Sample Business Contracts

REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of April 14, 2005

among

ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P.,

as Borrower

ATLAS PIPELINE NEW YORK, LLC

ATLAS PIPELINE OHIO, LLC

ATLAS PIPELINE PENNSYLVANIA, LLC

ATLAS PIPELINE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.

ATLAS PIPELINE MID-CONTINENT LLC

ETC OKLAHOMA PIPELINE, LTD.

ELK CITY OKLAHOMA GP, LLC,

as Guarantors

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank

and

THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO

FLEET NATIONAL BANK,

Syndication Agent

BANK OF OKLAHOMA N.A.

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

Co-Documentation Agents

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

Co-Lead Arrangers

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,

Sole Book Runner

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section 9.04	Dividends, Distributions and Redemptions	56
Section 9.05	Sales and Leasebacks	56
Section 9.06	Nature of Business	56
Section 9.07	Hedging Agreements	56
Section 9.08	Limitation on Leases	57
Section 9.09	Mergers, Etc	57
Section 9.10	Proceeds of Notes and Letters of Credit	58
Section 9.11	ERISA Compliance	58
Section 9.12	Sale or Discount of Receivables	58
Section 9.13	Consolidated EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense	58
Section 9.14	Consolidated Funded Debt to Consolidated EBITDA	58
Section 9.15	Consolidated Senior Secured Debt to Consolidated EBITDA	58
Section 9.16	Disposition of Pipeline Properties	59
Section 9.17	Environmental Matters	59
Section 9.18	Transactions with Affiliates	59
Section 9.19	Subsidiaries	59
Section 9.20	Negative Pledge Agreements	59
Section 9.21	Imbalances or Other Prepayments	59
Section 9.22	Amendments to Material Agreements	60
Section 9.23	Accounting Changes	60
ARTICLE X Events of Default; Remedies		60
Section 10.01	Events of Default	60
Section 10.02	Remedies.	62
Section 10.03	Gathering Fees; Distributions.	62
ARTICLE XI The Administrative Agent		63
Section 11.01	Appointment, Powers and Immunities	63
Section 11.02	Reliance by Administrative Agent	64
Section 11.03	Defaults	64
Section 11.04	Rights as a Lender	64
Section 11.05	Indemnification	65
Section 11.06	Non Reliance on Administrative Agent and other Lenders	65
Section 11.07	Action by Administrative Agent	65
Section 11.08	Resignation or Removal of Administrative Agent	66
Section 11.09	No Other Duties	66
Section 11.10	Collateral and Guaranty Matters	66
ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous		67
Section 12.01	Waiver	67
Section 12.02	Notices	67
Section 12.03	Payment of Expenses, Indemnities, etc.	67
Section 12.04	Amendments, Etc	69
Section 12.05	Successors and Assigns	71
Section 12.06	Assignments and Participations.	71
Section 12.07	Invalidity	73
Section 12.08	Counterparts	73
Section 12.09	References, Use of Word ÒIncludingÓ	74

Section 12.10	Survival	74
Section 12.11	Captions	74
Section 12.12	NO ORAL AGREEMENTS	74
Section 12.13	GOVERNING LAW, SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.	74
Section 12.14	USA PATRIOT Act Notice	75
Section 12.15	Interest	76
Section 12.16	Confidentiality	76
Section 12.17	Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement	77

 

 

Exhibits
Exhibit A-1	Form of Revolver Note
Exhibit A-2	Form of Term Loan Note
Exhibit B	Form of Borrowing, Continuation and Conversion Request
Exhibit C	Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D	Security Instruments
Exhibit E	Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit F	Form of Consent to Assignment
Exhibit G-1	Form of Guaranty
Exhibit G-2	Form of Confirmation of Guaranty
Schedules
Schedule 1.01	Elk City Scheduled Adjustments
Schedule 3.01	Term Loan Amortization
Schedule 6.01	Post-Closing Requirements
Schedule 6.01(e)	Historical Financial Summary
Schedule 7.03	Litigation
Schedule 7.09	Tax Obligations
Schedule 7.10	Title Exceptions
Schedule 7.15	Subsidiary Interests
Schedule 7.20	Insurance
Schedule 7.21	Hedging Agreements
Schedule 7.23	Material Agreements
Schedule 7.24	Imbalances
Schedule 9.01	Debt

 

REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

 

 

THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT dated as of April 14, 2005, among ATLAS PIPELINE PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the ÒBorrowerÓ); ATLAS PIPELINE NEW YORK, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (ÒAPL New YorkÓ); ATLAS PIPELINE OHIO, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (ÒAPL OhioÓ); ATLAS PIPELINE PENNSYLVANIA, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (ÒAPL PennsylvaniaÓ); ATLAS PIPELINE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (ÒAPL OperatingÓ); ATLAS PIPELINE MID-CONTINENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (ÒAPL Mid-ContinentÓ); ETC OKLAHOMA PIPELINE, LTD., a Texas limited partnership (ÒElk CityÓ); and ELK CITY OKLAHOMA GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (ÒElk City GPÓ; Elk City GP, Elk City, APL Mid-Continent, APL New York, APL Ohio, APL Pennsylvania and APL Operating are collectively referred to herein as the ÒInitial Guarantors,Ó and the Borrower and the Initial Guarantors are collectively referred to herein as the ÒInitial ObligorsÓ); each of the lenders that is a signatory hereto or which becomes a signatory hereto as provided in Section 12.06 (individually, together with its successors and assigns, a ÒLender,Ó and collectively, the ÒLendersÓ); WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the ÒAdministrative AgentÓ); WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as issuing bank (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the ÒIssuing BankÓ); and WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC AND BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as co-lead arrangers (in such capacity, together with their successors in such capacity, the ÒCo-Lead ArrangersÓ).

R E C I T A L S

A.     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent, issuing bank and a lender, the Borrower, the guarantors named therein and the lenders parties thereto (collectively, the ÒOriginal LendersÓ) entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 27, 2002, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of January 31, 2003, Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of March 28, 2003, Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of September 15, 2003, and Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of March 12, 2004 (as amended, the ÒOriginal Credit AgreementÓ).

B.     The Original Credit Agreement was amended and restated by that certain Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 16, 2004 among Borrower, certain lenders (collectively, the ÒExisting LendersÓ), and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement dated as of December 3, 2004 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the ÒExisting Credit AgreementÓ), pursuant to which the Existing Lenders agreed to make loans and extend credit to the Borrower, as evidenced by promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of the Existing Lenders issued pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement (which promissory notes and other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities under the Existing Credit Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the ÒExisting DebtÓ).

C.     The Existing Lenders have assigned to Administrative Agent all of their rights and obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement.

D.     The Borrower has requested that the Administrative Agent amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement and provide certain loans to and extensions of credit on behalf of the Borrower.

E.     The Administrative Agent has agreed to amend and, together with the Lenders, restate the Existing Credit Agreement and make loans and extend credit to the Borrower, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and of the loans, extensions of credit and commitments hereinafter referred to, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Accounting Matters

Section 1.01   Terms Defined Above. As used in this Agreement, the terms ÒAdministrative Agent,Ó ÒAPL New York,Ó ÒAPL Ohio,Ó ÒAPL Pennsylvania,Ó ÒAPL Operating,Ó ÒAPL Mid-Continent,Ó ÒBorrower,Ó ÒInitial Guarantors,Ó ÒIssuing Bank,Ó ÒLender,Ó ÒLenders,Ó ÒInitial Obligors,Ó ÒOriginal Credit Agreement,Ó ÒOriginal Lenders,Ó ÒElk CityÓ, ÒElk City GPÓ, ÒCo-Lead ArrangersÓ, ÒExisting Credit Agreement,Ó ÒExisting Debt,Ó and ÒExisting LendersÓ shall have the meanings indicated above.

Section 1.02          Certain Defined Terms. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings (all terms defined in this Article I or in other provisions of this Agreement in the singular to have equivalent meanings when used in the plural, and vice versa):

Additional Costs shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.01(a).

Adjusted LIBOR shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent to be equal to the quotient of (i) LIBOR for such Loan for the Interest Period for such Loan divided by (ii) 1 minus the Reserve Requirement for such Loan for such Interest Period.

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

Affected Loans shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 5.04.

Affiliate of any Person shall mean (i) any Person directly or indirectly controlled by, controlling or under common control with such first Person, (ii) any director or officer of such first Person or of any Person referred to in clause (i) above and (iii) if any Person in clause (i) above is an individual, any member of the immediate family (including parents, spouse and children) of such individual and any trust whose principal beneficiary is such individual or one or more members of such immediate family and any Person who is controlled by any such member or trust. For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns directly or indirectly 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body of a corporation or 10% or more of the partnership or other ownership interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of such other Person) will be deemed to ÒcontrolÓ (including, with its correlative meanings, Òcontrolled byÓ and Òunder common control withÓ) such corporation or other Person.

Agreement shall mean this Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, as the same may from time to time be further renewed, extended, amended, restated or supplemented.

Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount at any time shall equal the sum of the Maximum Revolver Amounts of the Revolver Lenders (Two Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($225,000,000)), as the same may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.03(a).

Amortization Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a)(ii).

Applicable Lending Office shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the lending office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or such other offices of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.

Applicable Margin shall mean with respect to Revolver Loans and the Term Loan, the applicable per annum percentage set forth at the appropriate intersection in the table shown below, based on the Leverage Ratio as in effect from time to time:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans and Base Rate Loans at all levels on the above table shall be reduced by 0.50% during any period in which the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio is less than 1.50 to 1.00. Each change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio or the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall take effect on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 8.01(j). However, if the Borrower fails to deliver a compliance certificate when required pursuant to Section 8.01(j), then the Applicable Margin shall be set at the highest level until such date as the Borrower delivers such compliance certificate to the Administrative Agent.

Approved Fund means any Fund that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Assignment and 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 12.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Atlas shall mean Atlas America, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and successor in interest to Atlas America, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation.

Atlas Direct Subsidiaries shall mean AIC, INC., a Delaware corporation; ATLAS AMERICA, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation; ATLAS ENERGY CORPORATION, an Ohio corporation; ATLAS ENERGY GROUP, INC., an Ohio Corporation; ATLAS ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation, ATLAS NOBLE CORP., a Delaware corporation; ATLAS RESOURCES, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation; ATLAS AMERICA MIDCONTINENT, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation; REI; General Partner; and Viking.

Availability means, at any time, (i) the Revolver LendersÕ aggregate Revolver Commitments, minus (ii) the sum of (a) the Effective Amount of all outstanding Revolver Loans and (b) the Effective Amount of all LC Exposure.

Base Rate shall mean, with respect to any Base Rate Loan, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher of (i) the Federal Funds Rate for any such day plus ¹/₂ of 1% or (ii) the Prime Rate for such day. Each change in any interest rate provided for herein based upon the Base Rate resulting from a change in the Base Rate shall take effect at the time of such change in the Base Rate.

Base Rate Loans shall mean Loans that bear interest at rates based upon the Base Rate.

Business Day shall mean any day other than a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close in Texas, North Carolina or New York and, where such term is used in the definition of ÒQuarterly DateÓ or if such day relates to a borrowing or continuation of, a payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, or a conversion of or into, or the Interest Period for, a LIBOR Loan or a notice by the Borrower with respect to any such borrowing or continuation, payment, prepayment, conversion or Interest Period, any day which is also a day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are carried out in the London interbank market.

Change in Control shall mean (i) except as permitted by clauses (iii)(c) and (iii)(d) hereof, any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Subsections 13(d) or 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) shall have acquired subsequent to the date hereof beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act) 25% or more of the equity securities of such Person entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Person (and taking into account all such securities that such Person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right) (provided however, that the acquisition by the General Partner or any Affiliate thereof of 25% or more of the partnership interests of the Borrower shall not constitute a Change in Control); (ii) within a period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were managing board members of the General Partner on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the managing board members of the General Partner or individuals who were board members of Atlas on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board members of Atlas, or (iii) the occurrence of any of the following:

(a)     the sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of a permitted merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any ÒpersonÓ (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended);

(b)     the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower or the General Partner unless, in the case of the General Partner, the General Partner is replaced by an affiliate of Atlas acceptable to the Lenders in their reasonable discretion, such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld;

(c)     the General Partner ceases to own, directly or indirectly, at least 51% of the general partner interests of the Borrower or of APL Operating, or the General Partner ceases to serve as the only general partner of the Borrower or APL Operating unless, in the case of the General Partner, the General Partner is replaced by an affiliate of Atlas acceptable to the Lenders in their reasonable discretion, such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld; or

(d)     Atlas and/or one or more of its directly or indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries ceases to own at least 51% of the membership units of the General Partner.

Closing Date shall mean the date upon which the conditions precedent for initial funding set forth in Section 6.01 are satisfied.

Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

Commitment shall mean (i) for any Revolver Lender, its Revolver Commitment, and (ii) for any Term Loan Lender, its Term Loan Commitment.

Confirmation of Guaranty Agreement shall mean each Confirmation of Guaranty Agreement dated of even date herewith, executed and delivered by the Guarantor party thereto in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 hereto.

Consent to Assignment shall mean, collectively, each Consent to Assignment substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto by and between the Borrower, each counterparty to a Material Agreement that requires such counterpartyÕs consent to the pledge or assignment thereof in favor of the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent.

Consolidated EBITDA shall mean, for any trailing twelve-month period, the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (ii) the following expenses or charges to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net Income in such period: interest, income taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization, non-cash compensation on long-term incentive plans, and other non-cash charges to Consolidated Net Income, minus (iii) non-cash credits to Consolidated Net Income, provided, that, the following adjustments shall be made with respect to APL Mid-Continent: (a) Consolidated EBITDA for 2004 and for the first two fiscal quarters of 2005 shall be calculated after giving effect to the Spectrum Acquisition and annualizing such financial results from July 16, 2004 through the end of the applicable fiscal quarter; and (b) Consolidated EBITDA for each quarter of 2005 shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to the Elk City Acquisition and the adjustments described on Schedule 1.01 hereto.

