial institutions (individually a "Purchasing Lender"), a portion or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents then held by it, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement executed by the Transferor Lender, such Purchasing Lender and the Administrative Agent, subject, however to the following requirements: (i) each such assignment must be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 in the aggregate, unless otherwise consented to by the Administrative Agent (in its sole discretion), or, if in excess thereof, in integral multiples of $1,000,000, unless such assignment shall be in the full amount of such Loans; (ii) the Administrative Agent must give its prior consent to any such assignment which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) subject to the first sentence of the succeeding paragraph, the Transferor Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent a $3,500 service fee for each such transfer at the time of each such transfer, for its acceptance and recording in the Register. The parties to each Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall (y) electronically execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (which initially shall be ClearPar, LLC) or (z) manually execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement; provided that if the parties to such Assignment and Assumption Agreement use the method provided in clause (y), the Transferor Lender will not be required to pay the service fee described in clause (iii) above. Upon the execution, delivery, acceptance and recording of any such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, from and after the Transfer Effective Date determined pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, all parties hereto agree that (a) the Purchasing Lender thereunder shall be a party hereto as a Lender and, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder as set forth therein, and (b) the Transferor Lender thereunder 54 shall, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, be released from its obligations as a Lender under this Agreement. Such Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall be deemed to amend this Agreement (without further action) to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to reflect the addition of such Purchasing Lender as a Lender. In addition to the assignments permitted above, (i) any Lender may assign and pledge all or any portion of its Loans to any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank and (ii) any Lender that is a fund may grant a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to any lender or any trustee for, or any other representative of, holders of obligations owed or securities issued by such fund as security for such obligations or securities or any institutional custodian for such fund or for such lender; provided that, in each case, no such assignment or grant of security interest shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations and duties hereunder. 9.6b Assignment Register. The Administrative Agent shall maintain, at its address referred to in Subsection 9.3, a copy of each Assignment and Assumption Agreement delivered to it and a register (the "Register") for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the amount of the Loans owing to each Lender from time to time. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner of the Loans recorded therein for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available at the office of the Administrative Agent set forth in Subsection 9.3 for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. 9.6c Participations. Each Lender, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, may sell to one or more Participants a participating interest in any Loan owing to such Lender and the interest of such Lender in any Loans. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of a participating interest to a Participant, such Lender's obligations under this Agreement to the other parties to this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance thereof, such Lender shall remain the holder of the Loans for all purposes under this Agreement and the Borrower, the other Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and the Participants shall have voting rights only with respect to matters described in items (B), and (C) of Section 9.l. 9.7 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. 9.8 Survival. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Borrower contained herein in the Loan Documents or made in writing in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution of such Loan Documents and shall continue in full force and effect so long as the Borrower may borrow hereunder and so long thereafter until payment in full of all the Loans and the Bank Indebtedness. 55 9.9 Governing Law. This Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be a contract made under, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to the provision thereof regarding conflicts of law except where such law is superseded by applicable Federal law. 9.10 Non-Business Days. Except as otherwise specifically required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, whenever any payment hereunder or under the Loans is due and payable on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day. 9.11 Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to this financing transaction and it supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties hereto concerning the subject matter of this Agreement. 9.12 Headings. Article, Section and other headings used in this Agreement are intended for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of this Agreement. 9.13 Set-Off. The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender in case of an Event of Default, at such Lender's option, at any time and from time to time, to apply, at the discretion of such Lender, to the payment of Bank Indebtedness, any and all such property, credits, securities or money now or hereafter in the hands of such Lender belonging or owed to the Borrower. Nothing herein shall restrict any Lender's ability to set off any property, credits, securities or money of the Borrower which may at any time be delivered to, or be in possession or owed to, any Lender in any capacity whatsoever to satisfy an independent obligation of the Borrower to the Lender. 9.14 Consent to Forum. The parties hereto each hereby irrevocably consents to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of New York or any Federal court sitting therein in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and each party agrees that a summons and complaint commencing an action or proceeding in either of such courts shall be properly served and shall confer personal jurisdiction if served personally or by certified mail to the party at its respective address set forth in Section 9.3, or as otherwise provided under the laws of the State of New York. Further, the parties hereby specifically waive and hereby acknowledge that the parties are estopped from raising any claim that any such court lacks personal jurisdiction over such party so as to prohibit either such court from adjudicating any issues raised in a complaint filed with any such court against the Borrower or the Lenders concerning this Agreement. 9.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower hereby knowingly, voluntarily and intentionally waives any rights such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation based hereon, or arising out of, under, or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any course of conduct, course of dealing, statements (whether verbal or written) or actions of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders or the Borrower relating hereto or thereto. Except as prohibited by law, the Borrower hereby waives any right it may have to claim 56 or recover in any litigation any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages or any damages other than, or in addition to, actual damages. The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it has received full and sufficient consideration for this provision (and each other provision of each other Loan Document to which it is a party) and that this provision is a material inducement for the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and each such other Loan Document. 9.16 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss, liabilities, damages, claims, and reasonable costs and expenses, joint or several (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements reasonably incurred by any such Person in connection with the preparation for or defense of any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding), suffered or incurred by any of them under any applicable federal or state law or otherwise caused by, arising out of, resulting from or in any manner connected with, the execution, delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents, the Loans and any and all transactions related to or consummated in connection with the Loans. The indemnity set forth in this Section 9.16 shall be in addition to any other obligations or liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders, or at common law or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 9.16 shall survive the payment of the Bank Indebtedness and the termination of this Agreement. The foregoing provisions of this Section 9.16 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower shall not be obligated to indemnify an indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 9.16 for (i) any losses, liabilities, damages, claims or costs suffered or incurred by any of them in connection with the administrative transfer of funds in connection with this Agreement and which arise directly from the such indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct, or (ii) any other losses, liabilities, damages, claims, or costs which arise directly from the such indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct. All amounts owed pursuant to this Section 9.16 shall be part of the Bank Indebtedness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9.16, no indemnified Person shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents, the Loans, any obligations hereunder or thereunder, or any and all transactions related to or consummated in connection therewith. 9.17 Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendment, modification, extension or renewal hereto or hereof may be executed in several counterparts and by each party on a separate counterpart, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. In proving this Agreement or any amendment, modification, extension or renewal, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by the other party against whom enforcement is sought. 9.18 Confidentiality. (a) Each of the Lenders agrees that it will not to disclose without the prior consent of the Borrower (other than to its directors, employees, auditors, counsel or other professional advisors, to affiliates or to another Lender if the Lender or such Lender's holding or parent company in its sole discretion determines that any such party should have access to such information, provided that such Persons shall be subject to the provisions of 57 this Section 9.18) any information with respect to the Borrower which is now or in the future furnished pursuant to this Agreement or any Loan Document and that it will use such information in accordance with its compliance policies, contractual obligations and applicable law, including federal securities laws and state securities laws; provided that any Lender may disclose any such information (a) as has become generally available to the public, (b) as may be required or appropriate (x) in any report, statement or testimony submitted to any municipal, state or Federal regulatory body having or claiming to have jurisdiction over such Lender or to the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or similar organizations (whether in the United States or elsewhere) or their successors or (y) in connection with any request or requirement of any such regulatory body, (c) as may be required or appropriate in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, provided that such Lender shall give the Borrower prior notice of such disclosure with an opportunity to object, (d) to comply with any law, order, regulation or ruling, which is in the opinion of such Lender's counsel, applicable to such Lender, and (e) to any creditor or any prospective transferee or participant in connection with any contemplated transfer or participation of any of the obligations under this agreement or any interest therein by such Lender; provided that such creditor or prospective transferee or participant agrees to be bound by this Section 9.18 to the same extent as such Lender. (b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement or in any other document, agreement or understanding relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each party (and each employee, representative, or other agent of such party) is authorized to disclose to any and all persons, beginning immediately upon commencement of discussions regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of such transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to such party (or any employee, representative, or other agent of such party) relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For purposes of this authorization, the "tax treatment" of a transaction means the purported or claimed U.S. federal or state income tax treatment of the transaction, and the "tax structure" of a transaction means any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed U.S. federal or state income tax treatment of the transaction. None of the parties to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement provides U.S. tax advice, and each party should consult its own advisors regarding its participation in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 58 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, have caused this Credit Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above. NUI UTILITIES, INC. By: /s/ Victor A. Fortkiewicz --------------------------------------- Name: Victor A. Fortkiewicz Title: President CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch in its capacity as the Administrative Agent and as the Collateral Agent hereunder By: /s/ Dana F. Klein --------------------------------------- Name: Dana F. Klein Title: Managing Director By:/s/ S. William Fox --------------------------------------- Name: S. William Fox Title: Director IN WITNESS WHEREOF, intending to be legally bound hereby, the undersigned Lender has caused this Credit Agreement by and among NUI UTILITIES, INC., THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, to be executed by its duly authorized officers as of the date first above written. CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch By:/s/ Dana F. Klein --------------------------------------- Name: Dana F. Klein Title: Managing Director By:/s/ S. William Fox --------------------------------------- Name: S. William Fox Title: Director EX-10.2 3 exh_10-2.txt AMENDMENT #3 TO NUI CREDIT AGREEMENT AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (NUI CORPORATION) AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (NUI CORPORATION), dated as of August 20, 2004 (this "Agreement"), among NUI CORPORATION, a New Jersey Corporation (the "Borrower"), CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the "Agent") for the several banks and other financial institutions party to the Credit Agreement referred to below, the Guarantors party hereto and the Lenders listed in the Annex I hereto. