-----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, BG3aUZSOr1B8XEA18GixhwhGsRh6gKlUD2hP1i0vY0BuE8xPQimjhc3AZNHHQOXF FdVovQ9CbddCx5ZbvuMvcA== 0000018808-05-000096.txt : 20051101 0000018808-05-000096.hdr.sgml : 20051101 20051101172726 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000018808-05-000096 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20051027 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Results of Operations and Financial Condition ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20051101 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20051101 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000018808 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 030111290 STATE OF INCORPORATION: VT FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-08222 FILM NUMBER: 051170850 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 77 GROVE ST CITY: RUTLAND STATE: VT ZIP: 05701 BUSINESS PHONE: 802-773-2711 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 77 GROVE STREET CITY: RUTLAND STATE: VT ZIP: 05701 8-K 1 fnl8k.htm CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C.   20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)     October 27, 2005    

 

      CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION      
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Vermont                
(State of other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

      1-8222       
(Commission
File Number)

          03-0111290         
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

       77 Grove Street, Rutland, Vermont               05701       

(Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (802) 773-2711

 

                                      N/A                                      
(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 October 27, 2005, the company closed a three-year, $25 million unsecured revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, pursuant to a Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2005, attached hereto as an Exhibit and incorporated herein by reference. The purpose of the facility is to provide liquidity for general corporate purposes, including working capital needs and power contract collateral requirements, in the form of borrowings and letters of credit. The Company's provision of collateral for power transactions under power purchase and sale agreements with counterparties has been approved by the Vermont Public Service Board. The company anticipates that the need to provide collateral for power transactions will be the principal use of the facility, although CVPS may draw on it, from time to time, to meet short-term capital needs. Financing terms and costs include an annual commitment fee on the unused balance, plus an interest amount on the outstanding balance of borrowings and letters of credit that is based on the Company's unsecured long term debt rating, which is equivalent to the Company's corporate credit rating.

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

      Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference is the text of the registrant's news release issued on November 1, 2005 announcing its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005.

      As discussed in Exhibit 99.1, the news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are present expectations, and are subject to the limitations listed therein, and in Central Vermont's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

      The foregoing information (including Exhibit 99.1) is being furnished under "Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition" and "Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure." Such information (including Exhibit 99.1) is furnished and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

      An analyst conference call to review the third quarter 2005 results will be held on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A live audio web cast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis. To listen to the web cast go to www.cvps.com and click on the web cast link. Central Vermont's news releases, current financial information, SEC filings, and Investor Relations presentations are accessible at the same web site.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

      See "Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition" above.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

      (d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

Description of Exhibit

99.1

Central Vermont's news release dated November 1, 2005.

10.91

Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2005 between Central Vermont Public Service Corporation as Borrower and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Lender

 

SIGNATURE

      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.

 

CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION

   

By

Edmund F. Ryan
Acting Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

November 1, 2005

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number

Description of Exhibit

99.1

Central Vermont's news release dated November 1, 2005.

10.91

Credit Agreement dated as of October 21, 2005 between Central Vermont Public Service Corporation as Borrower and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Lender

EX-99 3 ex99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 - NEWS RELEASE EXHIBIT 99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

Central Vermont Public Service

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: November 1, 2005

Central Vermont Reports Third-Quarter Earnings

RUTLAND, VT - Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) today reported consolidated third-quarter earnings of $2.7 million, or 21 cents per diluted share of common stock. This compares to third-quarter 2004 earnings of $6.1 million, or 47 cents per diluted share of common stock.

For the first nine months of 2005, CV reported consolidated earnings of $0.2 million, or a 1 cent loss per diluted share of common stock. This compares to first nine months 2004 earnings of $19.9 million, or $1.56 per diluted share of common stock. CV's 2005 results include a $21.8 million pre-tax charge to earnings related to a March 29, 2005 Rate Order. CV has appealed the Rate Order to the Vermont Supreme Court, which granted CV's motion for an expedited hearing.

"CV management is working creatively and aggressively to return the company to a solid financial footing," President Bob Young said.


Quarterly Performance Summary
Utility Business

Operating revenues increased $2.3 million, pre-tax, compared to the same period in 2004, primarily due to the following factors:

  • Retail sales increased $1.8 million due to a 6.8 percent increase in sales volume, partially offset by the 2.75 percent rate reduction beginning in April 2005 and lower average unit prices due to customer sales mix. Average customer usage increased primarily due to warmer weather during the period. In total, the increased sales volume contributed about $4.8 million to the favorable variance, while the rate reduction decreased revenue by about $1.9 million and lower average unit prices decreased revenue by $1.1 million.
  • Resale sales increased $0.9 million resulting from higher average prices, partially offset by fewer mWh available for resale due to higher retail sales volume. The higher average price reflects an overall increase in wholesale power market prices in New England. In total, higher average prices contributed about $2.3 million to the favorable variance, while lower volume decreased resale sales revenue by $1.4 million.
  • Other operating revenue decreased $0.4 million mostly related to higher revenue in 2004 due to mutual aid work in Florida and increased reserves in 2005 for pole attachment revenue. These unfavorable items were partly offset by higher transmission revenue and third-party billings.


Purchased power expense increased $4.0 million, pre-tax, compared to the same period in 2004, primarily due to the following factors:

  • Short-term purchases increased $5.4 million related to increased retail sales volume combined with lower output from CV's hydro facilities and Independent Power Producers. Additionally, these purchases were made at significantly higher prices compared to 2004.
  • Power purchases under long-term contracts decreased $2.2 million related to lower-priced energy under CV's contract to purchase energy from Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation ("VYNPC") and lower output from Independent Power Producers, offset by more energy purchases from VYNPC due to higher plant output.
  • Other power-related costs increased $0.8 million due to higher Connecticut Yankee rates under FERC-approved tariffs and elimination of accounting deferrals for incremental Yankee Atomic dismantling costs per the Rate Order.


Other operating costs increased $0.3 million, pre-tax, compared to the same period in 2004 due to higher transmission and distribution expenses, costs associated with CV's joint ownership interest in the McNeil generating station and employee-related costs including pension and medical, partly offset by Rate Order-required amortizations that began April 1, 2005.

Other items affecting third-quarter 2005 results compared to the same period in 2004 included lower interest expense due to the August 2004 bond refinancing, lower life insurance expense and higher equity in earnings from Velco, offset by lower carrying costs due to the Rate Order.


Non-utility Business
Catamount recorded a third-quarter 2005 loss of $0.2 million compared to third-quarter 2004 earnings of $1.4 million. Catamount's third-quarter 2004 earnings were primarily related to a $0.6 million after-tax gain and an additional $0.2 million income tax benefit due to the July 2004 sale of Catamount's investment interests in the Rupert and Glenns Ferry cogeneration facilities, and a $0.6 million after-tax gain and an additional $0.2 million income tax benefit due to the September 2004 sale of its Fibrothetford note receivable. Absent the favorable impacts of the 2004 asset sales, Catamount's 2004 operating activities resulted in a $0.2 million loss, which is comparable to the third-quarter 2005 loss.

