10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2008

or

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number 1-6196

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

North Carolina	56-0556998
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

4720 Piedmont Row Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina	28210
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (704) 364-3120

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o	Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company o
	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class	Outstanding at March 4, 2008
Common Stock, no par value	73,407,684

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I. Financial Information
	Item. 1. Financial Statements
	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
	Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
	Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Part II. Other Information
	Item 1. Legal Proceedings
	Item 1A. Risk Factors
	Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
	Item 6. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
Exhibit 10.1
Exhibit 31.1
Exhibit 31.2
Exhibit 32.1
Exhibit 32.2

Part I. Financial Information

Item. 1. Financial Statements

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In thousands)

	January 31,		October 31,
	2008		2007
ASSETS
Utility Plant, at original cost	$	2,927,799	$	2,894,514
Less accumulated depreciation		768,881		752,977
Utility plant, net		2,158,918		2,141,537
Other Physical Property, at cost (net of accumulated depreciation of $2,236 in 2008 and $2,197 in 2007)		978		1,007
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		17,719		7,515
Restricted cash		—		2,211
Trade accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,685 in 2008 and $544 in 2007)		275,752		97,625
Income taxes receivable		—		15,699
Other receivables		207		649
Unbilled utility revenues		145,831		24,121
Gas in storage		128,120		131,439
Gas purchase options, at fair value		5,599		13,725
Amounts due from customers		80,003		76,035
Prepayments		4,203		61,007
Other		5,079		5,318
Total current assets		662,513		435,344
Investments, Deferred Charges and Other Assets:
Equity method investments in non-utility activities		112,600		95,193
Goodwill		48,852		48,852
Overfunded postretirement asset		35,404		36,256
Unamortized debt expense		10,464		10,565
Regulatory cost of removal asset		12,251		11,939
Other		37,458		39,625
Total investments, deferred charges and other assets		257,029		242,430
Total	$	3,079,438	$	2,820,318

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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	January 31,		October 31,
(In thousands)	2008		2007
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
Capitalization:
Stockholders’ equity:
Cumulative preferred stock — no par value — 175 shares authorized	$	—	$	—
Common stock — no par value — shares authorized: 200,000; shares outstanding: 73,395 in 2008 and 74,208 in 2007		476,235		497,570
Paid-in capital		491		402
Retained earnings		443,651		379,682
Accumulated other comprehensive income		748		720
Total stockholders’ equity		921,125		878,374
Long-term debt		824,773		824,887
Total capitalization		1,745,898		1,703,261
Current Liabilities:
Notes payable		289,000		195,500
Trade accounts payable		187,130		97,156
Other accounts payable		36,760		46,411
Income taxes accrued		13,262		1,224
Accrued interest		12,171		21,811
Customers’ deposits		25,958		22,930
Deferred income taxes		45,176		16,422
General taxes accrued		7,643		18,980
Amounts due to customers		2,063		162
Other		19,852		3,915
Total current liabilities		639,015		424,511
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes		264,926		267,479
Unamortized federal investment tax credits		2,891		2,983
Regulatory liability for postretirement benefits		13,398		13,876
Accumulated provision for postretirement benefits		17,736		17,469
Cost of removal obligations		358,241		351,738
Other		37,333		39,001
Total deferred credits and other liabilities		694,525		692,546
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 11)
Total	$	3,079,438	$	2,820,318

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
(In thousands except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	January 31
	2008			2007
Operating Revenues	$	788,470		$	677,241
Cost of Gas		561,444			468,756
Margin		227,026			208,485
Operating Expenses:
Operations and maintenance		52,578			52,210
Depreciation		22,706			21,611
General taxes		8,745			9,259
Income taxes		51,061			43,708
Total operating expenses		135,090			126,788
Operating Income		91,936			81,697
Other Income (Expense):
Income from equity method investments		8,718			5,543
Non-operating income		544			131
Non-operating expense		(265	)		(152	)
Income taxes		(3,526	)		(2,165	)
Total other income (expense)		5,471			3,357
Utility Interest Charges		15,139			14,338
Net Income	$	82,268		$	70,716
Average Shares of Common Stock:
Basic		73,280			74,619
Diluted		73,563			74,938
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:
Basic	$	1.12		$	0.95
Diluted	$	1.12		$	0.94
Cash Dividends Per Share of Common Stock	$	0.25		$	0.24

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended
	January 31
	2008			2007
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$	82,268		$	70,716
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		23,813			22,785
Amortization of investment tax credits		(92	)		(132	)
Allowance for doubtful accounts		2,141			1,820
Earnings from equity method investments		(8,718	)		(5,543	)
Distributions of earnings from equity method investments		1,164			1,196
Deferred income taxes		26,185			27,880
Stock-based compensation expense		84			—
Change in assets and liabilities		(126,534	)		(96,851	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		311			21,871
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Utility construction expenditures		(34,609	)		(29,485	)
Allowance for funds used during construction		(938	)		(1,340	)
Contributions to equity method investments		(10,022	)		—
Distributions of capital from equity method investments		16			138
Decrease in restricted cash		2,196			—
Other		687			732
Net cash used in investing activities		(42,670	)		(29,955	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase in notes payable		93,500			62,500
Expenses related to issuance of long-term debt		—			(5	)
Retirement of long-term debt		(114	)		—
Expenses related to expansion of the short-term facility		(88	)		—
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans		3,722			3,955
Repurchases of common stock		(26,138	)		(31,395	)
Dividends paid		(18,319	)		(17,905	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		52,563			17,150
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents		10,204			9,066
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period		7,515			8,886
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	17,719		$	17,952
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
Accrued construction expenditures	$	987		$	2,680
Guaranty		101			961

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)
(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended
	January 31
	2008			2007
Net Income	$	82,268		$	70,716
Other Comprehensive Income:
Unrealized gain from hedging activities of equity method investments, net of tax of $164 in 2008 and $10 in 2007		258			16
Reclassification adjustment from hedging activities of equity method investments included in net income, net of tax of ($147) in 2008 and $211 in 2007		(230	)		328
Total Comprehensive Income	$	82,296		$	71,060

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. Unaudited Interim Financial Information.

The condensed consolidated financial statements have not been audited. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.

     Seasonality and Use of Estimates.

In our opinion, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of financial position at January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, the results of operations for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, and cash flows for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007. Our business is seasonal in nature. The results of operations for the three months ended January 31, 2008 do not necessarily reflect the results to be expected for the full year.

We make estimates and assumptions when preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from estimates.

     Significant Accounting Policies.

Our accounting policies are described in Note 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007. There were no significant changes to those accounting policies during the three months ended January 31, 2008.

     Rate-Regulated Basis of Accounting.

We follow Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation” (Statement 71). Statement 71 provides that rate-regulated public utilities account for and report assets and liabilities consistent with the economic effect of the manner in which independent third-party regulators establish rates. In applying Statement 71, we capitalize certain costs and benefits as regulatory assets and liabilities, respectively, in order to provide for recovery from or refund to utility customers in future periods. The amounts recorded as regulatory assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, were $136.9 million and $134 million, respectively. The amounts recorded as regulatory liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, were $381.4 million and $374 million, respectively.

Inter-company transactions have been eliminated in consolidation where appropriate; however, we have not eliminated inter-company profit on sales to affiliates and costs from affiliates in accordance with Statement 71. See Note 7 for information on related party transactions.

     Accounting Pronouncements.

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48), to clarify the accounting for uncertain tax positions in accordance with SFAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” and in May 2007 issued Staff Position No. FIN 48-1, “Definition of Settlement in FASB Interpretation No. 48,” (FSP 48-1). Under FIN 48, we may recognize the

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tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interim period accounting, disclosure and transition requirements in accounting for uncertain tax positions. FSP 48-1 clarifies when a tax position is considered effectively settled under FIN 48. We adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on November 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, there was no material impact on the consolidated financial statements and no adjustment to retained earnings. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits at November 1, 2007 was $.5 million, of which $.3 million would impact our effective income tax rate if recognized. We recorded $.1 million of interest related to unrecognized tax benefits. There are no material changes to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits during the quarter ended January 31, 2008.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income, which is consistent with the recognition of these items in prior reporting periods.

We file a U.S. federal consolidated income tax return and various state income tax returns. We are no longer subject to federal income tax examinations for tax years ending before and including October 31, 2005 and with few exceptions, state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years ended before and including October 31, 2003.

We do not currently anticipate that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157). Statement 157 provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and applies whenever other standards require (or permit) the measurement of assets or liabilities at fair value, but does not expand the use of fair value measurement to any new circumstances. Statement 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data, for example, the reporting entity’s own data. Under Statement 157, fair value measurements would be separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy. On November 14, 2007, the FASB delayed the implementation of Statement 157 for one year only for other nonfinancial assets and liabilities. Statement 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application encouraged for financial assets and liabilities, as well as for any other assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis. Accordingly, we will adopt Statement 157 no later than our first fiscal quarter in 2009. We believe the adoption of Statement 157 will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (Statement 159). Statement 159 provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Its objective is to reduce the complexity in accounting for financial instruments and to mitigate the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. Although Statement 159 does not eliminate disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards, it does establish additional presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. Statement 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with early adoption permitted for an entity that has elected also to apply Statement 157 early. Accordingly, we will adopt Statement 159 no

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later than our first fiscal quarter in 2009. We believe the adoption of Statement 159 will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

2. Regulatory Matters

In South Carolina, our recovery of gas costs is subject to annual gas cost review proceedings to determine the prudence of our gas purchases. We have been found prudent in all such past proceedings. We are currently completing our annual review of gas costs covering the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2007. On February 14, 2008, the Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) filed a final report in this proceeding consistent with our settlement with the ORS. The final review accepting our purchased gas adjustments and finding our gas purchasing policies to be prudent is pending before the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC). We cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding at this time.

3. Accelerated Share Repurchase Program

On November 1, 2007, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement. On November 2, 2007, we purchased and retired 1 million shares of our common stock from an investment bank at the closing price that day of $24.70 per share. Total consideration paid to purchase the shares of $24.8 million, including $92,500 in commissions and other fees, was recorded in “Stockholders’ equity” as a reduction in “Common stock.”

As part of the ASR agreement, we simultaneously entered into a forward sale contract with the investment bank that was expected to mature in approximately 60 trading days. Under the terms of the forward sale contract, the investment bank was required to purchase, in the open market, 1 million shares of our common stock during the term of the contract to fulfill its obligation related to the shares it borrowed from third parties and sold to us. At settlement, we, at our option, were required to either pay cash or issue registered or unregistered shares of our common stock to the investment bank if the investment bank’s weighted average purchase price was higher than the November 2, 2007 closing price. The investment bank was required to pay us either cash or shares of our common stock, at our option, if the investment bank’s weighted average price for the shares purchased was lower than the November 2, 2007 closing price. At settlement on January 15, 2008, we paid cash of $1.3 million to the investment bank and recorded this amount in “Stockholders’ equity” as a reduction in “Common stock.” The $1.3 million was the difference between the investment bank’s weighted average purchase price of $26.0459 and the November 2, 2007 closing price of $24.70 per share multiplied by 1 million shares.

4. Earnings Per Share

We compute basic earnings per share using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. A reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 is presented below.

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	Three Months
In thousands except per share amounts	2008		2007
Net Income	$	82,268	$	70,716
Average shares of common stock outstanding for basic earnings per share		73,280		74,619
Contingently issuable shares under the Executive
Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) and Incentive
Compensation Plan (ICP)		283		319
Average shares of dilutive stock		73,563		74,938
Earnings Per Share:
Basic	$	1.12	$	0.95
Diluted	$	1.12	$	0.94

5. Employee Benefit Plans

Effective January 1, 2008, we amended our noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, other postretirement employee benefits (OPEB) plan and our defined contribution plans. These amendments apply to nonunion employees and employees covered by the Carolinas bargaining unit contract; it does not apply to employees covered by the Nashville, Tennessee bargaining unit contracts.

Effective January 1, 2008, the defined benefit pension plan was amended to close the plan to new employees hired after December 31, 2007 and to modify how benefits are accrued in the future for existing employees. It does not affect any pension benefit earned as of December 31, 2007.

Employees hired or rehired after December 31, 2007 will not participate in the traditional pension plan but will be participants in the new Money Purchase Pension (MPP) plan, a defined contribution plan. Under the MPP plan, we will annually deposit a percentage of each participant’s pay into an account of the MPP plan.