Consolidated Funded Debt shall mean, for any Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, the sum of the following (without duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including principal, interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of bankersÕ acceptances, letters of credit, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (iii) all obligations of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than for borrowed money); (iv) all obligations under leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect of which such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries is liable (whether contingent or otherwise); (v) obligations to pay for goods or services whether or not such goods or services are actually received or utilized by such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries; (vi) any capital stock of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in which such Person has a mandatory obligation to redeem such stock; and (vii) all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements.

Consolidated Interest Expense shall mean with respect to such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for any period, the aggregate cash interest payments made or required to be made for such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period; provided, that  (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2005 shall be calculated by annualizing the Consolidated Interest Expense for such fiscal quarter, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2005 shall be calculated by annualizing the Consolidated Interest Expense for such fiscal quarter and the previous fiscal quarter, and (iii) Consolidated Interest Expense for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2005 shall be calculated by annualizing the Consolidated Interest Expense for such fiscal quarter and the two (2) previous fiscal quarters.

Consolidated Net Income shall mean with respect to such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries after allowances for taxes for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, that there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein) the following: (i) the net income of any other entity in which such Person or any Consolidated Subsidiary has an interest (which interest does not cause the net income of such other entity to be consolidated with the net income of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP), except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions actually paid in such period by such other entity to such Person or to a Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be; (ii) the net income (but not loss) of any Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions or transfers or loans by that Consolidated Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument or Governmental Requirement applicable to such Consolidated Subsidiary, or is otherwise restricted or prohibited in each case determined in accordance with GAAP; (iii) the net income (or loss) of any entity acquired in a pooling-of-interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such transaction; and (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles and any gains or losses attributable to writeups or write downs of assets.

Consolidated Senior Secured Debt shall mean, for any Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, Consolidated Funded Debt (other than Subordinated Debt) that is secured by a Lien.

Consolidated Subsidiaries shall mean each Subsidiary of a Person (whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired) the financial statements of which shall be (or should have been) consolidated with the financial statements of such Person in accordance with GAAP, provided, however, that the Consolidated Subsidiaries of Borrower shall not include the Unrestricted Entities.

Debt shall mean, for any Person the sum of the following (without duplication): (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including principal, interest, fees and charges); (ii) all obligations of such Person (whether contingent or otherwise) in respect of bankersÕ acceptances, letters of credit, surety or other bonds and similar instruments; (iii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than for borrowed money); (iv) all obligations under leases which shall have been, or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect of which such Person is liable (whether contingent or otherwise); (v) all obligations under operating leases which require such Person or its Affiliate to make payments over the term of such lease, including payments at termination, based on the purchase price or appraisal value of the Property subject to such lease plus a marginal interest rate, and used primarily as a financing vehicle for, or to monetize, such Property; (vi) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person; (vii) all Debt (as described in the other clauses of this definition) and other obligations of others guaranteed by such Person or in which such Person otherwise assures a creditor against loss of the debtor or obligations of others; (viii) all obligations or undertakings of such Person to maintain or cause to be maintained the financial position or covenants of others or to purchase the Debt or Property of others; (ix) obligations to gather or transport Hydrocarbons in consideration of advance payments; (x) obligations to pay for goods or services whether or not such goods or services are actually received or utilized by such Person; (xi) any capital stock of such Person in which such Person has a mandatory obligation to redeem such stock; (xii) any Debt of a Subsidiary for which such Person is liable either by agreement or because of a Governmental Requirement; and (xiii) all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements.

Default shall mean an Event of Default or an event which with notice or lapse of applicable grace period or both would become an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender means any Lender that (i) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans or Letter of Credit reimbursement obligations required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (ii) 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 (iii) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Disposition or Dispose means the sale, transfer or other disposition (including any sale-leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, other than the settlement or resolution of a claim that is unrelated to the collateral securing the Indebtedness. For the avoidance of doubt, ÒDispositionÓ includes Equity Offerings.

Dollars and $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

Effective Amount means (i) with respect to any Revolver Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any Revolver Loans and prepayments or repayments thereof occurring on such date under the Revolver Facility; and (ii) with respect to any outstanding LC Exposure on any date, the amount of such LC Exposure on such date after giving effect to any issuances of Letters of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the LC Exposure as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Eligible Assignee means (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender; (iii) an Approved Fund; and (iv) any other Person (other than a natural Person) approved by (a) the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, and (b) unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, ÒEligible AssigneeÓ shall not include the Borrower or any of the BorrowerÕs Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

Elk City Acquisition means the acquisition by Borrower of the Elk City Partnership Interests pursuant to the Elk City Acquisition Documents.

Elk City Acquisition Documents means the Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement and each other agreement, document and instrument executed and delivered by Borrower or any other Obligor and any counterparty thereto in connection with the Elk City Acquisition.

Elk City Partnership Interests means the ÒInterestsÓ as defined in the Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement.

Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement means the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 8, 2005, between Borrower and the Elk City Seller, with such amendments as may be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Elk City Seller means, collectively, LG PL, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, and La Grange Acquisition, L.P., a Texas limited partnership.

Environmental Laws shall mean any and all Governmental Requirements pertaining to health or the environment in effect in any and all jurisdictions in which any Obligor or any Subsidiary is conducting or at any time has conducted business, or where any Property of any Obligor or any Subsidiary is located, including without limitation, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (ÒOPAÓ), the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (ÒCERCLAÓ), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (ÒRCRAÓ), as amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, and other environmental conservation or protection laws. The term ÒoilÓ shall have the meaning specified in OPA, the terms Òhazardous substanceÓ and ÒreleaseÓ or Òthreatened releaseÓ have the meanings specified in CERCLA, and the terms Òsolid wasteÓ and ÒdisposalÓ or ÒdisposedÓ have the meanings specified in RCRA; provided, however, that (i) in the event either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined thereby, such broader meaning shall apply subsequent to the effective date of such amendment and (ii) to the extent the laws of the state in which any Property of any Obligor or any Subsidiary is located establish a meaning for Òoil,Ó Òhazardous substance,Ó Òrelease,Ó Òsolid wasteÓ or ÒdisposalÓ which is broader than that specified in either OPA, CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply.

Equity Net Cash Proceeds means Net Cash Proceeds received in connection with an Equity Offering.

Equity Offering means the issuance or sale of equity interests in the Borrower pursuant to a public or private offering.

ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

ERISA Affiliate shall mean each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary would be deemed to be a Òsingle employerÓ within the meaning of section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event shall mean (i) a ÒReportable EventÓ described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder, (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan during a plan year in which it was a Òsubstantial employerÓ as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC or (v) any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan.

Event of Default shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 10.01.

Excepted Liens shall mean: (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained; (ii) Liens in connection with workerÕs compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security, old age pension or public liability obligations not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iii) vendorsÕ, carriersÕ, warehousemenÕs, repairmen's, mechanicsÕ, workmenÕs, materialmenÕs, construction or other like Liens arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business or incident to the gathering, transportation, operation and maintenance of the Pipeline Properties or statutory landlordÕs liens, each of which is in respect of obligations that have not been outstanding more than 90 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP; (iv) encumbrances of third party surface owners and owners of other estates in lands (other than lands to which any Obligor has fee simple title) covered by Pipeline right-of-ways, permits and easements; (v) encumbrances (other than to secure the payment of borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of Property or services), easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations in any rights of way or other Property of any Obligor or any Subsidiary for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment, and defects, irregularities, zoning restrictions and deficiencies in title of any rights of way or other Property which in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such rights of way or other Property for the purposes of which such rights of way and other Property are held by any Obligor or any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such Property subject thereto; (vi) that certain Surface Lease Agreement dated as of February 1, 2000, by and between Texaco Exploration and Production, Inc., predecesssor in interest to APL Mid-Continent, as lessor, and Velma Federal Credit Union, as lessee; (vii) deposits of cash or securities to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (viii) Liens which do not materially interfere with the occupation, use, and enjoyment by Borrower of the Pipeline Properties in the ordinary course of business as presently conducted or materially impair the value thereof for the purposes thereof.

Facilities means, collectively, the Revolver Facility and the Term Loan Facility, and Facility means either of the Revolver Facility or the Term Loan Facility.

Federal Funds Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with a member 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 (i) if the date for which such rate is to be determined 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 (ii) if such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letters shall mean, collectively, (i) that certain letter agreement from Wachovia Bank, National Association, Fleet National Bank, Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, and Banc of America Securities LLC to the Borrower dated March 8, 2005, and (ii) that certain letter agreement from Wachovia Bank, National Association and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC to the Borrower dated March 8, 2005, each concerning certain fees in connection with this Agreement and any agreements or instruments executed in connection therewith, as the same may be amended or replaced from time to time.

Financial Statements shall mean the financial statement or statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries described or referred to in Section 7.02.

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.

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 shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time.

General Partner means Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Governmental Authority shall include the country, the state, county, city and political subdivisions in which any Person or such PersonÕs Property is located or which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such PersonÕs Property, and any court, agency, department, commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of them including monetary authorities which exercises valid jurisdiction over any such Person or such PersonÕs Property. Unless otherwise specified, all references to Governmental Authority herein shall mean a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over, where applicable, any Obligor or any of their Property or the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Applicable Lending Office.

Governmental Requirement shall mean any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, determination, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization or other directive or requirement (whether or not having the force of law), including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls, of any Governmental Authority.

Guarantor shall mean each Initial Guarantor and each Subsidiary of Borrower hereafter formed or acquired, except for the Unrestricted Entities (if any).

Guaranty Agreement shall mean, collectively, (i) an agreement executed by a Guarantor in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent guarantying, unconditionally, payment of the Indebtedness, together with (ii) any related Confirmation of Guaranty Agreement and any other amendment, modification, supplement, restatement, ratification, or reaffirmation of any Guaranty Agreement made in accordance with the Loan Documents.

Hedging Agreements shall mean any commodity, interest rate or currency swap, cap, floor, collar, forward agreement or other exchange or protection agreements or any option with respect to any such transaction.

Highest Lawful Rate means, as of a particular date, the highest non-usurious rate of interest, if any, permitted from day to day by applicable law. To the extent Texas law is applicable, the Lenders hereby notify and disclose to the Borrower that, for purposes of Texas Finance Code ¤303.001, as it may from time to time be amended, the Òapplicable ceilingÓ shall be the Òweekly ceilingÓ from time to time in effect as limited by Texas Finance Code ¤303.009; provided however, that to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Lender reserves the right to change the Òapplicable ceilingÓ from time to time by further notice and disclosure to the Borrower.

Hydrocarbons shall mean oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all products refined or separated therefrom.

Indebtedness shall mean any and all amounts owing or to be owing by the Borrower or any other Obligor to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and/or the Lenders or any Affiliates of Lenders in connection with the Loan Documents now or hereafter arising between the Borrower or any other Obligor and the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or its Affiliate and permitted by the terms of this Agreement, and all renewals, extensions and/or rearrangements of any of the foregoing. Indebtedness shall also include any obligation owing to any Person under Hedging Agreements to the extent such Person was a Lender or Affiliate thereof when such Hedging Agreement was executed.

Indemnified Parties shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 12.03(a)(ii).

Initial Funding shall mean the funding of the initial Loans or issuance of the initial Letters of Credit upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 6.01 and 6.02.

Intercompany Debt shall mean funded Debt that is owed by an Obligor to the Borrower or to any other Obligor, or by the Borrower or any other Obligor to another Obligor.

Intercompany Notes shall mean the promissory notes executed to evidence the Intercompany Debt.

Interest Period shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Loan is made and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the first, second, third or sixth calendar month thereafter, as the Borrower may select as provided in Section 2.02, except that each Interest Period which commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on any day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar month) shall end on the last Business Day of the appropriate subsequent calendar month. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) no Interest Period with respect to Revolver Loans may end after the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility, and no Interest Period with respect to Term Loans may end after the Termination Date in respect of the Term Loan Facility; (ii) no Interest Period for any LIBOR Loan may end after the due date of any installment, if any, provided for in Section 3.01 to the extent that such LIBOR Loan would need to be prepaid prior to the end of such Interest Period in order for such installment to be paid when due; (iii) each Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall end on the next succeeding Business Day (or, if such next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, on the next preceding Business Day); and (iv) no Interest Period shall have a duration of less than one month and, if the Interest Period for any LIBOR Loans would otherwise be for a shorter period, such Loans shall not be available hereunder.

Issuing Bank shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement, or any other Revolver Lender agreed to between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to issue Letters of Credit.

LC Commitment at any time shall mean Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000).

LC Exposure at any time shall mean the sum of (i) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus (ii) the aggregate of all amounts drawn under all Letters of Credit and not yet reimbursed.

Letter of Credit Agreements shall mean the written agreements with the Issuing Bank, as issuing lender for any Letter of Credit, executed in connection with the issuance by the Issuing Bank of the Letters of Credit, such agreements to be on the Issuing BankÕs customary form for letters of credit of comparable amount and purpose as from time to time in effect or as otherwise agreed to by the Borrower and the Issuing Bank.

Letters of Credit shall mean the stand-by letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and all reimbursement obligations pertaining to any such letters of credit, and ÒLetter of CreditÓ shall mean any one of the Letters of Credit and the reimbursement obligations pertaining thereto.

Leverage Ratio has the meaning set forth in Section 9.14.

LIBOR shall mean the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) of interest determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period commencing on the first day of such Interest Period appearing on Dow Jones Market Service Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period. In the event that such rate does not appear on Dow Jones Market Service Page 3750, ÒLIBORÓ shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) at which deposits in Dollars are offered by leading reference banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period and in an amount substantially equal to the amount of the applicable Loan.

LIBOR Loans shall mean Loans the interest rates on which are determined on the basis of rates referred to in the definition of ÒAdjusted LIBORÓ.