Year-To-Date Performance Summary

The analysis of year-over-year earnings for the utility business is discussed in three parts: recurring earnings from continuing operations; impacts of the first-quarter 2005 charge to earnings related to the Rate Order, and impacts of the 2004 Connecticut Valley Electric Company ("CVEC") asset sale.

Utility Business - continuing operations
Operating revenues increased $7.5 million, pre-tax, excluding first-quarter 2005 effects of the Rate Order, compared to the same period in 2004, due to the following factors:

  • Retail sales increased $2.0 million primarily due to a 2.8 percent increase in sales volume, partially offset by the 2.75 percent rate reduction beginning in April 2005 and lower average unit prices due to customer sales mix. Average customer usage increased primarily due to a warmer summer in 2005. In total, the increased sales volume contributed about $6.0 million to the favorable variance, while the rate reduction decreased revenue by about $3.4 million and lower average unit prices decreased revenue by $0.6 million.
  • Resale sales increased $5.8 million primarily due to more mWh available for resale and higher average rates in 2005 versus the same period in 2004. In 2005, CV sold most of its excess power supply through two forward sale contracts and the remainder to ISO-New England. In 2004, CV sold its excess power supply to ISO-New England and other third parties, but there were fewer mWh available for resale due to nuclear plant outages in 2004. In total, higher average prices contributed about $4.2 million to the favorable variance, increased resale sales volume contributed about $1.1 million, and higher capacity-related revenues contributed about $0.5 million.
  • Other operating revenue decreased $0.3 million mostly related to higher revenue in 2004 due to mutual aid work in Florida and increased reserves in 2005 for pole attachment revenue. These unfavorable items were partly offset by higher transmission revenue and third-party billings.


Purchased Power costs decreased $10.4 million, pre-tax, excluding first-quarter 2005 effects of the Rate Order, compared to the same period in 2004 due to the following factors:

  • Long-term purchases increased $1.2 million primarily related to more purchases from VYNPC and more deliveries under CV's contract with Hydro-Quebec, partly offset by lower output from Independent Power Producers. CV purchased more energy from VYNPC in 2005 compared to 2004 due to scheduled and unscheduled plant outages that occurred in 2004, but the increase was partly offset by lower-priced energy under the contract with VYNPC.
  • Short-term purchases increased $0.8 million primarily due to higher average market prices for a higher volume of spot market purchases in 2005, offset by fewer replacement energy purchases related to nuclear plant outages in 2004. CV's 2005 short-term purchases were made through ISO-New England compared to 2004 when replacement energy purchases were made with third parties at lower average prices. The higher average market prices paid in 2005 includes increased operating reserves, congestion and marginal loss charges in ISO-New England.
  • Other power-related costs increased $2.0 million due to higher Connecticut Yankee rates under FERC-approved tariffs and elimination of accounting deferrals for incremental Yankee Atomic dismantling costs per the Rate Order.
  • In the first quarter of 2004, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies ("SFAS No. 5"), CV recorded a $14.4 million pre-tax loss accrual due to termination of the long-term power contract with CVEC. The loss accrual represented management's best estimate of the difference between expected future sales revenue, in the wholesale market, for the purchased power that was formerly sold to CVEC and the cost of that power. The loss accrual is being reversed and amortized against power expense on a straight-line basis through 2015, the estimated life of the power contracts that were in place to source the CVEC power contract.


Other operating costs increased $3.3 million, pre-tax, compared to the same period in 2004, primarily due to the following factors:

  • Higher administrative and general costs related to pension, bondholder consent fees, officers and directors' insurance premiums and an environmental insurance settlement received in 2004, offset by lower retiree medical costs, incentive compensation and workers' compensation claims.
  • Higher transmission and distribution expense due to higher costs under the NEPOOL open access transmission tariff, outside contractors and compensation costs, offset by savings credits related to CV's joint-ownership interest in the Highgate transmission facility.
  • Higher other costs associated with CV's joint ownership interest in the McNeil generating station, and higher property taxes and depreciation expense.
  • Higher other operating costs were partly offset by Rate Order-required amortizations that began April 1, 2005 and lower bad debt expense primarily related to a customer bankruptcy in 2004.

Other factors affecting first nine months 2005 results compared to the same period in 2004 included:

  • A second-quarter 2004 tax settlement that resulted in a $1.5 million pre-tax ($1.1 million after-tax) favorable effect in 2004 with no comparable item in 2005.
  • Favorable items include lower interest expense due to the August 2004 bond refinancing, and higher equity in earnings from Velco.
  • Unfavorable items include a first-quarter 2005 impairment of available-for-sale securities based on management's intent to liquidate certain securities prior to their maturity, lower carrying costs, and higher insurance expense primarily due to death benefit proceeds received in 2004.


Utility Business - Rate Order
On March 29, 2005, the Vermont Public Service Board issued its Order on the rate investigation and CV's request for a rate increase. For accounting purposes, the Rate Order resulted in a $21.8 million pre-tax charge to utility earnings in March 2005, or a 91 cent loss per diluted share of common stock. The primary components of the charge to earnings included: 1) a revised calculation of overearnings for the period 2001 - 2003; 2) application of the gain resulting from the CVEC sale to reduce costs; 3) a customer refund for over-collections for the period April 7, 2004 through March 31, 2005; and 4) amortization of costs and other adjustments required in the Rate Order. The table below summarizes the unfavorable pre-tax impacts of the Rate Order on specific Income Statement line items for the nine months of 2005 (in millions):

Income Statement Line Item

 

Operating Revenue

$(6.2)

Purchased Power

(2.5)

Other Operations

(10.7)

Other Income

(0.8)

Other Deductions

(0.4)

Other Interest

(1.2)

   

Total Rate Order Impact

$(21.8)

Utility Business - 2004 CVEC Asset Sale
In the first nine months of 2004, discontinued operations contributed $12.3 million to consolidated earnings, or $1.01 per diluted share of common stock, reflecting the after-tax gain resulting from the January 1, 2004 sale of the assets of CVEC. There are no remaining significant business activities related to CVEC.

For accounting purposes, components of the CVEC transaction were recorded in both continuing and discontinued operations on the consolidated 2004 income statement. The gain, net of tax, totaled $12.3 million, but CV recorded a loss on power costs, net of tax, of $8.4 million relating to termination of the power contract between CV and CVEC. Combining the two accounting transactions to assess the total impact of the transaction resulted in a gain of $3.9 million, or 32 cents per diluted share of common stock, recorded in 2004.

Non-utility Business
Catamount recorded a $0.7 million loss in the first nine months of 2005 compared to earnings of $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2004. The 2005 loss is primarily related to termination of Catamount's interest in the Appomattox project due to expiration of the lease in the fourth quarter of 2004, equity losses from an equity investment, higher operating costs and an investment impairment, offset by lower business development costs, amortization expense and an income tax benefit associated with the sale of its German development company. The 2004 earnings were primarily related to a $0.6 million after-tax gain and an additional $0.2 million income tax benefit due to the July 2004 sale of Catamount's investment interests in the Rupert and Glenns Ferry cogeneration facilities, and a $0.6 million after-tax gain and an additional $0.2 million income tax benefit due to the September 2004 sale of its Fibrothetford note receivable.

