UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
OR
          TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 000-18516

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION

 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
51-0002090
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

664 Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware 19702
  
Address of principal executive offices

(302) 453 – 6900
  
Registrant's telephone number, including area code

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Class A Non-Voting Common Stock
 
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes
No
 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes
No
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes
No
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes
No
 

Indicate by check mark if the disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.

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

Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

Yes
No
 

The aggregate market value of the Class A Non-Voting Common Stock and Class B Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at June 30, 2017 was $301,328,000 and $10,142,000, respectively.  The aggregate market value of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock was computed by reference to the closing price of such class as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 30, 2017, which trade date was June 30, 2017.  The aggregate market value of Class B Common Stock was computed by reference to the last reported trade of such class as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board as of June 30, 2017, which trade date was June 9, 2017 .

As of March 12, 2 018, 8,341,196 shares of Class A Non-Voting Common Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Common Stock were outstanding.


ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K which express our "belief," "anticipation" or "expectation," as well as other statements which are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements regarding our goals, priorities, growth and expansion plans and expectation for our water and wastewater subsidiaries and non-regulated subsidiaries, customer base growth opportunities in Delaware and Cecil County, Maryland, our belief regarding our capacity to provide water services for the foreseeable future to our customers, our belief relating to our compliance and the cost to achieve compliance with relevant governmental regulations, our expectation of the timing of decisions by regulatory authorities, the impact of weather on our operations and the execution of our strategic initiatives, our expectation of the timing for construction on new projects, our expectation relating to the adoption of recent accounting pronouncements, contract operations opportunities, legal proceedings, our properties, deferred tax assets, adequacy of our available sources of financing, the expected recovery of expenses related to our long-term debt, our expectation to be in compliance with financial covenants in our debt instruments, our ability to refinance our debt as it comes due, our ability to adjust our debt level, interest rate, maturity schedule and structure, the timing and terms of renewals of our lines of credit, plans to increase our wastewater treatment operations, engineering services and other revenue streams less affected by weather, expected future contributions to our postretirement benefit plan, anticipated growth in our non-regulated division, the impact of recent acquisitions on our ability to expand and foster relationships, anticipated investments in certain of our facilities and systems and the sources of funding for such investments, sufficiency of internally generated funds and credit facilities to provide working capital and our liquidity needs are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "should", variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  Certain factors as discussed under Item 1A -Risk Factors, such as changes in weather, changes in our contractual obligations, changes in government policies, the timing and results of our rate requests, failure to receive regulatory approval, changes in economic and market conditions generally, and other matters could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so and you should not rely on any forward-looking statement as representation of the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

3



PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General Information

Artesian Resources Corporation or Artesian Resources, is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1927, that operates as the holding company of nine wholly-owned subsidiaries offering water, wastewater and other services on the Delmarva Peninsula.  The Company's principal executive offices are located at 664 Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware 19702.  Our principal subsidiary, Artesian Water Company, Inc., is the oldest and largest investor-owned public water utility on the Delmarva Peninsula, and has been providing superior water service since 1905. We distribute and sell water, including water for public and private fire protection, to residential, commercial, industrial, municipal and utility customers in the states of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. We provide wastewater services to customers in Delaware. In addition, we provide contract water and wastewater operations, and water, sewer and internal Service Line Protection Plans. Our Class A Non-Voting Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and trades under the symbol "ARTNA."  Our Class B Common Stock trades on the NASDAQ's OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ARTNB."

Artesian Resources operates as the parent holding company of five regulated public utilities: Artesian Water Company, Inc., or Artesian Water, Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater, Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, and four non-regulated subsidiaries: Artesian Utility Development, Inc., or Artesian Utility, Artesian Development Corporation, or Artesian Development, Artesian Storm Water Services, Inc., or Artesian Storm Water, and Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc., or Artesian Consulting Engineers.  The terms "we," "our" and the "Company" as used herein refer to Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries.  The business activity conducted by each of our subsidiaries is discussed below under separate headings.

Our Market

Our current market area is the Delmarva Peninsula.  Our largest service area is in the State of Delaware, which had an estimated population of approximately 962,000 at July 1, 2017. According to the US Census Bureau, Delaware's population increased an estimated 7.1% from 2010 to 2017, as compared to the nationwide growth rate of approximately 5.5%. Substantial portions of Delaware, particularly outsid e of northern New Castle County, are not served by a public water or wastewater system and represent potential opportunities for Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater to obtain new exclusive franchised service areas.  We continue to focus resources on developing and serving existing service territories and obtaining new territories throughout Delaware.

We have interconnection agreements for the sale of water with the towns of Elkton and Chesapeake City, Maryland.  The Town of Elkton is required to take a minimum o f 250,000 gallons per day of water through the interconnection and may take a maximum of 1.5 million gallons per day, or mgd. Our interconnection with Chesapeake City is currently the town's sole source of water with an average daily take of 73,000 gallons.  

We hold Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity, or CPCNs, for approximately 284 square miles of exclusive water service territory, most of which is in Delaware and some in Maryland and Pennsylvania.  We hold CPCN's for approximately 26 square miles of wastewater service territory located in Sussex County, Delaware.  Our largest connected regional water system, consisting of approximately 141 square miles and 73,000 metered customers, is located in northern New Castle County and portions of southern New Castle County, Delaware.  A significant portion of our exclusive service territory is in Sussex County, Delaware and remains undeveloped, and if and when development occurs and there is population growth in these areas, we will increase our customer base by providing water and/or wastewater service to the newly developed areas and new customers.

 
Subsidiaries

Artesian Water

Artesian Water, our principal subsidiary, is the oldest and largest public water utility in the State of Delaware and has been providing water service within the state since 1905.  Artesian Water distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and utility customers throughout the State of Delaware.  In addition, Artesian Water provides services to other water utilities, including operations and billing functions, and has contract operation agreements with private and municipal water providers.  We also provide water for public and private fire protection to customers in our service territories.

4

Artesian Water Maryland

Artesian Water Maryland began operations in August 2007.  Artesian Water Maryland distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers in Cecil County, Maryland. Artesian Water Maryland owns and operates 8 public water systems including one in Port Deposit that has the ability to supply up to 1 mgd of water through an intake in the Susquehanna River.

Artesian Water Pennsylvania

Artesian Water Pennsylvania began operations upon receiving recognition as a regulated public water utility by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, in 2002.  It provides water service to a residential community in Chester County.    

Artesian Wastewater

Artesian Wastewater is a regulated entity that owns wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure and provides wastewater services to customers in Delaware as a regulated public wastewater service company.  As of December 31, 2017, Artesian Wastewater owned and operated four wastewater treatment facilities, which are permitted to treat approximately 500,000 gallons per day. In August 2016, Artesian Wastewater and Sussex County, a political subdivision of Delaware, entered into an agreement to provide reciprocal services to address the periodic need of each for additional wastewater treatment and disposal capacity in certain service areas within Sussex County.  There are numerous locations in Sussex County where Artesian Wastewater's and Sussex County's facilities are capable of being connected or integrated to allow for the movement and disposal of wastewater generated by one or the other's system in a manner that most efficiently and cost effectively manages wastewater transmission, treatment and disposal. 

On September 27, 2016, Artesian Wastewater entered into a wastewater services agreement with Allen Harim Foods, LLC, or Allen Harim, for Artesian Wastewater to provide treatment and disposal services for sanitary wastewater discharged from Allen Harim's properties located in Sussex County, Delaware upon completion of a pipeline to transfer the sanitary wastewater.  The pipeline was completed in the second quarter of 2017. The transfer of sanitary wastewater is pending receipt of a construction permit and installation of related on-site improvements by Allen Harim at its facility. On January 27, 2017, Artesian Wastewater entered into a second wastewater agreement with Allen Harim for Artesian Wastewater to provide disposal services for approximately 1.5 mgd of treated industrial process wastewater upon completion of an approximately eight mile pipeline that will transfer the wastewater from Allen Harim's properties to a 90 million gallon storage lagoon at Artesian's Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Facility.  We will use the reclaimed wastewater for spray irrigation on agricultural land in the area.  The completion of the industrial process wastewater pipeline and storage lagoon should occur during the third quarter of 2018.

Artesian Wastewater Maryland

Artesian Wastewater Maryland is a regulated wastewater entity in the State of Maryland and was incorporated on June 3, 2008. Artesian Wastewater Maryland is able to provide public wastewater services to customers in the State of Maryland.  It is currently not providing wastewater services in Maryland.

Artesian Utility

Artesian Utility was formed in 1996. It designs and builds water and wastewater infrastructure and provides contract water and wastewater services on the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Utility also evaluates land parcels, provides recommendations to developers on the size of water or wastewater facilities and the type of technology that should be used for treatment at such facilities, and operates water and wastewater facilities in Delaware for municipal and governmental organizations. Artesian Utility also contracts with developers for design and construction of wastewater facilities within the Delmarva Peninsula, using a number of different technologies for treatment of wastewater at each facility. In addition, as further discussed below, Artesian Utility operates the Water Service Line Protection Plan, or WSLP Plan, the Sewer Service Line Protection Plan, or SSLP Plan and the Internal Service Line Protection Plan, or ISLP Plan.

We currently operate wastewater treatment facilities for the town of Middletown, in southern New Castle County, Delaware, or Middletown, under a 20-year contract that expires in July 2022. The facilities include two wastewater treatment stations with capacities of up to approximatel y 2.5 mgd and 250,000 gallons per day, respectively. We also operate a wastewater disposal facility in Middletown in order to support the 2.5 mgd wastewater facility. One of the wastewater treatment facilities in Middletown now provides reclaimed wastewater for use in spray irrigation on public and agricultural lands in the area.

5

The WSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers' leaking water service lines up to an annual limit. The SSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers' leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit. The ISLP Plan enhances available coverage to include water and wastewater lines within customers' residences.  As of December 31, 2017, approximately 19,500, or 24.6%, of our eligible water customers enrolled in the WSLP Plan, approximately 15,400, or 19.5%, of our eligible customers enrolled in the SSLP Plan, and approximately 4,700 or 5.9%, of our eligible customers enrolled in the ISLP Plan.  Approximately 1,600 non-utility customers enrolled in one of our three protection plans.

Artesian Development

Artesian Development is a real estate holding company that owns properties, including land zoned for office buildings, a water treatment plant and wastewater facility, as well as property for current operations, including an office facility in Sussex County, Delaware. The facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of office space along with nearly 10,000 square feet of warehouse space. This facility allows all of our Sussex County, Delaware operations to be housed in one central location.

Artesian Storm Water

Artesian Storm Water, incorporated on January 17, 2017, was formed to provide design, installation, maintenance and repair services related to existing or proposed storm water management systems in Delaware and the surrounding areas.  The ability to offer storm water services complements the primary water and wastewater services that we provide.

Artesian Consulting Engineers

Artesian Consulting Engineers no longer offers development and architectural services to outside third parties.  We will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through Artesian Utility.

 
Regulatory Matters

Overview

Our water and wastewater utility operations are subject to regulation by their respective state regulatory commissions, which have broad administrative power and authority to regulate rates charged for service, determine franchise areas and conditions of service, approve acquisitions, authorize the issuance of securities and other matters.  The profitability of our utility operations is influenced, to a great extent, by the timeliness and adequacy of regulatory relief we are granted by the respective regulatory commissions or authorities in the states in which we operate.

We are subject to regulation by the following state regulatory commissions:
 
·   The Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, regulates both Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater.
·   The Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, regulates both Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland.
·   The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, regulates Artesian Water Pennsylvania.

Our water and wastewater utility operations are also subject to regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, or Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act of 1972, or the Clean Water Act, and related state laws, and under federal and state regulations issued under these laws.  These laws and regulations establish criteria and standards for drinking water and for wastewater discharges.  Capital expenditures and operating costs required as a result of water quality standards and environmental requirements have been traditionally recognized by state regulatory commissions as appropriate for inclusion in establishing rates.

Water and Wastewater Rates

Our regulated utilities periodically seek rate increases to cover the cost of increased operating expenses, increased financing expenses due to additional investments in utility plant and other costs of doing business. In Delaware, utilities are permitted by law to place rates into effect, under bond, on a temporary basis pending completion of a rate increase proceeding. The first temporary increase may be up to the lesser of $2.5 million on an annual basis or 15% of gross water sales. Should the r ate case not be completed within seven months, by law, the utility may put the entire requested rate relief, up to 15% of gross water sales, in effect under bond until a final resolution is ordered and placed into effect. If any such rates are found to be in excess of rates the DEPSC finds to be appropriate, the utility must refund customers the portion found to be in excess with interest. The timing of our rate increase requests is therefore dependent upon the estimated cost of the administrative process in relation to the investments and expenses that we hope to recover through the rate increase. We can provide no assurances that rate increase requests will be approved by applicable regulatory agencies and, if approved, we cannot guarantee that these rate increases will be granted in a timely or sufficient manner to cover the investments and expenses for which we initially sought the rate increase.

6

On August 18, 2015, the DEPSC made a preliminary ruling in response to Artesian Water's April 2014 application to implement new rates to meet a requested increase in revenue of 15.90%, or approximately $10.0 million, on an annualized basis. The preliminary ruling recommended a permanent rate increase in revenue of approximately $6.0 million, or 9.50%, on an annualized basis, which was an incremental increase for customers of approximately 6.20% above the Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC, rate previously in effect. On October 6, 2015, a DEPSC order was issued concurring with the preliminary ruling issued on August 18, 2015. On January 19, 2016, a final DEPSC order was issued related to the permanent rate increase and concurred with the October 6, 2015 order. Because the permanent rate increase was less than amounts collected under previously approved temporary increases in rates, Artesian Water was required to refund a portion of the temporary rate increases to its customers. The refund, plus interest, at the average prime rate, for the overpayment from customers was applied to current and future customer bills in October 2015. Because the final rate award was at a level not less than the amount previously reported as income, there was no material impact upon previously reported water sales revenue. The new rates are designed to allow recovery of capital investments made by Artesian Water and to cover increased costs of operations, including water quality testing, chemicals and electricity for water treatment, taxes, labor and benefits.
On January 16, 2018, the DEPSC approved the opening of Docket No. 17-1240 requiring Delaware utilities to determine the impact that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA, had on its customers and potential rate relief due to customers.  Delaware utilities are required to report their findings back to the DEPSC by March 31, 2018.  The Company expects any reduction in corporate income tax expense resulting from the TCJA will be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rate.

Other Regulatory Matters

Delaware law permits water utilities to put into effect, on a semi-annual basis, increases related to specific types of distribution system improvements through a DSIC. This charge may be implemented by water utilities between general rate increase applications that normally recognize changes in a water utility's overall financial position. The DSIC approval process is less costly when compared to the approval process for general rate increase requests. The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped at 7.5% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates and charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied cannot exceed 5.0% within any 12-month period. The following table summarizes (1) Artesian Water's applications with the DEPSC to collect DSIC rates and (2) the rates upon which the eligible plant improvements are based:

7

Application Date
 
11/26/2014
   
05/28/2015
   
11/24/2015
   
05/31/2016
   
11/29/2016
 
DEPSC Approval Date
 
12/16/2014
   
06/16/2015
   
12/15/2015
   
06/28/2016
   
12/20/2016
 
Effective Date
 
01/01/2015
   
07/01/2015
   
01/01/2016
   
07/01/2016
   
01/01/2017
 
Cumulative DSIC Rate
   
0.34
%
   
1.15
%
   
1.57
%
   
2.30
%
   
4.71
%
Net Eligible Plant Improvements – Cumulative Dollars (in millions)
 
$
1.3
   
$
4.6
   
$
7.0
   
$
10.3
   
$
16.6
 
Eligible Plant Improvements – Installed Beginning Date
 
10/01/2014
   
10/01/2014
   
10/01/2014
   
10/01/2014
   
10/01/2014
 
Eligible Plant Improvements – Installed Ending Date
 
10/31/2014
   
04/30/2015
   
10/31/2015
   
4/30/2016
   
10/31/2016
 

DEPSC has completed audits for all filings for rates effective through 2016 noted in the table above. The rate effective in 2017 noted in the table above is subject to audit at a later date.  For the years ended December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we earned approximately $3,160,000, $1,306,000 and $520,000 in DSIC revenue, respectively.

Service Territory Expansion

In Delaware, a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, or CPCN, grants a water or wastewater company the exclusive right to serve all existing and new customers within a designated area.  The DEPSC has the authority to issue and revoke these CPCNs.  In this Form 10-K, we may refer to CPCNs as "franchises" or "service territories."

For a water company, the DEPSC may grant a CPCN under circumstances where there has been a determination that the water in the proposed service area does not meet the regulations governing drinking water standards of the State Division of Public Health for human consumption or where the supply is insufficient to meet the projected demand.  For a wastewater company, the DEPSC has jurisdiction over non-governmental wastewater utilities having fifty or more customers in the aggregate.  A CPCN for water and wastewater utilities shall be granted by the DEPSC to applicants in possession of one of the following:
8


Ø a signed service agreement with the developer of a proposed subdivision or development, which subdivision or development has been duly approved by the respective county government;

Ø a petition requesting such service signed by a majority of the landowners of the proposed territory to be served; or

Ø a duly certified copy of a resolution from the governing body of a county or municipality requesting the applicant to provide service to the proposed territory to be served.

CPCNs are not transferable.  A water or wastewater utility that has a CPCN must obtain the approval of the DEPSC to abandon a service territory.  Once a CPCN is granted to a water or wastewater utility, it may not be suspended or terminated unless the DEPSC determines in accordance with its rules and regulations that good cause exists for any such suspension or termination. Although we have been granted an exclusive franchise for each of our existing water and wastewater systems in Delaware, our ability to expand service areas can be affected by the DEPSC awarding franchises to other regulated water or wastewater utilities with whom we compete for such franchises.

In Maryland, the Company must obtain approval from the appropriate local government authority for the ability to serve a particular area and also ensure that the acquired area is in the county's master water and sewer plan.  The authority to exercise a franchise must then be obtained from the MDPSC.  Utilities that seek to develop a franchise by constructing new facilities must obtain appropriate approvals from the Maryland Department of the Environment, the local government and the MDPSC.  The utility must also obtain approval for soil and erosion plans and easement agreements from appropriate parties.

Environmental Regulation

Our water and wastewater operations are subject to federal, state, and local requirements relating to environmental protection. The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or the EPA, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, or DNREC, and the Delaware Division of Public Health, or DPH, regulate the water quality of our treatment and distribution systems in Delaware, as do the EPA and the Maryland Department of the Environment, or MDE, with respect to our operations in Maryland. Chester Water Authority, which supplies water to Artesian Water through an interconnection in northern New Castle County, is regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the EPA. We believe that we are in material compliance with all current federal, state and local water quality standards, including regulations under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. However, if new water quality regulations are too costly, or if we fail to comply with such regulations, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The water industry is capital intensive, with the highest capital investment in plant and equipment per dollar of revenue among all utilities. Increasingly stringent drinking water regulations to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act have required the water industry to invest in more advanced treatment systems and processes, which require a heightened level of expertise.  Significant enhancements were made to existing facilities to effectively treat and remove compounds as required by government agencies, such as ultra violet oxidation treatment, ceramic membrane filtration and carbon filtration. We are currently in full compliance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Even though our water utility was founded in 1905, the majority of our investment in infrastructure occurred in the last 40 years.

U nder Delaware state laws and regulations, we are required to file applications with DNREC for water allocation permits for each of our operating wells pumping greater than 50,000 gallons per day. For any wells in the Delaware River Basin, we must also file allocation permits with the Delaware River Basin Commission, or DRBC. We have 117 operating and 59 observation and monitoring wells in our Delaware systems. At December 31, 2017, we had allocation permits for 103 wells, and 14 wells that do not require a permit.

Our access to aquifers within our service territory is not exclusive. Water allocation permits control the amount of water that can be drawn from water resources and are granted with specific restrictions on water level draw down limits, annual, monthly and daily pumpage limits, and well field allocation pumpage limits. We are also subject to water allocation reg ulations that control the amount of water that we can draw from water sources. As a result, if new or more restrictive water allocation regulations are imposed, they could have an adverse effect on our ability to supply the demands of our customers, and in turn, our water supply revenues and results of operations. Our ability to supply the demands of our customers historically has not been affected by private usage of the aquifers by landowners or the limits imposed by the state of Delaware. Because of the extensive regulatory requirements relating to the withdrawal of any significant amounts of water from the aquifers, we believe that third party usage of the aquifers within our service territory will not interfere with our ability to meet the present and future demands of our customers.

As required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has established maximum contaminant levels for various substances found in drinking water to ensure that the water is safe for human consumption. These limits are known as Maximum Contaminant Levels and Maximum Residual Disinfection Levels. The EPA also regulates how often public water systems monitor their water for contaminants and report the monitoring results to the individual state agencies or the EPA.  Generally, the larger the population served by a water system, the more frequent the monitoring and reporting requirements. The Safe Drinking Water Act applies to all 50 states.

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DPH has set maximum contaminant levels for certain substances that are more restrictive than the maximum contaminant levels set by the EPA.  The DPH is the EPA's agent for enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act in Delaware and, in that capacity, monitors the activities of Artesian Water and reviews the results of water quality tests performed by Artesian Water for adherence to applicable regulations.  Artesian Water is also subject to other laws regulating substances and contaminants in water, including rules for volatile organic compounds and the Total Coliform Rule.

A normal by-product of our iron removal treatment facilities is a solid consisting of the iron removed from untreated groundwater plus residue from chemicals used in the treatment process.  The solids produced at our facilities are either disposed directly into approved wastewater facilities or removed from our facilities by a licensed third party vendor. A normal by-product of our carbon adsorption filtration process is exhausted carbon media, which is disposed of by the contractor providing the media replacement. Management believes that compliance with existing federal, state or local laws and regulations regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has no material effect upon the business and affairs of the Company, but there is no assurance that such compliance will continue to not have a material effect in the future.

The MDE ensures that water quality and quantity at all public water systems in Maryland meet the needs of the public and are in compliance with federal and state regulations. The MDE also ensures that public drinking water systems provide safe and adequate water to all current and future users in Maryland, and that appropriate usage, planning, and conservation policies are implemented for Maryland's water resources. The MDE oversees the development of Source Water Assessments for water supplies, and issues water appropriation permits for public drinking water systems.  In order to appropriate water for municipal, commercial, industrial or other non-domestic uses, a Water Appropriation Permit must be obtained.  Issuance of the permit involves evaluating the needs of the user and the potential impact of the withdrawal on neighboring users and the water source in order to maximize beneficial use of the water of the State of Maryland.  Permits for large appropriations often involve conducting pump tests to measure adequacy of an aquifer and safe yield of a well, or reviewing stream flow records to determine the adequacy of a surface water source.  Regulations were finalized in 1999 that require all new community water systems to have sufficient technical, managerial and financial capacity to provide safe drinking water to their consumers prior to being issued a Construction Permit.  Also, in 2007, capacity management guidance was finalized.  Capacity limiting factors can include, source capacity, treatment capacity and appropriation permit quantity. The quantity of water withdrawn from the Port Deposit surface water intake is allocated by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, or SRBC, and MDE. We have 12 operating wells and one surface water in-take in our Maryland systems.

The Clean Water Act has established the foundation for wastewater discharge control in the United States.  The Clean Water Act established a control program for ensuring that communities have clean water by regulating the release of contaminants into waterways.  Permits that limit the amounts of pollutants discharged are required of all wastewater dischargers under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or the NPDES permit program.  In accordance with the NPDES permit program, the implementing states set maximum discharge limits for wastewater effluents and overflows from wastewater collection systems. Discharges that exceed the limits specified under the NPDES permit program can lead to the imposition of penalties. The Clean Water Act also requires that wastewater treatment plant discharges meet a minimum of secondary treatment.  The secondary treatment process can remove up to 90% of the organic matter in wastewater.

Under Delaware state laws and regulations, we are required to hold a permit from DNREC for the construction, operation, maintenance or repair of any on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems with daily design flow rates of  2,500 gallons or greater. A classification on the facility is performed in accordance with Regulations Licensing Operators of Wastewater Facilities. The class of operator required for the facility is determined by the Board of Certification for Licensed Wastewater Operations in accordance with Regulations Licensing Operators of Wastewater Facilities. We work to ensure that we operate environmentally friendly wastewater systems that meet federal, state, and local laws.

S ources of Water

We derive about 95% of our self-supplied groundwater from wells that pump groundwater from aquifers and other formations located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The remaining 5% of our groundwater supply comes from wells in the Piedmont Province.  We use a variety of treatment methods, including aeration, pH adjustment, chlorination, fluoridation, ultra violet oxidation, arsenic removal, nitrate removal, radium removal, iron removal, and carbon adsorption to meet federal, state and local water quality standards.  Additionally, a corrosion inhibitor is added to all of our self-supplied groundwater and most of the supply from interconnections.  We have 54 different water treatment facilities in our Delaware systems.  We have eight separate water treatment facilities in our Maryland systems.  All water supplies that we purchase from neighboring utilities are potable.  

10

To supplement our groundwater supply, we purchase treated surface water through interconnections only in the northern service area of our New Castle County, Delaware system.  The treated surface water is blended with our groundwater supply for distribution to our customers.  Nearly 84% of the overall 7.8 billion gallons of water we distributed in all of our Delaware systems during 2017   came from our groundwater wells, while the remaining 16% came from interconnections with other utilities and municipalities. In Delaware in 2017, we pumped an average of 18.1 mgd from our groundwater wells and obtained an average of approximately 3.4 mgd from interconnections. Our peak water supply capacity currently is approximately 55.0 mgd in Delaware.  

The majority of the 0.1 billion gallons of water we distributed in all of our Maryland systems during 2017   came from our groundwater wells, while a portion came from treated surface water.   We have one water treatment facility that treats surface water from the Susquehanna River, located in Cecil County, Maryland.  Our peak water supply capacity currently is approximately 2.0 mgd in Maryland. We believe that we have in place sufficient capacity to provide water service for the foreseeable future to all existing and new customers in all of our service territories.
 
Interconnections and Storage

Most of our New Castle County, Delaware water system is interconnected.  In the remainder of the State of Delaware, we have several satellite systems that have not yet been connected by transmission and distribution facilities. We intend to join these systems into larger integrated regional systems through the construction of a transmission and distribution network as development continues and our expansion efforts provide us with contiguous exclusive service territories.

In Delaware, we have 22 interconnections with two neighboring water utilities and six municipalities that provide us with the ability to purchase or sell water.  An interconnection agreement with the Chester Water Authority has a "take or pay" clause requiring us to purchase 1.095 billion gallons annually.  During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, we used the minimum draw under this agreement. The Chester Water Authority agreement, which expires December 31, 2021, provides for the right to extend the term of this agreement through and including December 31, 2047, at our option, subject to the approval of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. All of the interconnections provide Artesian Water the ability to sell water to neighboring water utilities or municipalities. In Maryland, we have one interconnection that connects the Artesian Water system in Delaware to the Meadowview System, one interconnection with a neighboring utility, and three interconnections with the Town of Elkton. The interconnection with the Artesian Water Delaware system is capable of providing up to 3.0 mgd of water to our Maryland systems, of which 1.5 mgd is available to the Town of Elkton per our agreement with the Town. Artesian Water Delaware also has an interconnection with the Town of Chesapeake City that provides approximately 73,000 gallons per day on average. The interconnection is currently the town's sole source of water supply. In January 2018, Artesian Water Maryland signed an interconnection agreement with the Town of North East that has a "take or pay" clause requiring us to purchase a minimum of 35,000 gallons per day that shall commence on the first day of the month following the date on which the interconnection is completed .  The interconnection completion date is expected to occur during the third quarter of 2018.

As of December 31, 2017, we were serving customers through approximately 1,293 miles of transmission and distribution mains. Mains range in diameter from two inches to twenty-four inches, and most of the mains are made of ductile iron or cast iron.

We have 29 storage tanks in Delaware, most of which are elevated, providing total system storage of 42 million gallons. We have developed and are using an Aquifer Storage and Recovery, or ASR, system in New Castle County, Delaware. Our ASR system provides approximately 130 million gallons of storage capacity, which can be withdrawn at an average rate of approximately 1 mgd. At some locations, we rely on hydropneumatic tanks to maintain adequate system pressures.  Where possible, we combine our smaller satellite systems with systems having elevated storage facilities.  In Cecil County, Maryland we have 7 storage tanks capable of storing approximately 2.4 million gallons.

Additional General Information

Seasonality

Substantially all of our water customers are metered, which allows us to measure and bill for our customers' water consumption.  Demand for water during the warmer months is generally greater than during cooler months primarily due to additional customer requirements for water in connection with cooling systems, swimming pools, irrigation systems and other outside water use.  Throughout the year, and particularly during typically warmer months, demand for water will vary with temperature and rainfall.  In the event that temperatures during the typically warmer months are cooler than expected, or there is more rainfall than expected, the demand for water may decrease and our revenues may be adversely affected.

11

Competition

Our business in our franchised service areas is substantially free from direct competition with other public utilities, municipalities and other entities.  However, our ability to provide additional water and wastewater services is subject to competition from other public utilities, municipalities and other entities. Even though our regulated utilities have been granted an exclusive franchise for each of our existing community water and wastewater systems, our ability to expand service areas can be affected by the DEPSC, the MDPSC or the PAPUC, awarding franchises to other regulated water or wastewater utilities with whom we compete for such franchises.
 
Employees

The Company has no collective bargaining agreements with any of its employees, and its work force is not union organized or union represented.  As of December 31, 2017, we employed 233 full-time employees.  Of these employees, 48 were officers and managers; 129 were employed as operations personnel, including engineers, technicians, draftsman, maintenance and repair persons, meter readers and utility personnel; and 38 were employed in accounting, budgeting, information systems, human resources, customer relations and public relations.  The remaining 18 employees were administrative personnel. We believe that our employee relations are good.

Available Information

We are a Delaware corporation with our principal executive offices located at 664 Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware, 19702. Our telephone number is (302) 453-6900 and our website address is www.artesianresources.com. We make available free of charge through our website our Code of Ethics, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, and our Board Committee Charter as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We include our website address in this Annual Report on Form 10-K only as an inactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website.  Information contained on our website shall not be deemed incorporated into, or to be a part of, this report.

We file our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act electronically with the SEC.  The public may read or copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20549.  The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The SEC maintains an Internet site, www.sec.gov, that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

12


ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

We are exposed to a variety of risks and uncertainties.  Most are general risks and uncertainties applicable to all water and wastewater utility companies. We describe below some of the specific known risk factors that could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.  If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may vary materially from our projections.  

Our operating revenue is primarily from water sales.  The rates that we charge our customers are subject to the regulations of the Public Service Commissions in the states in which we operate.  Additionally, our business requires significant capital expenditures on an annual basis and these expenditures are made for additions and replacement of property.  If a public service commission disapproves or is unable to timely approve our requests for rate increases or approves rate increases that are inadequate to cover our investments or increased costs, our profitability may suffer.

We file rate increase requests, from time to time, to recover our investments in utility plant and expenses. Once a rate increase petition is filed with a public service commission, the ensuing administrative and hearing process may be lengthy and costly.  We can provide no assurances that any future rate increase request will be approved by the DEPSC, MDPSC or PAPUC, and if approved, we cannot guarantee that these rate increases will be granted in a timely manner and/or will be sufficient in amount to cover the investments and expenses for which we initially sought the rate increase. To the extent we are able to pass through such costs to customers and a state public service commission subsequently determines that such costs should not have been paid by customers, we may be required to refund such costs, with interest, to customers. Any such costs not recovered through rates, or any such refund, could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

We rely on governmental approvals in the States of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, as well as from the Delaware River Basin Commission and Susquehanna River Basin Commission for applicable water allocation, water appropriation and water capacity permits related to additional systems that will assist in the operation of our water business. In addition, we rely on governmental approvals in the States of Delaware and Maryland for applicable wastewater collection, treatment and disposal permits that will assist in the operation of our wastewater business.

Our water and wastewater services are governed by various federal and state governmental agencies. Pursuant to these regulations, we are required to obtain various permits for any additional systems to assist in our operations.  If any of those permit approvals are not received timely or at all, the Company may risk the loss of economic opportunity and its ability to create additional systems for the effective operation of our water business in the States of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania or our wastewater business in the States of Delaware and Maryland. We can provide no assurances that we will receive all necessary permits to create additional systems to assist in the operation of our water or wastewater business.

Our operating costs could be significantly increased if new or stricter regulatory standards are imposed by federal and state environmental agencies.

Our water and wastewater services are governed by various federal and state environmental protection and health and safety laws and regulations, including the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act and similar state laws. These federal and state regulations are issued by the EPA and state environmental regulatory agencies.  Pursuant to these laws, we are required to obtain various water allocation permits and environmental permits for our operations. The water allocation permits control the amount of water that can be drawn from water resources. New or stricter water allocation regulations can adversely affect our ability to meet the demands of our customers. While we have budgeted for future capital and operating expenditures to maintain compliance with these laws and our permits, it is possible that new or stricter standards would be imposed that will raise our operating costs. Thus, we can provide no assurances that our costs of complying with, or discharging liability under current and future environmental and health and safety laws will not adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which could affect demand for our water service and our revenues.

Demand for water during warmer months is generally greater than during cooler months primarily due to additional customer requirements in irrigation systems, swimming pools, cooling systems and other outside water use.  In the event that temperatures during typically warmer months are cooler than normal, or rainfall is more than normal, the demand for our water may decrease and adversely affect our revenues.

Drought conditions and government imposed water use restrictions may impact our ability to serve our current and future customers, and may impact our customers' use of our water, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

13

We believe that we have in place sufficient capacity to provide water service for the foreseeable future to all existing and new customers in all of our service territories.  However, severe drought conditions could interfere with our sources of water supply and could adversely affect our ability to supply water in sufficient quantities to our existing and future customers. This may adversely affect our revenues and earnings.  Moreover, governmental restrictions on water usage during drought conditions may result in a decreased demand for water, which may adversely affect our revenue and earnings.

We are subject to risks associated with the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater.

Wastewater collection, treatment and disposal involve various unique risks.  If collection or treatment systems fail, overflow, or do not operate properly, untreated wastewater or other contaminants could spill onto nearby properties or into nearby streams and rivers, causing damage to persons or property, injury to aquatic life and economic damages, which may not be recoverable in fees.  This risk is most acute during periods of substantial rainfall or flooding, which are common causes of sewer overflow and system failure.  Liabilities resulting from such damages and injuries could materially and adversely affect the Company's results of operations and financial condition.

Turnover in our management team could have an adverse impact on our business or the financial market's perception of our ability to continue to grow.

Our success depends significantly on the continued contribution of our management team both individually and collectively.  The loss of the services of any member of our management team or the inability to hire and retain experienced management personnel could harm our operating results.

We face competition from other water and wastewater utilities for the acquisition of new exclusive service territories.

Water and wastewater utilities competitively pursue the right to exclusively serve territories in Delaware and Maryland by entering into agreements with landowners, developers or municipalities and, under current law, then applying to the DEPSC or the MDPSC for a CPCN, which grants a water or wastewater utility the exclusive right to serve all existing and new customers of a water or wastewater utility within a designated area.  Typically, water and wastewater utilities enter into agreements with developers who have approval from county governments with respect to proposed subdivisions or developments.  Once a CPCN is granted to a water or wastewater utility, generally it may not be suspended or terminated unless the DEPSC or MDPSC determines in accordance with its rules and regulations that good cause exists for any such suspension or termination.  Therefore, we face competition from other water and wastewater utilities as we pursue the right to exclusively serve territories.  If we are unable to enter into agreements with landowners, developers or municipalities and secure CPCNs for the right to exclusively serve territories in Delaware or Maryland, our ability to expand may be significantly impeded.

We depend on the availability of capital for expansion, construction and maintenance. Weaknesses in capital and credit markets may limit our access to capital.

Our ability to continue our expansion efforts and fund our utility construction and maintenance program depends on the availability of adequate capital. There is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain sufficient capital in the future on favorable terms and conditions for expansion, construction and maintenance. In the event our lines of credit are not extended or we are unable to refinance our first mortgage bonds when due and the borrowings are called for payment, we will have to seek alternative financing sources, although there can be no assurance that these alternative financing sources will be available on terms acceptable to us.  In the event we are unable to obtain sufficient capital, our expansion efforts could be curtailed, which may affect our growth and may affect our future results of operations.

General economic conditions may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The effects of adverse U.S. economic conditions may lead to a number of impacts on our business that may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Such impacts may include a reduction in discretionary and recreational water use by our residential water customers, particularly during the summer months; a decline in usage by industrial and commercial customers as a result of decreased business activity and commerce in our customers' businesses; an increased incidence of customers' inability, bankruptcy or delay in paying their bills which may lead to higher bad debt expense and reduced cash flow; and a lower natural customer growth rate may result as compared to what had been experienced before the economic downturn due to a decline in new housing starts and a possible slight decline in the number of active customers due to housing vacancies or abandonments.

14

Any future acquisitions we undertake or other actions to further grow our water and wastewater business may involve risks.

An element of our growth strategy is the acquisition and integration of water and wastewater systems in order to broaden our current service areas, and move into new ones.  It is our intent, when practical, to integrate any businesses we acquire with our existing operations.  The negotiation of potential acquisitions as well as the integration of acquired businesses could require us to incur significant costs and cause diversion of our management's time and resources.  We may not be successful in the future in identifying businesses that meet our acquisition criteria. The failure to identify such businesses may limit the rate of our growth.  In addition, future acquisitions or expansion of our service areas by us could result in:

Ø Dilutive issuance of our equity securities;
Ø Incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities;
Ø Difficulties in integrating the operations and personnel of the acquired businesses;
Ø Diversion of our management's attention from ongoing business concerns;
Ø Failure to have effective internal control over financial reporting;
Ø Overload of human resources; and
Ø Other acquisition-related expense

Some or all of these items could have a material adverse effect on our business and our ability to finance our business and comply with regulatory requirements. The businesses we acquire in the future may not achieve sales and profitability that would justify our investment.

We also may experience risks relating to the challenges and costs of closing a transaction and the risk that an announced transaction may not close.  Completion of certain acquisition transactions are conditioned upon, among other things, the receipt of approvals, including from the certain state public utilities commissions.  Failure to complete a pending transaction would prevent us from realizing the anticipated benefits. We would also remain liable for significant transaction costs, including legal and accounting fees, whether or not the transaction is completed.

We are subject to, and could be further subject to, governmental investigations or actions by other third parties.

We are subject to various federal and state laws, including environmental laws, violations of which can involve civil or criminal sanctions.

Our operations from time to time could be parties to or targets of lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings, including system failure, injury, contract, environmental, health and safety and employment matters, which are handled and defended in the ordinary course of business.  The results of any future litigation or settlement of such lawsuits and claims are inherently unpredictable, but such outcomes could also materially and adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

Contamination of our water supply may result in disruption in our services and could lead to litigation that may adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our water supplies are subject to contamination from naturally-occurring compounds as well as pollution resulting from man-made sources.  Even though we monitor the quality of water on an on-going basis, any possible contamination due to factors beyond our control could interrupt the use of our water supply until we are able to substitute it from an uncontaminated water source.  Additionally, treating the contaminated water source could involve significant costs and could adversely affect our business.  We could also be held liable for consequences arising out of human or environmental exposure to hazardous substances, if found, in our water supply.  This could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are dependent on the continuous and reliable operation of our information technology systems.

We rely on our information technology systems to manage our operation of our business. Specifically with respect to customer service and billing, managing construction projects, managing our financial records, tracking assets, remotely monitoring some of our treatment, storage and pumping facilities and managing human resources, inventory and accounts receivable collections. Such systems require periodic modifications, upgrades and or replacement that subject us to inherent costs and risks, including substantial capital expenditures, additional administration and operating expenses, and other risks and costs of delays in transitioning to new systems or of integrating new systems into our current systems.  Our computer and communications systems and operations could be damaged or interrupted by natural disasters, telecommunications failures or acts of war or terrorism or similar events or disruptions. A loss of these systems or major problems with the operation of these systems could affect our operations and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

There have been an increasing number of cyber-attacks on companies around the world, which have caused operational failures or compromised sensitive corporate or customer data. These attacks have occurred over the internet, through malware, viruses or attachments to e-mails or through persons inside the organization or with access to systems inside the organization. We have implemented security measures and will continue to devote resources to address any security vulnerabilities in an effort to prevent cyber-attacks. Despite our efforts, a cyber-attack, if it occurred, could cause water or wastewater system problems, disrupt service to our customers, compromise important data or systems or result in an unintended release of customer information. We feel we have adequate cyber-security insurance coverage to mitigate the cost of any such cyber-attack, however, a possible cyber-attack could affect our operations and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

15

Potential terrorist attacks may disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

We have taken steps to increase security measures at our facilities and heighten employee awareness of threats to our water supply.  We also have tightened our security measures regarding delivery and handling of certain chemicals used in our business.  We have and will continue to bear any increase in costs, most of which have been recoverable under state regulatory policies, for security precautions to protect our facilities, operations and supplies.  While the costs of increases in security, including capital expenditures, may be significant, we expect these costs to continue to be recoverable in water and wastewater rates.  Despite our security measures, we may not be in a position to control the outcome of terrorist events, or other attacks on our water systems, should they occur.
 
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could affect our financial statements, operating results and financial condition.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA, was signed into law and contains many changes for corporate taxpayers and changes specific to public utilities. We are in the process of analyzing the TCJA and its overall impact on the Company, which involves significant judgments to be made by management. As a general matter, the TCJA reduces the federal corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent, among other things. As a result of such reduction, the Company adjusted its existing deferred income tax balances as of December 31, 2017, which is set forth in more detail in Note 3 (Income Taxes) to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Notwithstanding this adjustment resulting from the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of the TCJA is uncertain and may have a material effect on our financial statements.  However, based on its preliminary assessment of the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate, the Company currently expects that its 2018 effective tax rate will be reduced and will result in overall lower tax expense beginning in 2018. Such estimate is based on management's current assumptions with respect to, among other things, the Company's earnings, state income tax levels and tax deductions. The Company's actual effective tax rate in 2018 may differ from management's estimate.  The TCJA also includes certain other provisions specifically related to the public utility industry, including the exclusion from utilizing bonus depreciation.  The impact with respect to provisions specifically related to the public utility industry or to corporate taxpayers in general may also impact our future financial performance, including our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity, which impacts will largely be determined through future regulatory proceedings.

In addition to analyzing the impacts at the federal level, we are also analyzing the potential impacts of the TCJA at the state level.  However, we are limited in our ability to do so as there is not yet complete guidance in certain states as to how to account for the TCJA.  With respect to these states, we will account for the changes in income tax balances by making a reasonable estimate.  However, once state regulators provide specific guidance, the actual impacts may differ from our estimates, which could have a material effect on our financial statements.

On January 16, 2018, the DEPSC approved the opening of Docket No. 17-1240 requiring Delaware utilities to determine the impact that the TCJA had on its customers and potential rate relief due to customers. Delaware utilities are required to report their findings back to the DEPSC by March 31, 2018. The Company expects any reduction in corporate income tax expense resulting from the TCJA will be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rate.

16


 
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES

Our corporate headquarters are located at 664 Churchmans Road, Newark, Delaware and are owned by Artesian Water.

Artesian Development owns approximately 6 acres of land in New Castle County, Delaware zoned for office development and two nine-acre parcels of land in Sussex County, Delaware for water and wastewater treatment facilities and elevated water storage. Artesian Development also owns an office facility located in Sussex County, Delaware. The facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of office space along with approximately 10,000 square feet of warehouse space.

Artesian Water owns land, rights-of-way, easements, transmission and distribution mains, pump facilities, treatment plants, storage tanks, meters, vehicles and related equipment and facilities throughout Delaware, of which the majority are used for utility operations.  Artesian Water Pennsylvania owns transmission and distribution mains. Artesian Water Maryland owns land, rights-of-way, easements, transmission and distribution mains, pump facilities and storage tanks.  Artesian Wastewater owns land, rights-of-way, easements, treatment and disposal plants, collection mains and lift stations.  Artesian Wastewater owns a 75-acre parcel of land in Sussex County, Delaware for the operation of the wastewater facility known as the Artesian Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Facility.  The following table indicates our utility plant as of December 31, 2017.


Utility plant comprises :
           
In thousands
           
 
 
Estimated Useful Life
(In Years)
   
December 31, 2017
 
Utility plant at original cost
           
Utility plant in service-Water
           
Intangible plant
   
---
   
$
140
 
Source of supply plant
   
45-85
     
20,959
 
Pumping and water treatment plant
   
8-62
     
81,180
 
Transmission and distribution plant
               
Mains
   
81
     
252,569
 
Services
   
39
     
42,232
 
Storage tanks
   
76
     
24,729
 
Meters
   
26
     
25,628
 
Hydrants
   
60
     
13,760
 
General plant
   
3-31
     
56,784
 
 
               
Utility plant in service-Wastewater
               
Treatment and disposal plant
   
35-62
     
17,421
 
Collection mains and lift stations
   
81
     
13,693
 
General plant
   
3-31
     
1,006
 
 
               
Property held for future use
   
---
     
14,646
 
Construction work in progress
   
---
     
12,700
 
 
           
577,447
 
Less – accumulated depreciation
           
116,945
 
 
         
$
460,502
 

Substantially all of Artesian Water's utility plant, except the utility plant in the town of Townsend, Delaware, is pledged as security for First Mortgage Securities.  As of December 31, 2017, no other utility plant has been pledged as security for loans.

We believe that our properties are generally maintained in good condition and in accordance with current standards of good water and wastewater works industry practice. We believe that all of our existing facilities adequately meet current necessary production capacities and current levels of utilization.

17

ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Periodically, we are involved in other proceedings or litigation arising in the ordinary course of business.  We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will materially affect our business, financial position or results of operations.  However, we cannot assure that we will prevail in any litigation and, regardless of the outcome, may incur significant litigation expense and may have significant diversion of management attention.




ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

The information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.104) is not applicable to our Company.

PART II

ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information for the Company's Common Equity
Artesian Resources' Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, or Class A Stock, is listed on NASDAQ Global Select Market and trades under the symbol "ARTNA."  On March 12, 2018, the last closing sale price as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $35.51 per share.  On March 12, 2018 there were 666 holders of record of the Class A Stock.  The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low closing sale prices for the Class A Stock as reported by NASDAQ Global Select Market and the cash dividends declared per share.

CLASS A NON-VOTING COMMON STOCK

 
 
High
   
Low
   
Dividend Per Share
 
2017
                 
First Quarter
 
$
34.21
   
$
29.46
   
$
0.2283
 
Second Quarter
   
41.56
     
32.99
     
0.2317
 
Third Quarter
   
39.80
     
35.96
     
0.2317
 
Fourth Quarter
   
42.66
     
37.14
     
0.2352
 
 
                       
2016
                       
First Quarter
 
$
31.31
   
$
25.52
   
$
0.2216
 
Second Quarter
   
33.92
     
26.26
     
0.2249
 
Third Quarter
   
34.87
     
26.32
     
0.2249
 
Fourth Quarter
   
33.00
     
26.78
     
0.2283
 

Our Class B Voting Stock, or Class B Stock, is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "ARTNB."  There has been a limited and sporadic public trading market for the Class B Stock.  As of March 12, 2018, the last reported trade of the Class B Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board was at a price of $34.25 per share on March 12, 2018.  As of March 12, 2018, we had 151 holders of record of the Class B Stock.  The Class B shares are paid the same dividend as the Class A shares noted in the table above.
18
 
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we did not issue any unregistered shares of our Class A or Class B Stock.

19

The following graph compares the percentage change in cumulative shareholder return on the Company's Class A Stock with the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and a Peer Group of water utility companies having similar market capitalizations. The graph covers the period from December 2012 (assuming a $100 investment on December 31, 2012, and the reinvestment of any dividends) through December 2017:


 
 
 
INDEXED RETURNS
 
Base Period
Years Ending December 31
Company Name / Index
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Artesian Resources Corporation
 
100
 
106.12
 
108.60
 
138.37
 
164.59
 
203.79
S&P 500 Index
 
100
 
132.39
 
150.51
 
152.59
 
170.84
 
208.14
Peer Group
 
100
 
118.28
 
145.25
 
163.77
 
201.12
 
256.58


The Peer Group includes American States Water Company, American Water Works Company, Inc., Aqua America, Inc., California Water Service Group, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., Middlesex Water Company, SJW Corporation and York Water Company.
 
20


ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected statement of operations and balance sheet data shown below were derived from our consolidated financial statements. The consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 have been derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 have been derived from audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  You should read this selected financial data together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes, as well as the discussion under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

In thousands, except per share and operating data
 
2017
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
 
                             
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
                             
 
                             
Operating revenues
                             
Water sales
 
$
73,058
   
$
70,587
   
$
68,932
   
$
64,667
   
$
61,846
 
Other utility operating revenue
   
4,177
     
3,816
     
3,694
     
3,648
     
3,253
 
Non-utility operating revenue
   
5,000
     
4,686
     
4,398
     
4,150
     
3,974
 
Total operating revenues
 
$
82,235
   
$
79,089
   
$
77,024
   
$
72,465
   
$
69,073
 
 
                                       
Operating expenses
                                       
Operating and maintenance
 
$
41,054
   
$
38,260
   
$
38,453
   
$
37,086
   
$
36,630
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
9,555
     
9,188
     
8,837
     
8,673
     
8,251
 
State and federal income taxes
   
7,295
     
8,331
     
7,784
     
6,375
     
5,588
 
Property and other taxes
   
4,731
     
4,491
     
4,368
     
4,285
     
4,120
 
Total operating expenses
 
$
62,635
   
$
60,270
   
$
59,442
   
$
56,419
   
$
54,589
 
 
                                       
Operating income
 
$
19,600
   
$
18,819
   
$
17,582
   
$
16,046
   
$
14,484
 
Other income, net
   
560
     
779
     
721
     
853
     
872
 
Total income before interest charges
 
$
20,160
   
$
19,598
   
$
18,303
   
$
16,899
   
$
15,356
 
 
                                       
Interest charges
 
$
6,177
   
$
6,644
   
$
6,998
   
$
7,393
   
$
7,055
 
 
                                       
Net income
 
$
13,983
   
$
12,954
   
$
11,305
   
$
9,506
   
$
8,301
 
Dividends on preferred stock (1)
                                       
Net income applicable to common stock
 
$
13,983
   
$
12,954
   
$
11,305
   
$
9,506
   
$
8,301
 
 
                                       
Net income per share of common stock:
                                       
Basic
 
$
1.52
   
$
1.42
   
$
1.26
   
$
1.07
   
$
0.95
 
Diluted
 
$
1.51
   
$
1.41
   
$
1.26
   
$
1.07
   
$
0.94
 
 
                                       
Average shares of common stock outstanding:
                                       
Basic
   
9,175
     
9,098
     
8,960
     
8,884
     
8,774
 
Diluted
   
9,242
     
9,161
     
9,005
     
8,926
     
8,836
 
Cash dividends per share of common stock
 
$
0.93
   
$
0.90
   
$
0.87
   
$
0.85
   
$
0.82
 
 
In thousands, except for operating data
 
2017
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
BALANCE SHEET DATA
                             
Utility plant, at original cost less accumulated depreciation
 
$
460,502
   
$
425,502
   
$
405,606
   
$
393,793
   
$
378,960
 
Total assets
 
$
494,639
   
$
450,976
   
$
431,626
   
$
422,213
   
$
403,832
 
Lines of credit
 
$
9,610
   
$
7,130
   
$
10,487
   
$
18,491
   
$
10,332
 
Long-term obligations and redeemable preferred stock, including current portions
 
$
106,931
   
$
103,647
   
$
104,936
   
$
106,199
   
$
106,642
 
Stockholders' equity
 
$
146,644
   
$
139,023
   
$
132,331
   
$
121,836
   
$
118,180
 
Total capitalization
 
$
252,231
   
$
241,354
   
$
235,978
   
$
227,346
   
$
224,437
 
 
                                       
OPERATING DATA
                                       
Average water sales per customer
 
$
844
   
$
830
   
$
824
   
$
780
   
$
755
 
Water pumped (millions of gallons)
   
7,945
     
7,626
     
7,646
     
7,592
     
7,286
 
Number of metered customers
   
86,500
     
85,000
     
83,700
     
82,900
     
81,900
 
Miles of water main
   
1,293
     
1,260
     
1,218
     
1,201
     
1,182
 
(1) There are no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

21

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Our profitability is primarily attributable to the sale of water. Gross water sales comprise 88.8% o f total operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017. Our profitability is also attributed to the various contract operations, water, sewer, and internal Service Line Protection Plans and other services we provide. Water sales are subject to seasonal fluctuations, particularly during summer when water demand may vary with rainfall and temperature. In the event temperatures during the typically warmer months are cooler than expected, or rainfall is greater than expected, the demand for water may decrease and our revenues may be adversely affected. We believe the effects of weather are short term and do not materially affect the execution of our strategic initiatives. Our contract operations and other services provide a revenue stream that is not affected by changes in weather patterns.