Employees hired prior to January 1, 2008 will continue to participate in the traditional defined benefit pension plan. For service earned after December 31, 2007, a consistent rate will be applied to each year of service so that employees accrue benefits more evenly. For service earned prior to January 1, 2008, the rate used in the formula to calculate an employee’s pension benefit is greater for the first twenty years of service than it is for the next fifteen years of service. Employees can be credited with up to a total of 35 years of service. When employees leave the company, their benefit payment will be calculated as the greater of the accrued benefit as of December 31, 2007 under the old formula plus the accrued benefit under the new formula for years of service after December 31, 2007, or the benefit for all years of service up to 35 years under the new formula.

Effective January 1, 2008, we made changes to our 401(k) plans which are profit sharing plans under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Tax Code), which include qualified cash or deferred arrangements under Tax Code Section 401(k). Prior to January 1, 2008, we matched 50% of employee contributions up to the first 10% of pay contributed. Beginning January 1, 2008, employees will be able to receive a company match of 100% up to the first 5% of pay contributed. Employees are still able to contribute up to 50% of eligible pay to the 401(k) on a pre-tax basis, up to the Tax Code annual contribution limit. We will automatically enroll all affected non-participating employees in the 401(k) plan as of January 1, 2008 at a 2% contribution rate unless the employee chooses not to participate by notifying our plan administrator. For employees who are automatically enrolled in the 401(k) plan, we will automatically increase their contributions by 1% each year to a maximum of 5% unless the employee chooses to opt out of the automatic increase by contacting our plan administrator. Employee contributions and match

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will be automatically invested in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. Employees may change their contribution rate and investments at any time.

We provide certain health care and life insurance benefits to eligible retirees under our OPEB plan. Employees are first eligible to retire and receive these benefits at age 55 with ten or more years of service after the age of 45. Effective January 1, 2008, new employees will have to complete ten years of service after age 50 to be eligible for benefits, and no benefits will be provided to those employees after age 65 when they are automatically eligible for Medicare benefits to cover health costs.

Components of the net periodic benefit cost for our defined-benefit pension plans and our OPEB plan for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 are presented below.

	2008			2007			2008		2007		2008			2007
In thousands	Qualified Pension						Nonqualified Pension				Other Benefits
Service cost	$	2,163		$	2,938		$	7	$	15	$	317		$	330
Interest cost		2,835			3,286			69		69		509			471
Expected return on plan assets		(4,145	)		(4,368	)		—		—		(370	)		(318	)
Amortization of transition obligation		—			—			—		—		169			167
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost		(478	)		148			—		—		—			—
Amortization of actuarial loss		—			246			—		—		—			—
Total	$	375		$	2,250		$	76	$	84	$	625		$	650

We anticipate that we will contribute $11 million to the qualified pension plan, $.6 million to the nonqualified pension plans and $2.2 million to the OPEB plan in 2008.

Because January 2008 is the first month of the MPP plan, we have made no contributions to the plan to date. We anticipate contributions being made in December 2008 or January 2009.

6. Business Segments

We have two reportable business segments, regulated utility and non-utility activities. These segments were identified based on products and services, regulatory environments and our current corporate organization and business decision-making activities. Operations of our regulated utility segment are conducted by the parent company. Operations of our non-utility activities segment are comprised of our equity method investments in joint ventures.

Operations of the regulated utility segment are reflected in operating income in the condensed consolidated statements of income. Operations of the non-utility activities segment are included in the condensed consolidated statements of income in “Income from equity method investments.”

We evaluate the performance of the regulated utility segment based on margin, operations and maintenance expenses and operating income. We evaluate the performance of the non-utility activities segment based on earnings from the ventures. The basis of segmentation and the basis of the measurement of segment profit or loss are the same as reported in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2007.

Operations by segment for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 are presented below.

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	Regulated		Non-Utility
In thousands	Utility		Activities			Total
2008
Revenues from external customers	$	788,470	$	—		$	788,470
Margin		227,026		—			227,026
Operations and maintenance expenses		52,578		21			52,599
Income from equity method investments		—		8,718			8,718
Operating income (loss) before income taxes		142,997		(149	)		142,848
Income before income taxes		128,379		8,476			136,855
2007
Revenues from external customers	$	677,241	$	—		$	677,241
Margin		208,485		—			208,485
Operations and maintenance expenses		52,210		135			52,345
Income from equity method investments		—		5,543			5,543
Operating income (loss) before income taxes		125,405		(236	)		125,169
Income before income taxes		111,371		5,218			116,589

Reconciliations to the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007 are presented below.

In thousands	2008			2007
Operating Income:
Segment operating income before income taxes	$	142,848		$	125,169
Utility income taxes		(51,061	)		(43,708	)
Non-utility activities before income taxes		149			236
Operating Income	$	91,936		$	81,697
Net Income:
Income before income taxes for reportable segments	$	136,855		$	116,589
Income taxes		(54,587	)		(45,873	)
Net Income	$	82,268		$	70,716

7. Equity Method Investments

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of wholly-owned subsidiaries whose investments in joint venture, energy-related businesses are accounted for under the equity method. Our ownership interest in each entity is included in “Equity method investments in non-utility activities” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Earnings or losses from equity method investments are included in “Income from equity method investments” in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

We own 21.49% of the membership interests in Cardinal Pipeline Company, L.L.C., a North Carolina limited liability company. Cardinal owns and operates an intrastate natural gas pipeline in North Carolina and is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). We have related party transactions as a transportation customer of Cardinal, and we record in cost of gas the transportation costs charged by Cardinal. For each period of three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, these gas costs were $1 million and $1.2 million, respectively. As of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, we owed Cardinal $.3 million.

We own 40% of the membership interests in Pine Needle LNG Company, L.L.C., a North Carolina limited liability company. Pine Needle owns an interstate liquefied natural gas storage facility in North Carolina and is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). We have related party transactions as a

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customer of Pine Needle, and we record in cost of gas the storage costs charged by Pine Needle. For each period of three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, these gas costs were $2.8 million and $3.2 million, respectively. As of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, we owed Pine Needle $.9 million.

We own 30% of the membership interests in SouthStar Energy Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (Restated Agreement), earnings and losses are allocated 25% to us and 75% to the other member, Georgia Natural Gas Company (GNGC), a subsidiary of AGL Resources, Inc., with the exception of earnings and losses in the Ohio and Florida markets, which are allocated to us at our ownership percentage of 30%. SouthStar primarily sells natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the southeastern United States, with most of its business being conducted in the unregulated retail gas market in Georgia. We have related party transactions as we sell wholesale gas supplies to SouthStar, and we record in operating revenues the amounts billed to SouthStar. For the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, these gas revenues were $3 million and $2.7 million, respectively. As of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, SouthStar owed us $.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

The SouthStar Restated Agreement includes a provision granting three options to GNGC to purchase our ownership interest in SouthStar. By November 1, 2007, with the option effective on January 1, 2008 (2008 option), GNGC had the option to purchase one-third of our 30% interest in SouthStar. With the same notice in the following years, GNGC has the option to purchase 50% of our interest to be effective on January 1, 2009 (2009 option), and 100% of our interest to be effective on January 1, 2010. The purchase price would be based on the market value of SouthStar as defined in the Restated Agreement. GNGC did not exercise the 2008 option. If GNGC exercises the 2009 option, we, at our discretion, may cause GNGC to purchase our entire ownership interest.

For further information on this provision, see the Restated Agreement that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Exhibit 10.1 in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2004.

Piedmont Hardy Storage Company, LLC (Piedmont Hardy), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Piedmont, owns 50% of the membership interests in Hardy Storage Company, LLC (Hardy Storage), a West Virginia limited liability company. The other owner is a subsidiary of Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation, a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. Hardy Storage owns and operates an underground interstate natural gas storage facility located in Hardy and Hampshire Counties, West Virginia, that is regulated by the FERC. Phase one service to customers began April 1, 2007 when customers began injecting gas into storage for subsequent winter withdrawals. Hardy Storage is now in the final stages of project construction.

On June 29, 2006, Hardy Storage signed a note purchase agreement for interim notes and a revolving equity bridge facility for up to a total of $173.1 million for funding during the construction period. On November 1, 2007, Hardy Storage paid off the equity line of $10.2 million with member equity contributions, leaving an amount outstanding on the interim notes of $123.4 million.

For the three months ended January 31, 2008, we made equity contributions of $10 million to fund additional construction expenditures, with our equity contributions as of that date totaling $22.9 million. Upon completion of project construction, including any contingency wells if needed, the members intend to target a capitalization structure of 70% debt and 30% equity. After the satisfaction of certain conditions in the note purchase agreement, amounts outstanding under the interim notes will convert to a fifteen-year mortgage-style debt instrument without recourse to the members. We expect the conversion to occur prior to the summer of 2009. To the extent that more funding is needed, the members will evaluate options at that time.

The members of Hardy Storage have each agreed to guarantee 50% of the construction financing. Our guaranty was executed by Piedmont Energy Partners, Inc. (PEP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Piedmont and

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a sister company of Piedmont Hardy. Our share of the guaranty is capped at $111.5 million. Depending upon the facility’s performance over the first three years after the in-service date, there could be additional construction expenditures of up to $10 million for contingency wells, of which PEP will guarantee 50%.

Securing PEP’s guaranty is a pledge of intercompany notes issued by Piedmont held by non-utility subsidiaries of PEP. Should Hardy Storage be unable to perform its payment obligation under the construction financing, PEP will call on Piedmont for the payment of the notes, plus accrued interest, for the amount of the guaranty. Also pledged is our membership interests in Hardy Storage.

We record a liability at fair value for this guaranty based on the present value of 50% of the construction financing outstanding at the end of each quarter, with a corresponding increase to our investment account in the venture. As our risk in the project changes, the fair value of the guaranty is adjusted accordingly through a quarterly evaluation.

As of January 31, 2008, with $123.4 million outstanding under the construction financing, we have recorded a guaranty liability of $1.2 million.

We have related party transactions as a customer of Hardy Storage and record in cost of gas the Hardy storage costs charged to us. For the three months ended January 31, 2008, these storage costs were $7.6 million. As of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, we owed $1 million and $.2 million for Hardy Storage services, respectively.

8. Financial Instruments

On January 16, 2008, we increased the aggregate commitments under our syndicated five-year revolving credit facility from $350 million to $450 million to meet working capital needs. This facility may be increased up to $600 million and includes annual renewal options and letters of credit. Under the expanded facility, we pay an annual fee of $35,000 plus six basis points for any unused amount up to $450 million. The facility provides a line of credit for letters of credit of $5 million of which $1.9 million and $1.5 million were issued and outstanding at January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, respectively. These letters of credit are used to guarantee claims from self-insurance under our general liability policies. The credit facility bears interest based on the 30-day LIBOR rate plus from .15% to .35%, based on our credit ratings.

As of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, outstanding short-term borrowings under the line as included in “Notes payable” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were $289 million and $195.5 million, respectively, in LIBOR cost-plus loans at a weighted average interest rate of 4.79% in 2008 and 4.96% in 2007. During the three months ended January 31, 2008, short-term borrowings ranged from $206.5 million to $353 million, and when borrowing, interest rates ranged from 3.4% to 5.51% (weighted average of 4.79%). Our credit facility’s financial covenants require us to maintain a ratio of total debt to total capitalization of no greater than 70%, and our actual ratio was 55% at January 31, 2008.

We purchase natural gas for our regulated operations for resale under tariffs approved by state regulatory commissions. We recover the cost of gas purchased for regulated operations through purchased gas cost adjustment (PGA) procedures. We structure the pricing, quantity and term provisions of our gas supply contracts to maximize flexibility and minimize cost and risk for our customers. Our risk management policies allow us to use financial instruments to hedge risks, but not for speculative trading. The strategy and objective of our hedging programs is to use these financial instruments to provide increased price stability for our customers. We have a management-level Energy Risk Management Committee that monitors compliance with our risk management policies.

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Through January 31, 2008, we purchased and sold financial options for natural gas for our Tennessee gas supply portfolio. As of January 31, 2008, we had forward positions for March 2008. The cost of these options and all other costs related to hedging activities up to 1% of total annual gas costs are approved for recovery under the terms and conditions of our Tennessee Incentive Plan (TIP) approved by the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA).

Through January 31, 2008, we purchased and sold financial options for natural gas for our South Carolina gas supply portfolio. As of January 31, 2008, we had forward positions for March 2008 through October 2008. The costs of these options are pre-approved by the PSCSC for recovery from customers subject to the terms and conditions of our gas cost hedging plan approved by the PSCSC.

Through January 31, 2008, we purchased and sold financial options for natural gas for our North Carolina gas supply portfolio. As of January 31, 2008, we had forward positions for March 2008 through October 2008. Costs associated with our North Carolina hedging program are not pre-approved by the NCUC but are treated as gas costs subject to annual gas cost review proceedings by the NCUC.