2005 Financial Guidance
Based on year-to-date financial results, we are continuing to project a consolidated loss in the range of zero to 10 cents per share. Our projection is based, in part, on receiving a PSB approval for an Accounting Order to allow for deferral of incremental replacement energy costs related to Vermont Yankee's scheduled refueling outage that began in late October 2005.

Other Developments
After the issuance of the Rate Order, CV decided not to make additional equity investments in Catamount in 2005. However, to ensure Catamount can achieve its development goals, in April 2005, CV extended a bridge loan up to $14.8 million to continue construction of the 135-megawatt Sweetwater 3 project in Texas. In July 2005, Catamount secured a bank credit facility and repaid the loan.

CV recently announced plans to sell a 51 percent interest in Catamount to an affiliate of Diamond Castle Partners (DCP), a New York-based private investment firm.  On October 31, 2005, CV consummated the initial closing of that transaction as described in CV's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 18, 2005 (the "Previous Form 8-K").  Under the Subscription Agreement, filed as an exhibit to the Previous Form 8-K, certain affiliates of DCP (the "Purchaser") paid $16 million for 160,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (representing approximately 21% of the outstanding common equity of Catamount) and 1 share of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Catamount.  The share of Class B common stock, together with their Class A common stock, give the Purchaser an approximate 51% voting interest in Catamount. Catamount Resources Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CV, reta ins the remaining voting interest in Catamount.  Pursuant to the Stockholders' Agreement, filed as an exhibit to the Previous Form 8-K, the Board of Directors of Catamount has been restructured to consist of seven directors, including three directors appointed by CV, three directors appointed by the Purchaser and the Chief Executive Officer of Catamount.  Additionally, other approval rights as described in the Previous Form 8-K have also taken effect.  The Subscription Agreement includes an option for CV to sell all of its interest in Catamount for approximately $60 million, subject to terms and conditions of the agreement.  CV is assessing the financial implications of selling all of its interest in Catamount versus maintaining a 49 percent share.


Webcast
CV will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, Nov. 2, beginning at 2 p.m. EST. At that time, CV President and CEO Robert Young will discuss recent corporate developments, including those of its Catamount Energy subsidiary, and the company's strategic outlook. Acting Chief Financial Officer Ed Ryan will explain CV's third-quarter results and Senior Vice President for Legal and Public Affairs Dale Rocheleau will describe recent regulatory relations activities.

Interested parties may listen to the conference call live on the Internet by selecting the "Q3 Central Vermont Public Service Earnings Conference Call" link on CV's homepage at www.cvps.com. An audio archive of the call will be available at approximately 4:30 p.m. EST at the same location or by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and entering passcode 67292418.


About CV
CV is Vermont's largest electric utility, serving about 150,000 customers statewide. The Company's two non-regulated subsidiaries include Catamount Energy Corporation and Eversant Corporation. Catamount invests in non-regulated energy generation projects in the United States and United Kingdom with a focus on developing, owning and operating wind energy projects. Eversant sells and rents electric water heaters through a subsidiary, SmartEnergy Water Heating Services.

Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained in this report that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe-harbors from the liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements made that are not historical facts are forward-looking and, accordingly, involve estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Actual results will depend, among other things, upon the actions of regulators, performance of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, effects of and changes in weather and economic conditions, volatility in wholesale electric markets, our ability to maintain our current credit ratings and performance of Catamount. These and other risk factors are detailed in CV's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. CV cannot predict the outcome of any of these matters; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such indicated resu lts will be realized. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this press release. CV does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Central Vermont Public Service Corporation
Earnings (Loss) per Diluted Share Reconciliation

Third quarter 2005 versus third quarter 2004:

2004 Earnings per diluted share


$.47 

Year-over-Year Effects on Earnings:
   Higher retail revenue
   
Higher resale sales
   Higher purchased power costs
   Catamount - loss in 2005 versus earnings in 2004
   Other
      Subtotal

2005 Earnings per diluted share


..09 
..04 
(.19)
(.14)
(.06)







(.26)

$.21 

First nine months 2005 versus first nine months 2004:

2004 Earnings per diluted share


$1.56 

Year-over-Year Effects on Earnings:
   
Higher resale sales
   Higher retail revenue (a)
   Regulatory asset amortizations
   Higher equity in earnings of utility affiliates
   Catamount - loss in 2005 versus earnings in 2004
   Higher purchased power costs (b)
   Higher transmission and distribution costs
   IRS tax settlement received in 2004
   Higher administrative and general costs
   Other
      subtotal

Net impact of March 29, 2005 Rate Order recorded in the first quarter of 2005

Net impact of CVEC sale recorded in 2004:
   Gain on discontinued operations
   SFAS No. 5 loss accrual - termination of power contract
     subtotal

2005 Loss per diluted share

(a) excludes effect of Rate Order charge recorded in the first quarter of 2005
(b) excludes effect of Rate Order charge recorded in the first quarter of 2005
     and 2004 SFAS No. 5 loss accrual


..28 
..09 
..07 
..04 
(.23)
(.19)
(.11)
(.09)
(.08)
(.12)






(1.01)
.69 












(.34)

(.91)




(.32)

$(0.01)

Central Vermont Public Service Corporation - Consolidated
Earnings Release (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Three Months Ended September 30,
        2005                    2004       

Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2005               2004       

Utility Operating Data
   Retail and firm sales (mWh)


583,318 


546,072 


1,713,021 


1,665,806 

   Operating revenues:
     Retail and firm sales
     Resale sales
     Retail customer refund
     Other operating revenue
   Total operating revenue


$66,889 
6,559 

    1,562 
$75,013 


$65,082 
5,701 
- - 
    1,957 
$72,740 


$199,877 
26,106 
(6,194)
    5,961 
$225,750 


$197,899 
20,347 
- - 
    6,243 
$224,489 

   Operating expenses:
     Purchased power
     Other operating expenses
   Total operating expenses


$39,639 
  31,382 
$71,021 


$35,627 
  31,327 
$66,954 


$119,951 
    98,989 
$218,940 


$127,914 
  87,421 
$215,335 

Consolidated Net Income (Loss) and Common Stock
   Income from continuing operations
   Income from discontinued operations
Net Income
   Preferred stock dividend requirements
Earnings (Loss) available for common stock


$2,721 
         - 
2,721 
      92 
$2,629 


$6,057 
          8 
6,065 
      259 
$5,806 


$184 
           - 
184 
      276 
$(92)


$7,565 
  12,354 
19,919 
       775 
$19,144 

Average shares of common stock outstanding:
   Basic
   Diluted


12,276,642 
12,365,263 


12,138,847 
12,296,739 


12,251,944 
12,251,944 


12,105,248 
12,276,905 

Earnings (loss) per share of common stock - basic:
   Continuing operations
   Discontinued operations
   Earnings (loss) per share


$.21 
     - 
$.21 


$.48 
      - 
$.48 


$(.01)
     - 
$(.01)


$.56 
 1.02 
$1.58 

Earnings (loss) per share of common stock - diluted:
   Continuing operations
   Discontinued operations
   Earnings (loss) per share

Dividends per share of common stock


$.21 
     - 
$.21 

$.23 


$.47 
     - 
$.47 

$.00 


$(.01)
     - 
$(.01)

$.92 


$.55 
  1.01 
$1.56 

$.69 

Non-regulated Business
Catamount Energy Corporation:
  Loss per basic and diluted common share

Eversant Corporation:
  Earnings per basic and diluted common share



$(.02)


$.01 



$.12 


$.01 



$(.06)


$.03 



$.17 


$.03 

Media Inquiries:

Steve Costello, Director of Public Affairs
(802) 747-5427; e-mail: scostel@cvps.com
(802) 775-0486 (home)
(802) 742-3062 (beeper)

Contact:

Ed Ryan, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(802) 747-5422; e-mail: eryan@cvps.com

EX-10 4 ex1091.htm EXHIBIT 10.91 - CREDIT AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.91

EXHIBIT 10.91

JPMorgan

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

October 21, 2005

between

CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION,
as Borrower

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Lender

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I

Definitions

Section 1.01.