Lien shall mean any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and whether such obligation or claim is fixed or contingent, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. The term ÒLienÓ shall include reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property. For the purposes of this Agreement, each Obligor shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, or leases under a financing lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person in a transaction intended to create a financing.

Limited Partnership Agreement shall mean that certain Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Borrower dated as of March 9, 2004, as such agreement may be amended, extended, revised or replaced from time to time.

Loan Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty Agreements, all Letters of Credit, all Letter of Credit Agreements, the Fee Letters, the Security Instruments, Hedging Agreements entered into between Borrower or any other Obligor and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender and the Consent to Assignment.

Loans shall mean the loans as provided for by Section 2.01(a) or any continuations or conversions thereof.

Master Natural Gas Gathering Agreements shall mean those agreements listed as items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 on Schedule 7.23, as such agreements may be amended, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

Material Adverse Change shall mean any change, effect, event, occurrence or circumstance that (a) prevents the Borrower from performing its obligations under the Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement or makes impossible the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that agreement or (b) results in, or is reasonably expected to result in, a material adverse change in, or effect on (including diminution in value), the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Borrower, in each case taken as a whole, but excluding, in the case of clause (b), (i) any change or effect in, or that is attributable to or resulting from general international, national, regional or local economic, financial or market conditions, or the industry in which the Borrower and Elk City operate, including market prices for commodities, goods or services within that industry, (ii) any change in laws, regulations, rules or accounting standards, principles or interpretations, or (iii) any change, effect, event, occurrence or circumstance that is attributable to (A) the announcement or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement, (B) events, actions or agreements contemplated by the Elk City Purchase and Agreement, or (C) actions of the Elk City Seller or Elk City taken or omitted to be taken at the direction of, or with the express consent of, the Borrower. For purposes of clause (b) of the immediately preceding sentence, if the change, effect, event, occurrence or circumstance has an effect on the Borrower is quantifiable in monetary terms, then, notwithstanding such clause, (1) it is not a material adverse change to the Borrower unless its negative effect exceeds, or is reasonably expected to exceed on a present value basis, $10,000,000 and (2) it is a material adverse change to the Borrower if its negative effect exceeds, or is reasonably expected to exceed on a present value basis, $10,000,000.

Material Adverse Effect shall mean any material and adverse effect on (i) the assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, operations or affairs of the Borrower, the General Partner, and the Guarantors taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Borrower, the General Partner, or any Guarantor to carry out its business as at the Closing Date (excluding the dissolution or liquidation of any Guarantor pursuant to a merger to the extent permitted under Section 9.09) or meet its obligations under the Loan Documents on a timely basis, or (iii) the Administrative AgentÕs and the LendersÕ interests in the collateral securing the Indebtedness, or the Administrative AgentsÕ or the LendersÕ ability to enforce their rights and remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, at law or in equity.

Material Agreements shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.23.

Maximum Revolver Amount shall mean, as to each Revolver Lender, the dollar amount of such Revolver LenderÕs Percentage Share of the Revolver Facility (as the same may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.03(a) pro rata to each Revolver Lender based on its Percentage Share of the Revolver Facility), as modified from time to time to reflect any assignments permitted by Section 12.06(b).

Maximum Term Loan Amount shall mean, as to each Term Loan Lender, the dollar amount of such Term Loan LenderÕs Percentage Share of the Term Loan Facility.

MoodyÕs means MoodyÕs Investor Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Mortgaged Property shall mean the Property owned by the Obligors and which is subject to the Liens existing and to exist under the terms of the Security Instruments.

Multiemployer Plan shall mean a Plan defined as such in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Net Cash Proceeds means (i) with respect to any Disposition, cash (including any cash received by way of deferred payment as and when received and payment of amounts due under insurance policies) received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith and as consideration therefor, on or after the date of consummation of such transaction, after (a) deduction of Taxes payable in connection with or as a result of such Disposition, and (b) payment of all usual and customary fees and expenses related to such Disposition (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneysÕ fees and closing costs incurred in connection with such transaction), and (ii) with respect to issuance of any Debt (other than Intercompany Debt), proceeds of such Debt after payment of all reasonable closing costs associated with the issuance thereof.

Notes shall mean, collectively, the Revolver Notes and the Term Loan Notes provided for by Section 2.06, together with any and all renewals, extensions for any period, increases, rearrangements, substitutions or modifications thereof.

Obligor shall mean each Initial Obligor and each additional Person party to a Guaranty.

Oil and Gas Properties shall mean all present and future Hydrocarbon reserves located in fields and regions accessed by the Pipelines for gathering and transportation to interstate and intrastate third party pipelines.

Omnibus Agreement shall mean that certain Omnibus Agreement by and among the Borrower, Atlas, REI, Viking and APL Operating dated as of February 2, 2000, as such agreement may be amended, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

Other Taxes shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.06(b).

Participant has the meaning set forth in Section 12.06.

PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions.

Percentage Share for each Lender means on any date of determination (i) for purposes of sharing any amount or fee payable to any Lender in respect of a specific Facility (or subfacility thereof), the proportion that the portion of the Principal Debt for the applicable Facility (or subfacility thereof) owed to such Lender (whether held directly or through a participation in respect of the Letter of Credit subfacility and determined after giving effect thereto) bears to the Principal Debt under the applicable Facility (or subfacility thereof) owed to all Lenders thereunder at the time in question, and (b) for all other purposes, the proportion that the portion of the Principal Debt owed to such Lender bears to the Principal Debt owed to all Lenders at the time in question, or if no Principal Debt is outstanding, then the proportion that the aggregate of such LenderÕs Commitment then in effect under the Facilities bears to the Total Commitment then in effect.

Permitted Merger shall mean such merger or consolidation as is permitted under Section 9.09.

Person shall mean any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or any other form of entity.

Pipelines shall mean the natural gas gathering system and related processing facilities now owned and operated as private use gathering systems by the Obligors located in the states of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Texas, and all additions thereto, and such other natural gas gathering systems and related processing facilities owned and operated by the Obligors hereafter.

Pipeline Properties shall mean all Property now or hereafter acquired related to the Pipelines and processing facilities including all buildings, structures, fuel separators, processing plants, treatment, dehydration, and fractionation facilities, storage and transportation equipment, liquid extraction plants, compressors, compressor stations, pipeline interconnections, fee lands, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, pipes and pipelines, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, SCADA systems and software, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, surface leases, rights-of-way, permits, licenses, crossing permits, easements and servitudes; all operating agreements, gathering agreements, processing agreements, contracts and other agreements which relate to any of the Pipelines or the gathering, transmission, exchange, processing, hedging and sale of Hydrocarbons through the Pipelines; all Hydrocarbons used as linefill or pad gas in the Pipelines, and all tariffs, rents, issues, profits, proceeds, revenues and other incomes from or attributable to the Pipelines and sale of Hydrocarbons; all Property, real or personal, now owned or hereinafter acquired and situated upon, used, held for use or useful in connection with the Pipelines (excluding automotive equipment or other personal property which may be on such premises for the purpose of constructing the Pipelines or for other similar temporary uses), together with all additions, substitutions, replacements, accessions and attachments to any and all of the foregoing.

Plan shall mean any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which (i) is currently or hereafter sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate or (ii) was at any time during the preceding six calendar years sponsored, maintained or contributed to, by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.

Pledges shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.03(d).

Post-Default Rate shall mean, in respect of any principal of any Loan or any other amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, a rate per annum equal to three and three-quarters percent (3.75%) per annum above the Base Rate as in effect from time to time, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

Prime Rate shall mean the rate of interest from time to time announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime commercial lending rate. Such rate is set by the Administrative Agent as a general reference rate of interest, taking into account such factors as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate, it being understood that many of the Administrative AgentÕs commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, that it is not necessarily the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer and that the Administrative Agent may make various commercial or other loans at rates of interest having no relationship to such rate.

Principal Debt means the sum of Revolver Principal Debt and Term Loan Principal Debt.

Principal Office shall mean the principal office of the Administrative Agent, presently located at 1001 Fannin, Suite 2255, Houston, Texas 77002-6709.

Property shall mean any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, moveable or immoveable, tangible or intangible.

Quarterly Date shall mean the first day of each January, April, July, and October in each year, the first of which shall be July, 2005; provided, however, that if any such day is not a Business Day, such Quarterly Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

Quarterly Reports shall have the meaning assigned to such term under Section 8.01(f).

Register has the meaning set forth in Section 12.06.

Regulation D shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Regulatory Change shall mean, with respect to any Lender, any change after the Closing Date in any Governmental Requirement (including Regulation D) or the adoption or making after such date of any interpretations, directives or requests applying to a class of lenders (including such Lender or its Applicable Lending Office) of or under any Governmental Requirement (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof.

REI shall mean Resource Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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

Required Lenders shall mean Lenders holding (i) at least 66-2/3% of the Total Commitment, if no Default or Event of Default exists, or (ii) at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding Principal Debt, if a Default or Event of Default exists.

Required Payment shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.04.

Required Revolver Lenders shall mean Revolver Lenders holding (i) at least 66-2/3% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments, if no Default or Event of Default exists, or (ii) at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding Revolver Principal Debt, if a Default or Event of Default exists.

Reserve Report shall mean a report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth, as of each January 1, (i) the oil and gas reserves attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties connected to the Pipelines accounting for eighty percent (80%) of the PipelinesÕ throughput, together with a projection of the rate of production and future net income, taxes, operating expenses and capital expenditures with respect thereto as of such date, based upon the pricing assumptions consistent with SEC reporting requirements at the time and (ii) such other information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

Reserve Requirement shall mean, for any Interest Period for any LIBOR Loan, the average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal, supplemental or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained during such Interest Period under Regulation D by member banks of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding one billion Dollars against ÒEurocurrency liabilitiesÓ (as such term is used in Regulation D). Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks by reason of any Regulatory Change against (i) any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which LIBOR is to be determined as provided in the definition of ÒLIBORÓ or (ii) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include a LIBOR Loan.

Responsible Officer shall mean, as to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of such Person and, with respect to financial matters, the term ÒResponsible OfficerÓ shall include the Chief Financial Officer of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references to a Responsible Officer herein shall mean a Responsible Officer of the General Partner.

Revolver Commitment shall mean, for any Revolver Lender, its obligation to make Revolver Loans as provided in Section 2.01(a)(i) and participate in the issuance of Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.01(b) up to such Revolver LenderÕs Maximum Revolver Amount (as the same may be decreased pursuant to Section 2.03(a)).

Revolver Facility means the credit facility as described in and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.01(a)(i) hereof (as the same may be decreased pursuant to Section 2.03(a)).

Revolver Lenders means, collectively, on any date of determination, Lenders having Commitments under the Revolver Facility or that are owed Revolver Principal Debt.

Revolver Loan means any Loan made under the Revolver Facility.

Revolver Note means a promissory note in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1, and all renewals and extensions of all or any part thereof.

Revolver Principal Debt means, on any date of determination, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all Revolver Loans, together with the aggregate unpaid reimbursement obligations of Borrower in respect of drawings under any Letter of Credit.

S&P means Standard & PoorÕs Ratings Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor Governmental Authority.

Security Instruments shall mean the agreements or instruments described or referred to in Exhibit D, and any and all other agreements or instruments now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Obligors or any other Person (other than participation or similar agreements between any Lender and any other lender or creditor with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to this Agreement) in connection with, or as security for the payment or performance of, the Notes, the Guaranty Agreements, the Hedging Agreements constituting Loan Documents, this Agreement, or reimbursement obligations under the Letters of Credit, as such agreements may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Senior Secured Leverage Ratio has the meaning set forth in Section 9.15.

Special Entity shall mean any joint venture, limited liability company or partnership, general or limited partnership or any other type of partnership or company other than a corporation in which the Borrower or one or more of its other Subsidiaries is a member, owner, partner or joint venturer and owns, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the equity of such entity or controls such entity, but excluding any tax partnerships that are not classified as partnerships under state law. For purposes of this definition, any Person which owns directly or indirectly an equity investment in another Person which allows the first Person to manage or elect managers who manage the normal activities of such second Person will be deemed to ÒcontrolÓ such second Person (e.g. a sole general partner controls a limited partnership).

Spectrum Acquisition means the acquisition by APL Operating of the Spectrum Shares pursuant to the Spectrum Securities Purchase Agreement and the other documents delivered in connection therewith.

Spectrum Securities Purchase Agreement means the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of June 10, 2004, between APL Operating, as buyer, and Spectrum Field Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Energy Spectrum Partners II LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Energy Spectrum Partners III LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and each of the ÒManagement SellersÓ defined in and parties to the Spectrum Securities Purchase Agreement, as sellers.

Spectrum Shares means the ÒSharesÓ defined in the Spectrum Securities Purchase Agreement.

Subordinated Debt means any Indebtedness for borrowed money for which an Obligor is directly and primarily obligated, so long as such Debt (i) does not have any stated maturity before the maturity of the Facilities, (ii) has terms that are no more restrictive upon the Obligor than the terms of the Loan Documents, (iii) is subordinated, upon terms satisfactory to Administrative Agent, to the payment and collection of the Indebtedness, and (iv) is unsecured.

Subsidiary shall mean (i) any corporation of which at least a majority of the outstanding shares of stock having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries or by the Borrower and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any Special Entity.

Taxes shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.06(a).

Term Loan means any Loan made under the Term Loan Facility.

Term Loan Commitment means, for any Term Loan Lender, its obligation to make Term Loans as provided in Section 2.01(a)(ii) up to such Term Loan LenderÕs Maximum Term Loan Amount.

Term Loan Facility means the credit facility as described in and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.01(a)(ii) hereof.

Term Loan Lenders means, collectively, on any date of determination, Lenders having Commitments under the Term Loan Facility or that are owed Term Loan Principal Debt.

Term Loan Note means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, and all renewals and extensions of all or any part thereof.