Current period changes in the assets and liabilities from these risk management activities are recorded as a component of gas costs in amounts due to customers or amounts due from customers in accordance with Statement 71. We mark the derivative instruments to market with a corresponding entry to “Amounts due to customers” or “Amounts due from customers.” Accordingly, there is no earnings impact of the hedging programs on the regulated utility segment as a result of the use of these financial derivatives. As of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, the total fair value of gas purchase options included in the consolidated balance sheets was $5.6 million and $13.7 million, respectively.

9. Termination Benefits

During 2007, we implemented additional organizational changes under our business process improvement program to streamline business processes, capture operational and organizational efficiencies and improve customer service. As a part of this effort, we began initiating changes in our customer payment and collection processes, including no longer accepting customer payments in our business offices and streamlining our district operations. We also further consolidated our call centers. Collections of delinquent accounts will be consolidated in our central business office. These new initiatives are planned to be phased in during 2008.

We have accrued costs in connection with these initiatives in the form of severance benefits to employees who will be either voluntarily or involuntarily severed. These benefits were paid pursuant to existing arrangements and accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 112, “Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits.” All costs are included in the regulated utility segment in operations and maintenance expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

We accrued $3.6 million during the year ended October 31, 2007 and paid $2.2 million for the year ended October 31, 2007 and $.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008. The liability as of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007 was $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

10. Share-Based Payments

Under the LTIP and ICP, approved by the Company’s shareholders on March 3, 2006, the Board of Directors has awarded units to eligible officers and other participants. Depending upon the level of performance achieved by Piedmont during multi-year performance periods, distribution of those awards may be made in the form of shares of common stock and cash withheld for payment of applicable taxes on the compensation. The LTIP and ICP require that a minimum threshold performance level be achieved in order for any award

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to be distributed. For the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, we recorded compensation expense for the LTIP and ICP of $1.3 million and $1 million, respectively. Shares of common stock to be issued under the LTIP and ICP are contingently issuable shares and are included in our calculation of fully diluted earnings per share.

As of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, we have accrued $5.4 million and $6.2 million for these awards. The accrual is based on the fair market value of our stock at the end of each quarter. The liability is re-measured to market value at the settlement date.

Under our ICP, 65,000 restricted shares of our common stock with a value at the date of grant of $1.7 million were granted to our President and Chief Executive Officer on September 1, 2006. During the vesting period, any dividends paid on these shares will be accrued and converted into additional shares at the closing price on the date of the dividend payment. The restricted shares and any additional shares accrued through dividends will vest over a five-year period only if he is an employee on each vesting date. In the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, we have recorded $84,000 as compensation expense. We are recording compensation under the ICP on the straight-line method.

11. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

      Long-term contracts

We routinely enter into long-term gas supply commodity and capacity commitments and other agreements that commit future cash flows to acquire services we need in our business. These commitments include pipeline and storage capacity contracts and gas supply contracts to provide service to our customers and telecommunication and information technology contracts and other purchase obligations. The time periods for pipeline and storage capacity contracts range from one to sixteen years. The time periods for gas supply contracts range from one to four years. The time periods for the telecommunications and technology outsourcing contracts, maintenance fees for hardware and software applications, usage fees, local and long-distance costs and wireless service range from one to four years. Other purchase obligations consist primarily of commitments for pipeline products, vehicles and contractors.

Certain storage and pipeline capacity contracts require the payment of demand charges that are based on rates approved by the FERC in order to maintain our right to access the natural gas storage or the pipeline capacity on a firm basis during the contract term. The demand charges that are incurred in each period are recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income as part of gas purchases and included in cost of gas.

      Leases

We lease certain buildings, land and equipment for use in our operations under noncancelable operating leases.

      Legal

We have only routine immaterial litigation in the normal course of business.

      Letters of Credit

We use letters of credit to guarantee claims from self-insurance under our general liability policies. We had $1.9 million in letters of credit that were issued and outstanding at January 31, 2008. Additional information concerning letters of credit is included in Note 8.

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      Environmental Matters

Our three state regulatory commissions have authorized us to utilize deferral accounting in connection with environmental costs. Accordingly, we have established regulatory assets for actual environmental costs incurred and for estimated environmental liabilities recorded.

Several years ago, we entered into a settlement with a third party with respect to nine manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites that we have owned, leased or operated and paid an amount, charged to the estimated environmental liability, that released us from any investigation and remediation liability. On one of these nine properties, we performed additional clean-up activities, including the removal of an underground storage tank. Although no such claims are pending or, to our knowledge, threatened, the settlement did not cover any third-party claims for personal injury, death, property damage and diminution of property value or natural resources. Three other MGP sites that we also have owned, leased or operated were not included in the settlement. In addition to these sites, we acquired the liability for an MGP site located in Reidsville, North Carolina, in connection with our acquisition in 2002 of certain assets and liabilities of North Carolina Gas Services, a division of NUI Utilities, Inc.

In connection with our 2003 acquisition of North Carolina Natural Gas Corporation (NCNG), several MGP sites owned by NCNG were transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary of Progress Energy, Inc. (Progress) prior to closing. Progress has complete responsibility for performing all of NCNG’s remediation obligations to conduct testing and clean-up at these sites, including both the cost of such testing and clean-up and the implementation of any affirmative remediation obligations that NCNG has related to the sites. Progress’ responsibility does not include any third-party claims for personal injury, death, property damage and diminution of property value or natural resources. We know of no such pending or threatened claims.

In October 2003, in connection with a 2003 NCNG general rate case proceeding, the NCUC ordered an environmental regulatory liability of $3.5 million be established for refund to customers over the three-year period beginning November 1, 2003. This liability resulted from a payment made to NCNG by its insurers prior to our acquisition of NCNG. As a part of the 2005 general rate case proceeding discussed in Note 3 of our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007, the NCUC ordered a new three-year amortization period for the unamortized balance as of June 30, 2005, beginning November 1, 2005.

Further evaluations of the MGP sites and the underground storage tank sites could significantly affect recorded amounts; however, we believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Additional information concerning commitments and contingencies is set forth in Note 7 of our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

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This report as well as other documents we file with the SEC may contain forward-looking statements. In addition, our senior management and other authorized spokespersons may make forward-looking statements in print or orally to analysts, investors, the media and others. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and information currently available and are believed to be reasonable and are made in good faith. However, the forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statements. Factors that may make the actual results differ from anticipated results include, but are not limited to:

• Regulatory issues affecting us and those from whom we purchase natural gas transportation and storage service, including those that affect allowed rates of return, terms and conditions of service, rate structures and financings. We monitor our effectiveness in achieving the allowed rates of return and initiate rate proceedings or operating changes as needed.

• Residential, commercial and industrial growth in our service areas. The ability to grow our customer base and the pace of that growth are impacted by general business and economic conditions, such as interest rates, inflation, fluctuations in the capital markets and the overall strength of the economy in our service areas and the country, and fluctuations in the wholesale prices of natural gas and competitive energy sources.

• Deregulation, regulatory restructuring and competition in the energy industry. We face competition from electric companies and energy marketing and trading companies, and we expect this competitive environment to continue. We must be able to adapt to the changing environments and the competition.

• The potential loss of large-volume industrial customers to alternate fuels or to bypass, or the shift by such customers to special competitive contracts or to tariff rates that are at lower per-unit margins than that customer’s existing rate.

• Regulatory issues, customer growth, deregulation, economic and capital market conditions, the cost and availability of natural gas and weather conditions can impact our ability to meet internal performance goals.

• The capital-intensive nature of our business. In order to maintain growth, we must add to our natural gas distribution system each year. The cost of this construction may be affected by the cost of obtaining governmental approvals, compliance with federal and state pipeline safety and integrity regulations, development project delays and changes in project costs. Weather, general economic conditions and the cost of funds to finance our capital projects can materially alter the cost of a project.

• Capital market conditions. Our internally generated cash flows are not adequate to finance the full cost of capital expenditures. As a result, we rely on access to both short-term and long-term capital markets as a significant source of liquidity for capital requirements not satisfied by cash flows from operations. Changes in the capital markets could affect access to and cost of capital.

• Changes in the availability and cost of natural gas. To meet firm customer requirements, we must acquire sufficient gas supplies and pipeline capacity to ensure delivery to our distribution system while also ensuring that our supply and capacity contracts allow us to remain competitive. Natural gas is an unregulated commodity market subject to supply and demand and price volatility. Producers, marketers and pipelines are subject to operating and financial risks associated with exploring, drilling, producing, gathering, marketing and transporting natural gas and have risks that increase our exposure to supply and price fluctuations.

• Changes in weather conditions. Weather conditions and other natural phenomena can have a material impact on our earnings. Severe weather conditions, including destructive weather patterns such as hurricanes, can impact our suppliers and the pipelines that deliver gas to our distribution system. Weather conditions directly influence the supply of, demand for and the cost of natural gas.

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• Changes in environmental, safety and system integrity regulations and the cost of compliance. We are subject to extensive federal, state and local regulations. Compliance with such regulations may result in increased capital or operating costs.

• Ability to retain and attract professional and technical employees. To provide quality service to our customers and meet regulatory requirements, we are dependent on our ability to recruit, train, motivate and retain qualified employees.

• Changes in accounting regulations and practices. We are subject to accounting regulations and practices issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies. New accounting standards may be issued that could change the way we record revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities. Future changes in accounting standards could affect our reported earnings or increase our liabilities.

• Earnings from our equity method investments. We invest in companies that have risks that are inherent in their businesses and we assume such risks as an equity investor.

Other factors may be described elsewhere in this report. All of these factors are difficult to predict and many of them are beyond our control. For these reasons, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. When used in our documents or oral presentations, the words “expect,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “assume,” “can,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “future,” “indicate,” “outlook,” “plan,” “predict,” “seek,” “target,” “would” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable laws and regulations. Please reference our website at www.piedmontng.com for current information. Our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K and amendments to these reports are available at no cost on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after the report is filed with or furnished to the SEC.

Overview

Piedmont Natural Gas Company is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. We also have equity method investments in joint venture, energy-related businesses. Our operations are comprised of two business segments—the regulated utility segment and the non-utility activities segment.

The regulated utility segment is the largest segment of our business with approximately 96% of our consolidated assets. This segment is regulated by three state regulatory commissions that approve rates and tariffs that are designed to give us the opportunity to generate revenues to cover our gas and non-gas costs and to earn a fair rate of return for our shareholders. Factors critical to the success of the regulated utility include a safe, reliable natural gas distribution system and the ability to recover the costs and expenses of the business in rates charged to customers. For the three months ended January 31, 2008, 94% of our earnings before taxes came from our regulated utility segment.

The non-utility activities segment consists of our equity method investments in joint venture, energy-related businesses that are involved in unregulated retail natural gas marketing, interstate natural gas storage and intrastate natural gas transportation. We invest in joint ventures that are aligned with our business strategies to complement or supplement income from utility operations. We continually monitor performance of these ventures against expectations.

Weather conditions directly influence the volumes of natural gas delivered by the regulated utility.

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Significant portions of our revenues are generated during the winter season. During warm winters or unevenly cold winters, heating customers may significantly reduce their consumption of natural gas. In South Carolina and Tennessee, we have weather normalization adjustment (WNA) mechanisms that are designed to protect a portion of our revenues against warmer-than-normal weather as deviations from normal weather can affect our financial performance and liquidity. The WNA also serves to offset the impact of colder-than-normal weather by reducing the amounts we can charge our customers. In North Carolina, a Customer Utilization Tracker (CUT) provides for the recovery of our approved margin from residential and commercial customers independent of both weather and other consumption patterns. For further information, see discussion of these mechanisms in Our Business and Financial Condition and Liquidity below.

The majority of our natural gas supplies come from the Gulf Coast region. We believe that diversification of our supply portfolio is in our customers’ best interest. In January 2008, we began receiving firm, long-term transportation contract service from Midwestern Gas Transmission Company (Midwestern) that provides access to Canadian and Rocky Mountain gas supplies and the Chicago hub, primarily to serve our Tennessee markets. In April 2007, we began receiving firm, long-term market area storage service from Hardy Storage, a new storage facility in West Virginia.

Our strategic focus is on our core business of providing safe, reliable and quality natural gas distribution service to our customers in the growing Southeast market area. Part of our strategic plan is to manage our gas distribution business through control of our operating costs, implementation of new technologies and sound rate and regulatory initiatives. We are working to enhance the value and growth of our utility assets by good management of capital spending, including improvements for current customers and the pursuit of profitable customer growth opportunities in our service areas. We strive for quality customer service by investing in technology, processes and people. We work with our state regulators to maintain fair rates of return and balance the interests of our customers and shareholders.

As part of our ongoing effort to improve business processes and customer service, and capture operational and organizational efficiencies, we continue to standardize our customer payment and collection processes and streamline business operations.