Defined Terms

1

Section 1.02.

Classification of Loans and Borrowings

12

Section 1.03.

Terms Generally

13

Section 1.04.

Accounting Terms; GAAP

13

ARTICLE II

The Credits

Section 2.01.

Commitments

13

Section 2.02.

Revolving Loans and Borrowings

13

Section 2.03.

Requests for Revolving Borrowings

14

Section 2.04.

Letters of Credit

14

Section 2.05.

Interest Elections

17

Section 2.06.

Termination and Reduction of Commitments

18

Section 2.07.

Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

18

Section 2.08.

Prepayment of Loans

19

Section 2.09.

Fees

19

Section 2.10.

Interest

20

Section 2.11.

Alternate Rate of Interest

20

Section 2.12.

Increased Costs

21

Section 2.13.

Break Funding Payments

22

Section 2.14.

Taxes

22

Section 2.15.

Payments Generally

23

Section 2.16.

Mitigation Obligations

23

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

Section 3.01.

Organization; Powers

24

Section 3.02.

Authorization; Enforceability

24

Section 3.03.

Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

24

Section 3.04.

Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

24

Section 3.05.

Properties

25

Section 3.06.

Litigation and Environmental Matters

25

Section 3.07.

Compliance with Laws and Agreements

26

Section 3.08.

Investment and Holding Company Status

26

Section 3.09.

Taxes

26

Section 3.10.

ERISA

26

Section 3.11.

Disclosure

27

Section 3.12

Bonding Capacity

27

ARTICLE IV

Conditions

Section 4.01.

Effective Date

27

Section 4.02.

Each Credit Event

28

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Section 5.01.

Financial Statements, Ratings Change and Other Information

29

Section 5.02.

Notices of Material Events

31

Section 5.03.

Existence; Conduct of Business

31

Section 5.04

Payment of Obligations

31

Section 5.05.

Maintenance of Properties; Insurance

32

Section 5.06.

Books and Records; Inspection Rights

32

Section 5.07.

Compliance with Laws

32

Section 5.08.

Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit

32

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Section 6.01.

Indebtedness

32

Section 6.02.

Liens

33

Section 6.03.

Fundamental Changes

34

Section 6.04.

Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

34

Section 6.05.

Swap Agreements

35

Section 6.06.

Restricted Payments

35

Section 6.07.

Transactions with Affiliates

35

Section 6.08.

Restrictive Agreements

35

Section 6.09

Total Debt to Total Capitalization Rate

36

Section 6.10

Interest Coverage Ratio

36

ARTICLE VII

 

Events of Default

36

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous

Section 8.01.

Notices

38

Section 8.02.

Waivers; Amendments

39

Section 8.03.

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

39

Section 8.04.

Successors and Assigns

40

Section 8.05.

Survival

42

Section 8.06.

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

42

Section 8.07.

Severability

42

Section 8.08.

Right of Setoff

43

Section 8.09.

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

43

Section 8.10.

Waiver of Jury Trial

43

Section 8.11.

Headings

44

Section 8.12.

Confidentiality

44

Section 8.13.

Interest Rate Limitation

44

Section 8.14.

USA Patriot Act

44

SCHEDULES:

Schedule 3.04(d) -- Guaranteed Indebtedness
Schedule 3.06 -- Disclosed Matters
Schedule 6.01 -- Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02 -- Existing Liens
Schedule 6.08 -- Existing Restrictions

EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A -- Form of Promissory Note
Exhibit B -- Form of Opinion of Borrower's Counsel
Exhibit C -- Borrower's Investment Policy

                            CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 21, 2005 between CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION, as Borrower, and JPMORGAN CHASE, N.A., as Lender.

                            The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
Definitions

                            SECTION 1.01.     Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

"ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

"Act" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.14.

"Adjusted LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

"Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus one half of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

"Applicable Rate" means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurodollar Revolving Loan, or with respect to the facility fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption "ABR Spread", "Eurodollar Spread" or "Facility Fee Rate", as the case may be, based upon the ratings by Moody's or S&P, respectively, or if both are available, Moody's and S&P, applicable on such date to the Index Debt:

Index Debt Rating by Moody's or S&P

Eurodollar Spread*

ABR Spread*

Facility Rate Fee

> A- or A3

0.300%

0%

0.090%

BBB+ or Baa1

0.375%

0%

0.100%

BBB or Baa2

0.500%

0%

0.125%

BBB- or Baa3

0.700%

0%

0.150%

BB+ or Ba1

0.900%

0%

0.225%

BB or Ba2

1.200%

0%

0.325%

<BB or Ba2

1.500%

0%

0.450%

*Plus 12.5 basis points for >50% utilization by Borrower of the Commitment.

                            For purposes of the foregoing, (i) if either Moody's or S&P shall not have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition) or in the absence of such, the corporate credit rating, then such rating agency shall be deemed to have established a rating of Ba3 or BB- respectively; (ii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody's and S&P for the Index Debt shall fall within different Categories, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the higher of the two ratings unless one of the two ratings is two or more Categories lower than the other, in which case the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the Category next below that of the higher of the two ratings; and (iii) if the ratings established or deemed to have be en established by Moody's and S&P for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moody's or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency, irrespective of when notice of such change shall have been furnished by the Borrower to the Lender pursuant to Section 5.01 or otherwise. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody's or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lender shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate sha ll be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

"Approved Fund" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04.

"Assessment Rate" means, for any day, the annual assessment rate in effect on such day that is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund classified as "well-capitalized" and within supervisory subgroup "B" (or a comparable successor risk classification) within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Part 327 (or any successor provision) to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for insurance by such Corporation of time deposits made in dollars at the offices of such member in the United States; provided that if, as a result of any change in any law, rule or regulation, it is no longer possible to determine the Assessment Rate as aforesaid, then the Assessment Rate shall be such annual rate as shall be determined by the Lender to be representative of the cost of such insurance to the Lender.

"Availability Period" means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitment.

"Base CD Rate" means the sum of (a) the Three-Month Secondary CD Rate multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate plus (b) the Assessment Rate.

"Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

"Bonding Capacity" means the incremental amount of first mortgage bonds permitted to be issued under the Indenture, without violating the terms and conditions thereof.