Term Loan Principal Debt means, on any date of determination, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all Loans under the Term Loan Facility.

Termination Date means (i) for purposes of the Revolver Facility, the earlier of (a) April 13, 2010, and (b) the effective date that Revolver LendersÕ Revolver Commitments are otherwise canceled or terminated, and (ii) for purposes of the Term Loan Facility, (a) the earlier of April 13, 2010, and (b) the effective date of any other termination, cancellation or acceleration of the Term Loan Facility.

Total Commitment means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate Revolver Commitments and aggregate Term Loan Commitments in effect for all Lenders in respect of the Revolver Facility and the Term Loan Facility.

Transfer shall mean any sale, assignment, sub-lease, conveyance or other transfer of any Pipeline Property, or any interest in any Pipeline Property of any Obligor, except for (i) the sale of firm transportation space or interruptible transportation space in the Pipelines in the ordinary course of business on a current basis, or (ii) the sale or transfer of equipment in the ordinary course of business that is no longer necessary for the business of any Obligor or is contemporaneously replaced by equipment of at least comparable value and use.

Type shall mean, with respect to any Loan, a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

Unrestricted Entities shall mean Subsidiaries of the Borrower designated as Unrestricted Entities by the Borrower and approved by Required Lenders.

Viking shall mean Viking Resources Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation.

Wachovia means Wachovia Bank, National Association.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary for which all of the outstanding shares of stock or other equity of such entity is owned directly or indirectly by Borrower.

Section 1.03    Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 7.02 (except for changes concurred with by the BorrowerÕs independent public accountants).

ARTICLE II

Commitments

Section 2.01

Loans and Letters of Credit.

(a)

Loans.

(i)     Subject to and in reliance upon the terms, conditions, representations and warranties in the Loan Documents, each Revolver Lender severally agrees to make Revolver Loans to the Borrower during the period from and including (i) the Closing Date or (ii) such later date that such Revolver Lender becomes a party to this Agreement as provided in Section 12.06(b), to and up to, but excluding, the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding up to, but not exceeding, the amount of such Revolver LenderÕs Revolver Commitment as then in effect; provided however, that the aggregate principal amount of all such Revolver Loans by all Revolver Lenders hereunder at any one time outstanding together with the LC Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the period from the Closing Date to and up to, but excluding, the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow the amount described in this Section 2.01(a).

(ii)     Subject to and in reliance upon the terms, conditions, representations and warranties in the Loan Documents, each Term Loan Lender severally, but not jointly, agrees to lend to the Borrower in a single advance on the Closing Date a Term Loan in an amount equal to such LenderÕs Term Loan Commitment. The aggregate principal amount of the the Term Loans of the Lenders shall not exceed Forty-Five Million Dollars ($45,000,000). If all or any portion of the Term Loan Principal Debt is paid or prepaid by the Borrower, then the amount so paid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

(b)  Letters of Credit. During the period from and including the Closing Date to, but excluding, five (5) Business Days prior to the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility, the Issuing Bank, as issuing bank for the Revolver Lenders, agrees to extend credit for the account of any Obligor at any time and from time to time by issuing, renewing, extending or reissuing Letters of Credit; provided however, that the LC Exposure at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the lesser of (i) the LC Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount, as then in effect, minus the aggregate principal amount of all Revolver Loans then outstanding. The Revolver Lenders shall participate in such Letters of Credit according to their respective Percentage Shares of the Revolver Facility. Each of the Letters of Credit shall (i) be issued by the Issuing Bank, (ii) contain such terms and provisions as are reasonably required by the Issuing Bank, (iii) be for the account of such Obligor, and (iv) expire not later than the earlier of (A) twelve months from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit and (B) five (5) Business Days before the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility.

(c)  Limitation on Types of Loans. Subject to the other terms and provisions of this Agreement, at the option of the Borrower, the Loans may be Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans; provided that, without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, no more than seven LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at any time.

(a)  Borrowings. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) advance notice as hereinafter provided of each borrowing hereunder, which shall specify (i) the aggregate amount of such borrowing, (ii) the Type and (iii) the date (which shall be a Business Day) of the Loans, and (iv) (in the case of LIBOR Loans) the duration of the Interest Period therefor.

(b)  Minimum Amounts. If a borrowing consists in whole or in part of LIBOR Loans, such LIBOR Loans shall be in amounts of at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or any whole multiple of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) in excess thereof. If a borrowing consists in whole or in part of Base Rate Loans, such Base Rate Loans shall be in amounts of at least One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) or integral multiples of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in excess thereof.  

(c)  Notices. All borrowings, continuations and conversions shall require advance written notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) in the form of Exhibit B (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed by such a written notice), which in each case shall be irrevocable, from the Borrower to be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time at least one Business Day prior to the date of each Base Rate Loan borrowing and three Business Days prior to the date of each LIBOR Loan borrowing, continuation or conversion. Without in any way limiting the BorrowerÕs obligation to confirm in writing any telephonic notice, the Administrative Agent may act without liability upon the basis of telephonic notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from the Borrower prior to receipt of written confirmation. In each such case, the Borrower hereby waives the right to dispute the Administrative AgentÕs record of the terms of such telephonic notice except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Administrative Agent.

(d)  Continuation Options. Subject to the provisions made in this Section 2.02(d), the Borrower may elect to continue all or any part of any LIBOR Loan beyond the expiration of the then current Interest Period relating thereto by giving advance notice as provided in Section 2.02(c) to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of such election, specifying the amount of such Loan to be continued and the Interest Period therefor. In the absence of such a timely and proper election, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such LIBOR Loan to a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.02(e). All or any part of any LIBOR Loan may be continued as provided herein, provided that (i) any continuation of any such Loan shall be (as to each Loan as continued for an applicable Interest Period) in amounts of at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or any whole multiple of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each LIBOR Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

(e)  Conversion Options. The Borrower may elect to convert all or any part of any LIBOR Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period relating thereto to a Base Rate Loan by giving advance notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of such election. Subject to the provisions made in this Section 2.02(e), the Borrower may elect to convert all or any part of any Base Rate Loan at any time and from time to time to a LIBOR Loan by giving advance notice as provided in Section 2.02(c) to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of such election. All or any part of any outstanding Loan may be converted as provided herein, provided that (i) any conversion of any Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan shall be (as to each such Loan into which there is a conversion for an applicable Interest Period) in amounts of at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or any whole multiple of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) in excess thereof and (ii) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no Base Rate Loan may be converted into a LIBOR Loan.

(f)  Advances. Not later than 12:00 p.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time on the date specified for each the borrowing hereunder, each Lender shall make available the amount of the Loan to be made by it on such date to the Administrative Agent, to an account which the Administrative Agent shall specify, in immediately available funds, for the account of the Borrower. The amounts so received by the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be made available to the Borrower by depositing the same, in immediately available funds, in an account of the Borrower, designated by the Borrower and maintained at the Principal Office, or in such other accounts designated by the Borrower.

(g)  Letters of Credit. The Borrower shall give the Issuing Bank (which shall promptly notify the Lenders of such request and their Percentage Share of such Letter of Credit) advance notice to be received by the Issuing Bank not later than 12:00 p.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time not less than three Business Days prior thereto of each request for the issuance, and at least ten Business Days prior to the date of the renewal or extension, of a Letter of Credit hereunder which request shall specify (i) the amount of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the date (which shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be issued, renewed or extended, (iii) the duration thereof, (iv) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, and (v) such other information as the Issuing Bank may reasonably request, all of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the date specified for the issuance, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall issue, renew or extend such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof.

In conjunction with the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall execute a Letter of Credit Agreement. In the event of any conflict between any provision of a Letter of Credit Agreement and this Agreement, the Borrower, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Revolver Lenders hereby agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.

The Issuing Bank will send to the Borrower and each Revolver Lender, immediately upon issuance of any Letter of Credit, or an amendment thereto, a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit, or such amendment thereto.

(a)  The Borrower shall have the right to terminate or to reduce the amount of the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amounts at any time, or from time to time, upon not less than thirty (30) daysÕ prior notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) of each such termination or reduction, which notice shall specify the effective date thereof and the amount of any such reduction (which shall not be less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) or any whole multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof, and no more than an amount by which the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amounts would be less than the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolver Loans plus the LC Exposure) and shall be irrevocable and effective only upon receipt by the Administrative Agent.

(b)  The Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amounts, once terminated or reduced, may not be reinstated.

(a)  Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolver Lender a commitment fee on the daily average unused amount of the aggregate Revolver Commitments, up to, but excluding, the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility at a rate per annum equal to (i) 0.375% during any period in which the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, or (ii) 0.50% during any period in which the Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.00 to 1.00. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and on the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility. Each change in the commitment fee resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall take effect on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 8.01(j). If the Borrower fails to deliver a compliance certificate when required pursuant to Section 8.01(j), then the commitment fee shall equal 0.50% until such date as the Borrower delivers such compliance certificate to the Administrative Agent.

(b)

Letter of Credit Fees.

(i)     The Borrower agrees to pay the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolver Lender, commissions for issuing the Letters of Credit on the daily average outstanding of the maximum liability of the Issuing Bank existing from time to time under such Letter of Credit (calculated separately for each Letter of Credit) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time for LIBOR Loans, provided, that each Letter of Credit shall bear a minimum commission of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) and further provided, during any period commencing on the date of an Event of Default until the same is paid in full or all Events of Default are cured and waived, equal to the Post-Default Rate. Each Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding up to the full face amount of the Letter of Credit until the Issuing Bank has received the canceled Letter of Credit or a written cancellation of the Letter of Credit from the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit in form and substance acceptable to the Issuing Bank, or for any reductions in the amount of the Letter of Credit (other than from a drawing), written notification from the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit. Such commissions are payable in advance at issuance of the Letter of Credit for the first year thereof and thereafter, quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and upon cancellation or expiration of each such Letter of Credit.

(ii)     The Borrower agrees to pay the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, commissions for issuing the Letters of Credit (calculated separately for each Letter of Credit) equal to 0.125% of the face amount of each Letter of Credit, payable upon issuance of such Letter of Credit.

(iii)    The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, other customery fees assessed by the Issuing Bank in connection with the administration of its Letters of Credit.

(c)  Fee Letters. The Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent and the Co-Lead Arrangers for their respective accounts such other fees as are set forth in the Fee Letters on the dates specified therein to the extent not paid prior to the Closing Date.

Section 2.05   Several Obligations. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan to be made by it or to provide funds for disbursements or reimbursements under Letters of Credit on the date specified therefor shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation to make its Loan or provide funds on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make a Loan to be made by such other Lender or to provide funds to be provided by such other Lender.

Section 2.06    Notes. The Revolver Loans made by each Revolver Lender shall be evidenced by a Revolver Note dated as of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) the effective date of an Assignment and Assumption, payable to the order of such Revolver Lender in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Revolver Amount as originally in effect and otherwise duly completed and such substitute Notes as required by Section 12.06. The Term Loan made by each Term Loan Lender shall be evidenced by a Term Loan Note dated as of (x) the Closing Date or (y) the effective date of an Assignment and Assumption, payable to the order of such Term Loan Lender in a principal amount equal to its Maximum Term Loan Amount as originally in effect and otherwise duly completed and such substitute Term Loan Notes as required by Section 12.06. The date, amount, Type, interest rate and Interest Period of each Loan made by each Lender, and all payments made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by such Lender on its books for its Note, and, prior to any transfer may be endorsed by such Lender on the schedule attached to such Note or any continuation thereof or on any separate record maintained by such Lender. Failure to make any such notation or to attach a schedule shall not affect any LenderÕs or the BorrowerÕs rights or obligations in respect of such Loans or affect the validity of such transfer by any Lender of its Note.

Section 2.07

Prepayments.

(a)  Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower may prepay the Base Rate Loans upon not less than one (1) Business DayÕs prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), which notice shall specify the prepayment date (which shall be a Business Day) and the amount of the prepayment (which shall be at least One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) or the remaining aggregate principal balance outstanding on the Notes) and shall be irrevocable and effective only upon receipt by the Administrative Agent, provided that interest on the principal prepaid, accrued to the prepayment date, shall be paid on the prepayment date. The Borrower may prepay LIBOR Loans on the same conditions as for Base Rate Loans (except that prior notice to the Administrative Agent shall be not less than three (3) Business Days for LIBOR Loans) and in addition such prepayments of LIBOR Loans shall be subject to the terms of Section 5.05 and shall be in an amount equal to all of the LIBOR Loans for the Interest Period prepaid. In the event of a voluntary prepayment of any Revolver Loans pursuant to this Section 2.07(a), Borrower shall be entitled to reborrow such amounts pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i).

(b)

Mandatory Prepayments.

(i)     The Borrower shall prepay the Principal Debt in an amount equal to the portion of Net Cash Proceeds (other than Equity Net Cash Proceeds) in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) on the first Business Day following the receipt thereof.

(ii)     The Borrower shall prepay the Principal Debt in an amount equal to Equity Net Cash Proceeds required to reduce the BorrowerÕs Senior Secured Leverage Ratio to or below 3.50 to 1.00 on the first Business Day following receipt of such Equity Net Cash Proceeds.

(c)  Generally. Prepayments permitted under this Section 2.07 shall be without premium or penalty, except as required under Section 5.05 for prepayment of LIBOR Loans. Any voluntary prepayment of the Principal Debt shall be applied to the Revolver Principal Debt and the Term Loan Principal Debt at the BorrowerÕs discretion; provided, that upon any Default or Event of Default, any such prepayment shall be allocated pro rata to each Revolver Lender and each Term Loan Lender in accordance with its Percentage Share of the Principal Debt. Any mandatory prepayment of the Principal Debt under clause (b) above shall be applied first against the Term Loan Principal Debt, and the balance, if any, shall be applied against the Revolver Principal Debt. With respect to the Revolver Loans, any mandatory prepayments made pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above and any voluntary prepayments may be reborrowed subject to the then effective Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount.