While water sales are our primary source of revenues, we continue to seek growth opportunities to provide wastewater service in Delaware and the surrounding areas. We also continue to explore and develop relationships with developers and municipalities in order to increase revenues from contract water and wastewater operations, wastewater management services, design, construction and engineering services. We plan to continue developing and expanding our contract operations and other services in a manner that complements our growth in water service to new customers. Our anticipated growth in these areas is subject to changes in residential and commercial construction, which may be affected by interest rates, inflation and general housing and economic market conditions.  We anticipate continued growth in our non-regulated division due to our water, sewer, and internal Service Line Protection Plans.

Water Division

Overview

Artesian Water, Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Water Pennsylvania provide water service to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal and utility customers. Increases in the number of customers contribute to increases, or help to offset any intermittent decreases in our operating revenue. As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately 84,200 metered water customers in Delaware, an increase of approximately 1,500 compared to December 31, 2016. The number of metered water customers in Maryland totaled approximately 2,300 as of December 31, 2017, a slight increase compared to December 31, 2016. The number of metered water customers in Pennsylvania remained consistent compared to December 31, 2016. For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 7.8 billion gallons of water were distributed in our Delaware systems and approximately 130 million gallons of water were distributed in our Maryland systems.

Wastewater Division

Overview

Artesian Wastewater owns wastewater infrastructure and began providing wastewater services in Delaware in July 2005. Artesian Wastewater Maryland, which was incorporated on June 3, 2008, is able to provide regulated wastewater services in Maryland. Our residential and commercial wastewater customers are billed a flat monthly fee, which contributes to providing a revenue stream unaffected by weather. There has been consistent customer growth over the years. The number of Delaware wastewater customers totaled approximately 1,800 as of December 31, 2017, an increase of approximately 200, or 12.5%, compared to December 31, 2016. In addition, Artesian Wastewater entered into a wastewater services agreement with Allen Harim Foods, LLC, or Allen Harim, a large industrial customer, under which service is expected to begin in 2018. The wastewater services agreement with Allen Harim is discussed further in the "Strategic Direction" section below.
22



Non-Regulated Division

Overview

Artesian Utility provides contract water and wastewater operation services to private, municipal and governmental institutions. Artesian Utility currently operates wastewater treatment facilities for the town of Middletown, Delaware under a 20-year contract that expires in July 2022. The facilities include two wastewater treatment stations with capacities of up to approximately 2.5 million gallons per day and 250,000 gallons per day, respectively. We also operate a wastewater disposal facility in Middletown in order to support the 2.5 million gallons per day wastewater facility.

In addition to water and wastewater services described above. Artesian Utility also offers three protection plans to customers, the WSLP Plan, the SSLP Plan, and the ISLP Plan. The WSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers' leaking water service lines up to an annual limit. The SSLP Plan covers all parts, material and labor required to repair or replace participating customers' leaking or clogged sewer lines up to an annual limit. The ISLP Plan enhances available coverage to include water and wastewater lines within customers' residences.  As of December 31, 2017, approximately 19,500, or 24.6%, of our eligible water customers enrolled in the WSLP Plan, approximately 15,400, or 19.5%, of our eligible customers enrolled in the SSLP Plan, and approximately 4,700 or 5.9%, of our eligible customers enrolled in the ISLP Plan.  Approximately 1,600 non-utility customers enrolled in one of our three protection plans.

Artesian Development is a real estate holding company that owns properties, including land zoned for office buildings, a water treatment plant and wastewater facility, as well as property for current operations, including an office facility in Sussex County, Delaware. The facility consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of office space along with nearly 10,000 square feet of warehouse space. This facility allows all of our Sussex County, Delaware operations to be housed in one central location.

Artesian Storm Water, incorporated on January 17, 2017, was formed to provide design, installation, maintenance and repair services related to existing or proposed storm water management systems in Delaware and the surrounding areas. The ability to offer storm water services will complement the primary water and wastewater services that we provide.

Artesian Consulting Engineers no longer offers development and architectural services to outside third parties.  Artesian will continue to provide design and engineering contract services through our Artesian Utility subsidiary.

Strategic Direction

Our strategy is to significantly increase customer growth, revenues, earnings and dividends by expanding our water, wastewater and Service Line Protection Plan services across the Delmarva Peninsula. We remain focused on providing superior service to our customers and continuously seeking ways to improve our efficiency and performance. By providing water and wastewater services, we believe we are positioned as the primary resource for developers and communities throughout the Delmarva Peninsula seeking to fill both needs simultaneously. We believe we have a proven ability to acquire and integrate high growth, reputable entities, through which we have captured additional service territories that will serve as a base for future revenue. We believe this experience presents a strong platform for further expansion and that our success to date also produces positive relationships and credibility with regulators, municipalities, developers and customers in both existing and prospective service areas.

In our regulated water division, our strategy is to focus on a wide spectrum of activities, which include identifying new and dependable sources of supply, developing the wells, treatment plants and delivery systems to supply water to customers and educating customers on the wise use of water. Our strategy includes focused efforts to expand in new regions added to our Delaware service territory over the last 10 years. In addition, we believe growth will occur in the Maryland counties on the Delmarva Peninsula. We plan to expand our regulated water service area in the Cecil County designated growth corridor and to expand our business through the design, construction, operation, management and acquisition of additional water systems. The expansion of our exclusive franchise areas elsewhere in Maryland and the award of contracts will similarly enhance our operations within the state.

On February 23, 2017, Artesian Water entered into an agreement with Fort DuPont Redevelopment and Preservation Corporation, or FDRPC, for the purchase of existing water assets and for the provision of potable water and fire suppression services.  The Fort DuPont National Historic District, or Fort DuPont, consists of 325-acres and lies between the Delaware River on the east, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on the south and the Delaware City Branch Canal to the north and west.  The final purchase price for the water assets consisting of a water treatment plant, storage tank, wells, mains, and other equipment used to provide potable water and fire suppression services to portions of Fort DuPont and the surrounding properties was $852,000. Closing occurred in June 2017.  In connection with the planned future development of Fort DuPont, the parties intend to design, build and operate a state of the art, cost effective, safe and reliable water system that will include both new water assets as well as improvements and upgrades to the existing water assets.  The water system can be expanded to meet the needs of the planned 600 residential units as well as new commercial customers, in addition to water service currently provided to the Governor Bacon Health Center and National Guard facilities.

23

We believe that Delaware's generally lower cost of living in the region, availability of development sites in relatively close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean in Sussex County, and attractive financing rates for construction and mortgages have resulted, and will continue to result, in increases to our customer base. Delaware's lower property and income tax rate make it an attractive region for new home development and retirement communities.  Substantial portions of Delaware currently are not served by a public water system, which could also assist in an increase to our customer base as systems are added.

In our regulated wastewater division, we foresee significant growth opportunities and will continue to seek strategic partnerships and relationships with developers and governmental agencies to complement existing agreements for the provision of wastewater service on the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Wastewater plans to utilize our larger regional wastewater facilities to expand service areas to new customers while transitioning our smaller treatment facilities into regional pump stations in order to gain additional efficiencies in the treatment and disposal of wastewater. We feel this will reduce operational costs at the smaller treatment facilities in the future because they will be converted from treatment and disposal plants to pump stations to assist with transitioning the flow of wastewater from one regional facility to another.

Artesian Wastewater entered into agreements that will provide growth opportunities and will utilize our larger regional wastewater facilities.  In August 2016, Artesian Wastewater and Sussex County, a political subdivision of Delaware, entered into an agreement to provide reciprocal services to address the periodic need of each for additional wastewater treatment and disposal capacity in certain service areas within Sussex County.  There are numerous locations in Sussex County where Artesian Wastewater's and Sussex County's facilities are capable of being connected or integrated to allow for the movement and disposal of wastewater generated by one or the other's system in a manner that most efficiently and cost effectively manages wastewater transmission, treatment and disposal.

On September 27, 2016, Artesian Wastewater entered into a wastewater services agreement with Allen Harim for Artesian Wastewater to provide treatment and disposal services for sanitary wastewater discharged from Allen Harim's properties located in Sussex County, Delaware upon completion of a pipeline to transfer the sanitary wastewater.  The pipeline was completed in the second quarter of 2017. The transfer of sanitary wastewater is pending receipt of a construction permit and installation of related on-site improvements by Allen Harim.  On January 27, 2017, Artesian Wastewater entered into a second wastewater agreement with Allen Harim for Artesian Wastewater to provide disposal services for approximately 1.5 million gallons per day of treated industrial process wastewater upon completion of an approximately eight mile pipeline that will transfer the wastewater from Allen Harim's properties to a 90 million gallon storage lagoon at Artesian's Northern Sussex Regional Water Recycling Facility.  We will use the reclaimed wastewater for spray irrigation on agricultural land in the area.  The completion of the industrial process wastewater pipeline and storage lagoon should occur during the third quarter of 2018.

The general need for increased capital investment in our water and wastewater systems is due to a combination of population growth, more protective water quality standards and aging infrastructure. Our capital investment plan for the next three years includes projects for water treatment plant improvements and additions in both Delaware and Maryland and wastewater treatment plant improvements and expansion in Delaware. Capital improvements are planned and budgeted to meet anticipated changes in regulations and needs for increased capacity related to projected growth. The Delaware Public Service Commission and Maryland Public Service Commission have generally recognized the operating and capital costs associated with these improvements in setting water and wastewater rates for current customers and capacity charges for new customers.

In our non-regulated division, we continue pursuing opportunities to expand our contract operations. Through Artesian Utility, we will seek to expand our contract design, engineering and construction services of water and wastewater facilities for developers, municipalities and other utilities. We also anticipate continued growth due to our water, sewer and internal Service Line Protection Plans. Artesian Development owns two nine-acre parcels of land, located in Sussex County, Delaware, which will allow for construction of a water treatment facility and wastewater treatment facility. Artesian Storm Water was recently formed to expand contract work related to the design, installation, maintenance and repair services associated with existing or proposed storm water management systems in Delaware and the surrounding areas.

Inflation

We are affected by inflation, most notably by the continually increasing costs required to maintain, improve and expand our service capability.  The cumulative effect of inflation results in significantly higher facility costs compared to investments made 20 to 40 years ago, which must be recovered from future cash flows.
24

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Critical accounting policies and estimates are those we believe are most important to portraying the financial condition and results of operations and also require significant estimates, assumptions or other judgments by management.  The following provides an overview of the accounting policies that are particularly important to the results of operations and financial condition of the Company.  Changes in the estimates, assumptions or other judgments included within these accounting policies could result in a significant change to the financial statements in any quarterly or annual period. We consider the following policies to be the most critical in understanding the judgment that is involved in preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements. Senior management has discussed the selection and development of our critical accounting policies and estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

All additions to utility plant are recorded at cost. Cost includes direct labor, materials, and indirect charges for such items as transportation, supervision, pension, medical, and other fringe benefits related to employees engaged in construction activities. When depreciable units of utility plant are retired, any cost associated with retirement, less any salvage value or proceeds received, is charged to a regulated retirement liability.  Maintenance, repairs, and replacement of minor items of utility plant are charged to expense as incurred.

We record water service revenue, including amounts billed to customers on a cycle basis and unbilled amounts, based upon estimated usage from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the accounting period.  As actual usage amounts are received, adjustments are made to the unbilled estimates in the next billing cycle based on the actual results.  Estimates are made on an individual customer basis, based on one of three methods (the previous year's consumption in the same period, the previous billing period's consumption, or averaging) and are adjusted to reflect current changes in water demand on a system-wide basis. While actual usage for individual customers may differ materially from the estimate, we believe the overall total estimate of consumption and revenue for the fiscal period will not differ materially from actual billed consumption.

We record accounts receivable at the invoiced amounts. The reserve for bad debts is adjusted based on the provision for bad debts, which is calculated as a percentage of total water sales. The Company reviews the bad debt provision expense and the reserve for bad debts on a quarterly basis. Account balances are written off against the reserve when it is probable the receivable will not be recovered.

Our regulated utilities record deferred regulatory assets under Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 980, which are costs that may be recovered over various lengths of time as prescribed by the DEPSC, MDPSC and PAPUC. As the utility incurs certain costs, such as expenses related to rate case applications, a deferred regulatory asset is created. Adjustments to these deferred regulatory assets are made when the DEPSC, MDPSC or PAPUC determines whether the expense is recoverable in rates, the length of time over which an expense is recoverable, or, because of changes in circumstances, whether a remaining balance of deferred expense is recoverable in rates charged to customers. Adjustments to reflect changes in recoverability of certain deferred regulatory assets may have a significant effect on our financial results.

Our long-lived assets consist primarily of utility plant in service and regulatory assets. We review for impairment of our long-lived assets, including utility plant in service, in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 360.  We review regulatory assets for the continued application of FASB ASC Topic 980. Our review determines whether there have been changes in circumstances or events that have occurred that require adjustments to the carrying value of these assets. Adjustments to the carrying value of these assets would be made in instances where changes in circumstances or events indicate the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverabl e.  The Company believes there are no impairments in the carrying amounts of its long-lived assets or regulatory assets at December 31, 2017.


25

Results of Operations

2017 Compared to 2016

Operating Revenues

Revenues totaled $82.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, $3.1 million, or 4.0%, above revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 of $79.1 million. Water sales revenues increased $2.5 million, or 3.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in water sales is primarily due to an increase in DSIC, an increase in overall water consumption and an increase in customer charges from customer growth. We realized 88.8% of our total operating revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017 from the sale of water as compared to 89.3% for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Other utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.4 million, or 9.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase is primarily due to an increase in wastewater revenue from customer growth and an increase in water service charges.

Non-utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.3 million, or 6.7%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase is primarily due to an increase in Service Line Protection Plans, or SLP Plans, revenue.

Percentage of Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Water Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential
 
52.9
%
 
53.5
 
%
54.7
%
Commercial
 
21.6
 
 
21.6
 
 
21.1
 
Industrial
 
0.1
 
 
0.1
 
 
0.1
 
Government and Other
 
14.2
 
 
14.1
 
 
13.8
 
Other utility operating revenues
 
5.1
   
4.8
   
4.7
 
Non-utility operating revenues
 
6.1
 
 
5.9
 
 
5.6
 
Total
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
 
%
100.0
%

Residential

Residential water service revenues in 2017 amounted to $43.6 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 3.1%, above the $42.3 million recorded in 2016, primarily due to an increase in DSIC revenue and an increase in the number of customers. The volume of water sold to residential customers decreased slightly to 3,731 million gallons in 2017 compared to   3,741 million gallons in 2016, a 0.3% decrease. The number of residenti al customers served increased by approximately 1,400, or 1.8%, in 2017.

Commercial

Water service revenues from commercial customers in 2017 increased by 4.1%, from $17.1 million in 2016 to $17.8 million in 2017, primarily due to an increase in DSIC revenue and an increase in overall water consumption.   The volume of water sold to commercial customers increased to 2,220 million gallons in 2017 compared to 2,178 million gallons sold in 2016, an increase of 1.9%.

Industrial

Water service revenues from industrial customers decreased 2.6% from $77,000 in 2016 to $75,000 in 2017. The volume of water sold to industrial customers decreased to 7.5 million gallons in 2017 from 8.2 million gallons in 2016, a decrease of 8.5%.

Government and Other

Government and other water service revenues in 2017 increased by 4.5%, from $11.2 million in 2016 to $11.7 million in 2017, primarily due to an increase in DSIC revenue .  The volume of water sold to government and other customers increased to 935 million gallons in 2017 compared to 810 million gallons in 2016, an increase of 15.4%.

Other Utility Operating Revenue

Other utility operating revenue, derived from regulated wastewater services, contract operations, antenna leases on water tanks, finance/service charges and wastewater customer service revenues increased 9.5%, from $3.8 million in 2016 to $4.2 million in 2017. The increase is primarily due to an increase in wastewater revenue from customer growth and an increase in water service charges.

26

Non-Utility Operating Revenue

Non-utility operating revenue, derived from non-regulated water and wastewater operations, increased 6.7%, from $4.7 million in 2016 to $5.0 million in 2017.  The increase is primarily due to an increase in SLP Plan revenue.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $3.0 million, or 7.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016.  The components of the change in operating expenses primarily include an increase in utility operating expenses of $2.6 million, an increase in non-utility operating expenses of $0.2 million and an increase in property and other taxes of $0.2 million.

Utility operating expenses increased $2.6 million, or 7.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016.  The net increase is primarily related to the following.

·
Payroll, employee benefit costs and related expenses increased $1.5 million due to an increase in overall compensation, including equity compensation awards as well as an increase in discretionary profit sharing of 1% over last year.

·
Repair and maintenance expense increased $1.0 million, primarily due to an increase of expenses related to the maintenance of water treatment equipment, specifically carbon filter replacements, and maintenance of water treatment facilities and storage tanks.

·
Purchased water expense increased $0.3 million, primarily due to increased purchased water during relocation of a major transmission main in our northern New Castle County, Delaware water system due to state highway construction.

·
Water treatment expense increased $0.2 million, primarily due to an increase in the volume of chemicals purchased for water treatment and an increase in sludge removal related to supplementing the Town of Middletown during well repairs.

·
Administration expenses decreased $0.4 million, primarily due to a decrease in amortization of Delaware rate proceedings related to the 2014 rate case that was fully amortized at the end of 2016 and a decrease in legal costs associated with litigation before the DEPSC pertaining to a developer dispute over Contributions In Aid of Construction that was concluded in December 2016.  This decrease is partially offset by an increase in wastewater consulting services.

Non-utility expenses increased approximately $0.2 million, or 6.7%, primarily due to an increase in plumbing services related to the SLP Plans as well as an increase in payroll and benefit costs and consulting fees.

Property and other taxes increased $0.2 million, or 5.3%, primarily due to an increase in utility plant subject to taxation. Property taxes are assessed on land, buildings and certain utility plant, which include the footage and size of pipe, hydrants and wells. In addition, payroll taxes increased, primarily related to increased payroll related expenses.


Percentage of Operating and Maintenance Expenses
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Payroll and Associated Expenses
 
49.1
 %
 
49.7
 %
 
50.4
%
Administrative
 
14.4
 
 
15.6
 
 
15.8
 
Purchased Water
 
10.7
 
 
10.6
 
 
10.5
 
Repair and Maintenance
 
10.0
 
 
8.1
 
 
7.9
 
Purchased Power
 
5.6
   
6.0
   
6.2
 
Water Treatment
 
3.4
 
 
3.2
 
 
3.2
 
Non-utility Operating
 
6.8
 
 
6.8
 
 
6.0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
%

The ratio of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total revenue was 55.7% for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to 54.1% for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.4 million, or 4.0%, primarily due to continued investment in utility plant providing supply, treatment, storage and distribution of water to customers and service to our wastewater customers.

Federal and state income tax expense decreased $1.0 million, or 12.4%, primarily due to the reduction in the Federal corporate income tax rate by the Tax Cut and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017.  Also, the adoption of amended guidance issued by the FASB in 2017 that updated how stock compensation activities are recorded, resulting in excess tax benefits now being recorded immediately as a reduction to tax expense, compared to recording within equity previously. Also, we recognized an additional expense, for tax purposes only, related to the federal Domestic Production Activities Deduction, or DPAD, which reduced the effective tax rates.

27

Other Income, Net

Other income, net decreased $0.2 million, primarily due to a pledge made in 2017 to a non-profit entity in Delaware to support the State's economic development efforts that partially offset other income.  
   
Interest Charges

Interest expense decreased $0.5 million, primarily due to the refinancing of the Series O and Series Q First Mortgage Bonds in January 2017, reducing interest rates from 8.17% and 4.75%, respectively, to 4.24%. Additionally, there was an interest rate change from 6.73% to 4.45% effective March 1, 2016 for the Series S First Mortgage Bond.

Net Income

Our net income applicable to common stock increased $1.0 million . Operating revenues increased $3.1 million, while operating expenses increased $2.4 million. Partially offsetting the increase in operating expenses is a decrease in federal and state income tax expense of $1.0 million, primarily due to the reduction in the Federal corporate income tax rate by the Tax Cut and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017.  In addition, other income, net decreased $0.2 million and interest expense decreased $0.5 million.

 
2016 Compared to 2015

Operating Revenues

Revenues totaled $79.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, $2.1 million, or 2.7%, above revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 of $77.0 million. Water sales revenues increased $1.7 million, or 2.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in water sales revenue was primarily due to an increase in DSIC revenue of approximately $0.8 million and an increase in overall water consumption and the number of water customers. We realized 89.3% of our total operating revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016 from the sale of water as compared to 89.5% for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Other utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.1 million, or 3.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily due to an increase in wastewater revenue related to customer growth and new development inspections, partially offset by a decrease in operating subsidies due to developers satisfying their wastewater connection payments for all lots within certain communities.

Non-utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.3 million, or 6.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily due to an approximately $229,000 increase in SLP Plans revenue and contract service revenue.

Residential

Residential water service revenues in 2016 amounted to $42.3 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 2.6% above the $41.2 million recorded in 2015, primarily due to an increase in DSIC revenue and an increase in overall water consumption and the number of customers. The volume of water sold to residential customers increased to 3,741 million gallons in 2016 compared to   3,737 million gallons in 2015, a 0.1% increase. The number of residenti al customers served increased by approximately 1,300, or 1.6%, in 2016.

Commercial

Water service revenues from commercial customers in 2016 increased by 2.4%, from $16.7 million in 2015 to $17.1 million in 2016, primarily due to an increase in DSIC revenue and an increase overall water consumption.   The volume of water sold to commercial customers increased to 2,178 million gallons in 2016 compared to 2,150 million gallons sold in 2015, an increase of 1.3%.

28

Industrial

Water service revenues from industrial customers decreased 22.2% from $99,000 in 2015 to $77,000 in 2016. The volume of water sold to industrial customers decreased to 8.0 million gallons in 2016 from 11.0 million gallons in 2015, a decrease of 25.7%.

Government and Other

Government and other water service revenues in 2016 increased by 2.8%, from $10.9 million in 2015 to $11.2 million in 2016, primarily due to an increase in DSIC revenue .  The volume of water sold to government and other customers was 810 million gallons in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Other Utility Operating Revenue

Other utility operating revenue, derived from contract operations, antenna leases on water tanks, finance/service charges and wastewater customer service revenues increased 3.3%, from $3.7 million in 2015 to $3.8 million in 2016. The increase was primarily due to an increase in revenue from wastewater customers compared to 2015 and an increase in inspection fee revenue related to new development, partially offset by a decrease in operating subsidies due to developers satisfying their wastewater connection payments for all lots within certain communities

Non-Utility Operating Revenue

Non-utility operating revenue, derived from non-regulated water and wastewater operations, increased 6.5%, from $4.4 million in 2015 to $4.7 million in 2016.  The increase was primarily due to an approximately $0.3 million increase in SLP Plan revenue and contract service revenue.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, decreased $70,000, or 0.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The components of the change in operating expenses primarily include a decrease in utility operating expenses of $0.5 million, an increase in non-utility operating expenses of $0.3 million and an increase in property and other taxes of $0.1 million.

Utility operating expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 1.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.  The net decrease was primarily related to the following.

·
Payroll and employee benefit costs decreased $0.4 million, or 1.9%, primarily as a result of a discretionary profit sharing contribution to the employee deferred contribution retirement plan of 1% that was made in 2015 and not in 2016, unfilled employee position vacancies throughout 2016 and greater capitalized pay in 2016 related to a meter replacement project.  These decreases were partially offset by 2015 and 2016 merit based pay increases.

·
Purchased power expense decreased $0.1 million, or 5.2%, primarily due to the execution of a lower rate three-year supply contract effective May 2016.

·
Administration expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 1.6%, primarily due to a decrease in consulting fees related to an accounting software update in 2015 and a decrease in rate case costs due to the timing of expenses related to Artesian Water's rate applications.  These decreases were partially offset by increased legal costs associated with litigation before the DEPSC pertaining to a developer dispute over Contributions in Aid of Construction. Artesian submitted a petition to the DEPSC on October 20, 2016 requesting deferred accounting treatment related to this litigation, however the request was denied by the DEPSC on December 20, 2016.

·
Repair and maintenance costs increased $0.1 million, or 2.1%, primarily due to increased tank painting expenses due to the painting of more tanks in 2016 compared to 2015, partially offset by a decrease in water treatment expenses related to the installation of a new ultra violet oxidation treatment facility in 2015.

Non-utility expenses increased approximately $0.3 million, or 12.9%, primarily due to an increase in payroll and benefits costs as well as an increase in plumbing services related to the SLP Plans.

Property and other taxes increased by $0.1 million, or 2.8%, compared to the same period in 2015, reflecting increases in tax rates charged for public schools in various areas where we hold property and an increase in utility plant subject to taxation. Property taxes are assessed on land, buildings and certain utility plant, which include the footage and size of pipe, hydrants and wells primarily owned by Artesian Water.

29

The ratio of operating expense, excluding depreciation and income taxes, to total operating revenues was 54.1% for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to 55.6% for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.4 million, or 4.0%, primarily due to continued investment in utility plant in service providing supply, treatment, storage and distribution of water.

Federal and state income tax expense increased $0.5 million, primarily due to higher pre-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.  Our total effective income tax rate for 2016 and 2015 was 39.1% and 40.8%, respectively.

Other Income, Net

Allowance for funds used during construction, or AFUDC, decreased $27,000 in 2016 due to decreased long-term construction activity subject to AFUDC. Miscellaneous income increased $85,000, primarily due to the timing of charitable contributions this period compared to the same period in 2015.

Interest Charges

Interest expense decreased $0.4 million, primarily due to a decrease in the Series S First Mortgage Bond interest rate from 6.73% to 4.45% effective March 1, 2016 and a decrease in short-term debt outstanding.

Net Income

For the year ended December 31, 2016, our net income applicable to common stock increased $1.6 million compared to 2015. This increase in net income was primarily due to higher operating income margins in our water utility business as a result of increased water sales revenue and decreased utility operating expenses, as well as decreased interest expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

The Company's primary sources of liquidity for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $ 35.8 million provided by cash flow from operating activities, $11.4 million in net contributions and advances from developers and $1.7 million in net proceeds from the issuance of common stock. These funds were used to invest $41.1 million in capital expenditures and to pay dividends of approximately $8.5 million.

We depend on the availability of capital for expansion, construction and maintenance.  We rely on our sources of liquidity for investments in our utility plant and to meet our various payment obligations.  We expect that our net investments in our utility plant and systems in 2018 will be approximately $58.8 million.  Our total obligations related to interest and principal payments on indebtedness, rental payments and water service interconnection agreements for 2018 are anticipated to be approximately $10.8 million.  We expect to fund our activities for the next year using our available cash balances, bank credit lines, projected cash generated from operations and capital investment. We believe that internally generated funds along with existing credit facilities will be adequate to provide sufficient working capital to maintain normal operations and to meet our financing requirements.  However, because part of our business strategy is to expand through strategic acquisitions, we may seek additional debt financing or issue additional equity securities to finance future acquisitions or for other purposes. There is no assurance that we will be able to secure funding on terms acceptable to us, or at all.

Operating Activities

Our primary source of liquidity for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $35.8 million provided by cash flow from operating activities.  Cash flow from operating activities is primarily provided by our utility operations, and is impacted by the timeliness and adequacy of rate increases and changes in water consumption as a result of year-to-year variations in weather conditions, particularly during the summer. A significant part of our ability to maintain and meet our financial objectives is to ensure that our investments in utility plant and equipment are recovered in the rates charged to customers.  As such, from time to time, we file rate increase requests to recover increases in operating expenses and investments in utility plant and equipment.  In addition, the Company has a long history of paying regular quarterly dividends as approved by our Board of Directors using net cash from operating activities.

30

The primary focus of our investment in 2017 was to continue to provide high quality reliable service to our growing service territory.  We invested approximately $41.1 million in capital expenditures during 2017 compared to $28.2 million invested during the same period in 2016. During 2017, we invested approximately $10.1 million for our rehabilitation program for transmission and distribution facilities by replacing aging or deteriorating mains and for new transmission and distribution facilities.  We invested $5.7 million to enhance or improve existing treatment facilities, replace aging wells and pumping equipment to better serve our customers.   We invested $6.0 million for equipment purchases, computer hardware and software upgrades and transportation equipment. Developers financed $5.9 million for the installation of water mains and hydrants in 2017 compared to $6.1 million in 2016. We invested $2.1 million to upgrade and automate our meter reading equipment. We invested approximately $2.0 million in mandatory utility plant expenditures due to governmental highway projects, which required the relocation of water service mains in addition to facility improvements and upgrades. An additional $9.2 million was invested in wastewater projects in Delaware, of which $5.7 million was invested in the ongoing construction of an eight mile pipeline and a 90 million gallon storage lagoon for spray irrigation to dispose of treated wastewater from a new industrial customer.  

The following chart summarizes our investment in plant and systems over the past three fiscal years.

In thousands
 
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
Source of supply
 
$
2,172
   
$
302
   
$
584
 
Treatment and pumping
   
3,606
     
2,021
     
3,808
 
Transmission and distribution
   
14,265
     
14,865
     
8,854
 
General plant and equipment
   
6,080
     
2,083
     
2,670
 
Developer financed utility plant
   
5,909
     
7,996
     
3,849
 
Wastewater facilities
   
9,290
     
1,130
     
1,092
 
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, AFUDC
   
(227
)
   
(146
)
   
(163
)
   
Total
 
$
41,095
   
$
28,251
   
$
20,694
 

Of the $65.0 million we expect to invest in 2018, approximately $13.7 million will be invested in extending the transmission and distribution facilities to address service needs in growth areas of our service territory.  Approximately $8.4 will be invested in renewals associated with the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure and approximately $4.4 million will be invested in the relocations of facilities as a result of government mandates.   Approximately $15.4 million will be invested for new treatment facilities, facility upgrades, equipment and wells throughout Delaware and Maryland to identify, develop, treat and protect sources of water supply to assure uninterrupted service to our customers.  In addition, we will refund $1.0 million to customers, real estate developers and builders related to previous advances for construction they provided to Artesian for distribution facilities on their properties.

We also plan to invest $4.7 million in general plant, which includes new corporate automation, building renovations and transportation and equipment upgrades.  Additionally, $17.4 million will be invested in Artesian Wastewater for ongoing construction of wastewater plants and force mains, of which $9.0 million will be used to construct a 90 million gallon storage lagoon for spray irrigation to dispose of treated wastewater from a new industrial customer.  Our projected capital expenditures and other investments are subject to periodic review and revision to reflect changes in economic conditions and other factors.  The company's investment for 2018 is expected to be offset by developer contributions and advances of $6.2 million for a net investment of $58.8 million in 2018.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law. We are in the process of analyzing the TCJA and its overall impact on the Company. The TCJA reduces the federal corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent, among other things. Notwithstanding the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of the TCJA is uncertain.  However, based on its preliminary assessment of the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate, the Company currently expects that its 2018 effective tax rate will be reduced and will result in overall lower tax expense beginning in 2018.  Such estimate is based on management's current assumptions with respect to, among other things, the Company's earnings, state income tax levels and tax deductions. The Company's actual effective tax rate in 2018 may differ from management's estimate.  The TCJA also includes certain other provisions specifically related to the public utility industry, including the exclusion from utilizing bonus depreciation.  The impact with respect to provisions specifically related to the public utility industry or to corporate taxpayers in general may also impact our future financial performance, including our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity, which impacts will largely be determined through future regulatory proceedings.

On January 16, 2018, the DEPSC approved the opening of Docket No. 17-1240 requiring Delaware utilities to determine the impact that the TCJA had on its customers and potential rate relief due to customers. Delaware utilities are required to report their findings back to the DEPSC by March 31, 2018. The Company expects any reduction in corporate income tax expense resulting from the TCJA will be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rate.

31

Financing

We expect to fund our activities for the next twelve months using our available cash balances, bank credit lines, projected cash generated from operations and financing in the capital markets as necessary.

We have several sources of liquidity to finance our investment in utility plant and other fixed assets.  We estimate that the projected investment will be financed by our operations and external sources, including a combination of capital investment as well as short-term borrowings under our revolving credit agreements discussed below.

Our cash flows from operations are primarily derived from water sales revenues and may be materially affected by changes in water sales due to weather and the timing and extent of increases in rates approved by state public service commissions.

Lines of Credit

At December 31, 2017, Artesian Resources had a $40 million line of credit with Citizens Bank, or Citizens, which is available to all subsidiaries of Artesian Resources. As of December 31, 2017, there was $35.9 million of available funds under this line of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under this line is the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 1.00%. This is a demand line of credit and therefore the financial institution may demand payment for any outstanding amounts at any time. The term of this line of credit expires on the earlier of May 25, 2018 or any date on which Citizens demands payment. The Company expects to renew this line of credit.

At December 31, 2017, Artesian Water had a $20 million line of credit with CoBank, ACB, or CoBank, that allows for the financing of operations for Artesian Water, with up to $10 million of this line available for the operations of Artesian Water Maryland. As of December 31, 2017, there was $14.5 million of available funds under this line of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under this line is LIBOR plus 1.50%. CoBank may make an annual patronage refund, which has been equal to 1.00% of the average line of credit and loan volume outstanding by Artesian Water. The patronage refunds earned by Artesian Water for 2017 and 2016 were $0.6 million and $0.7 million respectively. The term of this line of credit expires on July 20, 2018. Artesian Water expects to renew this line of credit.

Line of Credit Commitments
Commitment Due by Period
 
 
In thousands
Less than
1 Year
 
1-3 Years
 
4-5 Years
 
Over 5 Years
 
Lines of Credit
 
$
9,610
   
$
-----
   
$
-----
   
$
-----
 

Long-Term Debt

Artesian Water's trust indentures, which set certain criteria for the issuance of new long-term debt, limit long-term debt, including the short-term portion thereof, to 66⅔% of total capitalization. Our debt to total capitalization, including the short-term portion thereof, was 47.8% at December 31, 2017.  In addition, our revolving line of credit with CoBank contains customary affirmative and negative covenants that are binding on us (which are in some cases subject to certain exceptions), including, but not limited to, restrictions on our ability to make certain loans and investments, guaranty certain obligations, enter into, or undertake, certain mergers, consolidations or acquisitions, transfer certain assets, change our business or incur additional indebtedness.  In addition, this line of credit requires us to abide by certain financial covenants and ratios.  As of December 31, 2017, we were in compliance with these covenants.

Contractual Obligations
 
Payments Due by Period
 
In thousands
 
Less than
1 Year
   
1-3
Years
   
4-5
Years
   
After 5
Years
   
Total
 
First mortgage bonds (principal and interest)
 
$
5,461
   
$
10,734
   
$
10,620
   
$
148,679
   
$
175,494
 
State revolving fund loans (principal and interest)
   
1,002
     
2,005
     
1,677
     
4,300
     
8,984
 
Unconditional purchase obligations
   
3,824
     
7,659
     
3,824
     
---
     
15,307
 
Operating leases
   
77
     
113
     
118
     
1,336
     
1,644
 
Tank painting contractual obligation
   
426
     
426
     
---
     
---
     
852
 
Total contractual cash obligations
 
$
10,790
   
$
20,937
   
$
16,239
   
$
154,315
   
$
202,281
 

32

Long-term debt obligations reflect the maturities of certain series of our first mortgage bonds, which we intend to refinance when due if not refinanced earlier.  The state revolving fund loan obligation has an amortizing mortgage payment payable over a 20-year period, and will be refinanced as future securities are issued. Both the long-term debt and the state revolving fund loan have certain financial covenant provisions, the violation of which could result in default and require the obligation to be immediately repaid, including all interest. We have not experienced conditions that would result in our default under these agreements.  Payments for unconditional purchase obligations reflect minimum water purchase obligations based on rates that are subject to change under our interconnection agreement with the Chester Water Authority, which expires December 31, 2021.

On January 18, 2017, Artesian Water and CoBank entered into a Bond Purchase Agreement relating to the issue and sale by the Company to CoBank of a $40 million principal amount First Mortgage Bond, Series T, or the Series T Bond, due December 20, 2036, or the Series T Maturity Date. The Series T Bond was issued pursuant to the Company's Indenture of Mortgage dated as of July 1, 1961, as amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures, including the Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, or the Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2017 from the Company to Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee. The Indenture is a first mortgage lien against substantially all of the Company's utility plant. The proceeds from the sale of the Series T Bond were used to prepay indebtedness of the Company under two existing First Mortgage Bonds: Series O, principal amount $20 million with interest rate of 8.17% and related prepayment costs of $4.5 million; and Series Q, principal amount $15.4 million with interest rate of 4.75%. The DEPSC approved the issuance of the Series T Bond on December 20, 2016. The DEPSC also approved deferral of the prepayment costs associated with the First Mortgage Bond, Series O and the previously deferred debt related costs associated with the First Mortgage Bonds, Series O and Series Q.

The Series T Bond carries an annual interest rate of 4.24% through and including the Series T Maturity Date. Interest is payable on June 30th and December 31st of each year, beginning June 30, 2017, until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest shall be discharged. Overdue payments shall bear interest as provided in the Supplemental Indenture. The terms of the Series T Bond also include certain limitations on the Company's indebtedness.

On January 31, 2018, Artesian Water and CoBank entered into a Bond Purchase Agreement relating to the issue and sale by the Company to CoBank of a $25 million principal amount First Mortgage Bond, Series U, or the Series U Bond, due January 31, 2038, or the Series U Maturity Date.  The Series U Bond was issued pursuant to the Company's Indenture of Mortgage dated as of July 1, 1961, as amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures, including the Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018 from the Company to Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  The Indenture is a first mortgage lien against substantially all of the Company's utility plant.  The proceeds from the sale of the Series U Bond together with other funds of the Company, were used to pay in full at maturity indebtedness of the Company under those certain First Mortgage Bonds, Series P.  The DEPSC approved the issuance of the Series U Bond on December 21, 2017.

The Series U Bond carries an annual interest rate of 4.71% through and including the Series U Maturity Date. Interest is payable on January 30 th , April 30 th , July 30 th and October 30 th in each year and on the Series U Maturity Date, beginning April 30, 2018 until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest shall be discharged.  Overdue payments shall bear interest as provided in the Supplemental Indenture. The term of the Series U Bond also includes certain limitations on the Company's indebtedness.

In January 2018, Artesian Water Maryland signed an interconnection agreement with the Town of North East that has a "take or pay" clause requiring us to purchase a minimum of 35,000 gallons per day that shall commence on the first day of the month following the date on which the interconnection is completed .  The interconnection completion date is expected to occur during the third quarter of 2018.

In order to control purchased power costs, in October 2015 Artesian Water entered into an electric supply contract for a term from May 2016 through May 2019 at a fixed rate 11.0% lower than its contract set to expire in May 2016 and a rate less than that charged by the local electric supplier. The previous contract term was in effect from May 2013 through May 2016.  

IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

See Note 17 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of the impact of recent accounting pronouncements.

33

ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company is subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal course of business. Our policy is to manage interest rates through the use of fixed rate long-term debt and, to a lesser extent, short-term debt. The Company's exposure to interest rate risk related to existing fixed rate, long-term debt is due to the term of the majority of our First Mortgage Bonds, which have final maturity dates ranging from 2028 to 2038, and interest rates ranging from 4.24% to 5.96%, which exposes the Company to interest rate risk as interest rates may drop below the existing fixed rate of the long-term debt prior to such debt's maturity. In addition, the Company has interest rate exposure on $60 million of variable rate lines of credit with two banks, under which the interim bank loans payable at December 31, 2017 were approximately $9.6 million. An increase in interest rates will result in an increase in the cost of borrowing on this variable rate line.  We are also exposed to market risk associated with changes in commodity prices. Our risks associated with price increases in chemicals, electricity and other commodities are mitigated by our ability to recover our costs through rate increases to our customers. We have also sought to mitigate future significant electric price increases by signing a multi-year supply contract, at a fixed price.

34



  ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
In thousands

ASSETS
 
December 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
Utility plant, at original cost less accumulated depreciation
 
$
460,502
   
$
425,502
 
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
   
952
     
226
 
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts 2017 - $288; 2016-$263)
   
8,897
     
7,796
 
Income tax receivable
   
2,353
     
150
 
Unbilled operating revenues
   
1,427
     
1,403
 
Materials and supplies
   
1,519
     
1,564
 
Prepaid property taxes
   
1,795
     
1,669
 
Prepaid expenses and other
   
2,042
     
1,827
 
Total current assets
   
18,985
     
14,635
 
Other assets
               
Non-utility property (less accumulated depreciation 2017-$689; 2016-$611)
   
3,882
     
3,881
 
Other deferred assets
   
3,721
     
3,584
 
Total other assets
   
7,603
     
7,465
 
Regulatory assets, net
   
7,549
     
3,374
 
 
 
$
494,639
   
$
450,976
 
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Stockholders' equity
               
Common stock
 
$
9,215
   
$
9,127
 
Preferred stock
   
     
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
99,526
     
97,480
 
Retained earnings
   
37,903
     
32,416
 
Total stockholders' equity
   
146,644
     
139,023
 
Long-term debt, net of current portion
   
105,587
     
102,331
 
 
   
252,231
     
241,354
 
Current liabilities
               
Lines of credit
   
9,610
     
7,130
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
1,344
     
1,316
 
Accounts payable
   
8,853
     
5,532
 
Accrued expenses
   
2,888
     
1,309
 
Overdraft payable
   
304
     
32
 
Accrued interest
   
1,805
     
1,000
 
Customer deposits
   
969
     
864
 
Other
   
2,688
     
2,145
 
Total current liabilities
 
$
28,461
   
$
19,328
 
 
               
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
   
     
 
 
               
Deferred credits and other liabilities
               
Net advances for construction
 
$
7,797
   
$
8,169
 
Regulatory liabilities
   
23,201
     
1,022
 
Deferred investment tax credits
   
526
     
544
 
Deferred income taxes
   
54,137
     
68,453
 
Total deferred credits and other liabilities
 
$
85,661
   
$
78,188
 
 
               
Net contributions in aid of construction
   
128,286
     
112,106
 
 
 
$
494,639
   
$
450,976
 
 
The notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements .

35

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
In thousands, except per share amounts

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
 
                 
Operating revenues
                 
Water sales
 
$
73,058
   
$
70,587
   
$
68,932
 
Other utility operating revenue
   
4,177
     
3,816
     
3,694
 
Non-utility operating revenue
   
5,000
     
4,686
     
4,398
 
 
   
82,235
     
79,089
     
77,024
 
Operating expenses
                       
Utility operating expenses
   
38,277
     
35,658
     
36,148
 
Non-utility operating expenses
   
2,777
     
2,602
     
2,305
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
9,555
     
9,188
     
8,837
 
Taxes
                       
State and federal income taxes (benefit) expense
                       
Current
   
(929
)
   
2,849
     
2,667
 
Deferred
   
8,224
     
5,482
     
5,117
 
Property and other taxes
   
4,731
     
4,491
     
4,368
 
 
   
62,635
     
60,270
     
59,442
 
 
                       
Operating income
   
19,600
     
18,819
     
17,582
 
 
                       
Other income, net
                       
Allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC)
   
334
     
222
     
249
 
Miscellaneous
   
226
     
557
     
472
 
 
   
560
     
779
     
721
 
 
                       
Income before interest charges
   
20,160
     
19,598
     
18,303
 
 
                       
Interest charges
   
6,177
     
6,644
     
6,998
 
 
                       
Net income applicable to common stock
 
$
13,983
   
$
12,954
   
$
11,305
 
 
                       
Income per common share:
                       
Basic
 
$
1.52
   
$
1.42
   
$
1.26
 
Diluted
 
$
1.51
   
$
1.41
   
$
1.26
 
 
                       
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                       
Basic
   
9,175
     
9,098
     
8,960
 
Diluted
   
9,242
     
9,161
     
9,005
 
 
                       
Cash dividends per share of common stock
 
$
0.9269
   
$
0.8997
   
$
0.8733
 

The notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

36

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
In thousands
   
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                 
Net income
 
$
13,983
   
$
12,954
   
$
11,305
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash  provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
   
9,555
     
9,188
     
8,837
 
Deferred income taxes, net
   
8,206
     
5,464
     
5,097
 
Stock compensation
   
423
     
92
     
183
 
AFUDC, equity portion
   
(227
)
   
(146
)
   
(163
)
 
                       
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
   
(187
)
   
(292
)
   
(867
)
Income tax receivable
   
(2,203
)
   
1,278
     
1,640
 
Unbilled operating revenues
   
(24
)
   
132
     
1,779
 
Materials and supplies
   
45
     
149
     
177
 
Prepaid property taxes
   
(126
)
   
(78
)
   
(190
)
Prepaid expenses and other
   
(215
)
   
(209
)
   
49
 
Other deferred assets
   
(172
)
   
(175
)
   
(167
)
Regulatory assets
   
405
     
734
     
187
 
Regulatory liabilities
   
(37
)
   
(81
)
   
(38
)
Accounts payable
   
3,321
     
618
     
1,131
 
Accrued expenses
   
1,579
     
55
     
(259
)
Accrued interest
   
805
     
(32
)
   
(396
)
Customer deposits and other, net
   
648
     
128
     
102
 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
   
35,779
     
29,779
     
28,407
 
 
                       
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                       
Capital expenditures (net of AFUDC, equity portion)
   
(41,094
)
   
(28,251
)
   
(20,694
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
   
87
     
96
     
48
 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
   
(41,007
)
   
(28,155
)
   
(20,646
)
 
                       
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                       
Net borrowings (repayments) under lines of credit agreements
   
2,480
     
(3,357
)
   
(8,004
)
Increase (decrease) in overdraft payable
   
272
     
(514
)
   
405
 
Net advances and contributions in aid of construction
   
11,353
     
9,907
     
5,829
 
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
1,711
     
1,826
     
3,049
 
Dividends paid
   
(8,496
)
   
(8,180
)
   
(7,811
)
Issuance of long-term debt
   
(148
)
   
-
     
 
Principal repayments of long-term debt
   
(1,218
)
   
(1,289
)
   
(1,263
)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED IN)  BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   
5,954
     
(1,607
)
   
(7,795
)
 
                       
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
726
     
17
     
(34
)
 
                       
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
   
226
     
209
     
243
 
 
                       
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR
 
$
952
   
$
226
   
$
209
 
 
                       
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
                       
Utility plant received as construction advances and contributions in aid of construction
 
$
5,662
   
$
2,499
   
$
1,451
 
Contractual amounts of contributions in aid of construction due from developers included in accounts receivable
 
$
2,910
   
$
1,542
   
$
796
 
Contractual amounts of contributions in aid of construction received from developers previously included in accounts receivable
 
$
1,995
   
$
388
   
$
377
 
 
                       
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
                       
Interest paid
 
$
5,372
   
$
6,676
   
$
7,394
 
Income taxes paid
 
$
1,281
   
$
1,434
   
$
2,608
 

The notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

37

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
In thousands

 
 
Common Shares Outstanding Class A Non-Voting (1) (3) (4)
   
Common Shares Outstanding Class B Voting (2)
   
$1 Par Value Class A Non-Voting
   
$1 Par Value Class B Voting
   
Additional Paid-in Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Total
 
 
                                         
Balance as of December 31, 2014
   
8,030
     
882
   
$
8,030
   
$
882
   
$
92,545
   
$
24,148
   
$
125,605
 
 
                                                       
Net income
   
     
     
     
     
     
11,305
     
11,305
 
Cash dividends declared
                                                       
Common stock
   
     
     
     
     
     
(7,811
)
   
(7,811
)
Issuance of common stock
                                                       
Dividend reinvestment plan
   
18
     
     
18
     
     
366
     
     
384
 
Employee stock options and awards (4)
   
111
     
     
111
     
     
2,419
     
     
2,530
 
Employee Retirement Plan (3)
   
17
     
     
17
     
     
301
     
     
318
 
Balance as of December 31, 2015
   
8,176
     
882
   
$
8,176
   
$
882
   
$
95,631
   
$
27,642
   
$
132,331
 
 
                                                       
Net income
   
     
     
     
     
     
12,954
     
12,954
 
Cash dividends declared
                                                       
Common stock
   
     
     
     
     
     
(8,180
)
   
(8,180
)
Issuance of common stock
                                                       
Dividend reinvestment plan
   
13
     
     
13
     
     
387
     
     
400
 
Employee stock options and awards (4)
   
38
     
     
38
     
     
939
     
     
977
 
Employee Retirement Plan (3)
   
18
     
     
18
     
     
523
     
     
541
 
Balance as of December 31, 2016
   
8,245
     
882
   
$
8,245
   
$
882
   
$
97,480
   
$
32,416
   
$
139,023
 
 
                                                       
Net income
   
     
     
     
     
     
13,983
     
13,983
 
Cash dividends declared
                                                       
Common stock
   
     
     
     
     
     
(8,496
)
   
(8,496
)
Issuance of common stock
                                                       
Dividend reinvestment plan
   
11
     
     
11
     
     
378
     
     
389
 
Employee stock options and awards (4)
   
67
     
     
67
     
     
1,313
     
     
1,380
 
Employee Retirement Plan (3)
   
10
     
     
10
     
     
355
     
     
365
 
Balance as of December 31, 2017
   
8,333
     
882
   
$
8,333
   
$
882
   
$
99,526
   
$
37,903
   
$
146,644
 

(1)
At December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, Class A Common Stock had 15,000,000 shares authorized.  For the same periods, shares issued, inclusive of treasury shares, were 8,362,431, 8,275,010 and 8,205,190, respectively.
(2)
At December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, Class B Common Stock had 1,040,000 shares authorized and 882,000 shares issued.
(3)
Artesian Resources Corporation registered 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock available for purchase through the Artesian Retirement Plan and the Artesian Supplemental Retirement Plan.
(4)
Under the Equity Compensation Plan, effective December 9, 2015 Artesian Resources Corporation authorized up to 331,500 shares of Class A Common Stock for issuance of grants in forms of stock options, stock units, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as discussed in the Plan. Includes stock compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, see Note 1-Stock Compensation Plans.

The notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
 
38

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The audited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-K and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and consequently include all the disclosures required in the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries and all intercompany balances and transactions between subsidiaries have been eliminated.

Utility Subsidiary Accounting

The accounting records of Artesian Water Company, Inc., or Artesian Water, and Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater, are maintained in accordance with the uniform system of accounts as prescribed by the Delaware Public Service Commission, or the DEPSC.  The accounting records of Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc., or Artesian Water Pennsylvania, are maintained in accordance with the uniform system of accounts as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or the PAPUC.  The accounting records of Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Water Maryland, and Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., or Artesian Wastewater Maryland, are maintained in accordance with the uniform system of accounts as prescribed by the Maryland Public Service Commission, or the MDPSC.  All five subsidiaries follow the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 980, which provides guidance for companies in regulated industries. These regulated subsidiaries account for the majority of our operating revenue. The operating revenues of our non-regulated division are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Utility Plant

Utility plant is stated at original cost.  Cost includes direct labor, materials, AFUDC (see description below) and indirect charges for such capitalized items as transportation, supervision, pension, medical, and other fringe benefits related to employees engaged in construction activities. When depreciable units of utility plant are retired, any cost associated with retirement, less any salvage value or proceeds received, is charged to the regulated retirement liability.  Maintenance, repairs, and replacement of minor items of plant are charged to expense as incurred.

In accordance with a rate order issued by the DEPSC, Artesian Water accrues an Allowance for Funds Used during Construction, or AFUDC. AFUDC, which represents the cost of funds devoted to construction projects through the date the project is placed in service, is capitalized as part of construction work in progress. The rate used for the AFUDC calculation is based on Artesian Water's weighted average cost of debt and the rate of return on equity authorized by the DEPSC.  The rate used to capitalize AFUDC in 2017, 2016, and 2015 was 7.7%, 8.1%, and 8.1% respectively.

39

Utility plant comprises :
           
In thousands
           
 
       
December 31,
 
 
 
Estimated Useful Life
(In Years)
   
2017
   
2016
 
Utility plant at original cost
                 
Utility plant in service-Water
                 
Intangible plant
   
   
$
140
   
$
140
 
Source of supply plant
   
45-85
     
20,959
     
19,627
 
Pumping and water treatment plant
   
8-62
     
81,180
     
78,542
 
Transmission and distribution plant
                       
Mains
   
81
     
252,569
     
236,261
 
Services
   
39
     
42,232
     
38,803
 
Storage tanks
   
76
     
24,729
     
24,108
 
Meters
   
26
     
25,628
     
24,710
 
Hydrants
   
60
     
13,760
     
12,870
 
General plant
   
3-31
     
56,784
     
53,417
 
 
                       
Utility plant in service-Wastewater
                       
Treatment and disposal plant
   
35-62
     
17,421
     
15,613
 
Collection mains & lift stations
   
81
     
13,692
     
8,675
 
General plant
   
3-31
     
1,006
     
931
 
 
                       
Property held for future use
   
     
14,647
     
14,815
 
Construction work in progress
   
     
12,700
     
6,674
 
 
           
577,447
     
535,186
 
Less – accumulated depreciation
           
116,945
     
109,684
 
 
         
$
460,502
   
$
425,502
 

Depreciation and Amortization

For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method at rates based on estimated economic useful lives, which range from 3 to 85 years. Composite depreciation rates for water utility plant were 2.27%, 2.25% and 2.29% for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In a rate order issued by the DEPSC, the Company was directed effective January 1, 1998 to begin using revised depreciation rates for utility plant. In rate orders issued by the DEPSC, Artesian Water was directed, effective May 28, 1991 and August 25, 1992, to offset depreciation recorded on utility plant by depreciation on utility property funded by Contributions in Aid of Construction, or CIAC, and Advances for Construction, or Advances, respectively.  This reduction in depreciation expense is also applied to outstanding CIAC and Advances.  Other deferred assets are amortized using the straight-line method over applicable lives, which range from 20 to 24 years.

Regulatory Assets

The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, ASC Topic 980 stipulates generally accepted accounting principles for companies whose rates are established or subject to approvals by a third-party regulatory agency. Certain expenses are recoverable through rates charged to our customers, without a return on investment, and are deferred and amortized during future periods using various methods as permitted by the Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC.

The postretirement benefit obligation is the recognition of an offsetting regulatory liability as it relates to the accrual of the expected cost of providing postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees when they render the services necessary to earn the benefits.  Artesian Water contributed $37,000 to its postretirement benefit plan in 2017. These co ntributions consist of insurance premium payments for medical, dental and life insurance benefits made on behalf of the Company's eligible retired employees.

The deferred income taxes will be amortized over future years as the tax effects of temporary differences that previously flowed through to our customers are reversed.

40

Debt related costs include debt issuance costs and other debt related expense. The DEPSC has allowed rate recovery on unamortized issuance costs and make-whole premiums associated with the early retirement of Series O and Q First Mortgage bonds as the replacement of that debt in January 2017 with Series T First Mortgage bonds was deemed more favorable for the ratepayers.  The DEPSC has also allowed rate recovery on issuance costs associated with the Series U First Mortgage bond purchase in January 2018 that paid the full indebtedness of the Series P First Mortgage bond.  These amounts are recovered over the term of the new long-term debt issued.

Regulatory expenses amortized on a straight-line basis are noted below:

Expense
Years Amortized
Depreciation and salary studies
5
Delaware rate proceedings
2.5
Maryland rate proceedings
5
Debt related costs
15 to 25
(based on term of related debt)
Goodwill (resulting from acquisition of Mountain Hill Water Company in 2008)
50
Deferred acquisition costs (resulting from purchase of water assets in Cecil County, Maryland in 2011 and Port Deposit, Maryland in 2010)
20
Franchise Costs (resulting from purchase of water assets in Cecil County, Maryland in 2011)
80

Regulatory assets, net of amortization, comprise:

(in thousands)
 
December 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
 
           
Postretirement benefit obligation
 
$
149
   
$
186
 
Deferred income taxes
   
416
     
431
 
Expense of rate and regulatory proceedings
   
70
     
116
 
Debt issuance costs
   
5,965
     
1,648
 
Goodwill
   
303
     
310
 
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs
   
646
     
683
 
 
 
$
7,549
   
$
3,374
 

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets

Our long-lived assets consist primarily of utility plant in service and regulatory assets.  A review of our long-lived assets is performed in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 360. In addition, the regulatory assets are reviewed for the continued application of FASB ASC Topic 980.  The review determines whether there have been changes in circumstances or events that have occurred requiring adjustments to the carrying value of these assets.  FASB ASC Topic 980 stipulates that adjustments to the carrying value of these assets would be made in instances where the inclusion in the rate-making process is unlikely.

Other Deferred Assets

The investment in Co-Bank, which is a cooperative bank, is related to certain outstanding First Mortgage Bonds and is a required investment in the bank based on the underlying long term debt agreements.  A large portion of the remaining other deferred assets, approximately $0.3 million, is in relation to the Mountain Hill acquisition.

Other deferred assets at December 31, net of amortization, comprise:

In thousands
2017
 
2016
 
 
       
Investment in CoBank
 
$
3,358
   
$
3,198
 
Other
   
363
     
386
 
   
$
3,721
   
$
3,584
 

41

Advances for Construction

Cash advances to reimburse Artesian Water for its costs to construct water mains, services and hydrants are contributed to Artesian Water by real estate developers and builders in order to extend water service to their properties. The Company only accepts advances related to new phases of existing developments that are grandfathered into the refundable arrangement through pre-existing contracts.  The value of these contributions is recorded as Advances for Construction. Artesian Water makes refunds on these advances over a specific period of time based on operating revenues generated by the specific plant or as new customers are connected to the mains. After all refunds are made within the contract period, any remaining balance is transferred to CIAC.

Contributions in Aid of Construction

CIAC includes the non-refundable portion of advances for construction and direct contributions of water mains, services and hydrants, and wastewater treatment facilities and collection systems, or cash to reimburse our water and wastewater divisions for costs to construct water mains, services and hydrants, and wastewater treatment and disposal plant.

Regulatory Liabilities

The Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, ASC Topic 980 stipulates generally accepted accounting principles for companies whose rates are established or subject to approvals by a third-party regulatory agency.  Certain obligations are deferred and/or amortized as determined by the Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, the Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC.  Regulatory liabilities represent excess recovery of cost or other items that have been deferred because it is probable such amounts will be returned to customers through future regulated rates.

The postretirement benefit obligation is the recognition of an offsetting regulatory asset as it relates to the accrual of the expected cost of providing postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to retired employees when they render the services necessary to earn the benefits.  Artesian Water contributed $37,000 to its postretirement benefit plan in 2017. These contributions consist of insurance premium payments for medical, dental and life insurance benefits made on behalf of the Company's eligible retired employees.

Utility plant retirement cost obligation consists of estimated costs related to the potential removal and replacement of facilities and equipment on the Company's water and wastewater properties.  Effective January 1, 2012, as authorized by the DEPSC, when depreciable units of utility plant are retired, any cost associated with retirement, less any salvage value or proceeds received is charged to a regulated retirement liability.  Each year the liability is increased by an annual amount authorized by the DEPSC.

Pursuant to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) on December 22, 2017, the Company adjusted its existing deferred income tax balances as of December 31, 2017 to reflect the decrease in the corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21% (see Note 3).  This resulted in a decrease in the net deferred income tax liability of approximately $23.5 million of which $22.5 million was reclassed to a regulatory liability. These amounts are subject to certain Internal Revenue Service normalization rules that require the benefits to customers be spread over the remaining useful life of the underlying assets giving rise to the associated deferred income taxes.  The amount and timing of potential settlements of the established net regulatory liabilities will be determined by the utilities' respective rate regulators..

Regulatory liabilities comprise:
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
December 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
 
           
Postretirement benefit obligation
 
$
112
   
$
149
 
Utility plant retirement cost obligation
   
549
     
873
 
Deferred income taxes (related to TCJA)
   
22,540
     
-
 
                 
   
$
23,201
   
$
1,022
 

Income Taxes

The TCJA makes many significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code, including, but not limited to (1) reducing the federal corporate tax rate to a flat 21%; (2) creating a 30% limitation on deductible interest expense (not applicable to regulated utilities); (3) the loss of future bonus depreciation deductions on utility plant capital projects that began after September 27, 2017; (4) eliminating the domestic production activities deduction; (5) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax and changing how existing alternative minimum tax credits can be realized; (6) changing the rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and (7) repealing the exclusion from gross income contributions in aid of construction (CIAC) for water utilities.  The most significant change that impacts Artesian Resources is the reduction of the corporate federal income tax rate from our previous effect rate of 34% to the new flat tax rate of 21% beginning January 1, 2018.

42

The SEC Staff issued Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provides guidance to address situations where a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the TCJA in the period in which the TCJA was enacted.  Under the guidance, registrants can report the effects of the TCJA as provisional amounts based on reasonable estimates in those areas in which the accounting is incomplete.  The provisional amounts are subject to adjustment during a measurement period that can extend no longer than one year from the enactment date.  The Company made reasonable estimates in measuring and accounting for the effects of the TCJA, which are reflected in the December 31, 2017 financial statements, however, these estimates could change based on further analysis of the TCJA or further regulatory rulings from the Company's various Public Service Commissions.

Deferred income taxes are provided in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740 on all differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the amounts at which they are carried in the consolidated financial statements based on the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such temporary differences are expected to reverse. The Company's rate regulated utilities recognize regulatory liabilities, to the extent considered in ratemaking, for deferred taxes provided in excess of the current statutory tax rate and regulatory assets for deferred taxes provided at rates less than the current statutory rate.  Such tax-related regulatory assets and liabilities are reported at the revenue requirement level and amortized to income as the related temporary differences reverse, generally over the lives of the related properties.

Under FASB ASC Topic 740, an uncertain tax position represents our expected treatment of a tax position taken, or planned to be taken in the future, that has not been reflected in measuring income tax expense for financial reporting purposes. The Company establishes reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions. These accounting estimates related to the uncertain tax position reserve require judgments to be made as to the sustainability of each uncertain tax position based on its technical merits. The Company believes its tax positions comply with applicable law and that it has adequately recorded reserves as required. However, to the extent the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the estimates recorded, the Company would then adjust its tax reserves or unrecognized tax benefits in the period that this information becomes known. The Company has elected to recognize accrued interest (net of related tax benefits) and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of its income tax expense. T he Company remains subject to examination by federal authorities for the tax years 2015 through 2017 and state authorities for the tax years 2014 through 2017.  The Company was under federal audit by the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2012 through 2014 during 2016.  The audit concluded in 2016 resulting in no change to the tax liability.

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 mandated that Advances and CIAC received subsequent to December 31, 1986, generally are taxable income.  The 1996 Tax Act provided an exclusion from taxable income for CIAC and Advances received after June 12, 1996 except for certain contributions for large services that are not included in rate base for rate-making purposes.  On December 22, 2017, the TCJA repealed the 1996 exclusion from gross income effect on the enactment date.

Investment tax credits were deferred through 1986 and are recognized as a reduction of deferred income tax expense over the estimated economic useful lives of the related assets.

Stock Compensation Plans

On December 9, 2015, the Company's stockholders approved the 2015 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan replaced the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2005 Plan, which expired on May 24, 2015. The 2015 Plan authorizes an aggregate number of shares of our Class A common stock that may be issued or transferred under the Plan equal to the sum of:  331,500 shares, plus the number of shares of Class A common stock subject to outstanding grants under the 2005 Plan as of December 9, 2015 that terminate, expire or are cancelled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, vested or paid under the 2005 Plan. The Company accounts for stock options issued after January 1, 2006 under FASB ASC Topic 718. Compensation costs for restricted stock grants and options were $423,000, $92,000 and $183,000 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cost for options and restricted stock grants were determined based on the fair value at the grant dates and those costs were charged to income over the associated service periods. The $183,000 in 2015 was the amount amortized for restricted stock awarded in 2015 and stock options awarded in 2014.  The $92,000 in 2016 was the amount amortized for restricted stock  awarded in 2016. The $423,000 was the amount amortized for restricted and unrestricted stock awarded in 2016 and 2017. As of December 31, 2017 there is $64,000 unrecognized expense related to non-vested awards of restricted shares granted under the 2015 Plan.

There was no stock compensation cost capitalized as part of an asset.

Stock Options

No options were granted in 2015, 2016 or 2017.

Shares of Class A Stock have been reserved for future issuance under the 2015 Equity Compensation Plan.

43

Stock Awards

On June 28, 2017, 6,568 shares of Class A common stock, or Class A Stock, were issued as fully vested unrestricted stock awards. The fair market value per share was $38.06, the closing price of the Class A Stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 28, 2017. A total of $250,000 was recorded as compensation cost for the stock awards granted in June 2017.

On May 3, 2017, 5,000 shares of Class A Stock were granted as restricted stock awards.  The fair value per share was $38.10, the closing price of the Class A Stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 3, 2017.  The restricted shares are subject to a one-year vesting period from the date of grant.  Prior to their release date, these restricted stock awards may be subject to forfeiture in the event of the recipient's termination of service. $127,000 has been amortized and recorded as expense in 2017 for the stock awards granted in May 2017.

On May 4, 2016, 5,000 shares of Class A common stock were granted as restricted stock awards.  The fair market value per share was $27.70, the closing price of the Class A common stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 4, 2016.  The restricted shares vested one year from the date of grant.  A total of $92,000 and $47,000 in 2016 and 2017, respectively, was recorded as compensation cost for the awards granted in May 2016.

Revenue Recognition and Unbilled Revenues

Water service revenue for financial statement purposes includes amounts billed to Delaware customers on a monthly basis, amounts billed to Maryland customers on a quarterly or monthly cycle basis, depending on water system, and amounts billed to Pennsylvania customers on a quarterly basis.  Water service revenues also include unbilled amounts based upon estimated usage from the date of the last meter reading to the end of the accounting period. As actual usage amounts are received, adjustments are made to the unbilled estimates in the next billing cycle based on an accrual basis.

Other utility operating revenue includes wastewater service revenue derived from monthly fixed fees billed to customers, and is recognized on an accrual basis.  

Non-utility operating revenue is primarily derived from Service Line Protection Plans and from the design, construction and operation of contract water and wastewater projects.  The Company recognizes non-utility operating revenue ratably over the service period with markup for overhead and profit.  The Company records contract monthly fees for non-utility operating revenue when billed to the customer. Service line protection plan revenues are recognized on an accrual basis.


Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts on a quarterly basis. Account balances are written off against the allowance when it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.3 million at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.  The corresponding expense for each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $0.2 million. The following table summarizes the changes in the Company's accounts receivable balance:

 
December 31,
 
In thousands
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
           
Customer accounts receivable – water
 
$
5,487
   
$
5,437
   
$
5,017
 
Contractual amounts due from developers and other
   
3,698
     
2,622
     
1,610
 
 
   
9,185
     
8,059
     
6,627
 
Less allowance for doubtful accounts
   
288
     
263
     
277
 
Net accounts receivable
 
$
8,897
   
$
7,796
   
$
6,350
 

44

The activities in the allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:

 
December 31,
 
In thousands
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
           
Beginning balance
 
$
263
   
$
277
   
$
250
 
Allowance adjustments
   
215
     
195
     
205
 
Recoveries
   
41
     
64
     
53
 
Write off of uncollectible accounts
   
(231
)
   
(273
)
   
(231
)
Ending balance
 
$
288
   
$
263
   
$
277
 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, Artesian Resources considers all temporary cash investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries utilize their bank's zero balance account disbursement service to reduce the use of their lines of credit by funding checks as they are presented to the bank for payment rather than at issuance. If the checks currently outstanding, but not yet funded, exceed the cash balance on our books, the net liability is recorded as a current liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in the Overdraft Payable account.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., which require management to make estimates about the reported amounts of assets and liabilities including unbilled revenues, reserve for a portion of revenues received under temporary rates and regulatory asset recovery and contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from management's estimate.


NOTE 2

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Current Assets and Liabilities

For those current assets and liabilities that are considered financial instruments, the carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

Long-term Financial Liabilities

All of Artesian Resources' outstanding long-term debt as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was fixed-rate. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt is determined by discounting their future cash flows using current market interest rates on similar instruments with comparable maturities consistent with FASB ASC 825.  Under the fair value hierarchy, the fair value of the long-term debt in the table below is classified as Level 2 measurements.  Level 2 is valued using observable inputs other than quoted prices.  The fair values for long-term debt differ from the carrying values primarily due to interest rates that differ from the current market interest rates. The carrying amount and fair value of Artesian Resources' long-term debt are shown below:

In thousands
December 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
Carrying amount
 
$
106,931
   
$
103,647
 
Estimated fair value
   
110,524
     
111,864
 

The fair value of Advances for Construction cannot be reasonably estimated due to the inability to estimate accurately the timing and amounts of future refunds expected to be paid over the life of the contracts. Refund payments are based on the water sales to new customers in the particular development constructed. The fair value of Advances for Construction would be less than the carrying amount because these financial instruments are non-interest bearing.

45

NOTE 3

INCOME TAXES

Deferred income taxes reflect temporary differences between the valuation of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting.  Pursuant to the enactment of the TCJA, the Company adjusted its existing deferred income tax balances as of December 31, 2017 to reflect the decrease in the corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21%, which resulted in a decrease in the net deferred income tax liability of approximately $23.5 million.  Artesian Resources recorded a net benefit to continuing operations of approximately $1.0 million, while the regulated utility subsidiaries recorded a regulatory liability related to deferred income taxes to be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rate (see Note 1) in the amount of approximately $22.5 million. The amount and timing of potential settlements of the established net regulatory liabilities will be determined by the utilities' respective rate regulators, subject to certain Internal Revenue Service normalization rules. The normalization rules require that the benefits to customers be spread over the remaining useful life of the underlying assets giving rise to the associated deferred income taxes.

At December 31, 2017, for federal income tax purposes, there were alternative minimum tax credit carry-forwards aggregating $1.8 million resulting from the payment of alternative minimum tax in prior years.  Effective January 1, 2018, these alternative minimum tax credit carry-forwards are available for refund. The Company has reclassified all of its AMT credits into the current tax receivable as of December 31, 2017 since they are expected to be utilized in 2018.

As of December 31, 2017, Artesian Resources had fully utilized all of its federal net operating loss carrybacks and carry-forwards. As of December 31, 2017, Artesian Resources has separate company state net operating loss carry-forwards aggregating approximately $15.4 million. These net operating loss carry-forwards will expire if unused between 2019 and 2038 . Artesian Resources has recorded a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets that may not be realized due to the expiration of the state net operating loss carry-forwards. The valuation allowance increased to approximately $360,000 in 2017 from approximately $286,000 in 2016. Management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of these net deferred tax assets.

Components of Income Tax Expense
   
In thousands
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
State income taxes
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Current
 
$
489
   
$
1,050
   
$
499
 
Deferred
   
1,368
     
860
     
1,299
 
Total state income tax expense
 
$
1,857
   
$
1,910
   
$
1,798
 
 
   
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
Federal income taxes
   
2017
     
2016
     
2015
 
Current
 
$
(1,418
)
 
$
1,799
   
$
2,168
 
Deferred
   
6,856
     
4,622
     
3,818
 
Total federal income tax expense
 
$
5,438
   
$
6,421
   
$
5,986
 

Reconciliation of effective tax rate:
 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
In thousands
2017
 
2017
 
2016
 
2016
 
2015
 
2015
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Reconciliation of effective tax rate
                       
Income before federal and state income taxes
 
$
21,278
     
100.0
%
 
$
21,285
     
100.0
%
 
$
19,088
     
100.0
%
 
                                               
Amount computed at statutory rate
   
7,234
     
34.0
%
   
7,237
     
34.0
%
   
6,490
     
34.0
%
Reconciling items
                                               
State income tax-net of federal tax benefit
   
1,297
     
6.1
%
   
1,327
     
6.2
%
   
1,214
     
6.4
%
Federal rate change
   
(957
)
   
(4.5
%)
   
--
     
--
     
--
     
--
 
Other
   
(279
)
   
(1.3
)%
   
(233
)
   
(1.1
)%
   
80
     
0.4
%
Total income tax expense and effective rate
 
$
7,295
     
34.3
%
 
$
8,331
     
39.1
%
 
$
7,784
     
40.8
%

46

Deferred income taxes at December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 were comprised of the following:

 
 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
In thousands
 
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
 
                 
Deferred tax assets related to:
                 
Federal alternative minimum tax credit carry-forwards
 
$
-
   
$
2,474
   
$
3,971
 
Federal and state operating loss carry-forwards
   
1,094
     
752
     
675
 
Bad debt allowance
   
80
     
104
     
110
 
Valuation allowance
   
(360
)
   
(286
)
   
(182
)
Stock options
   
207
     
452
     
415
 
Other
   
161
     
320
     
291
 
Total deferred tax assets
 
$
1,182
   
$
3,816
   
$
5,280
 
 
                       
Deferred tax liabilities related to:
                       
Property plant and equipment basis differences
 
$
(52,629
)
 
$
(70,711
)
 
$
(66,508
)
Bond retirement costs
   
(1,437
)
   
0
     
0
 
Uncertain tax position
   
(145
)
   
(80
)
   
(247
)
Expenses of rate proceedings
   
(8
)
   
(19
)
   
(213
)
Property taxes
   
(500
)
   
(663
)
   
(527
)
Other
   
(600
)
   
(796
)
   
(756
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
 
$
(55,319
)
 
$
(72,269
)
 
$
(68,251
)
 
                       
 
                       
Net deferred tax liability
 
$
(54,137
)
 
$
(68,453
)
 
$
(62,971
)

Schedule of Valuation Allowance
 
 
Balance at Beginning of Period
 
Additions
Charged to Costs and Expenses
 
Deductions
 
Balance at End of Period
 
In thousands
               
 
               
Classification
               
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
 
$
286
   
$
74
     
   
$
360
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
 
$
182
   
$
104
     
   
$
286
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015 Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
 
$
65
   
$
117
     
   
$
182
 

Under FASB ASC Topic 740, the Company established two reserves for uncertain tax positions based upon management's judgment as to the sustainability of these positions.

In 2014, the Company changed its tax method of accounting for qualifying utility system repairs effective with the tax year ended December 31, 2014 and for prior tax years. The tax accounting method was changed to permit the expensing of qualifying utility asset improvement costs that were previously being capitalized and depreciated for book and tax purposes. The Company will recognize a tax deduction on its 2017 Federal tax return when filed of $4.5 million for qualifying capital expenditures made during the year.

In December 2015, the Company was notified by the IRS that its Federal tax filing for 2014 would be reviewed along with the effects of the net operating loss generated in 2014 and carryback to the 2012 and 2013 tax years.  This review, which began in the first quarter of 2016 and was completed in the second quarter of 2016, resulted in no change to the tax liability.  Since the Company had previously recorded a provision for the possible disallowance of a portion of the repair deduction in prior periods, the completion of the audit resulted in the reversal of the reserve, including interest and penalties, in the amount of approximately $201,000.  While the Company maintains the belief that the deduction taken on its tax return is appropriate, the methodology for determining the deduction has not been agreed to by the tax authorities.  Therefore, as required by FASB ASC 740, the Company reserved an additional liability related to a portion of the repair deduction for 2017.

47

Additionally, the Company reserved a liability related to the difference in the tax depreciation utilizing the half-year convention rather than the mid-quarter convention.

The following table provides the changes in the Company's uncertain tax position:

   
For the years ended December 31,
 
In thousands
 
2017
   
2016
 
Balance at beginning of year
 
$
80
   
$
247
 
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year 
   
118
     
23
 
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years
   
8
     
11
 
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
   
-
     
(201
)
Settlements
   
-
     
-
 
Federal tax rate change
   
(61
)
       
Lapses in Statutes of Limitations
   
-
     
-
 
Balance at end of year
 
$
145
   
$
80
 

NOTE 4

PREFERRED STOCK

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, Artesian Resources had no preferred stock outstanding.  Artesian Resources has 100,000 shares of $1.00 par value Series Preferred stock authorized but unissued.

NOTE 5

COMMON STOCK AND ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL

The Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, or Class A Stock, of Artesian Resources trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol ARTNA.  The Class B Common Stock, or Class B Stock, of Artesian Resources trades on the NASDAQ's OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol ARTNB.  The rights of the holders of the Class A Stock and the Class B Stock are identical, except with respect to voting.

Under Artesian Resources' dividend reinvestment plan, which allows for reinvestment of cash dividends and optional cash payments, stockholders were issued approximately 11,000, 13,000 and 18,000 shares at fair market value for the investment of $389,000, $400,000, and $384,000 of their monies in the years 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

NOTE 6

DEBT

At December 31, 2017, Artesian Resources had a $40 million line of credit with Citizens Bank, or Citizens, which is available to all subsidiaries of Artesian Resources. As of December 31, 2017, there was $35.9 million of available funds under this line of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under this line is the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 1.00%. This is a demand line of credit and therefore the financial institution may demand payment for any outstanding amounts at any time. The term of this line of credit expires on the earlier of May 25, 2018 or any date on which Citizens demands payment. The Company expects to renew this line of credit.

At December 31, 2017, Artesian Water had a $20 million line of credit with CoBank, ACB, or CoBank, that allows for the financing of operations for Artesian Water, with up to $10 million of this line available for the operations of Artesian Water Maryland. As of December 31, 2017, there was $14.5 million of available funds under this line of credit. The interest rate for borrowings under this line is LIBOR plus 1.50%. CoBank may make an annual patronage refund, which has been equal to 1.00% of the average line of credit and loan volume outstanding by Artesian. The patronage refunds earned by Artesian in 2017 and 2016 were $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The term of this line of credit expires on July 20, 2018. The Company expects to renew this line of credit.

48

On January 18, 2017, Artesian Water and CoBank entered into a Bond Purchase Agreement relating to the issue and sale by the Company to CoBank of a $40 million principal amount First Mortgage Bond, Series T, or the Series T Bond, due December 20, 2036, or the Maturity Date. The Series T Bond was issued pursuant to the Company's Indenture of Mortgage dated as of July 1, 1961, as amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures, including the Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, or the Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 18, 2017 from the Company to Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee. The Indenture is a first mortgage lien against substantially all of the Company's utility plant. The proceeds from the sale of the Series T Bond were used to prepay indebtedness of the Company under two existing First Mortgage Bonds: Series O, principal amount $20 million with interest rate of 8.17% and related prepayment costs of $4.5 million; and Series Q, principal amount $15.4 million with interest rate of 4.75%. The DEPSC approved the issuance of the Series T Bond on December 20, 2016. The DEPSC also approved deferral of the prepayment costs associated with the First Mortgage Bond, Series O and the previously deferred debt related costs associated with the First Mortgage Bonds, Series O and Series Q.

The Series T Bond carries an annual interest rate of 4.24% through and including the Maturity Date. Interest is payable on June 30th and December 31st of each year, beginning June 30, 2017, until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest shall be discharged. Overdue payments shall bear interest as provided in the Supplemental Indenture. The terms of the Series T Bond also include certain limitations on the Company's indebtedness.

The weighted average interest rate on the lines of credit above paid by the Company was 2.28% for the year ended December 31, 2017. These lines of credit, as well as both the long-term debt and the state revolving fund loans shown below, require us to abide by certain financial covenants and ratios. As of December 31, 2017, we were in compliance with these covenants.

Long-term debt consists of:

 
 
December 31,
 
In thousands
 
2017
   
2016
 
First mortgage bonds
           
 
           
Series O, 8.17%, due December 29, 2020
 
$
-
   
$
20,000
 
Series P, 6.58%, due January 31, 2018
   
25,000
     
25,000
 
Series Q, 4.75%, due December 1, 2043
   
-
     
15,400
 
Series R, 5.96%, due December 31, 2028
   
25,000
     
25,000
 
Series S, 4.45%, due December 31, 2033
   
9,600
     
10,200
 
Series T, 4.24%, due December 20, 2036
   
40,000
     
-
 
 
   
99,600
     
95,600
 
 
               
State revolving fund loans
               
 
               
4.48%, due August 1, 2021
   
1,190
     
1,456
 
3.57%, due September 1, 2023
   
558
     
640
 
3.64%, due May 1, 2025
   
1,025
     
1,142
 
3.41%, due February 1, 2031
   
2,315
     
2,448
 
3.40%, due July 1, 2032
   
2,243
     
2,361
 
 
   
7,331
     
8,047
 
 
               
Sub-total
   
106,931
     
103,647
 
 
               
Less: current maturities (principal amount)
   
1,344
     
1,316
 
 
               
Total long-term debt
 
$
105,587
   
$
102,331
 

Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter:
 
In thousands
 
2018
   
2019
   
2020
   
2021
   
2022
   
Thereafter
 
First Mortgage bonds
 
$
600
   
$
600
   
$
600
   
$
600
   
$
600
   
$
96,600
 
State revolving fund loans
   
744
     
771
     
801
     
832
     
533
     
3,651
 
Total payments
 
$
1,344
   
$
1,371
   
$
1,401
   
$
1,432
   
$
1,133
   
$
100,251
 

The table above is reflective of the purchase of the $25 million principal amount First Mortgage Bond, Series U, or the Bond, due January 31, 2038, which was completed in January 2018.  The proceeds from the sale of the Bond were used to pay in full at maturity indebtedness of the Company under First Mortgage Bond, Series P (see Note 18).

49

NOTE 7

NON-UTILITY OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENSES

Non-utility operating revenue consisted of $5.0 million, $4.7 million, and $4.4 million recognized by Artesian Utility in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Non-utility operating expenses consisted of $2.8 million, $2.6 million and $2.3 million primarily recognized by Artesian Utility in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Artesian Utility operates the water, wastewater and internal Service Line Protection Plans, or SLP Plans, and provides contract water and wastewater services. The SLP Plans provide coverage for all material and labor required to repair or replace participants' leaking water service, clogged sewer lines or water and wastewater lines within the residence up to an annual limit.

NOTE 8

STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

On December 9, 2015, the Company's stockholders approved the 2015 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2015 Plan, that replaced the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, or the 2005 Plan, which expired on May 24, 2015. The 2015 Plan provides that grants may be in any of the following forms: incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock units, stock awards, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards. The 2015 Plan is administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or the Committee.  The Committee has the authority to determine the individuals to whom grants will be made under the 2015 Plan, determine the type, size and terms of the grants, determine the time when grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period (subject to the limitations of the 2015 Plan) and deal with any other matters arising under the 2015 Plan. The Committee presently consists of three directors, each of whom is a non-employee director of the Company. All of the employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible for grants under the 2015 Plan. Non-employee directors of the Company are also eligible to receive grants under the 2015 Plan.

The following summary reflects changes in the shares of Class A Stock under option:

 
 
2017
Shares
   
2017
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
2016
Shares
   
2016
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
2015
Shares
   
2015
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Plan options
                                   
Outstanding at beginning of year
   
231,755
   
$
19.32
     
270,000
   
$
19.34
     
376,250
   
$
19.52
 
Granted
   
     
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Exercised
   
(54,953
)
   
17.42
     
(38,245
)
   
19.50
     
(106,250
)
   
19.97
 
Expired
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Outstanding at end of year
   
176,802
   
$
19.91
     
231,755
   
$
19.32
     
270,000
   
$
19.34
 
 
                                               
Options exercisable at year end
   
176,802
   
$
19.91
     
231,755
   
$
19.32
     
270,000
   
$
19.34
 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $1,198,000, $351,000 and $379,000, respectively. During 2017, we received $957,000 in cash from the exercise of options, with a $1,400,000 tax benefit realized for those options.

The following tables summarize information about employee and director stock options outstanding at December 31, 2017:

Options Outstanding
 
 
       
Range of Exercise
Price
   
Shares Outstanding at
December 31, 2017
 
Weighted Average
Remaining Life
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 
 
$
15.26 - $18.61
     
41,802
 
1.99 Years
 
$
17.52
   
$
879,409
 
 
$
18.62 - $22.66
     
135,000
 
4.86 Years
 
$
20.64
   
$
2,418,187
 
               
 
               
Options Exercisable
         
 
               
Range of Exercise
Price
   
Shares Exercisable at
December 31, 2017
 
Weighted Average
Remaining Life
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 
 
$
15.26 - $18.61
     
41,802
 
1.99 Years
 
$
17.52
   
$
879,409
 
 
$
18.62 - $22.66
     
135,000
 
4.86 Years
 
$
20.64
   
$
2,418,187
 

50

As of December 31, 2017, there was no unrecognized expense related to non-vested option shares granted under the Plan.  

The following summary reflects changes in the shares of Class A Stock Restricted Stock Awards (RSA):

   
2017
Shares
   
2017
Weighted
Average
Grant Date Fair Value
   
2016
Shares
   
2016
Weighted
Average
Grant Date Fair Value
   
2015
Shares
   
2015
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Plan RSA's
                                   
Outstanding at beginning of year
   
5,000
   
$
27.70
     
-
   
$
-
     
-
   
$
-
 
Granted
   
11,568
     
38.08
     
5,000
     
27.70
     
5,000
     
27.38
 
Vested/Released
   
(11,568
)
   
33.58
     
-
     
-
     
(5,000
)
   
27.38
 
Cancelled
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Unvested Outstanding at end of year
   
5,000
   
$
38.10
     
5,000
   
$
27.70
     
-
   
$
-
 

On June 28, 2017, 6,568 shares of Class A common stock were issued as fully vested restricted stock awards. The fair market value per share was $38.06, the closing price of the Class A common stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 28, 2017.

On May 3, 2017, 5,000 shares of Class A common stock, or Class A Stock, were granted as restricted stock awards.  The fair value per share was $38.10, the closing price of the Class A Stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 3, 2017.  The restricted shares are subject to a one year vesting period from the date of grant.  Prior to their release date, these restricted stock awards may be subject to forfeiture in the event of the recipient's termination of service.

On May 4, 2016, 5,000 shares of Class A common stock were granted as restricted stock awards.  The fair market value per share was $27.70, the closing price of the Class A common stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 4, 2016.  The restricted shares vest one year from the date of grant.

On December 18, 2015, 5,000 shares of Class A common stock were issued as fully vested unrestricted stock awards. The fair market value per share was $27.38, the closing price of the Class A common stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on December 18, 2015.

As of December 31, 2017, there was $63,700 total unrecognized expense related to non-vested awards of restricted shares awarded under the 2015 Plan.  The cost will be recognized over 0.33 years, the remaining vesting period for the restricted stock awards.

The total intrinsic value of awards released during 2017 was approximately $441,000.


NOTE 9

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

401(k) Plan

Artesian Resources has a defined contribution 401(k) Salary Deduction Plan, or the 401(k) Plan, which covers substantially all employees.  Under the terms of the 401(k) Plan, Artesian Resources contributed 2% of eligible salaries and wages and matched employee contributions up to 6% of gross pay at a rate of 50%.  Artesian Resources may, at its option, make additional contributions of up to 3% of eligible salaries and wages. In 2017 and 2015, an additional 1% of eligible salaries and wages was contributed under 401(k) Plan.  No such additional contributions were made in 2016.  The 401(k) Plan expenses, which include Company contributions and administrative fees, for the years 2017, 2016 and 2015, were approximately $1.0 million, $0.9 million, and $1.0 million, respectively.

Supplemental Pension Plan

Effective October 1, 1994, Artesian Water established a Supplemental Pension Plan, or the Supplemental Plan, to provide additional retirement benefits to full-time employees hired prior to April 26, 1994. The Supplemental Plan is a defined contribution plan that enables employees to save for future retiree medical costs, which will be paid by employees. The Supplemental Plan accomplishes this objective by providing additional cash resources to employees upon a termination of employment or retirement, to meet the cost of future medical expenses. Artesian Water has established a contribution based upon each employee's years of service ranging from 2% to 6% of eligible salaries and wages.  Plan expenses, which include Company contributions and administrative fees, for the years 2017, 2016 and 2015, were approximately $190,000, $227,000, and $243,000, respectively.

51

Postretirement Benefit Plan

Artesian Water has a Postretirement Benefit Plan, or the Benefit Plan, which provides medical and life insurance benefits to certain retired employees. Prior to the amendment of the Benefit Plan, substantially all employees could become eligible for these benefits if they reached retirement age while still working for Artesian Water. The amendment excludes any current employees from becoming eligible for these benefits upon retirement.

FASB ASC Topic 715 stipulates that Artesian Water accrue the expected cost of providing postretirement health care and life insurance benefits as employees render the services necessary to earn the benefits. Artesian Water recognizes an offsetting regulatory asset with respect to its post retirement liability. This asset is recorded based on the DEPSC order, which permits Artesian Water to continue recovery of postretirement health care and life insurance expense on a pay-as-you-go basis for the remaining eligible employees. Further, expense recovery as a percentage of rates is expected to remain generally constant over the initial years, and then decline until the obligation is liquidated. The amounts recognized in consolidated financial statements are determined based on an actuarial basis, which uses assumptions about inflation, mortality, medical trend rates and discount rates. A change in these assumptions could cause actual results to differ from those reported. Amounts charged to expense were $37,000, $80,000, and $113,000 for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Company uses December 31 as the measurement date to determine the postretirement benefit obligation. There were three remaining eligible retirees as of December 31, 2017. The estimated post retirement liability recorded at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $149,000 and $186,000 respectively. The Company anticipates contributing $37,000 towards postretirement benefits in 2018.  There was no other comprehensive income impact because a regulatory asset is recorded as provided by FASB ASC Topic 980.

NOTE 10

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases

In October 1997, Artesian Water entered into a 33 year operating lease for a parcel of land with improvements located in South Bethany, a municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The annual lease payments increase each year by the most recent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Workers, CPI-U, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. At each eleventh year of the lease term, the annual lease payment shall be determined based on the fair market value of the parcel of land. Rental payments for 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $16,300, $16,100, and $16,000, respectively. The future minimum rental payment as disclosed in the following table is calculated using CPI-U as of October 31, 2017 as well as any adjustments for appraisals conducted to determine the fair market value of the parcel of land.

During 2003, Artesian Resources entered into a 40 year easement agreement to acquire an easement to access, operate, maintain, repair, improve, replace and connect Artesian's water system to a well, including a parcel of land around the well. Easement payments for 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $37,000, $36,000 and $35,000, respectively.

Artesian Wastewater entered into a perpetual agreement for the use of approximately 460 acres of land in Sussex County, Delaware for wastewater disposal.  Beginning January 2007, Artesian Wastewater is required to pay a minimum of $40,000 per year for the use of this land.  Beginning January 2012, and on each anniversary thereof until January 2027, the fee shall be adjusted upwards by an adjustment factor of two percent. In   November 2016, this agreement was amended to remove the 2% increase. Once disposal operations begin, the monthly fee will be based on the volume of wastewater disposed on the properties charged at rate per one thousand gallons of wastewater, providing for a minimum monthly payment.  Payments for 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $44,000, $44,000 and $43,000, respectively.  The agreement can be terminated by giving 180 day notice prior to the termination date.

Future minimum annual rental payments related to non-cancellable operating leases for the years subsequent to 2017 are as follows:

In thousands
     
2018
 
$
78
 
2019
   
56
 
2020
   
57
 
2021
   
58
 
2022
   
60
 
2023 through 2043
   
1,336
 
 
 
$
1,645
 

52

Interconnections

Artesian Water has one water service interconnection agreement with a neighboring utility, Chester Water Authority, which requires minimum annual purchases.  Rates charged under this agreement are subject to change.   The minimum purchase requirement is 1,095 million gallons annually, calculated as 3 million gallons per day times the number of calendar days in a year. The agreement is extended through the year 2021.

In January 2018, Artesian Water Maryland signed an interconnection agreement with the Town of North East that has a "take or pay" clause requiring us to purchase a minimum of 35,000 gallons per day that shall commence on the first day of the month following the date on which the interconnection is completed .  The interconnection completion date is expected to occur during the third quarter of 2018.

The minimum annual purchase commitments for all interconnection agreements for 2018 through 2021, calculated at the noticed rates, are as follows:

In thousands
     
2018
   
3,824
 
2019
   
3,824
 
2020
   
3,835
 
2021
   
3,824
 
Total
 
$
15,307
 

Expenses for purchased water were $4.4 million, $4.0 million and $4.0 million for December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Other Commitments

In 2013, Artesian Water entere d into a 3-year agreement with Worldwide Industries Corporation to clean and paint tanks in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Pursuant to the 3-year agreement, the expenditure committed in total for the years 2014 through 2016 is $804,000. In 2014, the 3-year agreement with Worldwide Industries Corporation was amended to include an additional 113,000 in expenditures related to cleaning and painting tanks. In March 2017, Artesian Water entered in a 3-year agreement with Worldwide Industries Corporation to clean and paint tanks in 2017, 2018 and 2019.  Pursuant to the 3-year agreement, the expenditure committed in total for the years 2017 through 2019 is $1.3 million. T he tank painting expense for 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $695,000, $528,000, and $329,000, respectively.

Budgeted mandatory utility plant expenditures, due to planned governmental highway projects, which require the relocation of Artesian Water's water service mains, expected to be incurred in 2018 through 2020 are as follows:

In thousands
     
2018
 
$
3,851
 
2019
   
1,535
 
2020
   
550
 
   
$
5,936
 

The exact timing and extent of these relocation projects is controlled primarily by the Delaware Department of Transportation.

Litigation

Artesian Resources and its subsidiaries are subject to legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business.  Any amounts from such legal proceedings that are probable and reasonably estimable are reflected in the financial statements.

53

NOTE 11

GEOGRAPHIC CONCENTRATION OF CUSTOMERS

Artesian Water, Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Water Pennsylvania provide water utility service to customers within their established service territory in all three counties of Delaware and in portions of Maryland and Pennsylvania, pursuant to rates filed with and approved by the DEPSC, the MDPSC and the PAPUC. As of December 31, 2017, Artesian Water was serving approximately 84,200 customers, Artesian Water Maryland was serving approximately 2,300 customers and Artesian Water Pennsylvania was serving approximately 40 customers.

Artesian Wastewater began providing wastewater services to a community in Sussex County, Delaware in July 2005. Artesian Wastewater provides wastewater utility service to customers within their established service territory in Sussex County, Delaware pursuant to rates filed with and approved by the DEPSC. As of December 31, 2017, Artesian Wastewater was serving approximately 1,800 customers, all of which are located in Sussex County, Delaware.

NOTE 12

REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS

Our water and wastewater utilities generate operating revenue from customers based on rates that are established by state Public Service Commissions through a rate setting process that may include public hearings, evidentiary hearings and the submission of evidence and testimony in support of the requested level of rates by the Company.

We are subject to regulation by the following state regulatory commissions:
·   The Delaware Public Service Commission, or DEPSC, regulates both Artesian Water and Artesian Wastewater.
·   The Maryland Public Service Commission, or MDPSC, regulates both Artesian Water Maryland and Artesian Wastewater Maryland.
·   The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PAPUC, regulates Artesian Water Pennsylvania.

Rate Proceedings

Our regulated utilities periodically seek rate increases to cover the cost of increased operating expenses, increased financing expenses due to additional investments in utility plant and other costs of doing business.  In Delaware, utilities are permitted by law to place rates into effect, under bond, on a temporary basis pending completion of a rate increase proceeding. The first temporary increase may be up to the lesser of $2.5 million on an annual basis or 15% of gross water sales.  Should the rate case not be completed within seven months, by law, the utility may put the entire requested rate relief, up to 15% of gross water sales, in effect under bond until a final resolution is ordered and placed into effect. If any such rates are found to be in excess of rates the DEPSC finds to be appropriate, the utility must refund customers the portion found to be in excess with interest.  The timing of our rate increase requests are therefore dependent upon the estimated cost of the administrative process in relation to the investments and expenses that we hope to recover through the rate increase.  We can provide no assurances that rate increase requests will be approved by applicable regulatory agencies and, if approved, we cannot guarantee that these rate increases will be granted in a timely or sufficient manner to cover the investments and expenses for which we initially sought the rate increase.

On August 18, 2015, the DEPSC made a preliminary ruling in response to Artesian Water's April 2014 application to implement new rates to meet a requested increase in revenue of 15.90%, or approximately $10.0 million, on an annualized basis. The preliminary ruling recommended a permanent rate increase in revenue of approximately $6.0 million, or 9.50%, on an annualized basis, which was an incremental increase for customers of approximately 6.20% above the Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC, rate previously in effect. On October 6, 2015, a DEPSC order was issued concurring with the preliminary ruling issued on August 18, 2015. On January 19, 2016, a final DEPSC order was issued related to the permanent rate increase and concurred with the October 6, 2015 order. Because the permanent rate increase was less than amounts collected under previously approved temporary increases in rates, Artesian Water was required to refund a portion of the temporary rate increases to its customers. The refund, plus interest, at the average prime rate, for the overpayment from customers was applied to current and future customer bills in October 2015. Because the final rate award was at a level not less than the amount previously reported as income, there was no material impact upon previously reported water sales revenue. The new rates are designed to allow recovery of capital investments made by Artesian Water and to cover increased costs of operations, including water quality testing, chemicals and electricity for water treatment, taxes, labor and benefits.

On January 16, 2018, the DEPSC approved the opening of Docket No. 17-1240 requiring Delaware utilities to determine the impact that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) had on its customers and potential rate relief due to customers.  Delaware utilities  are required to report their findings back to the DEPSC by March 31, 2018.  The Company expects any reduction in corporate income tax expense resulting from the TCJA will be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rate.

54

Other Proceedings

Delaware law permits water utilities to put into effect, on a semi-annual basis, increases related to specific types of distribution system improvements through a Distribution System Improvement Charge, or DSIC. This charge may be implemented by water utilities between general rate increase applications that normally recognize changes in a water utility's overall financial position. The DSIC approval process is less costly when compared to the approval process for general rate increase requests. The DSIC rate applied between base rate filings is capped at 7.50% of the amount billed to customers under otherwise applicable rates and charges, and the DSIC rate increase applied cannot exceed 5.0% within an y 12-month period.

The following table summarizes (1) Artesian Water's applications with the DEPSC to collect DSIC rates and (2) the rates upon which eligible plant improvements  are based:

Application Date
 
11/26/2014
   
5/28/2015
   
11/24/2015
   
05/31/2016
   
11/29/2016
 
DEPSC Approval Date
 
12/16/2014
   
6/16/2015
   
12/15/2015
   
06/28/2016
   
12/20/2016
 
Effective Date
 
1/1/2015
   
7/1/2015
   
01/01/2016
   
07/01/2016
   
01/01/2017
 
Cumulative DSIC Rate
   
0.34
%
   
1.15
%
   
1.57
%
   
2.30
%
   
4.71
%
Eligible Plant Improvements – Cumulative Dollars (in millions)
 
$
1.3
   
$
4.6
   
$
7.0
   
$
10.3
   
$
16.6
 
Eligible Plant Improvements – Installed Beginning Date
 
10/1/2014
   
10/1/2014
   
10/01/2014
   
10/01/2014
   
10/01/2014
 
Eligible Plant Improvements – Installed Ending Date
 
10/31/2014
   
4/30/2015
   
10/31/2015
   
04/30/2016
   
12/20/16
 

DEPSC has completed audits for all filings for rates effective through 2016 noted in the table above. The rate effective in 2017 noted in the table above is subject to audit at a later date. For the years ended December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we earned approximately $3,160,000, $1,306,000 and $520,000 in DSIC revenue, respectively.