We seek to maintain a long-term debt-to-capitalization ratio within a range of 45% to 50%. We also seek to maintain a strong balance sheet and investment-grade credit ratings to support our operating and investment needs.

Results of Operations

We reported net income of $82.3 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008, as compared to $70.7 million for the similar period in 2007. The following table sets forth a comparison of the components of our income statement for the three months ended January 31, 2008, as compared with the three months ended January 31, 2007.

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								Percent
	Three Months Ended January 31							Increase
In thousands, except per share amounts	2008		2007		Change			(Decrease)
Operating Revenues	$	788,470	$	677,241	$	111,229			16.4	%
Cost of Gas		561,444		468,756		92,688			19.8	%
Margin		227,026		208,485		18,541			8.9	%
Operating Expenses		135,090		126,788		8,302			6.5	%
Operating Income		91,936		81,697		10,239			12.5	%
Other Income (Expense)		5,471		3,357		2,114			63.0	%
Utility Interest Charges		15,139		14,338		801			5.6	%
Net Income	$	82,268	$	70,716	$	11,552			16.3	%
Average Shares of Common Stock:
Basic		73,280		74,619		(1,339	)		(1.8	)%
Diluted		73,563		74,938		(1,375	)		(1.8	)%
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock:
Basic	$	1.12	$	0.95	$	0.17			17.9	%
Diluted	$	1.12	$	0.94	$	0.18			19.1	%

Key statistics are shown in the table below for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007.

Gas Deliveries, Customers, Weather Statistics and Number of Employees

	Three Months Ended									Percent
Gas Sales and Deliveries in	January 31									Increase
Dekatherms (in thousands)	2008			2007			Change			(Decrease)
Sales Volumes		49,195			45,432			3,763			8.3	%
Transportation Volumes		23,359			21,481			1,878			8.7	%
Throughput		72,554			66,913			5,641			8.4	%
Secondary Market Volumes		16,085			9,660			6,425			66.5	%
Customers Billed (at period end)		958,871			939,509			19,362			2.1	%
Gross Customer Additions		7,163			8,927			(1,764	)		(19.8	)%
Degree Days
Actual		1,755			1,615			140			8.7	%
Normal		1,869			1,900			(31	)		(1.6	)%
Percent warmer than normal		(6.1	)%		(15.0	)%		n/a			n/a
Number of Employees		1,870			1,967			(97	)		(4.9	)%

Operating Revenues

Operating revenues increased $111.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to the following increases:

• $58.1 million from revenues in secondary market transactions. Secondary market transactions consist of off-system sales and capacity release arrangements.

• $25.7 million from volumes to sales customers.

• $22.1 million related to commission-approved adjustments to rate components.

• $9.7 million from commodity gas costs passed through to sales customers.

These increases were partially offset by the following decreases:

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• $5.3 million lower revenues under the CUT mechanism. As discussed in “Financial Condition and Liquidity,” the CUT mechanism in North Carolina adjusts for variations in residential and commercial use per customer including those due to conservation and weather.

• $2.8 million lower revenues under the WNA mechanism. As discussed in “Financial Condition and Liquidity,” we have a WNA in South Carolina and Tennessee that offsets the margin impact of colder or warmer than normal weather on residential and commercial customer billings.

Cost of Gas

Cost of gas increased $92.7 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to the following increases:

• $57.1 million from commodity gas costs in secondary market activity.

• $25.7 million from volumes to sales customers.

• $9.7 million from commodity gas costs passed through to sales customers.

Under PGA procedures in all three states, we revise rates periodically without formal rate proceedings to reflect changes in the wholesale cost of gas. Charges to cost of gas are based on the amount recoverable under approved rate schedules. The net of any over- or under-recoveries of gas costs are added to or deducted from cost of gas and included in “Amounts due from customers” or “Amounts due to customers” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Margin

Margin increased $18.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008, compared with the similar period in 2007, primarily due to the following increases:

• $6.1 million from growth in our residential and commercial customer base, net of $5.3 million in lower revenues under the CUT mechanism and $2.8 million in lower revenues under the WNA mechanism.

• $5.8 million from net adjustments to gas costs, inventory, supplier refunds and lost and unaccounted for gas due to a gas cost accounting review during the first quarter of 2008.

• $2.3 million from the discontinuation of the capitalization and amortization of storage demand costs effective November 1, 2007 pursuant to a regulatory order.

• $1.7 million from adjustments during the first quarter of 2007 to lost and unaccounted for gas related to a gas cost accounting review .

• $1.3 million from growth in our power generation customer base.

• $1 million from wholesale marketing.

Our utility margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas commodity purchases and fixed gas costs for transportation and storage capacity. Margin, rather than revenues, is used by management to evaluate utility operations due to the impact of volatile wholesale commodity prices and transportation and storage costs, which account for approximately 71% of revenues.

Our utility margin is impacted also by certain regulatory mechanisms as defined elsewhere in this document and in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007. These include WNA in Tennessee and South Carolina, the Natural Gas Rate Stabilization in South Carolina, secondary market activity in North Carolina and South Carolina, TIP in Tennessee, CUT in North Carolina and negotiated loss treatment and the collection of uncollectible gas costs in all three jurisdictions. We retain 25% of secondary market margins

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generated through off-system sales and capacity release activity in all jurisdictions, with 75% credited to customers through the incentive plans.

Operations and Maintenance Expenses

Operations and maintenance expenses increased $.4 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to the following increases:

• $1.5 million in outside services primarily due to increased telephony and billing services and our gas accounting, financial close and record retention projects.

• $1.2 million in payroll primarily related to the impacts of short-term and long-term incentive plan accruals.

• $.9 million in utilities primarily due to increased charges for meter reading telemetry and additional circuit and bandwidth services.

These increases were partially offset by the following decrease:

• $3.2 million in employee benefits expense primarily due to reductions in pension expense resulting from changes in plan design and lower group insurance expense.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense increased $1.1 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008 compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to increases in plant in service.

General Taxes

General taxes decreased $.5 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008 as compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to the following decreases:

• $.2 million in franchise taxes.

• $.3 million property taxes related to lower assessments in South Carolina and Tennessee.

Other Income (Expense)

Income from equity method investments increased $3.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008 as compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to the following increases:

• $1.7 million in earnings from SouthStar primarily due to retail price spreads, management of price lags and storage and weather hedging activities.

• $1.6 million in earnings from Hardy Storage primarily due to phase one service commencing in April 2007.

Non-operating income is comprised of non-regulated merchandising and service work, subsidiary operations, interest income and other miscellaneous income. Non-operating expense is comprised of charitable contributions and other miscellaneous expenses. Changes were not significant.

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Utility Interest Charges

Utility interest charges increased $.8 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007 primarily due to the following:

• $.4 million increase in interest on short-term debt due to higher amount outstanding in 2008 even though average interest rates were approximately .75% lower than the same prior period.

• $.4 million increase due to a decrease in the allowance for funds used during construction allocated to debt.

Our Business

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc., which began operations in 1951, is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to over one million residential, commercial and industrial customers in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 62,000 customers served by municipalities who are our wholesale customers. We are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas marketing, interstate natural gas storage and intrastate natural gas transportation.

We continually assess the nature of our business and explore alternatives in our core business to traditional utility regulation. Non-traditional ratemaking initiatives and market-based pricing of products and services provide additional opportunities and challenges for us. We also regularly evaluate opportunities for obtaining natural gas supplies from different production regions and supply sources to maximize our natural gas portfolio flexibility and reliability, including the diversification of our supply portfolio away from the Gulf Coast region. In January 2008, we began receiving 120,000 dekatherms per day of firm, long-term transportation service from Midwestern that provides access to Canadian and Rocky Mountain gas supplies via the Chicago hub, primarily to serve our Tennessee markets. In April 2007, we began receiving firm, long-term market-area storage service from Hardy Storage in West Virginia that provides 39,100 dekatherms per day of withdrawal service for the winter of 2007-2008. Hardy Storage withdrawal capabilities will increase over three phases. Phase 1 (2007-2008 heating season) began at 57% of capacity, phase 2 (2008-2009 heating season) is planned at 85% of capacity, and phase 3 (2009-2010 heating season) is planned at 100% of capacity. We have a 50% equity interest in this project which is more fully discussed in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

We have two reportable business segments, regulated utility and non-utility activities. For further information on business segments, see Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Our utility operations are regulated by the NCUC, PSCSC and the TRA as to rates, service area, adequacy of service, safety standards, extensions and abandonment of facilities, accounting and depreciation. We are also regulated by the NCUC as to the issuance of securities. We are also subject to or affected by various federal regulations. These federal regulations include regulations that are particular to the natural gas industry, such as regulations of the FERC that affect the availability of and the prices paid for the interstate transportation and storage of natural gas, regulations of the Department of Transportation that affect the construction, operation, maintenance, integrity, safety and security of natural gas distribution and transmission systems, and regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the use and release into the environment of hazardous wastes. In addition, we are subject to numerous regulations, such as those relating to employment practices, which are generally applicable to companies doing business in the United States of America.

In the Carolinas, our service area is comprised of numerous cities, towns and communities. We provide service to Anderson, Gaffney, Greenville and Spartanburg in South Carolina and Charlotte, Salisbury,

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Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Hickory, Indian Trail, Spruce Pine, Reidsville, Fayetteville, New Bern, Wilmington, Tarboro, Elizabeth City, Rockingham and Goldsboro in North Carolina. In North Carolina, we also provide wholesale natural gas service to Greenville, Monroe, Rocky Mount and Wilson. In Tennessee, our service area is the metropolitan area of Nashville, including wholesale natural gas service to Gallatin and Smyrna.

Our regulatory commissions approve rates and tariffs that are designed to give us the opportunity to generate revenues to cover our gas and non-gas costs and to earn a fair rate of return for our shareholders. In North Carolina, the CUT provides for the recovery of our approved margin from residential and commercial customers independent of both weather and other consumption patterns. The CUT tracks our margin earned monthly and will result in semi-annual rate adjustments to refund any over-collection or recover any under-collection. We have WNA mechanisms in South Carolina and Tennessee that partially offset the impact of colder- or warmer-than-normal weather on bills rendered during the months of November through March for residential and commercial customers. The WNA formula calculates the actual weather variance from normal, using 30 years of history, which results in an increase in revenues when weather is warmer than normal and a decrease in revenues when weather is colder than normal. The gas cost portion of our costs is recoverable through PGA procedures and is not affected by the WNA.

Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, have emerged as an important public policy topic with a number of legislative and regulatory proposals being in various phases of discussion. We are actively participating in and monitoring these proposals and discussions because they could impact our business either directly or indirectly. We cannot predict the outcome of any of these proposals at this time.

We invest in joint ventures to complement or supplement income from our regulated utility operations. If an opportunity aligns with our overall business strategies and allows us to leverage the strengths of our markets along with our core abilities, we analyze and evaluate the project with a major factor being a projected rate of return greater than the returns allowed in our utility operations, due to the higher risk of such projects. We participate in the governance of the venture by having a management representative on the governing board of the venture. We monitor actual performance against expectations. Decisions regarding exiting joint ventures are based on many factors, including performance results and continued alignment with our business strategies.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

To meet our capital and liquidity requirements, we rely on certain resources, including cash flows from operating activities, access to capital markets, cash generated from our investments in joint ventures and short-term bank borrowings. We believe that these sources will continue to allow us to meet our needs for working capital, construction expenditures, investments in joint ventures, anticipated debt redemptions and dividend payments.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities. The natural gas business is seasonal in nature. Operating cash flows may fluctuate significantly during the year and from year to year due to working capital changes within our utility and non-utility operations resulting from such factors as weather, natural gas purchases and prices, natural gas storage activity, collections from customers and deferred gas cost recoveries. We rely on operating cash flows and short-term bank borrowings to meet seasonal working capital needs. During our first and second quarters, we generally experience overall positive cash flows from the sale of flowing gas and gas in storage and the collection of amounts billed to customers during the winter heating season (November through March). Cash requirements generally increase during the third and fourth quarters due to increases in natural gas purchases for storage, paying down short-term debt and decreases in receipts from customers.

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During the winter heating season, our accounts payable increase to reflect amounts due to our natural gas suppliers for commodity and pipeline capacity. The cost of the natural gas can vary significantly from period to period due to volatility in the price of natural gas, which is a function of market fluctuations in the price of natural gas, along with our changing requirements for storage volumes. Differences between natural gas costs that we have paid to suppliers and amounts that we have collected from customers are included in amounts due to/from customers. These natural gas costs can cause cash flows to vary significantly from period to period along with variations in the timing of collections from customers under our gas cost recovery mechanisms.