Section 2.08    Assumption of Risks. The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any transferee thereof with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit. Neither the Issuing Bank (except in the case of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank or any of its employees), its correspondents nor any Revolver Lender shall be responsible for the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of certificates or other documents or any endorsements thereon, even if such certificates or other documents should in fact prove to be invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; for errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmissions or delivery of any messages by mail, telex, or otherwise, whether or not they be in code; for errors in translation or for errors in interpretation of technical terms; the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any 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; the failure of any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to draw upon any Letter of Credit; or for any other consequences arising from causes beyond the Issuing BankÕs control or the control of the Issuing BankÕs correspondents. In addition, neither the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent nor any Revolver Lender shall be responsible for any error, neglect, or default of any of the Issuing BankÕs correspondents; and none of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of any of the Issuing BankÕs, the Administrative AgentÕs or any Revolver LenderÕs rights or powers hereunder or under the Letter of Credit Agreements, all of which rights shall be cumulative. The Issuing Bank and its correspondents may accept certificates or other documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation of any matter contained therein regardless of any notice or information to the contrary. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing provisions, the Borrower agrees that any action, inaction or omission taken or not taken by the Issuing Bank or by any correspondent for the Issuing Bank in good faith in connection with any Letter of Credit, or any related drafts, certificates, documents or instruments, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not put the Issuing Bank or its correspondents under any resulting liability to the Borrower.

Section 2.09

Obligation to Reimburse and to Prepay.

(a)  If a disbursement by the Issuing Bank is made under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent within two (2) Business Days after notice of any such disbursement is received by the Borrower, the amount of each such disbursement made by the Issuing Bank under the Letter of Credit (if such payment is not sooner effected as may be required under this Section 2.09 or under other provisions of the Letter of Credit), together with interest on the amount disbursed from and including the date of disbursement until payment in full of such disbursed amount at a varying rate per annum equal to (i) the then applicable interest rate for Base Rate Loans through the second Business Day after notice of such disbursement is received by the Borrower and (ii) thereafter, the Post-Default Rate for Base Rate Loans (but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate) for the period from and including the third Business Day following the date of such disbursement to and including the date of repayment in full of such disbursed amount. The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement with respect to each Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid or performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation, but only to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the following circumstances: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any of the Security Instruments; (ii) any amendment or waiver of (including any default), or any consent to departure from this Agreement (except to the extent permitted by any amendment or waiver), any Letter of Credit or any of the Security Instruments; (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other rights which the Borrower may have at any time against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent, any Revolver Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the Security Instruments, the transactions contemplated hereby or any unrelated transaction; (iv) any statement, certificate, draft, notice or any other document presented under any Letter of Credit proves to have been forged, fraudulent, insufficient or invalid in any respect or any statement therein proves to have been untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; (v) payment by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft certificate which appears on its face to comply, but does not comply, with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and (vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Borrower will not be liable for payment or performance that results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank, except (i) where the Borrower or any Subsidiary actually recovers the proceeds for itself or the Issuing Bank of any payment made by the Issuing Bank in connection with such gross negligence or willful misconduct or (ii) in cases where the Administrative Agent makes payment to the named beneficiary of a Letter of Credit.

(b)  In the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default or the maturity of the Revolver Notes, whether by acceleration or otherwise, an amount equal to the LC Exposure shall be deemed to be forthwith due and owing by the Borrower to the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Revolver Lenders as of the date of any such occurrence; and the BorrowerÕs obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional, without regard to whether any beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit has attempted to draw down all or a portion of such amount under the terms of a Letter of Credit, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be subject to any defense or be affected by a right of set-off, counterclaim or recoupment which the Borrower may now or hereafter have against any such beneficiary, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent, the Revolver Lenders or any other Person for any reason whatsoever. Such payments shall be held by the Issuing Bank on behalf of the Revolver Lenders as cash collateral securing the LC Exposure in an account or accounts at the Principal Office; and the Borrower hereby grants to and by its deposit with the Administrative Agent grants to the Administrative Agent a security interest in such cash collateral. In the event of any such payment by the Borrower of amounts contingently owing under outstanding Letters of Credit and in the event that thereafter drafts or other demands for payment complying with the terms of such Letters of Credit are not made prior to the respective expiration dates thereof, the Administrative Agent agrees, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or if no other amounts are outstanding under this Agreement, the Notes or the Security Instruments, to remit to the Borrower amounts for which the contingent obligations evidenced by the Letters of Credit have ceased.

(c)  Each Revolver Lender severally and unconditionally agrees that it shall promptly reimburse the Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Revolver LenderÕs Percentage Share of any disbursement made by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit that is not reimbursed according to this Section 2.09.

(d)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and subject to Availability under the Revolver Facility, to the extent the Borrower has not reimbursed the Issuing Bank for any drawn upon Letter of Credit within one (1) Business Day after notice of such disbursement has been received by the Borrower, the amount of such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation shall automatically be funded by the Revolver Lenders as a Revolver Loan hereunder and used by the Revolver Lenders to pay such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if the funding of such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation as a Revolver Loan would cause the aggregate amount of all Revolver Loans outstanding to exceed the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount (after reduction for LC Exposure), such Letter of Credit reimbursement obligation shall not be funded as a Revolver Loan, but instead shall accrue interest as provided in Section 2.09(a).

Section 2.10    Lending Offices. The Loans of each Type made by each Lender shall be made and maintained at such LenderÕs Applicable Lending Office for Loans of such Type.

ARTICLE III

Payments of Principal and Interest

Section 3.01

Repayment of Loans.

(a)

Loans.

(i)     The Revolver Principal Debt is due and payable on the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility.

(ii)     The Term Loan Principal Debt is due and payable in quarterly installments in the amounts set forth on Schedule 3.01 hereto (each, an ÒAmortization PaymentÓ), commencing on October 1, 2005, and continuing thereafter on each Quarterly Date, with a final payment due on the Termination Date in respect of the Term Loan Facility in an amount equal to all Term Loan Principal Debt then outstanding; provided, that each prepayment by the Borrower of outstanding Term Loan Principal Debt in accordance with the provisions set forth in Sections 2.07(b)(i) and 2.07(b)(ii) hereof shall ratably reduce the remaining Amortization Payments due under this Agreement by an amount that, in the aggregate, equals the amount of such prepayments.

(b)  Generally. The Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, the principal payments required by this Section 3.01.

Section 3.02

Interest.

(a)  Interest Rates. The Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan made by such Lender for the period commencing on the date such Loan is made to, but excluding, the date such Loan shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

(i)     if such a Loan is a Base Rate Loan, the Base Rate (as in effect from time to time) plus the Applicable Margin, but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate; and

(ii)     if such a Loan is a LIBOR Loan, for each Interest Period relating thereto, the Adjusted LIBOR for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin (as in effect from time to time), but in no event to exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.

(b)  Post-Default Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, interest at the applicable Post-Default Rate on any Loan made by such Lender, and (to the fullest extent permitted by law) on any other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder, under any Loan Document or under any Note held by such Lender to or for account of such Lender, for the period commencing on the date of an Event of Default until the same is paid in full or all Events of Default are cured or waived.

(c)  Due Dates. Accrued interest on Base Rate Loans shall be payable on each Quarterly Date commencing on July 1, 2005, and accrued interest on each LIBOR Loan shall be payable on the last day of the Interest Period therefor and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months, at three-month intervals following the first day of such Interest Period, except that interest payable at the Post-Default Rate shall be payable from time to time on demand and interest on any LIBOR Loan that is converted into a Base Rate Loan (pursuant to Section 5.04) shall be payable on the date of conversion (but only to the extent so converted). Any accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolver Loans on the Termination Date in respect of the Revolver Facility shall be paid on such date and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Term Loans on the Termination Date in respect of the Term Loan Facility shall be paid on such date.

(d)  Determination of Rates. Promptly after the determination of any interest rate provided for herein or any change therein, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders to which such interest is payable and the Borrower thereof. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall, except in cases of manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding on the parties.

ARTICLE IV

Payments; Pro Rata Treatment; Computations; Etc.

Section 4.01    Payments. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, all payments of principal, interest and other amounts to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement, the Notes, Letters of Credit, and the Letter of Credit Agreements shall be made in Dollars, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent at such account as the Administrative Agent shall specify by notice to the Borrower from time to time, not later than 12:00 p.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time on the date on which such payments shall become due (each such payment made after such time on such due date to be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day). Such payments shall be made without (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) defense, set-off or counterclaim. Each payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any Note for account of a Lender shall be paid promptly to such Lender in immediately available funds. Except as otherwise provided in the definition of ÒInterest PeriodÓ, if the due date of any payment under this Agreement or any Note would otherwise fall on a day which is not a Business Day such date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and interest shall be payable for any principal so extended for the period of such extension. At the time of each payment to the Administrative Agent of any principal of or interest on any borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of the Loans to which such payment shall apply. In the absence of such notice the Administrative Agent may specify the Loans to which such payment shall apply, but to the extent possible such payment or prepayment will be applied first to the Loans comprised of Base Rate Loans.

Section 4.02    Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, each Lender agrees that: (i) each borrowing from the Lenders under Section 2.01 and each continuation and conversion under Section 2.02 shall be made from the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Share of the aggregate Revolver Commitments or aggregate Term Loan Commitments, as the case may be, each payment of fees under Sections 2.04(a)and2.04(b)(i), shall be made for account of the Revolver Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Percentage Share of the aggregate Revolver Commitments, and each termination or reduction of the amount of the Aggregate Maximum Revolver Amount under Section 2.03(a) shall be applied to the Revolver Commitment of each Revolver Lender, pro rata according to the amounts of its respective Revolver Commitment; (ii) each payment of principal of Revolver Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Revolver Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amount of the Revolver Loans held by the Revolver Lenders; (iii) each payment of interest on Revolver Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Revolver Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest due and payable to the respective Revolver Lenders; (iv) each payment of principal of Term Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Term Loan Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans held by the Term Loan Lenders; (v) each payment of interest on Term Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Term Loan Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest due and payable to the respective Term Loan Lenders; and (vi) each reimbursement by the Borrower of disbursements under Letters of Credit shall be made for account of the Issuing Bank or, if funded by the Revolver Lenders, pro rata for the account of the Revolver Lenders in accordance with the amounts of reimbursement obligations due and payable to each respective Revolver Lender.

Section 4.03    Computations. Interest on LIBOR Loans and fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable, unless such calculation would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, in which case interest shall be calculated on the per annum basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be. Interest on Base Rate Loans shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable.

Section 4.04    Non-receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Lender or the Borrower prior to the date on which such notifying party is scheduled to make payment to the Administrative Agent (in the case of a Lender) of the proceeds of a Loan or a payment under a Letter of Credit to be made by it hereunder or (in the case of the Borrower) a payment to the Administrative Agent for account of one or more of the Lenders hereunder (such payment being herein called the ÒRequired PaymentÓ), which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that it does not intend to make the Required Payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Required Payment has been made and may, in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be required to), make the amount thereof available to the intended recipient(s) on such date and, if such Lender or the Borrower (as the case may be) has not in fact made the Required Payment to the Administrative Agent, the recipient(s) of such payment shall, on demand, repay to the Administrative Agent the amount so made available together with interest thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by the Administrative Agent until, but excluding, the date the Administrative Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum which, for any Lender as recipient, will be equal to the Federal Funds Rate, and for the Borrower as recipient, will be equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

Section 4.05

Set-off, Sharing of Payments, Etc.

(a)  The Borrower agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of set-off, bankersÕ lien or counterclaim a Lender may otherwise have, each Lender shall have the right and be entitled (after consultation with the Administrative Agent), at its option, to offset balances held by it or by any of its Affiliates for account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at any of its offices, in Dollars or in any other currency, against any principal of or interest on any of such LenderÕs Loans, or any other amount payable to such Lender hereunder, which is not paid when due (regardless of whether such balances are then due to the Borrower), in which case it shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof, provided that such LenderÕs failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

(b)  If any Lender shall obtain payment of any principal of or interest on any Loan made by it to the Borrower under this Agreement (or reimbursement as to any Letter of Credit) through the exercise of any right of set-off, bankerÕs lien or counterclaim or similar right or otherwise, and, as a result of such payment, such Lender shall have received a greater percentage of the principal or interest (or reimbursement) then due hereunder by the Borrower to such Lender than the percentage received by any other Lenders, it shall promptly (i) notify the Administrative Agent and each other Lender thereof and (ii) purchase from such other Lenders participations in (or, if and to the extent specified by such Lender, direct interests in) the Loans (or participations in Letters of Credit) made by such other Lenders (or in interest due thereon, as the case may be) in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time as shall be equitable, to the end that all the Lenders shall share the benefit of such excess payment (net of any expenses which may be incurred by such Lender in obtaining or preserving such excess payment) pro rata in accordance with the unpaid principal and/or interest on the Loans held by each of the Lenders (or reimbursements of Letters of Credit). To such end all the Lenders shall make appropriate adjustments among themselves (by the resale of participations sold or otherwise) if such payment is rescinded or must otherwise be restored. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation (or direct interest) in the Loans made by other Lenders (or in interest due thereon, as the case may be) may exercise all rights of set-off, bankerÕs lien, counterclaim or similar rights with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct holder of Loans (or Letters of Credit) in the amount of such participation. Nothing contained herein shall require any Lender to exercise any such right or shall affect the right of any Lender to exercise, and retain the benefits of exercising, any such right with respect to any other indebtedness or obligation of the Borrower. If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a set-off to which this Section 4.05 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders entitled under this Section 4.05 to share the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

Section 4.06

Taxes.