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT Reference is made to (i) that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 24, 2003 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among the Borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto and the Agent, (ii) that certain Agreement dated January 26, 2004 by which the Borrower and the Required Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) agreed to certain extensions, waivers, consents and amendments under the Credit Agreement including without limitation certain amendments to Sections 2.2c and 5.16 of the Credit Agreement, (iii) that certain Agreement dated March 12, 2004 by which the Borrower and the Required Lenders agreed to certain waivers, deferrals and consents and (iv) that certain Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 10, 2004 by which the Borrower and the Required Lenders agreed to certain amendments under the Credit Agreement. The Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended as provided herein and the Required Lenders have agreed to the requested amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein and have directed the Agent to enter into this Agreement for and on their behalf. In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: AGREEMENT SECTION 1. Definitions; Rules of Construction. Each term capitalized herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Credit Agreement. Rules of construction or interpretation set forth in the Credit Agreement shall apply to the interpretation of this Agreement. SECTION 2. Amendments. Subject to Section 5(b) of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows: (a) The preamble of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 24, 2003, by and among NUI CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation (as further defined below, the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed on the signature pages hereto, the financial institutions listed on Schedule 2.1A hereto and each other financial institution which, from time to time, becomes a party hereto in accordance with Subsection 9.6a (individually, a "Lender" and collectively, the "Lenders"), and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the "Agent") and Lead Arranger (in such capacity, the "Lead Arranger") and Bookrunner." (b) The definitions of "Confidential Information Memorandum", "Consolidated EBITDA", "Consolidated Interest Expense", "Consolidated Net Income", "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity", "Consolidated Total Indebtedness", "Loans", "Term Loans" and "Termination Date" in Section 1.1 are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "Confidential Information Memorandum" means that certain Confidential Information Memorandum dated November 2003 and made available to the Lenders prior to the Closing Date together with that certain Lender Presentation dated July 2004 and made available to the Lenders prior to the Additional Term Loan Closing Date. "Consolidated EBITDA" for any period means, with respect to the Borrower Consolidated Net Income before interest and taxes, plus (to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income) (i) depreciation, amortization and other similar non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period), (ii) extraordinary losses, losses in connection with asset sales (other than ordinary course sales including sales of inventory) or restructuring charges, (iii) non-recurring items of loss and expense relating to the credit facilities provided hereby to the extent not otherwise reflected in Consolidated Net Income, (iv) all fees and expenses associated with the sale of the Borrower or any of its assets, (v) all fees, expenses and settlement costs (including the NJBPU Settlement Amount) related to the Focused Audit, Stier Anderson, New Jersey AG Settlement, SEC Inquiry and Florida Settlement, (vi) all severance and retention expenses in the amount of up to $5,000,000, (vii) all litigation fees, expenses, settlement costs, judgments and reserve charges related to shareholder litigation in the aggregate amount of up to $2,000,000, (viii) expenses in connection with explosions and fires related to gas accidents that have occurred prior to July 14, 2004 in the aggregate amount of up to $4,000,000, (ix) all payments related to the Patriot pipeline and Saltville storage contracts held by NUI Energy Brokers, (x) all fees, expenses and impairment charges related to the winding down of NUI Energy Brokers and T.I.C. Enterprises, (xi) all commissions and impairment charges related to the sub-leasing of excess office space, (xii) all fees, expenses and prepayment premiums in connection with any 2 prepayment of the Medium Term Notes, (xiii) fees and expenses related to amendments to the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement, and (xiv) all fees and expenses related to the Additional Term Loans, Amendment No. 3, and all prior amendments to, and waivers under, this Agreement, the Extension Fee and the Additional Extension Fee; minus (to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income) extraordinary gains or gains in connection with asset sales (other than ordinary course sales including sales of inventory). "Consolidated Interest Expense" means for any period the amount of interest expense, both expensed and capitalized, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, net of cash interest income of the Borrower determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, for such period on the aggregate principal amount of their Indebtedness, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding, in any event (to the extent otherwise included), one-time financing fees relating to the credit facilities provided hereby, by any agreement to refinance or otherwise extend the maturity of the Medium Term Notes as permitted hereunder, by the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement, by the Existing Credit Agreement, by the NUI Utilities Secured Facility or the Existing Credit Agreements (as defined in the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement), interest payments with respect to the NUI Utilities Secured Facility and interest payments that will accrue to the maturity of the Medium Term Notes (to the extent that the Delayed Draw Term Loans are drawn)). "Consolidated Net Income" means for any period, net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (plus, in any event (to the extent otherwise deducted therefrom), one-time financing fees relating to the credit facilities provided hereby or any agreement to refinance or otherwise extend the maturity of the Medium Term Notes as permitted hereunder, by the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement, by the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, the Existing Credit Agreement or the Existing Credit Agreements (as defined in the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement), without giving effect to any non-cash gain, any non-cash loss or any reversals or adjustments to, or failure to recognize, revenue due to changes in applicable U.S. accounting rules and regulations, in each case to the extent reasonably acceptable to the Agent, including without limitation due to the implementation, effective as of October 25, 2002, of EITF 02-03 ("Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities"), the effects of which EITF implementation are hereby deemed acceptable to the Agent. "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity" means the total of those items enumerated under the heading "Common Shareholders' Equity" in the Borrower's relevant balance sheets determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, plus (to the extent deducted in determining such total and on an after-tax basis) (i) all fees and expenses associated with the sale of the Borrower or any of its assets, (ii) all fees, expenses and settlement costs 3 (including the NJBPU Settlement Amount) related to the Focused Audit, Stier Anderson, New Jersey AG Settlement, SEC Inquiry and Florida Settlement, (iii) all severance and retention expenses in the amount of up to $5,000,000, (iv) all litigation fees, expenses, settlement costs, judgments and reserve charges related to shareholder litigation in the aggregate amount of up to $2,000,000, (v) expenses in connection with explosions and fires related to gas accidents that have occurred prior to July 14, 2004 in the aggregate amount of up to $4,000,000, (vi) all payments related to the Patriot pipeline and Saltville storage contracts held by NUI Energy Brokers, (vii) all fees, expenses and impairment charges related to the winding down of NUI Energy Brokers and T.I.C. Enterprises, (viii) all commissions and impairment charges related to the sub-leasing of excess office space, (ix) all fees, expenses and prepayment premiums in connection with any prepayment of the Medium Term Notes, (x) fees and expenses related to amendments to the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement, and (xi) all fees and expenses related to the Additional Term Loans, Amendment No. 3, and all prior amendments to, and waivers under, this Agreement, the Extension Fee and the Additional Extension Fee. "Consolidated Total Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied. Solely for purposes of this definition, (A) the term "Indebtedness" shall not include (i) letter of credit reimbursement obligations except with respect to drawings actually made under letters of credit which then remain unreimbursed, (ii) Hedging Obligations, and (iii) the outstanding principal amount of the NUI Utilities Secured Facility and (B) if any portion of the Medium Term Notes and the Delayed Draw Term Loans are outstanding at such time, the term "Indebtedness" shall not include the principal amount of the Medium Term Notes to the extent that the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans are held by and under the control of an agent or trustee on behalf of holders of Medium Term Notes in a securities or deposit account or as otherwise provided in Section 4.1 of the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement. "Loans" means the Term Loans and the Additional Term Loans. "Termination Date" means (a) in the case of the Term Loans, November 21, 2005, as extended pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.6, and (b) in the case of the Additional Term Loans, November 21, 2005, unless, in each case, earlier terminated in accordance with the terms hereof. "Term Loans" means the term loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1a(i). (c) The following new definitions are hereby added to Section 1.1 which shall appear in alphabetical order and shall read as follows: 4 "Acquisition" means the acquisition of substantially all of the assets or all of the capital stock of the Borrower by AGL, Cougar Corporation or any other Affiliate of AGL. "Acquisition Agreement" means the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of July 14, 2004 by and among AGL, Cougar Corporation and the Borrower. "Additional Extension Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4b(b). "Additional Term Loans" means the additional term loans made by certain of the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1a(ii). "Additional Term Loan Commitment" means, as to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Additional Term Loans available to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1a(ii) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 2.1A (as such amount may change from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof, or, in the case of a Purchasing Lender, in its Assignment and Assumption Agreement) and, as to all Lenders, the obligation of the Lenders to make Additional Term Loans available to the Borrower in an aggregate amount equal to the Additional Term Loan Commitments of all of the Lenders. "Additional Term Loan Closing" means extension of the Additional Term Loans, including by funding the proceeds thereof into the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 6 of Amendment No. 3, subject to satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent with respect thereto. "Additional Term Loan Closing Date" means the day on which the Additional Term Loan Closing occurs; provided that, unless the Lenders agree otherwise, such date shall not be later than September 30, 2004. "AGL" means AGL Resources Inc., a Georgia corporation. "Amendment No. 3" means Agreement and Amendment No. 3 to this Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004 among the Borrower, the Agent on behalf of the Required Lenders, the Guarantors party thereto and the Lenders listed on Schedule 2.1A hereto. "Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement" means Agreement and Amendment No. 3 to NUI Utilities Credit Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004 among NUI Utilities and the Agent thereunder on behalf of the Required Lenders thereunder. "Cougar Corporation" means Cougar Corporation, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGL. "Extension Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4b(b). 5 "Florida Settlement" means the anticipated settlement agreement between the Borrower and the Florida Public Service Commission, for which the Borrower has established a pre-tax reserve of approximately $2,600,000, any fines contemplated thereby, and all actions and negotiations in respect thereof. "FPSC" means the Florida Public Service Commission. "FPSC Approval" has the meaning given it in Section 6.3(xii). "Loan Request" has the meaning given it in Section 2.1d. "New Facilities Fee Letter" has the meaning given to it in Section 2.4b(a). "New Jersey AG Settlement" means the plea agreement and the letter agreement, each dated June 30, 2004, between NUI Energy Brokers and the New Jersey Attorney General's office, any fines and community service programs contemplated by such letters, and all actions and negotiations in respect thereof. "NJBPU Approval" has the meaning given to it in Section 3.11. "NUI Utilities Secured Facility" means a senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $75,000,000 to be made available to NUI Utilities on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date. "SEC Inquiry" means the informal inquiry that the Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2003 advised the Borrower it was conducting into trading practices at NUI Energy Brokers. "Standby Bond Purchase Agreement" means the amended and restated standby bond purchase agreement, dated as of June 12, 2001 among NUI Utilities, the Participating Banks referred to therein and The Bank of New York, as purchasing bank. "Stier Anderson" means Stier Anderson, L.L.C. and its investigation of and report on the Borrower and/or the Borrower's Subsidiaries, including NUI Energy Brokers. "T.I.C. Enterprises" means T.I.C. Enterprises, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company. (d) The definition of "Permitted Encumbrances" in Section 1.1 is hereby amended by deleting the word "and" after clause (ix) thereof and inserting a new clause (xi) after clause (x) thereof to read as follows: "; and (xi) security interests in favor of lenders under the NUI Utilities Secured Facility." 6 (e) Section 2.1a is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "2.1a Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, (i) each Lender (with a commitment therefor) severally agrees to make a term loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount equal to the amount set forth on Schedule 2.1 opposite its name and (ii) each Lender (with a commitment therefor) severally agrees to make a term loan to the Borrower on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date specified in the Loan Request in a principal amount equal to the amount set forth on Schedule 2.1A opposite its name. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of the Loans may not be reborrowed." (f) The last sentence of Section 2.1b is hereby amended to read as follows: "The Lenders shall have no obligations to make Term Loans hereunder after the Closing Date or Additional Term Loans hereunder after the Additional Term Loan Closing Date." (g) New Section 2.1d is hereby added which shall read as follows: "2.1d Loan Request. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Borrower may request the Lenders to make the Additional Term Loans to the Borrower by the delivery to the Administrative Agent, not later than 12:00 Noon (Eastern time) (x) three Business Days prior to the proposed Additional Term Loan Closing Date with respect to the making of Additional Term Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies and (y) one Business Day prior to the proposed Additional Term Loan Closing Date with respect to the making of the Additional Term Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies of a duly completed request therefor or a request by telephone immediately confirmed in writing by letter or facsimile transmission in such form (the "Loan Request"), it being understood that the Administrative Agent may rely on the authority of any person making such a telephonic request without the necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. The Loan Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the proposed Additional Term Loan Closing Date; (ii) the aggregate amount of the Additional Term Loans to be made on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date, which amount, as to Base Rate Portions, shall be in integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 and, as to Euro-Rate Portions, shall be in integral multiples of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000; (iii) whether the Euro-Rate Option or the Base Rate Option shall apply to the Additional Term Loans to be made on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date; (iv) in the case of the Additional Term Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies, an appropriate Interest Period for 7 each Euro-Rate Portion of the Additional Term Loans to be made on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date; and (v) the remittance instructions. (h) New Section 2.1e is hereby added which shall read as follows: "2.1e Making Loans. Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of the Additional Term Loans to the Agent such that the Agent is able to, and the Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such purpose, fund such Additional Term Loans to the Borrower in Dollars and immediately available funds in an account specified by the Borrower to the Agent in the Loan Request, prior to 2:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date set forth in the Loan Request, provided that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Agent in a timely manner, or any Lender fails to advise the Agent of its intention not to fund, then the Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Additional Term Loans of such Lender on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date, subject to the provisions of Section 8.3 below." (i) Section 2.4b(a) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of the Agent, the fees required to be paid by it as set forth in that certain letter agreement between the Borrower and CSFB (the "Fee Letter") dated as of October 31, 2003 and in that certain letter agreement among the Borrower, the Agent and NUI Utilities (the "New Facilities Fee Letter") dated as of July 14, 2004, in each case, as the same may be amended from time to time by the parties thereto, and as and when payment of such fees is due as set forth therein." (j) Section 2.4b(b) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "(b) Upon extension of the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.6, the Borrower shall pay the Lenders an extension fee prior to or on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date in an amount equal to 0.50% of the aggregate amount of Term Loans then outstanding (the "Extension Fee"). On May 22, 2005 the Borrower shall pay the Lenders an additional fee in an amount equal to 0.50% of the aggregate amount of Term Loans then outstanding (the "Additional Extension Fee")." (k) Section 2.6 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "2.6 Extension of Termination Date. The Termination Date is hereby extended until November 21, 2005 subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement is at the same time extended in accordance with the terms thereof (or refinanced on 8 terms reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders), (ii) the maturity of the Medium Term Notes has been extended to a date no earlier than June 30, 2006 (without any scheduled amortization thereof prior to such date) (either by amendment or refinancing thereof, on terms reasonably acceptable to the Agent, it being understood that a refinancing thereof through the incurrence of Delayed Draw Term Loans is reasonably acceptable to the Agent), (iii) the Borrower shall deposit into the Interest Reserve Account an amount sufficient to cause the amount then on deposit to be equal to interest to accrue on the then outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans hereunder to the Termination Date as extended (based upon an assumed interest rate which, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent, approximates the average projected interest rate with respect to the Term Loans hereunder), and (iv) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.". (l) The references to the "Term Loans" in the second sentence of Section 2.13 are each hereby amended to read as "Loans". (m) The phrase "(or in the case of any issuance of Equity Securities of the Borrower, 50%)" in the first paragraph of Section 2.14 is hereby deleted in its entirety. (n) The reference to the "Term Loans" in the first sentence of Section 2.14(b) is hereby amended to read as "Loans". (o) Section 2.14(c) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "(c) Upon (i) the occurrence of any event described in Section 7.10 hereof with respect to the Borrower or NUI Utilities (including, without limitation, the consummation of the Acquisition), (ii) the refinancing in full of loans and commitments under the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement or the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, in each case other than with proceeds of Indebtedness the terms of which are reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders or (iii) the Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant set forth in clause (ii) of Section 4.11, then the Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement shall become immediately due and payable.". (p) The last sentence of Section 3.5 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "Except as has otherwise been fully disclosed in the Borrower's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2002, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003 and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2003, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and 9 November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Confidential Information Memorandum, since September 30, 2003, nothing has occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect." (q) The first sentence of Section 3.6 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2003, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Confidential Information Memorandum, there are no actions, suits, investigations, litigation or proceedings at law or in equity pending or, to the Borrower's knowledge, threatened against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, which (i) would have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) involve any Loan Document or the transactions hereunder." (r) Section 3.10 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "3.10 Environmental Matters. Except to the extent described in the Borrower's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2003, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Confidential Information Memorandum, the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, except for matters which do not have a Material Adverse Effect." (s) The word "No" at the beginning of the first sentence of Section 3.11 is hereby deleted and replaced with the following phrase in the place thereof: "Other than approval by the NJBPU (the "NJBPU Approval"), no". (t) The last sentence of Section 3.19 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: 10 "There are no arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, complaints, representation proceedings or grievances pending against or involving the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Borrower's knowledge, are there any threatened involving the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to individual or group employment, collective bargaining agreements, union organizing or other activities, or employment or other labor matters, other than those which, in the aggregate, would have no Material Adverse Effect." (u) Section 4.1 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "4.1 Use of Proceeds. (a) The proceeds of the Term Loans will be used by the Borrower on the Closing Date first (i) to fund the Interest Reserve Account in accordance with the Collateral Account Agreement, (ii) to repay in full all amounts outstanding under and terminate (a) the Existing Credit Agreement, (b) the Existing Senior Notes, and (c) all intercompany indebtedness owing to NUI Utilities, and (iii) to pay related fees and expenses incurred in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents. Thereafter proceeds of the Term Loans may be used by the Borrower solely (i) for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower, and (ii) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower. (b) The proceeds of the Additional Term Loans will be used by the Borrower on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date first (i) to fund the Interest Reserve Account pursuant to Section 6.3(v) hereof and in accordance with the Collateral Account Agreement, and (ii) to pay related fees and expenses incurred in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents with respect to the Additional Term Loans. Thereafter proceeds of the Additional Term Loans may be used by the Borrower solely (i) for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower, and (ii) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower, including the funding of the Interest Reserve Account pursuant to Section 2.6(iii)." (v) The references to "10 days" in Sections 4.2(i) and 4.2(ii) are each hereby amended to read as "30 days". (w) The last sentence of Section 4.7 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "The Borrower will certify in the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Subsection 4.2(iii) hereof that such insurance is in force, provides coverage consistent with the preceding sentence and complies with the Borrower's obligations under this Section 4.7." (x) Clause (c) of Section 5.1(iii) is hereby deleted in its entirety and proviso at the end thereof is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "provided, that (x) in the case of the Restricted Payments under clauses (ii) and (iii) above, prior to or immediately after giving effect to such proposed Restricted Payments, no Potential Default or Event of Default shall have existed or would exist and (y) in the case of all Restricted Payments, no such payment shall violate any Governmental Rule". (y) Section 5.3a is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "5.3a Leverage Ratio. At no time shall its ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness to its Consolidated Total Capitalization exceed 0.80:1.00; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the covenant of this Section 5.3a until the earlier of (x) December 31, 2004 and (y) the termination, if any, of the Acquisition Agreement, and such non-compliance shall not constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have to continue within such period of time to deliver a Compliance Certificate pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.2(iii) hereof with the appropriate qualifications)." (z) Section 5.3b is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "5.3b Interest Coverage Ratio. At no time shall the Borrower permit, for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or after December 31, 2003 the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, to be less than 1.25 to 1.00; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the covenant of this Section 5.3b until the earlier of (x) December 31, 2004 and (y) the termination, if any, of the Acquisition Agreement, and such non-compliance shall not constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have to continue within such period of time to deliver a Compliance Certificate pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.2(iii) hereof with the appropriate qualifications)." (aa) Section 5.6(i) is hereby amended by inserting the new phrase after the words "(provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation)" at the end of Section 5.6(i) which shall read as follows: "(for the avoidance of doubt, the entering by the Borrower into the Acquisition Agreement shall not be deemed a violation of the requirements of this Section 5.6(i); provided that the 12 consummation of the Acquisition shall constitute a change of control for the purpose of Section 7.10 hereof)". (bb) Section 5.9 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "5.9 Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower shall not permit its Subsidiaries or divisions (including, without limitation, any Restricted Subsidiary) to enter into or otherwise be bound by any agreement not to pay dividends or make distributions to the Borrower, except for (i) the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement, the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement and the NUI Utilities' settlement with the NJBPU relating to the Focused Audit, and (ii) such agreements existing on the date hereof which have been fully disclosed in writing to Agent and replacements of such agreements (provided that copies of such replacement agreements are provided to the Agent and are no more restrictive in any material respect than those agreements being replaced). (cc) Clause (e) of Section 5.13 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "(e) Indebtedness of NUI Utilities under (i) the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement, as amended, extended or otherwise modified in accordance with its terms, and (ii) the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, as amended, extended or otherwise modified in accordance with its terms and, in each case without duplication as to the other exceptions under this Section 5.13, other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by NUI Utilities under both the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement and the NUI Utilities Secured Facility;". (dd) New clause (m) is hereby added to Section 5.13 which shall read as follows: "(m) intercompany Indebtedness incurred in connection with the provision of services in the ordinary course of business;". (ee) The word "and" after clause (j) of Section 5.16 is hereby deleted and new clause (l) and clause (m) are added to Section 5.16 which shall read as follows: "(l) intercompany loans and advances in connection with the provision of services in the ordinary course of business; and (m) advance payments by NUI Utilities to gas suppliers.". (ff) Section 5.17 is hereby amended by inserting after the phrase "Indebtedness under the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement," the new phrase which shall read as follows: 13 "Indebtedness under the NUI Utilities Secured Facility,". (gg) Clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 5.18 are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following clauses (ii) and (iii) in the place thereof: "(ii) the repayment of the intercompany receivables owing from the Borrower to NUI Utilities or from NUI Utilities to the Borrower, or (iii) the movement of employees between the Borrower and NUI Utilities, in each case provided at cost (if applicable), shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.18.". (hh) The words "Potential Default or" are hereby deleted from Section 6.1a. (ii) Section 6.1c is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "6.1c Extension of Credit Requirements. The Borrower shall have complied with the requirements of Section 2.1d, 2.2c and 2.2e, as appropriate, with respect to the requested extension of credit.". (jj) New Section 6.3 is hereby added to Article VI and shall read as follows: "6.3. Conditions Precedent to Extension of Credit Under Additional Term Loan Commitments. The obligation of the Lenders with the Additional Term Loan Commitments to make the extensions of credit hereunder (it being understood for the purposes of this Section 6.3 that the release of funds from the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 6 of Amendment No. 3 shall not be deemed to be an extension of credit under the Additional Term Loan Commitments) are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent in addition to the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.1 hereof and Section 5(a) of Amendment No. 3: (i) Each of Amendment No. 3 and Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement shall have become effective in accordance with the terms thereof (ii) Receipt by the Agent on behalf of each requesting Lender of a promissory note pursuant to Section 2.1c(e), made payable to such Lender in the amount of such Lender's Additional Term Loan Commitment and otherwise properly completed and executed by the Borrower. (iii) The conditions precedent to the extension of credits under the NUI Utilities Secured Facilities shall have been satisfied or waived in 14 accordance with the terms thereof and the NUI Utilities Secured Facilities shall have become effective in accordance with the term thereof. (iv) Receipt by the Agent of the evidence of deposit by the Borrower into the Interest Reserve Account an amount equal to interest to accrue on the principal amount of the Additional Term Loans hereunder to the Termination Date (based upon an assumed interest rate which, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent, approximates the average projected interest rate with respect to the Additional Term Loans hereunder). (v) Receipt by the Agent on behalf of each Lender of a signed opinion of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae L.L.P., special regulatory counsel for the Borrower, dated as of the Additional Term Loan Closing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (vi) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article III and of each Guarantor in the Guaranty Agreement and in the other Loan Documents executed and delivered by the Borrower in connection with the Additional Term Loan Closing shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Additional Term Loan Closing Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date (except representations and warranties which relate solely to an earlier date or time, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct on and as of the specific date or times referred to therein), the Borrower and each Guarantor shall have performed, observed and complied with all covenants and conditions hereof and contained in the other Loan Documents to which each is a party; no Event of Default under this Agreement shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist; except as disclosed in the Borrower's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2002 , Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Confidential Information Memorandum, nothing has occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect; and there shall be delivered to the Agent, for the benefit of each Lender and the Agent, a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Additional Term Loan Closing Date and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, to each such effect. (vii) Receipt by the Agent on its own behalf and on behalf of the Lenders of all Fees due and payable on or prior to the Additional Term Loan Closing Date and all invoiced reimbursable expenses incurred on or prior to the Additional Term Loan Closing Date. 15 (viii) The Medium Term Notes shall have been refinanced or satisfied and discharged through the incurrence of Delayed Draw Term Loans. (ix) The Termination Date of the Term Loans hereunder and the Termination Date (as such term is defined in the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement) under the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement shall have been extended and the Extension Fee payable hereunder and the Extension Fee (as such term is defined in the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement) payable under the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement shall have been paid, in each case prior to or on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. (x) The Acquisition Agreement shall be in full force and effect on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date. (xi) All action, orders, authorizations, consents, licenses, validations or approvals of, or notices to, filings, recordings, or registration with, or exemptions by, any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, the NJBPU Approval, required to authorize (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the Amendment No. 3 or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or the transaction hereunder or thereunder or (ii) the legality, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the Amendment No. 3 or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, shall have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, all applicable appeal periods shall have expired (other than with respect to the NJBPU Approval) and there shall be no litigation, governmental, administrative or judicial action that could reasonably be expected to restrain, prevent or impose burdensome conditions on the transactions contemplated hereby. (xii) Receipt by the Agent of the satisfactory evidence that approval by the FPSC in connection with the NUI Secured Facility and Amendment No. 3 to NUI Utilities Credit Agreement (the "FPSC Approval") has been obtained in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. (xiii) The Agent and the Lenders shall have received such other documents as the Agent, its counsel or any Lender may reasonably request, other than documents substantially similar to those required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(a) of Amendment No. 3. (kk) The reference to "$2,500,000" in Sections 7.7(i) is hereby amended to read as "$10,000,000". 