Cash flows from operations are impacted by weather, which affects gas purchases and sales. Warmer weather can lead to lower revenues from fewer volumes of natural gas sold or transported. Colder weather can increase volumes sold to weather-sensitive customers, but may lead to conservation by customers in order to reduce their heating bills. Warmer-than-normal weather can lead to reduced operating cash flows, thereby increasing the need for short-term borrowings to meet current cash requirements.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $.3 million and $21.9 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities reflects an $11.6 million increase in net income for 2008, compared with 2007, as well as changes in working capital as described below:

• Trade accounts receivable and unbilled utility revenues increased $302 million in the current period primarily due to the current winter period being 9% colder than the same prior period, and amounts billed to customers reflected higher gas costs in 2008 as compared with 2007. Volumes sold to residential and commercial customers increased 3.3 million dekatherms as compared with the prior year period primarily due to the colder weather and customer growth. Total throughput increased 5.6 million dekatherms as compared with the prior year period

• Net amounts due from customers increased $2.1 million in the current period from the deferral of gas costs and margin from the CUT mechanism yet to be billed and collected from customers.

• Gas in storage decreased $3.3 million in the current period primarily due to withdrawals from storage and decreases in average gas costs in storage.

• Prepaid gas costs decreased $56.8 million in the current period. Under some gas supply contracts, prepaid gas costs during the summer months represent purchases of gas that are not available for sale, and therefore not recorded in inventory, until the winter heating season.

• Trade accounts payable increased $91 million in the current period primarily due to gas purchases to meet customer demand during the winter months.

Our three state regulatory commissions approve rates that are designed to give us the opportunity to generate revenues to cover our gas costs and fixed and variable non-gas costs and to earn a fair return for our shareholders. We have a WNA mechanism in South Carolina and Tennessee that partially offsets the impact of colder-than-normal or warmer-than-normal weather on bills rendered in November through March for residential and commercial customers. The WNA in South Carolina and Tennessee generated charges to customers of $5.1 million and $7.9 million in the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. In Tennessee, adjustments are made directly to the customer’s bills. In South Carolina, the adjustments are calculated at the individual customer level and recorded in a deferred account for subsequent collection from or refund to all customers in the class. The CUT mechanism in North Carolina provides for the collection of our approved margin per residential and commercial customer independent of both weather and consumption patterns. The CUT mechanism provided margin of $14.2 million and $19.5 million in the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our gas costs are recoverable through PGA procedures and are not affected by the WNA or the CUT.

The financial condition of the natural gas marketers and pipelines that supply and deliver natural gas to our

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distribution system can increase our exposure to supply and price fluctuations. We believe our risk exposure to the financial condition of the marketers and pipelines is not significant based on our receipt of the products and services prior to payment and the availability of other marketers of natural gas to meet our firm supply needs if necessary.

We have state regulatory commission approval in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee that places additional credit requirements on the retail natural gas marketers that schedule gas for transportation service on our system.

The regulated utility competes with other energy products, such as electricity and propane, in the residential and commercial customer markets. The most significant product competition is with electricity for space heating, water heating and cooking. Numerous factors can influence customer demand for natural gas, including price, availability, general economic conditions, weather, energy conservation and efficiency programs and competing energy sources. Increases in the price of natural gas can negatively impact our competitive position by decreasing the price benefits of natural gas to the consumer. This can impact our cash needs if customer growth slows, resulting in reduced capital expenditures, or if customers conserve, resulting in reduced gas purchases and customer billings.

In the industrial market, many of our customers are capable of burning a fuel other than natural gas, with fuel oil being the most significant competing energy alternative. Our ability to maintain industrial market share is largely dependent on price. The relationship between supply and demand has the greatest impact on the price of natural gas. With a tighter balance between domestic supply and demand, the cost of natural gas from non-domestic sources may play a greater role in establishing the future market price of natural gas. The price of oil depends upon a number of factors beyond our control, including the relationship between supply and demand and the policies of foreign and domestic governments and organizations. Our liquidity could be impacted, either positively or negatively, as a result of alternate fuel decisions made by industrial customers.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $42.7 million and $30 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Net cash used in investing activities was primarily for utility construction expenditures. Gross utility construction expenditures for the three months ended January 31, 2008, were $34.6 million as compared to $29.5 million in the similar prior period. The increase was primarily due to system infrastructure investments.

During the three months ended January 31, 2008, restrictions on cash totaling $2.2 million were removed with NCUC approval in October 2007 to liquidate all certificates of deposit and similar investments that held any supplier refunds due to customers and transfer these funds upon maturity to the North Carolina all customers deferred account.

During the three months ended January 31, 2008, we contributed $10 million to Hardy Storage Company LLC, a joint venture investee of one of our non-utility subsidiaries, as part of our equity contribution for construction of a FERC regulated interstate storage facility.

We have a substantial capital expansion program for construction of distribution facilities, purchase of equipment and other general improvements. This program primarily supports the growth in our customer base. Gross utility construction expenditures totaling $168.5 million, primarily to serve customer growth, are budgeted for fiscal year 2008; however, we are not contractually obligated to expend capital until work is completed. Even though we are seeing a slower pace of customer growth in our service territory due to the downturn in the housing market, significant utility construction expenditures are expected to continue and are a part of our long-range forecasts that are prepared at least annually and typically cover a forecast period of five years.

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Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $52.6 million and $17.2 million for the three months ended January 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Funds are primarily provided from bank borrowings and the issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment and employee stock plans, net of purchases under the common stock repurchase program. We sell common stock and long-term debt when market and other conditions favor such long-term financing. Funds are primarily used to pay down outstanding short-term borrowings, to repurchase common stock under the common stock repurchase program, and the payment of quarterly dividends on our common stock. As of January 31, 2008, our current assets were $662.5 million and our current liabilities were $639 million, primarily due to seasonal requirements as discussed above.

As of January 31, 2008, we had committed lines of credit under our senior credit facility effective April 24, 2006, of $450 million with the ability to expand up to $600 million, for which we pay an annual fee of $35,000 plus six basis points for any unused amount up to $450 million. Outstanding short-term borrowings increased from $195.5 million as of October 31, 2007 to $289 million as of January 31, 2008, primarily due to the purchase of shares under the ASR program, payments in January 2008 for interest on long-term debt and property taxes and payments to suppliers for the winter heating season. During the three months ended January 31, 2008, short-term borrowings ranged from $206.5 million to $353 million, and when borrowing, interest rates ranged from 3.4% to 5.51% (weighted average of 4.79%).

As of January 31, 2008, under our credit facility, we had available letters of credit of $5 million of which $1.9 million was issued and outstanding. The letters of credit are used to guarantee claims from self-insurance under our general liability policies. As of January 31, 2008, unused lines of credit available under our senior credit facility, including the issuance of the letters of credit, totaled $159.1 million.

The level of short-term borrowings can vary significantly due to changes in the wholesale prices of natural gas and to the level of purchases of natural gas supplies to serve customer demand and for storage. Short-term debt may increase when wholesale prices for natural gas increase because we must pay suppliers for the gas before we collect our costs from customers through their monthly bills. Gas prices could continue to increase and fluctuate. With higher wholesale gas prices, we may incur more short-term debt to pay for natural gas supplies and other operating costs since collections from customers could be slower and some customers may not be able to pay their gas bills on a timely basis.

During the three months ended January 31, 2008, we issued $3.7 million of common stock through dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plans. On November 2, 2007, through an ASR agreement, we repurchased and retired 1 million shares of common stock for $24.8 million. On January 15, 2008, we settled the transaction and paid an additional $1.3 million. Under the Common Stock Open Market Purchase Program, as described in Part II, Item 2, we paid $26.1 million during the three months ended January 31, 2008 for 1 million shares of common stock that are available for reissuance to these plans.

Through the ASR program, we may repurchase and subsequently retire up to approximately four million shares of common stock by no later than December 31, 2010. Through the ASR on November 2, 2007, we have repurchased 3,850,000 shares as follows: one million shares repurchased in April 2006, one million shares repurchased in November 2006, 850,000 shares repurchased in March 2007 and one million shares repurchased on November 2, 2007. These shares are in addition to shares that are repurchased on a normal basis through the open market program.

We have paid quarterly dividends on our common stock since 1956. The amount of cash dividends that may be paid is restricted by provisions contained in certain note agreements under which long-term debt was issued. As of January 31, 2008, our retained earnings were not restricted. On March 6, 2008, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on common stock of $.26 per share, payable April 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 25.

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Our long-term targeted capitalization ratio is 45-50% in long-term debt and 50-55% in common equity. Accomplishing this capital structure objective and maintaining sufficient cash flow are necessary to maintain attractive credit ratings. As of January 31, 2008, our capitalization consisted of 47% in long-term debt and 53% in common equity.

The components of our total debt outstanding to our total capitalization as of January 31, 2008 and 2007, and October 31, 2007, are summarized in the table below.

	January 31					October 31					January 31
In thousands	2008		Percentage			2007		Percentage			2007		Percentage
Short-term debt	$	289,000		14	%	$	195,500		10	%	$	232,500		12	%
Long-term debt		824,773		41	%		824,887		44	%		825,000		42	%
Total debt		1,113,773		55	%		1,020,387		54	%		1,057,500		54	%
Common stockholders’ equity		921,125		45	%		878,374		46	%		912,013		46	%
Total capitalization (including short-term debt)	$	2,034,898		100	%	$	1,898,761		100	%	$	1,969,513		100	%

Credit ratings impact our ability to obtain short-term and long-term financing and the cost of such financings. In determining our credit ratings, the rating agencies consider a number of quantitative factors, including debt to total capitalization, operating cash flows relative to outstanding debt, operating cash flow coverage of interest and pension liabilities and funding status. Rating agencies also consider qualitative factors, such as the consistency of our earnings over time, the quality of management and business strategy, the risks associated with our utility and non-utility businesses and the regulatory commissions that establish rates in the states where we operate.

As of January 31, 2008, all of our long-term debt was unsecured. Our long-term debt is rated “A” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and “A3” by Moody’s Investors. Currently, with respect to our long-term debt, the credit agencies maintain their stable outlook. There is no guarantee that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant a change.

We are subject to default provisions related to our long-term debt and short-term borrowings. Failure to satisfy any of the default provisions may result in total outstanding issues of debt becoming due. There are cross-default provisions in all our debt agreements. As of January 31, 2008, we are in compliance with all default provisions.

Estimated Future Contractual Obligations

During the three months ended January 31, 2008, there were no material changes, including those under FIN 48, to our estimated future contractual obligations that were disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007, in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements other than operating leases that were discussed in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.

Piedmont Energy Partners, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Piedmont, has entered into a guaranty in the normal course of business. The guaranty involves some levels of performance and credit risk that are not included on our consolidated balance sheets. We have recorded $1.2 million and $1.3 million as of January 31, 2008 and October 31, 2007, respectively. The possibility of having to perform on the guaranty is largely

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dependent upon the future operations of Hardy Storage, third parties or the occurrence of certain future events. For further information on this guaranty, see Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We prepare the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience, where applicable, and other relevant factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate estimates and assumptions and make adjustments in subsequent periods to reflect more current information if we determine that modifications in assumptions and estimates are warranted.

Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made and changes in the estimate or a different estimate that could have been used would have had a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. We consider regulatory accounting, revenue recognition, and pension and postretirement benefits to be our critical accounting estimates. Management is responsible for the selection of the critical accounting estimates presented in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007, in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Management has discussed these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. There have been no changes in our critical accounting policies and estimates since October 31, 2007.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48), to clarify the accounting for uncertain tax positions in accordance with SFAS 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” and in May 2007 issued Staff Position No. FIN 48-1, “Definition of Settlement in FASB Interpretation No. 48,” (FSP 48-1). Under FIN 48, we may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interim period accounting, disclosure and transition requirements in accounting for uncertain tax positions. FSP 48-1 clarifies when a tax position is considered effectively settled under FIN 48. We adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on November 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, there was no material impact on the consolidated financial statements and no adjustment to retained earnings. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits at November 1, 2007 was $.5 million, of which $.3 million would impact our effective income tax rate if recognized. We recorded $.1 million of interest related to unrecognized tax benefits. There are no material changes to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits during the quarter ended January 31, 2008.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of income, which is consistent with the recognition of these items in prior reporting periods.

We file a U.S. federal consolidated income tax return and various state income tax returns. We are no longer subject to federal income tax examinations for tax years ending before and including October 31, 2005 and with few exceptions, state income tax examinations by tax authorities for years ended before and including

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October 31, 2003.