NOTE 13

NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE AND EQUITY PER COMMON SHARE

Basic net income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, the potentially dilutive effect of employee stock options and restricted stock awards. The following table summarizes the shares used in computing basic and diluted net income per share:

 
For the Year
 
Ended December 31,
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period for Basic computation
 
9,175
 
 
9,098
 
 
8,960
Dilutive effect of employee stock options
 
67
 
 
63
 
 
45
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period for Diluted computation
 
9,242
 
 
9,161
 
 
9,005

For the year ended 2017, 3,460 shares of restricted stock awards were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share. For the year ended 2016, no shares of restricted stock awards were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share. Due to unrecognized compensation costs, the hypothetical repurchase of shares exceeded the number of restricted shares expected to vest during the period, creating an anti-dilutive effect. For the years ended 2017 and 2016, no shares of stock options were excluded from the calculations of diluted net income per share.

The Company has 15,000,000 authorized shares of Class A Stock, and 1,040,000 shares of Class B Stock. As of December 31, 2017, 8,333,454 shares of Class A Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Stock were issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2016, 8,246,033 shares of Class A Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Stock were issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2015, 8,176,213 shares of Class A Stock and 881,452 shares of Class B Stock were issued and outstanding. The par value for both classes is $1.00 per share.  For the years ended December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the Company issued 87,421, 69,820, and 145,536 shares of Class A Stock, respectively.

55

Equity per common share was $15.98, $15.28, and $14.77 at December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively.  These amounts were computed by dividing common stockholders' equity by the number of weighted average shares of common stock outstanding on December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively.

NOTE 14

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

The following table is derived from quarterly unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.  Quarterly basic and diluted per share amounts do not add to the full year total due to rounding.

 
 
First Quarter
   
Second Quarter
   
Third Quarter
   
Fourth Quarter
 
In thousands (except per share data)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
 
                                               
Operating revenues
 
$
19,190
   
$
18,449
   
$
20,502
   
$
19,395
   
$
22,356
   
$
21,828
   
$
20,187
   
$
19,417
 
Operating income
 
$
3,991
   
$
3,853
   
$
4,990
   
$
4,669
   
$
5,454
   
$
5,945
   
$
5,165
   
$
4,352
 
Net income applicable to common stock
 
$
3,086
   
$
2,830
   
$
3,251
   
$
3,041
   
$
3,942
   
$
4,360
   
$
3,704
   
$
2,723
 
 
                                                               
Income per common share
                                                               
Basic
 
$
0.34
   
$
0.28
   
$
0.35
   
$
0.33
   
$
0.43
   
$
0.48
   
$
0.40
   
$
0.30
 
Diluted
 
$
0.34
   
$
0.28
   
$
0.35
   
$
0.33
   
$
0.42
   
$
0.48
   
$
0.40
   
$
0.30
 

NOTE 15

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In October 2017, September 2017, February 2017 and July 2016, Artesian Water entered into agreements in the normal course of business with W.F. Construction, Inc. for work associated with building modifications to water treatment plants. The amounts of these agreements were approximately  $60,000, $36,000, $100,000 and $131,000 respectively. The owner of W.F. Construction, Inc. is the husband of Mrs. Jennifer Finch, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Artesian Resources. Approximately $183,000 was paid to W.F. Construction, Inc. during 2017. Approximately $137,000 was paid to W.F. Construction, Inc. in 2016. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had no liability to W.F. Construction, Inc.

As set forth in the Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Artesian Resources, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and, if appropriate, approving all related party transactions between us and any officer, director, any person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company's voting securities or any other related person that would potentially require disclosure. In its review and approval of the 2017 and 2016 related party transactions with W.F. Construction, Inc., the Audit Committee considered the nature of the related person's interest in the transaction; the satisfactory performance of work contracted with the related party prior to our employment of Mrs. Finch; and the material terms of the transaction, including, without limitation, the amount and type of transaction, the importance of the transaction to the related person, the importance of the transaction to the Company and whether the transaction would impair the judgment of a director or officer to act in the best interest of the Company. The Audit Committee approves only those related person transactions that are in, or are consistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

NOTE 16

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Periodically, we are involved in other proceedings or litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will materially affect our business, financial position or results of operations. However, we cannot assure that we will prevail in any litigation and, regardless of the outcome, may incur significant litigation expense and may have significant diversion of management attention.

56

NOTE 17

IMPACT OF RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the FASB issued amended guidance for reporting revenue from contracts with customers. This guidance affects any entity using U.S. GAAP that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows arising from contracts with customers. For a public entity, the amendments in this guidance are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company has identified its sources of revenue streams that fall within the scope of ASC Topic 606. The Company has also applied the five-step model to all qualifying revenue streams to determine when to recognize revenue. The Company has substantially completed its evaluation and concluded there is not a material change to how revenue is currently being recognized compared to how revenue will be recognized under this amended guidance. The Company will adopt this new standard and include the enhanced disclosure requirements in its 2018 first quarter filing using the modified retrospective method.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on Leases to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Management is currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of the new standard, which includes compiling a list of all contracts that meet the definitions of a lease under the new standard and determining the proper classification and accounting treatment of such contracts in order to determine the ultimate impact the new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance on Business Combinations. The amendments in this update clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company applied this amended guidance in 2017 to the purchase of the water assets from Fort DuPont Redevelopment and Preservation Corporation.

In February 2017, the FASB issued new guidance on Other Income – Gains and Losses from derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets to clarify the scope and application of the sale or transfer of nonfinancial assets to noncustomers, including partial sales and also define what constitutes an "in substance nonfinancial asset" which can include financial assets. The new guidance eliminates several accounting differences between transactions involving assets and transactions involving businesses. Further, the guidance aligns the accounting for derecognition of a nonfinancial asset with that of a business. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Management concluded there is no material impact on the Company's financial statements due to the adoption of this guidance.

NOTE 18

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 31, 2018, Artesian Water and CoBank entered into a Bond Purchase Agreement relating to the issue and sale by the Company to CoBank of a $25 million principal amount First Mortgage Bond, Series U, or the Series U Bond, due January 31, 2038, or (the Series U "Maturity Date").  The Series U Bond was issued pursuant to the Company's Indenture of Mortgage dated as of July 1, 1961, as amended and supplemented by supplemental indentures, including the Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2018 from the Company to Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  The Indenture is a first mortgage lien against substantially all of the Company's utility plant.  The proceeds from the sale of the Series U Bond together with other funds of the Company, were used to pay in full at maturity indebtedness of the Company under those certain First Mortgage Bonds, Series P.  The DEPSC approved the issuance of the Series U Bond on December 21, 2017.

57

The Series U Bond carries an annual interest rate of 4.71% through and including the Series U Maturity Date. Interest is payable on January 30th, April 30th, July 30th and October 30th in each year and on the Series U Maturity Date, beginning April 30, 2018 until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest shall be discharged.  Overdue payments shall bear interest as provided in the Supplemental Indenture. The term of the Series U Bond also includes certain limitations on the Company's indebtedness.

On January 16, 2018, the DEPSC approved the opening of Docket No. 17-1240 requiring Delaware utilities to determine the impact that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA, had on its customers and potential rate relief due to customers.  Delaware utilities are required to report their findings back to the DEPSC by March 31, 2018.  The Company expects any reduction in corporate income tax expense resulting from the TCJA will be passed through to customers in the form of reduced tariff rates or approved DSIC rate.

58

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Artesian Resources Corporation
Newark, Delaware

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Artesian Resources Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") and our report dated March 15, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.


Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


/s/ BDO USA, LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2005.

Wilmington, Delaware
March 15, 2018

59



ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a)  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  In addition, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective to achieve the foregoing objectives. A control system cannot provide absolute assurance, however, that the objectives of the control system are met and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

(b)  Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Management of Artesian Resources Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over its financial reporting.  Artesian Resources Corporation's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Corporation's chief executive officer and chief financial officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Artesian Resources Corporation's Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in "Internal Control Integrated Framework (2013)."  Based on this assessment, Management determined that at December 31, 2017, the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting was effective.

(c)  Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

The effectiveness of Artesian's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 has been audited by BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included herein.

(d)  Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 15, 2018

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER:
 
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER:
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ DIAN C. TAYLOR
 
/s/ DAVID B. SPACHT
 
Dian C. Taylor
 
David B. Spacht
 

  ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

60

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders
Artesian Resources Corporation
Newark, Delaware

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Artesian Resources Corporation's (the "Company's") internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the "COSO criteria") In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and our report dated March 15, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying "Item 9A, Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting". Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

Wilmington, Delaware
March 15, 2018

61

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Name
Age
Position
 
 
 
Dian C. Taylor
72
Biography: Director since 1991 - Chair of the Board since July 1993, and Chief Executive Officer of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since September 1992. Ms. Taylor has been employed by the Company since August 1991. She was formerly a consultant to the Small Business Development Center at the University of Delaware from February 1991 to August 1991 and Owner and President of Achievement Resources Inc. from 1977 to 1991. Achievement Resources, Inc. specialized in strategic planning, marketing, entrepreneurial and human resources development consulting. Ms. Taylor was a marketing director for SMI, Inc. from 1982 to 1985. Ms. Taylor is the aunt of John R. Eisenbrey, Jr. and Nicholle R. Taylor. She serves on the Executive and Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance Committees.
 
Qualifications:   Ms. Dian Taylor has over 25 years of experience as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, during which the Company has continuously expanded its service area. Ms. Taylor has extensive knowledge of the complex issues facing smaller companies and prior strategic planning expertise. Ms. Taylor has served as President of the National Association of Water Companies, a trade organization of the investor-owned water utility industry. Ms. Taylor also has served on the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, on the Board of Directors of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the American Heart Association, the Committee of 100 and the Delaware Council on Economic Education, as a Regional Advisory Board Member for Citizens Bank, a Trustee of the Delaware Grand Opera and the Christiana Care Hospital and as a Commissioner for the Delaware River and Bay Authority. Ms. Taylor currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Delaware Business Round Table. The Board views Ms. Taylor's experience with various aspects of the utility industry and her demonstrated leadership roles in business and community activities as important qualifications, skills and experiences for the Board of Directors' conclusion that Ms. Taylor should serve as a director of the Company.
 
Kenneth R. Biederman
74
Biography:  Director since 1991 – Currently retired and former Professor of Finance at the Lerner College of Business and Economics of the University of Delaware, from May 1996 to May 2011. Interim Dean of the College of Business and Economics of the University of Delaware from February 1999 to June 2000. Dean of the College of Business and Economics of the University of Delaware from 1990 to 1996. Former Director of the Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit Association from 2006 to 2010. Director of Chase Manhattan Bank USA from 1993 to 1996. Formerly a financial and banking consultant from 1989 to 1990 and President of Gibraltar Bank from 1987 to 1989. Previously Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of West Chester Savings Bank; Economist and former Treasurer of the State of New Jersey and Staff Economist for the United States Senate Budget Committee. He serves on the Executive; Audit; Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance; Governance and Nominating; and Compensation Committees.
 
Qualifications:   Mr. Biederman's experience as a former State Treasurer of New Jersey and the former Dean of the College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware gives him a substantial amount of business, economic and financial reporting knowledge. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Biederman's knowledge of economic principles and experience in treasury and financial reporting matters provide for valuable insight and input and serve as important qualifications and skills in his service as a director.
 
 
 
John R. Eisenbrey, Jr.
62
Biography:   Director since 1993 – Small Business Executive.  For more than 30 years, Owner and President of Bear Industries, Inc., a contracting firm providing building fire sprinkler protection installations for businesses throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. Mr. Eisenbrey is the nephew of Dian C. Taylor and the cousin of Nicholle R. Taylor. He serves on the Audit; Governance and Nominating; and Compensation Committees.
 
Qualifications:   The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Eisenbrey's hands-on experience as a business owner in one of our primary geographic regions qualifies him to be a member of the Board. For more than 30 years, Mr. Eisenbrey has been the Owner and President of a privately held contracting firm providing fire sprinkler protection installations for businesses throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. Mr. Eisenbrey is a past President of the Delaware Contractors Association. Mr. Eisenbrey's operating business background provides hands-on experience with operational, technical and regulatory matters also applicable to our water business.
 
62

Nicholle R. Taylor
50
Biography:   Director since 2007 – Senior Vice President of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since May 9, 2012. She was Vice President of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since May 2004. Ms. Taylor has been employed by the Company since 1991 and has held various management level and operational positions within the Company. She serves on the Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance Committee. Ms. Taylor is the niece of Dian C. Taylor and the cousin of John R. Eisenbrey, Jr.
 
Qualifications:   Ms. Nicholle Taylor has over twenty-five years of experience with the Company in a variety of field, office and managerial positions. The Board of Directors has determined that the range of her experience across various company functions gives her a clear perception of how the Company operates, thus enhancing the Board's ability to know the Company's current capabilities and limitations, and qualifies her to serve as a director. Ms. Taylor serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Water Companies, a trade organization of the investor-owned water utility industry. Ms. Taylor also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Committee of 100, which is a business organization that promotes responsible economic development in the state of Delaware.
 
 
 
William C. Wyer
71
Biography:  Director since 1991 - Business Consultant with Wyer Group, Inc. since September 2005. Previously, Mr. Wyer served as Managing Director of Wilmington Renaissance Corporation (formerly Wilmington 2000) from January 1998 to August 2005. Wilmington Renaissance Corporation was a private organization seeking to revitalize the City of Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Wyer served as a Director and member of the Audit Committee of GMAC Bank and its' successor National Motors Bank, FBS from August 2001 through 2008, President of All Nation Life Insurance, Senior Vice President of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Delaware from September 1995 to January 1998, Managing Director of Wilmington 2000 from May 1993 to September 1995 and President of Wyer Group, Inc. from 1991 to 1993 and Commerce Enterprise Group from 1989 to 1991, both of which are management-consulting firms specializing in operations reviews designed to increase productivity, cut overhead and increase competitiveness, and President of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce from 1978 to 1989. He serves on the Executive; Audit; Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance; Governance and Nominating; and Compensation Committees.
 
Qualifications:   Mr. Wyer has extensive management experience with both local and national organizations that facilitates the Company's growth from a local to a regional provider of water and wastewater services. Mr. Wyer's extensive experience in economic development efforts and as President of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and his associated skills in public, media and governmental communications were determined by the Board of Directors to qualify him to serve as a director.
Pierre A. Anderson
 
   38
Vice President of Information Technologies of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since May 2012. Mr. Anderson previously served as Director of Information Technologies since December 2006. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Anderson was employed by the Christina School District as Manager, Project & Support Services.  From 2000-2005, while with MBNA (now Bank of America), he served in several information technology positions.
     
Joseph A. DiNunzio, CPA, CGMA
55
Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since May 2007. Mr. DiNunzio previously served as Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since March 2000 and as Vice President and Secretary of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since January 1995. Mr. DiNunzio has been employed by the Company since 1989 and has held various executive and management level positions within the Company. Prior to joining Artesian, Mr. DiNunzio was employed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP from 1984 to 1989.

63

 
 
 
Jennifer L. Finch, CPA
49
Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since February 2010. Ms. Finch previously served as Chief Accounting Director of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since August 2008. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Finch held various accounting positions for Handler Corporation, a home builder and developer located in Wilmington, Delaware. Ms. Finch was employed by the Handler Corporation from 1994 through 2008.
 
 
 
Karl G. Randall
  49
Assistant Secretary of Artesian Resources Corporation and Subsidiaries since May 2017 and General Counsel since August 2016.  Prior to joining Artesian in 2016, Mr. Randall served as Special Counsel at the Wilmington, Delaware law firm Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP.  He received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and his law degree from American University's Washington College of Law.  He was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 2007.
     
David B. Spacht
58
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Artesian Resources Corporation and its subsidiaries since January 1995, except that he has not been Chief Financial Officer of the wholly owned subsidiary Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc. since May 2009. The Company has employed Mr. Spacht since 1980 and he has held various executive and management level positions within the Company.
 
 
 
John M. Thaeder
60
Senior Vice President of Operations since May 2007. Mr. Thaeder previously served as Vice President of Operations since February 1998. He currently serves as an officer of Artesian Water Company, Inc., Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc., Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc. and Artesian Utility Development, Inc. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Thaeder was employed by Hydro Group, Inc. from 1996 to 1998 as Southeastern District Manager of Sales and Operations from Maryland to Florida. During 1995 and 1996, Mr. Thaeder was Hydro Group's Sales Manager of the Northeast Division with sales responsibilities from Maine to Florida.  From 1988 to 1995, he served as District Manager of the Layne Well and Pump Division of Hydro Group.
 
 
 
64

Corporate Governance

The executive officers are elected or approved by our Board, or the Board of our appropriate subsidiary, to serve until his or her successor is appointed or shall have been qualified or until earlier death, resignation or removal.

In accordance with the provisions of the Company's By-laws, the Board is divided into three classes.  Members of each class serve for three years and one class is elected each year to serve a term until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified or until earlier resignation or removal. Kenneth R. Biederman has been nominated for election to the Board of Directors at the shareholders Annual Meeting to be held May 3, 2018.

The Board, which met ten times in 2017, has established five standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance Committee, and the Governance and Nominating Committee.  Information with respect to these committees is set forth below. In addition, the charter for each of the five standing committees of the Board is available on our website, www.artesianwater.com.

Dian C. Taylor, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, also serves as Chair of the Board. The Board, after considering the size of the Company and the composition of the Board (five members, three of which are independent), has determined that the combined structure is appropriate. The Board has determined that having one person serving as Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer ensures a unified leadership of the Board and management and provides potential efficiency in the execution of the strategies and visions of the Board and management. The Board believes that Ms. Taylor's experience and operational knowledge of the business enables her to effectively perform both roles. Given the limited number of Board members and the practice of open communication with the entire Board, the Company does not have a lead independent director. The Board meets as often as needed and at least twice a year in executive session without any management or non-independent directors present. The Board believes this is an appropriate structure for the Company which provides the appropriate independent oversight. In addition, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee regularly consult with the Company's General Counsel to review the various types of risks that affect the Company and to consult on strategies to anticipate such risks. The Board believes this structure has been effective. The Board meets with management on a regular basis to review operational reports, financial updates, strategic development and other matters. Frequent meetings help to promote and ensure open communication with the management team. All Board members are engaged and remain actively involved in their oversight roles. The Board is responsible for oversight of the Company's risk management process. The senior management team is responsible for identifying risks, managing risks and reporting and communicating risks back to the Board.

Director Compensation

In May 2017, each independent director received an annual retainer fee of $28,000 paid in advance.  Dian C. Taylor and Nicholle R. Taylor received annual retainer fees of $27,000. The chair of the Audit Committee received an additional annual retainer of $9,000.  The chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee received an additional annual retainer of $9,000. The chair of the Compensation Committee received an additional annual retainer of $7,000. The members of the Strategic Planning, Budget and Finance Committee each received additional annual retainers of $3,000.  The members of the Executive Committee each received additional annual retainers of $1,000. Each director received $2,000 for each Board meeting attended, $1,500 for each committee meeting attended on the day of a regular board meeting and $2,000 for each committee meeting attended on any other day.  Each director received $500 per diem for workshops.

In 2017, our directors, other than Dian C. Taylor and Nicholle R. Taylor, whose fees as director are included in the Summary Compensation Table, received the following compensation:
65



Director Compensation Table

Name
 
 
Fees Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
 
Stock
Awards
($) (1)
 
 
 
All other Compensation
($) (2)
 
Total
($)
Kenneth R. Biederman
 
83,000
 
38,100
 
---
 
121,100
John R. Eisenbrey, Jr.
 
82,000
 
38,100
 
---
 
120,100
William C. Wyer
 
81,000
 
38,100
 
24,005
 
143,105
 
(1)
On May 3, 2017, each Director received a restricted Stock Award of 1,000 shares of Class A Stock. The fair market value per share was $38.10, the closing price of the Class A common stock as recorded on the Nasdaq Global Market on May 3, 2017.  The restricted shares vest one year from the date of grant.  The aggregate number of stock options and restricted shares outstanding at December 31, 2017 for each Director is:

 
 
Option Shares Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Restricted Shares Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Kenneth R. Biederman
 
 
40,500
1,000
John R. Eisenbrey, Jr.
 
 
27,000
1,000
William C. Wyer
 
 
33,750
1,000

(2)
$21,284 was for medical insurance premiums for Mr. Wyer and his spouse, $2,700 was for a physical for Mr. Wyer and $21 was for life insurance premiums for Mr. Wyer..

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the members of our Compensation Committee were Kenneth R. Biederman, John R. Eisenbrey, Jr. and William C. Wyer.  None of our executive officers serves as a director or as a member of the compensation committee, or any other committee serving an equivalent function, of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as members of our Compensation Committee or as a director of our Board.  No member of our Compensation Committee has ever been our employee. Our independent directors are Kenneth R. Biederman, John R. Eisenbrey, Jr. and William C. Wyer.

Independence

In 2017, the Board of Directors determined that Messrs. Biederman, Eisenbrey and Wyer, a majority of the Board of Directors, met the independence requirements prescribed by the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Select Market. 

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee reviews the procedures and policies relating to the internal accounting procedures and controls of the Company, and provides general oversight with respect to the accounting principles employed in the Company's financial reporting. As part of its activities, the Audit Committee meets with representatives of the Company's management and independent accountants. The Audit Committee has considered the extent and scope of non-audit services provided to the Company by its outside accountants and has determined that such services are compatible with maintaining the independence of the outside accountants. The Audit Committee appoints and retains the Company's independent accountants. The Audit Committee consists of Kenneth R. Biederman, John R. Eisenbrey, Jr. and William C. Wyer. The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence requirements prescribed by the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board of Directors has further determined that Mr. Biederman, a member of the Audit Committee, is an "audit committee financial expert" as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. During 2017, the Audit Committee met seven times.

66

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation and benefits provided to key management employees, officers and directors and makes recommendations as appropriate to the Board. The Committee also determines whether and what amounts should be granted under the 2015 Equity Compensation Plan, or the Plan, and may make recommendations for amendments to the Plan. The Compensation Committee is comprised of Kenneth R. Biederman, John R. Eisenbrey, Jr. and William C. Wyer, three independent directors. The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Compensation Committee meets the independence requirements prescribed by the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. During 2017, the Compensation Committee met four times.

Consideration of Director Candidates

The Governance and Nominating Committee is comprised of three independent directors, Kenneth R. Biederman, John R. Eisenbrey, Jr. and William C. Wyer. As part of the formalized nominating procedures, the committee makes recommendations for Director nominations to the full Board. Director candidates nominated by stockholders are considered in the same manner, provided the nominations are submitted to the Secretary and copied to the Chairman of the committee on a timely basis and in accordance with the Company's By-laws. Nominations for the election of directors for the 2018 Annual Stockholders' Meeting were approved by the Governance and Nominating Committee on January 17, 2018.

The Governance and Nominating Committee has determined that no one single criterion should be given more weight than any other criteria when it considers the qualifications of a potential nominee to the Board. Instead, it believes that it should consider the total "skills set" of an individual. In evaluating an individual's skills set, the  Governance and Nominating Committee considers a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the potential nominee's background and education, his or her general business experience, and whether or not he or she has any experience in positions with a high degree of responsibility. In addition, although the Governance and Nominating Committee does not have a policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, its charter includes in the Governance and Nominating Committee's duties and responsibilities that it seek members from diverse backgrounds so that the Board consists of members with a broad spectrum of experience and expertise.

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a code of ethics applicable to its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller or principal accounting officer, and any person who performs a similar function, which is a "code of ethics" as defined by applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. This code is publicly available on the Company's website at www.artesianresources.com. If the Company makes any amendments to this code other than technical, administrative, or other non-substantive amendments, or grants any waivers, including implicit waivers, from a provision of this code to the Company's chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller or principal accounting officer, and any person who performs a similar function, the Company will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies on its website. The information on the website listed above is not and should not be considered part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is intended to be an inactive textual reference only.

67

 
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, directors, officers and certain beneficial owners of the Company's equity securities are required to file reports of their transactions in the Company's equity securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission on specified due dates. With respect to the fiscal year 2017, reports of transactions by all directors, officers and such beneficial holders were timely filed. In making this statement, the Company has relied on the written representations of its directors, officers and holders of more than ten percent (10%) of either class of our outstanding common stock and copies of the reports that they filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

This discussion describes the Company's compensation program for its named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table that immediately follows this discussion.  The named executive officers are: Dian C. Taylor, Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer; David B. Spacht, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer; Joseph A. DiNunzio, Executive Vice President & Secretary; Nicholle R. Taylor, Senior Vice President, and John M. Thaeder, Senior Vice President. For details regarding the Company's compensation of its directors, please see the Directors' Compensation Table in Item 10 – Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Objectives of the Company's Compensation Program

The Compensation Committee believes that the compensation for the Company's executives should serve to attract, motivate and retain seasoned and talented executives responsible for successfully guiding and implementing the Company's strategy.  Our strategy is to increase our customer base, revenues, earnings and dividends by expanding our services across the Delmarva Peninsula, thereby providing our shareholders with a long-term, satisfactory return on their investment.

To implement our strategy, it is critical that our executives remain focused on:

·
ensuring superior customer service;
·
continuously improving our efficiency and performance;
·
managing risk appropriately;
·
expanding our franchised service territory and customer base at a consistent and sustainable rate - including by acquisitions - where growth is strong and demand is increasing;
·
identifying and developing dependable sources of supply;
·
constructing and maintaining reliable treatment facilities and water delivery and wastewater collection systems;
·
developing and continuing positive relationships with regulators, municipalities, developers and customers in both existing and prospective service areas; and
·
developing a skilled and motivated work force that is adaptive to change.

To accomplish our strategy, our compensation program's objectives are to:

·
provide compensation levels that are competitive with those provided by other companies with which we may compete for executive talent;
·
motivate and reward contributions and performance aligned with the Company's objectives;
·
attract and retain qualified, seasoned executives; and
·
ensure the Company maintains a pay-for-performance executive compensation program.

The compensation program rewards overall qualitative contributions and performance of each individual towards the Company's strategy.  In reviewing the Company's overall compensation program in the context of the risks identified in the Company's risk management processes, the Compensation Committee does not believe that the risks the Company faces are correlated with the Company's compensation programs. Therefore, the Compensation Committee believes that there is an appropriate level of risk in the Company's compensation program design and does not believe that its approach to the design and administration of its incentive programs needs to change in order to mitigate compensation risk.

68


Elements of the Company's Compensation Program

The elements of the Company's compensation program include:

·
Base Salary
·
Cash Bonus Award
·
Equity Compensation as may be awarded under the 2015 Equity Compensation Plan
·
Employee Benefits

The Company's executive compensation program does not provide for:

·
Severance or post-termination agreements
·
Post-retirement benefits
·
Defined benefit pension benefits or any supplemental executive retirement plan benefits
·
Non-qualified deferred compensation
·
Change-in-Control agreements

Compensation Process

The Compensation Committee relies on various factors in determining executive compensation, including  overall financial performance of the Company, combined with an executive officer's individual performance, progress in meeting strategic corporate objectives, and changes in responsibilities, as well as the consideration of elements of compensation not provided for by the Company in comparison to its peers.  The Compensation Committee generally exercises broad discretion in setting the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other executives and primarily considers the performance of the management team as a group, the Chief Executive Officer's assessment of other executive's performance and compensation recommendations with respect to the other executive officers as part of its process.

The Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer & Partners as a compensation consultant in 2013 to provide it with independent advice on executive compensation matters.  They did not develop a public company peer group as part of their compensation benchmarking exercise, as they found few similarly sized, publicly traded water utilities.  They used data available from the peer group of water utility companies identified in Part II, Item 5 of the Company's 2012 Form 10-K to review incentive plan market practices and to establish industry practices, but did not use the pay data from these organizations given that the size of many are substantially larger than the Company.  This peer group was used in 2013, and continues to be used, to compare the percentage change in cumulative shareholder returns.  The peer group includes: American States Water Company; American Water Works Company, Inc.; Aqua America, Inc.: California Water Service Group; Connecticut Water Service, Inc.; Middlesex Water Company; SJW Corporation and The York Water Company.  The Company continues to use these companies as peers for consideration of elements of compensation not provided for by the Company.  

Base Salary

Base salaries for Company executives are set at levels considered appropriate to attract and retain seasoned and talented personnel.  In 2017, the Compensation Committee increased the base salary of each of the named executive officers by the following:  Dian C. Taylor – 10%; Joseph A. DiNunzio – 18.75%, David B. Spacht – 13.78%, John M. Thaeder – 3%, and Nicholle R. Taylor – 6.80%.  The increase for Mr. DiNunzio included recognition for his additional responsibilities upon his appointment as President of Artesian Water Maryland, Inc.  The increase for Mr. Spacht acknowledged his additional responsibilities with respect to oversight of our Delaware wastewater operations and our business development efforts. The Compensation Committee determines actual base salaries for each executive other than the Chief Executive Officer based upon:

·
recommendations provided by the Chief Executive Officer;
·
internal equity with other executives and Company personnel;
·
individual executive performance; and
·
individual contributions to the Company's strategic objectives.

The Compensation Committee considers the same factors in determining the base salary of the Chief Executive Officer, without any recommendation by the Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer was not present during deliberations on her compensation.

69


 
Cash Bonus and Equity Compensation Awards

Annually, the Compensation Committee determines whether any Cash Bonus and/or Equity Compensation Award should be granted to any of the executives.  The Cash Bonus and Equity Compensation Awards are intended to reward executives for their contributions towards meeting the Company's strategic objectives.  Cash Bonus and Equity Compensation Awards are entirely discretionary and are based upon a qualitative assessment conducted by the Compensation Committee in the case of the Chief Executive Officer and by the Compensation Committee and the Chief Executive Officer in the case of other executives.  Recognizing both the executive team's and each individual named executive officer's contributions toward meeting the Company's strategic objectives, cash bonuses were awarded to the Chief Executive Officer and named executive officers in 2017, 2016 and 2015. 

Equity compensation may be awarded by the Board under the Company's 2015 Equity Compensation Plan, or the Plan, which provides for the grants of stock options, stock units, stock awards, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards.  The Plan is meant to encourage recipients of such grants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, for the benefit of the Company's shareholders, and to align the economic interests of the recipients with those of shareholders.  In 2017 the Chief Executive Officer and the named executive offices each received 861 shares of Class A Common Stock in fully vested stock awards.

Other Compensation

Both Dian C. Taylor and Nicholle R. Taylor received compensation for their services as Directors, which compensation was equivalent to that provided to all other directors for Board and Committee meeting fees and less for retainers.  See "Director Compensation."

The Company's named executive officers are eligible to participate in the same employee benefit plans and on the same basis as other Company employees, with the exception that executive officers are reimbursed for eligible medical expenses not otherwise covered by the Company's medical insurance plan under the Officer's Medical Reimbursement Plan.  Amounts reimbursed are included in the "All Other Compensation" column in the Summary Compensation Table that follows this discussion.


The Role of Management in the Executive Compensation Process

Our Director of Human Resources typically assists the Compensation Committee by preparing and providing information showing:

·
current executive compensation levels;
·
executive compensation recommendations made by the Chief Executive Officer;
·
salary grade minimum, midpoint and maximums for each executive as provided by the Company's compensation consultant retained in 2013; and
·
actual base salary, cash bonus and equity compensation for each of the prior three years for each executive.

Our Chief Executive Officer meets with the Compensation Committee and provides input regarding the contributions of each executive towards the Company's strategic objectives and each executive's overall performance that formed the basis for her recommendations to the Compensation Committee.  The final decisions regarding compensation for each executive are made by the Compensation Committee. Please refer to Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Item 10 – Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance for more information.

70

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management and, based on the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.


 
The Compensation Committee,
 
 
 
William C. Wyer, Chairman
 
Kenneth R. Biederman
 
John R. Eisenbrey, Jr.
71


The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation earned by our named executive officers, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the next three highest paid executive officers for the fiscal year 2017.

Summary Compensation Table:

Name and Principal Position
Year
 
Salary ($)
 
Bonus ($)
 
Stock
Awards
($) (1)(2)
 
Option
Awards
($) (1)
 
All Other
Compensation
($) (3),(4),(5)
 
Total ($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dian C. Taylor, Chair, Chief Executive
2017
 
502,429
 
281,253
 
69,347
 
N/A
 
163,126
 
1,016,155
Officer & President
2016
 
479,394
 
152,500
 
27,700
 
N/A
 
142,229
 
801,823
 
2015
 
460,736
 
175,000
 
27,380
 
N/A
 
178,353
 
841,469
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David B. Spacht, Chief Financial
2017
 
314,610
 
131,253
 
31,247
 
N/A
 
26,888
 
503,998
Officer & Treasurer
2016
 
292,675
 
70,850
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
24,774
 
388,299
 
2015
 
276,037
 
83,650
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
32,747
 
392,434
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Joseph A. DiNunzio, Executive Vice
2017
 
360,972
 
181,253
 
31,247
 
N/A
 
34,749
 
608,221
President & Secretary
2016
 
322,958
 
70,000
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
29,922
 
422,880
 
2015
 
316,356
 
100,000
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
34,556
 
450,912
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nicholle R. Taylor, Senior Vice
2017
 
262,198
 
131,253
 
69,347
 
N/A
 
85,575
 
548,373
President
2016
 
252,299
 
72,500
 
27,700
 
N/A
 
80,859
 
433,358
 
2015
 
235,321
 
65,000
 
27,380
 
N/A
 
73,119
 
400,820
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
         
John M. Thaeder, Senior Vice
2017
 
294,410
 
131,253
 
31,247
 
N/A
 
21,283
 
478,193
President of Operations
2016
 
286,163
 
70,000
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
18,495
 
374,658
 
2015
 
288,417
 
65,450
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
19,776
 
373,643
                           

(1)
On May 3, 2017, Dian Taylor and Nicholle Taylor each received a restricted stock award of 1,000 shares of Class A Stock in their capacities as directors of the Company.  The award was valued at the fair market value on the date of the award (last reported sale price on the date of award) or $38.10 per share. The restricted shares vest one year from the date of grant. On May 4, 2016, Dian Taylor and Nicholle Taylor each received a restricted stock award of 1,000 shares of Class A common stock.  The award was valued at the fair market value on the date of the award (last reported sale price on the date of award) or $27.70 per share. The restricted shares vest one year from the date of grant.  On December 18, 2015, each received a fully vested Stock Award of 1,000 shares of Class A Stock. The award was valued at the fair market value on the date of the award or $27.38 per share.
(2)
On June 28, 2017 each officer received a fully vested Stock Award of 861 shares of Class A Stock. The award was valued at the fair market value on the date of the award or $38.06 per share.
(3)
Under the Company's defined contribution 401(k) Plan, the Company contributes two percent of an eligible employee's gross earnings. The Company also matches fifty percent of the first six percent of the employee's gross earnings that the employee contributes to the 401(k) Plan. In addition, all employees hired before April 26, 1994 and under the age of sixty at that date are eligible for additional contributions to the 401(k) Plan. Employees over the age of sixty at that date receive Company paid medical, dental and life insurance benefits upon retirement. The Company will not provide the additional 401(k) or medical, dental and life insurance benefits to any other current or future employees . In 2016, Co mpany contributions to the 401(k) Plan under terms available to all other employees based upon their years of service and plan eligibility were made in the amounts of:

Dian C. Taylor
 
$
34,216
 
David B. Spacht
 
$
26,318
 
Joseph A. DiNunzio
 
$
32,742
 
Nicholle R. Taylor
 
$
31,219
 
John M. Thaeder
 
$
16,196
 
 
(4)
Executive officers are reimbursed for eligible medical expenses not otherwise covered by the Company's medical insurance plan under the Officer's Medical Reimbursement Plan. Amounts reimbursed are included in the "All Other Compensation" column in the table above. Dian C. Taylor received reimbursements of $48,730 in 2017.

72

(5)
Also included in the "All Other Compensation" column in the table above are amounts received by Dian C. Taylor as compensation for attendance at meetings of the Board and its committees in 2017 totaling $53,500, $10,147 for security provided at her personal residence, $13,144 for country club dues and personal use of a company-owned vehicle. Also included in the "All Other Compensation" column in the table above are amounts received by Nicholle R. Taylor as compensation for attendance at meetings of the Board and its committees in 2017 totaling $52,500.

CEO Pay Ratio

The 2017 compensation disclosure ratio of the median annual total compensation of all Company employees to the annual total compensation of the Company's CEO is as follows:

   
2017 Total Compensation
 
 
Median Employee total annual compensation
 
 
$
91,875
 
Annual total compensation of Dian C. Taylor, CEO
 
 
$
1,016,155
 
Ratio of CEO to median employee compensation
 
11:1
 

For simplicity, we identified the median employee by examining the base annual salary for all individuals, excluding our CEO, who were employed by us on October 6, 2017.  We included all employees, whether employed on a full-time, part-time, or seasonal basis. We believe that the use of base annual salary compensation, excluding overtime, is a consistently applied compensation measure because we do not widely distribute annual equity awards to employees and believe that it provides a reasonable estimate of the pay ratio calculated in a manner consistent with Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K.  After identifying the median employee by examining base annual salary excluding overtime, we calculated annual total compensation, including overtime, for such employee using the same methodology we use for our named executive officers set forth in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

Name
Grant Date
Vest Date
 
All Other
Stock Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or Units
(#)
 
All Other Option
Awards: Number
of Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
 
Exercise or
Base Price
of Option
Awards
($/share)
 
Grant Date Fair
Value of Stock &
Option Awards ($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dian C. Taylor
5/03/2017
5/03/2018
 
1,000
 
-
 
-
 
38,100
Nicholle R. Taylor
5/03/2017
5/03/2018
 
1,000
 
-
 
-
 
38,100

On May 3, 2017, Dian Taylor and Nicholle Taylor each received a Restricted Stock Award of 1,000 shares of Class A Stock, as noted in the table above. The awards were valued at the fair market value on the date of the award (last reported sale price on the date of award) or $38.10 per share. The restricted shares vest one year from the date of grant.

 
73


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

 
Option Awards
Name
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options(#) Exercisable
 
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable
 
Option Exercise Price($)
 
Option
Expiration
Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dian C. Taylor
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
18.61
 
5/18/2020
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
19.06
 
5/17/2021
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
19.01
 
5/09/2022
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
22.66
 
5/08/2023
   
6,750
   
0
   
21.86
 
5/07/2024
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nicholle R. Taylor
 
1,302
   
0
   
18.43
 
5/14/2018
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
15.26
 
5/19/2019
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
18.61
 
5/18/2020
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
19.06
 
5/17/2021
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
19.01
 
5/09/2022
 
 
6,750
 
 
0
 
 
22.66
 
5/08/2023
   
6,750
   
0
   
21.86
 
5/07/2024
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

 
 
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
Name
 
Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise (#)
 
Value
Realized on
Exercise ($)
 
Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting (#)
 
Value
Realized on
Vesting ($)
Dian C. Taylor
 
20,250
 
424,316
 
1,821
 
69,547
Nicholle R. Taylor
 
5,448
 
117,794
       

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of the equity securities of the Company, as of March 12, 2018 for each director, each named executive officer , each beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of any class of the Company's voting securities and all directors and executive officers as a group, based in each case on information furnished to the Company. Addresses are provided for each beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the Company's voting securities.

 
 
Class A Non-Voting Common Stock (1)
 
Class B Common Stock (1)
 
 
Shares
 
Percent (2)
 
Shares
 
Percent (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dian C. Taylor (3)
664 Churchmans Road
Newark, Delaware 19702
 
155,509
 
1.9
 
159,509
 
18.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kenneth R. Biederman (3)
 
61,375
 
*
 
---
 
---
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
John R. Eisenbrey, Jr. (3)(4)(5)
15 Albe Drive
Newark, Delaware 19702
 
75,751
 
0.9
 
45,707
 
5.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nicholle R. Taylor (3)(6)
20 Brendle Lane
Wilmington, Delaware 19807
 
48,222
 
*
 
279,963
 
31.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
William C. Wyer (3)
 
50,250
 
*
 
---
 
---
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Joseph A. DiNunzio
 
17,467
 
*
 
203
 
*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David B. Spacht
 
 1,359
 
*
 
189
 
*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
John M. Thaeder
 
32,482
 
*
 
1,350
 
*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Louisa Taylor Welcher
219 Laurel Avenue
Newark, DE  19711
 
75,133
 
*
 
135,862
 
15.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (11 Individuals) (3)
 
491,064
 
5.8
 
486,921
 
55.2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* less than 1%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
74


((1)
The nature of ownership consists of sole voting and investment power unless otherwise indicated.  The amount also includes all shares issuable to such person or group upon the exercise of options or vesting of restricted shares held by such person or group to the extent such options are exercisable or restricted shares vest within 60 days after March 12, 2018.


(2)
The percentage of the total number of shares of the class outstanding is shown where that percentage is one percent or greater.  Percentages for each person are based on the aggregate number of shares of the applicable class outstanding as of March 12, 2018, and all shares issuable to such person upon the exercise of options or vesting of restricted shares held by such person to the extent such options are exercisable or restricted shares vest within 60 days of that date.


(3)
Includes vesting of restricted shares and options to purchase shares of the Company's Class A Stock, as follows: Ms. D. Taylor (34,750 shares); Mr. Biederman (41,500 shares); Mr. Eisenbrey, Jr. (28,000 shares); Ms. N. Taylor (42,802 shares); Mr. Wyer (34,750 shares).

(4)
89,123 shares were pledged by Mr. Eisenbrey, Jr. as collateral for a loan.

(5)
Includes 780 shares of the Class B Stock owned by a trust, of which Mr. Eisenbrey, Jr. is a trustee and has a beneficial ownership interest, and 1,555 shares of the Class B Stock held in custodial accounts for Mr. Eisenbrey, Jr.'s daughters.

(6)
Includes 25 shares of the Class A Stock and 45 shares of the Class B stock held in custodial accounts for Ms. N. Taylor's daughter and 249 shares of Class A stock held by spouse.


Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

Information relating to securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is included under the caption "Equity Compensation Plan Information" in this Form 10-K.

75

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information on the shares of our Class A Stock that may be issued upon exercise of outstanding stock options and vesting of awards as of December 31, 2017 under the Company's stockholder approved stock plans.

Equity Compensation Plan Information
 
Plan category
Number of securities to be issued upon award vesting of exercise of outstanding options (a)
 
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options
 
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
 
 
           
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
   
181,802
   
$
19.36
     
309,932
 
 
                       
 
                       
Total
   
181,802
   
$
19.36
     
309,932
 





ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

We have three directors who are considered independent under the NASDAQ listing standards:  Kenneth R. Biederman, William C. Wyer, and John R. Eisenbrey, Jr.

Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons

As set forth in the Company's Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and, if appropriate, approving all related-party transactions between us and any officer, director, any person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company's voting securities or any other related person that would potentially require disclosure. We expect that any transactions in which related persons have a direct or indirect interest will be presented to the Audit Committee for review and approval.  While neither the Audit Committee nor the Board have adopted a written policy regarding related-party transactions, the Audit Committee considers such information as it deems important to determine whether the transaction is on reasonable and competitive terms and is fair to the Company.  In addition, the Audit Committee makes inquiries to our management and our auditors when reviewing such transactions.

Related person transactions include any transaction in which (1) the Company is a participant, (2) any related person has a direct or indirect material interest and (3) the amount involved exceeds $120,000, but excludes certain type of transactions where the related person is deemed not to have a material interest.  A related person means: (a) any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of the Company's last fiscal year was, a director, an executive officer or a director nominee; (b) any person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company's voting securities; (c) any immediate family member of a person identified in items (a) or (b) above, meaning such person's spouse, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, mother- or father-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law, brother- or sister-in-law or any other individual (other than a tenant or employee) who shares the person's household; or (d) any entity that employs any person identified in (a), (b) or (c) or in which any person identified in (a), (b) or (c) directly or indirectly owns or otherwise has a material interest.

In its review and approval or ratification of related person transactions (including its determination as to whether the related person has a material interest in a transaction), the Audit Committee will consider, among other factors:

Ø               the nature of the related person's interest in the transaction;
Ø               the material terms of the transaction, including, without limitation, the amount and type of transaction;
Ø               the importance of the transaction to the related person;
Ø               the importance of the transaction to the Company;
Ø               whether the transaction would impair the judgment of a director or executive officer to act in the best interest of the Company; and
Ø               any other matters the Audit Committee deems important or appropriate.

76

The Audit Committee intends to approve only those related person transactions that are in, or are not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

Related Party Transactions

In October 2017, September 2017, February 2017 and July 2016, Artesian Water entered into agreements in the normal course of business with W.F. Construction, Inc. for work associated with building modifications to water treatment plants.  The amounts of these agreements were approximately $60,000, $36,000, $100,000 and $131,000, respectively. The owner of W.F. Construction, Inc. is the husband of Mrs. Jennifer Finch, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Artesian Resources.  Approximately $183,000 was paid to W.F. Construction, Inc. in 2017.  Approximately $137,000 was paid to W.F. Construction, Inc. in 2016. As of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had no liability to W.F. Construction, Inc.



As set forth in the Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Artesian Resources, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and, if appropriate, approving all related party transactions between us and any officer, director, any person known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company's voting securities or any other related person that would potentially require disclosure. In its review and approval of the 2017 and 2016 related party transactions with W.F. Construction, Inc., the Audit Committee considered the nature of the related person's interest in the transaction; the satisfactory performance of work contracted with the related party prior to our employment of Mrs. Finch; and the material terms of the transaction, including, without limitation, the amount and type of transaction, the importance of the transaction to the related person, the importance of the transaction to the Company and whether the transaction would impair the judgment of a director or officer to act in the best interest of the Company. The Audit Committee approves only those related person transactions that are in, or are consistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
 
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Fees Billed by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to the Company for the fiscal year 2017 and 2016 by the independent registered public accounting firm, BDO USA, LLP. Certain amounts for current year fees are estimated and adjusted to reflect actuals once received, prior year fees have been updated to reflect actuals. 


(In thousands)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Audit Fees
 
$
403
   
$
400
 
Audit-Related Fees
   
14
     
12
 
Tax Fees
   
---
     
---
 
All Other Fees
   
--
     
---
 
 
               
Total Fees
 
$
417
   
$
412
 
 
Audit Fees: consist primarily of fees for the audits of our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K; the reviews of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; and the audits of internal control over financial reporting, including compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and fees billed for assurance, services related to registration statements and other documents issued in connection with securities and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the registrant's consolidated financial statements.

Audit-Related Fees : consist of fees for services related to the audit of the Company's 401(k) Plan. The fees billed to the Company for the 401(k) Plan's audit we re $14,000 and $12,000 f or 2017 and 2016 respectively.

Tax Fees: consist of fees for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal and state tax compliance, return preparation and tax audits.  The independent registered public accounting firm did not provide any tax services to the Company in 2017 and 2016.

All Other Fees: consist of fees for services other than described above. The independent registered public accounting firm did not provide any other services to the Company in 2017 and 2016.

Pursuant to policy, the Audit Committee pre-approves audit and tax services for the year as well as non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. Any changes in the amounts quoted are also subject to pre-approval by the committee. Any audit related fees and tax fees paid are pre-approved by the committee.

The Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors has considered whether BDO's provision of the services described above for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, is compatible with maintaining its independence.

77

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
Page(s)*
(1)
Financial Statements:
 
 
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accountants
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three years ended December 31, 2017
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 2017
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the three years ended December 31, 2017
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
(2)
Exhibits:  see the exhibit list below
 
 
 
 
 
* Page number shown refers to page number in this Report on Form 10-K
 

78

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017

 
EXHIBIT LIST
Exhibit
Number
Description
 
 
    3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company effective April 28, 2004 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004.
 
 
    3.2
By-laws of the Company effective March 26, 2004 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004.
 
    4.1
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 31, 2018, between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2018.
   
    4.2
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 18, 2017, between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2017.
   
    4.3
First Amendment to Indenture of Mortgage and to the Sixteenth, Eighteenth and Twentieth Supplemental Indentures dated as of January 18, 2017, between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.*
   
    4.4
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 20, 2009, between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.*
   
    4.5
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2008, between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2008.
 
 
    4.6
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2005, between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.
 
 
    4.7
Seventeenth supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2003 between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and the Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
 
 
    4.8
Sixteenth supplemental Indenture dated as of January 31, 2003 between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and the Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
 
 
    4.9
Fifteenth supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000 between Artesian Water Company, Inc.,
subsidiary of the Company, and the Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002.
   
Indenture of Mortgage dated July 1, 1961, between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and the Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee.*
   
    4.11
Bond Purchase Agreement, dated January 31, 2018 by and between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and CoBank, ACB.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2018.
   
    4.12
Bond Purchase Agreement, dated January 18, 2017 by and between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and CoBank, ACB.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2017.
   
    4.13
First Amendment to Bond Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2017 by and between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and CoBank, ACB.*
   
    4.14
Bond Purchase Agreement, dated December 1, 2008 by and between Artesian Water Company, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and CoBank, ACB.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on December 4, 2008.
 
 
    4.15
Letter Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2015, by and between Artesian Water Company, Inc. and CoBank ACB. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on September 18, 2015.
   
    4.16
Artesian Resources Corporation 2015 Equity Compensation Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with
the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed December 16, 2015.
 
    10.1
General Obligation Note (New Castle County Water Main Transmission Replacements Projects), Series 2011-SRF, dated as of July 15, 2011, issued by Artesian Water Company, Inc. in favor of Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, acting by and through the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 19, 2011.
 
 
    10.2
Financing Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2011, between Artesian Water Company, Inc. and Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, acting by and through the Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 19, 2011.
 
 
    10.3
Amendment to Agreement for Purchase of Water Assets of the Town of Port Deposit and for the provision of Potable Water Services, dated November 1, 2010 by and among Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, Artesian Resources Corporation, a Delaware Corporation and the Mayor and Town Council of Port Deposit, Maryland, a body corporate and politic organized under the laws of the State of Maryland. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2010.
 
 
    10.4
Financing Agreement and General Obligation Note dated February 12, 2010 between Artesian Water Company, Inc. and Delaware Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on February 17, 2010.
 
 
    10.5
Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement between Artesian Water Company, Inc. and CoBank, ACB dated September 28, 2017.
   
    10.6
Demand Line of Credit Agreement dated January 19, 2010 between Artesian Resources Corporation and each of its subsidiaries and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, as amended or modified from time to time.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on January 25, 2010.
 
 
    10.7
Water Asset Purchase Agreement, dated December 1, 2009 by and among Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, Artesian Resources Corporation, a Delaware Corporation and the Mayor and Town Council of Port Deposit, Maryland, a body corporate and politic organized under the laws of the State of Maryland.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on December 2, 2009.
 
 
    10.8
Asset Purchase Agreement between Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Cecil County, Maryland, dated October 7, 2008.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on October 10, 2008.
 
 
    10.9
Asset Purchase Agreement between Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Cecil County, Maryland, dated October 7, 2008.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on October 10, 2008.
 
 
    10.10
Limited Liability Interest Purchase Agreement between Artesian Water Maryland, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Mountain Hill Water Company, LLC, dated May 5, 2008.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company's Form 8-K filed on May 9, 2008.