16 (ll) Section 7.7(ii) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "or (ii) any one or more fines, penalties, injunctions, charges, orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or any similar action or process (other than (x) in connection with the Focused Audit and (y) any costs related to the Focused Audit) has been levied, issued, entered or filed against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties in connection with any actual or purported conflict with or violation or breach by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Governmental Rule (or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any agreement or makes any payment in connection with any vacating, stay, settlement or dismissal of any such claim or charge (whether or not such payment by its terms constitutes an admission of liability)), in an aggregate amount, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries collectively, of $10,000,000 or more (if monetary) or which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect in the reasonable judgment of the Required Lenders (if non-monetary), and failure of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to vacate, stay or contest in good faith (by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted and as to which the Borrower shall have set aside on its books reserves for such claims as are determined to be adequate in accordance with GAAP) such fines, penalties, charges, orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or other action or process within a period of 30 days (or, in the case of contesting the same, the failure of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to diligently conduct such contest thereafter).". (mm) Section 7.11 is hereby amended by inserting after the phrase "a final decision" the new phrase which shall read as follows: "(other than in connection with the Focused Audit)". (nn) Sections 9.3 is hereby amended by adding after Borrower's address the new subsection to read as follows: "with a copy to: Joseph Brazil, Esq. White & Case LLP 1155 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 Telecopier: (212) 354-8113 Telephone: (212) 819-8401". (oo) Section 9.6a(i) is hereby amended by inserting after the words "the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement " the new phrase which shall read as follows: 17 "(except in the case of the assignment of the Additional Term Loans or the Additional Term Loan Commitments)". (pp) The references to "the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement" in Section 9.6a(ii) are each hereby amended to read as "the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement (if applicable)". (qq) Section 3 of the form of Compliance Certificate attached as Exhibit F to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting after the words "Required Ratio" the footnote which shall read as follows: "Subject to Sections 5.3a and 5.3b of the Agreement.". (rr) Schedule 2.1A is hereby added to the Credit Agreement which Schedule 2.1A shall be in the form as set forth in Annex I hereto. SECTION 3. Representation and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants as of the date hereof to each of the Agent and the Lenders that after giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement effective as of the date hereof: (a) The Borrower has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and has taken all corporate actions necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; (b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower by a duly authorized officer or attorney-in-fact of the Borrower; (c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not violate any requirement of law or any material contractual obligation binding on the Borrower; and (d) No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, except for such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect (other than the NJBPU Approval (as defined in Section 2(c) hereof)). The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the representations and warranties set forth above shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and shall be deemed made in the Credit Agreement for purposes of Section 7.6 of the Credit Agreement. SECTION 4. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower listed on the signature pages hereof (each, a "Guarantor") joins in the execution of this Agreement for purposes of acknowledging and consenting to the terms of this Agreement and reaffirming its guaranty obligations under the Guaranty Agreement. 18 SECTION 5. Effectiveness. (a) This Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 2 hereof) shall become effective subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) Receipt by the Agent of the consents of Lenders constituting the Required Lenders. (ii) Receipt by the Agent of the counterparts of this Agreement that, when taken together, bear the signatures of the Borrower, the Lenders listed in the Annex I hereto, the Guarantors, and the Agent. (iii) Receipt by the Agent of a copy of Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement (as defined in Section 2(c) hereof) executed by the agent under the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement on behalf of the Required Lenders thereunder and NUI Utilities, which Amendment (other than Section 2 thereof) shall have become effective in accordance with the terms thereof. (iv) Receipt by the Agent of all of the Agent's reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) for which invoices have been submitted to the Borrower. (v) Receipt by the Agent of a certified copy (certified by the appropriate governmental official) of the Borrower's Certificate of Incorporation which certification is dated not more than 30 days prior to the date hereof. (vi) Receipt by the Agent of a certificate, duly certified as of the date hereof by the secretary or assistant secretary of the Borrower, as to (A) the By-Laws of the Borrower, in effect as of the date hereof, (B) the resolutions of the Borrower's Board of Directors authorizing the borrowing of the Additional Term Loans (as defined in the Section 2(c) hereof) and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and all documents supplemental hereto, and (C) the names of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party and all supplemental documentation, and which contains a true signature of each such officer. (vii) Receipt by the Agent of a good standing certificate for the Borrower from the Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey dated not more than 30 days prior to the date hereof. (viii) Receipt by the Agent of a solvency certificate in the form of Exhibit I to the Credit Agreement. (ix) Receipt by the Agent on behalf of each Lender of a signed opinion of (a) Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus, P.A., New Jersey counsel to the Borrower, (b) White & Case LLP, special counsel for the Borrower, and (c) LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae L.L.P., special regulatory counsel for the Borrower, in each 19 case, dated as of the date hereof and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel. (x) The Acquisition Agreement shall be in full force and effect on the date hereof. (xi) The Agent shall have received documentation and other information requested by it and required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable "know your customer" and Anti-Money Laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the USA Patriot Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001). Such documentation shall include, without limitation, evidence satisfactory to the Agent of (y) the listing of Capital Stock of the Borrower on the New York Stock Exchange and (z) the Borrower's ownership of all of the outstanding equity interests of NUI Utilities. (xii) The Agent and the Lenders shall have received such other documents as the Agent, its counsel or any Lender may reasonably request. (b) The provisions of Section 2 hereof shall become effective subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) the other provisions of this Agreement shall have become effective in accordance with the terms thereof, (ii) the Agent receives on behalf of each Lender consenting to this Agreement at or prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time) on Monday, July 26, 2004, an amendment fee equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of such Lender's Term Loans then outstanding (the "Amendment Fee"); provided that the Amendment Fee shall be payable only if the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained and (iii) the Agent receives the evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. SECTION 6. Escrow Arrangement. (a) At any time prior to the obtaining of the NJBPU Approval and/or the FPSC Approval, the Borrower shall have an option to request, and the Agent and each Lender hereby agrees, subject to satisfaction of the conditions of Section 5(a) of this Agreement and Sections 2.6 and 6.3 of the Credit Agreement (determined as if Section 2 hereof had been given effect)(other than (x) the obtaining of the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval, (y) the effectiveness of Section 2 hereof and Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement and (z) the extension of the Termination Date under each of the Credit Agreement and the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement), and receipt by the Agent of at least three Business Days prior written notice thereof, that each Lender shall make Additional Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.1; provided that (i) (A) the proceeds of the Additional Term Loans, (B) the funds to be deposited into the Interest Reserve Account pursuant to Section 2.6 and Section 6.3(v) of the Credit Agreement (determined as if Section 2 hereof had been given effect), (C) the Extension Fee under the Credit Agreement, (D) the Amendment Fee hereunder (but not the costs and expenses under Section 5(a)(iii) hereof), and (E) the Arrangement Fee (as such term is defined in the New Facilities Fee Letter) and all other fees then due and payable on the Additional Term Loans Closing 20 Date pursuant to the New Facilities Fee Letter to be funded into an escrow account maintained by the Agent at The Bank of New York (the "Escrow Account") and (ii) all invoiced reimbursable expenses of the Agent incurred on or prior to the date of such funding (including without limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent's special counsel, Dewey Ballantine LLP) shall be paid by the Borrower prior to or substantially contemporaneously with funding the proceeds of the Additional Term Loans into the Escrow Account. All of such funds shall be automatically released on the date when the Agent receives the evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 and Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Utilities Credit Agreement shall have become effective (regardless of whether the other conditions set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.3 of the Credit Agreement could be met at such time) to the respective payees as follows: (x) the Agent shall receive, for the account of each Lender, an amount equal to the sum of the fees specified in clauses (C) and (D) above, (y) CSFB shall receive, for its own account, an aggregate amount equal to the Arrangement Fee and all other fees and expenses then due and payable pursuant hereto or the New Facilities Fee Letter, and (z) the Borrower shall receive the remainder of the funds in the Escrow Account. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the interest on the Additional Term Loans shall start to accrue and shall be payable to the Lenders from the date of funding of the proceeds of the Additional Term Loans into the Escrow Account, and (ii) funds in the Escrow Account shall bear interest from such date and such interest shall be paid to the Borrower on the date when such funds are released or returned, as the case may be. (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if funds held in the Escrow Account are not released on or prior to September 30, 2004 (due to the failure to obtain the NJBPU Approval or the FPSC Approval), then (i) the provisions of Section 2 hereof shall be null and void, (ii) the Borrower shall then owe a fee (the "Release Fee") to the Lenders in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of interest which would have accrued on the Additional Term Loans from the date escrowed through September 30, 2004, (iii) all funds held in the Escrow Account shall be distributed on September 30, 2004 as follows: (A) the Agent shall receive for the account of each Lender an aggregate amount equal to the proceeds of the Additional Term Loans and the Release Fee, and (B) the Borrower shall receive the remainder of the funds, if any, in the Escrow Account; provided that in the event that the funds held in the Escrow Account are not sufficient to make the distribution set forth in clause (iii)(A) above the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender the amount of such deficiency, and (iv) the compensation, reimbursement and indemnification provisions contained in the Commitment Letter dated as of July 14, 2004, among the Borrower, NUI Utilities and CSFB and in the New Facilities Fee Letter shall be reinstated and in full force and effect on and from the date thereof. SECTION 7. Miscellaneous. (a) Except as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall not, by implication or otherwise, limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Agent, under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements 21 contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle the Borrower to a consent to, or a waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement in similar or different circumstances. This Agreement shall apply and be effective only with respect to the provisions of the Credit Agreement specifically referred to herein. Upon this Agreement becoming effective as provided herein, the term "Loan Document" as defined in the Credit Agreement shall include, without limitation, this Agreement. (b) As used in the Credit Agreement, the terms "Agreement," "herein," "hereinafter," "hereunder," "hereto," and words of similar import shall mean, from and after the date this Agreement becomes effective, the Credit Agreement as amended by this Agreement. (c) Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement. (d) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The parties hereto each hereby consent to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of New York and irrevocably waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or relating to this Agreement. (e) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by fax will be deemed as effective as delivery of an originally executed counterpart. 22 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the date first written above. NUI CORPORATION By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and Secretary NUI CAPITAL CORP., as a Guarantor By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President and Secretary NUI SALTVILLE STORAGE, INC., as a Guarantor By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President and Secretary NUI STORAGE, INC., as a Guarantor By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President and Secretary [Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 (NUI Corporation)] NUI ENERGY BROKERS, INC., as a Guarantor By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President Treasurer and Secretary UTILITY BUSINESS SERVICES, INC., as a Guarantor By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President Treasurer and Secretary NUI SERVICE, INC., as a Guarantor By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President and Secretary NUI RICHTON STORAGE, INC., as a Guarantor By:/s/ Craig G. Matthews --------------------------------- Name: Craig G. Matthews Title: President and Treasurer RICHTON GAS STORAGE COMPANY L.L.C. as a Guarantor By:/s/ Steven D. Overly --------------------------------- Name: Steven D. Overly Title: Vice President and Secretary [Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 (NUI Corporation)] CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as the Agent and on behalf of the Required Lenders By:/s/ Dana F. Klein --------------------------------- Name: Dana F. Klein Title:Managing Director By:/s/ S. William Fox --------------------------------- Name: S. William Fox Title:Director CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as the Lender By:/s/ Dana F. Klein --------------------------------- Name: Dana F. Klein Title:Managing Director By:/s/ S. William Fox --------------------------------- Name: S. William Fox Title:Director [Signature Page to Amendment No. 3 (NUI Corporation)] EX-10.3 4 exh_10-3.txt AMENDMENT #3 TO NUI UTILITIES CREDIT AGREEMENT AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (NUI UTILITIES) AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (NUI UTILITIES), dated as of August 20, 2004 (this "Agreement"), between NUI UTILITIES INC., a New Jersey Corporation (the "Borrower") and CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the "Agent") for the several banks and other financial institutions party to the Credit Agreement referred to below. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT Reference is made to (i) that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 24, 2003 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among the Borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto and the Agent, (ii) that certain Agreement dated January 26, 2004 by which the Borrower and the Required Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) agreed to certain extensions, waivers, consents and amendments under the Credit Agreement including without limitation certain amendments to Sections 2.2c and 5.16 of the Credit Agreement, (iii) that certain Agreement dated March 12, 2004 by which the Borrower and the Required Lenders agreed to certain waivers, deferrals and consents and (iv) that certain Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 10, 2004 by which the Borrower and the Required Lenders agreed to certain amendments under the Credit Agreement. The Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended as provided herein and the Required Lenders have agreed to the requested amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein and have directed the Agent to enter into this Agreement for and on their behalf. In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: AGREEMENT SECTION 1. Definitions; Rules of Construction. Each term capitalized herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Credit Agreement. Rules of construction or interpretation set forth in the Credit Agreement shall apply to the interpretation of this Agreement. SECTION 2. Amendments. Subject to Section 4(b) of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows: (a) The definitions of "Consolidated EBITDA", "Consolidated Interest Expense", "Consolidated Net Income", "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity", "Consolidated Total Indebtedness" and "Termination Date" in Section 1.1 are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "Consolidated EBITDA" for any period means, with respect to the Borrower Consolidated Net Income before interest and taxes, plus (to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income) (i) depreciation, amortization and other similar non-cash expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period), (ii) extraordinary losses, losses in connection with asset sales (other than ordinary course sales including sales of inventory) or restructuring charges, (iii) non-recurring items of loss and expense relating to the credit facilities provided hereby to the extent not otherwise reflected in Consolidated Net Income, (iv) all fees, expenses and settlement costs (including the NJBPU Settlement Amount) related to the Focused Audit and Florida Settlement, (v) all severance and retention expenses in the amount of up to $5,000,000, (vi) expenses in connection with explosions and fires related to gas accidents that have occurred prior to July 14, 2004 in the aggregate amount of up to $4,000,000, (vii) all commissions and impairment charges related to the sub-leasing of excess office space, (viii) all fees, expenses and prepayment premiums in connection with any prepayment of the Medium Term Notes, (ix) fees and expenses related to amendments to the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement, and (x) all fees and expenses related to the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, Amendment No. 3, and all prior amendments to, and waivers under, this Agreement, the Extension Fee and the Additional Extension Fee; minus (to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income) extraordinary gains or gains in connection with asset sales (other than ordinary course sales including sales of inventory). "Consolidated Interest Expense" means for any period the amount of interest expense, both expensed and capitalized, of the Borrower, net of cash interest income of the Borrower determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, for such period on the aggregate principal amount of its Indebtedness, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding, in any event (to the extent otherwise included), one-time financing fees relating to the credit facilities provided hereby, by any agreement to refinance or otherwise extend the maturity of the Medium Term Notes as permitted hereunder, by the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement or by the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, interest payments with respect to the NUI Utilities Secured Facility and interest payments that will accrue to the maturity of the Medium Term Notes (to the extent that the Delayed Draw Term Loans are drawn)). "Consolidated Net Income" means for any period, net income (or loss) of the Borrower, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (plus, in any event (to the extent otherwise deducted therefrom), one-time financing fees relating to the credit facilities provided hereby or any agreement to refinance or otherwise extend the maturity of the Medium Term Notes as 2 permitted hereunder, by the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement or by the NUI Utilities Secured Facility), without giving effect to any non-cash gain, any non-cash loss or any reversals or adjustments to, or failure to recognize, revenue due to changes in applicable U.S. accounting rules and regulations, in each case to the extent reasonably acceptable to the Agent, including without limitation due to the implementation, effective as of October 25, 2002, of EITF 02-03 ("Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities"), the effects of which EITF implementation are hereby deemed acceptable to the Agent. "Consolidated Shareholders' Equity" means the total of those items enumerated under the heading "Common Shareholders' Equity" in the Borrower's relevant balance sheets determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, plus (to the extent deducted in determining such total and on an after-tax basis) (i) all fees, expenses and settlement costs (including NJBPU Settlement Amount) related to the Focused Audit and Florida Settlement, (ii) all severance and retention expenses in the amount of up to $5,000,000, (iii) expenses in connection with explosions and fires related to gas accidents that have occurred prior to July 14, 2004 in the aggregate amount of up to $4,000,000, (iv) all commissions and impairment charges related to the sub-leasing of excess office space, (v) all fees, expenses and prepayment premiums in connection with any prepayment of the Medium Term Notes, (vi) fees and expenses related to amendments to the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement, and (vii) all fees and expenses related to the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, Amendment No. 3, and all prior amendments to, and waivers under, this Agreement, the Extension Fee and the Additional Extension Fee. "Consolidated Total Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of the Borrower, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied. Solely for purposes of this definition, (A) the term "Indebtedness" shall not include (i) letter of credit reimbursement obligations except with respect to drawings actually made under letters of credit which then remain unreimbursed, (ii) Hedging Obligations, and (iii) the outstanding principal amount of the NUI Utilities Secured Facility and (B) if any portion of the Medium Term Notes and the Delayed Draw Term Loans are outstanding at such time, the term "Indebtedness" shall not include the principal amount of the Medium Term Notes to the extent that the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans are held by and under the control of an agent or trustee on behalf of holders of Medium Term Notes in a securities or deposit account or as otherwise provided in Section 4.1. "Termination Date" means November 21, 2005, as extended pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2.6, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms hereof. (b) The following new definitions are hereby added to Section 1.1 which shall appear in alphabetical order and shall read as follows: 3 "Acquisition" means the acquisition of substantially all of the assets or all of the capital stock of the Borrower by AGL, Cougar Corporation or any other Affiliate of AGL. "Acquisition Agreement" means the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of July 14, 2004 by and among AGL, Cougar Corporation and NUI Corporation. "Additional Extension Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4b(b). "Additional Term Loans" means Additional Term Loans as defined in the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement. "Additional Term Loan Closing Date" means the Additional Term Loan Closing Date as defined in the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement. "AGL" means AGL Resources Inc., a Georgia corporation. "Amendment No. 3" means Agreement and Amendment No. 3 to this Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004 among the Borrower and the Agent on behalf of the Required Lenders. "Cougar Corporation" means Cougar Corporation, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGL. "Extension Fee" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4b(c). "Florida Settlement" means the anticipated settlement agreement between the Borrower and the Florida Public Service Commission, for which the Borrower has established a pre-tax reserve of approximately $2,600,000, any fines contemplated thereby, and all actions and negotiations in respect thereof. "FPSC" means the Florida Public Service Commission. "FPSC Approval" has the meaning given it in Section 3.11. "Lender Presentation" means that certain Lender Presentation dated July 2004 and made available to the Lenders prior to the Additional Term Loan Closing Date. "New Facilities Fee Letter" has the meaning given to it in Section 2.4b(a). "NJBPU Approval" has the meaning given it in Section 3.11. "NUI Utilities Secured Facility" means a senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $75,000,000 to be made available to the Borrower on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date. 4 "Standby Bond Purchase Agreement" means the amended and restated standby bond purchase agreement, dated as of June 12, 2001 among the Borrower, the Participating Banks referred to therein and The Bank of New York, as purchasing bank. (c) The definition of "Permitted Encumbrances" in Section 1.1 is hereby amended by deleting the word "and" after clause (ix) thereof and inserting a new clause (xi) after clause (x) thereof to read as follows: "; and (xi) security interests in favor of lenders under the NUI Utilities Secured Facility." (d) Section 2.4b(a) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of the Agent, the fees required to be paid by it as set forth in that certain letter agreement between NUI Corporation and CSFB (the "Fee Letter") dated as of October 31, 2003 and in that certain letter agreement among the Borrower, the Agent and NUI Corporation (the "New Facilities Fee Letter") dated as of July 14, 2004, in each case, as the same may be amended from time to time by the parties thereto, and as and when payment of such fees is due as set forth therein." (e) Section 2.4b(c) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "(c) Upon extension of the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.6, the Borrower shall pay the Lenders an extension fee prior to or on the Additional Term Loan Closing Date in an amount equal to 0.50% of the aggregate amount of Term Loans (including the Delayed Draw Term Loans, if any) and the Revolving Credit Commitments then outstanding (the "Extension Fee"). On May 22, 2005 the Borrower shall pay the Lenders an additional fee in an amount equal to 0.50% of the aggregate amount of Term Loans (including the Delayed Draw Term Loans, if any) and the Revolving Credit Commitments then outstanding then outstanding (the "Additional Extension Fee")." (f) Section 2.6 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "2.6 Extension of Termination Date. The Termination Date is hereby extended until November 21, 2005 subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) the Borrower has obtained all governmental and other approvals necessary (if any) to exercise such extension, (ii) the maturity of the Medium Term Notes has been extended to a date no earlier than June 30, 2006 (without any scheduled amortization thereof prior to such date)(either by amendment or refinancing thereof, on terms 5 reasonably acceptable to the Agent, it being understood that a refinancing thereof through the incurrence of Delayed Draw Term Loans is reasonably acceptable to the Agent), and (iii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.". (g) Section 2.14(a) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "(a) Unless the Required Lenders otherwise agree, if (i) any Equity Interests of the Borrower shall be issued to a Person other than NUI Corporation, (ii) any Recovery Event shall have occurred (and Net Asset Sale Proceeds thereof have not been reinvested in the same or similar property or assets within 364 days of such Recovery Event (with such reinvestment not to exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate)), or (iii) any Indebtedness of the Borrower is incurred (excluding any Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 5.13), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans and reduce the Commitments pro rata with prepayments of the loans then outstanding under the NUI Utilities Secured Facility in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Proceeds therefrom no later than the second Business Day following receipt by the Borrower of such Net Proceeds.". (h) Clause (i) of Section 2.14(c) is hereby amended by adding after the phrase "or NUI Corporation" the new phrase which shall read as follows: "(including, without limitation, the consummation of the Acquisition)" (i) The last sentence of Section 3.5 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "Except as has otherwise been fully disclosed in NUI Corporation's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2002, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003 and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2003, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Confidential Information Memorandum or the Lender Presentation, since September 30, 2003, nothing has occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect." (j) The first sentence of Section 3.6 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "Except as disclosed in the NUI Corporation's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2003, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and 6 November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Confidential Information Memorandum or the Lender Presentation, there are no actions, suits, investigations, litigation or proceedings at law or in equity pending or, to the Borrower's knowledge, threatened against the Borrower or any of its properties, which (i) would have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) involve any Loan Document or the transactions hereunder." (k) Section 3.10 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "3.10 Environmental Matters. Except to the extent described in the NUI Corporation's Form 10-K filed on December 31, 2003, Form 10-Qs filed on February 14, 2003, May 15, 2003, and August 14, 2003, Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2003, July 31, 2002, September 26, 2003, October 14, 2003 and November 19, 2003, Form 10-K filed on May 13, 2004, Form 10-Qs filed on May 20, 2004, May 25, 2004 and August 16, 2004, and Form 10-Q/As filed on June 17, 2004, in each case with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Confidential Information Memorandum or the Lender Presentation, the Borrower is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, except for matters which do not have a Material Adverse Effect." (l) The word "No" at the beginning of the first sentence of Section 3.11 is hereby deleted and replaced with the following phrase in the place thereof: "Other than approval by the NJBPU (the "NJBPU Approval") and approval by the FPSC (the "FPSC Approval"), no". (m) The last sentence of Section 3.19 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "There are no arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, complaints, representation proceedings or grievances pending against or involving the Borrower, nor, to the Borrower's knowledge, are there any threatened involving the Borrower, based on, arising out of, in connection with, or otherwise relating to individual or group employment, collective bargaining agreements, union organizing or other activities, or employment or other labor matters, other than those which, in the aggregate, would have no Material Adverse Effect." (n) The references to "10 days" in Sections 4.2(i) and 4.2(ii) are each hereby amended to read as "30 days". (o) The last sentence of Section 4.7 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: 7 "The Borrower will certify in the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Subsection 4.2(iii) hereof that such insurance is in force, provides coverage consistent with the preceding sentence and complies with the Borrower's obligations under this Section 4.7." (p) Section 5.3a is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "5.3a Leverage Ratio. At no time shall its ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness to its Consolidated Total Capitalization exceed 0.70:1.00; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the covenant of this Section 5.3a until the earlier of (x) December 31, 2004 and (y) the termination, if any, of the Acquisition Agreement, and such non-compliance shall not constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have to continue within such period of time to deliver a Compliance Certificate pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.2(iii) hereof with the appropriate qualifications)." (q) Section 5.3b is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "5.3b Interest Coverage Ratio. At no time shall the Borrower