"Borrower" means Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, a Vermont corporation.

"Borrowing" means Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

"Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

"Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

"Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

"Change in Control" means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Borrower by any Person or group.

"Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by the Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.12(b), by any lending office of the Lender or by the Lender's holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

"Charges" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.13.

"Class", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans.

"Closing Date" means October 21, 2005.

"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

"Commitment" means the commitment of the Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of the Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by Lender pursuant to Section 8.04. The initial aggregate amount of the Lender's Commitment is Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000).

"Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto.

"Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

"Disclosed Matters" means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

"dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

"Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02).

                            "Environmental Laws" means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

"Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

"Equity Interests" means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

"ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated 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, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

"ERISA Event" means (a) any "reportable event", as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any o f its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multi-employer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multi-employer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multi-employer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

"Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

"Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

"Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the 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 which its applicable lending office is located and (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.

"Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Lender from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

"Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

"Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

"Guarantee" of or by any Person (the "guarantor") means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation, including, without limitation, pledge agreements; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

"Guarantor" means Custom Investment Corporation, a Vermont corporation and C.V. Realty, Inc., a Vermont corporation.

"Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

"Income Tax Expense" means, for any period, all provisions for taxes based on net income of the Borrower (including, without limitation, any additions to such taxes, and any penalties and interest with respect thereto), all as determined for the Borrower on standalone basis in accordance with GAAP.

"Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person's ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

"Indemnitee" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03.

"Indenture" means the Indenture of Mortgage dated as of October 1, 1929, between the Borrower and the trustee named therein, as supplemented and amended by forty-five indentures supplemental thereto and amendatory thereof, including the Forty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 15, 2004, entered into by the Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee, which amended, supplemented and restated the Indenture and the prior supplemental indentures, and the Forty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 15, 2004.

"Index Debt" means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower that is not guaranteed by any other Person or subject to any other credit enhancement.

"Information" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.12.

"Interest Election Request" means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05.

"Interest Expense" means, for any period, total interest expense (including, without limitation, that which is capitalized, that which is attributable to capital leases or synthetic leases and the pre-tax equivalent of dividends payable on redeemable stock) however, excluding interest on existing capital leases totaling $7,400,000 as of September 30, 2005 classified as an operating expense, of the Borrower on a standalone basis with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and net costs under Swap Agreements.

"Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months' duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months' duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

"Interest Period" means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect, and provided, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

"LC Disbursement" means a payment made by the Lender pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

"LC Exposure" means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time.

"Lender" means JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an assignment and assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an assignment and assumption.

"Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

"LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on the Telerate Service Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Lender from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the "LIBO Rate" with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Lender in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

"Loans" means the loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower, the Regulated Subsidiaries, and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lender under this Agreement.

"Material Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $2,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the "principal amount" of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Material Indebtedness does not include Indebtedness or Swap Agreements of any Subsidiary that are non-recourse to the Borrower, Guarantor or any Regulated Subsidiary.

"Maturity Date" means September 30, 2008.

"Maximum Rate" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.13.

"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

"Multi-employer Plan" means a multi-employer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

"Net Income" means, for any period, the net income (or loss), without deduction for minority interests, of the Borrower on a standalone basis for such period taken as a single accounting period determined in conformity with GAAP.

"Net Worth" means, at any time, all amounts that, in conformity with GAAP, would be included under the caption "total stockholders' equity" (or any like caption) on a standalone balance sheet of the Borrower as of such date provided that, in no event shall Net Worth include any amounts in respect of mandatorily redeemable stock.

"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 otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

"Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.

"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

"Permitted Encumbrances" means:

(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and

(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

provided that the term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall not include any other Lien securing Indebtedness.

 

"Permitted Investments" means:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody's;

(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;

(e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AA by S&P and Aa by Moody's and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000;

(f) investments in accordance with the Borrower's investment policy, attached hereto as Exhibit C and made a part hereof;

(g) instruments of federal agencies not guaranteed by the U.S. Government maturing within 270 days rated AA or AAA by S&P;

(h) Tax-Exempt Floating Rate Notes and Bonds maturing within 270 days of a corporation or a company carrying Aa or Aaa long-term debt rating and/or P-1 commercial paper rating from Moody's or equivalent, or carrying a letter of credit from a bank meeting the same criteria; and

(i) Municipal Bonds, Taxable or Tax-Exempt, maturing within 270 days issued by Municipal or tax-exempt institution rated Aa or Aaa long-term debt rating and/or P-1 commercial paper rating and/or MIG-1 rating from Moody's or equivalent, or carrying a letter of credit from a bank meeting the same criteria.

"Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

"Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multi-employer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

"Power Transactions" means transactions relating to the purchase, sale, swap, hedge, trade, option, replacement, scheduling, offset, claim, settlement or other agreement for the acquisition or disposition of electric capacity or energy or other products or services related thereto, including, without limitation, the transporting, delivery or transmission thereof and any collateral, credit support, margin agreements or similar arrangements.

"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 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 publicly announced as being effective.

"Regulated Subsidiary" means (a) a subsidiary of the Borrower which is regulated by the Vermont Public Service Board or any successor regulatory commission or agency to either and any other subsidiary that is subject to federal or state regulation as a public utility company and (b) Custom Investment Corporation and C.V. Realty, Inc.

"Regulators" means the Vermont Public Service Board or any successor regulatory commission or agency to either.

"Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.

"Restricted Payment" means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower.

"Revolving Credit Exposure" means the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the Lender's Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure at such time.

"Revolving Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.03.

"Significant Subsidiary" means any Regulated Subsidiary, Catamount Resources Corporation on a standalone basis, and Eversant Corporation.

"S&P" means Standard & Poor's.

"Statutory Reserve Rate" means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Lender is subject (a) with respect to the Base CD Rate, for new negotiable nonpersonal time deposits in dollars of over $100,000 with maturities approximately equal to three months and (b) with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency Liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time t o any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

"subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person (the "parent") at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent's consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, (i) as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, Controlled or held, and (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent or (ii) that is, as of such date, controlled by the parent or one or more subsidi aries of the parent, or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

"Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

"Swap Agreement" means any agreement with respect to any swap, hedge, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

"Three-Month Secondary CD Rate" means, for any day, the secondary market rate for three-month certificates of deposit reported as being in effect on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day) by the Board through the public information telephone line of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (which rate will, under the current practices of the Board, be published in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) during the week following such day) or, if such rate is not so reported on such day or such next preceding Business Day, the average of the secondary market quotations for three-month certificates of deposit of major money center banks in New York City received at approximately 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day) by the Lender from three negotiable certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by it.

"Total Capitalization" means the sum of the Total Debt of Borrower plus the Borrower's Net Worth.

"Total Debt" means Indebtedness of the Borrower referred to in clauses (a) through (j) of the definition of Indebtedness plus mandatorily redeemable stock and, without limitation, all contingent obligations with respect to any of the foregoing, to the extent (i) such Indebtedness matures one year or more from issuance or (ii) such Indebtedness remains outstanding one year or more from issuance under any credit facility or combination thereof.

"Transactions" means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

"Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

"Withdrawal Liability" means liability to a Multi-employer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multi-employer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

                            SECTION 1.02.     Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Loan") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Loan") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Borrowing") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Borrowing") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing").