79

    10.11
Wastewater Services Agreement between Artesian Utility Development, Inc., subsidiary of the Company, and Northern Sussex Regional Water Recharge Complex, LLC, dated June 30, 2008.  This exhibit is subject to an order granting confidential treatment issued by the SEC and therefore certain confidential portions have been omitted as indicated by the bracketed language [CONFIDENTIAL PORTION DELETED].  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008.
 
 
    10.12
Artesian Resources Corporation 2005 Equity Compensation Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. ***

    10.13
Amended and Restated Artesian Resources Corporation 1992 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003.***

   10.14
Artesian Resources Corporation Incentive Stock Option Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.***
 
 
    10.15
Officer's Medical Reimbursement Plan dated May 27, 1992.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2001.***
 
 
Subsidiaries of the Company as of December 31, 2017. *
 
 
Consent of BDO USA, LLP *
 
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
 
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
 
 
32
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. **
 
 
101
The following financial statements from Artesian Resources Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity and (v) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.*




 *
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.
***
Compensation plan or arrangement required to be filed or incorporated as an exhibit.

80

SIGNATURES
ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date March 15, 2018
By: /s/ DAVID B. SPACHT
 
 
David B. Spacht
 
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
Title
Date
Principal Executive Officer:
 
 
/s/ DIAN C. TAYLOR
 
 
Dian C. Taylor
President and Chief Executive Officer
March 15, 2018
 
 
 
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer:
 
/s/ DAVID B. SPACHT
 
 
David B. Spacht
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
March 15, 2018
 
 
 
Directors:
 
 
/s/ DIAN C. TAYLOR
 
 
Dian C. Taylor
Director
March 15, 2018
 
 
 
/s/ KENNETH R. BIEDERMAN
 
 
Kenneth R. Biederman
Director
March 15, 2018
 
 
 
/s/ WILLIAM C. WYER
 
 
William C. Wyer
Director
March 15, 2018
 
 
 
/s/ JOHN R. EISENBREY, JR.
 
 
John R. Eisenbrey, Jr.
Director
March 15, 2018
 
 
 
/s/ NICHOLLE R. TAYLOR
 
 
Nicholle R. Taylor
Director
March 15, 2018

81


EXECUTION VERSION


FIRST AMENDMENT TO INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE AND TO THE SIXTEENTH, EIGHTEENTH AND TWENTIETH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES



FIRST AMENDMENT TO INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE AND TO  THE SIXTEENTH, EIGHTEENTH AND TWENTIETH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES (this "Amendment") dated as of January 18, 2017, amending that certain (i) Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of July 1, 1961 (as further supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Indenture"),  made by and between ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC. (successor to Artesian  Resources  Corporation,  formerly  named "Artesian  Water Company,"  under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter, the "Company"), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware trust company (hereinafter, the "Trustee"), (ii) Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 31, 2003, made by and between the Company and the Trustee (the "Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture"), (iii) Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 1, 2005, made by and between the Company and the Trustee (the "Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture") and (iv) Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2008, made by and between the Company and the Trustee, as amended by that certain Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2009, made by and between the Company  and the Trustee (as so amended, the "Twentieth Supplemental Indenture"; the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, each individually a "Remaining Supplemental Indenture" and  collectively the "Remaining Supplemental Indentures").

WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Indenture and the Remaining Supplemental
Indentures as provided herein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14.06 of the Indenture, holders of sixty-six and two- thirds percent in principal amount or more of the Bonds at the time outstanding and entitled to vote upon such amendment and affected by such amendment, have consented to the amendment to the Indenture as provided herein, and holders of sixty-six and two-thirds percent in principal amount or more of the Bonds at the time outstanding and entitled to vote upon such amendment and affected  by such amendment,  have consented  to the amendment to the Remaining Supplemental Indentures as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements contained herein and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Indenture, the undersigned parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I AMENDMENTS

1.            Amendments to Section 3.04 . Effective as of the Effective Time:

(a)            Paragraph 4 of Section 3.04 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:



“4 Opinion of Counsel as to Instruments furnished
Trustee, etc. An Opinion of Counsel that:

(a)      all instruments furnished to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority hereunder for it to authenticate and deliver the Bonds then applied for;

(b)      all laws and requirements of this Indenture in respect of the form and execution by the Company of the supplemental indenture, if any such supplemental indenture is required, and the execution and delivery by the Company of the Bonds then applied for have been complied with;

(c)      the Company has corporate power to issue such Bonds and has taken all necessary corporate action for that purpose;

(d)      after giving effect to the issue and delivery of the Bonds then applied for, the total amount of Bonds then to be issued and outstanding thereunder will not make the total amount of indebtedness of the Company, as stated in the accompanying certificate provided for in paragraph 5 of this Section 3.04, exceed the limit of indebtedness of the Company fixed by its stockholders or the amount permitted by law, whichever is less (stating such limit or amount), or that there is no limit of indebtedness of the Company then fixed by its stockholders or by law;

(e)      that Bonds then applied for, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and when issued by the Company, will be the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company (subject to customary assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations) and entitled to the benefits and security of this Indenture equally and ratably (subject to the provisions with respect to extended, pledged and transferred coupons contained in Section 4.02) with all other Bonds theretofore issued and then outstanding hereunder;

(f)       the Indenture  creates in favor of the Trustee a security interest in that portion of the Mortgaged Property in which a security interest can be created by a written security agreement under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of Delaware (the "Delaware UCC");

(g)      the mortgage lien granted pursuant to the Indenture creates in favor of the Trustee a valid and perfected mortgage lien
2


on the real property described in the Indenture (except that any after acqui r ed property provision co ntained in the Indenture will not give rise to a perfected lien and subsequent l y acquired real prope1iy. or int erests there in without recordation of an instrument specifically describing such real property and the int erests of the Trus t ee in such real property and subjecting such interest to the lien created under the Indenture);

(h)      a ll necessary filings have been dul y filed in such places as are required under Article 9 of the Delaware UCC in order to perfect the secur it y interest of the Trustee in and to that portion of the Mortgaged Property in which a security interest can be perfected by filing a financing statement;

(i)       the Indenture and all other necessary filings have been duly filed in suc h places as are required by l aw in order to perfect the mortgage lien of the Trustee on the real property described in the Indenture (except that any after acquired property provis ion contained in the   Indenture will not give ris e to a perfected li en and subsequently acquired real property or interests therein without recordation of an instrument specifically de scribing such real property and the interests of the Trustee in such real property and subjecting such interests to the lien created under the Indenture); and

(/)       spe cifying the certificate or other ev id ence that shows, or cash deposit that will provide for, compliance with the requirements, if any , of any tax or recording or filing law (other than fees for the recording of documents, for which no cash deposit with the Trustee shall be required) applicable to the initial issuance of the Additional Obligations then applied for, or stating that there is no such legal requirement."
(b)
New paragraphs 6 and 7 are added to Section 3.04 as follows: "6. Officer's  Certificate. An  Officer's  Certificate
certifying that:

(a)    All conditions precedent if any related to the authentication of the bonds to be issued have been complied with; and

(b)            The Company has good and marketable title in fee simple  to aJI  r ea estate and fixed property described  in the Indenture, subject to the exceptions and matters r cited therein. With respect to any property acq1. .1ir ed by t11e Company following the most recent issuance of Bonds , the Company procured a title ·
3


Insurance policy insuring title to such property and the Trustee’s
interest therein as a first mortgage lien, subject only to Permitted
Encumbrances.

7.       Taxes.    The documents and any cash deposit specified in the Opinion of Counsel provided in the foregoing paragraph 4 of this Section 3.04, which cash deposit, if any, shall be held by the Trustee as part of the Mortgaged Property and applied by the Trustee for the purpose specified therein and, to the extent that such cash deposit ultimately proves to be excessive, returned to the Company upon written request from the Company."

2.            Amendments to Article I of the Indenture.

(a)            Effective as of the Effective Time, each of the following definitions set forth in Article I and Article III, as applicable, of the Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety:

(i)       "Acquired Plants"; (ii)     "Additions Credit"; (iii)    "Cost";
(iv)     "Cost Basis";

(v)            "Net Amounts of Property Additions"; (vi)          "Net Earnings";
(vii)   "Net Earnings Certificate";

(viii)            "Net Property Additions Certificate"; (ix)          "Property Account";
(x)      "Property Additions";

(xi)            "Retirements; Cost Basis of Retirements"; (xii)          "Retirements Credits"; and
(xiii)  "Used for any purpose of this Indenture."

(b)            Effective as of the Effective Time, the definition of "Fair Value" set forth in Article I of the Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
4


"Fair Value:

The term "Fair Value" of any property or securities shall mean the fair value thereof as set forth in the appropriate officers', appraiser's, engineer's or other certificate or resolution."

3.            Amendments to Sectim1 3 . 06 . Effective as of the Effective Time, Section 3.06 of the Indenture is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"Section 3.06  Issuance of Additional Bonds based on Financial Ratios: From time to time hereafter, the Company, in addition to the Bonds authorized to be issued pursuant to other provisions of this Article III, may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee, upon compliance by the Company with the provisions of this  Section  3.06  (including  the  delivery  of  the   documents described in  paragraph (B) below), shall thereupon authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Company, Bonds hereby secured.

(A)     Definitions:

1.      "Funded Indebtedness" shall mean all  bonds, debentures and other evidence of indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries, secured or unsecured, for money borrowed but excluding (i) indebtedness maturing on demand or within one year from the date incurred and not renewable or extendable at the option of the debtor, (ii) indebtedness of the Company to any subsidiary and indebtedness of a subsidiary to the Company, and (iii) indebtedness that has been called for redemption and for the payment of which monies have been irrevocably deposited with a trustee. Funded Indebtedness shall be calculated on a consolidated basis, excluding all intercompany items, in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and shall include the portion of bonds, notes or other indebtedness maturing, or required to be redeemed, within one year from the date as of which Funded Indebtedness is being determined, provided that for purposes of computations for this Indenture, capitalized  lease obligations shall be excluded from Funded Indebtedness.

2.        "Interest Coverage Ratio" shall  mean the ratio of: (i) net income (after taxes), plus depreciation expense, income taxes, amortization expense, and Interest Expense, minus non-cash patronage, and non-cash income from subsidiaries and/or joint ventures, plus or minus any non-recurring, non-cash extraordinary loss or gain, during the period; to (ii) all Interest Expense paid or payable in cash during  the period (all as calculated  for the
5


Company on a consolidated basis, excluding all intercompany
items, in accordance with GAAP consistently applied).

3.        "Interest Expense" shall mean the aggregate annual interest charges on (i) all Bonds outstanding under the Indenture (in the case of Bonds pledged as security for any indebtedness, the amount of annua l interest charges on such pledged Bonds is stated as the greater of (A) the amount of the annual interest charges on such indebtedness or (B) the amount of the annual interest charges on such pledged Bonds), (ii) all Bonds then applied for and all Bonds applied for since the last fiscal quarter end, (iii) all indebtedness secured by a lien upon the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, prior to the li e n of the Indenture (other than Permitted  Encumbrances and Funded Prior Liens   and (iv) the amount of annual interest charges on all indebtedness of the Company's subsidiaries.

4.        "Total  Permanent  Capital"  shall   mean  for  the Company and its subsidiaries: (i) the sum of the par or stated value of all outstanding capital stock of the  Company and all paid-in . premiums thereon· (ii) all   surp lu including capital and  earned surp lu s but not including surplus fr om any revaluation of tl1e Company s assets afte r December 3 2015 ; (iii) the  minority interest (if any) in consolidated   s ubsidi ar i es, but not including any earned su rplu of subsidiaries prior to the date of acquisition of such  subsidiaries;  and  ( iv) all  Funded  Indebtedness  of  the Company and such subsidiaries.   Total Permanent Capital shall be calculated on a consolidated basis, excluding all intercompany items, and in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

(B)     Documents Required. Bonds sha ll be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee und er this Sect ion 3.06 only upon receipt by the   Trustee of the re solutions, certificates  in struments  and opinions provided in Section 3.04 and also an Officers' Certificate, dated the date on which application is made for the authentication and delivery of Bonds, stating that:

1.       After giving effect to the proposed issuance of the Bonds then applied for, the ratio of Funded Indebtedness to Total Permanent Capital does not exceed 0.6667:1.00000;

2.            For  the  four  full  fiscal  quarters  immediately preceding the date of the proposed issuance of additional Bond but including annualized  Interest Charges for all Bonds then applied for and all Bonds applied for since the last fisca l quarter end (but excluding any Bonds that were applied for but which the
6


application therefor was revoked and/or not accepted by the
Trustee), the pro forma Interest Coverage Ratio exceeded 2.5:1.0;

3.       To the best knowledge and belief of the signers, the Company is not in default in the performance of any of the terms or covenants on its part to be performed under the Indenture; and

4.       To the best knowledge and belief of the signers, since the period covered in the calculation of Interest Coverage Ratio used in paragraph 2 above and until the time of the date on which application is made for the authentication and delivery of the Bond then applied for, there have been no substantive adverse changes with respect to the net income of the Company or its subsidiaries or to any other component of the calculation of Interest Coverage Ratio."

4.            D eletions of Sections 3.07, 3.0 and 3.09.  Effective as of the Effective Time, each of Section 3.07, 3.08 and 3.09 are hereby deleted in its entirety.

5.            Amendment to Section 5.02 . Effective as of the Effective Time, Section 5.02 of the Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"Section 5.02 Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a supplemental indenture, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail by first-class mail (with a copy to the Trustee) to each Bondholder a notice of redemption for Bonds that are to be redeemed, at such address as the same shall appear on the books and records of the Company and, if any Bonds in bearer form are outstanding, the Company shall publish on one occasion a notice in an Authorized Newspaper. At the Company's request made with five business days' advance written notice to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption prepared by and in the Company's name and at the Company's expense."

6.            Amendment to Section 6.03.

(a)      Effective as of the Effective Time, subparagraph 3(iii) of the Certificate of the Company referenced in subparagraph 2 of Section 6.03 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"(iii) other property, as described in Exhibit A hereto."

(b)      Effective as of the Effective Time, subparagraph (2) of Subsection 4 of
Section 6.03 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"(2)    in case any part of the consideration  received for the property so to be released consists of property (other than Excepted Property), stating
7


(a)
the Indenture and such other required instruments in
such places as are required by law in order to perfect the mortgage lien of the Trustee on such property, and

(b)      that the Company has corporate power to acquire, own and operate all property included in the consideration for such release;"

7.            Amendment to  Article VI. Effective as of the Effective Time, Article VI is hereby amended by adding new Section 6.11.

"Section 6.11  Release of Property Not in Public Service. Unless and until one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without consent by the Trustee and without any requirement to deposit proceeds with the Trustee under this Indenture, dispose of its property (in addition to the provisions authorizing the disposition and release of property in this Article VI) which is subject to the lien hereof, and the Trustee shall execute or acknowledge such documents as the Company may provide to the Trustee in order to release the same from the lien hereof upon receipt by the Trustee of an Officer's Certificate certifying as to the following:

(a)      The property disposed of is not currently being used to serve customers of the regulated utility business of the Company;

(b)      The consent or approval required by the Delaware Public Service Commission to dispose of such property has been obtained, or a statement that the consent or approval of the Delaware Public Service Commission was not required to dispose of such property; and

(c)      On a pro forma basis, following and taking into account the disposal of such property and any other properties disposed of under this Section 6.11 since the last quarter end:

(i)            The            ratio            of            Funded            Indebtedness            to           Total
Permanent Capital does not exceed 0.6667:1.0000; and

(ii)     For  the  four  full  fiscal  quarters immediately preceding the date of the proposed disposal, the Interest Coverage Ratio exceeded 2.5:1.0."

8.            Amendment to Section 7.02 . Effective as of the Effective Time, subparagraph 2 of Section 7.02 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
8


"2.  In an amount not exceeding one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Value of any property acquired by  the Company after January 1, 2017 that (i) to the extent such Property is not Excepted Property, has been subjected to the lien of this Indenture, (ii) to the extent such Property is not Excepted Property, is not subject to any lien prior to, or on a parity with, the lien of this Indenture, and (iii) has  not  otherwise  been  included  in  any  previous  Officers' Certificate provided under this paragraph 2, upon receipt by the Trustee of an Officers' Certificate certifying as to such Fair Value and the items, and only the items, specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 of subparagraph (B) of Section 3.06; provided that the  Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon such documents notwithstanding that they may contain such additions, omissions and  modifications  as  may   be  necessary  to  make  the  same applicable to the withdrawal of moneys hereunder."

9.            Amendments Regarding Section 3.06 . Effective as ofthe Effective Time, each of the following provisions are deleted:


(a)
of Section 6.03;
subparagraph 5 of the Certificate of Company referenced in subsection 2


(b)      subparagraph 1(b) of Section 7.02.

10.            Amendments to Articl e XII.

(a)            Effective as of the Effective Time, Article XII is hereby amended by adding a new Section 12.19:

"Section 12.19. Additional provisions applicable to the Trustee.

(a)      The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a  Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event  which is in fact such a default  (and stating  the occurrence of a default or Event of Default) is received by the Trustee at the  Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Bonds and this Indenture.

(b)      The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers' Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers' Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officer's Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
9


(c)      The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for punitive, special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of actions.

(d)      Any permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking actions enumerated in this Indenture or documents entered into in connection with the issuance of any Bonds shall not be construed as a duty.

(e)      The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

(f)      The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for the environmental condition or any contamination of any Mortgaged Property or for any diminution in value of any such property as a result of any contamination of the Mortgaged Property by any hazardous substance, hazardous material, pollutant or contaminant. The Trustee shall not be liable for any claims by or on behalf of the holders or any other person or entity arising from contamination of the property by any hazardous substance, hazardous material, pollutant or contaminant, and shall have no duty or obligation to assess the environmental condition of any such property or with respect to compliance of any such property under state or federal laws pertaining to the transport, storage, treatment or disposal of, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, pollutants, or contaminants or regulations, permits or licenses issued under such laws.

(g)      The Trustee shall be under no obligation to effect or maintain insurance or to renew any policies of insurance or to inquire as to the sufficiency of any policies of insurance carried by the Company, or to report, or make or file claims or proof of loss for, any loss or damage insured against or that may occur, or to keep itself informed or advised as to the payment of any taxes or assessments, or to require any such payment to be made.
10


(h)      The Trustee shall not be obligated to acquire possession of or take any action with respect to any Mortgaged Property, if as a result of such action, the Trustee would be considered to hold title to, to be a "mortgagee in possession of', or to be an "owner" or "operator" of such property within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Responsibility Cleanup and Liability Act of 1980, as amended from time to time, unless the Trustee has previously determined, based upon a report prepared by a person who regularly conducts environmental audits, that (i) the such property is in compliance with applicable environmental laws or, if not, that it would be in the best interest ofthe Holders to take such actions as are necessary for such property to comply therewith and (ii) there are not circumstances present at such property relating to the use, management or disposal of any hazardous wastes for which investigation, testing, monitoring, containment, clean-up or remediation could be required under any federal, state or local law or regulation or that if any such materials are present for which such action could be required, that it would be in the best economic interest of the holders to take such actions with respect to such property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, before taking any such action, the Trustee may require that a satisfactory indemnity bond or environmental  impairment insurance be furnished to it for the payment or reimbursement of all expenses to which it may be put and to protect it against all liability resulting from any claims, judgments, damages, losses, fees, penalties or expenses which may result from such action.

(i)       Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, if requested by the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(I)       An Officers' Certificate of the Company in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth below) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

(II)     An Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth below) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied;

and in each case, each certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include: (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii)
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a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement  that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition  has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officers' Certificate as to matters of fact); and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with."

(b)            Effective as of the Effective Time, Article XII is hereby amended by adding a new Section 12.20.

"Section 12.20.  Notices to Trustee.  For all purposes of this Indenture, the "office  of the Trustee, "principal  office of the Trustee" or such other references to the office of the Trustee shall be amended to refer to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and all notices to the Trustee provided hereunder shall be delivered to the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. "Corporate Trust Office" shall mean an office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be administered, which office is, at the date as of which this Amendment is dated, located at Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 N. Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Artesian Water Company Administrator, or such other address in the United States as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the holders and the Company, or the principal  corporate  trust office  in the United  States of any successor Trustee (or such other address in the United States as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the holders and the Company."

11.      Amendment  lo the Remaining I ndentures.   Effective  as of the Effective Time, both Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of each of the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture are hereby deleted in their entirety and replaced with "[RESERVED]."

12.      Conditions Precedent . This Amendment shall not become effective until each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a)            The Trustee shall have received a counterpart of this Amendment signed by each party hereto, including an executed signature page of the Bondholders; and

(b)      The Trustee  shall  have  received  an  Officers'  Certificate  from   the
Company and an Opinion of Counsel, to the effect that the amendments contemplated hereby are
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authorized or permitted by the Indenture and that all conditions precedent thereto have been satisfied.

13.     Effectiveness. The parties acknowledge and agree that following satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 12 above, the amendments described herein shall become effective (the "Effective Time").

14.     Bondholder Consent . CoBank, ACB, acting in its capacity as a holder of not less than one hundred percent in principal amount of the Series P Bonds, the Series R Bonds, the Series S Bonds and the Series T Bonds issued by Company, and acting pursuant to Section 14.06 of the Indenture, and pursuant to Section 14.10 of the Indenture, hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees to this Amendment.

15.     Ratification of Indenture and Remaining Supplemental Indentur es .  Except as specifically amended, modified or supplemented by this Amendment, each of the Indenture and the Remaining Supplemental Indentures is hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects and shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment shall not constitute a novation of any of the Indenture and the Remaining Supplemental Indentures, but shall constitute an amendment thereof. Each of the parties to the Indenture agrees to be bound by the terms of the obligations of each of the Indenture and the Remaining Supplemental Indentures, as amended by this Amendment, as though the terms and obligations of such Indenture and the Remaining Supplemental Indentures were set forth herein.

16.            General Terms.

(a)     Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

(b)     This Amendment, the Bonds, and the Indenture shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

(c)      Each of the parties hereto hereby agree that any suit, action, or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Amendment, the Indenture or any supplemental indenture thereto, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, shall be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware or in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if such courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), so long as one of such courts shall have subject matter jurisdiction over such suit, action, or proceeding, and that any cause of action arising out of this Agreement shall be deemed to have arisen from a transaction of business in the State of Delaware. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such suit, action,  or proceeding, and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action, or proceeding in any such court, or that any such suit, action, or proceeding which is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Service of process, summons, notice, or
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other document by certified or registered mail to the address set forth below shall be effective service of process for any suit, action, or other proceeding brought in any such court.

If to the Company:

Artesian Water Company, Inc.
664 Churchmans Road
Newark, Delaware 19702

If to the Trustee: Wilmington Trust Company
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Attention: Artesian Water Company Administrator



If to a Holder : at such address set forth in the Register.

(d)      Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Amendment, the Indenture or any supplemental indentures thereto or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

17.        Counterparts; Electronic   Signatures.     This Amendment may be executed in counterparts and all such counterparts shall constitute one agreement binding on all the parties, notwithstanding that the parties are not signatories to the same counterpart.

18.      The Trustee is not responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Amendment or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein.



[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.



TO



WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
As Trustee











TWENTY-FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE Dated as of November 20, 2009








Supplemental to Indenture of Mortgage
Dated as of July 1, 1961


TWENTY-FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of November 20,

2009, made by and between ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC. (successor to Artesian Resources Corporation, formerly named "Artesian Water Company", under the Original Indenture hereinafter referred to), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State  of  Delaware  (hereinafter called  the  "Company"),  party  of  the  first part,  and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its principal office and place of business at Tenth and Market Streets, in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, as Trustee under the Original Indenture hereinafter referred to (hereinafter called the "Trustee"), party of the second part.
WHEREAS, the Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION (its name having been changed from "Artesian Water Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the “Corporation"); and
WHEREAS, the Corporation has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture of Mortgage (hereinafter called the "Original Indenture") dated as of July 1, 1961, and duly recorded the Original Indenture in the Recorder's Office at Wilmington, in Mortgage Record A Volume 56, Page 1 etc., on the 13th day of November, A.D. 1961, for the purpose of securing First Mortgage Bonds of the Corporation to be issued from time to time in one or more series as therein provided; and
WHEREAS, there have been issued under the Original Indenture $1,600,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series A, 4 ½%  ,all of which were paid at maturity on November 1, 1978; and


WHEREAS, there have been issued under the Original Indenture $1,000,000 principal  amount  of   First Mortgage  Bonds,  Series  B, 5 3/8%,  the $912,750  remaining outstanding principal amount of which was paid at maturity on July 1, 1986; and
WHEREAS, there have been issued under the Original Indenture as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture dated as of April15, 1964 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "First Supplemental Indenture"), $1,250,000 principal amount of First Mortgage  Bonds, Series C, 5 1/8%, the $1,225,000 remaining outstanding principal amount of which was paid at maturity on April 15, 1989; and
WHEREAS, there  have been issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented  by a second  supplemental  indenture   dated as of June 1, 1970 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Second Supplemental Indenture"), $1,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series D, 9 3/4%, the $640,000  remaining outstanding principal amount of which was paid at maturity on June 1, 1990; and
WHEREAS, there have been issued under the Original Indenture as supplemented by a third supplemental indenture dated as of January 1, 1973 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Third Supplemental Indenture"), $800,000  principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series E, 8 ½ %, due January 1, 1998, all of which were redeemed on February 1, 1993; and
WHEREAS,            there            have  been            issued            under            the            Original            Indenture,           as

supplemented by a fourth supplemental indenture dated as of November 1, 1975 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Fourth Supplemental Indenture"), $1,500,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series F, 10 7/8%, due November 1, 1995, the $225,000 remaining outstanding principal amount of which was redeemed on February 1, 1993; and
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WHEREAS, there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a fifth supplemental indenture dated as of March 1, 1977 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Fifth Supplemental Indenture"), $1,800,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series G, 8 7/8% due March  1, 1997, the $1,080,000 remaining outstanding principal amount of which was redeemed on February 1, 1993; and
WHEREAS,  there have been issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a sixth supplemental indenture dated as of December 1, 1978 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Sixth Supplemental Indenture"), $1,800,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series H, 9 3/4%, due December 1, 1998, the $1,260,000 remaining outstanding principal amount of which was redeemed on February 1, 1993; and
WHEREAS,  there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a seventh supplemental indenture dated as of November 1, 1981 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Seventh Supplemental Indenture"), $3,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series I, 11 7/8%, due October 1, 1987, all of which were redeemed on October 1, 1986; and
WHEREAS, the Company was organized for stated purposes that encompass the stated purposes of the Corporation in order that the Company could acquire from the Corporation substantially all of the Mortgaged Property (as such term is defined in the Original Indenture) as an entirety and to operate the same; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation, the Company and the Trustee entered into an eighth supplemental indenture dated as of July 1, 1984 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Original Eighth Supplemental Indenture"), providing for the succession and substitution of the Company to and for the Corporation with the same effect as if the Company had been named
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in the Original Indenture as the mortgagor, and providing for the assumption by the Company of, and the release and discharge of the Corporation from, all liability and obligation on and with respect  to the Bonds and coupons issued under the Original Indenture and all the terms, covenants and conditions of the Original Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation, the Company and the Trustee executed a certain corrected eighth supplemental indenture dated as of July 1, 1984 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Corrected Eighth Supplemental Indenture") which supplements and corrects certain descriptions of Mortgaged Property set forth in the Original Indenture (the Original Eighth Supplemental Indenture and the Corrected Eighth Supplemental Indenture being hereinafter sometimes  referred to collectively as the "Eighth Supplemental Indenture"); and
WHEREAS, on July  1, 1984, the Corporation conveyed and transferred substantially all the Mortgaged Property as an entirety, subject to the lien of the Original Indenture and all supplemental indentures thereto, to the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company  has assumed and agreed that it will promptly pay or cause to be paid, the principal of and any premium that may be due and payable on and the interest on all the Bonds issued  under the Original Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto, and has agreed to perform, observe and fulfill, duly and punctually, all the terms, covenants and conditions of the Original Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto stated therein to be performed, observed or fulfilled by the Corporation, and the Corporation has been released and discharged from all liability and obligation on and with respect to the Bonds and coupons issued under the Original Indenture and all terms, covenants and conditions of the Original Indenture and the Trustee has executed and delivered to the Company an instrument of
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partial defeasance dated April 4, 1986 pursuant to Article II of the Eighth Supplemental

Indenture; and

WHEREAS, there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a ninth supplemental indenture dated as of December 1, 1986 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Ninth Supplemental Indenture"), $5,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series J, 9.55%, all of which were paid at maturity on December 1, 1996; and
WHEREAS, there have been issued under  the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a tenth supplemental indenture dated as of April 1, 1989 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Tenth Supplemental Indenture"), $7,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series K, 10.17%, due April1, 2009, all of which were redeemed on December
29,2000;and

WHEREAS, there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a eleventh supplemental indenture dated as of February 1, 1993 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Eleventh Supplemental Indenture"), $10,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series L, 8.03%, all of which were redeemed on January 31,
2003;and

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture has been further supplemented pursuant to a twelfth supplemental indenture dated as of December 5, 1995 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Twelfth Supplemental Indenture"), which provided for the release from the Indenture of certain assets of the Company; and
WHEREAS, there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a thirteenth supplemental indenture dated as of June 1, 1997 (hereinafter
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sometimes referred to as the "Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture"), $10,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series M, 7.84%, due December 31, 2007, all ofwhich were redeemed on August 1, 2005; and
WHEREAS, there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 1997 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture"), $5,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series N, due December 31, 2007, all of which were redeemed on August 1, 2005; and
WHEREAS, there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Fifteenth Supplemental  Indenture"), $20,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series 0, 8.17%, all of which were outstanding as of the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, there have been issued under  the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 31, 2003 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture"), $25,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series P, 6.58%, all of which were outstanding as of the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, there have been  issued under the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2003 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture"), $15,400,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series Q, 4.75%, all of which were outstanding as of the date hereof; and
6


WHEREAS, there have been issued under  the Original Indenture, as supplemented by an Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2005 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture"), $25,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series R, 5.96%, all of which were outstanding as of the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, there is no "Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture" supplementing the Original Indenture; and
WHEREAS, there have been issued under  the Original Indenture, as supplemented by a Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2008 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Twentieth Supplemental Indenture"), $15,000,000 principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds,  Series S, due December 31, 2033, all  of which were outstanding as of the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to enter into this Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of correcting certain defects contained in the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture; and WHEREAS, the Company has duly resolved and determined to make, execute
and deliver to the Trustee this Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of correcting certain defects contained in the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, pursuant to and as provided in Section 13.01(£) of the Original Indenture, as supplemented (the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Eight Supplemental Indenture, the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the  Tenth  Supplemental Indenture, the  Eleventh  Supplemental Indenture, the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, the
7


Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, this Twenty-First Indenture and all indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture hereafter executed, being hereinafter sometimes called the "Indenture"); and
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH THAT ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC., in consideration of the premises and of the acceptance by the Trustee of the trusts created by the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture and of the purchase and acceptance of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series S, by CoBank, ACB (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Co Bank") pursuant to the Bond Purchase Agreement dated as of December 1,
2008, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated November 20, 2009 (as so amended, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Bond Purchase  Agreement"), and of One Dollar to the Company duly paid by the Trustee at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, for itself and its successors, intending to be legally bound hereby, does hereby ratify and confirm its mortgage and pledge to the Trustee of all property described in the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, and the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, and this Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture (except such thereof as may heretofore have been released from the lien of the Indenture in accordance with the terms thereof);
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TOGETHER with all  and singular the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging or in any wise appertaining to the aforesaid property and rights or any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, and to the extent permitted by law, all tolls, rents, revenues, issues, income, product and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, that the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid premises, property and rights and every part and parcel thereof;
SAVING AND EXCEPTING, HOWEVER, from the property hereby mortgaged and pledged all of the property of every kind and type saved and excepted from the Original Indenture, by the terms thereof;
SUBJECT, HOWEVER, to the exceptions, reservations and matters of the kind and type recited in the Original Indenture;
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all said premises, property and rights granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, transferred, assigned, mortgaged, pledged, set over and confirmed by the Company as aforesaid or intended so to be unto the Trustee and its successors in the trust and their assigns forever;
IN TRUST, NEVERTHELESS, upon the terms and trusts set forth in the Original Indenture for the equal and proportionate benefit and security of those who shall hold or own the bonds  and coupons issued and to be issued under the Indenture, or any of them, without preference of any of said bonds and coupons over any others thereof by reason of priority in the time of the issue or negotiation thereof or by reason of the date or maturity thereof, or for any other reason whatsoever; subject, however, to the provisions with respect to extended, pledged and transferred coupons contained in Section 4.02 of the Original Indenture.
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AND THIS INDENTURE FURTHER WITNESSETH THAT, in consideration of the premises and of such acceptance or purchase of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series S, by CoBank, and of said sum of One Dollar to the Company duly paid by the Trustee at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the Company, for itself and its successors, intending to be legally bound hereby does covenant to and agree with the Trustee and its successors in the trust, for the benefit of those who shall hold or own such Bonds, or any of them, as follows:
ARTICLE I

CORRECTIONS TO DEFECTS IN THE TWENTIETH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE Section 1.1           The first paragraph of Section  1.2 of the Twentieth Supplemental
Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"The Series S Bonds shall be dated the date of their authentication and shall bear interest from such date, except as otherwise provided  for   Bonds issued upon  subsequent exchanges and transfers by Section 2.06 of the Original Indenture, shall mature and be subject to redemption in a principal amount equal to
$150,000 per calendar quarter, payable on the first Business Day of March, June, September and December in each year, beginning with the first Business Day of March, 2009, with all then outstanding principal due and payable on December 31, 2033 (the "Maturity Date"). Business Day shall mean any day that CoBank is open for business, except any day when Federal Reserve Banks are closed."

Section 1.2            The fourth paragraph of Section 1.2 of the Twentieth Supplemental

Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"Interest on the Series S Bonds is payable on the first Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year, beginning with the first Business Day of March, 2009, and on the Maturity Date, until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest shall be discharged."

Section 1.3            Section 1.3 of the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
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"Form  of Bond. The text of the registered Series S Bonds and of the authentication certificate of the Trustee upon said Bonds shall be, respectively, substantially as follows:
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FORM OF REGISTERED SERIES S BOND WITHOUT COUPONS

THIS BOND HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OTHERWISE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SAID SECURITIES ACT OR UNLESS AN  EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.

THIS BOND HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO AND SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2008, AS AMENDED BY THAT CERTAIN FIRST AMENDMENT TO BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 20,2009, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.

No. SR-                                                                                                                      $                _




ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC. FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS, SERIES S Due December 31, 2033



ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Company", which term shall include any successor corporation as defined in the Original Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                                                           or registered assigns, on the first business day of March, June, September and December in each year, beginning with the first Business Day of March, 2009, the sum of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars, and on December 31, 2033 (the "Maturity Date"), all then outstanding principal, in each case in coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay in like coin or currency interest thereon to the registered owner hereof, from the date hereof, at a rate equal to
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6.73% per annum, through and including, March 1, 2016, and thereafter at such rate(s) and for such period(s) as provided in the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, as corrected by the Twenty- First Supplemental Indenture, hereinafter mentioned, such interest payable on the first Business Day of March, June, September and December of each year, beginning with the first Business Day of March, 2009 and on the Maturity Date, until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such principal, premium (if any) and interest shall be discharged. Overdue payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest shall bear interest as provided in the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, as corrected by the Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, hereinafter mentioned. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and the holders of the Series S Bonds hereinafter mentioned, payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest are to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the advice and credit to CoBank to ABA No. 30708875-4, reference: CoBank for the benefit of Artesian Water Company, Inc. (or to such other account as CoBank may direct).
This bond is one of an authorized issue of bonds of the Company known as its First Mortgage Bonds (herein called the "Bonds"), not limited in aggregate principal amount except as provided in the Original Indenture hereinafter mentioned, all issued and to be issued in one or more series under and equally secured by an Indenture of Mortgage dated as of July 1,
1961 (herein called the "Original Indenture"), executed by Artesian Resources Corporation (then named Artesian Water Company), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Corporation") and by Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (herein called the "Trustee"). The Original Indenture has heretofore been supplemented by eighteen supplemental indentures, including an Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 1984, pursuant to which the Company assumed all of the obligations of the
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Corporation under the Original Indenture, and by a Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2008 (hereinafter called the "Twentieth  Supplemental Indenture") and by a Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 20, 2009 (hereinafter called the "Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture"). Reference is hereby made to the Original Indenture as so supplemented for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are and are to be issued and secured and the rights of the holders or registered owners thereof and of the Trustee in respect of such security. As provided in the Original Indenture, the Bonds may be issued in one or more series for various principal sums, may bear different dates and mature at different times, may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as provided or permitted in the Original Indenture, as supplemented. This Bond is one of the Bonds described in the Twentieth Supplemental  Indenture, as corrected by the Twenty-First   Supplemental Indenture, and designated therein as "First Mortgage Bonds, Series S" (hereinafter called the "Series S Bonds"). To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Original Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, modifications or alterations of the Original Indenture, or of an indenture supplemental thereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and of the rights of the holders of the Bonds issued and to be issued thereunder, may be made with the consent of the Company by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent (66 2/3%) in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding under the Original Indenture and entitled to vote and affected by such modification or alteration, at a meeting of bondholders called and held as provided in the Original Indenture, and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds then outstanding under the Original Indenture and entitled to vote would be affected by the modification or alteration differently from or without affecting
14


the Bonds of any of the other series, by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty- six and two-thirds per cent (66 2/3%) in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds of each series so affected, or in either case by the written consent of the holders of such percentages of Bonds; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration may be made that would extend the maturity of, or reduce the principal amount of, or reduce the rate of, or extend the time of payment of interest on, or reduce any premium payable upon any redemption of, this Bond, or modify the terms of payment of principal  or interest, or reduce the percentage required for the taking of any such action, without the express consent of the holder hereof.
No reference herein to the Original Indenture or to any indenture supplemental thereto  and no provision  of this Bond or of the Original  Indenture  or of any indenture supplemental thereto shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on this Bond at the time and place and at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
The Series S Bonds shall be redeemable as provided in the Original Indenture and the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, as corrected by the Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture.
The principal of the Series S Bonds may be declared or may become due prior to the Maturity Date, in the manner and with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Original Indenture and the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture,  as corrected by the Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture.
This Bond is transferable by the registered owner hereof, in person or by duly authorized attorney, on books of the Company to be kept for that purpose at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, upon surrender hereof at such office for cancellation and upon presentation of a
15


written instrument of transfer duly executed, and thereupon the Company shall issue in the name of the transferee or transferees, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new registered Bond or Series S Bonds, in an authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount; and the registered owner of any registered Series S Bonds may surrender the same as aforesaid at said office in exchange for a like aggregate principal amount of Bonds of like form of other authorized denominations, all upon payment of the charges and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Original Indenture.
The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name this Bond shall at the time be registered on the books of the Company as the absolute owner hereof for all  purposes whatsoever (except as otherwise provided in Article XIV of the Original Indenture with respect to bondholders' meetings and consents); and payment of or on account of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on this Bond shall be made only to or upon the order in writing of such registered owner hereof; and all such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon this Bond to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Original Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any Bond thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured, shall be had against any incorporator or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Original Indenture, any indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby
16


secured, are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or any successor corporation or any of them, because of the incurring of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements, expressed or implied, contained in the Original Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds thereby secured.
This Bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Original Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, and shall not become valid or obligatory for any purpose until Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture, or a successor trustee thereunder, shall have signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC., has caused this Bond to be signed in its name by its Chief Financial Officer and its corporate seal (or a facsimile thereof) to be hereto affixed and attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and this Bond to be dated November 20, 2009.



ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.






By: ----------------------
 
Attest:
 

17


FORM OF TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE FOR SERIES S BONDS

TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE



This Bond is one of the Bonds, of the series designated therein, described in the within-
mentioned Original Indenture, as supplemented.

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as
Trustee,



By: -------------------------
Authorized Officer"
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Section 1.4     Section 2.5 of the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
"Section 2.5   Mandatory Sinking Fund Redemption . The Series S Bonds are subject to mandatory sinking fund redemption prior to maturity on the first Business Day of March, June, September and December in each year, in a principal amount of $150,000  on each such date, at a redemption price equal to such principal amount plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date (to the extent such interest is not otherwise paid pursuant to Section 1.2 of this Twentieth Supplemental Indenture. Each sinking fund redemption provided  for herein shall  be effected in accordance  with the provisions set forth in Article V of the Original Indenture and the provisions of Section 1.2 of  this Twentieth Supplemental Indenture."

ARTICLE II THE TRUSTEE
Section 2.1       Trustee Acceptance.   The Trustee hereby agrees to perform the trust declared by the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture upon the terms set forth in the Original Indenture as further supplemented by the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, as corrected by this Twenty-First Supplemental  Indenture, and upon the additional terms and conditions that the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Twenty-First  Supplemental Indenture or the due execution hereof by the Company or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made by the Company solely.

ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.1            Incorporation of Original Indenture Terms. This instrument shall be

construed as an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture, and shall form a part thereof. The Original Indenture as heretofore supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the
19


Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture and as further supplemented by this Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture is hereby ratified and confirmed. Terms defined in the Original Indenture that are used herein and not otherwise defined herein are used as defined in the Original Indenture.
Section 3.2       Continuing Effect.   This Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture shall not constitute a correction, an amendment or waiver of any other provision of the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture not expressly referred to herein. Except as expressly corrected hereby, the provisions of the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture are and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 3.3            Effective Date . The corrections to defects in the Twentieth Supplemental

Indenture set forth in this Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture are deemed for all purposes to be effective as of December 1, 2008.
Section 3.4            Counterparts. This  Twenty-First  Supplemental  Indenture may be

simultaneously executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
20


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC. has caused these presents to be signed in its corporate name by its Chief Financial Officer and sealed with its  corporate  seal,  attested  by  its  Secretary  or  one  of  its  Assistant   Secretaries,  and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee, has caused these presents to be signed in its corporate name by one of its Vice Presidents and sealed with its corporate seal, attested by one of its Assistant Secretaries, all as of the day and year first above written.




21

 

 
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY

TO

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee.


Indenture of Mortgage
Dated as of July 1, 1961



FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS









*Converted version, some items could have been incorrectly copied in the conversion process, this is a conversion of the original version dated July 1961, the original copy is available upon request, also the original version has been previously filed with the SEC .


INDENTURE dated as of the first day of July, 1961, made by and between ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office and place of business in Newport, Delaware, party of the first part, and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its principal office and place of business at Tenth and Market Streets, in the City of Wilmington, Delaware (herein called the "Trustee"), party of the second part.

WHEREAS, the Company deems it desirable to borrow money from time to time to refund its obligations and for other corporate purposes and to issue its bonds therefor, and to mortgage and pledge its property, hereinafter described, to secure the payment of said bonds, and to that end has duly authorized and directed the issue of its bonds, from time to time, not limited in aggregate principal amount except as hereinafter provided, to be designated generally as its "First Mortgage Bonds" (herein called the "Bonds"), to be issued in one or more series, the Bonds of each series to be issuable originally either as coupon Bonds registerable as to principal or as registered Bonds without coupons, or both, all such Bonds to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee, the Bonds of each series to bear such date or dates, to mature on such date or dates, to bear interest at such rate or rates and to contain such other terms and provisions permitted by law as are required or permitted by this Indenture and as may be determined and prescribed by the Board of Directors of the Company; and

WHEREAS, it is contemplated that two series of bonds will initially be issued under this Indenture, namely, a series of bonds designated "First Mortgage Bonds, Series A, 4½%" in the aggregate principal amount of $1,600,000 (hereinafter called "Bonds of Series A") and a series of bonds designated as "First Mortgage Bonds, Series B, 5 3 / 8 % " in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 (hereinafter called "Bonds of Series B ") ; and

WHEREAS, the coupon Bonds of Series A, the coupons appertaining thereto, the registered Bonds without coupons of said series and the Trustee's authentication certificate upon said Bonds are to be substantially in the forms following, respectively:

[FORM OF COUPON BOND OF SERIES A]
No. AM ....           $1,000

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
FIRST MORTGAGE BOND, SERIES A, 4 ½ %
Due November 1, 1978

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Company", which term shall include any successor corporation as defined in the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to the bearer or, if this bond be registered as to principal, to the registered owner hereof, on the first day of November, 1978, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay in like coin or currency interest thereon, from the date hereof, at the rate of four and one-half per cent. (4½%) per annum, semi-annually, on the first day of May and the first day of November in each year until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged, but, until maturity hereof, only according to the tenor and upon presentation and surrender of the respective coupons hereto attached as they severally mature. Payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest are to be made at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office.
This bond is one of an authorized issue of bonds of the Company known as its First Mortgage Bonds (herein called the "Bonds"), not limited in aggregate principal amount except as provided in the Indenture herein mentioned, all issued and to be issued in one or more series under and equally secured by an Indenture of Mortgage (herein called the "Indenture"), dated as of July 1, 1961, executed by the Company to Wilmington Trust Company (herein called 'the "Trustee") as Trustee, to which Indenture and to all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are and are to be issued and secured and the rights of the holders or registered owners thereof and of the Trustee in respect of such security. As provided in the Indenture, said Bonds may be issued in series for various principal sums, may bear different dates and mature at different times, may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This bond is one of the bonds described in the Indenture and designated therein as "First Mortgage Bonds, Series A, 4½%" (hereinafter called the "bonds of Series A"). To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Indenture, modifications or alterations of the Indenture, or of any indenture supplemental thereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and of the rights of the holders of the Bonds and coupons issued and to be issued thereunder, may be made with the consent of the Company by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote and affected by such modification or alteration, at a meeting of bondholders called and held as provided in the Indenture, and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote would be affected by the modification or alteration differently from or without affecting the Bonds of any of the other series, by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds percent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds of each series so affected, or in either case by the written consent of the holders of such percentages of Bonds; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration may be made which would extend the maturity of, or reduce the principal amount of, or reduce the rate of, or extend the time of payment of, interest on, or reduce any premium payable upon any redemption of, this bond or modify the terms of payment of principal or interest, or reduce the percentage required for the taking of any such action, without the express consent of the holder hereof.
No reference herein to the Indenture or to any indenture supplemental thereto and no provision of this bond or of the Indenture or of any indenture supplemental thereto shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on this bond at the time and place and at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
The bonds of Series A are entitled to the benefit of the Sinking Fund provided therefor in the Indenture.
The bonds of Series A are subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company or pursuant to certain requirements of the Indenture, upon at least thirty (30) days prior notice, all on the conditions and in the manner provided in the Indenture. If redeemed (i) in connection with the sale to or other acquisition by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies of the properties of the Company specified in the next succeeding paragraph hereof, (ii) in connection with any voluntary or . involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, occurring in connection with or subsequent to the acquisition of all or substantially all of the stock of the Company ordinarily entitled to voting rights by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies, or (iii) with moneys received by the Trustee through the operation of the Sinking Fund provided in the Indenture for bonds of Series A, all as more fully provided .in the Indenture, the bonds of Series A are redeemable, in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, at the principal amount thereof, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. The bonds of Series A are not redeemable, prior to November 1,1971, from the proceeds of (i) any sale of capital stock by the Company or (ii) any borrowing, direct or indirect, by the Company at an effective interest rate (giving effect to any premium or discount) of 4   ¾%   or less; and after November 1, 1971, the bonds of Series A are redeemable from such proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence, in like coin or currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in. Column A of the schedule set forth below, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. If redeemed otherwise than in accordance with the two next preceding sentences, the bonds of Series A are redeemable, in like coin or currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column B of the following schedule, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.

[Here insert Redemption Table set forth as Exhibit A hereto.]

If this bond is called for redemption and payment hereof is duly provided for as specified in the Indenture, interest shall cease to accrue hereon from and after the date fixed for redemption.
In the event that all or substantially all of the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon, or all or substantially all of the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon which is used or useful in connection with the. business of the Company as a water company or as a. water utility, shall be released from the lien of the Indenture under the provisions of Section 6.03 or Section 6.06 thereof, all Bonds then outstanding are to be redeemed in the manner and upon the terms provided in the Indenture.
The principal of this bond may be declared or may become due prior to its maturity date, in the manner and with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture, upon the occurrence of an event of default as in the Indenture provided.
This bond is transferable by delivery except while registered as to principal. This bond may be registered as to principal in the name of the holder on books of the Company to be kept for that purpose at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, and such registration shall be noted hereon, after which no transfer hereof shall be valid unless made on said books by the registered owner in person, or by his duly authorized attorney, and similarly noted on this bond; but this bond may be discharged from registration by being in like manner transferred to bearer and thereupon transferability by delivery shall be restored; and this bond may again, from time to time, be registered or discharged from registration in the same manner. Such registration, however, shall not affect the negotiability by delivery of the coupons, which shall always be payable to bearer and transferable by delivery.
The holder or registered owner of any coupon bond or bonds of Series A may, at his option, surrender the same at the aforesaid office of the Trustee, with all unmatured coupons attached, in exchange for a registered bond - or bonds of Series A without coupons, of authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of the charges and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.
The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the bearer hereof, or, if this bond be registered as to principal, the person in whose name the same shall at the time be registered on the books of the Company, and may deem and treat the bearer of any coupon for interest on this bond (whether or not this bond shall be registered as to principal), as the absolute owner of this bond or of such coupon, as the case may be, for the purpose of receiving payment thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever (except as otherwise provided. in Article 33 :IV of the Indenture with respect to bondholders' meetings and consents), irrespective of whether or not this bond or such coupon shall be overdue, and the Company and the Trustee shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any Bond or coupon thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture, any indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby secured, are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to, or be incurred by, such incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the incurring of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements, expressed or implied, contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds or coupons thereby secured.
Neither this bond nor any coupon hereto attached shall be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, or shall become valid or obligatory for any purpose until Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture, or a successor trustee thereunder, shall have signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY has caused this bond to be signed in its name by its President or a Vice-President and its corporate seal (or a facsimile thereof) to be hereto affixed and attested by its Secretary or an Assistant. Secretary, and interest coupons bearing the facsimile signature of its Treasurer to be attached hereto, and this bond to be dated
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,
By
President
Attest
Secretary
.
.[FORM OF COUPON FOR BONDS OF SERIES A]
No.AM…………………            $22.50
On the first day of             19  , ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, will pay to bearer, on surrender of this coupon, at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, the amount shown hereon in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, being six months' interest then due on its First Mortgage Bond, Series A, 4½%, due November 1, 1978, No. AM……

This coupon will not be payable if said Bond shall have been called for previous redemption and payment thereof duly provided for

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,
By
Treasurer.