permit, for any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or after December 31, 2003, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, to be less than 2.25 to 1.00; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to comply with the covenant of this Section 5.3b until the earlier of (x) December 31, 2004 and (y) the termination, if any, of the Acquisition Agreement, and such non-compliance shall not constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have to continue within such period of time to deliver a Compliance Certificate pursuant to the requirements of Section 4.2(iii) hereof with the appropriate qualifications)." (r) Section 5.9 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "5.9 Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower shall not enter into or otherwise be bound by any agreement not to pay dividends or make distributions to NUI Corporation, except for (i) as provided hereunder, the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, the Standby Bond Purchase Agreement and the Borrower's settlement with the NJBPU relating to the Focused Audit, and (ii) such agreements existing on the date hereof which have been fully disclosed in writing to Agent, and replacements of such agreements (provided that copies of such replacement agreements are provided to the 8 Agent and are no more restrictive in any material respect than those agreements being replaced)." (s) Clause (c) and clause (e) of Section 5.13 are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following clauses respectively in the place thereof: "(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower under the NUI Utilities Secured Facility;" and "(e) intercompany Indebtedness incurred in connection with the provision of services in the ordinary course of business;". (t) Clause (d) and clause (e) of Section 5.16 are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following clauses respectively in the place thereof: "(d) intercompany loans and advances in connection with the provision of services in the ordinary course of business;" and "(e) advance payments to gas suppliers;". (u) Section 5.17 is hereby amended by inserting after the phrase "other than Indebtedness under this Agreement," the new phrase which shall read as follows: "Indebtedness of the Borrower under the NUI Utilities Secured Facility, and". (v) Clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 5.18 are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following clauses (ii) and (iii) in the place thereof: "(ii) the repayment of the intercompany receivables owing from NUI Corporation to the Borrower or from the Borrower to NUI Corporation, or (iii) the movement of employees between NUI Corporation and the Borrower, in each case provided at cost (if applicable), shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.18." (w) Section 6.1a is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the proviso which shall read as follows: "; provided, that at the time of and immediately after an extension of credit under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Commitments the requirement that no Potential Default shall exist at either such time shall not be applicable". (x) Section 7.2 is hereby amended by inserting after the phrase "under or pursuant to which such Indebtedness is incurred or issued" the new phrase which shall read as follows: "(including, without limitation, the NUI Utilities Secured Facility)". 9 (y) The reference to "$2,500,000" in Sections 7.7(i) is hereby amended to read as "$10,000,000". (z) Section 7.7(ii) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following in the place thereof: "or (ii) any one or more fines, penalties, injunctions, charges, orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or any similar action or process (other than (x) in connection with the Focused Audit and (y) any costs related to the Focused Audit) has been levied, issued, entered or filed against the Borrower or any of its properties in connection with any actual or purported conflict with or violation or breach by the Borrower of any Governmental Rule (or the Borrower enters into any agreement or makes any payment in connection with any vacating, stay, settlement or dismissal of any such claim or charge (whether or not such payment by its terms constitutes an admission of liability)), in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or more (if monetary) or which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect in the reasonable judgment of the Required Lenders (if non-monetary), and failure of the Borrower to vacate, stay or contest in good faith (by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently conducted and as to which the Borrower shall have set aside on its books reserves for such claims as are determined to be adequate in accordance with GAAP) such fines, penalties, charges, orders, judgments, decrees, awards, writs of execution or attachment, restraining notices or other action or process within a period of 30 days (or, in the case of contesting the same, the failure of the Borrower to diligently conduct such contest thereafter).". (aa) Section 7.10 is hereby amended by deleting the phrase "or, during any period of up to 24 consecutive months, Persons who at the beginning of such 24-month period were directors of the Borrower (or were appointed, nominated or elected by such Persons) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of the Borrowers, then in office" in its entirety. (bb) Section 7.11 is hereby amended by inserting after the phrase "a final decision" the new phrase which shall read as follows: "(other than in connection with the Focused Audit)". (cc) The reference to the Borrower's address in Sections 9.3 is hereby amended to read as follows: "Borrower: NUI Utilities, Inc. 1085 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Attention: Treasurer 10 Telecopier: (908) 289-0978 Telephone: (908) 289-5000x6107 with a copy to: Joseph Brazil, Esq. White & Case LLP 1155 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 Telecopier: (212) 354-8113 Telephone: (212) 819-8401". (dd) Section 9.6a(i) is hereby amended by inserting after the words "the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement " the new phrase which shall read as follows: "(other than the Additional Term Loans)". (ee) The references to "the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement" in Section 9.6a(ii) are each hereby amended to read as "the NUI Corporation Credit Agreement (if applicable)" (ff) Section 3 of the form of Compliance Certificate attached as Exhibit F to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting after the words "Required Ratio" the footnote which shall read as follows: "Subject to Sections 5.3a and 5.3b of the Agreement.". SECTION 3. Representation and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants as of the date hereof to each of the Agent and the Lenders that after giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement effective as of the date hereof: (a) The Borrower has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and has taken all corporate actions necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; (b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower by a duly authorized officer or attorney-in-fact of the Borrower; (c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not violate any requirement of law or any material contractual obligation binding on the Borrower; and (d) No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, except for such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect (other than the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval (as each such term is defined in Section 2(b) hereof)). 11 The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the representations and warranties set forth above shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and shall be deemed made in the Credit Agreement for purposes of Section 7.6 of the Credit Agreement. SECTION 4. Effectiveness. (a) This Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 2 hereof) shall become effective as of the date the Agent receives (i) the consents of Lenders constituting the Required Lenders, (ii) counterparts of this Agreement that, when taken together, bear the signatures of the Borrower and the Agent, and (iii) payment of all of the Agent's reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) for which invoices have been submitted to the Borrower. (b) The provisions of Section 2 hereof shall become effective subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) the other provisions of this Agreement shall have become effective in accordance with the terms thereof, (ii) the Agent receives on behalf of each Lender consenting to this Agreement at or prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time) on Monday, July 26, 2004, an amendment fee equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of such Lender's Term Loans and Commitments then outstanding (the "Amendment Fee"); provided that the Amendment Fee shall be payable only if the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained and (iii) the Agent receives the evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. SECTION 5. Escrow Arrangement. (a) At any time prior to the obtaining of the NJBPU Approval and/or the FPSC Approval, the Borrower shall have an option to request, and the Agent and each Lender hereby agrees, subject to satisfaction of the conditions of Sections 2.6 and 6.1 of the Credit Agreement (determined as if Section 2 hereof had been given effect)(other than (x) the obtaining of the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval, and (y) the extension of the Termination Date under the Credit Agreement), and receipt by the Agent of at least three Business Days prior written notice thereof, that each Lender shall make Delayed Draw Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.1; provided that (i) (A) the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans, (B) the fee payable in connection with borrowing of the Delayed Draw Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.4b(b) of the Credit Agreement, (C) the Extension Fee under the Credit Agreement and (D) the Amendment Fee hereunder (but not the costs and expenses under Section 4(a)(iii) hereof) to be funded into an escrow account maintained by the Agent at The Bank of New York (the "Escrow Account") and (ii) all invoiced reimbursable expenses of the Agent incurred on or prior to the date of such funding (including without limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent's special counsel, Dewey Ballantine LLP) shall be paid by the Borrower prior to or substantially contemporaneously with funding the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans into the Escrow Account. All of such funds shall be automatically released on the date when the Agent receives the evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and Section 2 hereof and Section 2 of Amendment No. 3 to the NUI Corporation 12 Credit Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004 among NUI Corporation, the Agent thereunder on behalf of the Required Lenders thereunder, the Guarantors party thereto and the Lenders listed on Schedule 2.1A thereto shall have become effective to the respective payees as follows: (x) the Agent shall receive, for the account of each Lender, an aggregate amount equal to the sum of the fees specified in clauses (B), (C) and (D) above and all other fees and expenses then due and payable pursuant hereto and (y) the Borrower shall receive the remainder of the funds in the Escrow Account. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) the interest on the Delayed Draw Term Loans shall start to accrue and shall be payable to the Lenders from the date of funding of the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans into the Escrow Account, and (ii) funds in the Escrow Account shall bear interest from such date and such interest shall be paid to the Borrower on the date when such funds are released or returned, as the case may be. (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if funds held in the Escrow Account are not released on or prior to September 30, 2004 (due to the failure to obtain the NJBPU Approval or the FPSC Approval), then (i) the provisions of Section 2 hereof shall be null and void, (ii) the Borrower shall then owe a fee (the "Release Fee") to the Lenders in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of interest which would have accrued on the Delayed Draw Term Loans from the date escrowed through September 30, 2004, (iii) all funds held in the Escrow Account shall be distributed on September 30, 2004 as follows: (A) the Agent shall receive for the account of each Lender an aggregate amount equal to the proceeds of the Delayed Draw Term Loans and the Release Fee, and (B) the Borrower shall receive the remainder of the funds, if any, in the Escrow Account; provided that in the event that the funds held in the Escrow Account are not sufficient to make the distribution set forth in clause (iii)(A) above the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender the amount of such deficiency. SECTION 6. Miscellaneous. (a) Except as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall not, by implication or otherwise, limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders or the Agent, under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle the Borrower to a consent to, or a waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement in similar or different circumstances. This Agreement shall apply and be effective only with respect to the provisions of the Credit Agreement specifically referred to herein. Upon this Agreement becoming effective as provided herein, the term "Loan Document" as defined in the Credit Agreement shall include, without limitation, this Agreement. (b) As used in the Credit Agreement, the terms "Agreement," "herein," "hereinafter," "hereunder," "hereto," and words of similar import shall mean, from and after the date this Agreement becomes effective, the Credit Agreement as amended by this Agreement. 13 (c) Section headings used herein are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement. (d) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. The parties hereto each hereby consent to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of New York and irrevocably waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of or relating to this Agreement. (e) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by fax will be deemed as effective as delivery of an originally executed counterpart. 14 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the date first written above. NUI UTILITIES INC. By:/s/ Victor A. Fortkiewicz ------------------------------------------ Name: Victor A. Fortkiewicz Title:President CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as the Agent and on behalf of the Required Lenders By:/s/ Dana F. Klein ------------------------------------------ Name: Dana F. Klein Title:Managing Director By:/s/ S. William Fox ------------------------------------------ Name: S. William Fox Title:Director EX-10.4 5 exh_10-4.txt SECURITY AGREEMENT SECURITY AGREEMENT made by NUI UTILITIES, INC., as Grantor to CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, Cayman Islands Branch, as Collateral Agent ------------------------- Dated as of August 20, 2004 ------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SECTION 1. Certain Definitions; Rules of Construction........................1 SECTION 2. Pledge and Grant of Security Interest.............................3 SECTION 3. Security for Secured Obligations..................................3 SECTION 4. Grantor Remains Liable............................................3 SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties....................................3 SECTION 6. Further Assurances................................................5 SECTION 7. As to Receivables.................................................6 SECTION 8. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact.......................7 SECTION 9. Collateral Agent May Perform......................................8 SECTION 10. The Collateral Agent's Duties.....................................8 SECTION 11. Remedies..........................................................8 SECTION 12. Costs; Indemnity..................................................9 SECTION 13. Waivers; Amendments..............................................10 SECTION 14. Notices; Etc.....................................................10 SECTION 15. Survival.........................................................10 SECTION 16. Severability.....................................................11 SECTION 17. Security Interest Absolute; Continuing Security Interest; Release..........................................................11 SECTION 18. Reinstatement....................................................12 SECTION 19. GOVERNING LAW; TERMS.............................................12 SECTION 20. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL....................12 SECTION 21. Headings.........................................................13 SECTION 22. Counterparts.....................................................13 SECTION 23. Effectiveness....................................................13 Schedules and Appendices Schedule 5(b) Filing Office Locations Schedule 5(c) Places of Business and Locations of Collateral i This SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of August 20, 2004 (this "Agreement"), is made by NUI UTILITIES, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey (the "Grantor"), to CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as collateral agent (the "Collateral Agent") for the Secured Parties (as defined below). PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS 1. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2004 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among the Grantor, the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (each, a "Lender" and collectively, the "Lenders") and Credit Suisse First Boston, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the Lenders. 2. The Grantor's authentication and delivery of this Agreement is a condition precedent to the making of the extensions of credit contemplated under the Credit Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and in order to induce the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement, to make available the Loans and other extensions of credit (if any), and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: SECTION 1. Certain Definitions; Rules of Construction. For all purposes of this Agreement, (i) capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement and (ii) "include" and "including" are not limiting, a reference to a law includes any amendment or modification to such law and any rules or regulations issued thereunder or any law enacted in substitution or replacement therefore and the other rules of construction or interpretation set forth in the Credit Agreement shall apply to the interpretation of this Agreement. Except for the terms defined in this Agreement or in the Credit Agreement, all terms defined in Article 8 or 9 of the UCC (as defined below) which are used in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in such Articles. In addition, the following terms shall have the meaning herein specified: "Administrative Agent" has the meaning given in the preliminary statements to this Agreement. "Agreement" has the meaning given in the first paragraph of this Agreement. "Collateral" has the meaning given in Section 2 of this Agreement. "Collateral Agent" has the meaning given in the first paragraph of this Agreement. "Contract" means any instrument, agreement, invoice or other writing pursuant to which a Receivable arises or which evidences such Receivable. "Credit Agreement" has the meaning given in the preliminary statements to this Agreement. "Effective Date" means the date, on or after the date that the NJBPU Approval and the FPSC Approval have been obtained, that the Borrower receives the proceeds of the Loans under the Credit Agreement. "Lenders" has the meaning given in the preliminary statements to this Agreement. "Receivables" means accounts (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(2) of the UCC). "Records" means, with respect to any Receivable, all documents, books, records and other information (including, without limitation, computer programs, tapes, disks, punch cards, data processing software and related property and rights but excluding Contracts) relating to such Receivable. "Secured Obligations" means (a) each and every obligation, covenant and agreement of the Borrower now or hereafter existing contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether for principal, reimbursement obligations, interest, premium, fees, late charges, expenses or otherwise, and any amendments or supplements thereto, extensions or renewals thereof or replacements therefore (and each and every obligation, covenant and agreement of the Grantor now or hereafter existing contained herein), (b) all Hedging Obligations of the Borrower contained in any agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent), (c) all sums advanced in accordance with the Collateral Documents by the Collateral Agent to protect any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, (d) any amounts paid by any person as to which amounts such person has a right to reimbursement against the Borrower under the Credit Agreement or hereunder and (e) amounts paid by the Collateral Agent in preservation of Collateral Agent's rights or interests in the Collateral in accordance herewith or with the Collateral Documents, together with interest on the amounts referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above, such interest to accrue from the 15th day following written demand delivered to the Grantor for the payment of such amounts (unless expressly stated otherwise under the Loan Documents or the agreements referred in clause (b) above) until reimbursement in full at the interest rate set forth in the Credit Agreement for overdue amounts, in each case whether direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now or hereafter existing, renewed or restructured, whether or not from time to time decreased or extinguished and later increased, created or incurred, and including all indebtedness of the Borrower under any instrument now or hereafter evidencing or securing any of the foregoing. 2 "Secured Parties" means the Lenders, the Administrative Agent (and its Affiliates in connection with Borrower's Hedging Obligations to such Affiliates, as the case may be) and the Collateral Agent. "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York. SECTION 2. Pledge and Grant of Security Interest. As security for the prompt and complete payment and performance of all Secured Obligations, the Grantor hereby pledges and hypothecates to the Collateral Agent for the equitable and ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent for the equitable and ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, effective as of the Effective Date, a security interest in, and lien on, all of the Grantor's right, title and interest, whether now owned, hereafter acquired or hereafter arising, in and to the following (collectively, the "Collateral"): (a) all Receivables, other than those due from affiliates of the Grantor; (b) all Contracts; and (c) all cash proceeds of any and all of the foregoing. SECTION 3. Security for Secured Obligations. This Agreement secures the prompt and complete payment and performance of all Secured Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement also secures the payment of all amounts which constitute part of the Secured Obligations and which would be owed by the Grantor to the Secured Parties but for the fact that a claim therefor may not be allowable in a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Grantor. SECTION 4. Grantor Remains Liable. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) the Grantor shall remain liable under all instruments, contracts, permits, agreements, licenses and other general intangibles included in the Collateral to the extent set forth therein to perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed (and the Grantor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties from and against any and all liabilities for such performance), (b) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of the rights hereunder shall not release the Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under any instrument, contract, permit, agreement, license or other general intangible included in the Collateral, and (c) neither the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any instrument, contract, permit, agreement, license or other general intangible included in the Collateral by reason of this Agreement, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of the Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder. SECTION 5. Representations and Warranties. The Grantor represents and warrants as follows: 3 (a) The Grantor is a corporation duly formed solely under the laws of the State of New Jersey and no other state or jurisdiction and is validly existing and in good standing thereunder. The Grantor is in compliance with and not in default under any and all applicable laws and material contractual obligations, except as would not individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance by the Grantor of this Agreement are within its power, have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not contravene in any material respect its charter, bylaws or other organizational agreements, or, except as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, any applicable law or contractual obligation binding on or affecting the Grantor or any of its properties or assets. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Grantor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Grantor enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws generally affecting creditors' rights and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought at equity or at law). (b) This Agreement creates a valid security interest in the Collateral, securing the payment of the Secured Obligations. The Grantor is a "registered organization" as defined in Article 9 of the UCC and, for purposes of such article, is "located" in the State of New Jersey. Upon the filing of the financing statements in the public offices set forth on Schedule 5(b) attached hereto, the security interests granted or purported to be granted hereby in the Collateral shall be perfected to the extent any such security interest may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement. (c) On the date hereof: (i) the principal place of business and chief executive office (or, if the Grantor has, and has had, only one place of business, the place of business) of the Grantor for the five years preceding the date of this Agreement, the office where the Grantor keeps all Records (and its other records concerning Receivables and other Collateral), and the originals of all chattel paper that evidences Receivables, and each other place of business of the Grantor, are located at the addresses specified on Schedule 5(c) attached hereto; (ii) no Receivable in excess of $25,000 is evidenced by a promissory note, other instrument or chattel paper; (iii) except as set forth on Schedule 5(c), the Grantor does not conduct, and at no time during the past five years has conducted, any business under any name or trade name other than its proper corporate name, which is the name set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement; (iv) the taxpayer identification number, and jurisdiction of organization identification number (if any), are set forth in Schedule 5(c); and (v) except as set forth in Schedule 5(c), the Grantor has not changed (including by way of merger and consolidation as well as any changes in the form, nature or jurisdiction of organization) its name, identity or corporate structure in any way within the past five years. (d) The Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral in existence on the Effective Date and will be the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral thereafter acquired, free and clear of any Encumbrance, except for Encumbrances of the type set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iv) or (xi) of the definition of "Permitted Encumbrances" (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement). Other than 4 the Permitted Encumbrances referred to in the preceding sentence, the Grantor has not pledged, assigned, sold, granted a security interest in, or otherwise conveyed any of the Collateral. On the Effective Date, the Grantor is not aware of any judgment or tax lien filings against it (nor of any other Encumbrance against the Collateral of the type set forth in clause (ii) or (iv) of the definition of "Permitted Encumbrances"). The Grantor has not authorized the filing of, and is not aware of any filing of, any financing statement or other document or record similar in effect covering all or any part of the Collateral in any recording office, except such as may have been filed in favor of the Collateral Agent relating to this Agreement or the other Collateral Documents. (e) Except for the filings and actions described in Section 5(b) hereof, no consent of any other Person and no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required (i) for the grant by the Grantor of the lien and security interest granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Grantor, (ii) for the validity, perfection or maintenance of the lien and security interest created hereby, in each case, except for security interests that cannot be perfected by filing under the UCC or (iii) for the exercise by the Collateral Agent of the rights provided for in this Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement, except also for those which have been duly obtained or made and, in the case of the maintenance of perfection, for the filing of continuation statements under the UCC. SECTION 6. Further Assurances.(a) The Grantor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of the Grantor, the Grantor will promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action that may be necessary, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect and protect any pledge, assignment or security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Grantor will: (i) if any Collateral shall be evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument or chattel paper and such Collateral has a value in excess of $25,000, promptly give the Collateral Agent notice thereof, and if thereafter requested to do so by the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent hereunder such note or instrument or chattel paper, in pledge, duly indorsed and accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, provided, however, that, if no Event of Default or Potential Default has occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent will return any such promissory note or other instrument or chattel paper to the Grantor in connection with the repayment, enforcement or settlement of such promissory note or other instrument or chattel paper promptly after request from the Grantor; and (ii) execute, or otherwise authenticate (as necessary) and file, with a copy thereof to the Collateral Agent, such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary, or as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect and preserve the pledge, security interest and lien granted or purported to be granted hereby. (b) The Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to execute and file one or more financing statements, continuation statements, amendments, 5 memorandums or other records with the applicable Governmental Authority for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the security interest and lien granted by this Agreement with respect to the Collateral, without the signature of the Grantor, and naming the Grantor as debtor and the Collateral Agent as Secured Party (in each case, to the extent permitted by applicable law). A photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement or any security agreement or financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by applicable law. (c) The Grantor will at its expense furnish to the Collateral Agent from time to time, statements and schedules further identifying and describing (in reasonable detail) the Collateral and such other reports and information in connection with the Collateral as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request. SECTION 7. As to Receivables.(a) The Grantor shall not change its name or jurisdiction of organization without giving at least thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent; provided, however, that in no event shall the Grantor change its jurisdiction of organization to a jurisdiction outside the continental United States. The Grantor shall keep its chief executive office and the office where it keeps all Records (and its other records concerning the Receivables and other Collateral), and the original copies of all chattel paper, at the location therefor specified in Section 5(c) hereof or, upon 10 days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent, at any other location in a jurisdiction (within the continental United States) where all actions required by Section 6 hereof to protect, preserve and maintain the lien and security interest created hereby and the priority thereof shall have been taken with respect to the Receivables. The Grantor will hold and preserve such records, and chattel paper and will permit representatives of the Collateral Agent at any time during normal business hours to inspect, copy and/or make abstracts from such records, and chattel paper. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), the Grantor shall continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to become due to the Grantor in respect of the Collateral, and shall do so, in all material respects, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, with reasonable care and diligence, and in accordance with the Grantor's credit and collection policies and practices relating to Contracts and Receivables. The Grantor shall give the Collateral Agent prompt notice of any material change to such credit and collections policies and practices after the Effective Date. In connection with such collections, the Grantor may take (and following the occurrence of and during the continuance of an Event of Default at the Collateral Agent's direction shall take) such action as the Grantor may deem necessary or advisable (or following the occurrence of and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such action as the Collateral Agent may deem necessary) to enforce collection of the Receivables and amounts due under any Receivable. The Grantor agrees and confirms that, if directed to do so by the Collateral Agent during the continuation of an Event of Default, it will notify each party to a Contract and each account debtor or obligor under the Receivables of the assignment thereof to the Collateral Agent, and will instruct each of them that all payments due or to become due and all amounts payable to the Grantor 6 thereunder shall, until such time as no Event of Default exists, be made to an account specified by the Collateral Agent. SECTION 8. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. The Grantor irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers, employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent) as the Grantor's true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, and in such capacity the Collateral Agent shall have the right, with power of substitution for the Grantor and in the Grantor's name or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to sign the name of the Grantor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send verifications of Receivables to any account debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g) to notify, or to require the Grantor to notify, account debtors to make payment directly to the Collateral Agent; and (h) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby, and no action taken or omitted to be taken under this Section by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof shall give rise to any defense, counterclaim or offset in favor of the Grantor or to any claim or action against the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party except to the extent any such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Collateral Agent or such Secured Party, as applicable. It is understood and agreed that the appointment of the Collateral Agent as the agent and attorney-in-fact of the Grantor for the purposes set forth above is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable. The provisions of this Section shall in no event relieve the Grantor of any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or impose any obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to proceed in any particular manner with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof, or in any way limit the exercise by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party of any other or further right which it may have on the date of this Agreement or hereafter, whether hereunder, under any other Loan Document, by law or otherwise. 7 SECTION 9. Collateral Agent May Perform. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and either the Grantor has failed to perform hereunder or under any instrument, contract, permit, license, agreement or other general intangible included in the Collateral, the Collateral Agent may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the reasonable expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by the Grantor in accordance with Section 12 hereof. The Collateral Agent shall use its good faith efforts to give reasonable prior or contemporaneous notice to the Grantor in connection with the exercise by the Collateral Agent of its rights under this Section; provided that the failure to give any such notice shall not limit the Collateral Agent's right to exercise any such right or expose the Collateral Agent to any liability hereunder. SECTION 10. The Collateral Agent's Duties. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its physical possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral and no such duties shall be implied as arising hereunder. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords or would accord its own property and no such duties shall be implied as arising hereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to make any request, demand or determination, take or omit to take any action or do any other discretionary function to be done by it under this Agreement unless it has been directed to do so in writing by the Administrative Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as applicable). SECTION 11. Remedies. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing: (a) The Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured party upon a default under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction the laws of which govern the perfection of the relevant security interests hereunder to enforce this Agreement and the security interests contained herein, and also may, (i) require the Grantor to, and the Grantor hereby agrees that it will at its expense and upon request of the Collateral Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the Collateral Agent at a place to be designated by the Collateral Agent which is reasonably convenient to both parties and (ii) without notice, except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of the Collateral Agent's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other 8 terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable. The Grantor agrees that to the extent a notice of sale shall be required by law, at least ten days notice to the Grantor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of whether a notice of sale shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. (b) Any cash held by the Collateral Agent as Collateral and all cash proceeds received by the Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of, the Collateral may in the discretion of the Collateral Agent be held by the Collateral Agent as security for, and may then or at any time thereafter be applied in whole or in part by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties against, performance of all or any part of the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. Any excess of such cash or cash proceeds and interest accrued thereon held by the Collateral Agent and remaining after payment in full of the principal of and interest on any Loans and Fees payable under the Credit Agreement (and any other Obligation for which demand for payment has been made or which is otherwise then due and payable) shall be paid over to the Grantor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such excess. SECTION 12. Costs; Indemnity. The Grantor hereby agrees to pay within 30 days following demand to the Collateral Agent the amount of any and all reasonable expenses, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other reasonable charges of its counsel and, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, of any experts or agents, which the Collateral Agent may incur in connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement (including the customary fees and charges of the Collateral Agent for any audits conducted by it or on its behalf with respect to the Receivables upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default), (ii) the custody or preservation of, or the sale of, collection from or other realization upon any of the Collateral, (iii) the exercise, enforcement or protection of any of the rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure of the Grantor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof. Without limitation of its indemnification obligations under the other Loan Documents, the Grantor agrees to indemnify the Collateral Agent, its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents and the control persons (each, an "Indemnitee") against, and hold each of them harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel, incurred by or asserted against any of them arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating hereto or to the Collateral, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent 9 that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or such Indemnitee's agents or affiliates. Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Secured Obligations secured hereby and by the other Collateral Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through electronic, telecommunications or other information transmission systems or for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages in connection with its activities hereunder or related to the Collateral. The provisions of this Section shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Loans, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable on written demand therefor. SECTION 13. Waivers; Amendments. No failure or delay of the Collateral Agent in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, and of the Collateral Agent, the Agent and the Lenders under the other Loan Documents, are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on the Grantor in any case shall entitle the Grantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. No waiver of any provisions of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Grantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by the next succeeding sentence, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Collateral Agent and the Grantor and (ii) with any consent required under Section 9.1 of the Credit Agreement. SECTION 14. Notices; Etc. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be given and shall be effective as provided in Section 9.3 of the Credit Agreement. All such notices and other communications to the Collateral Agent shall be directed to the address of the Administrative Agent. SECTION 15. Survival. All agreements, statements, representations and warranties made by the Grantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument delivered by the Grantor or on its behalf under this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties and shall survive the making of the Loans and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents regardless of any investigation made by the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party or on their behalf. 10 SECTION 16. Severability. Any provision hereof that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof and without affecting the validity or enforceability of any provision in any other jurisdiction. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions. SECTION 17. Security Interest Absolute; Continuing Security Interest; Release.(a) All rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the security interest and lien granted hereby, and all obligations of the Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Secured Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Secured Obligations, other than as expressly provided in any amendment or waiver hereof or any consent to any departure herefrom, (iii) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Encumbrance on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Secured Obligations, or (iv) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Grantor in respect of the Secured Obligations or this Agreement (other than the indefeasible payment in full of all of the Secured Obligations). (b) This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the principal of and accrued interest on the Loans (and any other Secured Obligation for which demand for payment has been made or which is otherwise then due and payable) shall have been repaid in full, (ii) be binding upon the Grantor, its successors and assigns; provided, that the Grantor may not transfer or assign any or all of its rights or obligations hereunder except as provided in Section 9.5 of the Credit Agreement and (iii) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Collateral Agent, the Secured Parties and their respective successors, transferees and permitted assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (iii), any Secured Party may assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights in the Secured Obligations to the extent and in the manner provided in the Credit Agreement and such assignee shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted to such Secured Party herein or otherwise. Upon the payment of in full the principal of and accrued interest on the Loans (and any other Secured Obligation for which demand for payment has been made or which is otherwise then due and payable), the security interest granted hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Grantor. Upon such termination, the Collateral Agent will, at the Grantor's expense, execute (or otherwise authenticate) and deliver to the Grantor such documents or records as the Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination and/or transfer to the Grantor any Collateral (or rights or interests therein) in the Collateral Agent's possession or under its control. 11 (c) If the Grantor requests the release of the security interest and lien hereof on any Collateral to be sold or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted under the terms of the Credit Agreement and delivers to the Collateral Agent a certificate to the effect that such sale or other disposition and the application of the proceeds thereof will comply with the terms of the Credit Agreement, then the Collateral Agent, if satisfied in good faith that such certificate is delivered in accordance with the terms of this Section, shall without the consent of any Lender, execute and deliver all such instruments, releases, financing statements or other agreements, and take all such further actions, as the Grantor may reasonably request (and at the Grantor's expense), which are necessary to effectuate the release of such Collateral substantially simultaneously with or at any time after the completion of such sale or other disposition. SECTION 18. Reinstatement. This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any amount received by the Collateral Agent in respect of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Grantor or upon the appointment of any intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar official for, the Grantor or any substantial part of its assets, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made. SECTION 19. GOVERNING LAW; TERMS. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CREATION, VALIDITY OR PERFECTION OF THE SECURITY INTEREST HEREUNDER, OR REMEDIES HEREUNDER, IN RESPECT OF ANY PARTICULAR COLLATERAL ARE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SECTION 20. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO (i) IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY IN ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, (ii) AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN SUCH ACTION MAY BE DECIDED IN SUCH COURT, (iii) WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM AND (iv) CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY MAIL. A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR AFFECT ITS RIGHT TO BRING ANY ACTION IN ANY OTHER COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. 12 SECTION 21. Headings. Article and Section headings used herein and preliminary statements are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement. SECTION 22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart. SECTION 23. Effectiveness. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall not become effective until the occurrence of the Effective Date. 13 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written. NUI UTILITIES, INC. By:/s/ Victor A. Fortkiewicz ---------------------------------------- Name: Victor A. Fortkiewicz Title:President Agreed and Accepted: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, acting through its Cayman Islands Branch By:/s/ Dana F. Klein ---------------------------------------- Name: Dana F. Klein Title:Managing Director By:/s/ S. William Fox ---------------------------------------- Name: S. William Fox Title:Director EX-99.1 6 exh99_1.txt PRESS RELEASE Investor Contact: Media Contact: Linda S. Lennox Christopher Reardon Director, Investor Relations Manager, Corporate Communications (908) 719-4222 (908) 719-4224 llennox@nui.com creardon@nui.com For Immediate Release NUI CORPORATION ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF $95 MILLION IN CREDIT FACILITIES Bedminster, NJ - September 29, 2004 - NUI Corporation (NYSE:NUI) today announced that the company and its wholly owned subsidiary, NUI Utilities, Inc. (NUI Utilities), have obtained credit facilities aggregating $95 million. These facilities will be used to meet NUI Utilities' gas purchase prepayment requirements, provide additional liquidity for working capital, and for general corporate purposes to facilitate a smooth closing of the merger with AGL Resources Inc. (AGL Resources). Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) is the sole lead arranger. The new credit facilities comprise a $75 million senior secured credit facility to be made available to NUI Utilities and secured by NUI Utilities' receivables and related proceeds, and a $20 million senior unsecured credit facility to be made available to NUI by means of an amendment to NUI's existing $255 million senior unsecured credit facility. The NUI Utilities facility matures on May 15, 2005, and the NUI facility matures on November 21, 2005. As of September 29, 2004, both facilities are fully drawn. NUI also announced that NUI Utilities has drawn down the $50 million delayed draw term loan available to it under its existing credit facility and has used the proceeds to defease its outstanding $50 million medium term notes. In addition, the existing NUI and NUI Utilities credit facilities aggregating $405 million have been amended and extended to November 21, 2005. About NUI NUI Corporation, based in Bedminster, NJ, is an energy company that operates natural gas utilities and businesses involved in natural gas storage and pipeline activities. NUI Utilities' divisions include Elizabethtown Gas in New Jersey, City Gas Company of Florida and Elkton Gas in Maryland. For more information, visit www.nui.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to the use of proceeds from the credit facilities. These statements are based on management's current expectations and information currently available and are believed to be reasonable and are made in good faith. However, the forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statements. Factors that may make the actual results differ from anticipated results include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in NUI Corporation's Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs and its -more- other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; the anticipated use of proceeds from the credit facilities; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and some of which are beyond NUI Corporation's control. For these reasons, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. The words "expect," "believe," "project," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "could," "will," and variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. NUI Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ### -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----