(a)  Payments Free and Clear.  Any and all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 4.01, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise or similar taxes imposed on it, by (i) any jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) of which the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender, as the case may be, is a citizen or resident or in which such Lender has an Applicable Lending Office, (ii) the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) in which the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender is organized, or (iii) any jurisdiction (or political subdivision thereof) in which such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent is presently doing business which taxes are imposed solely as a result of doing business in such jurisdiction (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as ÒTaxesÓ). If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (i) the sum payable shall be increased by the amount necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 4.06) such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b)  Other Taxes.  In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, any Assignment and Assumption or any Security Instrument (hereinafter referred to as ÒOther TaxesÓ).

(c)  Indemnification.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower will indemnify each Lender, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including, but not limited to, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority on amounts payable under this Section 4.06) paid by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (on their behalf or on behalf of any Lender), as the case may be, and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted unless the payment of such Taxes was not correctly or legally asserted and such LenderÕs payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes was the result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Any payment pursuant to such indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days after the date any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, makes written demand therefor. If any Lender, Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent receives a refund or credit in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes for which such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent has received payment from the Borrower, it shall promptly notify the Borrower of such refund or credit and shall, if no Default has occurred and is continuing, within thirty (30) days after receipt of a request by the Borrower (or promptly upon receipt, if the Borrower has requested application for such refund or credit pursuant hereto), pay an amount equal to such refund or credit to the Borrower without interest (but with any interest so refunded or credited), provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, agrees to return such refund or credit (plus penalties, interest or other charges) to such Lender or the Administrative Agent in the event such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund or credit.

(d)

Lender Representations.

(i)     Each Lender represents that it is either (1) a banking association or corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or (2) it is entitled to complete exemption from United States withholding tax imposed on or with respect to any payments, including fees, to be made to it pursuant to this Agreement (A) under an applicable provision of a tax convention to which the United States of America is a party or (B) because it is acting through a branch, agency or office in the United States of America and any payment to be received by it hereunder is effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States of America. Each Lender that is not a banking association or corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof agrees to provide to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date, or on the date of its delivery of the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it becomes a Lender, and at such other times as required by United States law or as the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, two accurate and complete original signed copies of either (1) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or successor form) certifying that all payments to be made to it hereunder will be effectively connected to a United States trade or business (the ÒForm W-8ECI CertificationÓ) or (2) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or successor form) certifying that it is entitled to the benefit of a provision of a tax convention to which the United States of America is a party which completely exempts from United States withholding tax all payments to be made to it hereunder (the ÒForm W-8BEN CertificationÓ). In addition, each Lender agrees that if it previously filed a Form W-8ECI Certification, it will deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a new Form W-8ECI Certification prior to the first payment date occurring in each of its subsequent taxable years; and if it previously filed a Form W-8BEN Certification, it will deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a new certification prior to the first payment date falling in the third year following the previous filing of such certification. Each Lender also agrees to deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent such other or supplemental forms as may at any time be required as a result of changes in applicable law or regulation in order to confirm or maintain in effect its entitlement to exemption from United States withholding tax on any payments hereunder, provided that the circumstances of such Lender at the relevant time and applicable laws permit it to do so. If a Lender determines, as a result of any change in either (i) a Governmental Requirement or (ii) its circumstances, that it is unable to submit any form or certificate that it is obligated to submit pursuant to this Section 4.06, or that it is required to withdraw or cancel any such form or certificate previously submitted, it shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such fact. If a Lender is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States of America, unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent have received a Form W-8BEN Certification or Form W-8ECI Certification satisfactory to them indicating that all payments to be made to such Lender hereunder are not subject to United States withholding tax, the Borrower shall withhold taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate. Each Lender agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Borrower or Administrative Agent, as applicable, from any United States taxes, penalties, interest and other expenses, costs and losses incurred or payable by (i) the Administrative Agent as a result of such LenderÕs failure to submit any form or certificate that it is required to provide pursuant to this Section 4.06 or (ii) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as a result of their reliance on any such form or certificate which such Lender has provided to them pursuant to this Section 4.06.

(ii)     For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with the form required pursuant to this Section 4.06, if any (other than if such failure is due to a change in a Governmental Requirement occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.06 with respect to taxes imposed by the United States which taxes would not have been imposed but for such failure to provide such forms; provided, however, that if a Lender, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, becomes subject to taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such taxes.

(iii)     Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 4.06 shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to file any certificate or document requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent or to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office or to contest any tax imposed if the making of such a filing or change or contesting such tax would avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

ARTICLE V

Capital Adequacy

Section 5.01

Additional Costs.

(a)  LIBOR Regulations, etc.  The Borrower shall pay directly to each Lender from time to time such amounts as such Lender may determine to be necessary to compensate such Lender for any costs which it determines are attributable to its making or maintaining of any LIBOR Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit hereunder or its obligation to make any LIBOR Loans or issue or participate in any Letters of Credit hereunder, or any reduction in any amount receivable by such Lender hereunder in respect of any of such LIBOR Loans, Letters of Credit (such increases in costs and reductions in amounts receivable being herein called ÒAdditional CostsÓ), resulting from any Regulatory Change which: (i) changes the basis of taxation of any amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement or any Note in respect of any of such LIBOR Loans or Letters of Credit (other than taxes imposed on the overall net income of such Lender or of its Applicable Lending Office for any of such LIBOR Loans by the jurisdiction in which such Lender has its principal office or Applicable Lending Office); or (ii) imposes or modifies any reserve, special deposit, minimum capital, capital ratio or similar requirements relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities of such Lender, or the Commitment or Loans of such Lender or the London interbank market; or (iii) imposes any other condition affecting this Agreement or any Note (or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities) or such LenderÕs Commitment or Loans. Each Lender will notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of any event occurring after the Closing Date which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(a) as promptly as practicable after it obtains knowledge thereof and determines to request such compensation, and will designate a different Applicable Lending Office for the Loans of such Lender affected by such event if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the sole opinion of such Lender, be disadvantageous to such Lender, provided that such Lender shall have no obligation to so designate an Applicable Lending Office located in the United States. If any Lender requests compensation from the Borrower under this Section 5.01(a), the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender, suspend the obligation of such Lender to make additional Loans of the Type with respect to which such compensation is requested until the Regulatory Change giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

(b)  Regulatory Change.     Without limiting the effect of the provisions of Section 5.01(a), in the event that at any time (by reason of any Regulatory Change or any other circumstances arising after the Closing Date affecting (i) any Lender, (ii) the London interbank market or (iii) such LenderÕs position in such market), the Adjusted LIBOR, as determined in good faith by such Lender, will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender of funding its LIBOR Loans, then, if such Lender so elects, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the obligation of such Lender to make additional LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such Regulatory Change or other circumstances ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

(c)  Capital Adequacy.   Without limiting the effect of the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.01 (but without duplication), the Borrower shall pay directly to any Lender from time to time on request such amounts as such Lender may reasonably determine to be necessary to compensate such Lender or its parent or holding company for any costs which it determines are attributable to the maintenance by such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office), pursuant to any Governmental Requirement following any Regulatory Change, of capital in respect of its Commitment, its Note, or its Loans or any interest held by it in any Letter of Credit, such compensation to include, without limitation, an amount equal to any reduction of the rate of return on assets or equity of such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office) to a level below that which such Lender or its parent or holding company (or any Applicable Lending Office) could have achieved but for such Governmental Requirement. Such Lender will notify the Borrower that it is entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section 5.01(c) as promptly as practicable after it determines to request such compensation.

(d)  Compensation Procedure.   Any Lender notifying the Borrower of the incurrence of Additional Costs under this Section 5.01 shall in such notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent set forth in reasonable detail the basis and amount of its request for compensation. Determinations and allocations by each Lender for purposes of this Section 5.01 of the effect of any Regulatory Change pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), or of the effect of capital maintained pursuant to Section 5.01(c), on its costs or rate of return of maintaining Loans or its obligation to make Loans or issue Letters of Credit, or on amounts receivable by it in respect of Loans or Letters of Credit, and of the amounts required to compensate such Lender under this Section 5.01, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, provided that such determinations and allocations are made on a reasonable basis. Any request for additional compensation under this Section 5.01 shall be paid by the Borrower within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Borrower of the notice described in this Section 5.01(d).

 

Section 5.02    Limitation on LIBOR Loans. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, on or prior to the determination of any Adjusted LIBOR for any Interest Period:

(a)  the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that quotations of interest rates for the relevant deposits referred to in the definition of ÒAdjusted LIBORÓ in Section 1.02 are not being provided in the relevant amounts or for the relevant maturities for purposes of determining rates of interest for LIBOR Loans as provided herein; or

(b)  the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that the relevant rates of interest referred to in the definition of ÒAdjusted LIBORÓ in Section 1.02 upon the basis of which the rate of interest for LIBOR Loans for such Interest Period is to be determined are not sufficient to adequately cover the cost to the Lenders of making or maintaining LIBOR Loans; then the Administrative Agent shall give the Borrower prompt notice thereof, and so long as such condition remains in effect, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to make additional LIBOR Loans.

Section 5.03    Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to honor its obligation to make or maintain LIBOR Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and such LenderÕs obligation to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such time as such Lender may again make and maintain LIBOR Loans (in which case the provisions of Section 5.04 shall be applicable).

Section 5.04    Base Rate Loans Pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 and 5.03. If the obligation of any Lender to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Sections 5.01, 5.02 or 5.03 (ÒAffected LoansÓ), all Affected Loans which would otherwise be made by such Lender shall be made instead as Base Rate Loans (and, if an event referred to in Section 5.01(b) or Section 5.03 has occurred and such Lender so requests by notice to the Borrower, all Affected Loans of such Lender then outstanding shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the date specified by such Lender in such notice) and, to the extent that Affected Loans are so made as (or converted into) Base Rate Loans, all payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to such LenderÕs Affected Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans.

Section 5.05    Compensation. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender within thirty (30) days of receipt of written request of such Lender (which request shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for requesting such amounts and which shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes provided that such determinations are made on a reasonable basis), such amount or amounts as shall compensate it for any loss, cost, expense or liability which such Lender determines are attributable to:

(a)  any payment, prepayment or conversion of a LIBOR Loan properly made by such Lender or the Borrower for any reason (including, without limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.02) on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or

(b)  any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including but not limited to, the failure of any of the conditions precedent specified in Article VI to be satisfied) to borrow, continue or convert a LIBOR Loan from such Lender on the date for such borrowing, continuation or conversion specified in the relevant notice given pursuant to Section 2.02(c).

Without limiting the effect of the preceding sentence, such compensation shall include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount so paid, prepaid or converted or not borrowed for the period from the date of such payment, prepayment or conversion or failure to borrow to the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, the Interest Period for such Loan which would have commenced on the date specified for such borrowing) at the applicable rate of interest for such Loan provided for herein over (ii) the interest component of the amount such Lender would have bid in the London interbank market for Dollar deposits of leading banks in amounts comparable to such principal amount and with maturities comparable to such period (as reasonably determined by such Lender).

ARTICLE VI

Conditions Precedent

Section 6.01    Initial Funding. The obligation of the Lenders to make the Initial Funding is subject to the receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of all fees then due and payable pursuant to Section 2.04 on or before the Closing Date and the receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following documents and satisfaction of the other conditions provided in this Section 6.01, each of which shall be satisfactory to the Co-Lead Arrangers in form and substance (other than each item, if any, listed on Schedule 6.01, which items are hereby permitted to be delivered after the Closing Date but not later than the date for delivery of each such item specified on Schedule 6.01, or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree):

(a)  A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the General Partner setting forth (i) resolutions of its board of managers with respect to the authorization of the General Partner to execute and deliver on behalf of itself and each Obligor the Loan Documents to which each is a party and to enter into the transactions contemplated in those documents, (ii) the officers of the General Partner who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which each Obligor is a party and who will, until replaced by another officer or officers duly authorized for that purpose, act as its representative for the purposes of signing documents and giving notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) specimen signatures of such authorized officers, and (iv) the agreement of limited partnership for Borrower, APL Operating and Elk City, as amended, certified as being true and complete and (v) the articles of organization of the General Partner, APL New York, APL Ohio, APL Pennsylvania, APL Mid-Continent and Elk City GP, as amended, certified as being true and complete. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on such certificate until the Administrative Agent receives notice in writing from the Borrower to the contrary.

(b)  Certificates of the appropriate state agencies with respect to the existence, qualification and good standing of the Obligors.

(c)  The Notes, duly completed and executed for each Lender.

(d)  The Security Instruments, duly completed and executed in sufficient number of counterparts for recording, if necessary, including delivery of any requisite mortgage tax affidavit and payment for applicable mortgage tax, if any due; all original certificates of partnership units or membersÕ equity, blank stock powers, and Intercompany Notes duly endorsed as required under such Security Instruments.

(e)  Receipt of statement of Obligors setting forth pro forma Consolidated EBITDA of at least Forty-Six Million Dollars ($46,000,000), in a form substantially similar to Schedule 6.01(e).

(f)  An opinion of counsel to the Obligors (including local counsel) acceptable to the Co-Lead Arrangers, with respect to the existence of the Obligors, due authorization and execution of the Loan Documents and the Elk City Acquisition Documents, enforceability of the Loan Documents and the Elk City Acquisition Documents, including without limitation the Security Instruments, under the laws of the states wherein the Pipeline Properties are located, and other matters incident to the transactions herein contemplated as the Co-Lead Arrangers may reasonably request, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Co-Lead Arrangers.

(g)  A certificate of insurance coverage of the Obligors evidencing that the Obligors are carrying insurance in accordance with Section 7.20 and Section 8.03(b).

(h)  Title information as the Co-Lead Arrangers may require setting forth the status of title to the Properties (including, without limitation, the Pipeline Properties (including title to the Pipelines acquired in connection with the Elk City Acquisition, which shall not reflect more than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) in ÒTitle DefectsÓ (as defined in the Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement) as identified by Borrower, for which Borrower shall receive a reduction in the purchase price or a direct payment from or cure of such Title Defects by the Elk City Seller (in excess of a Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollar ($250,000) threshold amount under the Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement))) acceptable to the Co-Lead Arrangers, including delivery of mortgageeÕs policies of title insurance for such Properties as the Co-Lead Arrangers shall request, to the extent any Obligor obtains an ownerÕs title policy thereon.