[FORM OF REGISTERED BOND OF SERIES A WITHOUT COUPONS]
No. AR....            $
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
FIRST MORTGAGE BOND, SERIES A, 4½%
Due November 1, 1978
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Company", which term shall include any successor corporation as defined in the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _____________or registered assigns, on the first day of November, 1978, the sum of ________________Dollars in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay in like coin or currency interest thereon to the registered owner hereof, from the date hereof, at the rate of four and one-half per cent. (4½%) per annum, semi-annually, on the first day of May and the first day of November in each year until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged. Payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest are to be made at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office. This bond is one of an authorized issue of bonds of the Company known as its First Mortgage Bonds (herein called the "Bonds"), not limited in aggregate principal amount except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, all issued and to be issued in one or more series under and equally secured by an Indenture of Mortgage (herein called the "Indenture"), dated as of July 1, 1961, executed by the Company to Wilmington Trust Company (herein called the "Trustee"), as Trustee, to which Indenture and to all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are and are to be issued and secured and the rights of the holders or registered owners thereof and of the Trustee in respect of such security. As provided in the Indenture, said Bonds may be issued in series for various principal sums, may bear different dates and mature at different times, may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This bond is one of the bonds described in the Indenture and designated therein as "First Mortgage Bonds, Series A, 4 ½%” (hereinafter called the “bonds of Series A"). To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Indenture, modifications or alterations of the Indenture, or of any indenture supplemental thereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and of the rights of the holders of the Bonds and coupons issued and to be issued thereunder, may be made with the consent of the Company by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds percent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to . vote and affected by such modification or alteration, at a meeting of bondholders called and held as provided in the Indenture, and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote would be affected by the modification or alteration differently from or without affecting the Bonds of any of the other series, by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds percent. (66   2 / 3 %)   in principal amount of the Bonds of each series so affected, or in either case by the written consent of the holders of such percentages of Bonds; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration may be, made which would extend the maturity of, or reduce the principal amount of, or reduce the rate of, or extend the time of payment of, interest on, or reduce any premium payable upon any redemption of, this bond, or modify the terms of payment of principal or interest, or reduce the percentage required for the taking of any such action, without the express consent of the holder hereof.
No reference herein to the Indenture or to any indenture supplemental thereto and no provision of this bond or of the Indenture or of any indenture supplemental thereto shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on this bond at the time and place and at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
The bonds of Series A are entitled to the benefit of the Sinking Fund provided therefor in the Indenture.
The bonds of Series A are subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company or pursuant to certain requirements of the Indenture, upon at least thirty (30) days' prior notice, all on the conditions and in the manner provided in the Indenture. If redeemed (i) in connection with the sale to or other acquisition by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies of the properties of the Company specified in the next succeeding paragraph hereof, (ii) in connection with any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, occurring in connection with or subsequent to the acquisition of all or substantially all of the stock of the Company ordinarily entitled to voting rights by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental - subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies, or (iii) with moneys received by the Trustee through the operation of the Sinking Fund provided in the Indenture for bonds of Series A, all as more fully provided in the Indenture, the bonds of Series A are redeemable, in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, at the principal amount thereof, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. The bonds of Series A are not redeemable, prior to November 1, 1971, from the proceeds of (i) any sale of capital stock by the Company or (ii) any borrowing, direct or indirect, by the Company at an effective interest rate (giving effect to any premium or discount) of 4   ¾% or less; and after November 1, 1971, the bonds of Series A are redeemable from such proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence, in like coin or currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column A of the schedule set forth below, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. If redeemed otherwise than in accordance with the two next preceding sentences, the bonds of Series A are redeemable, in like coin or, currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column B of the following schedule, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.

[Here insert Redemption Table set forth as Exhibit A hereto]

If this bond, or any portion hereof, is called for redemption and payment is duly provided for as specified in the Indenture, interest shall cease to accrue hereon or on such portion, as the case may be, from and after the date fixed for redemption.
In the event that all or substantially all of the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon, or all or substantially all of the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon which is used or useful in connection with the business of the Company as a water company or as a water utility, shall be released from the lien of the Indenture under the provisions of Section 6.03 or Section 6.06 thereof, all Bonds then outstanding are to be redeemed in the manner and upon the terms provided in the Indenture.
The principal of this bond may be declared or may become due prior to its maturity date, in the manner and with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture, upon the occurrence of an event of default as in the Indenture provided.
This bond is transferable by the registered owner hereof, in person or by duly authorized attorney, on books of the Company to be kept for that purpose at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, upon surrender hereof at such office for cancellation and upon presentation of a written instrument of transfer duly executed, and thereupon the Company shall issue in the name of the transferee or transferees, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new registered bond or bonds of Series A, in an authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount; and the registered owner of any registered bond or bonds of Series A may surrender the same as aforesaid at said office in exchange for a like aggregate principal amount of bonds of like form, of other authorized denominations, or of coupon bonds of Series A, of the denomination of $1,000 each, or of both such registered bonds and coupon bonds; all upon payment of the charges and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.
The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name this bond shall at the time be registered on the books of the Company as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes whatsoever (except as otherwise provided in Article XIV of the Indenture with respect to bondholders' meetings and consents); and payment of or on account of the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on this bond shall be made only to or upon the order in writing of such registered owner hereof; and all such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon this bond to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any Bond or coupon thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture, any indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby secured, are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to, or be incurred by, such incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the incurring of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements, expressed or implied, contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds or coupons thereby secured.
This bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, and shall not become valid or obligatory for any purpose until Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture, or a successor trustee thereunder, shall have signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY has caused this bond to be signed in its name by its President or a Vice-President and its corporate seal (or a facsimile thereof) to be hereto affixed and attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and this bond to be dated
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,

By
President.
Attest

Secretary..


[FORM OF TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE FOR BONDS OF SERIES A] TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE
This bond is one of the bonds, of the series designated therein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee,
By
Authorized Officer.

;and

WHEREAS the coupon bonds of Series B, the coupons appertaining thereto, the registered Bonds without coupons of said series and the Trustee's authentication certificate upon said Bonds are to be substantially in the forms following, respectively:

[FORM OF COUPON BOND OF SERIES B]
No. BM ....            $1,000
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
FIRST MORTGAGE BOND, SERIES B, 5 3 / 8 %
DUE JULY 1, 1986
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Company", which term shall include any successor corporation as defined in the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to the bearer or, if this bond be registered as to principal, to the registered owner hereof, on the first day of July, 1986, the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay in like coin or currency interest thereon from the date hereof, at the rate of five and three-eighths per cent. (5 3 / 8 %) per annum, semi-annually, on the first day of January and the first day of July in each year until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged, but, until, the maturity hereof, only according to the tenor and upon presentation and surrender of the respective coupons hereto attached as they severally mature. Payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest are to be made at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office.
This bond is one of an authorized issue of bonds of the Company known as its First. Mortgage Bonds (herein called the "Bonds"), not limited in aggregate principal amount except as provided in the Indenture herein mentioned, all issued and to be issued in one or more series under and equally secured by an Indenture of Mortgage (herein called the "Indenture"), dated as of July 1, 1961, executed by the Company to Wilmington Trust Company (herein called the "Trustee"), as Trustee, to which Indenture and to all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are and are to be issued and secured and the rights of the holders or registered owners thereof and of the Trustee in respect of such security. As provided in the Indenture, said Bonds may be issued in series for various principal sums, may bear different dates and mature at different times, may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This bond is one of the bonds described in the Indenture and designated therein as "First Mortgage Bonds, Series B, 5 3 / 8 % " (hereinafter called the "bonds of Series B"). To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Indenture, modifications or alterations of the Indenture, or of any indenture supplemental thereto, and of the rights and obligations of the company and of the rights of the holders of the Bonds and coupons issued and to be issued thereunder, may be made with the consent of the Company by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote and affected by such modification or alteration, at a meeting of bondholders called and held as provided in the Indenture, and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote would be affected by the modification or alteration differently from or without affecting the Bonds of any of the other series, by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds of each series so affected, or in either case by the written consent of the holders of such percentages of Bonds; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration may be made which would extend the maturity of, or reduce the principal amount of, or reduce the rate of, or extend the time of payment of, interest on, or reduce any premium payable upon any redemption of, this bond, or modify the terms of payment of principal or interest, or reduce the percentage required for the taking of any such action, without the express consent of the holder hereof.
No reference herein to the Indenture or to any indenture supplemental thereto and no provision of this bond or of the Indenture or of any indenture supplemental thereto shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on this bond at the time and place and at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
The bonds of Series B are entitled to the benefit of the Sinking Fund provided therefore in the Indenture.
The bonds of Series B are subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company or pursuant to certain requirements of the Indenture, upon at least thirty (30) days prior notice, all on the conditions and in the manner provided in the Indenture. If redeemed (i) in connection with the sale to or other acquisition by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies of the properties of the Company specified in the next succeeding paragraph hereof, (ii) in connection with any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, occurring in connection with or subsequent to the acquisition of all or substantially all of the stock of the Company ordinarily entitled to voting rights by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies, or (iii) with moneys received by the Trustee through the operation of the Sinking Fund provided in the 'Indenture for bonds of Series B, all as more fully provided in the Indenture, the bonds of Series B are redeemable, in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, at the principal amount thereof, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. The bonds of Series B are not redeemable, prior to July 1, 1971, from the proceeds of (i) any sale of capital stock by the Company or (ii) any borrowing; direct or indirect, by the Company at an effective interest rate (giving effect to any premium or discount) of 5 3 / 8 % or less; and after July 1, 1971, the bonds of Series B are redeemable from such proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence, in like coin or currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column A of the schedule set forth below, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. If redeemed otherwise than in accordance with the two next preceding sentences, the bonds of Series B are redeemable, in like coin or currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column B of the following schedule, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.

[Here insert Redemption Table set forth as Exhibit B hereto]

If this bond is called for redemption and payment hereof is duly provided for as specified in the Indenture, interest shall cease to accrue hereon from and after the date fixed for redemption.
In the event that all or substantially all of the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon, or all or substantially all the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon which is used or useful in connection with the business of the Company as a water company or as a water utility, shall be released from the lien of the Indenture under the provisions of Section 6.03 or Section 6.06 thereof, all Bonds then outstanding are to be redeemed in the manner and upon the terms provided in the Indenture.
The principal of this bond may be declared or may become due prior to its maturity date, in the manner and with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture, upon the occurrence of an event of default as in the Indenture provided.
This bond is transferable by delivery except while registered as to principal. This bond may be registered as to principal in the name of the holder on books of the Company to be kept for that purpose at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, and such registration shall be noted hereon, after which no transfer hereof shall be valid unless made on said books by the registered owner in person, or by his duly authorized attorney, and similarly noted on this bond; but this bond may be discharged from registration by being in like manner transferred to bearer and thereupon transferability by delivery shall be restored; and this bond may again, from time to time, be registered or discharged from registration in the same manner. Such registration, however, shall not affect the negotiability by delivery of the coupons, which shall always be payable to bearer and transferable by delivery.
The holder or registered owner of any coupon bond or bonds of Series B may, at his option, surrender the same at the aforesaid office of the Trustee, with all unmatured coupons attached, in exchange for a registered bond or bonds of Series B without coupons, of authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of the charges and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.
The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the bearer hereof, or, if this bond be registered as to principal, the person in whose name the same shall at the time be registered on the books of the Company, and may deem and treat . the bearer of any coupon for interest on this bond (whether or not this bond shall be registered as to principal), as the absolute owner of this bond or of such coupon, as the case may be, for the purpose of receiving payment thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever (except as otherwise provided in Article XIV of the Indenture with respect to bondholders' meetings and consents), irrespective of whether or not this bond or such coupon shall be overdue, and the Company and the Trustee shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any Bond or coupon thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment. or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture, any indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby secured, are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to, or be incurred by, such incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the incurring of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements, expressed or implied, contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds or coupons thereby secured.
Neither this bond nor any coupon hereto attached shall be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, or shall become valid or obligatory for any purpose until Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture, or a successor trustee thereunder, shall have signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY has caused
this bond to be signed in its name by its President or a Vice-President and its corporate seal (or a facsimile thereof) to , be hereto affixed and attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and interest coupons bearing the facsimile signature of its Treasurer to be attached hereto, and this bond to be dated
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,

By
President.
Attest

Secretary.
[FORM OF COUPON FOR BONDS OF SERIES B]
No. BM ....            $26.87*
On the 1st day of , 19 , ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, will pay to bearer, on surrender of this coupon, at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, the amount shown hereon in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, being six months' interest then due on its First Mortgage Bonds, Series B, 5 3 / 8 %, due July 1,1986, No. BM

*Amount to be inserted on coupon representing interest payable on July 1 of each year will be $26.88. Appropriate notation and adjustment will be made on the first coupon if such coupon represents less than a six-month period.
This coupon will not be payable if said bond shall have been called for previous redemption and payment thereof duly provided for.
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,

By
Treasurer.
[FORM OF REGISTERED BOND OF SERIES B WITHOUT COUPONS]
No. BR ....            $           
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
FIRST MORTGAGE. BOND, SERIES B, 5 3 / 8 %
DUE JULY 1, 1986
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, a corporation Organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Company", which term shall include any successor corporation as defined in the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to _________or registered assigns, on the first day of July, 1986, the sum of ___________Dollars in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay in like coin or currency interest thereon to the registered owner hereof, from the date hereof, at the rate of five and three-eighths per cent. (5 3 / 8 %) per annum, semi-annually, on the first day of January and the first day of July in each year, until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged. Payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest are to be made at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office.
This bond is one of an authorized issue of bonds of the Company known as its First Mortgage Bonds (herein called the "Bonds"), not limited in aggregate principal amount except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, all issued and to be issued in one or more series under and equally secured by an Indenture of Mortgage (herein called the "Indenture"), dated as of July 1, 1961, executed by the Company to Wilmington Trust Company (herein called the "Trustee"), as Trustee, to which Indenture and to all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are and are to be issued and secured and the rights of the holders or registered owners thereof and of the Trustee in respect of such security. As provided in the Indenture, said Bonds may be issued in series for various principal sums, may bear different dates and mature at different times, may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This bond is one of the bonds described in the Indenture and designated therein as "First Mortgage Bonds, Series B, 5 3 / 8 %" (hereinafter called the "bonds of Series B"). To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Indenture, modifications or alterations of the Indenture, or of any indenture supplemental thereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and of the rights of the holders of the Bonds and coupons issued and to be issued thereunder, may be made with the consent of the Company by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote and affected by such modification or alteration, at a meeting of bondholders called and held as provided in the Indenture, and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote would be affected by the modification or alteration differently from or without affecting the Bonds of any of the other series, by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds of each series so affected, or in either case by the written consent of the holders of such percentages of Bonds; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration may be made which would extend the maturity of, or reduce the principal amount of, or reduce the rate of, or extend the time of payment of, interest on, or reduce any premium payable upon any redemption of, this bond, or modify the terms of payment of principal or interest, or reduce the percentage required for the taking of any such action, without the express consent of the holder hereof.
No reference herein to the Indenture or to any indenture supplemental thereto and no provision of this bond or of the Indenture or of any indenture supplemental thereto shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on this bond at the time and place and at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.
The bonds of Series B are entitled to the benefit of the Sinking Fund provided therefore in the Indenture.
The bonds of Series B are subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company or pursuant to certain requirements of the Indenture, upon at least thirty (30) days' prior notice, all on the conditions and in the manner provided in the Indenture. If redeemed (i) in connection with the sale to or other acquisition by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies of the properties of the Company specified in the next succeeding paragraph hereof, (ii) in connection with any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, occurring in connection with or subsequent to the acquisition of all or substantially all of the stock of the company ordinarily entitled to voting rights by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies, or (iii) with moneys received by the Trustee through the operation of the Sinking Fund provided in the Indenture for bonds of Series B, all as more fully provided in the Indenture, the bonds of Series B are redeemable, in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, at the principal amount thereof, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. The bonds of Series B are not redeemable, prior to July 1, 1971, from the proceeds of (i) any sale of capital stock by the Company or (ii) any borrowing, direct or indirect, by the Company at an effective interest rate (giving effect to any premium or discount) of 5 3 / 8 % or less; and after July 1, 1971, the bonds of Series B are redeemable from such proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence, in like coin or currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column A of the schedule set forth below, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. If redeemed otherwise than in accordance with the two next preceding sentences, the bonds of Series B are redeemable, in like coin or currency, at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column B of the following schedule, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.

[Here insert Redemption Table set forth as Exhibit B hereto.]

If this bond, or any portion hereof, is called for redemption and payment is duly provided for as specified in the Indenture, interest shall cease to accrue hereon or on such portion, as the case may be, from and after the date fixed for redemption.
In the event that all or substantially all the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon, or all or substantially all the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon which is used or useful in connection with the business of the Company as a water company or as a water utility, shall be released from the lien of the Indenture under the provisions of Section 6.03 or Section 6.06 thereof, all Bonds then outstanding are to be redeemed in the manner and upon the terms provided in the Indenture.
The principal of this bond may be declared or may become due prior to its maturity date, in the manner and with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture, upon the occurrence of an event of default as in the Indenture provided.
This bond is transferable by the registered owner hereof, in person or by duly authorized attorney, on books of the Company to be kept for that purpose at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, upon surrender hereof at such office for cancellation and upon presentation of a written instrument of transfer duly executed, and thereupon the Company shall issue in the name of the transferee or transferees, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new registered bond or bonds of Series B, in an authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount; and the registered owner of any registered bond or bonds of Series B may surrender' the same as aforesaid at said office in exchange for a like aggregate principal amount of bonds of like-form, of other authorized denominations, or of coupon bonds of Series B, of the denomination of $1,000 each, or of both such registered bonds and coupon bonds; all upon payment of the charges and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.
The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name this bond shall at the time be registered on the books of the Company as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes whatsoever (except as otherwise provided in Article XIV of the Indenture with respect to bondholders' meetings and consents) ; and payment of or on account of the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on this bond shall be made only to or upon the order in writing of such registered owner hereof ; and all such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon this bond to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any Bond or coupon thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured, shall be had against any incorporator, or against . .any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise ; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture, any indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby secured, are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to, or be incurred by, such incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the incurring of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements, expressed or implied, contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds or coupons thereby secured.
This bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, and shall not become valid or obligatory for any purpose until Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture, or a successor trustee thereunder, shall have signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY has caused this bond to be signed in its name by its President or a Vice-President and its corporate seal (or a facsimile thereof) to be hereto affixed and attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and this bond to be dated
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,
By
President.
Attest:
Secretary.
[FORM OF TRUSTEE'S AUTBENTICATION CERTIFICATE FOR BONDS OF SERIES B]
TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE.
This bond is one of the bonds, of the series designated therein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee,
By
Authorized Officer.

;and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Bonds of Series A and the Bonds of Series B, and, subject to the additional action required by this Indenture, the Bonds of all other series, when duly executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company and to make this Indenture a valid, binding and legal instrument for the security of the Bonds and coupons to be issued hereunder, have been done and performed;
Now, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH : That ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, in consideration of the premises and of the acceptance by the Trustee of the trusts hereby created and of the purchase and acceptance of said Bonds by the holders or registered owners thereof and of One Dollar to it duly paid by the Trustee at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in order, to secure the payment of the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on all Bonds at any time issued and outstanding hereunder, according to their tenor and effect, and the performance and observance by the Company of all the covenants and conditions herein and therein contained, has granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over and confirmed, and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, release, convey, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, set over and confirm, unto the Trustee, party of the second part, and to. its successors in the trust hereby created, and to them and their assigns forever:
All and singular the premises, property, rights and franchises of the Company, whether now or hereafter owned, constructed or acquired, of whatever character and wherever situated, except as hereinafter expressly provided. The said property includes among other things the following, but reference to or enumeration of any particular kinds, classes or items of property shall not be deemed to exclude from the operation and effect of this Indenture any kind, class or item not so referred to or enumerated:


GRANTING CLAUSE I.
REAL ESTATE.
NEW CASTLE HUNDRED.
All the following described real estate situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware

Parcels 1 and 2.
All those two certain pieces or parcels of land, situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, situate on the Plan of Llangollen Estates, as said Plan is now of record in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Plat Record I Page 54, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
No. 1. BEGINNING at a point distant two hundred forty feet South or Southwesterly from the Southwesterly side of Wooddale Avenue, at fifty feet wide, at right angles thereto, and four hundred feet Westerly or Northwesterly from the Westerly side of Gordy Place, at, sixty feet wide, at right angles thereto ; said point of Beginning being in the division line between Lot No. 83 and Lot No. 84, as shown on said Plat; thence South fifty-five degrees, thirty-one minutes East and parallel to Wooddale Avenue, three hundred eighty feet to a point in the Northwesterly side of Gordy Place, as set forth on said Plat, where Gordy Place is one hundred feet wide; thence South thirty-four degrees, twenty-nine minutes West along the Northwesterly side of Gordy Place, one hundred feet to a point in line dividing this land from land now or formerly of Robert Cook; thence thereby North fifty-five degrees, thirty-one minutes West, three hundred eighty feet to a point in line dividing this land from Lot No. 83 on the Northwest and thence thereby North thirty-four degrees, twenty-nine minutes East, one hundred feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 2. BEGINNING at a point distant two hundred forty feet South or Southwesterly from the Southwesterly side of Wooddale Avenue, at fifty feet wide, at right angles thereto and five hundred feet South-easterly from the Southeasterly side of Gordy Place, at sixty feet wide, at right angles thereto; thence South thirty-four degrees, twenty-nine minutes West, and along line dividing this land from other land of Gordy Construction Company, one hundred feet to a point in line dividing the land herein described from land now or formerly of Robert Cook; thence North fifty-five degrees, thirty-one minutes West and along land now or formerly of Robert Cook, four hundred eighty feet to a point on the Southeasterly side of Gordy Place, at one hundred feet wide, as shown on said Plat; thence along the Southeasterly side of Gordy Place, at one hundred feet wide, North thirty-four degrees, twenty-nine minutes East one hundred feet to a point and thence thereby South fifty-five degrees, thirty-one minutes East four hundred eighty feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.
Subject, however, to the conditions, covenants, easements, restrictions and reservations set forth in the deed from Gordy Construction Company, a corporation of the State of Delaware to David S. Keil, bearing date the 31st day of December, A. D. 1945, and of record in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, on the 22nd day of January, A. D. 1946.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record A, Vol. 47, Page 494.

Parcel 3.
All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being Lots Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, Section 12, on a Plan of Lots in Wilmington Manor' as the same is of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, in Deed Record R, Volume 34, Page 601, and now described as Lot No. 27, Section A, Wilmington Manor, on a Plan recorded in Deed Record W, Volume 37, Page 601, more particularly bounded and . described as follows, to wit:

BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly side of Delaware Avenue, at sixty feet wide, said point of Beginning being located in the Southwesterly end of a junction curve with radius of twenty feet forming the intersection of the said side of Delaware Avenue with the Southwesterly side of Washington. Avenue, at sixty feet wide, as marked out on said Plan; thence from said point of Beginning, still along Delaware Avenue, in a Southwesterly direction one hundred twenty feet and sixty-six one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the division line between this lot and Lot No. 26; and thence by the same and also along the division line between this lot and Lot No. 28, in a Northwesterly direction, two hundred feet to a point in the Southeasterly side of Pennsylvania Avenue, at sixty feet wide; and thence Northeasterly by the same thirty-two feet and ninety-six one hundredths of a foot to a point in the Southwesterly end of a junction curve with radius of thirty-five feet forming the intersection of the said side of Pennsylvania Avenue with the Southwesterly side of Washington Avenue; and thence by the same on a curve to the right a distance of thirty-nine feet and three one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the aforesaid side of Washington Avenue; and thence Southeasterly by the same one hundred sixty-eight feet and seventy-six one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the Northwesterly end of the first abovementioned junction curve; and thence by the same on a curve to the right a distance of forty feet and fifty-three one hundredths of a foot to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record L, Volume 48, Page 5.

Parcels 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
All those five certain lots, pieces or parcels of land, situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, Lot No. 1 comprising portions of Lots 1, 2 and 3, Section Q on the Plan of Midvale as the same is of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, in Deed Record V, Volume 34 Page  601; Lot No. 2 comprising a portion of Lots Nos. 9 and 10, Section B on said Plan; Lot No. 3 comprising a part of Section Q on said Plan; Lot No. 4 comprising a part of Section 0 on said plan; and Lot No. 5 comprising Lots Nos. 20 and 21, Block Q on said Plan; said parcels being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
No. 1.BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly side of Valley Road, at: fifty feet wide, at the distance of one hundred feet North easterly from the intersection formed by the said, side of Valley Road and the Northeasterly side of Second Avenue; thence North westerly parallel with Second Avenue, seventy-five feet to a point in the division line between Lots Nos. 3 and 4, Section Q; thence North easterly, parallel to Valley Road, along the division line between Lots Nos. 3 and 4, Section Q, ten feet to a point in line of land owned by said Boulevard Water Co.; thence Southeasterly and parallel to Second Avenue, seventy-five feet to a point in the North westerly side of Valley Road; and thence thereby Southwesterly ten feet to the place of BEGINNING.
No. 2 BEGINNING at a point on the Southwesterly side of Second Avenue at the distance of one hundred twenty five feet Northwesterly from the intersection of the same with the Northwesterly side of duPont Boulevard; thence in a Northwesterly direction along said Southwesterly side of Second Avenue six feet six inches to a point; thence Southwesterly, parallel with said side of duPont Boulevard fifty feet to a point; thence Southeasterly, parallel with Second Avenue, six feet, six inches to a point; and thence Northeasterly, parallel with said side of duPont Boulevard, fifty feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 3.  BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly side of Valley Road at the distance of one hundred ten feet Northeasterly from the intersection of Valley Road with the Northeasterly side of Second Avenue; thence Northwesterly, parallel with the said side of Second Avenue, four hundred eighty tow feet and sixty seven on hundredths of a foot to a point in the Northwesterly boundary line of Midvale; thence along the Northwesterly boundary line of Midvale, North forty degrees, fifty-five and one-half minutes East thirty feet to a point; thence Southeasterly, parallel with the first mentioned course, four hundred thirty-two feet and sixty-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and thence Southwesterly, parallel with Valley Road, fifteen feet to a point; thence Southeasterly and parallel with the first mentioned course, fifty feet to a point in the aforesaid Northwesterly side of Valley Road; and thence thereby Southwesterly fifteen feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 4. BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly side of Valley Road, at the distance of one hundred and twenty-five feet Northeasterly from the intersection of said side of Valley Road with the Northeasterly side of Fourth Avenue; thence Northwesterly and parallel with the said side of Fourth Avenue, four hundred and seventy feet, more or less, to a point in the Northwesterly boundary line of Midvale ; thence along said boundary line of Midvale, North forty-seven degrees, fifty-five and one-half minutes East fifty feet to a point; thence Southeasterly and parallel to the first mentioned course, four hundred and seventy feet, more or less, to a point in the Northwesterly side of Valley Road; and thence thereby Southwesterly, along said side of Valley Road, fifty feet to the place of BEGINNING.
No. 5. BEGINNING at a point located at the distance of one hundred feet Southwesterly from the Southwesterly side of Third Avenue by a line measured at right angles thereto, said point of Beginning being also in the Northwesterly boundary line of Midvale; and thence from said point of Beginning Southeasterly, parallel with Third Avenue, fifty-seven feet and thirteen one-hundredths of a foot to a point in line of Lot No. 22; and thence thereby Southwesterly ten feet to a point; thence Northwesterly, parallel with Third Avenue, fifty-seven feet and forty one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the said Northwesterly boundary line of Midvale; and thence along the same North forty degrees, fifty-five and one-half minutes East ten feet to the place of BEGINNING.
Being part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record L, Volume 48, Page 5.

Parcel 9.
All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being Lots 14, 16, 18, 20, and a portion of 22, Section A, Clearview Manor, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a corner of Lot Number 12 on the Northerly line of Fernwood Avenue, said beginning point being distant South eighty-three degrees, thirty-one minutes East, three hundred fifty two feet. no inches from a concrete monument placed at the intersection of the East line of the public lane and the North line of Fernwood Avenue; thence proceeding from said beginning point North six degrees, twenty-seven minutes East, one hundred ten feet and no inches to a point; thence along the Southerly lines of Lots Numbers 15, 17, 19, 21 and part of 23, South eighty-three degrees, thirty-one minutes East, two hundred fifty-five feet no inches to a point in line of Lot Number 22 and in line of land conveyed by Artesian Water Company to Albert N. White and wife by deed dated November 3, 1953, Deed Record F, Volume 54, Page 20; and thence by said line of land South six degrees, twenty-seven minutes West, one hundred ten feet no inches to a point on the North side of Fernwood Avenue; thence thereby North eighty-three degrees, thirty-one minutes West, two hundred fifty-five feet no inches to the point and place, of BEGINNING.
Subject, however, to the easement granted by Artesian Water Company to the Levy Court of New Castle County February 10, 1955, Deed Record E, Volume 56, Page 138, to maintain a sewer line through a strip of land ten feet in width as shown on the plot and extending through Lot 22; together with the. right granted by Petrillo Bros., Inc. March 17, 1958 to Artesian Water Company, Deed Record R, Volume 61, Page 552, to use a fifteen feet wide right-of-way laid out on Lots 17 and 19, Clearview Manor, Section A.
Being part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record I, Volume 47, Page 392.

Parcel 10.
All those certain lots, pieces or parcels of land, designated in a recent survey by Marvin S. Smith, as Lots Nos. 40, 41 and 42, Section "A ",.Part One, of the real estate development known as Wilmington Manor Gardens, in and for New Castle County, State of Delaware, said lots, pieces or parcels of land being situate in New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the northerly curve of intersection of the northwesterly side of Fordham Avenue at sixty feet wide, and the northeasterly side of LaSalle Avenue at fifty feet wide, which point is in the division line between Lots 43 and 42, and which point is North 67 degrees 37 minutes 9 seconds East 14.26 feet from a monument set in the northwesterly side of Fordham Avenue at the point of curve of the intersection of Fordham Avenue and LaSalle Avenue ; thence beginning first North 16 degrees 04 minutes 58 seconds West 114.32 feet along a division line between Lots 43 and 42 to a point; thence North 61 degrees 19 minutes 15 second East 84.16 feet along the northwesterly side of Lot 42 to a point; thence South 48 degrees 21 minutes 25 seconds East 214.40 feet along the northerly side of lots 42,41 & 40 to a point in the division line between lots 40 and 39; thence southwesterly along said division line South 41 degrees 38 minutes 35 seconds West 110.00 feet to a point in the northeasterly side of LaSalle Avenue; thence along the northeasterly side of LaSalle Avenue North 48 degrees 21 minutes 25 seconds West 91.13 feet to a monument set at the point of tangency of the aforesaid curve of intersection of Fordham Avenue and LaSalle Avenue; thence Westerly along the curve of intersection radius 65 feet to the left an arc distance of 65.49 feet to the point of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record N, Volume 48, Page 71.

Parcels 11 and 12.
All those certain lots, pieces or parcels of land, situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County, State of Delaware, being adjacent to Wilmington Manor Gardens, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
No. 1. BEGINNING at a point in the rear line for Lot No. 40, Block 1, Section A, on the plan of Wilmington Manor Gardens (as said plan is of record in Plat Record No. 1, Page 98), said point of beginning being a corner for line of lands marked Public Park and Playground on said Plan and a corner for lands of Guiseppe Maccari, and being distant south forty-eight degrees twenty-one minutes twenty-five seconds east along the rear lines for Lots Nos. 40, 41 and 42, Block 1, Section A, one hundred ninety-four and forty-five hundredths feet from a northerly corner for said Lot No. 42; thence south forty-eight degrees twenty-one minutes twenty-five seconds east along the rear lines for Lots Nos. 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34 and 33, Block 1, Section A, four hundred fifty and two one-hundredths feet to a point; said point being a corner for Lots Nos. 32 and 33, Block 1, Section A; thence through the lands of Guiseppe Maccari the following two courses and distances: (1) north forty-one degrees thirty-eight minutes thirty-five seconds east at right angles to the first mentioned line, one hundred feet to a point, and (2) north forty-eight degrees twenty-one minutes twenty-five seconds west parallel to the first mentioned line, four hundred fifty-eight and seventy-seven hundredths feet to a point in said line for lands of Public Park and Playground; thence south thirty-six degrees thirty-eight minutes thirty-five seconds west, along said line for lands of Public Park and Playground, one hundred and thirty-eight hundredths feet to a point in the rear line for lot No. 40, Block 1, Section A, being the point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 2. BEGINNING at a point a rear corner for Lots Nos. 24 and 25, Block 1, Section A, on the Plan of Wilmington Manor Gardens (as said plan is 'of record in Plat Record No. 1, Page 98) ; thence from the point of beginning south forty-eight degrees twenty-one minutes twenty-five seconds east along an extension of the rear line for Lots Nos. 15 to 24 inclusive, Block 1, Section A, six hundred thirty-five feet, more or less, to a point in a line for lands now or formerly of Charles I. duPont heirs; thence northeasterly along said line for lands now or formerly of Charles I. duPont heirs, one hundred forty feet, more or less, to a point; thence north forty-eight degrees twenty-one minutes twenty-five seconds west parallel thereto and one hundred forty feet distant there from the first mentioned line, five hundred twenty feet, more or less, to a point in the rear line extended for Lots Nos. 25 and 26, Block 1, Section A; thence south eighty-four degrees twenty-six minutes fifty-eight seconds west along the rear line for Lots Nos. 25 and 26, Block 1, Section A, and along the extension thereof, one hundred ninety and eighty-two hundredths feet to said corner for Lots Nos. 24 and 25, Block 1, Section A, being the point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record H, Volume 49, Page 244.

Parcel 13.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land known as Lot No. 15 on the plan of Pleasantville and situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the westerly boundary line of Pleasantville at a point in common with Lots 13 and 15 on said plan, said point being located North one degree twenty minutes east eight. hundred feet from the point formed by the intersection of the said westerly boundary line of Pleasantville with the northerly boundary line of the Hare's Corner Road ; and thence by the westerly boundary line of Lot No. 15 North one degree twenty minutes East one hundred fifteen and three-tenths feet to a point; and thence southeasterly ninety-two and thirty-two one hundredths feet to a point in the westerly side of Roosevelt Street at forty feet wide as shown on said plan; and thence by said side of Roosevelt Street, southerly and parallel with the first described line twenty-two and ninety-five one-hundredths feet to a point in the turn-around circle at the northerly extremity of Roosevelt Street; and thence by the arc of a circle with a radius of forty feet counter-clockwise forty-five feet more or less to a point in common with Lots 13 and 15; and thence by the division line between Lots 13 and 15 north eighty-eight degrees forty minutes West sixty-one and seventy-eight one-hundredths feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, Delaware, in Deed Record E, Volume 50, Page 101.

Parcel 14.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in New Castle Hundred, New . Castle County and State of Delaware, being Lot No. 14 Section E on the plan of Midvale Addition, more particularly bounded and described in accordance with a survey of H. A. Phelps, Registered Land Surveyor, February 23,1951, as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the easterly line of land of Milton A. Prang dividing the Prang land from land of Walter Sheldon, said point being North 30 degrees 11 minutes 03 seconds West one hundred ninety-nine (199) feet from a concrete corner stone marking the common corner for the two above properties; thence running South 61 degrees 18 minutes 13 seconds West one hundred twenty-five (125) feet to a point in the easterly side of a proposed 50 foot wide road and with the same at right angles to the last line North 28 degrees 41 minutes.47 seconds West seventy-seven (77) feet to a point; thence at right angles North 61 degrees 18 minutes 13 seconds East one hundred twenty-seven (127) feet to a point in the line dividing land of Milton A. Prang from Walter Sheldon, and with the same South 30 degrees 11 minutes 03 seconds East seventy-seven and three hundredths (77.03) feet to the place of beginning and containing ninety-seven hundred four (9704) square feet of land, be the same more or less.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record X, Volume 51, Page 581.

Parcel 15.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit
BEGINNING at a point in line of land of the said parties of the first part where the same is intersected by the southwesterly side of Wardor Avenue (at 50 feet wide) as marked out on the Plan 'of the property known as Castle Hills, a plot of which now remains of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, at Wilmington, in and for New Castle County, Delaware, in Plat Book 3, Page 7, said point being located along said side of Wardor Avenue South 55 degrees 11 minutes 30 seconds East 90 feet from a point in the easterly end of a junction curve with radius of 20 feet forming the intersection of the said southwesterly side of Wardor Avenue with the northeasterly side of Roxetor Road (at 50 feet wide) as marked out on the aforesaid Plan of Castle Hills, said point being also in the northeasterly boundary line of Lot No. 1, Section E, Castle Hills ; thence on a line being an extension of the aforesaid southwesterly side of Wardor Avenue South 55 degrees 11 minutes 30 seconds East 100 feet to a point; thence South 34 degrees 48 minutes 30 seconds West 60 feet to a point; and thence North. 55 degrees 11 minutes 30 seconds West 100 feet to a point in the aforesaid boundary line of Lot No. 1, Section E; and thence by the same North 34 degrees 48 minutes 30 seconds East 60 feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Subject, however, to the conditions, covenants, easements, restrictions and reservations set forth in the Deed conveying the same to Artesian Water Company recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record K, Volume 54, Page 353.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded as aforesaid in Deed Record K, Volume 54, Page 353.

Parcel 16.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point in line of lands of the parties of the first part on the Northwesterly side of a proposed street being the proposed extension of Adair Avenue, said point of Beginning being located by the following two courses and distances measured from a point " in the Southeasterly end of a junction curve with radius of twenty feet forming the intersection of the Northeasterly side of Wardor Avenue with the Southeasterly side of Roxetor Road as shown on the Plan of Castle Hills (1) along the Northeasterly side of Wardor Avenue and also along the extension of said side of said avenue South fifty-five degrees, eleven minutes thirty seconds East one hundred ninety feet to a point in the Northwesterly side of said proposed street; (2) Thence by said side of said proposed street North thirty-four degrees forty-eight minutes thirty seconds East two hundred sixty-five feet to a point, the place of BEGINNING. Thence from said place of Beginning North fifty-five degrees eleven minutes thirty seconds West sixty-five feet to a point, and thence South thirty-four degrees forty-eight minutes thirty seconds West twenty-five feet to a point, thence North fifty-five degrees eleven minutes thirty seconds West thirty-five feet to a point, and thence North thirty-four degrees forty-eight minutes thirty seconds East thirty-five feet to a point, and thence South fifty-five degrees eleven minutes thirty seconds East one hundred feet to a point in the aforesaid Northwesterly side of said proposed street, and thence by the same South thirty-four degrees forty-eight minutes thirty seconds West ten feet to the first-mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.

Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record R, Volume 61, Page 116.

Parcel 17.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of ground situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, with the wells, pump house and water facilities situate thereon, being a portion of the property designated as property of COLLINS PARK WATER COMPANY On. the Plan of COLLINS PARK, as said Plan is of record in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for the County and State aforesaid, in Plat Record 1, Page 60, and being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point on the Southeasterly side of Killoran Drive, at thirty feet wide, as said Drive is laid out on said Plan, said point of Beginning being located along the said Southeasterly side of Killoran Drive from the point of tangency of a twenty-five feet radius intersection curve, said intersection curve being also tangent to the Southwesterly side of Cherry Lane at fifty-five feet wide as laid out on said Plan by the following two courses : (1) South twenty-three degrees, twenty-six minutes . West one hundred thirty-four feet and ninety-six one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (2) South twenty-three degrees, forty-three minutes West Seventy-eight feet and ninety-five one-hundredths of a foot to the point of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning and along the Northerly side of a ten feet. wide water cartway as shown on said Plan South sixty-six degrees, seventeen minutes East one hundred feet to a point; . said point being in the center line of a five feet wide utility reservation as shown on said Plan; thence along the center line of said five . feet wide utility reservation, the following five courses (1) North twenty-three degrees, forty-three minutes East along the rear of Lot No. 4, Section A, fifty feet to a point; (2) thence North seventy-four degrees, ten minutes, thirty seconds ' East along the rear of Lots Nos. 3 and 64, Section A, ninety feet and sixty-one one hundredths of a foot to a point; (3) thence South fifty-four degrees, forty-two minutes, fifty-three seconds East along the rear of Lots Nos. 63, 62 and 61, Section A, one hundred fifty feet to a point; (4) thence South thirty degrees, six minutes, forty-three seconds East along the rear of Lots Nos. 60 and 59, Section A, one hundred nine feet and ninety-eight one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (5) thence South seventy-five degrees, thirty-nine minutes, forty-eight seconds West two hundred sixty-one feet and eighty-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point in line of land heretofore conveyed to Walter Bilicke; thence along line of land of Walter Bilicke the following two courses and distances : (1) North twenty-three degrees, forty-three minutes East eighty-eight feet and seventy-two one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (2) thence North sixty-six degrees, seventeen minutes West ninety-nine feet and forty-one one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the division line between Lots Nos. 5 and 6, Section A; thence North twenty-three degrees, forty-three minutes East along the rear line of Lot No. 5, Section A, being along the center line of a five feet wide utilities reservation fifty feet to the Southerly side of the aforesaid ten feet wide cartway; thence thereby North sixty-six degrees, seventeen minutes West one hundred feet to a point in the said Southeasterly side of Killoran Drive; thence thereby North twenty-three degrees, forty-three minutes East ten feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.
Subject, however, to the conditions, covenants, easements, restrictions and reservations set forth in the Deed conveying the same to Artesian Water Company recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record 0, Volume 61, Page 560.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded as aforesaid in Deed Record 0, Volume 61, Page 560.

Parcel 18.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, and located along the Northwesterly right-of-way line of the Delaware Railroad Company, being more particularly bounded and described according to a recent survey by Phillips and Dickinson, Civil Engineers and Surveyors of Wilmington, Delaware, as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly right-of-way line of the Delaware Railroad Company, at ninety feet wide in this section, said point being located by the following two courses and distances measured along the said Northwesterly right-of-way line of the Delaware Railroad Company from a corner for lands of Elizabeth M. Carter, said corner being distant thirty-eight feet and three-tenths of a foot Northwesterly from and at right angles to said right-of way line: (1) South fifty-five degrees, thirty-five minutes, fifty-three seconds West three hundred two feet and forty-five one-hundredths of a foot to a point of curvature of a curve to the left with radius of ten thousand seven hundred ninety-four feet; and (2) thence Southwesterly along said curve to the left, an arc distance of five hundred ninety-one feet and ninety-two one-hundredths of a foot to a point, said point being distant by chord South fifty-two degrees, seven minutes, eleven seconds West five hundred ninety-one feet and eight hundred thirty-eight one-thousandths of a foot from the last mentioned point; thence from the point of Beginning North eighteen degrees, twenty minutes, forty-six seconds West seventy-five feet to a point, said point being in the Southerly end of a portion of a fifty feet wide right-of-way, said fifty feet wide right-of-way extending Northerly from .the property herein described and connecting with several other fifty feet wide rights-of-way, as recited in Deed from Lonzy W. Seymour, Sr. and Anna H. Seymour, his wife, to Oscar Lane and Cloe Lane, his wife, dated January 12, 1953, said rights-of-way extending to the New Castle and Frenchtown Turnpike (U. S. Route 40) (said first mentioned portion of the fifty feet wide right of-way being more particularly hereinafter described) ; thence through lands of Oscar Lane and wife the following two courses and distances: (1) South seventy-one degrees, thirty-nine minutes, fourteen seconds West crossing the said Southerly side of said fifty feet wide right-of-way eighty-two feet and forty one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (2) thence South eighteen degrees, twenty minutes, forty-six seconds East one hundred seven feet and sixteen one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the said Northwesterly right-of-way line of the Delaware Railroad Company; thence Northeasterly along said Northwesterly right-of-way line of the Delaware Railroad Company and along a curve to the right with radius of ten thousand seven hundred ninety-four feet, an arc distance of eighty-eight feet and forty-four one-hundredths of a foot to the point and place of BEGINNING. Said point being distant by chord North fifty degrees, eighteen minutes, fifty seconds East eighty-eight feet and forty-four one-hundredths of a foot from the last mentioned point. Said parcel containing 7,500 square feet of land be the same more or less.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record E, Volume 67, Page 499.

Parcel 19.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land constituting a portion of Lot No. 3, Block 3, Section A, Part 2, Wilmington Manor Gardens, situate in New Castle Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware and more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point on the lot line between Lot No. 2 and Lot No. 3, Block 3, Section A, Wilmington Manor Gardens, said point being fifty-five feet from the thirty foot setback dedication line parallel to Basin Road as shown on Sheet 2 of a plat by Marvin S. Smith, Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor, dated May 1, 1948, Final Plat No. 16 of Block 0-3, Section A, Part 2, Wilmington Manor Gardens, New Castle Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware; thence North twenty-eight degrees, forty minutes, forty-five seconds West forty feet to a point; thence North sixty-one degrees, nineteen minutes, fifteen seconds East forty feet to a point; thence South twenty-eight degrees, forty minutes, forty-five seconds East forty feet to a point; thence South sixty-one degrees, nineteen minutes, fifteen seconds West forty feet to the point and place of BEGINNING; all bearings referred to the true meridian; the lot containing sixteen hundred (1600) square feet, more or less.

Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record X, Volume 57, Page 45.

Parcel 20.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in New Castle Hundred, New, Castle County and State of Delaware, being a portion of the development known as GLENDALE, and being more particularly bounded and described in accordance with a survey of Howard L. Robertson, Civil Engineer, dated July 1953, revised as of March 22, 1954, as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at an iron pin in line of land now or formerly of S. B. Hay, et al., in the tract of land known as GLENDALE, said iron pin being located North 3 degrees, 24 minutes, 43 seconds West 578.90 feet from an iron pin set at a point in the Southwest corner of the Glendale tract, at its intersection with the right-of-way line of the Delaware Railroad Company and the easterly boundary line of lands now or formerly of S. B. Hay, et al.; thence along said line of land now or formerly of S. B. Hay, et al., North 5 degrees, 7 minutes 50 seconds West 242.98 feet to a point; thence North 84 degrees, 52 minutes 10 seconds East 50 feet to a point; thence South 5 degrees, 7 minutes 50 seconds East 141.73 feet to a point; thence North 84 degrees 52 minutes 10 seconds East 30 feet to a point; thence South 5 degrees, 7 minutes 50 seconds East 80 feet to a point; thence South 84 degrees 52 minutes 10 seconds West 30 feet to a point; thence South 5 degrees 7 minutes 50 seconds East 22 feet to a point; thence South 3 degrees 24 minutes 43 seconds East 144.42 feet to a point; thence South 86 degrees 35 minutes 17 seconds West 50 feet to a point in line of land now or formerly of S. B. Hay, et al.; thence by the same North 3 degrees 24 minutes 43 seconds West .143.67 feet to the first-mentioned Place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in Deed Record Z, Volume 57, Page.298.

CHRISTIANA HUNDRED

All the following described real estate situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware:

Parcel 1.
All that' certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle . County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at the point formed by the intersection of the Southwesterly side of the Newport and Gap Turnpike with the Northwesterly side of Washington Avenue, as shown on the plan of West view, the Southeasterly side of Washington Avenue being located along the Southwesterly side of the Newport and Gap Turnpike at the distance of One Hundred Forty-three feet Northwesterly from the. boundary line of the Town of Newport; thence from said point of Beginning along the said Northwesterly side of Washington Avenue Two Hundred and Forty feet to a point in a proposed street; and thence by said proposed street Northwesterly and parallel with the Newport and Gap Turnpike Two Hundred feet to a point; and thence Northeasterly and parallel with the first described line Two Hundred and Forty feet to a point in the aforesaid Southwesterly side of the Newport and Gap Turnpike; and thence by the same Southeasterly Two Hundred feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record M, Volume 47, Page 207.