                            SECTION 1.03.     Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation". The word "will" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall". 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, Section, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Section of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) 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.

                            SECTION 1.04.     Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Lender 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 Lender notifies the Borrower that the Lender requests 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 cha nge shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

ARTICLE II
The Credits

                            SECTION 2.01.     Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower and to issue Letters of Credit at the request of the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in the Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the Lender's Commitment. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans and request to issue, amend, renew and extend Letters of Credit.

                            SECTION 2.02.     Revolving Loans and Borrowings.

(a) Subject to Section 2.11, each Revolving Loan shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith.

(b) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000). At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $100,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitment or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.04(d). Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of $25,000,000 Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

                            SECTION 2.03.     Requests for Revolving Loans. To request a Revolving Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Lender of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.04(d) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Lender of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Lender and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and

(v) the location and number of the Borrower's account to which funds are to be disbursed.

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.

                            SECTION 2.04.     Letters of Credit.

(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Lender, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Lender relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. The Lender may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Lender, in which case the term "Lender" shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate; provided, however, such Affiliate must have a minimum corporate credit rating of "A-" from S&P or "A3" from Moody's.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Lender) to the Lender (two business days in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the Le nder, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Lender's standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed Twenty-Five Million Dollars $25,000,000 and (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Lender's Commitment.

(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

(d) Reimbursement. If the Lender shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Lender an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $100,000, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower's obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower's obligations hereunder. Neither the Lender, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Lender from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffere d by the Borrower that are caused by the Lender's failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Lender may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Lette r of Credit.

(f) Disbursement Procedures. The Lender shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether the Lender has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Lender and the Lender with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

(g) Interim Interest. If the Lender shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, then Section 2.10(c) shall apply.

(h) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day, that the Borrower receives notice from the Lender (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated), demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Lender, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such deposit shall be held by the Lender as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Lender shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, o ver such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Lender and at the Borrower's risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Lender to reimburse the Lender for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Defau lt have been cured or waived.

                            SECTION 2.05.     Interest Elections.

(a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Lender of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Lender of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Lender and signed by the Borrower.

(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i)    the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii)    the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii)    whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(iv)    if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period".

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.

(d) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Lender so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

                            SECTION 2.06.     Termination and Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.08, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments.

(c) The Borrower shall notify the Lender of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Lender on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent.

                            SECTION 2.07.     Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date.

(b) The Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender resulting from each Loan made by the Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to the Lender from time to time hereunder.

(c) The Lender shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and 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 the Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Lender.

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of the Lender 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 the terms of this Agreement.

(e) The Lender may request that Loans be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Lender a promissory note payable to the order of the Lender (or, if requested by the Lender, to Lender and its registered assigns) and in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Lender. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 8.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

                            SECTION 2.08.     Prepayment of Loans.

(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.

(b) The Borrower shall notify the Lender by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.06, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.06. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.10.

                            SECTION 2.09.     Fees.

(a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the unused portion of the Commitment of the Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, if the Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of the Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which the Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure. Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any facility fees accruing after the date on which the Commitment terminate shall be payable on de mand. All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Lender a commission with respect to its participation in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of the Lender's LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which the Lender's Commitment terminates and the date on which the Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) the Lender's standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Such commissions accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such commiss ions shall be payable on the date on which the Commitment terminate and any such commissions accruing after the date on which the Commitment terminates shall be payable on demand. Any other fees and/or commissions payable to the Lender pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All commissions shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender usual and customary fees payable in the amount and at the times separately agreed upon by the Borrower and the Lender.

(d) All fees and commissions payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Lender. Fees and commissions paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

                            SECTION 2.10.     Interest.

(a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Loan, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Commitment; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Lender, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

                            SECTION 2.11.     Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the Lender determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Lender determines that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lender of making or maintaining its Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Borrower by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Lender notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Type of Borrowings shall be permitted.

 

                            SECTION 2.12.     Increased Costs.

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i)    impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, the Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

(ii)    impose on the Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by the Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to the Lender of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Lender (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to the Lender, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) If the Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the Lender's capital or on the capital of the Lender's holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, the Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Lender, to a level below that which the Lender or the Lender's holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration the Lender's policies and the policies of the Lender's holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to the Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender or the Lender's holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of the Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of the Lender's right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate the Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that the Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the Lender's intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

                            SECTION 2.13.     Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.08(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.16, then, in any such event, the Borrowe r shall compensate the Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to the Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by the Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which the Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the Eurodollar market. A certificate of the Lender setting forth any am ount or amounts that the Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

                            SECTION 2.14.     Taxes.

(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 ) the 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.

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Lender 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 ) 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. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by the 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 Lender the original or a certified copy 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 Lender.

(e) If the Lender determines, in its sole discretion, 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 2.14, 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 2.14 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the 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 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 Lender in the event the Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require the 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.

                            SECTION 2.15.     Payments Generally.

(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.12, 2.13 or 2.14, or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Lender, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Lender at its offices at 12 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany, New York 12211. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Lender to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder.

                            SECTION 2.16.     Mitigation Obligations. If the Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to the Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of the Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, then the Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of the Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.14, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject the Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to the Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties

                            The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lender that:

                            SECTION 3.01.     Organization; Powers. Each of the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

                            SECTION 3.02.     Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within the Borrower's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

                            SECTION 3.03.     Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Regulated Subsidiaries (and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, except where any such violation would not result in a Material Adverse Effect) or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Regulated Subsidiaries (and, to the best of B orrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, except where any such violation or breach would not result in a Material Adverse Effect) or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Regulated Subsidiaries (and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, except where any such right would not result in a Material Adverse Effect) and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Regulated Subsidiaries.

                            SECTION 3.04.     Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lender its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, reported on by Deloitte & Touche, LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, certified by its Chief Financial Officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

(b) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lender its unaudited balance sheet, statements of income, and stockholders equity of the Borrower on a standalone basis (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, all being certified by its Chief Financial Officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower on a standalone basis as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) Since June 30, 2005, there has been no change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as of the Closing Date, or subsequently that has not been publicly disclosed, except changes that individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Each of the Borrower and Guarantor are not liable for any Indebtedness of their respective subsidiaries except as set forth on Schedule 3.04(d) hereof, and except as allowed by Article VI hereof.

                            SECTION 3.05.     Properties.

(a) Each of the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries (and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, except where any such failure would not result in a Material Adverse Effect) has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for Permitted Encumbrances and minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

(b) Each of the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                            SECTION 3.06.     Litigation and Environmental Matters.

                            Other than as disclosed in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Forms 8-K published since the most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q:

(a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than Schedule 3.06, Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

(c) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

                            SECTION 3.07.     Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all its other Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

                            SECTION 3.08.     Investment and Holding Company Status. (a) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Regulated Subsidiaries is an "investment company" as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940; (b) no Regulated Subsidiary is a "holding company" as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (the "Holding Company Act"); (c) the Borrower (i) is a holding company as defined in the Holding Company Act which is exempt from all the provisions of the Holding Company Act and the General Rules and Regulations under the Holding Company Act (the "Holding Company Rules") (except Section 9(a)(2) of the Holding Company Act) pursuant to Rule 2 of the Holding Company Rules; (ii) has filed its required exemption statement on or before March 1, 2005, under paragraph (a) of said Rule 2; and (iii) has not received any notifications from the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 6 of the Holding Company Rules and has no knowledge that any notification is contemplated by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (d) the Borrower has not taken any action and will not take any action unless required by law which could cause Lender to become, solely by reason of the Transactions, subject to regulation under the Holding Company Act.