We do not currently anticipate that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157). Statement 157 provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and applies whenever other standards require (or permit) the measurement of assets or liabilities at fair value, but does not expand the use of fair value measurement to any new circumstances. Statement 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data, for example, the reporting entity’s own data. Under Statement 157, fair value measurements would be separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy. On November 14, 2007, the FASB delayed the implementation of Statement 157 for one year only for other nonfinancial assets and liabilities. Statement 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application encouraged for financial assets and liabilities, as well as for any other assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis. Accordingly, we will adopt Statement 157 no later than our first fiscal quarter in 2009. We believe the adoption of Statement 157 will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (Statement 159). Statement 159 provides companies with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Its objective is to reduce the complexity in accounting for financial instruments and to mitigate the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. Although Statement 159 does not eliminate disclosure requirements included in other accounting standards, it does establish additional presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. Statement 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with early adoption permitted for an entity that has elected also to apply Statement 157 early. Accordingly, we will adopt Statement 159 no later than our first fiscal quarter in 2009. We believe the adoption of Statement 159 will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We hold all financial instruments discussed in this item for purposes other than trading. We are potentially exposed to market risk due to changes in interest rates and the cost of gas. Our exposure to interest rate changes relates primarily to short-term debt. We are exposed to interest rate changes to long-term debt when we are in the market to issue long-term debt. As of January 31, 2008, all of our long-term debt was issued at fixed rates. Exposure to gas cost variations relates to the wholesale supply, demand and price of natural gas.

Interest Rate Risk

We have short-term borrowing arrangements to provide working capital and general corporate funds. The level of borrowings under such arrangements varies from period to period depending upon many factors, including our investments in capital projects. Future short-term interest expense and payments will be impacted by both short-term interest rates and borrowing levels.

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As of January 31, 2008, we had $289 million of short-term debt outstanding under our credit facility at a weighted average interest rate of 4.79%. The carrying amount of our short-term debt approximates fair value. A change of 100 basis points in the underlying average interest rate for our short-term debt would have caused a change in interest expense of approximately $.6 million during the three months ended January 31, 2008.

As of January 31, 2008, all of our long-term debt was at fixed interest rates and, therefore, not subject to interest rate risk.

Commodity Price Risk

We manage our gas supply costs through a portfolio of short- and long-term procurement contracts with various suppliers. In the normal course of business, we utilize exchange-traded contracts of various duration for the forward purchase of a portion of our natural gas requirements. Due to cost-based rate regulation in our utility operations, our prudently incurred purchased gas costs and the prudently incurred costs of hedging the price of our gas supplies are passed on to customers through PGA procedures.

Additional information concerning market risk is set forth in “Financial Condition and Liquidity” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 2 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our management, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. Based on such evaluation, the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in that they provide reasonable assurances that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods required by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We routinely review our internal control over financial reporting and from time to time make changes intended to enhance the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act during the first quarter of fiscal 2008 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We have only routine litigation in the normal course of business.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

During the three months ended January 31, 2008, there were no material changes to our risk factors that were disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2007.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

          The following table provides information with respect to purchases of common stock under the Common Stock Open Market Purchase Program during the three months ended January 31, 2008.

					Total Number of		Maximum Number
	Total Number				Shares Purchased		of Shares That May
	of Shares		Average Price		as Part of Publicly		Yet be Purchased
Period	Purchased		Paid Per Share		Announced Program		Under the Program
Beginning of the period								4,612,074
11/1/07 — 11/30/07		1,000,000	$	24.70		1,000,000		3,612,074
12/1/07 — 12/31/07		—	$	—		—		3,612,074
01/1/08 — 01/31/08		—	$	1.35		—		3,612,074
Total		1,000,000	$	26.05		1,000,000

The Common Stock Open Market Purchase Program was announced on June 4, 2004, to purchase up to three million shares of common stock for reissuance under our dividend reinvestment, stock purchase and incentive compensation plans. On December 16, 2005, the Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of shares in this program from three million to six million to reflect the two-for-one stock split in 2004. The Board also approved on that date an amendment of the Common Stock Open Market Purchase Program to provide for the purchase of up to four million additional shares of common stock to maintain our debt-to-equity capitalization ratios at target levels. These combined actions increased the total authorized share repurchases from three million to ten million shares. The additional four million shares are referred to as our accelerated share repurchase program and have an expiration date of December 31, 2010.

The amount of cash dividends that may be paid on common stock is restricted by provisions contained in certain note agreements under which long-term debt was issued, with those for the senior notes being the most restrictive. We cannot pay or declare any dividends or make any other distribution on any class of stock or make any investments in subsidiaries or permit any subsidiary to do any of the above (all of the foregoing being “restricted payments”) except out of net earnings available for restricted payments. As of January 31, 2008, net earnings available for restricted payments were greater than retained earnings; therefore, our retained earnings were not restricted.

Item 6. Exhibits

10.1	Credit Agreement dated as of April 25, 2006 among Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Bank of America, N.A.
31.1	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer.
31.2	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Financial Officer.
32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer.

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32.2 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Financial Officer.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
	(Registrant)
Date March 11, 2008	/s/ David J. Dzuricky
	David J. Dzuricky
	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Date March 11, 2008	/s/ Jose M. Simon
	Jose M. Simon
	Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended January 31, 2008

Exhibits

10.1	Credit Agreement dated as of April 25, 2006 among Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. and Bank of America, N.A.
31.1	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer
31.2	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Financial Officer
32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer
32.2	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Financial Officer

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

Credit Agreement

Dated as of April 25, 2006

among

Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.

as the Borrower,

Bank of America, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender

and

L/C Issuer,

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

Published CUSIP Number:                                         

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of April 25, 2006

among

PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
as the Borrower,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C Issuer,

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section		Page
	ARTICLE I.
	DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01	Defined Terms		1
1.02	Other Interpretive Provisions		20
1.03	Accounting Terms		20
1.04	Rounding		21
1.05	Times of Day		21
1.06	Letter of Credit Amounts		21
	ARTICLE II.
	THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01	Revolving Loans		21
2.02	Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Revolving Loans		22
2.03	Letters of Credit		23
2.04	Swing Line Loans		32
2.05	Prepayments		34
2.06	Termination or Reduction of Commitments		35
2.07	Repayment of Loans		36
2.08	Interest		36
2.09	Fees		37
2.10	Computation of Interest and Fees		37
2.11	Evidence of Debt		37
2.12	Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback		38
2.13	Sharing of Payments by Lenders		40
2.14	Extension of Maturity Date		40
2.15	Increase in Commitments		42
	ARTICLE III.
	TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01	Taxes		43
3.02	Illegality		45
3.03	Inability to Determine Rates		45
3.04	Increased Costs		46
3.05	Compensation for Losses		47
3.06	Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders		48
3.07	Survival		48

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Section		Page
	ARTICLE IV.
	CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01	Conditions of Initial Credit Extension		48
4.02	Conditions to all Credit Extensions		50
	ARTICLE V.
	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
5.01	Existence, Qualification and Power		51
5.02	Authorization; No Contravention		51
5.03	Governmental Authorization; Other Consents		51
5.04	Binding Effect		51
5.05	Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event		51
5.06	Litigation		52
5.07	No Default		52
5.08	Ownership of Property; Liens		52
5.09	Environmental Compliance		52
5.10	Insurance		53
5.11	Taxes		53
5.12	ERISA Compliance		53
5.13	Subsidiaries; Equity Interests		54
5.14	Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act		54
5.15	Disclosure		54
5.16	Compliance with Laws		54
5.17	Taxpayer Identification Number		55
	ARTICLE VI.
	AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
6.01	Financial Statements		55
6.02	Certificates; Other Information		56
6.03	Notices		57
6.04	Payment of Obligations		58
6.05	Preservation of Existence, Etc		58
6.06	Maintenance of Properties		58
6.07	Maintenance of Insurance		58
6.08	Compliance with Laws		58
6.09	Books and Records		59
6.10	Inspection Rights		59
6.11	Use of Proceeds		59
6.12	Guarantors		59

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Section		Page
	ARTICLE VII.
	NEGATIVE COVENANTS
7.01	Liens		60
7.02	Fundamental Changes		61
7.03	Change in Nature of Business		62
7.04	Transactions with Affiliates		62
7.05	Burdensome Agreements		62
7.06	Ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization		63
7 07	Amendments to Note Agreements		63
	ARTICLE VIII.
	EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01	Events of Default		63
8.02	Remedies Upon Event of Default		65
8.03	Application of Funds		65
	ARTICLE IX.
	ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01	Appointment and Authority		66
9.02	Rights as a Lender		67
9.03	Exculpatory Provisions		67
9.04	Reliance by Administrative Agent		68
9.05	Delegation of Duties		68
9.06	Resignation of Administrative Agent		68
9.07	Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders		69
9.08	No Other Duties, Etc		70
9.09	Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim		70
9.10	Guaranty Matters		70
	ARTICLE X.
	MISCELLANEOUS
10.01	Amendments, Etc		71
10.02	Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication		72
10.03	No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies		74
10.04	Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver		74
10.05	Payments Set Aside		76
10.06	Successors and Assigns		76
10.07	Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality		80
10.08	Right of Setoff		81
10.09	Interest Rate Limitation		81
10.10	Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness		81
10.11	Survival of Representations and Warranties		82

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Section		Page
10.12	Severability		82
10.13	Replacement of Lenders		82
10.14	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc		83
10.15	Waiver of Jury Trial		84
10.16	No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility		84
10.17	USA PATRIOT Act Notice		85
SIGNATURES			S-l

iv

SCHEDULES

2.01	Commitments and Applicable Percentages
4.01	Existing Credit Facilities
5.13	Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments
7.01	Existing Liens
10.02	Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
10.06	Processing and Recordation Fees

EXHIBITS

	Form of
A	Revolving Loan Notice
B	Swing Line Loan Notice
C	Note
D	Compliance Certificate
E	Assignment and Assumption
F	Guaranty
G	Opinion Matters

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CREDIT AGREEMENT

     This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of April 25, 2006, among PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

     The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

     In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

     1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

     “Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

     “Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

     “Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

     “Affiliate” means, with respect to any 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.

     “Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders, which, as of the Closing Date, are $350,000,000.

     “Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

     “Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in

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the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

     “Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

Applicable Rate
			Applicable Rate for
			Eurodollar Rate Loans,
Pricing	Debt Ratings	Applicable Rate for	LIBOR Floating Rate
Level	S&P/Moody’s	Commitment Fee	Loans and Letters of Credit
1	³AA-/Aa3	0.045%	0.150%
2	A+/A1	0.050%	0.200%
3	A/A2	0.060%	0.250%
4	A-/A3	0.075%	0.300%
5	£BBB+/Baal	0.100%	0.350%

     “Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody’s (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; (c) if the Borrower has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level of such Debt Rating shall apply; and (d) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Debt Rating specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vii). Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

     “Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

     “Arranger” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.

     “Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

     “Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

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     “Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

     “Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, including the notes thereto.

     “Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

     “Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

     “Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

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

     “BBA LIBOR” means the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate.

     “Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

     “Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

     “Borrowing” means a Revolving Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

     “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between barks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

     “Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).

3

     “Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.

     “Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

     (a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

     (b) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors).

     “Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

     “Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as

4

applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

     “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under standby letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, except to the extent such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

     “Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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

     “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.

     “COSO” means the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

     “Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

     “Debt Rating” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Rate.”

     “Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the

5

United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

     “Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

     “Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

     “Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Revolving Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

     “Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

     “Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

     “Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

     “Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

     “Environmental Laws” Means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

     “Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries 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

6

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, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

     “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

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

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

     “Eurodollar Base Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

     “Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

Eurodollar Rate	=	Eurodollar Base Rate
		1.00 — Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

     Where,

     ”Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the BBA LIBOR, as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source

7

providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 am., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

     “Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

     “Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage. The LIBOR Daily Floating Rate for each outstanding LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

     “Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

     “Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01 (a).

8

     “Existing Letters of Credit” means collectively, (i) that certain letter of credit no. S040646 issued by Wachovia Bank, National Association on behalf of the Borrower, in the original stated amount of $20,000 in favor of The Travelers Indemnity Company and (ii) that certain letter of credit No. LC968-041959 issued by Wachovia Bank, National Association on behalf of the Borrower, in the original stated amount of $1,165,000 in favor of The American Home Assurance Co.

     “Existing Maturity Date” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.14(a).

     “Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

     “Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated March 8, 2006, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

     “Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

     “FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

     “Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

     “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

     “Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of 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 (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

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     “Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien); provided that, the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

     “Guarantors” means, collectively, each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Regulated Entity.

     “Guaranty” means that certain Guaranty Agreement executed by a Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit F, as supplemented from time to time by execution and delivery of Guaranty Joinder Agreements pursuant to Section 6.12 or otherwise.

     “Guaranty Joinder Agreement” means each Guaranty Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form thereof attached to the Guaranty, executed and delivered by a Regulated Entity to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.12.