Parcels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
All those five certain pieces or parcels of land, situate at Westview, Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, said parcels being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
No. 1. BEGINNING at a point formed by the intersection of the Southeasterly side of Cleveland Avenue Extended, with the Northerly boundary line of Tuxedo Park; and thence from said point of Beginning South forty-nine degrees, thirty-one minutes, fifty seconds West one hundred forty-two feet to a point in the Northeasterly side of Maryland Avenue, as laid out in Tuxedo Park; and thence along the said Northeasterly side of Maryland Avenue South forty degrees, twenty-eight minutes, ten seconds East sixty feet to a point;' and thence North forty-nine degrees, thirty-one minutes, fifty seconds East one hundred forty-two feet and forty-one one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the Southwesterly right-of-way line of a right-of-way identified as Right-Of-Way No. 5 on the Plot attached in the Deed from Westview, Inc. to Taylor Improvement Co. dated the Twenty-fourth day of July, A. D. 1950 and recorded in Deed Record L, Volume 50, Page 17; and thence by said right-of-way North forty degrees, twenty-eight minutes, ten seconds West sixty feet to the first mentioned point and place. of BEGINNING.
No. 2. BEGINNING at a point in the Northwesterly side of Washington Avenue as shown on the aforementioned plot, said point being located South fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds West twelve hundred seventeen feet and five one-hundredths of a foot from the intersection of the said side of. Washington Avenue with the Southwesterly side of the Newport and Gap Turnpike; and thence along the line of land of Taylor Improvement Co., a corporation of the State of Delaware, which line of land constitutes the Northwesterly boundary of the development known as Westview, a plot of the same now being of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, at Wilmington, in and for New Castle County in Plat Book 2, Page 61; and thence by said line of land North thirty-seven degrees, twenty-seven minutes, twenty-three seconds West four hundred feet and one one-hundredth of a foot to a point; and thence North fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds East one hundred two feet and seventy-nine one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the Southwesterly side of a proposed fifty feet wide street, which street is now laid out at that width on the Plan of Westview, and known as Glover Road; thence along said Southwesterly side of Glover Road, North thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds West fifty feet to a point; and thence South fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds West one hundred three feet and fourteen one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and thence North thirty-seven degrees, twenty-seven minutes, twenty-three seconds West three hundred eighty feet and ninety-two one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the Southeasterly side of the proposed extension of Cleveland Avenue, at fifty feet wide, said Cleveland Avenue now being laid out at that width on the Plan of Westview as aforesaid, said point being also the point of curvature of a curve to the left having a radius of fifty feet; thence along said curve to the left an arc distance of thirty-one feet and seventy-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point of tangency, said point being distant by a chord South sixty-eight degrees, eighteen minutes West thirty-one feet and twenty-one one-hundredths of a foot from the last mentioned point; and thence along the said side of Cleveland Avenue extended, South forty-nine degrees, thirty-one minutes, fifty seconds West eight feet and fifty-six one-hundredths of a foot to the Northeasterly boundary line of Tuxedo Park; and thence by the same South forty degrees, twenty-eight minutes, ten seconds East sixty feet to a point; thence along the Northeasterly boundary line of Tuxedo Park, South twenty-eight degrees, twenty-seven minutes East twenty-nine feet and four one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and thence still along the Northeasterly boundary line of Tuxedo Park, South thirty-nine degrees, two minutes East seven hundred forty-one feet, more or less, to a point in the aforesaid Northwesterly side of Washington Avenue Extended; and hence by the same North fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds East twenty feet, more or less, .to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 3. BEGINNING at a point in the Southwesterly side of Newport Gap Turnpike, at sixty feet wide, said point of Beginning being a corner of land of Taylor Improvement Co., and known as Westview, and being distant North thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds West six hundred forty-two feet and sixty-four one hundredths of a foot from the intersection of the said Southwesterly side of the Newport and Gap Turnpike with the town line of Newport, Delaware; thence from said point of Beginning and along line of land of Taylor Improvement Co. the four following courses and distances: (1) South fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds West one hundred seven feet and five one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (2) South thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds East one hundred feet to a point; and (3) South fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds West three hundred sixty feet to a point; and (4) South thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds East three hundred fifty feet to a point in the Northwesterly side of Washington Avenue, at fifty feet wide; and thence along said Northwesterly side of Washington Avenue North fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds East two hundred twenty-seven feet and five one-hundredths of a foot to a point in line of land of Artesian Water Company; and thence by the same North thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds West two hundred feet to a point; and thence still along line of land of Artesian Water Company, North fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds East two hundred forty feet to a point in the aforesaid Southwesterly side of Newport and Gap Turnpike ; and thence along said side of said Newport and Gap Turnpike, North thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds West two hundred fifty feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 4. BEGINNING at a point formed by the intersection of the Northeasterly side of Maryland Avenue as shown on the Plan of Tuxedo Park with the Easterly boundary line of Lot 1, Section 11, Tuxedo Park; thence along said line of Lot 1, Section 11 in a Northeasterly direction one hundred feet, more or less, to a point in line of land heretofore conveyed to Ellis D. Taylor, Inc. (Deed Record S, Volume 58, Page 16) thence by said line of land South twenty-nine degrees, forty-seven minutes East sixty-seven feet, more or less, to a point in other line of land of Ellis D. Taylor, Inc. (Deed Record X,Volume 54, Page 328) ; and thence thereby South sixty-three degrees, eleven minutes West one hundred feet, more or less, to a point in the aforesaid Northeasterly side of Maryland Avenue Extended; and thence Northwesterly by the same fifty-four feet and three-tenths of a foot to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 5. BEGINNING at a point formed by the intersection of the Southwesterly side of Stonehurst Drive Extended (Stonehurst Drive being shown on the Plan of Stonehurst) with the Southeasterly side of Washington Avenue ; thence by said side of Washington Avenue South fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds West fifty feet to a point; thence Southeasterly and parallel with Stonehurst Drive thirty-seven feet and eighty-five one-hundredths of a foot to a point; thence North fifty-six degrees, fifteen minutes East fifty feet to a point in the aforesaid Southwesterly side of Stonehurst Drive; and thence by the same Northwesterly thirty-seven feet and eighty-five one-hundredths of a foot, more or less, to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Subject, however, to the terms of a ninety-nine year lease between Artesian Water Company and Ellis D. Taylor, dated March 26, 1953 and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record P, Volume 53, Page 46.
Being a part of the same lands. conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record W, Volume 51, Page 183.

Parcel 7.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being Lot No. 12 in Section H on the Plan of Westview as the same now remains of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Plat Book Vol. 2, Page 61, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly side of Denver Road, at fifty feet wide, as marked out on said Plan, the point formed by the intersection of the Southwesterly end of a junction curve forming the intersection of the said Northwesterly side of Denver Road with the Southwesterly side of Farwell Road, at fifty feet wide, as marked out on said Plan; thence from said point of Beginning by the said Northwesterly side of Denver Road, South fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds West eighty feet to a point in the Northeasterly side of the new ten feet wide right-of-way to be conveyed to the party of the first part by the party of the second part; and thence by said side of said right-of-way North thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds West eighty-five feet to a point in the Southeasterly boundary line of Lot No. 11; and thence by the same North fifty-two degrees, fifty-six minutes, thirty seconds East one hundred feet to a point in the aforesaid Southwesterly side of Farwell Road; and thence by the same South thirty-seven degrees, three minutes, thirty seconds East sixty-five feet to a point in the Northeasterly end of the aforementioned junction curve; and thence by the same in a clockwise direction thirty-one feet and forty-two one-hundredths of a foot to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being a part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record V, Volume 51, Page 559.

Parcels - 8 and 9.
All those two certain pieces or parcels of land, situate near Westview in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
No. 1. BEGINNING at a point in line of land now or formerly of Charles W. Maclary, said point of Beginning being located North forty degrees, three minutes, twenty seconds West one hundred ninety feet from a point in the Northwesterly side of Cleveland Avenue; thence from said point of Beginning still along line of land of Maclary, North forty degrees, seven minutes, thirty seconds West nine hundred ten feet, more or less, to a point in line of land of Tuxedo Park; and thence by the same North fifty degrees, ten minutes East ten hundred ninety-seven feet and eighty-three one-hundredths of a foot to a point in Cedar Heights Addition; and thence by said line of land South forty degrees, eighteen minutes East two hundred seventy-seven feet and forty one-hundredths of a foot, more or less, to a point in line of land conveyed to Ellis D. Taylor, and thence the six following courses and distances: (1) North seventy-two degrees, five seconds West two hundred forty feet and eighty-one one-hundredths of a foot; and (2) South fifty degrees, one minute West one hundred ninety-six feet and eighteen one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and thence (3) South ten degrees, fifty-one minutes, fifty seconds West four hundred sixteen feet and twenty-eight one-hundredths of a foot; and (4) South seven degrees, fifty-two minutes, ten seconds East ninety feet and sixty-six one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (5) North seventy-one degrees, forty-seven minutes, fifty seconds East one hundred two feet and seventy-one one-hundredths of a foot to a point of curve with radius of one hundred fifty feet; and thence by a curve to the left a distance of sixty-two feet and eighty-seven one-hundredths of a foot; and (6) South ten degrees, fifty-one minutes, fifty seconds West six hundred twenty-nine feet and forty-five one-hundredths of a foot to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 2. BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly side of Cleveland Avenue, at fifty feet wide, at a corner for land known as Westview, as recorded in the Office for the Recording of Deeds for New Castle County, In Plat. Book II, Page 61, said point of Beginning being distant the three following courses and distances which are measured along the Northwesterly side of Cleveland Avenue from the Southwesterly end of a junction curve with radius of twenty feet joining the said Northwesterly side of Cleveland Avenue with the Southwesterly side of Atkinson Road, at fifty feet wide: (1). South eighty-six degrees, six minutes, twenty-six seconds West forty-one feet and twenty-one one-hundredths of a foot to a point of curvature; (2) Southwesterly by a curve to the left with radius of one hundred one feet and seventeen one-hundredths of a foot, an arc distance of sixty-four feet and fifty-nine one-hundredths of a foot to a point of tangency of said curve, and (3) Southerly forty-nine degrees, thirty-one minutes, fifty seconds West seven feet and ninety-two one hundredths of a foot to the point of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning along the said Northwesterly side of Cleveland Avenue, South forty-nine degrees, thirty-one minutes, fifty seconds West forty-eight feet to a point; thence North forty degrees, twenty-eight minutes, ten seconds West one hundred sixteen feet and eighty-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point; thence North sixty-nine degrees, ten minutes East fifty feet and twenty-three one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the Southwesterly boundary line of said Westview; thence thereby South forty degrees, fifty-two minutes, ten seconds East one hundred feet to said Northwesterly side of Cleveland Avenue and to the point and place of BEGINNING.
Being a part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company, by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record U, Volume 34, Page 319.

Parcel 10.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, adjoining the Development known as "Westview" Section 2, as prepared by VandeMark & Lynch, Civil Engineers and Surveyors, dated December 22, 1955, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit
BEGINNING at a point in the boundary line of Westview, Section 2, said point being at the intersection of the rear line of Lot No. 24, with the southwesterly side of Maryland Avenue at Tuxedo Park extended; thence along the rear line of Lots Nos. 24 and 25, and partly along the rear line of Lot No. 26, North 52 degrees, 11 minutes 45 seconds East, one hundred and forty-five (145) feet more or less to a point in line of land conveyed by Artesian Water Company to Ellis D. Taylor, Inc. ; thence along said line North 29 degrees, 47 minutes West, forty-five (45) feet more or less to a point in the boundary line between Deed Record W-51-183 and Deed Record X, Volume 54, Page 328, said last described line being parallel to and distant sixty-five (65) feet from the rear line of Lot No. 1 and 28, Section 2, Westview ; thence along the division line between the two deeds above mentioned about South 63 degrees, 11 minutes West and along the Southeasterly end of Maryland Avenue one hundred fifty (150) feet more. or less to a point in the Southwesterly side of Maryland Avenue, Tuxedo Park, and thence along the Southwesterly side of Maryland Avenue extended South 32 degrees 34 minutes 09 seconds East seventy-five (75) feet more or less to the place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record S, Volume 58, Page 14.

Parcel 11.
All that certain lot of ground situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point a corner of other lands of Paul C. Hessler and in line of lands of the Estate of Newton J. Derickson, said BEGINNING point being distant along line of lands of said Estate of Newton J. Derickson North 4 degrees 20 minutes West 135.0 feet from a point on a line established as the future lot line for all lots on the property of the Estate of Newton J. Derickson, deceased, facing the New Road to Price's Corner, (said established lot line being parallel with the centre line of the said New Road to Price's Corner and distant 29 feet northerly and at right angles therefrom,) said point on the line established as the future lot line being respectively North 80 degrees 11 minutes East, 507.1 feet and North 85 degrees 40 minutes East 117.9 feet distant along the said line established as the lot lines for all lots of the Oak Grove Syndicate, and for all future lots of the property of the estate of Newton J. Derickson, deceased, from the centre stone set at the intersection of the above mentioned established lot lines for lots of the Oak Grove Syndicate with the centre line of Chestnut Street; thence from said BEGINNING point parallel with the before described established lot line and along line of other lands of said Paul C. Hessler North 85 degrees 40 minutes East 65.0 feet to a corner; thence still along line of other lands of Paul C. Hessler and at right angles to said established lot " line North 4 degrees 20 minutes West 65.0 feet to line of lands of the Estate of Newton J. Derickson; thence along line of lands of the said Estate of Newton J. Derickson and parallel with the before mentioned established lot line South 85 degrees 40 minutes West 65.0 feet; thence still along line of lands of the Estate of Newton J. Derickson and at right angles to said established lot line South 4 degrees 20 minutes East 65.0 feet to the place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record D, Volume 39, page 155.

Parcel 12.
All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being parts of Lots Nos. 27 and 28, as shown on the Plan of Newport Heights as the same is of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, in Deed Record S, Volume 20, Page 601, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point on the Northerly side of Market Street at a distance of one hundred feet Westerly from the point of its intersection with the Westerly side of Spruce Avenue; thence Northerly by a line drawn parallel to Spruce Avenue, eighty-six and two-tenths
54

feet to a point in the Southerly boundary line of other lands of Artesian Water Company; thence Westerly along said boundary line fifty feet to a point in the middle distance line between Spruce Avenue and Larch Avenue ; thence Southerly along said middle distance line eighty-six and two-tenths feet more or less to a point on the Northerly side of Market Street; and thence thereby Easterly fifty feet to the place of BEGINNING.
Being a part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record Z, Volume 43, Page 214.

Parcel 13.
All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being parts of Lots Nos. 25, 26 and 27, as shown on the Plan of Newport Heights as the same is of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, in Deed Record S, Volume 20, Page 601, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point on the Westerly side of Spruce Avenue, at sixty feet wide, at the distance of one hundred thirty-six feet Southerly from the Southerly side of Justis Street, at sixty feet wide; thence Westerly, parallel with Justis Street, one hundred fifty feet to a point; thence Southerly, parallel with Spruce Avenue, one hundred feet to a point; thence Easterly, parallel with Justis Street, fifty feet to a point; thence Northerly, parallel with Spruce Avenue, sixty feet to a point; thence Easterly, parallel with Justis Street, one hundred feet to a point in the aforesaid side of Spruce Avenue; and thence Northerly by the same forty feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being a part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record N, Volume 43, Page 168.

Parcel 14.

All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate on the Plan of Newport Heights, Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follow, to-wit
BEGINNING at a point in the southeasterly side of Justis Street at the distance of one hundred fifty feet measured northeasterly along said side of said Street from the point of its intersection with the northeasterly side of Larch Avenue; thence southeasterly parallel to Larch Avenue one hundred thirty-six feet to a point; thence northeasterly parallel to Justis Street fifty feet to a point; thence northwesterly parallel to the first described line one hundred thirty-six feet to a point in the southeasterly side of Justis Street, and thence thereby southwesterly fifty feet to the place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record A, Volume 48, Page 585.

Parcel 15.
All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being a part of Lot 29 as shown on the Plan of Newport Heights as the same is of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, in Deed Record S, Volume 20, Page 601, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point on the Easterly side of Spruce Avenue, at sixty feet wide, at the distance of two hundred twenty-five feet Northerly from the Northerly side of Justis Street, at sixty feet wide; thence from said point of Beginning Northerly along said side of Spruce Avenue, fifty feet to a point in line of land of the State of Delaware ; and thence along said line of land in a Southeasterly direction and parallel with the Southwesterly side of Marsh Road, fifty-six feet to a point; and thence Westerly, parallel with Justis Street, twenty-four feet and thirty-seven one-hundredths of a foot to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being a part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record I, Volume 43, Page 81.

Parcel 16.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate at Newport Heights, in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, and State of Delaware, and being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point at the Westerly side of Spruce Avenue, at a distance of 86 feet Southerly from the point' formed by the intersection of the said Westerly side of Spruce Avenue, with the Southerly side of Justis Street; thence Southerly along said Westerly side of Spruce Avenue, 50 feet to a point; thence Westerly and parallel with Justis Street 100 feet to a point; thence Northerly and parallel with Spruce Avenue, 50 feet to a point; thence Easterly and parallel with Justis Street, 100 feet to a point in the aforesaid Westerly side of Spruce Avenue, the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record Y, Volume 59, Page 396.

Parcel 17.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the Easterly side of a proposed new street known as Augustine Street, to be laid out through lands of Bernard A. Beste, said point of beginning being four hundred and eleven and sixty-six one-hundredths feet Southerly from an oak plug on the Easterly side of said street, said oak plug being one hundred feet Westerly from lines of Mary R. Latimer; measured at right angles thereto, and two hundred and sixteen and seventy-nine one hundredths feet from the middle of the public road measured along the Easterly side of a private lane running into said public road; thence from said beginning point Northeastwardly and at right angles to Augustine Street, one hundred and sixteen and seventy-one one-hundredths feet to an oak plug in line of land of Mary R. Latimer ; thence therewith Southeastwardly one hundred and eighty-one and eighty-six one-hundredths feet to an oak plug; thence Southwestwardly and parallel with the first described line one hundred and twenty-three and fifty-six one-hundredths feet to a point in the Easterly side of Augustine Street and thence thereby Northwestwardly one hundred and eighty-one and fifty-six one-hundredths feet to the place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record D, Vol. 35, Page 598.

Parcel 18.
All that certain piece or parcel of land situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware and shown on the Plan of TYBROOK as said Plain is of record in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware in Microfilm 737 and indicated on the same as "lot to be conveyed to Artesian, Water Co.", more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point on the Northerly side of Woodview Drive, at fifty feet wide, as marked out on said Plan, said point of Beginning being measured by the two following courses and distances from a point in the Westerly end of a junction curve with radius of twenty feet forming the intersection of the Southerly side of Woodview Drive with the Westerly side of Angel Drive, at fifty feet wide, as marked out on said Plan: (1) along the Southerly side of Woodview Drive South eighty-six degrees, twenty-six minutes, nine seconds West one hundred ten feet and twenty-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (2) crossing Woodview Drive North three degrees, thirty-three minutes, fifty-one seconds West fifty feet to a point in the Northerly side of Woodview Drive, the place of Beginning; thence from said place of Beginning North three degrees, thirty-three minutes, fifty-one seconds West one hundred twenty-five feet to a point in line of land now or formerly of Scott Baker; thence by the same North eighty-six degrees, twenty-six minutes, nine seconds East one hundred thirty feet to a point in the center line of a ten feet wide utilities easement, said point being also in the Westerly boundary line of Lot No. 1, Block A; and thence by said center line and said lot line South three degrees, thirty-three minutes, fifty-one seconds East one hundred twenty-five feet to a point in the aforesaid Northerly side of Woodview Drive ; and thence by the same South eighty-six degrees, twenty-six minutes, nine seconds West one hundred thirty feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being a part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record P, Volume 65, Page 124.

Parcel 19.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, and State of Delaware, and being more particularly bounded and described according to a recent survey of the property of Earl J. Woodward made by Howard L. Robertson, Civil Engineer, on the Twenty-eighth day of August, A. D. 1940, as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point in the northerly side of Woodview Drive as shown upon said survey; thence north three degrees thirty-six minutes twenty-three seconds west one hundred twenty-five feet to a point in line of land of Scott S. Baker, and thence by his line north eighty-six degrees twenty-three minutes thirty-seven seconds east one hundred feet to a point; thence south three degrees thirty-six minutes twenty-three seconds east one hundred twenty-five feet to a point in the aforesaid northerly side of Woodview Drive, and thence by the same south eighty-six degrees twenty-three minutes thirty-seven seconds west one hundred feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record D, Volume 42, Page 393.
Parcels 20, 21 and 22.
All those three certain pieces or parcels of land situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, known as a portion of Section C on the Plan of Willow Run, as said Plan is of record in the Office for the Recording of Deeds in and for New Castle County, Delaware in Plat Record 2, Page 98 and Lots Nos. 4 and 7, Block H on the Plan of Willow Run, Section 2, as said Plan is of record in the Office aforesaid in Plat Record 2, Page 20, said parcels being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit
No. 1. BEGINNING at a point in the Southerly side of West Gilpin Drive in the center line of Willow Run, said point of Beginning being distant North eighty-nine degrees, thirty-five minutes, thirty-nine seconds West, thirty-six feet more or less measured along the Southerly side of West Gilpin Drive (at sixty feet wide) from the Westerly end of a seventy-five foot radius junction curve joining the said Southerly side of West Gilpin Drive with the Southwesterly side of East Willow Run Drive (at fifty feet wide) ; thence from said point of Beginning along the center line of said Willow Run by the various courses thereof in a Southwesterly direction and along the center line of a forty foot wide easement for utilities and surface water nine hundred ninety feet more or less to a point in the Northerly side of Montgomery Road (at sixty feet wide); thence along a curve to the left having a radius of three hundred fifteen feet and eighty-two one-hundredths of a foot, an arc distance of thirty feet more or less to a point, a corner for lands of the Civic Association of Willow Run; thence thereby the three following described courses and distances: (1) North nine degrees, forty-six minutes East, sixty-nine feet and ninety-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (2) North thirty-five degrees, twenty-six minutes thirty seconds East, seventy-five feet and seventy one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (3) North thirty-five degrees, nine minutes, twenty-eight seconds West, one hundred thirty-five feet and thirteen one-hundredths of a foot to a point, a corner for Lot Nos. 6 and 7; thence along the rear lines of Lot Nos. 7, 8, and 9, North fifty-four degrees, fifty minutes, thirty-two seconds East, one hundred ninety-five feet to a point; a corner for Lot No. 10; thence along said Lot No. 10, North fifty-one degrees, five minutes, twenty-two seconds East, seventy-eight feet and twenty-one one-hundredths of a foot to a point, a corner for Lot No. 11; thence along said Lot No. 11, North thirty-one degrees, eight minutes, seventeen seconds East, eighty-nine feet and forty-one hundredths of a foot to a point, a corner for Lot No. 12; thence along said Lot No. 12, North eight degrees, thirteen minutes, eleven seconds East, eighty-nine feet and forty one-hundredths of a foot to a point, a corner for Lot No. 13; thence along said Lot No. 13, North fourteen degrees, forty-one minutes, fifty-five seconds West, eighty-nine feet and forty one-hundredths of a foot to a point, a corner for Lot No. 14; thence along said Lot No. 14, North twenty-six degrees, nine minutes, twenty-eight seconds West, sixty-five feet to a point, a corner common to Lot Nos. 14, 15 and 16; thence along line of said Lot No. 16, South eighty degrees, forty-eight minutes, thirty-nine seconds East, seventy feet and twenty one-hundredths of a foot to a point, a corner for Lot No. 17; thence along said Lot No. 17, to Lot No. 20, Inclusive, South eighty-nine degrees, thirty five minutes, thirty-nine seconds East two hundred sixty feet to a point, a corner for said Lot No. 20; thence along line of said Lot No. 20, North no degrees, twenty-four minutes, twenty-one seconds East, one hundred feet to a point in the said Southerly side of West Gilpin Drive ; thence thereby South eighty-nine degrees, thirty-five minutes, thirty-nine seconds East, eighty feet and seventy-three one hundredths of a foot more or less to a point in the said center line of Willow Run and to the point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 2. BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Bondridge Road at fifty feet wide said point being in the division line between Lots Nos. 4 and 5 of Block H, and located by the following three courses and distances measured along the Southerly side of Bondridge Road from a point of tangency at the Northwesterly end of a twenty feet radius junction curve joining the Southerly side of Bondridge Road with the Westerly side of Montgomery Road at sixty feet wide; (1) North sixty-eight degrees, fifty-seven minutes . West, six hundred seventy-three feet and ninety-four one-hundredths of a foot to a point of curve; (2) thence Westerly along a curve to the left having a radius of two hundred seventy-five feet, an arc distance of one hundred one feet and three one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (3) thence due West seventy-one feet and thirty-three one-hundredths of a foot to the point of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning due South, one hundred thirty-three feet and seventy-two one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the center line of a ten feet wide utility easement as shown on said Plan; thence thereby due West sixty feet to a point; thence due North along the Westerly side of a five feet wide utility easement as shown on said Plan, one hundred thirty-three feet and seventy-two one-hundredths of a foot to the Southerly side of Bondridge Road; thence thereby due East sixty feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.
No. 3. BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Bondridge Road at fifty feet wide said point being in the division line between Lots Nos. 7 and 8, Block H, and distant six hundred thirty-eight feet and seventy-one one-hundredths of a foot measured North, sixty-eight degrees, fifty-seven minutes West, along the Southerly side of Bondridge Road from a point of tangency at the Northwesterly end of a twenty feet radius junction curve joining the Southerly side of Bondridge Road with the Westerly side of Montgomery Road at sixty feet wide; thence from said point of Beginning South, twenty-one degrees, three minutes West along the division line between Lots Nos. 7 and 8, Block H, one hundred eighteen feet and twenty-two one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the center line of a ten feet wide easement for utilities as shown on the aforesaid Plan; thence thereby the following two courses and distances : (1) North seventy-six degrees, thirty-eight minutes, seventeen seconds West, thirty-three feet and six one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (2) thence due West twenty-two feet and forty-four one-hundredths of a foot to the division line between Lots Nos. 6 and 7, Block H; thence thereby North thirteen degrees, forty-five minutes East, one hundred twenty-nine feet and fifty-five one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the Southerly side of Bondridge Road; thence thereby the following two courses and distances : (1) Easterly along a curve to the right having a radius of two hundred seventy-five feet, an arc distance of thirty-five feet and four one-hundredths of a foot to a point and; (2) thence South sixty-eight degrees, fifty-seven minutes East, thirty-five feet and twenty-three one-hundredths of a foot to the point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record 0, Volume 61, Page 583.

Parcels 23 and 24.
All those two certain pieces or parcels of land situate in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, Lot No. 1 being a portion of Block B on the Plan of Sedgely Farms of record in the Office for the Recording of Deeds in and for New Castle County, Delaware, in Deed Record T, Volume 30, Page 601, and Lot No. 2 being situate in Sedgely Farms, said parcels being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
No. 1. BEGINNING at a point in the division line between Lots Nos. 1 and 6, Block B, said point being located by the following two courses and distances from a point of tangency at the Northeasterly end of a seventy-seven feet and twenty-four one-hundredths of a foot radius junction curve joining the Northwesterly side of Courtney Road, at fifty feet wide, with the Northeasterly side of Lancaster Turnpike, at seventy feet wide; (1) North twenty-five degrees, twenty-six minutes East along the Northwesterly side of Courtney Road two hundred forty-six feet and fourteen one-hundredths of a foot to the division line between Lots Nos. 1 and 6, Block B; (2) thence North seventy-seven degrees, twenty-six minutes West along said division line one hundred nine feet and thirty one-hundredths of a foot to the point of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning South twelve degrees, thirty-four minutes West thirty feet to a point; thence North seventy-seven degrees, twenty-six minutes West seventy-two feet and fifty-nine one-hundredths of a foot to a point; thence North twelve degrees, thirty-four minutes East thirty feet to a point; thence South seventy-seven degrees, twenty-six minutes East seventy-two feet and fifty-nine one-hundredths of a foot to the point of BEGINNING.
No. 2. BEGINNING at a point in the division line between this parcel and land of Robert W. Nolan and wife, said point being located by the following four courses and distances from a point of tangency at the Southeasterly end of a fifty-five feet and eighty-six one-hundredths of a foot radius junction curve joining the Southwesterly side of Lands End Road, at fifty feet wide, with the Southeasterly side of the Newport-Centreville Road, at fifty feet wide, the first two of said courses and distances being along the Southwesterly side of Lands End Road and the remaining two courses and distances being along line of land of Robert W. Nolan: (1) South eighty-four degrees, two minutes, thirty-seven seconds East, three hundred forty-eight feet and seventy-nine one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (2) South eighty-six degrees, thirty-nine minutes East, two hundred fifty-nine feet and ninety-eight one-hundredths of a foot, (3) South three degrees, twenty-one minutes West, four hundred twenty-five feet to a point; and, (4) South eighty-six degrees, thirty-nine minutes East, one hundred seventy-five feet to the point of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning the following three courses and distances dividing this parcel from land of Robert W. Nolan and wife : (1) North three degrees, twenty-one minutes East, one hundred feet to a point; (2) South eighty-six degrees, thirty-nine minutes East, sixty feet to a point; and, (3) thence South three degrees, twenty-one minutes West, one hundred feet to a point; thence North eighty-six degrees, thirty-nine minutes West, sixty feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record P, Volume 61, Page 20.

MILL CREEK HUNDRED

All the following described real estate situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware

Parcel 1.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware and indicated, upon the Plan of WESTGATE FARMS as Artesian Water Co., Tank Site, and being more particularly bounded and described according to a survey of Howard L. Robertson, Civil Engineer, a copy of said Plan now being of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, at Wilmington, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point in the line of the Northeasterly boundary line of Lot No. 56, Block D, Westgate Farms, said point of Beginning being measured by the following five courses and distances from a point in the Northeasterly end of a junction curve with radius of twenty feet forming the intersection of the Northerly side of Wembley Road with the Northeasterly side of Loveville Road as both Roads are shown on said Plan: (1) by a curve to the right with radius of one hundred fifty feet, a distance of ninety-one feet and eighty-five one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (2) still along said side of Wembley Road South sixty-two degrees, seven minutes East three hundred eighty-six feet and ninety one-hundredths of a foot to a point of curve with radius of six hundred fifty feet; and (3) thence still along said side of Wembley Road on a curve to the right a distance of two hundred feet and four one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (4) thence leaving Wembley Road and passing along the division line between Lots Nos. 56 and 57, Block D, and also through the center line of a twenty feet wide utilities right-of-way North forty-five degrees, thirty-one minutes East one hundred eighty-nine feet and forty-four one-hundredths of a foot to a point; (5) thence along the rear boundary line of Lot 57, Block D South sixty-two degrees, seven minutes East twenty-one feet and one one-hundredth of a foot to a point in common with this lot and Lot No. 57 and line of land of William J. Mundy, the place of Beginning; thence from said place of Beginning along line of land of William J. Mundy and the property herein described North no degrees, fifteen minutes, nine seconds West one hundred thirty feet to a point; and thence in a Southwesterly direction one hundred thirty feet to a point in the rear boundary line of Lot No. 56, Block D ; and thence along the same and also along the rear boundary line of Lot No. 57, Block D South sixty-two degrees, seven minutes East one hundred thirty feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record G, Volume 67, Page 495.
Parcel 2.
A11 that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware and being shown upon the plan of Sherwood Park as prepared by Van Demark and Lynch, Inc., Civil Engineers and Surveyors and being located in the rear of Lots Nos. 9, 11, and 12 in Block B of Sherwood Park and being more particularly bounded and described in accordance with a survey of Van Demark and Lynch dated the 26th day of January, A. D. 1955, as follows, to-wit
BEGINNING at a point in line of land known as Park Land and a rear corner for Lot No. 9, Block "B", said point being distant the three following described courses and distances from the southwesterly end of a 30 foot radius junction curve joining the southeasterly side of Darby Drive (at 50' wide) with the southwesterly side of Maclary Drive (at 60' wide) : (1) along the said southeasterly side of Darby Drive, South 65°-51'-30" West, 118.0 feet to a point of curvature of a 156.75 foot radius curve; (2) along said curve to the right and still along said southeasterly side of Darby Drive, an arc distance of 208.90 feet to a point, a corner for said Lot No. 9, Block "B"; and (3) along said line of Lot No. 9, Block "B", South 52°-13' West, 100.0 feet to said point of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning along line of said Park Land, South 40°-28'-15" West, 121.87 feet to a point, a corner for Lot No. 12; thence along rear lines of said Lot No. 12 and of Lot No. 11, North 0°-04' East, 130.36 feet to a point, a corner common to Lots Nos. 9, 10 and 11, Block "B"; thence along rear line of said Lot No. 9, Block "B", South 64°-30'-38" East, 87.44 feet to said Park Land and to the point and place of BEGINNING. CONTAINING within said described metes and bounds 0.118 acres of land, be the same, more or less.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in . Deed Record S, Volume 55, Page 29.

Parcel 3.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, as shown on the Plan of SHERWOOD PARK II, a copy of which Plan is attached to and made a part of a certain agreement dated the Twentieth day of November, A. D. 1957, between Milltown Homes, Inc., et al., and Artesian Water Company, said agreement being of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, Delaware, in Deed Record G, Volume 61, Page 447, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point formed by the intersection of the Southwesterly boundary line of Lot No. 149A, Block H, Sherwood Park II with line of land now or late of Maria A. duP. DeBic; thence from said point and place of Beginning and passing along the Southwesterly boundary line of Lots Nos. 149A, 149 and 150, South sixty-nine degrees, fifty minutes, fifty seconds East one hundred forty-two feet and fifty-nine one-hundredths of a foot to a point in line of land indicated upon said Plan as "Dedicated Public Open Space For Use As Park and Recreation Area"; and thence by the same the two following courses and distances: (1) South twenty degrees, nine minutes, ten seconds West one hundred feet to a point and (2) North eighty-nine degrees, forty-nine minutes, fifty seconds West one hundred feet to a point in the aforesaid line of land of Maria A. dup. DeBic; and thence by the same North zero degrees, fourteen minutes, ten seconds East one hundred forty-two feet and fifty-nine one hundredths of a foot to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record T, Volume 63, Page 412.

Parcel 4.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being a parcel of land as shown on the plan of Canterbury Hills and being more particularly bounded and described in accordance with a survey by Howard L. Robertson, Civil Engineer, dated January, 1956, as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point on the Southeasterly side of Stratton Drive, at fifty feet wide, as marked out on said Plan; said point of Beginning being measured by the three following courses and distances from a point in the Southeasterly end of a junction curve with radius of twenty foot forming the intersection of the Easterly side of Stratton Drive wit Ii the Southeasterly side of Meriden Drive, at fifty feet wide, as marled out; on said Plan: (1) Along said Easterly side of Stratton Drive South seven degrees, forty-five minutes East one hundred forty-four feet and seventy-one one-hundredths of a foot to a point of curve in Stratton Drive with radius of one hundred fifty-five feet and (2) thence by the said side of Stratton Drive on said curve to the right a distance of two hundred thirty-six feet and sixty-seven one hundredths of a foot to a point in the Southeasterly side. of Stratton Drive and (3) thence by the same South seventy-nine degrees, forty-four minutes West twenty-one feet and seventy-seven one-hundredths of a. foot to a point in the division line between this lot and Lot No. 37; thence from said point of Beginning and along said division line South fifteen degrees, thirty-seven minutes East two hundred forty-five feet and ninety-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point. in the rear boundary line of Lot No. 37; and thence by the same North seventy-four degrees, twenty-three minutes East one hundred forty-five feet to a point in the line dividing this lot and Lot. No. 34; and thence by the same South fifteen degrees. thirty-seven minutes East one hundred feet to a point in the division line between this lot and Lot No. 32; and thence by the same South seventy-four degrees, twenty-three minutes West one hundred sixty feet to a point in the division line between this lot and Lot No. 31; and thence by the same and also along the division line between this lot and Lot No. 38, North fifteen degrees, thirty-seven minutes West three hundred forty-seven feet and thirty-seven one-hundredths of a foot to a point in the aforesaid Southeasterly side of Stratton Drive: and thence by the same North seventy-nine degrees, forty four minutes East fifteen feet and seven one-hundredths of a foot. to the first. mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record D, Volume 65, Page 262.

Parcels 5 and 6.
All those two certain pieces or parcels of land situate in Westminster, Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, as shown on the Plat of Westminster, dated October 2, 1958, revised to July 18, 1960, as prepared by Howard L. Robertson, said parcel being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit
No. 1. BEGINNING at a point in the Northwesterly side of Parker Court (at 50 feet wide) said point being distant 108.94 feet measured in a Northeasterly direction along said side of Parker Court on the arc of a curve to the right having a radius of 390.52 feet from the Northeasterly end of a 20 foot radius intersection curve joining said side of Parker Court with the Northeasterly side of Cheltenham Road (at 60 feet wide) ; THENCE from said point of Beginning by Lot 28 N. 25° 23' 50" W., 50.95 feet to a point; THENCE still by Lot 28 N. 64° 36' 10" E., 20.00 feet to a point; THENCE by Lot 27 S. 25° 23' 50" E., 50.00 feet to a point in the aforesaid Northwesterly side of Parker Court; THENCE thereby in a Southwesterly direction by a curve to the left having a radius of 390.52 feet, an arc distance of 20.02 feet to the place of BEGINNING.
No. 2. BEGINNING at a corner common to Lots 51, 52, 53, said point being located by the following two courses and distances from a point in the Northwesterly side of Ambleside Drive (at 50 feet wide), said point being the Southwesterly end of a 20 foot radius intersection curve joining said side of Ambleside Drive with the Southwesterly side of Denbeigh Court (at 50 feet wide) : (1) S. 57° 24' 10" W., 155.00 feet measured along said side of Ambleside Drive from the said Southwesterly end of the intersection curve to a point; (2) THENCE by the division line between Lots 52 and 53, keeping parallel to and 10 feet Southwest of the Northeasterly side of a 25 foot wide right of way (known as Coffee Run Lane) N. 32° 35' 50" W., 170.00 feet to a point; THENCE from said point of Beginning by Lot 53 S. 57° 24' 10" W., 150.00 feet to a point; THENCE by Lot 54 N. 32° 35' 50" W., 33.94 feet to a point; THENCE by Lots 57 and 58 by the Westerly side of a 10 foot wide sewer right of way N. 5° 47' 46" W., 187.41 feet to a point; THENCE by Lot 114 N. 81° 50' 31" E., 94.87 feet to a point in the center of a 25 foot wide right of way known as Coffee Run Lane; THENCE thereby by Lot 51 S. 25° 15' 15" E., 163.31 feet to the place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record M, Volume 67, Page 508.

Parcel 7.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situate on the southerly side of Hammond Place between lots 5 and 6, Block B, as shown on the Plan of Kirkwood Gardens made by Barnes and McLaughlin, Civil Engineers and Surveyors, dated the 24th day of June, A. D. 1955, and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County, State of Delaware, in Plat Book 3, Page 76, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit
BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Hammond Place, the two following courses and distances from the point of reverse curve of a curve with a radius of 25 feet at the Southwest corner of Hammond Place (50 feet wide) and Farrand Drive (80 feet wide) ; (1) Westwardly along the arc of a circle with a radius of 375 feet, a distance of 86.05 feet; (2) South 82 degrees 42 minutes 35 seconds West a distance of 30 feet; thence extending South 7 degrees 17 minutes 25 seconds East along the centerline of a proposed relocated stream bed, a distance of 91 feet plus or minus to a point; thence extending southeastwardly along the centerline of another stream, a distance of 62 feet plus or minus to a point; thence extending South 58 degrees 24 minutes 25 seconds West along the centerline of another stream, a distance of 92.00 feet to a point; thence extending South 81 degrees 51 minutes 40 seconds West farther along the centerline of the aforementioned stream, a distance of 61.28 feet to a point; thence extending North 7 degrees 17 minutes 25 seconds West a distance of 173.51 feet to a point in the Southerly side of Hammond Place ; thence extending North 82 degrees 42 minutes 35 seconds East along the Southerly side of Hammond Place, a distance of 99.99 feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record 0, Volume 56, Page 594.

Parcel 8.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, and being a lot as shown on the Plan of Hyde Park, more particularly bounded and described in accordance with a survey of VanDemark & Lynch, Inc., dated November 30, 1951, as follows, to-wit:

BEGINNING at a point in the northwesterly side of a proposed street known as West Kenmore Drive (at 50 feet wide) ; distant the five following described courses and distances from the intersection of the present center lines of Duncan Road and Faulkland Road (1) along said center line of Duncan Road, North 50 degrees 09 minutes 16 seconds West, 351.68 feet to a point; (2) along the same North 52 degrees 31 minutes 11 seconds West, 210.08 feet to a point; (3) along the same, North 48 degrees 07 minutes 35 seconds West, 95.55 feet to a point; (4) along the same, North 45 degrees 36 minutes 15 seconds West, 19.04 feet to a point of intersection with the said northwesterly side of West Kenmore Drive extended and (5.) along the said northwesterly side and the extension thereof of West Kenmore Drive, North 44 degrees 23 minutes 45 seconds East, 150 feet to the point of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning, North 45 degrees 36 minutes 15 seconds West, 50 feet to a point; thence North 44 degrees 23 minutes 45 seconds East, 25 feet to a point; thence South 45 degrees 36 minutes 15 seconds East, 50 feet to the said northwesterly side of West Kenmore Drive; thence thereby South 44 degrees 23 minutes 45 seconds West, 25 feet to the said point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record B, Volume 52, Page 436.

Parcel 9.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, known as a portion of Lot No. 7, Block M, as shown on a plan of Limestone Gardens, made and prepared by Van Demark & Lynch, Inc., Civil Engineers and Surveyors, under date of July 1955, which plot was recorded November 29, 1955 in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County aforesaid, in Plat Book III, Page 87, as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point in the division line between Lots Nos. 7 and 8, said point being distant North thirty-nine (39) degrees, forty-seven (47) minutes, ten (10) seconds East one hundred eighty-seven and fifty-seven one-hundredths (187.57) feet along said division line from its intersection with the Northeasterly side of Pickwick Drive North, a line of lands this day conveyed to Security Builders, Inc., a corporation of the State of Delaware; thence continuing by said division line North thirty-nine (39) degrees, forty-seven (47) minutes, ten (10) seconds East fifty (50) feet; thence by line of Lot No. 15 South eighty-eight (88) degrees twenty (20) minutes, thirty (30) seconds East forty-nine and eighty-three one-hundredths (49.83) feet to a point in line of land of Elmer Truitt; thence thereby South one (1) degree, thirty-nine (39) minutes, thirty (30) seconds West one hundred five (105) feet to a point in line of lands this day conveyed to Security Builders, Inc., a corporation as aforesaid; and thence thereby North fifty (50) degrees, twelve (12) minutes, fifty (50) seconds West one hundred six (106) feet more or less to the point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record E, Volume 68, Page 560.

Parcel 10.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, the same being all that certain strip of land fifteen (15) feet in width, being the most Northeasterly part of Lot No. 15, Block M, as shown on a plan of Limestone Gardens, made and prepared by Van Demark & Lynch, Inc., Civil Engineers and Surveyors, under date of July 1955, which plot was recorded November 29, 1955 in the Office for the Recording of Deeds, in and for New Castle County aforesaid in Plat Book III, Page 87, as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the division line between Lots Nos. 7 and 15 where the same intersects the lands of Elmer Truitt, being also a corner of other lands of Artesian Water Company; thence by said other lands of Artesian Water Company North eighty-eight (88) degrees, twenty (20) minutes, thirty (30) seconds West fifteen (15) feet to a point; thence North one (1) degree, thirty-nine (39) minutes, thirty (30) seconds East and parallel with said Elmer Truitt's line and fifteen (15) feet distant there from, one hundred ninety-seven (197) feet more or less to a point in the Southeasterly side of the Milltown-Cooper Farm Road; thence thereby curving to the left by the arc of a circle with a radius of nine hundred ninety-four and ninety-three one-hundredths (994.93) seventeen (17) feet more or less to a point in line of lands of Elmer Truitt; and thence thereby South. one (1) degree, thirty-nine (39) minutes, thirty (30) seconds west one hundred ninety-seven and two one-hundredths (197.02) feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record E, Volume 68, Page 558.

Parcel 11.
All that certain lot, piece, or parcel of land situate in Stanton Heights, Mill Creek Hundred, Delaware, and being more particularly bounded and described according to a survey made by A. M. Munn, Surveyor, on November 27, 1939, as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the center line of Verdun Street as shown on the plan of Stanton Heights as said plan is of record in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds at Wilmington, said point being measured south sixty-two degrees eighteen minutes West thirty and fifteen one-hundredths feet from the point formed by the intersection of the said center line of Verdun Street with the extension of the southwesterly side of Argonne Street as shown on said plan of Stanton Heights; thence south twenty degrees forty-eight minutes east forty and twenty-three one-hundredths feet to an iron pipe set in the ground, and thence south sixty-six degrees twenty-five minutes west thirty-five and twenty-seven one-hundredths feet to another iron pin set in the ground, and thence north twenty-two degrees forty-two minutes west thirty-seven and one-hundredths feet to another iron pin set in the said center line of Verdun Street, and thence by said center line north sixty-two degrees eighteen minutes east thirty-two and nine tenths feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record U, Volume 41, Page 24.

Parcel 12.
All that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the center of the road leading from Cooper's Corner to Marshallton, said point being distant along the center line of said road from its intersection with the center line of the road leading from said Cooper's Corner to Milltown, the two following courses and distances :First, South 29 degrees 52 minutes East Five Hundred and fifty feet, and, Second, South 33 degrees 30 minutes East One Hundred and fifty feet; thence from said place of beginning at right angles to the center line of said road South 66 degrees 30 minutes West Two Hundred feet to a corner; thence parallel with the center line of the said road South 33 degrees 30 minutes East Two Hundred feet to another corner; thence at right angles to the center line of the said road North 66 degrees 30 minutes East Two Hundred feet to a point in the center line of said road and thence thereby North 33 degrees 30 minutes West Two Hundred feet to the place of BEGINNING.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record S, Volume 41, Page 574.

Parcel 13.

All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being a portion of Lot No. 129 on the Plan of Eastburn Heights, more particularly bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at the corner formed by the intersection of Orchard Avenue at thirty feet wide with the center line of East burn Avenue at forty-four feet wide; thence by and with the center line of Orchard Avenue North eighty-two degrees, forty-eight minutes East, seventy-two feet to a point in the extended line dividing lots 129 and. 130; thence by and with said dividing line South six degrees, thirteen minutes East, one hundred six and three one-hundredths feet to a point in line of land conveyed by Artesian Water Company to Donald Salakovich, et al, Deed Record 0, Volume 57, Page 1; and thence by said line of land Westerly parallel with Ball Avenue seventy-two feet more or less to a point in the center line of Eastburn Avenue ; and thence by the same North six degrees, thirteen minutes West, one hundred five and five-tenths feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Being a part of the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record E, Volume 49, Page 274.
WHITE CLAY CREEK HUNDRED
All the following described real estate situate in White Clay Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware

Parcel 1.
All that certain piece or parcel of land, situate near Stanton, in White Clay Creek Hundred, New Castle County, State of Delaware, being more particularly bounded and described according to a survey of Phillips & Dickinson, Civil Engineers and Surveyors, September 3, 1949, as follows, to-wit:
BEGINNING at a point in the center line of the public road leading Northwesterly from Christiana to Stanton, said point being a Northwesterly corner for property of the Stanton Worsted Mills Company, Inc., and being distant 60.00 feet measured Southeasterly along a radial line from the center line between the middle and South tracks of the main line of the P. B. & W. Railroad Company; thence from the point of beginning Northeasterly crossing said public road and along the Southeasterly right of way line of the said P. B. & W. Railroad Company, keeping 60.00 feet Southeasterly there from and parallel to the said center line between the middle and South tracks of said Railroad Company, and along a curve to the right having a radius of 6,426.38 feet, an arc distance to 93.02 feet to a point (iron pipe), said point being distant North 58 degrees 30 minutes East, 93.00 feet from the point of Beginning; thence through the lands of the Stanton Worsted Mills Company, Inc. the following two courses and distances: (1) South 31 degrees 30 minutes East, 30.00 feet to a point (iron pipe), and (2) South 58 degrees 30 minutes West crossing said public road, 100.00 feet to the center line thereof; thence North 18 degrees 22 minutes West along the center line of said public road, 30.80 feet to the point and place of BEGINNING. Said parcel containing 2,895 square feet of land more or less.
Being the same lands conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record L, Volume 49, Page 303.

Parcel 2.
ALL that certain lot, piece or parcel of land, situate in White Clay Creek Hundred, New Castle County and State of Delaware, being more particularly bounded and described as a portion of the tract in accordance with a survey of Price and Price, Civil Engineers and Surveyors, dated September 16, 1937, as follows, to wit
BEGINNING at a point on the center line of the Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike Road, said point of Beginning being distant along the center line of said road by the three following courses and distances from a point formed by the intersection of the center line of said road with the center line of Churchmans Road: (1) North thirteen degrees, fifty minutes East eleven hundred nineteen feet and two one-hundredths of a foot; and (2) North fourteen degrees, seventeen minutes East two thousand twenty-four feet and ten one hundredths of a foot; and (3) North thirteen degrees, forty-one minutes, fifteen seconds East eleven hundred one feet and twenty-seven one-hundredths of a foot to the point and place of Beginning; thence from said point of Beginning still along said center line of the Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike Road, North thirteen degrees, forty-one minutes, fifteen seconds East fifty-eight feet to a point, a corner of land now or late of the Farmers Bank of the State of Delaware, at New Castle ; thence along said line of land of the Farmers Bank at New Castle, the two following courses and distances: (1) South forty-five degrees, two minutes, twenty seconds East four hundred fifty feet and forty-five one-hundredths of a foot to a point; and (2) North forty-eight degrees, fifty-three minutes, forty-five seconds East ninety-nine feet to a point on the low water mark of the White Clay Creek, being a corner of land now or late of the Farmers Bank at New Castle ; thence down said White Clay Creek about ninety-eight hundred seventy feet, more or less, to a point on the low water mark of the Christiana Creek; thence up the Christiana Creek, by the low water mark, about four hundred ten feet, more or less, to a point in the middle of Muscle Creek; thence still up said Christiana Creek by the low water mark according to the several courses thereof, about sixty-nine hundred one feet, more or less, to a point at the intersection of the said low water mark with the center line of the bridge approach to Churchmans Road, a corner for land now or late of Lewis Stafford, said intersection of the low water mark with the old center line of the old bridge approach to Churchmans Road being distant from the last mentioned point on the low water mark of Christiana Creek and Muscle Creek, South thirty-one degrees, seventeen minutes West forty-nine hundred ninety-five feet and thirty one-hundredths of a foot; thence along the old center line of the old bridge approach of Churchmans Road, North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West four hundred forty feet and sixty-six one-hundredths of a foot to the point of intersection of the old center line of the old bridge approach of Churchmans Road with the new center line of the new bridge approach of Churchmans Road; thence along the center line of Churchmans Road, North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West five hundred sixty-five feet and twenty-four one-hundredths of a foot to a point in line of land of Russell Snyder; and thence by said line of land North twenty-four degrees, ten seconds East crossing the Northeasterly side of old Churchmans Road, about forty feet to a point on the Northeasterly right-of-way line of the new State Highway Churchmans Road, said point being distant from and at right angles to the center line thereof ; thence still along line of land of Snyder, North twenty-four degrees, ten minutes East two hundred eighty-five feet to a point; and thence North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West seven hundred fifty feet to a point; and thence South twenty-four degrees, ten seconds West three hundred twenty-five feet to a point in the center line of Churchmans Road; and thence by the same North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West twenty-five feet -to a point; thence along line of land heretofore conveyed by Artesian Water Company to Westview, Inc., the five following courses and distances : (1) Northerly and at right angles to Churchmans Road eight hundred feet to a point; (2) North eighty-nine degrees, fourteen minutes West four hundred feet to a point; (3) Northerly and at right angles to Churchmans Road twenty-five hundred feet to a point; (4) North eighty-nine degrees, fourteen minutes West twenty hundred fifty feet to a point; thence (5) North forty-five degrees, twenty-one minutes, twenty seconds West seventeen hundred feet, more or less, to a point in the aforesaid center .line of the Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike, the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
Subject, however, to certain rights-of-way described in three Deeds to Delaware Power and Light Company, recorded, respectively, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record R, Volume 36, Page 220, in Deed Record Y, Volume 53, Page 420, and in Deed Record Y, Volume 53, Page 422.
Being a part of the same lands and premises conveyed to Artesian Water Company by Deed recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, in and for New Castle County and State of Delaware, in Deed Record H, Volume 49, Page 273.
Excepting and Reserving, nevertheless, out of the above described tract of land all that portion of the same constituting a portion of Churchmans Road, as more particularly bounded and described in Deed from Artesian Water Company, a corporation of the State of Delaware, to the State of Delaware, dated May 4, 1956 and recorded in the Office aforesaid in Deed Record Q, Volume 57, Page 313, and more particularly bounded and described in two tracts as follows, to wit:

No. 1. BEGINNING at a point in the center of the old Churchman's Road, said point being located North fifty-four degrees, eleven minutes West four hundred thirty-two feet and fifty-three one hundredths of a foot, measured along the center line of the approach to the present bridge across the Christiana Creek from the center of the said present bridge; thence from the said Beginning point, North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West, along the center line of the Old Churchman's Road, at thirty-five feet wide, five hundred sixty-five feet and twenty-four one-hundredths of a foot to a point, being a corner for the lands about to be conveyed and lands of Russell M. Snyder; thence North twenty-four degrees, ten minutes East, crossing the Northeasterly side of the said old Churchman's Road, along the line of lands on the Northwest of the said Russell M. Snyder, about forty feet to a point on the Northeasterly right of way line off the new State Highway Churchman's Road, said point being distant forty feet from and at right angles to the center line thereof ; thence along the said Northeasterly right of way line and parallel with the center line thereof, about three hundred seventy-eight feet to a point of curvature, said point being distant forty feet from and at right angles to the center line tangent extended Station P. T. 10 plus 78.68; thence continuing along the said Northeasterly right of way line, the four following courses and distances: (1) in a Southeasterly direction, curving to the right, along the arc of a nineteen hundred fifty feet and four one hundredths of a foot radius curve, one hundred thirty-five feet and fourteen one-hundredths of a foot to a point of compound curvature, said point being distant forty feet from and at right angles to center line Station C. S. 9 plus 45.35; (2) continuing in a Southeasterly direction curving to the right, along the arc of a fourteen hundred seventy-two feet and sixty-nine one-hundredths of a foot radius curve, ninety-eight feet and thirty-one one-hundredths of a foot to another point of compound curvature, said point being distant forty feet from and at right angles to center line Station S. C. 8 plus 49.73; (3) continuing in a Southeasterly direction, curving to the right, along the arc of a nineteen hundred fifty feet and four one-hundredths of a foot radius curve, one hundred thirty-six feet and fourteen one-hundredths of a foot to a point of tangency, said point being distant forty feet from and at right angles to the center line tangent extended and Station 7 plus 16.40; and (4) continuing in a Southeasterly direction and parallel with the center line tangent extended, about fifteen feet to the division line of lands of the Artesian Water Company, said division line being the center line of the approach to the old bridge (now removed) across the Christiana Creek; and thence North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West, along the center line and division line, about one hundred ninety-seven feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.