                            SECTION 3.09.     Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all its other Subsidiaries, has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Regulated Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves, in accordance with GAAP, or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                            SECTION 3.10.     ERISA. As of the Closing Date, and subsequently, other than as disclosed in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Forms 8-K published since the most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the September 30, 2004 actuarial valuation date reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $17,200,000 the fair market val ue of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the September 30, 2004 actuarial valuation date reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $17,200,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

                            SECTION 3.11.     Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lender all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Regulated Subsidiaries and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries, is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

                            SECTION 3.12.     Bonding Capacity. The Borrower has Bonding Capacity under the Indenture in excess of $40,000,000 as of the Closing Date and subsequently in excess of the greater of $30,000,000 or the aggregate amount of unsecured Indebtedness.

ARTICLE IV
Conditions

                            SECTION 4.01.     Effective Date. The obligations of the Lender to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02):

(a) The Lender (or its counsel) shall have received from the Borrower either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Lender (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that the Borrower has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) The Lender shall have received all promissory notes required by Lender fully executed, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender and its counsel.

(c) The Lender shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Lender and dated the Effective Date) of Kenneth C. Picton, Senior Corporate Counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, and covering such other matters relating to the Borrower and this Agreement or the Transactions as the Lender shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.

(d) The Lender's review of and satisfaction with the projections and pro-forma financial statements of Borrower.

(e) The Lender's satisfaction with the condition (financial and otherwise), operations, assets, nature of assets, liabilities and prospects of the Borrower.

(f) The Lender has received satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations, including all applicable Environmental Laws and regulations and that all necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained, including but not limited to the Vermont Public Service Board.

(g) No litigation by any person or entity (private or governmental) shall be pending or threatened (i) with respect to the Transactions, the Agreement, or any other documentation executed in connection herewith or therewith or the transaction contemplated hereby or (ii) which in the Lender's sole judgment, individually or in the aggregate, could have a Materially Adverse Effect on the business, property, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations or prospects of the Borrower after giving effect to the Transactions.

(h) Since the date of the last financial statements for the Borrower delivered to the Lender prior to the date hereof, nothing shall have occurred which in the Lender's sole judgment could, individual or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on (i) the rights and remedies of the Bank under the definitive documentation for the Transaction, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its respective obligations or (iii) the business, property, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations or prospects of the Borrower after giving effect to the Transactions.

(i) The Lender shall have received such documents and certificates as the Lender or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower, the Guarantors, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender and its counsel.

(j) The Lender shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (i) of Section 4.02.

(k) The Lender shall have received an executed subsidiary guaranty agreement from the Guarantor, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender and its counsel.

(l) The Lender shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

The Lender shall notify the Borrower of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lender to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 8.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 26, 2005 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

                            SECTION 4.02.     Each Credit Event. The obligation of the Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(c) Borrower's unsecured long term debt has a rating of "BBB" or higher from S&P or "Baa3" or higher from Moody's; provided, if the Borrower does not have such rating, there has been no change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries, and, to the best of Borrower's Knowledge, all of its other Subsidiaries taken as a whole, that individually, or in the aggregate, could not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Prior to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall have confirmed in writing to Lender that it has received all necessary regulatory approvals permitting Borrower to provide the cash collateral, as set forth in Section 2.04 (h).

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants

                            Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lender that:

                            SECTION 5.01.     Financial Statements; Ratings Change and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Lender:

(a) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower:

(i)    its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche, LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a "going concern" or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; provided that the delivery within the time period specified above of the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year prepared in accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities and Exchange Comm ission, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of Section 5.01(a)(i);

(ii)    its unaudited balance sheet and related statements of operations, and stockholders' equity as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all certified by its Chief Financial Officer to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower on a standalone basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; and

(iii)    its unaudited consolidating statement as of end of and for such year as reported on Form U3/A-2 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, provided the Borrower is required to file such form;

(b) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower:

 

(i)    its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by its Chief Financial Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; provided that delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.01(b)(i); and

(ii)    its unaudited balance sheet and related statements of operations and stockholders' equity as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by its Chief Financial Officer as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower on a standalone basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.09 and 6.10 and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate unless otherwise disclosed in the Borrower's Forms 10-K or 10-Q delivered under Section 5.01(a) or (b);

(d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

(e) promptly after Moody's or S&P shall have announced a change in the rating established or deemed to have been established for the Index Debt (i) written notice of such rating change and (ii) if the Index Debt is rated less than BBB- (stable) by Standard & Poor or Baa3 (stable) by Moody's, the notice shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower whether or not there has been a change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or conditions, financial or otherwise, having a Material Adverse Effect on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and

(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Lender may reasonably request.

                            SECTION 5.02.     Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $500,000; and

(d) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

                            SECTION 5.03.     Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

                            SECTION 5.04.     Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto as necessary in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                            SECTION 5.05.     Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

                            SECTION 5.06.     Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

                            SECTION 5.07.     Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including, without limitation, ERISA and the Public Utility Holding Company Act), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

                            SECTION 5.08.     Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for general corporate purposes of Borrower in the ordinary course of business. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. Letters of Credit will be issued only to support general corporate purposes of Borrower in the ordinary course of business.

ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants

                            Until the Commitment has expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lender that:

                            SECTION 6.01.     Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Regulated Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness created hereunder, including the Guaranty by Custom Investment Corporation and C.V. Realty, Inc.;

(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01(b), and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower to or from Guarantor, or to or from any Significant Subsidiary provided such Indebtedness to or from a non-Regulated Subsidiary does not exceed $17,500,000 plus twenty percent (20%) of Borrower's cumulative net income since January, 2004 or an amount permitted by the Indenture, whichever is less;

(d) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Guarantor or any Regulated Subsidiary and by any Significant Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Regulated Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.01(d), and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) such Indebtedness does not reduce the Borrower's Bonding Capacity below the greater of $30,000,000, or the total aggregate amount of unsecured Indebtedness;

(f) Indebtedness of Catamount Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries provided it is not guaranteed by the Borrower and/or Guarantor;

(g) other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the Borrower's statutory short-term borrowing limit, if the Borrower carries an investment grade rating, and not exceeding $35,000,000 if the Borrower does not carry an investment grade rating; and

(h) additional mortgage bonds issued under the Borrower's Indenture, provided the bonding capacity under the Indenture does not go below the greater of $30,000,000 million, or the total aggregate amount of unsecured Indebtedness.

                            SECTION 6.02.     Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Permitted Encumbrances;

(b) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(d) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(e) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower to secure Power Transactions in the ordinary course of business;

(f) The Lien of the Indenture;

(g) Pledge agreements identified on Schedule 6.08; and

(h) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower under or pursuant to any Swap Agreement, provided the bonding capacity under the Indenture does not go below the greater of $30,000,000 or the aggregate amount of the unsecured Indebtedness.