     “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.

     “Increase Effective Date” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.15(d).

     “Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

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     (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

     (b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

     (c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

     (d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

     (e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

     (f) capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

     (g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

     (h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

     For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

     “Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

     “Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

     “Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

     “Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds thee months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Revolving Loan that bears interest at the Base Rate

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or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate and as to any Swing Line Loan, the first Business Day following the end of each month and the Maturity Date.

     “Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, thee or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Revolving Loan Notice; provided that:

     (i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

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

     (iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

     “Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws.

     “IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

     “ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

     “Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

     “Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case having the force of law.

     “L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

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     “L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing.

     “L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

     “L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and, with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit only, Wachovia Bank, National Association.

     “L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

     “Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

     “Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

     “Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.

     “Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

     “Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is three days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

     “Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).

     “Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $5,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

     “LIBOR Daily Floating Rate” means a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

LIBOR Daily Floating Rate	=	LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate
		1.00 — Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

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     Where,

     “LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate” means, for all LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, the fluctuating rate of interest (rounded upwards, as necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the BBA LIBOR, as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on each day any such Loan is outstanding, for Dollar deposits with a term equivalent to a one month Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery in same day funds in the approximate amount of the LIBOR Floating Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to a one-month Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on each day any such Loan is outstanding.

     “LIBOR Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.

     “Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

     “Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

     “Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, and the Guaranty.

     “Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

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

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

     “Maturity Date” means the later of (a) April 25, 2011 and (b) with respect to each Lender, if the maturity date with respect to such Lender is extended pursuant to Section 2.14, such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section; provided, however, that, in

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each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

     “Medium Term Note Indebtedness” means all indebtedness outstanding under the Medium Term Notes Indenture.

     “Medium Term Notes Indenture” means that certain Indenture dated as of April 1, 1993 between the Borrower and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee.

     “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

     “Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

     “Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

     “Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, Letter of Credit or Related Credit Arrangement, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

     “Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

     “Other Taxes” means 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 under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     “Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date,

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the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

     “Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

     “PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

     “PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

     “Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

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

     “Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

     “Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

     “Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

     “Registered Public Accounting Finn” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed in the Securities Laws.

     “Regulated Entity” means any direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower that is regulated by any state public utility commission.

     “Related Credit Arrangements” means, collectively, Related Swap Contracts and Related Treasury Management Arrangements.

     “Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

     “Related Swap Contract” means a Swap Contract which is entered into or maintained by any Loan Party with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

     “Related Treasury Management Arrangement” means an arrangement for the delivery of treasury management services to or for the benefit of any Loan Party which is entered into or

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maintained with a Lender or Affiliate of a Lender and which is not prohibited by the express terms of the Loan Documents.

     “Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

     “Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Revolving Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

     “Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

     “Responsible Officer” means the president, senior vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, or vice president-chief risk officer of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

     “Restricted Payment” means, with respect to any Person, any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of such Person, 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 Interest, or on account of any return of capital to such Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

     “Revolving Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

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

     “Revolving Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Revolving Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

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     “S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

     “Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

     “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

     “Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.

     “Senior Note Agreements” means, collectively, (i) the Note Agreement dated as of July 30, 1991, for the issuance of $35,000,000 9.44% Senior Notes due July 30, 2006, and (ii) the Note Agreement dated as of September 21, 1992, for the issuance of $35,000,000 8.51% Senior Notes due September 30, 2017.

     “Senior Note Indebtedness” means all indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Note Agreements.

     “Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP.

     “Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

     “Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

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     “Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

     “Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.

     “Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

     “Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

     “Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

     “Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

     “Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

     “Synthetic Lease Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

     “Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

     “Threshold Amount” means $35,000,000.

     “Total Capitalization” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (i) Shareholders’ Equity on such date plus (ii) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness on such date.

     “Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

     “Type” means, with respect to a Revolving Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

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

     “United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

     “Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

     1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

     (a) 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, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) 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 or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) 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.

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

     (c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     1.03 Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in

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effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower’s independent public accountants or otherwise required by a change in GAAP).

     (b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document then such computation shall be made in accordance with GAAP as so changed unless (i) the Borrower shall have objected to determining compliance on such basis at or prior to the time of delivery of such financial statements, or (ii) the Required Lenders shall so object in writing within 30 days after delivery of such financial statements, in either of which events such calculations shall be made on a basis consistent with those used in the preparation of the latest financial statements as to which no such objection shall have been made.

     1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

     1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

     1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     2.01 Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans, LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

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     2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Revolving Loans.

     (a) Each Revolving Borrowing, each conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Revolving Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Revolving Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Revolving Borrowing, a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Revolving Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Revolving Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Revolving Loans shall be made as, or converted to, LIBOR Floating Rate Loans; provided that, if the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate is unavailable, then the applicable Revolving Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or, if applicable, Base Rate Loans, shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Revolving Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have requested a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan.

     (b) Following receipt of a Revolving Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Revolving Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or, if applicable, Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Revolving Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Revolving Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in

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each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Revolving Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

     (c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans and Borrower agrees to pay all amounts due under Section 3.05 in accordance with the terms thereof due to any such conversion.

     (d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate on the date such change occurs.

     (e) After giving effect to all Revolving Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Revolving Loans.

     2.03 Letters of Credit.

     (a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.

     (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be

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deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. The Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

     (ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

     (iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

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

     (B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

     (C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer and except with respect to any Letters of Credit issued in replacement of an Existing Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000;

     (D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

     (E) such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or

     (F) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.

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     (iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

     (v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

     (vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

     (b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

     (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

     (ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the

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Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

     (iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

     (iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

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     (c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

     (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Borrowing of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Revolving Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2,03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

     (ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.

     (iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Borrowing of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

     (iv) Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

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     (v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Revolving Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

     (vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid (other than interest and fees as aforesaid) shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     (d) Repayment of Participations.

     (i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

     (ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of

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the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

     (e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

     (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

     (ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

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

     (iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

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

     The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

     (f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the

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authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

     (g) Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. Sections 2.05 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.03, Section 2.05 and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.

     (h) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to the Existing Letters of Credit), (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits,

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as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

     (i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein while any Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

     (j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (i) with respect to each commercial Letter of Credit, at the rate specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the amount of such Letter of Credit, and payable upon the issuance thereof, (ii) with respect to any amendment of a commercial Letter of Credit increasing the amount of such Letter of Credit, at a rate separately agreed between the Borrower and the L/C Issuer, computed on the amount of such increase, and payable upon the effectiveness of such amendment, and (iii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within 10 days of demand and are nonrefundable.

     (k) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

     (1) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of

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Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

     2.04 Swing Line Loans.

     (a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

     (b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the

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amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.

     (c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

     (i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Revolving Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Revolving Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Revolving Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Revolving Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

     (ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for LIBOR Floating Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

     (iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid (other than interest and fees as aforesaid) shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate

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of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     (iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

     (d) Repayment of Participations.

     (i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

     (ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

     (e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its LIBOR Floating Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

     (f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

     2.05 Prepayments.

     (a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00

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a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Revolving Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be repaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Revolving Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

     (b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

     (c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.

     2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall

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be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

     2.07 Repayment of Loans.

     (a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding on such date.

     (b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

     2.08 Interest.

     (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate; and (iv) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

     (ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

     (iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

     (c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

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     2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03:

     (a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(b) Other Fees. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

     (ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

     2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

     2.11 Evidence of Debt.

     (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the

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Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

     (b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

     2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

     (a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Revolving Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Revolving Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Revolving Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower

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to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in such Revolving Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

     (ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

     A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

     (c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

     (d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Revolving Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its

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corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Revolving Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

     (e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

     2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Revolving Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

     (i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

     (ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Revolving Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

     The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

     2.14 Extension of Maturity Date.

     (a) Requests for Extension. The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) not more frequently than once in every 12 month period, but in any event not later than 60 days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect hereunder

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(the “Existing Maturity Date”), request that each Lender extend such Lender’s Maturity Date for an additional one-year period from the Existing Maturity Date.

     (b) Lender Elections to Extend. Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than 30 days following the date that notice of the Borrower’s request is given by the Administrative Agent (the “Notice Date”), advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Maturity Date (a “Non-Extending Lender”) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date) and any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree.

     (c) Notification by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of each Lender’s determination under this Section no later than the date 30 days prior to the Existing Maturity Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day). Upon such notification, subject to the provisions of clause (e) below, the Existing Maturity Date of each Lender that has elected to agree to such extension (an “Extending Lender”) shall be automatically so extended without further action on the part of the Borrower or the Existing Lender(s).

     (d) Additional Commitment Lenders. The Borrower shall have the right on or before the Existing Maturity Date to replace each Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) as provided in Section 10.13, each of which Additional Commitment Lenders shall have entered into an Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall, effective as of the Existing Maturity Date, undertake a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender’s Commitment hereunder on such date).

     (e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the extension of the Existing Maturity Date pursuant to this Section shall not be effective with respect to any Lender unless:

     (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such extension and after giving effect thereto;

     (ii) the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date of such extension and after giving effect thereto, as though made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date); and

     (iii) on the Maturity Date of each Non-Extending Lender, the Borrower shall prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep outstanding Revolving Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages of the respective Lenders effective as of such date.

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     (f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

     2.15 Increase in Commitments.

     (a) Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $250,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000. At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

     (b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.

     (c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

     (d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

     (e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.15, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists. The Borrower shall prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and

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pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Revolving Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.

     (f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

     3.01 Taxes.

     (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any 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 Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, 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 timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

     (b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

     (c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, 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 a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     (d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

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     (e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

     (i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

     (ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

     (iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

     (iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

     (f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer 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, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by

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the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

     3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, as applicable, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans of such Lender, as applicable, to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and LIBOR Floating Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due under Section 3.05 in accordance with the terms thereof due to such prepayment or conversion.

     3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and, if applicable, Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Base Rate with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan for any requested Interest Period or the LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate with respect to a proposed LIBOR Floating Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period or the LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate with respect to a proposed LIBOR Floating Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans and LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, as applicable, shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans and LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such

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request into a request for a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

     3.04 Increased Costs.

     (a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

     (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate) or the L/C Issuer;

     (ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan or any LIBOR Floating Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or

     (iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan or LIBOR Floating Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

     (b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s

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holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

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

     (d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

     Any Lender requesting compensation under Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 hereof shall do so within 90 days of the event giving rise to such request or otherwise lose the right to request such compensation.

     3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

     (a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Floating Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

     (b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Floating Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

     (c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained (but specifically excluding any lost profits). The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

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     For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Base Rate used in determining the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

     3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

     (a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such 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 such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

     (b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

     3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

     4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

     (a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

     (i) executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranty, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

     (ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

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     (iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

     (iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrower and each Guarantor is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

     (v) a favorable opinion of in-house counsel to the Borrower and Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

     (vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

     (vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the current Debt Ratings;

     (viii) a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended on January 31, 2006, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

     (ix) all existing credit facilities as set forth on Schedule 4.01 (other than the Senior Note Agreements, the Medium Term Notes Indenture and the Existing Letters of Credit) have been terminated; and

     (x) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

     (b) Any fees required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the Loan Documents on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

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     (c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

     Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

     4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

     (a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V (except for Section 5.05(c)) or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.

     (b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

     (c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

     Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

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ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

     5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party (a) is (i) duly organized or formed, validly existing and (ii), as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite corporate power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clauses (a)(ii), (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law, except in each case referred to in clauses (b) or (c) to the extent that such conflict, breach or violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

     5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event.

     (a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby

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in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

     (b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated January 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

     (c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (d) To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial information delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, of (i) covenant compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

     5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as specifically disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.07 No Default. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

     5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

     5.09 Environmental Compliance. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their

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respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that except as specifically disclosed in the Audited Financial Statements, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance), with such deductibles and covering such assets and risks of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with customary business practices in the industry of the Borrower, as necessary and appropriate in the good faith business judgment of the Borrower.

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

     5.12 ERISA Compliance.

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

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

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

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     5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Borrower or a Subsidiary in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13. The Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part(b) of Schedule 5.13. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

     5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

     (a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be Margin Stock.

     (b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling (as defined under the ICA, defined below) the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “ICA”).

     5.15 Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its 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 report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, 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 by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time.

     5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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     5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number. The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 10.02.

ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Guarantor to:

     6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies for distribution to each Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall deliver such copies promptly to each Lender after the Administrative Agent’s receipt:

     (a) as soon as available, but in any event by the date on which consolidated financial statements for such period are required to be delivered to the SEC under the Securities Laws (without regard to any extensions of such date permitted by the Securities Laws for which any special application is required) (and if the Borrower does not have have to deliver such consolidated financial statements to the SEC under the Securities Laws, then as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Borrower), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of each fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by (i) a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders (which shall include but not be limited to Deloitte & Touche, LLP), which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and applicable Securities Laws and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit or with respect to the absence of any material misstatement and (ii) an attestation report of such Registered Public Accounting Firm as to the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley expressing a conclusion that the Borrower has maintained effective internal controls over financial reporting based on the COSO criteria; and

     (b) as soon as available, but in any event by the date on which consolidated financial statements for such period are required to be delivered to the SEC under the Securities Laws (without regard to any extensions of such date permitted by the Securities Laws for which any special application is required) (and if the Borrower does not have have to deliver such consolidated financial statements to the SEC under the Securities Laws, then as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of each fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income from operations, and cash flows for such portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form

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the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

     As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, and to the extent that the Borrower has filed a Form 10K or Form 10Q for the respective financial period with the SEC, it shall be deemed to have satisfied clauses (a) and (b) above.

     6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

     (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2006), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower;

     (b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

     (c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

     (d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

     (e) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; and

     (f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

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     Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) or (d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

     The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”, the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”.

     6.03 Notices. Promptly, but in any event, within five (5) days of the Borrower becoming aware thereof, notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

     (a) of the occurrence of any Default;

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     (b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (ii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

     (c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

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

     (e) of the determination by the Registered Public Accounting Firm providing the opinion required under Section 6.01(a)(ii) (in connection with its preparation of such opinion) or the Borrower’s determination at any time of the occurrence or existence occurrence of any Internal Control Event; and

     (f) of any announcement by Moody’s or S&P of any change or possible change in a Debt Rating.

     Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(f)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

     6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including all federal, state and other material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

     6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.02 or 7.03; (b) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its origination, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (c) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and

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renewals and replacements thereof, except in the case of both (a) and (b) above, where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain insurance (including self-insurance) with respect to its properties and business as necessary and appropriate in the customary business practice in the industry of the Borrower.

     6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

     6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower, but not more frequently than once per every twelve (12) month period; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice as often as may be reasonably requested.

     6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for (a) general working capital needs, capital expenditures and permitted acquisitions, (b) subject to the proviso below, the purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower of shares of its capital stock and related preferred stock purchase rights, and (c) other lawful corporate purposes, other than, directly or indirectly, (i) for a purpose in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document, (ii) to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (iii) to repay or otherwise refinance indebtedness of the Borrower or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (iv) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock, or (v) to acquire any security in any transaction that is subject to Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that notwithstanding clauses (ii) through (v) above, the Borrower may use proceeds of Loans as described in clause (b) above so long as either (x) the Margin Stock so acquired is promptly retired following the purchase or other acquisition thereof or (y) at all times and after giving effect to each such purchase or acquisition, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are represented by Margin Stock owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

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     6.12 Guarantors. Notify the Administrative Agent at the time that any Person becomes a Regulated Entity, and promptly thereafter (and in any event within 30 days), cause such Person to

     (a) in the case of the first Regulated Entity becoming a Guarantor, a Guaranty and thereafter for each additional Regulated Entity, a Guaranty Joinder Agreement duly executed by such Regulated Entity;

     (b) an opinion of counsel to each Person executing the Guaranty or Guaranty Joinder Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.12 dated as of the date of delivery of such applicable agreements and other Loan Documents provided for in this Section 6.12 and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, each of which opinions may be in form and substance, including assumptions and qualifications contained therein, substantially similar to those opinions of counsel delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a); and

     (c) with respect to each Person executing any Guaranty or Guaranty Joinder Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.12, current copies of the Organization Documents of each such Person, minutes of duly called and conducted meetings (or duly effected consent actions) of the board of directors, partners, or appropriate committees thereof (and, if required by such Organization Documents or applicable law, of the shareholders, members or partners) of such Person authorizing the actions and the execution and delivery of documents described in this Section 6.12, all certified by the applicable Governmental Authority or appropriate officer as the Administrative Agent may elect.

ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Guarantor to, directly or indirectly:

     7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

     (a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

     (b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed (except for proceeds of such property), and (ii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed;

     (c) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

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     (d) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

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

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

     (g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

     (h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.0l(h);

     (i) leases or subleases granted to others in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the business of the applicable Person;

     (j) any interest of title of a lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Agreement;

     (k) Liens deemed to exist in connection with repurchase agreements;

     (1) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

     (m) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

     (n) Liens existing on any asset or property prior to the acquisition thereof by any Loan Party or existing on any asset or property of any Person that becomes a Guarantor prior to the time such Person becomes a Guarantor;

     (o) Liens on property securing purchase money indebtedness (including capital lease obligations, provided that (i) such Liens attach to such property within 90 days after the acquisition of such property, (ii) such Liens secure only the payment of the purchase money Indebtedness (and refinancings, renewals or extensions thereof) and (iii) such Liens attach only to the property subject to the purchase money Indebtedness and do not encumber any other property of any Loan Party; and

     (p) Liens not permitted by clauses (a) through (o) above if at the time of, and after giving effect to, the creation or assumption of any such Lien, the aggregate amount of all

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Indebtedness of the Loan Parties secured by all such Liens not so permitted by clauses (a) through (o) above does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets.

     7.02 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, or discontinue or eliminate, a line of business; provided, that the foregoing limitation on the sale, lease or other transfer of assets and on the discontinuance or elimination of a line of business shall not prohibit, at any time, a transfer of assets or the discontinuance or elimination of a line of business (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) to the extent that any such Disposition would not cause the aggregate value of all assets Disposed of (excluding the sale, lease or other transfer of assets permitted under clause (c) of this Section), after the Closing Date to exceed $50,000,000, and provided, further, that so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

     (a) the Borrower may merge with another Person if (i) such Person is organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of its states, and (ii) the Borrower is the surviving corporation;

     (b) any Guarantor may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Guarantors; and

     (c) any Guarantor may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Guarantor.

     7.03 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

     7.04 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind (other than this Agreement and any other Loan Document) with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Guarantor as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Guarantor at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among the Borrower and any Guarantor or between and among any Guarantors.

     7.05 Burdensome Agreements. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Regulated Entity to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person except, with respect to clause (iii) above, for (1) any document or instalment governing purchase money Indebtedness, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (2) Medium Term Notes Indenture and the Senior Note Agreements, (3) any Lien permitted by Section 7.01 or any document or instrument governing any such Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Lien, and

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(4) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any property permitted under Section 7.03 pending the consummation of such sale; or (b) (except for the Medium Term Notes Indenture, the Senior Note Agreements and any other agreement or indenture providing for the issuance of senior indebtedness on parity with the Obligations) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

     7.06 Ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization. Permit the ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Total Capitalization to exceed 0.70 to 1.00 at any time.

     7.07 Amendments to Note Agreements. Enter into or suffer to exist any amendment or modification (a) to the amortization schedule or prepayment provisions (excluding the waiver of any prepayment premium or penalty) of the Indebtedness created under the Medium Term Notes Indenture and the Senior Note Agreements or (b) to any other terms or conditions contained in the Medium Term Notes Indenture and the Senior Note Agreements if such modification (i) would conflict with or be more restrictive than the terms or provisions of this Agreement, (ii) would provide for collateral security for such Indebtedness in excess of that provided under such agreements as of the Closing Date, (iii) would expand any negative pledge provision provided for therein, or (iv) would alter any provision of the events of default under those agreements.

ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

     8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

     (a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

     (b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02 (within five days of the date when due, in the case of Section 6.02(a)), 6.03, 6.05(a), 6.10, 6.11 or 6.12 or Article VII or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Guaranty; or

     (c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the Borrower becoming aware thereof or having received notice thereof; or

     (d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made; or

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     (e) Cross-Default. (i) Any Loan Party (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of the Medium Term Note Indebtedness, the Senior Notes Indebtedness or any other Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to the Medium Term Note Indebtedness, the Senior Notes Indebtedness or any other such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which any Loan Party is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

     (f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

     (g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

     (h) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are

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commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

     (i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

     (j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or

     (k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.

     8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

     (a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

     (b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

     (c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

     (d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

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     8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

     First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

     Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or the L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

     Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

     Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

     Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit;

     Sixth, to payment of Obligations consisting of liabilities under any Related Credit Arrangement with any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender party to a Related Credit Arrangement and as to which the Agent has received notice of the amounts owed thereunder from the applicable Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender party to a Related Credit Arrangement, such payments under this clause Sixth to be allocated on a pro rata basis according to such amounts owed as to which the Agent has received such notice; and

     Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

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ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions; provided, the foregoing provisions are not intended to limit the rights granted to the Borrower under this Article as a primary party of interest.

     9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

     9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

     (a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

     (b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

     (c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

     The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith

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shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.

     The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

     9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

     9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

     9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall

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have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

     Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

     9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or

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based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

     9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Manager or the Arranger listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

     9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

     (a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

     (b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

     Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

     9.10 Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

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     Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.

ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS

     10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

     (a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

     (b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;

     (c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

     (d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

     (e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

     (f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or

     (g) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender;

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and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.

     10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

     (a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

     (i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

     (ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

     Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

     (b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent 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.

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     Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

     (c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

     (d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

     (e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Revolving Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified

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herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the patties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

     10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

     10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

     (a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of external counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer 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 Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any external counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

     (b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or, in the

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case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer 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, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

     (c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

     (d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest 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, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence of willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

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     (e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

     (f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

     10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

     10.06 Successors and Assigns.

     (a) Successors and Assigns Generally. 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, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

     (b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b),

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participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

     (i) Minimum Amounts.

     (A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

     (B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

     (ii) Proportionate Amounts. 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 with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans.

     (iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

     (A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, it being deemed reasonable on the part of the Borrower to withhold consent to any assignment that would cause the Borrower to incur additional costs under Section 3.01(a)) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;

     (B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to be a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;

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     (C) the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and

     (D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

     (iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 10.06; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

     (v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

     (vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

     Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and 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, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

     (c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the

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contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

     (d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

     Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such 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 such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

     (e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

     (f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

     (g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any

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applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

     (h) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such successor or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

      10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (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 purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (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 (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this

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Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

     For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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.

     Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

     10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

     10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude

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voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

     10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents 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 and the other Loan Documents shall become effective when they shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement and any other Loan Document by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

     10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

     10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

     10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender is a Restricted Lender (as defined below) then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

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     (a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

     (b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

     (c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

     (d) in the case of any such assignment by a Restricted Lender, the assignee must have approved in writing the substance of the amendment, waiver or consent which caused the assignor to be a Restricted Lender; and

     (e) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

     A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

     For the purposes of this Section 10.13, a “Restricted Lender” means a Lender that fails to approve an amendment, waiver or consent requested by the Loan Parties pursuant to Section 10.01 that has received the written approval of not less than the Required Lenders but also requires the approval of such Lender.

     10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

     (a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

     (b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA SITTING IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NORTH CAROLINA STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL

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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 OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

     (c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT 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 APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

     (d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

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

     10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan

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Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification thereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or the Arranger has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a board range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

     10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any 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 such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC.
By:	/s/ Robert O. Pritchard
	Name:	Robert O. Pritchard
	Title:	Treasurer

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By:	/s/ Michael Brashler
	Name:	Michael Brashler
	Title:	Vice President

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
By:	/s/ Scott K. Mitchell
	Name:	Scott K. Mitchell
	Title:	Senior Vice President

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY
By:	/s/ H. Wright Uzzell, Jr.
	Name:	H. Wright Uzzell, Jr.
	Title:	Senior Vice President

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

SUNTRUST BANK
By:	/s/ Kelley Brandenburg
	Name:	Kelley Brandenburg
	Title:	Vice President

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:	/s/ Eric J. Cosgrove
	Name:	Eric J. Cosgrove
	Title:	Assistant Vice President

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

AMSOUTH BANK
By:	/s/ MONTY R. TRIMBLE
	Name:	MONTY R. TRIMBLE
	Title:	SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:	/s/ David Sunderwirth
	Name:	David Sunderwirth
	Title:	Vice President

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

CITIBANK, N.A.
By:	/s/ David E. Hunt
	Name:	David E. Hunt
	Title:	Attorney-in-Fact

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:	/s/ J. Matthew Rowand
	Name:	J. Matthew Rowand
	Title:	Assistant Vice-President

CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Thomas E. Skains, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.;
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	March 11, 2008	/s/ Thomas E. Skains
		Thomas E. Skains Chairman of the Board, President and      Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, David J. Dzuricky, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc.;
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	March 11, 2008	/s/ David J. Dzuricky
		David J. Dzuricky Senior Vice President and      Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY
ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Thomas E. Skains, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

1)	The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2)	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: March 11, 2008	/s/ Thomas E. Skains
	Thomas E. Skains Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY
ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the period ended January 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David J. Dzuricky, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

1)	The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2)	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: March 11, 2008	/s/ David J. Dzuricky
	David J. Dzuricky Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.