(i)  Appropriate UCC search certificates and other evidence satisfactory to the Co-Lead Arrangers with respect to the ObligorsÕ Properties reflecting no prior Liens, other than Excepted Liens.

(j)  Environmental assessments and other reports to the extent maintained by the Obligors covering the ObligorsÕ Properties reporting on the current environmental condition of such Properties satisfactory to the Co-Lead Arrangers and the Lenders.

(k)  A certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that (i) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the Initial Funding, and (ii) since December 31, 2004, there has occurred no Material Adverse Change.

(l)  Satisfactory review by Co-Lead Arrangers of all Material Agreements.

(m)  The Consent to Assignment duly completed and executed.

(n)  All authorizations, approvals or consents as may be necessary for the execution, delivery and performance by any Obligor under this Agreement.

(o)  From any Obligor (other than Borrower) (i) that has not previously executed a Guaranty Agreement, a Guaranty Agreement executed by such Obligor, or (ii) that executed a Guaranty Agreement under the Existing Credit Agreement, a Confirmation of Guaranty Agreement executed by such Obligor.

(p)  A letter from CT Corporation System, Inc., or other agent acceptable to the Administrative Agent, accepting service of process in the State of New York on behalf of the Obligors not otherwise qualified to transact business in New York.

(q)  A certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that (i) Borrower has received all governmental, shareholder, partnership and third party consents and approvals necessary to consummate the Elk City Acquisition, which consents and approvals are in full force and effect, (ii) all waiting periods have expired without any action being taken by any Governmental Authority that could restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse condition on the Elk City Acquisition or that could seek to threaten the consummation of the Elk City Acquisition, and no law or regulation is applicable that could have such effect, (iii) no order, decree, judgment, ruling or injunction exists which restrains the consummation of the Elk City Acquisition or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (iv) no pending or threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding exists which seeks to restrain or affect the Elk City Acquisition, or which, if adversely determined, could materially and adversely affect the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, the Elk City Partnership Interests, any transaction contemplated hereby or the ability of Borrower to consummate the Elk City Acquisition or perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or the ability of the Lenders to exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder.

(r)  A certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that Borrower is, concurrently with the funding of the initial Loans on the Closing Date, consummating the Elk City Acquisition in accordance with the terms of the Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement, with all material conditions precedent thereto having been satisfied in all material respects by the parties thereto.

(s)  Copies of the fully executed Elk City Purchase and Sale Agreement and all other material Elk City Acquisition Documents, certified as true and correct by a Responsible Officer.

(t)  Such other documents as the Co-Lead Arrangers, any Lender or counsel to the Co-Lead Arrangers may reasonably request.

(u)  Review satisfactory to the Co-Lead Arrangers of a Reserve Report covering gas available for the Elk City gathering system.

Section 6.02    Initial and Subsequent Loans and Letters of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to make Loans to the Borrower upon the occasion of each borrowing hereunder and to issue, renew, extend or reissue Letters of Credit (including the Initial Funding) is subject to the further conditions precedent that, as of the date of such Loans and after giving effect thereto:

(a)  no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(b)  no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred; and

(c)  the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Article VII and in the Security Instruments shall be true on and as of the date of the making of such Loans or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date and following such new borrowing, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date.

Each request for a borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a certification by the Borrower to the effect set forth in Section 6.02(c) (both as of the date of such notice and, unless the Borrower otherwise notifies the Administrative Agent prior to the date of and immediately following such borrowing or issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit as of the date thereof).

Section 6.03    Conditions Precedent for the Benefit of Lender. All conditions precedent to the obligations of the Lenders to make any Loan are imposed hereby solely for the benefit of the Lenders, and no other Person may require satisfaction of any such condition precedent or be entitled to assume that the Lenders will refuse to make any Loan in the absence of strict compliance with such conditions precedent.

Section 6.04    No Waiver. No waiver of any condition precedent shall preclude the Administrative Agent or the Lenders from requiring such condition to be met prior to making any subsequent Loan or preclude the Lenders from thereafter declaring that the failure of the Borrower to satisfy such condition precedent constitutes a Default.

ARTICLE VII

Representations and Warranties

Each of the Obligors represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that (each representation and warranty herein is given as of the Closing Date and shall be deemed repeated and reaffirmed on the dates of each borrowing and issuance, renewal, extension or reissuance of a Letter of Credit as provided in Section 6.02):

Section 7.01    Corporate Existence. Each of the Obligors: (i) is a limited liability company or limited partnership duly organized, formed, legally existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable; (ii) has all requisite organizational power, and has all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals necessary to own its assets and carry on its business as now being or as proposed to be conducted; and (iii) is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary and where failure so to qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.02

Financial Condition.

(a)    The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2004, the related consolidated statement of income, partnersÕ equity and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended on said date, heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders, are complete and correct and fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at said date and the results of its operations for the fiscal year on said date, all in accordance with GAAP, as applied on a consistent basis. Except as reflected or referred to in such Financial Statements, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has on the Closing Date any material Debt, contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments. Since the date of the Financial Statements, neither the business nor the Properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have been materially and adversely affected.

(b)    The financial information for Elk City for the year ended December 31, 2004, heretofore furnished to each of the Lenders, is complete and correct and fairly presents the financial condition of Elk City as at said date. Except as reflected or referred to in such financial information, Elk City has on the Closing Date no material Debt, contingent liabilities, liabilities for taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments. Since the date of the financial information for Elk City, neither the business nor the Properties of Elk City have been materially and adversely affected.

Section 7.03    Litigation. Except as disclosed to the Lenders in Schedule 7.03 hereto, there is no litigation, legal, administrative or arbitral proceeding, investigation or other action of any nature pending or, to the knowledge of the Obligors, threatened against or affecting the Obligors or any Subsidiary which involves the possibility of any judgment or liability against any Obligor or any Subsidiary not fully covered by insurance (except for normal deductibles), and which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.04    No Breach. Neither the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof, will conflict with or result in a breach of, or require any consent which has not been obtained as of the Closing Date under, the respective charter, limited partnership agreement, articles of organization or by-laws of the Obligors or any Subsidiary, or any Governmental Requirement, or any agreement or instrument to which any Obligor or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound or to which it or its Properties are subject, or constitute a default under any such agreement or instrument, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the revenues or assets of the Obligor or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any such agreement or instrument, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents.

Section 7.05    Authority. Each Obligor and each Subsidiary thereof has all necessary organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party; and the execution, delivery and performance by each Obligor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action on its part; and the Loan Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of each Obligor, enforceable in accordance with their terms.

Section 7.06    Approvals. No authorizations, approvals or consents of, and no filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person are necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by any Obligor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or for the validity or enforceability thereof, except for the recording and filing of the Security Instruments as required by this Agreement.

Section 7.07    Use of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used (i) to refinance the Existing Debt and amounts required to be paid under Section 3.01(a)(ii), (ii) to finance the costs and expenses associated with the Elk City Acquisition, (iii) for the development of the ObligorsÕ Pipeline Properties and the acquisition of Pipeline Properties and related assets by the Obligors, (iv) for ObligorsÕ working capital, (v) for Letters of Credit to support the obligations of the Obligors, and (vi) for general company purposes. Neither the Borrower nor any other Obligor is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and no part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used to buy or carry any margin stock.

Section 7.08

ERISA.

(a)  Each Obligor, each Subsidiary and each ERISA Affiliate have complied in all material respects with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code regarding each Plan.

(b)  Each Plan is, and has been, maintained in substantial compliance with ERISA and, where applicable, the Code.

(c)  No act, omission or transaction has occurred which could result in imposition on any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (whether directly or indirectly) of (i) either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to section 502(c), (i) or (1) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code or (ii) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under section 409 of ERISA.

(d)  No contingent obligations remain due to the termination of any Plan (other than a defined contribution plan) or any trust created under any such Plan since September 2, 1974. The only Plan that has been terminated was for The Atlas Group, Inc. No liability to the PBGC (other than for the payment of current premiums which are not past due) by any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has been or is expected by any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to be incurred with respect to any Plan. No ERISA Event with respect to any Plan has occurred.

(e)  Full payment when due has been made of all amounts which any Obligor, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required under the terms of each Plan or applicable law to have paid as contributions to such Plan, and no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of ERISA and section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect to any Plan.

(f)  The actuarial present value of the benefit liabilities under each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA does not, as of the end of each ObligorÕs most recently ended fiscal year, exceed the current value of the assets (computed on a plan termination basis in accordance with Title IV of ERISA) of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term Òactuarial present value of the benefit liabilitiesÓ shall have the meaning specified in section 4041 of ERISA.

(g)  None of the Obligors, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, or contributes to an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(l) of ERISA, including, without limitation, any such plan maintained to provide benefits to former employees of such entities, that may not be terminated by an Obligor, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in its sole discretion at any time without any material liability.

(h)  None of the Obligors, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains or contributes to, or has at any time in the preceding six calendar years, sponsored, maintained or contributed to, any Multiemployer Plan.

(i)  None of the Obligors, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security under section 401 (a)(29) of the Code due to a Plan amendment that results in an increase in current liability for the Plan.

Section 7.09    Taxes.   Except as set forth on Schedule 7.09, each Obligor and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal income tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed by them, or otherwise obtained appropriate extensions to file, and have paid all material taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by any Obligor or any Subsidiary, except such taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Obligor or Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of each Obligor and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes and other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Borrower, adequate. No tax lien has been filed and, to the knowledge of the Obligors, no claim is being asserted with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge.

Section 7.10

Titles, etc. Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 7.10:

(a)  Each of the Obligors and its Subsidiaries has good, sufficient and clear title to its Pipeline Properties, free and clear of all adverse possession or abandonment claims and Liens, except Excepted Liens.

(b)  The ÒMortgaged PropertyÓ descriptions under the Mortgages describe substantially all of the Pipeline Properties presently owned by Obligors.

(c)  All leases, rights of way, permits, licenses and agreements necessary for the conduct of the business of each Obligor are valid and subsisting, in full force and effect and there exists no default or event or circumstance which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would give rise to a default under any such lease rights of way, permits, licenses, which would affect in any material respect the conduct of the business of any Obligor.

(d)  The rights, Properties and other assets presently owned, leased or licensed by each Obligor, including, without limitation, all easements and rights of way, include all rights, Properties and other assets necessary to permit each Obligor to conduct its business in all material respects in the same manner as its business has been conducted prior to the Closing Date.

(e)  All of the assets and Properties of each Obligor which are reasonably necessary for the operation of its business are in good working condition and are maintained in accordance with prudent business standards.

Section 7.11    No Material Misstatements. To the BorrowerÕs knowledge, no written information, statement, exhibit, certificate, document or report furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (or any of them) by any Obligor in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement contains any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statement contained therein not materially misleading in the light of the circumstances in which made. There is no fact peculiar to any Obligor which has a Material Adverse Effect or in the future is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and which has not been set forth in this Agreement or the other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Obligors prior to, or on, the Closing Date in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 7.12    Investment Company Act. None of the Obligors is an Òinvestment companyÓ or a company ÒcontrolledÓ by an Òinvestment company,Ó within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 7.13    Public Utility Holding Company Act. None of the Obligors is a Òholding company,Ó or a Òsubsidiary companyÓ of a Òholding company,Ó or an ÒaffiliateÓ of a Òholding companyÓ or of a Òsubsidiary companyÓ of a Òholding company,Ó or a Òpublic utilityÓ within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

Section 7.14    Operation of the Pipelines. The statements relating to the transportation of gas through the Pipelines for the period from September 30, 2004, through December 31, 2004, furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, are accurate; since December 31, 2004, there has been no damage, destruction or loss to the Pipelines; the Pipelines are currently in operation and the monthly transportation of Hydrocarbons through the Pipelines has not materially diminished.

Section 7.15

Capitalization of General Partner and Subsidiaries.

(a)  The issued and outstanding securities of the Borrower consist of seven million, two hundred four thousand, six hundred eighty-five (7,204,790) common units of limited partnership interest, all of which have been validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

(b)  To the BorrowerÕs knowledge, all issued and outstanding membership units of the General Partner have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by and issued to the Persons shown on Schedule 7.15 attached hereto.

(c)  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower owns directly or indirectly any capital stock, membership interest or partnership interest of any other Person, other than BorrowerÕs ownership of the Subsidiaries described on Schedule 7.15. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title to all securities of the Subsidiaries issued to it, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and all such securities have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The authorized securities and ownership of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower is as shown on Schedule 7.15 attached hereto and made a part hereof. There are no Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than as disclosed on Schedule 7.15.

Section 7.16   Location of Business and Offices. Each ObligorÕs principal place of business and chief executive offices are located at the address stated on the signature page of this Agreement.

Section 7.17    Defaults under Material Agreements. None of the Obligors is in default nor has any event or circumstance occurred which, but for the expiration of any applicable grace period or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default under any Material Agreement to which any Obligor or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any Obligor or any Subsidiary is bound. No Default hereunder has occurred and is continuing.