                            SECTION 6.03.     Fundamental Changes.

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Regulated Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Regulated Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into any Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary, (iii) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets in the ordinary course of business or to the Borrower or to another Subsid iary and (iv) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lender; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04; and provided further, Eversant Corporation, Catamount Resources Corporation or Catamount Energy Corporation may sell any or all of their capital stock to an investor, if the Borrower determines in good faith that such is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lender.

(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Regulated Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

                            SECTION 6.04.     Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

(a) Permitted Investments;

(b) investments by the Borrower existing on the date hereof in the capital stock of its Subsidiaries;

(c) loans or advances made by the Borrower to the Guarantor and made by the Guarantor to the Borrower;

(d) Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01;

(e) transactions by and among the Borrower and Significant Subsidiaries provided, however, that there is no Event of Default and investments, advances or loans to a non-Regulated Subsidiaries will not exceed $17,500,000 plus twenty percent (20%) of Borrower's cumulative net income since January 1, 2004 or an amount permitted under the Indenture, whichever is less.

                            SECTION 6.05.     Swap Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), (b) Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (c) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

                            SECTION 6.06.     Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (provided there is no Default by the Borrower or Guarantor) (a) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to its Equity Interests, (b) the Borrower may make all mandatory sinking funds, (c) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests, and (d) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

                            SECTION 6.07.     Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Regulated Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly-owned Regulated Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate and (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.06.

                            SECTION 6.08.     Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Regulated Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Regulated Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.08 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification which materially expands the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.

                            SECTION 6.09.     Total Debt to Total Capitalization Ratio. The Borrower, on a standalone basis, shall not permit its ratio of Total Debt to Total Capitalization to exceed .65 to 1.00, at any time.

                            SECTION 6.10.     Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower, on a standalone basis, shall not permit a ratio of the sum of Net Income plus Interest Expense and Income Tax Expense, to Interest Expense to be less than 1.75 to 1.00, in each case tested for the four fiscal quarters of the Borrower ended on or immediately prior to such date, provided however, the foregoing may be adjusted, for the applicable time period, by an amount not to exceed $21,800,000 to reverse charges incurred in connection with a Rate Order of the Vermont Public Service Board dated March 29, 2005, reflected in the Borrower's financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005.

ARTICLE VII
Events of Default

                            If any of the following events ("Events of Default") shall occur:

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect when made or deemed made;

(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower's existence) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

(e) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Lender to the Borrower;

(f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance of a hedge agreement or Swap Agreement in the ordinary course of business;

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(j) the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary shall become unable or admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $2,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Regulated Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Regulated Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(l) An ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Lender, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(m) a Change in Control shall occur without the prior written consent of the Lender;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Lender may, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (i) terminate the Commitment, and thereupon the Commitment shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borro wer described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous

                            SECTION 8.01.     Notices.

(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone or telecopy (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

If to the Borrower:

Central Vermont Public Service Corporation
77 Grove Street
Rutland, Vermont 05701
Attn: Director of Treasury and Corporate Planning
Fax: (802) 747-2129

with a copy to:

Central Vermont Public Service Corporation
77 Grove Street
Rutland, Vermont 05701
Attn: Senior Corporate Counsel
Fax: (802) 747-1913

If to the Lender:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
2 Corporate Woods Boulevard
Albany, New York 12211
Attn: David C. Horan, Jr.
Fax: (518) 436-9811

with a copy to:

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP
One Commerce Plaza - 19th Floor
Albany, New York 12260
Attn: Charles R. Haviland, Jr.
Fax: (518) 487-7777

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Lender. The Lender or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

(c) Any party hereto may change its address, contact person(s) or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

                            SECTION 8.02.     Waivers; Amendments.

(a) No failure or delay by the Lender in exercising any right or power 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 Lender hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that it would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Lender may hav e had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Lender.

                            SECTION 8.03.     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Lender, in connection with the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all suc h out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender, and each Related Party of the Lender (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee") against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses 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.

(c) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

(d) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

                            SECTION 8.04.     Successors and Assigns.

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Lender that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) the Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Lender that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of the Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)  (i)    Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, the Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of the Borrower, provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to the Lender, an Affiliate of the Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

       (ii)    Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

       (A)    except in the case of an assignment to the Lender or an Affiliate of the Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the Lender subject to each such assignment shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Lender otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

       (B)    each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;

                            For the purposes of this Section 8.04(b), the term "Approved Fund" has the following meaning:

                            "Approved Fund" means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) the Lender, (b) an Affiliate of the Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages the Lender.

       (iii)    From and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of the Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, the Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 8.03). Any assignment or transfer by the Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 8.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by the Lender of a participation in such r ights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

(c)  (i)    The Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a "Participant") in all or a portion of the Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) the Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) the Lender shall remain solely responsible to the Borrower for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly with the Lender in connection with the Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that the Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that the Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 8.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 8.08 as though it were a Lender.

      (ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.12 or 2.14 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant.

(d) The Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of the Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release the Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for the Lender as a party hereto.

                            SECTION 8.05.     Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lender and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder (except to the extent provided pursuant to Sections 5.01 and 5.02 hereof or such notice was provided in writing to the Lender and, if applicable, clearly states that it is a notice of Default), and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 8.03 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

                            SECTION 8.06.     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Lender constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Lender and when the Lender shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signature of the Borrower and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

                            SECTION 8.07.     Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

                            SECTION 8.08.     Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off (a "Right of Setoff") and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by the Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by the Lender, irrespective of whether or not the Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured; provided, however, that the Right of Setoff contained herein shall no t apply to any deposits, collateral, or other amounts at any time held by, and other obligations at any time owing by the Borrower to or for the credit or the account of, the Lender or any of its Affiliates relating to any Power Transaction by, between or through the Borrower and the Lender and any of its Affiliates. The rights of the Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which the Lender may have.

                            SECTION 8.09.     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in Albany County and of the United States District Court of the Northern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

                            SECTION 8.10.     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

                            SECTION 8.11.     Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

                            SECTION 8.12.     Confidentiality. The Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, "Information" means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of informa tion received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

                            SECTION 8.13.     Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the "Charges"), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the i nterest and Charges payable to the Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by the Lender.

                            SECTION 8.14.     USA Patriot Act. The Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the "Act"), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow the Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

[Signature Page Follows]

                            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CENTRAL VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION

By:  /s/ Edmund F. Ryan                                                  
       Name: Edmund F. Ryan
       Title: Acting Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

By:  /s/ David C. Horan, Jr.                                              
       Name: David C. Horan, Jr.
       Title: Vice President

SCHEDULE 3.04(d)

Guaranteed Indebtedness

SCHEDULE 3.06

Disclosed Matters


NONE


SCHEDULE 6.01

Existing Indebtedness


SCHEDULE 6.02

Existing Liens


SCHEDULE 6.08

Existing Restrictions


EXHIBIT A

Form of Promissory Note


EXHIBIT B

Form of Opinion of Borrower's Counsel


EXHIBIT C

Borrower's Investment Policy

 

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