Section 7.18    Environmental Matters. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect (or with respect to clauses (c), (d) and (e) below, where the failure to take such actions would not have a Material Adverse Effect):

(a)  Neither any Property of any Obligor nor the operations conducted thereon violate any order or requirement of any court or Governmental Authority or any Environmental Laws;

(b)  Without limitation of clause (a) above, no Property of any Obligor nor the operations currently conducted thereon or, to the best knowledge of the Obligors, by any prior owner or operator of such Property or operation, are in violation of or subject to any existing, pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or to any remedial obligations under Environmental Laws;

(c)  All notices, permits, licenses or similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed in connection with the operation or use of any and all Property of the Obligors, including without limitation past or present treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous substance or solid waste into the environment, have been duly obtained or filed, and the Obligors are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar authorizations;

(d)  All hazardous substances, solid waste, and oil and gas exploration and production wastes, if any, generated at any and all Property of any Obligor have in the past been transported, treated and disposed of in accordance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and, to the best knowledge of the Obligors, all such transport carriers and treatment and disposal facilities have been and are operating in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment, and are not the subject of any existing, pending or threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Environmental Laws;

(e)  The Obligors have taken all steps reasonably necessary to determine and have determined that no hazardous substances, solid waste, or oil and gas exploration and production wastes, have been disposed of or otherwise released and there has been no threatened release of any hazardous substances on or to any Property of any Obligor except in compliance with Environmental Laws and so as not to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment;

(f)  To the extent applicable, all Property of the Obligors currently satisfies all design, operation, and equipment requirements imposed by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (ÒOPAÓ) or scheduled as of the Closing Date to be imposed by OPA during the term of this Agreement, and the Obligors do not have any reason to believe that such Property, to the extent subject to OPA, will not be able to maintain compliance with the OPA requirements during the term of this Agreement; and

(g)  None of the Obligors has any known contingent liability in connection with any release or threatened release of any oil, hazardous substance or solid waste into the environment.

Section 7.19    Compliance with Laws. None of the Obligors has violated any Governmental Requirement or failed to obtain any license, permit, franchise or other governmental authorization necessary for the ownership of any of its Properties or the conduct of its business, which violation or failure would have (in the event such violation or failure were asserted by any Person through appropriate action) a Material Adverse Effect. Except for such acts or failures to act as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Pipeline Properties of the Obligors and their Subsidiaries (and properties unitized therewith) have been maintained, operated and developed in a good and workmanlike manner and in conformity with all applicable laws and all rules, regulations and orders of all duly constituted authorities having jurisdiction and in conformity with the provisions of all leases, subleases or other contracts comprising a part of and forming a part of the Pipeline Properties.

Section 7.20    Insurance. Schedule 7.20 attached hereto contains an accurate and complete description of all material policies of fire, liability, workersÕ compensation and other forms of insurance owned or held by the Obligors. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect thereto covering all periods up to and including the date of the closing have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any such policy. Such policies are sufficient for compliance with all requirements of law and of all agreements to which any Obligor is a party; are valid, outstanding and enforceable policies; provide adequate insurance coverage in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business for the assets and operations of the Obligors; will remain in full force and effect through the respective dates set forth in Schedule 7.20 without the payment of additional premiums; and will not in any way be affected by, or terminate or lapse by reason of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Schedule 7.20 identifies all material risks, if any, which each Obligor and their respective general partner or sole member have designated as being self-insured. None of the Obligors has been refused any insurance with respect to its assets or operations, nor has its coverage been limited below usual and customary policy limits, by an insurance carrier to which it has applied for any such insurance or with which it has carried insurance during the last three years.

Section 7.21    Hedging Agreements. Schedule 7.21 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities) of the Obligors, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value thereof, all credit support agreements relating thereto (including any margin required or supplied), and the counter party to each such agreement.

Section 7.22    Restriction on Liens. None of the Obligors is a party to any agreement or arrangement (other than this Agreement and the Security Instruments), or subject to any order, judgment, writ or decree, which either restricts or purports to restrict its ability to grant Liens to other Persons on or in respect of their respective assets or Properties.

Section 7.23    Material Agreements. Set forth on Schedule 7.23 is a complete list of all (a) agreements, indentures, purchase agreements, obligations in respect of letters of credit, guarantees, partnership agreements, limited liability company agreements, other organizational documents, joint venture agreements, and other instruments that (i) are material to the ObligorsÕ business, activities, and operation or ownership of such ObligorsÕ Property in effect or to be in effect as of the Closing Date (other than the Hedging Agreements set forth on Schedule 7.21) or (ii) provide for, evidence, secure or otherwise relate to any Debt of any such Obligor and all obligations of any Obligor to issuers of surety or appeal bonds issued for account of any such Obligor, and (b) agreements and instruments (excluding any such agreements and other instruments that are cancelable upon 60 or less days notice) of the Obligors relating to the purchase, gathering, transportation by pipeline, gas processing, marketing, sale and supply of natural gas and other Hydrocarbons accounting for at least 75% of the volumes transported by such Obligors, in the aggregate, during the BorrowerÕs current fiscal year (the agreements referenced in clauses (i) and (ii) hereto, collectively, the ÒMaterial AgreementsÓ). Upon request by Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver, or caused to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a complete and correct copy of all such Material Agreements.

Section 7.24    Imbalances. Except as set forth on Schedule 7.24ü as of the Closing Date, there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to any of the ObligorsÕ Pipeline Properties which would require any such Obligor to transport or purchase any volumes of Hydrocarbons without receiving delivery thereof or for gathering and transportation through their Pipeline Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment of ObligorÕs tariffs therefor.

Section 7.25    Relationship of Obligors. The Obligors are engaged in related businesses and each Obligor is directly and indirectly dependent upon each other Obligor for and in connection with their business activities and their financial resources; and each Obligor has determined, reasonably and in good faith, that such Obligor will receive substantial direct and indirect economic and financial benefits from the extensions of credit made under this Agreement, and such extensions of credit are in the best interests of such Obligor, having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances.

Section 7.26    Solvency. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries individually and on a consolidated basis are not insolvent as such term is used and defined in the United States Bankruptcy Code.

ARTICLE VIII

Affirmative Covenants

Each of the Obligors covenants and agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments are in effect and until payment in full of all Loans hereunder, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Obligors hereunder:

Section 8.01    Reporting Requirements. The Obligors shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent with sufficient copies of each for the Lenders:

(a)  Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within ten (10) days after the Borrower is required to file the same with the SEC, the audited consolidated and consolidating statements of income, partnersÕ equity, changes in financial position and cash flow for each of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, and the related consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding fiscal year, and accompanied by the related opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing acceptable to the Administrative Agent which opinion shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated and consolidating financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of, and for, such fiscal year and that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for such changes in such principles with which the independent public accountants shall have concurred and such opinion shall not contain a Ògoing concernÓ or like qualification or exception, but shall contain a certification stating that, in making the examination necessary for their opinion, they obtained no knowledge, except as specifically stated, of any Default.

(b)  Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available and in any event within twenty-five (25) days after any the Borrower is required to file the same with the SEC, for of each of the first three fiscal quarterly periods of each of its fiscal year for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, consolidated and consolidating statements of income, partnersÕ equity, changes in financial position and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period and for the period from the beginning of the respective fiscal year to the end of such period, and the related consolidated and consolidating balance sheets as at the end of such period, and setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by the certificate of a Responsible Officer, which certificate shall state that said financial statements fairly present the consolidated and consolidating financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, as at the end of, and for, such period (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).

(c)  Notice of Default, Etc. Promptly after any Obligor knows that any Default or Event of Default has occurred, a notice of such Default or Event of Default, describing the same in reasonable detail and the action the Borrower or any Guarantor proposes to take with respect thereto.

(d)  Other Accounting Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each other report or letter submitted to any Obligor by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of such Obligor and its Subsidiaries, and a copy of any response by such Obligor, or the general partner or sole member of such Obligor, to such letter or report.

(e)  SEC Filings, Etc. Promptly upon its becoming available, each financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Borrower to its unitholders generally and each regular or periodic report and any registration statement, prospectus or written communication (other than transmittal letters) in respect thereof filed by the Borrower with or received by the Borrower in connection therewith from any securities exchange or the SEC or any successor agency.

(f)  Quarterly Reports. As soon as available and in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal quarter (and if a Default shall have occurred and be continuing, within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar month), a report of operating, management and administration fees paid by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such quarter or month, together with statements setting forth the quantity of Hydrocarbons transported through the Pipelines during such quarter or month, the price paid or to be paid for the transportation and compression of gas, and such other information as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may reasonably request.

(g)  Hedging Agreements. As soon as available and in any event within fifteen Business Days after the last day of each fiscal quarter, a report, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, setting forth as of the last Business Day of such fiscal quarter a true and complete list of all Hedging Agreements (including commodity price swap agreements, forward agreements or contracts of sale which provide for prepayment for deferred shipment or delivery of oil, gas or other commodities) of the Obligors, the material terms thereof (including the type, term, effective date, termination date and notional amounts or volumes), the net mark to market value therefor, any new credit support agreements relating thereto not listed on Schedule 7.21, any margin required or supplied under any credit support document, and the counter party to each such agreement.

(h)  Post-Closing Requirements. All agreements, documents, instruments, or other items listed on Schedule 6.01 on or prior to the date specified for delivery thereof, or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree.

(i)  Other Matters. From time to time such other information regarding the business, affairs or financial condition of any Obligor (including, without limitation, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and any reports or other information required to be filed under ERISA) as any Lender or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(j)  Compliance Certificate. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent, at the time it furnishes each set of financial statements pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C executed by a Responsible Officer (i) certifying as to the matters set forth therein and stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing (or, if any Default has occurred and is continuing, describing the same in reasonable detail), and (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail the computations necessary to determine whether the Borrower is in compliance with Sections 9.13, 9.14, and 9.15, as of the end of the respective fiscal quarter or fiscal year.

Section 8.02    Litigation. The Obligors shall promptly give to the Administrative Agent notice of any litigation or proceeding against or adversely affecting any such Obligor in which the amount claimed exceeds Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or an aggregate of claims in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and is not otherwise covered in full by insurance (subject to normal and customary deductibles and for which the insurer has not assumed the defense), or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought. Each Obligor will promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders of any claim, judgment, Lien or other encumbrance affecting any Property of such Obligor or any Subsidiary if the value of the claim, judgment, Lien, or other encumbrance affecting such Property shall exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or an aggregate of such claims in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).

Section 8.03

Maintenance, Etc.

(a)  Generally.   Except as permitted under Section 9.09, each Obligor shall preserve and maintain its organization existence and all of its material rights, privileges and franchises; keep books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or transactions in relation to its business and activities; comply with all Governmental Requirements if failure to comply with such requirements will have a Material Adverse Effect; pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or on any of its Property prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except for any such tax, assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained; upon reasonable notice, permit representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, during normal business hours, to examine, copy and make extracts from its books and records, to inspect its Properties, and to discuss its business and affairs with its officers, all to the extent reasonably requested by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be); and keep, or cause to be kept, insured by financially sound and reputable insurers all Property of a character usually insured by Persons engaged in the same or similar business similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against by such Persons and carry such other insurance as is usually carried by such Persons including, without limitation, environmental risk insurance to the extent reasonably available.

(b)  Proof of Insurance.   Contemporaneously with the delivery of the financial statements required by Section 8.01(a) to be delivered for each year, the Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a certificate of insurance coverage from the insurer in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent listing Administrative Agent as Òloss payeeÓ and Òadditional insuredÓ and, if requested, will furnish the Administrative Agent and the Lenders copies of the applicable policies.

(c)  Pipeline Properties.   Each Obligor will cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve and keep in good repair, working order and efficiency all of its Pipeline Properties and other material Properties including, without limitation, all equipment, machinery and facilities, and from time to time will make all the reasonably necessary repairs, renewals and replacements so that at all times the state and condition of its Pipeline Properties and other material Properties will be fully preserved and maintained, (x) except to the extent that the wells and field to which such portions of the Pipelines are connected are no longer producing Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts, and (y) except that the foregoing shall not apply to Pipeline Properties that are not gathering Hydrocarbons on a regular basis as of the Closing Date. Each Obligor will promptly: (i) pay and discharge, or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be paid and discharged, all rentals, royalties, expenses and indebtedness accruing under the rights of way, licenses, leases or other agreements affecting or pertaining to its Pipeline Properties, (ii) perform or make reasonable and customary efforts to cause to be performed, in accordance with industry standards, the obligations required by each and all of the rights of way, deeds, leases, sub-leases, contracts and agreements affecting its interests in its Pipeline Properties and other material Properties, (iii) will do all other things necessary to keep unimpaired, except for Liens described in Section 9.02, its rights with respect to its Pipeline Properties and other material Properties and prevent any forfeiture thereof or a default thereunder, except to the extent that the wells and field to which such portions of the Pipelines are connected are no longer producing Hydrocarbons in economically reasonable amounts and except for Transfers permitted by Section 9.16. Each Obligor will operate its Pipeline Properties and other material Properties to be operated in a careful and efficient manner in accordance with the practices of the industry and in compliance with all applicable contracts and agreements and in compliance in all material respects with all Governmental Requirements.

 

Section 8.04

Environmental Matters.

 

(a)  Establishment of Procedures. The Obligors will establish and implement such procedures as may be reasonably necessary to continuously determine and assure that any failure of the following does not have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) all Property of the Obligors and the operations conducted thereon and other activities of the Obligors are in compliance with and do not violate the requirements of any Environmental Laws, (ii) no Hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or solid wastes are disposed of or otherwise released on or to any Property owned by any such party except in compliance with Environmental Laws, (iii) no hazardous substance will be released on or to any such Property in a quantity equal to or exceeding that quantity which requires reporting pursuant to Section 103 of CERCLA, and (iv) no oil, oil and gas exploration and production wastes or hazardous substance is released on or to any such Property so as to pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health or welfare or the environment.

(b)  Notice of Action. The Obligors will promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing of any threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority of which any Obligor has knowledge in connection with any Environmental Laws, excluding routine testing and corrective action which might result in the Borrower or any Subsidiary being liable for the payment or performance of obligations in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) with respect to any such event or in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate with respect to all such events.

(c)  Future Acquisitions. In the event environmental remediation costs in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) are identified in respect of any acquisition of Pipeline Properties or other material Properties, the Obligors will provide environmental audits and tests in form and scope as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (or as otherwise required to be obtained by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by any Governmental Authority) in connection with such future acquisitions of Pipeline Properties or other material Properties.

 

Section 8.05      Further Assuran