No. 2. BEGINNING at a point of intersection of two center line tangents of the old Churchman's Road, at thirty-five feet wide, said point of Beginning being a corner for lands now or formerly of Powell M. Ford and lands of the Artesian Water Company and being located the two following courses and distances, measured along the center line of the said old Churchman's Road, from the center bridge across Christiana Creek: (1) North fifty-four degrees, eleven minutes West four hundred thirty-two feet and fifty-three one-hundredths of a foot to an angle point; and (2) North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West thirteen hundred forty feet and twenty-four one hundredths of a foot; thence from the said Beginning point, North zero degrees, forty-six minutes East, along the line of lands on the West now or formerly of the said Powell M. Ford, about fourteen feet to a point on the Northeasterly right of way line of the new State Highway Churchman's Road, said point being distant forty feet from and at right angles to the center line thereof ; thence in a Southeasterly direction, along the said Northeasterly right of way line and parallel with the said center line, curving to the right along the arc of a thirteen hundred thirteen feet and fifty-seven one-hundredths of a foot radius curve, about thirty-one feet and five-tenths of a foot to a point in line of lands now or formerly of Stephen R. Taylor ; thence South twenty-four degrees, ten minutes West along the line of lands on the Southeast, now or formerly of the said Stephen R. Taylor, about nineteen feet to a point in the center line of the aforesaid old Churchman's Road; and thence thereby North sixty-five degrees, fifty minutes West twenty-five feet to the point and place of BEGINNING.

GRANTING CLAUSE II.
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT.
All buildings, improvements, standpipes, towers, reservoirs, wells, springs, flumes, sluices, canals, basins, cribs, machinery, mains, conduits, hydrants, valves, pipes, pipe lines, service pipes, water works plants and systems, dams, tanks, shops, structures, purification systems, pumping stations, power plants, fixtures, engines, boilers, pumps, meters, apparatus and equipment, wherever situated, which are now owned or may hereafter be acquired by the Company, except as hereinafter expressly excepted.

GRANTING CLAUSE III.
FRANCHISES AND OTHER RIGHTS.
All corporate and other franchises, all water and flowage rights, riparian rights, easements and rights-of-way, and all permits, ordinances, licenses, rights, grants, privileges and immunities ; and all renewals, extensions, additions or modifications of any of the foregoing; whether the same or any thereof, or any renewals, extensions, additions or modifications thereof, are now owned or may hereafter be acquired, owned, held or enjoyed by the Company; but, as to all such property, only to the extent permitted by law.

GRANTING CLAUSE IV.
FURTHER PROPERTY CONVEYED TO TRUSTEE.
All property which may from time to time after the date of this Indenture be delivered, or which may by writing of any kind be conveyed, pledged, assigned or transferred, to the Trustee by the Company or by any person or corporation to be held as part of the Mortgaged Property, as hereinafter defined, except as hereinafter expressly excepted; and the Trustee is hereby authorized to receive any such property, and any such conveyance, pledge, assignment or transfer, as and for additional security hereunder, and to hold and apply any and all such property subject to and in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

GRANTING CLAUSE V.
OTHER AND AFTER-ACQUIRED PROPERTY.
All other property, of whatever nature and kind, which the Company now owns and which it may hereafter acquire, except as herein expressly excepted.
TOGETHER WITH all and singular the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging or in any wise pertaining to the aforesaid premises, property, rights and franchises or any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, and, to the extent permitted by law, all tolls, rents, revenues, issues, income, product and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid premises, property, rights and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

EXCEPTED PROPERTY.
SAVING AND EXCEPTING, HOWEVER, from the property hereby mortgaged and pledged, all of the following property (whether now owned by the Company or hereafter acquired by it):
(a) all bills, notes and accounts receivable, and cash on hand and in bank, .
(b) all contracts, choses in action, bonds, obligations, evidences of indebtedness, shares of stock and other securities, and certificates or evidences of interest therein,
(c) all office furniture and equipment, motor vehicles, tools, and
(d) all materials, equipment, goods, merchandise and supplies not installed so as to constitute part of the real or fixed property of the Company,

-other than any of the foregoing which at any time may be specifically transferred or assigned to or pledged or deposited with the Trustee hereunder or required by the provisions of this Indenture so to be; provided, however, that if, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, as hereinafter defined, the Trustee or any receiver or trustee appointed hereunder or upon the application of the Trustee or holders of the Bonds outstanding hereunder shall enter upon and take possession of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property, as hereinafter defined, the Trustee or such receiver or trustee may, to the extent permitted by law, at the same time likewise take possession of any or all of the property hereinabove saved and excepted from this Indenture then on hand which is used or useful in connection with the business of the Company, and use and administer the same, to the extent permitted by law, to the same extent as if such property were part of the Mortgaged Property, unless and until such default shall be remedied or waived and possession of the Mortgaged Property restored to the Company, its successors or assigns.

SUBJECT CLAUSE.
SUBJECT, HOWEVER, as to all of the above described property, to the exceptions, reservations and matters hereinabove recited; and
(a) to. Permitted Encumbrances, as hereinafter defined, and
(b) with respect to any property which the Company may hereafter acquire, in addition to the foregoing, to all the terms, conditions, agreements, covenants, exceptions and reservations expressed or provided in the deeds and other instruments, respectively, under and by virtue of which the Company shall hereafter acquire the same, and to any and all liens existing thereon at the time of such acquisition.

HABENDUM CLAUSE.
To HAVE AND TO HOLD all said premises, property, rights and franchises granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over or confirmed by the Company as aforesaid or intended so to be (said premises, property, rights and franchises being herein sometimes called the "Mortgaged Property"), unto the Trustee and its successors in the. trust, and to them and their assigns forever;

GRANT IN TRUST.
IN TRUST, NEVERTHELESS, upon thee terms and trusts herein set forth, for the equal and proportionate benefit and security of those who shall hold or own the Bonds and coupons issued and to be issued hereunder, or any of them, without preference of any of said Bonds and coupons over any others thereof by reason of priority in the time of the issue or negotiations thereof or by reason of the date or maturity thereof, or for any other reason whatsoever; subject, however, to the provisions of Sections 4.02 and 5.07.
GENERAL COVENANT.
IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED, DECLARED AND AGREED, by and between the parties hereto, that all such Bonds and coupons are to be issued, authenticated and delivered, and that all property subject or to become subject hereto is to be held and applied, subject to the further covenants, conditions, uses and trusts hereinafter set forth; and the Company, for itself and its successors, does hereby covenant and agree to and with the Trustee and its successors in the trust, for the benefit of those who shall hold or own said Bonds and coupons, or any of them, as follows

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS.
SECTION 1.01. Definitions: Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Section 1.01 shall for all purposes of this Indenture have the respective meanings set forth below, the following definitions to be equally applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of any of the terms defined:

Acquired Plant:
The term "Acquired Plant" shall mean any plant or system, including any property used in connection therewith, purchased or acquired by the Company after December 31, 1960, which within two years prior to the date of purchase or acquisition thereof by the Company has been used or operated by others in the business of a water company or of a water utility.

As to the Cost of an Acquired Plant, see under the definition of Cost.
As to the Fair Value of an Acquired Plant, see under the definition of Fair Value.

Additions Credit:
The term "Additions Credit" shall have the meaning specified in subparagraph (e) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.

Article, Section:
All references herein to an "Article" or a "Section" or any other subdivision are to the corresponding article, section or subdivision of this Indenture.

Authorized Newspaper:
The term "Authorized Newspaper", with respect to any city, shall mean a newspaper printed in the English language and of general circulation in that city, customarily published on each business day.

Board of Directors:
The term "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

Bond; Issued Bond; Outstanding:
The term "Bond" shall mean one of the bonds issued hereunder.
The term "issued", as applied to a Bond, shall mean a Bond duly authenticated and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
The term "outstanding under this Indenture" or "outstanding hereunder" or "outstanding", when used as to any particular time with reference to Bonds, shall mean, subject to the provisions of Sections 14.03 and 14.07 and to the provisions of Section 5.07, all Bonds which shall theretofore have been issued under this Indenture, except:
(a) Bonds which shall be deemed to have been retired as provided below in this definition;
(b) Bonds which shall have been surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation; and
(c) Bonds in substitution for which other Bonds shall have been issued pursuant to Section 2.12 (relating to lost, stolen, destroyed and mutilated Bonds).

A Bond shall be deemed to have been retired if
(i) a sum sufficient to pay the principal thereof (and premium, if any, thereon) and all unpaid interest thereon to maturity or to the date fixed for the redemption thereof, as the case may be, shall have been irrevocably deposited with the Trustee in trust for that purpose and made immediately available to the holder thereof, and
(ii) in case such Bond is to be redeemed, notice of redemption thereof (including notice of such availability) shall have been duly given as provided in Article V or provision satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of such notice shall have been made, or
88
(iii) in case said Bond is not to be redeemed and is to be paid at maturity, notice of the availability of such sum shall have been duly given as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 15.01 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of such notice shall have been made.

Bondholders; Holders; Holders or Registered Owners:
Subject to Article XIV hereof, the terms "Bondholders" or "holders" of the Bonds or "holders or registered owners" of the Bonds shall, for the purposes of this - Indenture and of all indentures supplemental hereto now or hereafter entered into in accordance with the provisions hereof, unless the context otherwise requires, mean the bearers of any coupon Bonds outstanding hereunder the ownership of which is not at the time registered as to principal, the registered holders of any coupon Bonds which are at the time duly registered as to principal and the registered owners of any registered Bonds without coupons. Subject to Article XIV hereof, any reference to the holders or registered owners of a particular percentage or proportion of the Bonds, or of Bonds of a particular series, shall mean the holders or registered owners at the particular time of the specified percentage or proportion in aggregate principal amount of all Bonds then outstanding, or of all Bonds of the particular series then outstanding, as the case may be, exclusive of Bonds known to the Trustee to be held by the Company, whether or not theretofore issued, and whether held in its treasury or pledged to secure any indebtedness.

Certified Resolution:
The term "Certified Resolution" shall mean a copy of a resolution or resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company under the corporate seal of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, which date shall be not more than 10 days prior to the date of the authentication of any Bonds hereunder, the withdrawal or application of any moneys held by the Trustee hereunder, the release of any property subject to the lien hereof or the taking of any other action by the Trustee requested by such Certified Resolution.

Company:
The term "Company" shall mean the party of the first part hereto, Artesian Water Company, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall also include any Successor Corporation as defined in Section 11.01.

Corporation:
The term "corporation" shall include corporations, voluntary associations, joint stock companies and business trusts.

Cost:
The term "Cost", as applied to Property Additions or any other property of the Company, shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.

Cost Basis:
As to the term "Cost Basis", when used with reference to Retirements, see the definition, of "Retirements".
Coupon:
The term "coupon" shall mean a coupon for interest appertaining to a Bond.

Event of Default:
The term "Event of Default" shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excepted Property:
The term "Excepted Property" shall mean the property specified in the Excepted Property clause of this Indenture.

Fair Value:
The term "Fair Value" of any property or securities shall mean the fair value thereof as set forth in the appropriate officers', appraiser's, engineer's, or other certificate or resolution. The Fair Value of any Acquired Plant shall not include any amount for good will, going-concern value or contracts, operating agreements or other similar intangible property, whether or not separate or distinct consideration shall have been paid for or apportioned to the same. Neither shall it include any amount for franchises except to the extent that the cost thereof may properly be included in Property Account under Required Accounting Practice.

Funded Prior Liens:
The term "Funded Prior Liens" shall mean liens securing indebtedness for the payment or redemption of which money in the necessary amount has been irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, or with the trustee or other holder of the mortgage or other lien securing such indebtedness. When used in connection with the authentication and delivery of additional Bonds hereunder, such term shall also include any mortgage or other lien securing indebtedness which will be retired prior to or simultaneously with the authentication and delivery of the additional Bonds applied for.

Herein, hereof, hereby, hereunder:
The terms "herein" "hereof", "hereby", "hereunder" and other terms of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, paragraph or subdivision hereof.

Indenture:
The term "Indenture" shall mean this instrument and all indentures supplemental hereto.

Lien o f this Indenture; lien hereof:
The term "lien of this Indenture" or "lien of the Indenture" or "lien hereof" shall mean the lien created by these presents (including the after-acquired property clauses hereof), or created by any subsequent conveyance hereunder to the Trustee (whether made by the Company or any other corporation or any individual or co-partnership) or otherwise created, effectively constituting any property a part of the security held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Bonds outstanding hereunder.

Mortgaged Property:
The term "Mortgaged Property" shall have the meaning specified in the Habendum Clause of this Indenture.

Net Amount of Property Additions:
The term "Net Amount of Property Additions" shall have the meaning specified in subparagraph (a) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.

Net Earnings:
The term "Net Earnings" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 4 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.

Net Earnings Certificate:
The term "Net Earnings Certificate" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06.

Net Property Additions Certificate:
The term "Net Property Additions Certificate" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06.

Officers' Certificate:
The term "Officers' Certificate" shall. mean a certificate signed by the President or a Vice-President and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company. Such Certificate shall be dated not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the authentication of any Bonds hereunder, the withdrawal or application of any moneys held by the Trustee hereunder, the release of any property subject to the lien hereof or the taking of any other action by the Trustee, in connection with which the Certificate is furnished.

Opinion of Counsel:
The term "Opinion of Counsel" shall mean an opinion in writing signed by counsel, who may but need not be of counsel to the Company, appointed by the Board of Directors and acceptable to the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care. Such Opinion of Counsel shall be dated not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of the authentication of any Bonds hereunder, the withdrawal or application of any moneys held by the Trustee hereunder, the release of any property subject to the lien hereof or the taking of any other action by the Trustee, in connection with which the Opinion of Counsel is furnished.

Permitted Encumbrances:
The term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall mean
(a) Existing leases, tenure of any present occupants, easements, rights-of-way and other similar encumbrances (which the Company certifies, in its judgment, do not impair the use of the property by the Company in its business) ;
(b) Building restrictions and other restrictive covenants (which the Company certifies, in its judgment, do not impair the use of the property by the Company in its business) ;
(c) Liens, securing indebtedness which has neither been assumed by the Company nor on which it customarily pays interest charges, existing solely upon real property (or rights in or relating thereto) used primarily for right-of-way purposes;
(d) Existing defects in title to rights-of-way or easements or real property acquired solely for right-of-way purposes (which the Company certifies it has power to cure by appropriate legal proceedings) ;
(e) Liens of taxes and assessments not yet payable or payable without penalty so long as so payable;
(f) Liens of taxes, assessments, charges and other indebtedness, the validity of which the Company is contesting or causing to be contested in good faith by appropriate action diligently pursued and which the' Company is not at the time required to pay or satisfy under the provisions of Section 4.04;
(g) Alleys, streets and highways that may run across or encroach upon real property of the Company but which do not, in the Company's judgment, impair the use of the property by the Company in its business, and liens, if any, incidental to construction, including maintenance, repairs and alterations ; and
(h) Liens of employees and laborers for current wages, not yet due, to the extent that such liens are lawfully prior to or on a parity with the lien hereof.
Person:
The term "person" shall mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any agency or political. subdivision thereof.
Prior Lien:
The term "Prior Lien" shall mean a mortgage or other lien (except a Permitted Encumbrance), prior to the lien of this Indenture, existing at the particular time upon any of the Mortgaged Property.
Property Account:
The term "Property Account" shall mean an appropriate plant and property fixed asset account classified as such under Required Accounting Practice.
Property Additions:
The term "Property Additions" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.
Registered Holder:
The term "registered holder", with respect to any registered Bond without coupons or any coupon Bond registered as to principal, shall mean the person or persons in whose name or names such Bond shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Required Accounting Practice:
The term "Required Accounting Practice" shall mean the accounting rules or regulations at the time prescribed by the regulatory body under the jurisdiction of which the Company is at the time operating, and, to the extent that a matter is not covered by such rules or regulations, or, if there be no such regulatory body or no such accounting rules or regulations, then such term shall mean generally accepted accounting practice at the time for companies engaged in a business similar to that of the Company.
Responsible Officer:
The term I responsible officer ", with respect to the Trustee, shall have the meaning specified in Section 12.03.
Retirements; Cost Basis o f Retirements:
The term "Retirements" shall have the meaning specified in subparagraph (b) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.
The term "Cost Basis", when used with reference to Retirements, shall have the meaning specified in subparagraph (c) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.
Retirements Credits:
The term I `Retirements Credits" shall have the meaning specified in subparagraph (f) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.
Sinking Fund; Sinking Fund Requirement:
The terms "Sinking Fund" and "Sinking Fund Requirement" shall have the meanings specified, respectively, in Sections 4.14 and 4.15.
Successor Corporation:
The term "Successor Corporation" shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01.
Supplemental indenture; indenture supplemental hereto:
The term "supplemental indenture" or "indenture supplemental hereto" shall mean any indenture hereafter duly authorized and entered into in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Trustee:
The term "Trustee" shall mean the Wilmington Trust Company, party of the second part hereto, or its successor in the trusts created by this Indenture.
Unmatured coupons:
The term "unmatured coupons" shall mean, as of any time, coupons for interest payments not then due and payable as therein or in this Indenture expressed.
Used for any purpose o f this Indenture:
The phrase "used for any purpose of this Indenture", when used with reference to Property Additions or with reference to Bonds, shall have the meaning specified in subparagraph (d) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06.

ARTICLE II.
FORM, TERMS AND EXECUTION OF BONDS.
SECTION 2.01. Bonds Issuable in Series; Designation and Terms Thereof. The Bonds issuable hereunder may, if and when authorized by the Board of Directors, be issued in one or more series and shall be designated generally as the "First Mortgage Bonds" of the Company. The Bonds of each series other than Series A and Series B shall have such further particular designations as the Board of Directors may adopt for such series, and each Bond issued hereunder shall bear upon the face thereof the designation so adopted for the series to which it belongs.
All Bonds of any one series outstanding hereunder at the same time shall be identical in respect of the date of maturity (unless they are of serial maturities), the place or places of payment of the principal thereof and the premium (if any) and interest thereon, the interest rate (unless they are of serial maturities) and interest payment dates, the price or prices and terms for redemption (unless they are of serial maturities), if redeemable, and the provisions (if any) as to the payment of principal or interest, or both, without deduction for, or as to the reimbursement of, taxes and (except for necessary or proper variations between Bonds of different denominations) as to conversion (if provision is made therefore), but Bonds of the same series may be of different denominations and Bonds of any series other than Series A and Series B may be of serial maturities and, if of serial maturities, may differ with respect to maturity date, interest rate and price and terms of redemption or conversion. All coupon Bonds of any one series shall be dated as of the same date.

SECTION 2.02. Creation and Certain Terms o f Bonds o f Series A.
A series of Bonds to be issued hereunder and secured hereby is hereby created, which shall be designated as, and shall be distinguished from the Bonds of all other series by the title, "First Mortgage Bonds, Series A, 4½% ", sometimes herein referred to as the `Bonds of Series A".
The aggregate principal amount of the Bonds of Series A shall not exceed $1,600,000.

The coupon. Bonds of Series A shall be dated the date of issue, and shall bear interest from the date of issue. All Bonds of Series A shall be due November 1, 1978, and shall bear interest at the rate of four and one-half per cent. (4½%) per annum, payable semi-annually on the first day of May and the first day of November in each year until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged.

The Bonds of Series A shall be issuable as coupon Bonds registerable as to principal, in the denomination of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), the bonds of such denomination to be numbered consecutively AM1 upwards, and also as registered Bonds without coupons in the denominations of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) and any multiple thereof, numbered AR1 and upwards.

The principal of and premium (if any) and the interest on the Bonds of Series A shall be payable at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

The Bonds of Series A shall be redeemable as herein provided in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, either (i) at the option of the Company or (ii) pursuant to any provisions of this Indenture requiring such redemption.

(A) Special Redemption Price. If redeemed (i) pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.07 by reason of property having been sold to or otherwise acquired by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies and released from the lien hereof, (ii) in connection with any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, occurring in connection with or subsequent to the acquisition of all or substantially all of the stock of the Company ordinarily entitled to voting rights by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies, or (iii) with moneys received by the Trustee through the operation of the Sinking Fund provided for in Section 4.14 hereof, the Bonds of Series A shall be redeemable at the principal amount thereof, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.

(B) General Redemption Prices. The Bonds of Series A shall not be redeemable, prior to November 1, 1971, from the proceeds of (i) any sale of capital stock by the Company or (ii) any borrowing, direct or indirect, by the Company at an effective interest rate (giving effect to any premium or discount) of 4¾% or less; and after November 1, 1971, the Bond of Series A shall be redeemable from such proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column A of the schedule annexed hereto and marked Exhibit A, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. If redeemed otherwise than as set forth in subdivision (A) of this Section 2.02 or the next preceding sentence, the Bonds of Series A shall be redeemable at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column B of the schedule annexed hereto and marked Exhibit A, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.
Any redemption of Bonds of Series A shall be effected in accordance with the provisions of Article V of this Indenture.
The text of the coupon Bonds of Series A and the coupons appertaining thereto and of the registered Bonds without coupons of said series and of the authentication certificate of the Trustee upon said Bonds shall be, respectively, substantially of the tenor and effect hereinbefore recited with respect thereto.

SECTION 2.03. Creation and Certain Terms o f Bonds o f Series B.
A series of Bonds to be issued hereunder and secured hereby is hereby created, which shall be designated as, and shall be distinguished from the Bonds of all other series by the title, "First Mortgage Bonds, Series B, 5 . 3 / 8 %", sometimes herein referred to as the "Bonds of Series B".
The aggregate principal amount of the Bonds of Series B shall not exceed $1,000,000.
The coupon Bonds of Series B shall be dated the date of issue and shall bear interest from the date of issue. All Bonds of Series B shall be due July 1, 1986, and shall bear interest at the rate of five and three-eighths per cent. (5 3 / 8 %) per annum, payable semiannually on the first day of January and the first day of July in each year until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such principal shall be discharged.
The Bonds of Series B shall be issuable as coupon Bonds registerable as to principal, in the denomination of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), the bonds of such denomination to be numbered consecutively BM1 upwards, and also as registered Bonds without coupons in the denominations of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) and any multiple thereof, numbered BR1 and upwards.
The principal of and premium (if any) and the interest on the Bonds of Series B shall be payable at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, in coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
The Bonds of Series B shall, be redeemable as herein provided in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, either (i) at the option of the Company or (ii) pursuant to any provisions of this Indenture requiring such redemption.
(A) Special Redemption Price. If redeemed (i) pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.07 by reason of property having been sold to or otherwise acquired by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies and released from the lien hereof, (ii) in connection with any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, occurring in connection with subsequent to the acquisition of all or substantially all of the stock of the Company ordinarily entitled to voting rights by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies, or (iii) with moneys received by the Trustee through the operation of the Sinking Fund provided for in Section 4.15 hereof, the Bonds of Series B shall be redeemable at the principal amount thereof, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.
(B) General Redemption Prices. The Bonds of Series B shall not be redeemable, prior to July 1, 1971, from the proceeds of (i) any sale of capital stock by the Company or (ii) any borrowing, direct or indirect, by the Company at an effective interest rate (giving effect to any premium or discount) of 5%% or less; and after July 1, 1971, the Bonds of Series B shall be redeemable from such proceeds described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column A of the schedule annexed hereto and marked Exhibit B, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption. If redeemed otherwise than as set forth in subdivision (A) of this Section 2.03 or the next preceding sentence, the Bonds of Series B shall be redeemable at the redemption price at the time applicable as set forth in Column B of the schedule annexed hereto and marked Exhibit B, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.
Any redemption of Bonds of Series B shall be effected in accordance with the provisions of Article V of this Indenture.
The text of the coupon Bonds of Series B and the coupons appertaining thereto and of the registered Bonds without coupons of said series and of the authentication certificate of the Trustee upon said Bonds shall be, respectively, substantially of the tenor and effect hereinbefore recited with respect thereto.

SECTION 2.04. Variations and Text of Future Series. The Bonds of any series other than Series A and Series B, at the election of the Board of Directors, as expressed from time to time in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, which the Company is hereby authorized to execute and deliver to the Trustee, may contain such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, including without limitation, terms and conditions as to the matters with respect to the Bonds of such series set forth in paragraph 2 of Section 3.04.
The text of the Bonds of any series other than Series A and Series B, of the coupons appertaining to the coupon Bonds of such series and of the authentication certificate of the Trustee on the Bonds of said series shall be, respectively, substantially of the tenor and effect of the Bonds, coupons and authentication certificate of the Trustee hereinbefore recited with respect to the Bonds of Series A and the Bonds of Series B, with such changes consistent with and permitted or required by this Indenture as may be appropriate and authorized by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2.05. Execution of Bonds; Signatures; Matured Coupons; Legends, etc. All the Bonds shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President or one of its Vice-Presidents and its corporate seal shall be thereunto affixed and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries (which signatures and seal may be in facsimile, if permitted by law). The coupons to be attached to the Bonds shall bear the facsimile signature of the present or any future Treasurer of the Company, and the Company may adopt and use for the purpose a facsimile signature of any person who shall have been its Treasurer, notwithstanding that such person may not have been such Treasurer at the date of the Bonds or may have ceased to be such Treasurer at the time such Bonds shall be actually authenticated and delivered.
In case any of the officers who shall have signed or sealed any Bonds or attested the seal thereon shall cease to be such officers of the Company before the Bonds so signed and sealed shall have been actually authenticated or delivered by the Trustee or issued by the Company, such Bonds nevertheless may be authenticated, delivered and issued with the same force and effect as though the person or persons who signed and sealed such Bonds and attested the seal thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company; and also any such Bond may be signed and sealed and the seal thereon attested, on behalf of the Company, by such persons as at the actual date of the execution of such Bond shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the nominal date of such Bond such persons may not have been such officers of the Company.
Before authenticating any coupon Bond the Trustee shall, except as provided in Sections 2.12 and 2.13, cut off and cancel all matured coupons appertaining thereto and, on the written request of the Company, deliver the same to the Company.
Any Bond issued hereunder may bear such numbers, letters or other marks of identification or designation, and may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals as may be required to comply with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange upon which the Bonds are listed or are to be listed or to conform to any law or usage with respect thereto.

SECTION 2.06. Registered Bonds; Date; Interest Accrual; Transfer; Exchange; Reservation of Coupon Bonds. Any registered Bond without coupons of any series may be transferred at the office or agency of the Company specified for such purpose in the Bond or in any indenture supplemental hereto with respect to the Bonds of the particular series, upon surrender thereof at said office or agency for cancellation, and thereupon the Company shall issue in the name of the transferee or transferees, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new registered Bond or Bonds without coupons of the same series and maturity, in an authorized denomination or denominations, for a like aggregate principal amount. Except as provided in Sections 2.12 and 2.13, every registered Bond without coupons shall be dated as of the date of its authentication (except that if any registered Bond shall be authenticated on any interest payment date it shall be dated as of the day next following such interest payment date). Every registered Bond without coupons shall bear interest from the interest payment date next preceding the date of such Bond (or, if the date of such Bond is prior to the first interest payment date for the Bonds of such series, then from the date from which interest is payable with respect to the coupon Bonds of such series). Registered Bonds without coupons may, upon surrender thereof at the aforesaid office or agency of the Company, be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Bonds of like form, in any other authorized denomination or denominations, or coupon Bonds, of the same series and maturity, in any authorized denomination or denominations, bearing, or (in the case of coupon Bonds) with attached coupons for, interest from the last interest payment date to which interest has been paid on the registered Bonds so surrendered, or for a like aggregate principal amount of both such registered Bonds without coupons and coupon Bonds, all subject to the conditions and provisions, including the payment of any charges and taxes, set forth in Section 2.09; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to make any such exchange except after notice giving it a reasonable time for the preparation of the Bonds to be delivered on such exchange. Upon the issue of any registered Bond without coupons, there may, if so determined by the Board of Directors, be reserved the appropriate numbers of other designating marks of the coupon Bonds issuable in exchange therefore, and each such registered Bond may, but need not, be endorsed to show such numbers or other designating marks, in such form as may be required to comply with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange upon which the Bonds are listed or are to be listed or to conform to any law or usage with respect thereto.

SECTION 2.07. Transfer, Registration and Exchange of Coupon Bonds. All coupon Bonds issued hereunder shall be transferable by delivery except while registered as to principal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any coupon Bond issued hereunder may be registered as to principal in the name of the holder on books of the Company to be kept for that purpose at the office or agency of the Company specified for such purpose in the Bond or in any indenture supplemental hereto with respect to the Bonds of the particular series, and such registration shall be noted on the Bond. After such registration, no transfer shall be valid unless made on said books by the registered owner in person, or by his duly authorized attorney, and similarly noted on the Bond; but such Bond may be discharged from registration by being in like manner transferred to bearer, and thereupon transferability by delivery shall be restored; and such Bond may again, from time to time, be registered or discharged from registration in the same manner. Such registration, however, shall not affect the negotiability by delivery of the coupons, but every such coupon shall continue to be transferable by delivery and shall be and remain payable to bearer, and payment thereof to bearer shall fully discharge the Company in respect of the interest therein mentioned, whether or not the Bond to which such coupon shall appertain be registered as to principal. Such registrations, transfers and discharges from registration shall be under such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe and shall be without expense to the holder or registered owner of the Bond; but any taxes or other governmental charges required to be paid with respect to the same shall be paid by the party requesting such registration, transfer or discharge from registration as a condition precedent to the exercise of the privilege conferred by this Section 2.07. Any coupon Bond or Bonds, bearing all unmatured coupons, may, upon surrender thereof at the aforesaid office or agency of the Company, be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of registered Bonds without coupons or of coupon Bonds of the same series and maturity, of any authorized denomination or denominations, subject to the conditions and provisions, including the payment of any charges and taxes, set forth in Section 2.09.

SECTION 2.08. Ownership of Registered and Bearer Bonds. As to all coupon Bonds registered as to principal and all registered Bonds without coupons, the person in whose name the same shall at the time be registered on the books of the Company shall be deemed and regarded as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes of this Indenture whatsoever (except as otherwise provided in Article XIV) ; and payment of or on account of the principal of and premium (if any) on any such Bond, if it be a coupon Bond registered as to principal, and of the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on any such Bond, if it be a registered bond without coupons, shall be made only to or upon the order in writing, in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee, of such registered owner thereof, but such registration may be changed as provided herein. All such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability of the Company upon such Bonds to. the extent of the sum or sums so paid. The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the bearer of any coupon Bond which shall not at the time be registered as to principal and the bearer of any coupon for interest on any coupon Bond (whether or not such Bond be registered as to principal), whether or not such Bond or coupon shall be overdue, as the absolute owner of such Bond or coupon, as the case may be, for the purpose of receiving payment thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever (except as otherwise provided in Article XIV), and the Company and the Trustee shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

SECTION 2.09. Exchanges and Transfers o f Bonds-Manner and Conditions; Charges. In all cases in which the privilege of exchanging Bonds or transferring registered Bonds without coupons exists and is exercised, the Bonds to be exchanged or transferred shall be surrendered for cancellation at the office or agency of the Company specified for such purpose in the Bonds or in any indenture supplemental hereto with respect to the Bonds of the particular series, with all unmatured coupons (if any) attached and, in the case of coupon Bonds registered as to principal or registered Bonds without coupons, accompanied by such duly executed instruments of transfer as. may be required by the Company and the Trustee, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefore the Bonds, with appropriate coupons attached, which the person making the exchange or transfer shall be entitled to receive. The Trustee shall forthwith cancel all Bonds and coupons so surrendered and, on the written request of the Company, deliver the same to the Company.
Every exchange or transfer of Bonds under the provisions of this Article II shall be effected in such manner as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or pursuant to its authorization, with the approval of the Trustee, and as may be required to comply with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange upon which the Bonds are listed or are to be listed or to conform to any law or usage with respect thereto. The Company shall not be required to make exchanges or transfers of any Bond under any provision of this Article II after the first publication or mailing of notice of redemption of such Bond, whichever is, earlier, anything in such Bond to the contrary notwithstanding.
Upon any such exchange of Bonds (other than pursuant to Sections 2.10 or 2.11) or transfer of registered Bonds without coupons, the Company may require the payment of such reasonable charges therefore, not exceeding Five Dollars ($5) for each Bond delivered, as it may deem proper, the payment of which, together with any taxes or other governmental charges required to be paid with respect to such exchange or transfer, shall be made by the party requesting the same as a condition precedent to the exercise of the privilege of such exchange or transfer.

SECTION 2.10. Exchange for Bonds of Successor Corporation. In case the Company, pursuant to the provisions of Article XI, shall be consolidated with or merged into any other corporation or all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be conveyed or transferred, subject to the lien of this Indenture, and the Successor Corporation resulting from such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or which shall have received a conveyance or transfer as . aforesaid, shall have executed with the Trustee and caused to be recorded an indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.01, any Bonds issued under this Indenture prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer may, from time to time, at the request of the Successor Corporation and with the consent of the holders or registered owners of such Bonds, and without expense to such holders or owners, be exchanged for other Bonds of the same series and maturity, executed in the name and under the seal of the Successor Corporation, with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate but in substance of like tenor, and with corresponding coupons attached, as the Bonds surrendered for such exchange, and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon the request of the Successor Corporation, shall authenticate Bonds as specified in such request for the purpose of such exchange and shall deliver such Bonds upon surrender of the Bonds so to be exchanged therefore. All coupon Bonds so surrendered and all coupon Bonds delivered in exchange therefore shall be accompanied by all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, and all coupon Bonds registered as to principal and registered Bonds without coupons so surrendered shall be accompanied by written instruments of transfer duly executed by the registered owner or his duly authorized attorney, if deemed necessary by the Trustee. The Trustee shall forthwith cancel all Bonds and coupons so surrendered and, on the written request of the Company, deliver the same to the Company. All Bonds so executed in the name and under the seal of the Successor Corporation and authenticated and delivered shall in all respects have the same legal rank and security as the Bonds executed in the name of the Company and surrendered upon such exchange, with like effect as if the Bonds so executed in the name of the Successor Corporation had been issued, authenticated and delivered hereunder on the date hereof.
If additional Bonds of any particular series of which Bonds are at the time outstanding shall at any time be issued in any new name, the Company will provide for the exchange of any Bonds of such series previously issued, at the option of and without expense to the holders or registered owners thereof, for Bonds issued in such new name.

SECTION 2.11. Temporary and Definitive Bonds. Until definitive Bonds of any series are ready for delivery, the Company may execute and, upon request of the Company in writing, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in lieu of any thereof, and subject to the same provisions, limitations and conditions, one or more temporary lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or printed Bonds, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Bonds in lieu of which such temporary Bond or Bonds are issued, without coupons or with one or more coupons, registerable or not registerable as to principal, with such privileges of exchangeability, in such denomination or denominations (whether or not of denominations authorized for definitive Bonds), with appropriate omissions, variations and insertions, and in such form (not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto) as the Board of Directors may determine. The text of the temporary Bonds may express the interest rate of the Bonds and the series thereof by reference to the title of the Bonds.
The Company shall, without unnecessary delay and at its own expense, prepare, execute and deliver to the Trustee, and thereupon, upon the presentation and surrender of any such temporary Bond or Bonds, with all unmatured coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefore definitive Bonds of the same series and maturity, for the same aggregate principal amount as, and in the authorized denominations indicated by the holders or registered owners of, the temporary Bond or Bonds so surrendered. Until exchanged for definitive Bonds, such temporary Bond or Bonds shall be entitled to the lien and benefit of this Indenture. The Trustee shall forthwith cancel all temporary Bonds and coupons so surrendered and, on the written request of the Company, deliver the same to the Company.
When and as interest is paid on any temporary Bond in bearer form, if no coupon be attached, the fact of such payment shall be noted thereon. Until definitive Bonds are ready for delivery, the holder or registered owner of any temporary Bond or Bonds may, with the consent of the Company, exchange the same, upon the surrender thereof to the Trustee for cancellation, with all unmatured coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, for a like aggregate principal amount of temporary Bonds of the same series and maturity, in any other authorized denomination or denominations indicated by him, bearing all unmatured coupons, if any.
The definitive Bonds of each series shall be engraved, or lithographed or printed with steel engraved borders, as the Board of Directors may determine.

SECTION 2.12. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed and Mutilated Bonds. Upon receipt by the Company and the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to them of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Bond hereby secured and any coupons appertaining thereto and of indemnity satisfactory to them, and upon surrender and cancellation thereof if mutilated, (a) the Company may execute, and the Trustee may authenticate and deliver, a new Bond of the same series and maturity and of like tenor and with corresponding coupons attached, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Bond, and coupons, if any, or, (b) if such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Bond shall have matured or have been called for redemption, or shall be about to mature or to be redeemed, in lieu of executing and delivering a new Bond as aforesaid, the Company may pay such Bond. Any such new Bond, in the discretion of the Company, may bear the same serial number as the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Bond in lieu of which it is issued (in which case the new Bond may be marked "Duplicate" or be otherwise distinguished) or a different serial number, and may bear such endorsement as may be prescribed by the Company, with the approval of the Trustee, and as may be required to comply with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange upon which the Bonds are listed or are to be listed or to conform to any law or usage with respect thereto. The applicant for any such new Bond may be required to pay all reasonable expenses of the Company and of the Trustee in connection with the issue of such new Bond or the making of any such payment under this Section 2.12. Any Bonds and coupons issued pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall constitute original, additional contractual obligations on the part of the Company and shall be secured equally and ratably with all other Bonds and coupons issued hereunder.

SECTION 2.13. No Gain or Loss in Interest. Each Bond delivered pursuant to any provision of this Indenture in exchange or substitution for, or upon the transfer of the whole or any part of one or more other Bonds, shall carry all of the rights to interest accrued and unpaid and to accrue which were carried by the whole or such part, as the case may be, of such one or more other Bonds, and notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture, such Bonds shall be so dated or have attached thereto such coupons or bear such notation, that neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from any such exchange, substitution or transfer.

SECTION 2.14. Trustee's Authentication Certificate. The Trustee's authentication certificate upon the Bonds to be issued hereunder shall be substantially of the tenor and effect hereinbefore provided, and no Bonds shall be secured hereby or entitled to the benefit hereof, or shall be or become valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there shall be endorsed thereon an authentication certificate, substantially in such form, duly executed by the Trustee; and such authentication certificate of the Trustee upon any Bond shall be conclusive evidence that such Bond has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and conclusive evidence that the holder or registered owner thereof is entitled to the benefit of the trust and lien hereby created.

ARTICLE III.
ISSUE OF BONDS.
SECTION 3.01. Continuing Lien o f Indenture. This Indenture creates a continuing lien to secure the full and final payment of the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on all Bonds which may, from time to time, be executed, authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION 3.02. Aggregate Principal Amount of Bonds. The aggregate principal amount of Bonds which may be so executed, authenticated and delivered hereunder is not limited except as herein specifically set forth and except that the amount of Bonds at any time issued and outstanding hereunder shall not exceed the limit of indebtedness (if any) of the Company at the time as fixed by its stockholders or the amount then permitted by law, whichever is less.
SECTION 3.03. All Bonds Equally and Ratably Secured. All Bonds and coupons (subject to the provisions of Sections 4.02 and 5.07, respectively) issued under and pursuant to this Indenture and at any time outstanding shall in all respects be equally and ratably secured hereby, without preference, priority or distinction on account of the date or dates or the actual time or times of the issue or maturity of said Bonds or coupons or any of them, so that all Bonds and coupons (subject to Sections 4.02 and 5.07 as aforesaid) at any time issued and outstanding hereunder shall have the same right, lien and preference under and by virtue of this Indenture, and shall all be equally and ratably secured hereby, with like effect as if they had all been executed, authenticated and delivered simultaneously on the date hereof, whether such Bonds and coupons, or any of them, shall actually be sold or disposed of on such date or on some future date, or whether such Bonds and coupons, or any of them, shall have been authorized to be issued under the provisions of Section 3.05 or under any. other provision of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.04. General Requirements for Authentication and Delivery o f Bonds. Whenever requesting the authentication and delivery under this Article III of any Bonds issuable hereunder, the Company shall (except in the case of Bonds issuable under Section 3.05) furnish the Trustee, in addition to any other instruments elsewhere in this Article III required, the following:
1. Certified Resolution. A Certified Resolution requesting the Trustee to authenticate and deliver Bonds, specifying the series, maturity or (if Bonds of such series are of serial maturities) maturities and principal amount of such Bonds to be authenticated and delivered, and naming the person or persons to whom or upon whose order such Bonds shall be delivered.
2. Supplemental Indenture and Certified Resolution. In case the Bonds to be authenticated and delivered are of any series not theretofore created, an indenture supplemental hereto, accompanied by a Certified Resolution authorizing such supplemental indenture, designating the new series to be created and prescribing, with respect to the Bonds of such series
(a) the date of the coupon Bonds of such series,
(b) the amount of the Bonds of such series, if limited,
(c) the authorized denominations of the Bonds of such series,
(d) the text of the Bonds and coupons of such series,
(e) the date or (if of serial maturities) dates of maturity thereof,
(f) the place or places where principal, premium (if any) and interest are to be paid and where the Bonds are to be registerable, transferable or exchangeable,
(g) the rate or (if of serial maturities) rates of interest and the date from which, and the date or dates on which interest is payable,
(h) provisions (if any) as to payment of principal or interest, or both, without deduction for, or as to reimbursement of, taxes,
(i) provisions (if any) as to redemption,
(j) provisions (if any) for an improvement, sinking, purchase or analogous fund for the retirement of Bonds of such series,
(k) provisions (if any) as to convertibility, (1) provisions (if any) as to exchangeability,
(m) any other particulars necessary to describe and define such series within the provisions and limitations of this Indenture, and
(n) any other provisions and agreements in respect thereof provided, or not prohibited, by this Indenture.
All Bonds of any such series which may be executed, authenticated and delivered hereunder shall substantially conform to the provisions of such supplemental indenture.
3. Certificate of Regulatory Authority; Opinion of Counsel as to Governmental Authorizations. Either (a) a certificate or other official document constituting evidence of the authorization or approval of or consent to the issue of such Bonds and the execution by the Company of the supplemental indenture, if any, relating thereto, by each governmental body at the time having jurisdiction in the premises, together with an Opinion of Counsel that the same constitutes sufficient evidence of such authorization, approval or consent, and that the authorization, approval or consent of no other governmental body is required, or (b) an Opinion of Counsel that no authorization, approval or consent of any governmental body is required.
4. Opinion of Counsel as to Instruments Furnished Trustee, etc. An Opinion of Counsel that
(a) all instruments furnished the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority hereunder for it to authenticate and deliver the Bonds then applied for;
(b) all laws and requirements in respect of the form and execution by the Company of the supplemental indenture, if any such supplemental indenture is required, and the execution and delivery by the Company of the Bonds then applied for have been complied with;
(c) the Company has corporate power to issue such Bonds and has taken all necessary corporate action for that purpose ;
(d) after giving effect to the issue and delivery of the Bonds then applied for, the total amount of Bonds then to be issued and outstanding hereunder will not make the total amount of indebtedness of the Company, as stated in the accompanying certificate provided for in paragraph 5 of this Section 3.04, exceed the limit of indebtedness of the Company fixed by its stockholders or the amount permitted by law, whichever is less (stating such limit or amount), or that there is no limit of indebtedness of the Company then fixed by its stockholders or by law;
(e) the Bonds then applied for, when issued, will be secured by the lien of this Indenture, equally and ratably (subject to the provisions with respect to extended, pledged and transferred coupons contained in Section 4.02) with all other Bonds theretofore issued and then outstanding hereunder; and
(f) this Indenture constitutes a lien, for the benefit of the Bonds, on all property of the Company then expressed to be subject to the lien hereof, subject to no lien prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture other than (i) Funded Prior Liens, (ii) Permitted Encumbrances, and (iii) with respect to property now owned by the Company, the liens referred to in the Granting Clauses hereof, and, with respect to any property which the Company may acquire after the date hereof, all terms, conditions, agreements, covenants, exceptions and reservations expressed or provided in such deeds and other instruments under and by virtue of which the Company shall have acquired the same and any and all liens existing thereon at the time of acquisition.
5. Certificate as to Indebtedness Outstanding. Unless the
Opinion of Counsel provided for in the foregoing paragraph 4 of this Section 3.04 shall state that there is no limit of indebtedness of the Company then fixed by its stockholders or by law, a certificate of the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company stating that, after giving effect to the issue and delivery of the Bonds then applied for, the total amount of Bonds then to be issued and outstanding hereunder, plus the total amount of other indebtedness affected by such limitation, will not exceed a principal amount which shall be specified in such certificate.

SECTION 3.05. Issuance o f Bonds o f Series A and Bonds o f Series B. The initial issuance of Bonds under this Indenture shall be One Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,600,000) principal amount of Bonds of Series A and an aggregate of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) principal amount of Bonds of Series B.
Any time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, upon presentation to the Trustee of the Company's outstanding 4½% Notes in the principal amount of $1,600,000, issued under a Note Agreement dated as of November 1, 1958 with The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, said One Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,600,000) principal amount of Bonds of Series A may be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Bonds of Series A to or upon written order of the President or a Vice-President or the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company; provided, however, that before making any delivery of Bonds of Series A, the Trustee shall require and the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the 4½%   Notes so presented were issued by the Company and are genuine, and directing that they be accepted and cancelled by the Trustee.
At any time or from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, an aggregate of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) principal amount of Bonds of Series B may be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Bonds of Series B to or upon written order of the President or a Vice-President or the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

SECTION 3.06. Issuance of Additional Bonds Based on Net Amount of Property Additions. From time to time hereafter the Company, in addition to the Bonds authorized to be issued pursuant to other provisions of this Article III, may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee, upon compliance by the Company with the provisions of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06, shall thereupon authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Company, Bonds hereby secured for an aggregate principal amount not exceeding sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) of the Net Amount of Property Additions of the Company (as defined in paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of this Section 3.06) included in the Net Property Additions Certificate furnished to the Trustee pursuant to paragraph 2 of subdivision (B) of this Section 3.06.

(A) Definitions.
1. "Property Additions" Defined. The term "Property Additions" shall-mean real estate owned in fee, easements, rights-of-way, and other rights in respect of real estate, plants, tanks, buildings, mains, structures, machinery, meters, equipment and other properties, real or personal, which are used or useful in connection with the business of the Company as a water company or as a water utility and which are purchased, constructed, erected, or otherwise acquired by the Company after December 31, 1961, and are properly chargeable under Required Accounting Practice as additions to Property Account; and such Property Additions, without by the following enumeration in any wise limiting or restricting the scope of the foregoing, shall include and be construed to include
(a) improvements, extensions, additions or betterments to or about the properties of the Company, in the process of construction or erection in so far as actually constructed or erected by the Company;
(b) water rights, including the right to use or appropriate water or to overflow the land of others by the erection of dams or otherwise;
(c) property purchased, constructed or otherwise acquired by the Company to renew, replace or in substitution for old, worn out, discontinued or abandoned property, the retirement of which has been credited to Property Account; and
(d) property so purchased, constructed or . otherwise acquired which, has been retired and the retirement of which has been credited to Property Account;
but shall not include or be construed to include:
(e) any Excepted Property; or
(f) any property acquired or constructed by the Company to the extent that the cost thereof may not under Required Accounting Practice properly be capitalized; or
(g) any property which is subject to any lien prior to, or on a parity with, the lien hereof other than Funded Prior Liens or Permitted Encumbrances ; or
(h) any property so purchased, constructed or otherwise acquired which has been retired and the retirement of which has not been credited to Property Account; or
(i) any property purchased, constructed or otherwise acquired by the company to renew, replace or in substitution for old, worn-out, retired, discontinued or abandoned property the retirement of which has not been credited to Property Account; or
(j) any property acquired or constructed by the company out of the proceeds of insurance received directly by the company, unless an amount equal to the Cost Basis of the destroyed property has been credited to Property Account.

2. "Cost" Defined. The term "Cost", as applied to Property Additions or any other property of the Company, shall mean and include the aggregate of
(a) any cash paid or expended in the making, acquisition, construction or erection thereof, including the installation thereof ready for operation, and also including the cost of any paving, grading or other improvements to public highways paid by the Company which is part of the cost of installation of any such Property Additions or other property and which is properly chargeable to Property Account under Required Accounting Practice,
(b) the Fair Value (as of the date of issue or delivery) of any securities (other than debt securities) issued or delivered in payment therefore or for the acquisition thereof,
(c) the Fair Value (as of the date of transfer) of any other property transferred in payment therefore or for the acquisition thereof,
(d) the amount of any obligations or indebtedness
(i) which shall have been assumed or agreed to be assumed by the Company in connection with the making, acquisition, construction or erection thereof or which shall have been incurred, issued or delivered in payment therefore or
(ii) subject to which the same shall have been acquired and which shall have been credited or allowed against or deducted from or constituted any part 'of, the consideration therefore,
but nothing in this clause (d) shall be construed to modify the requirements with respect to Prior Liens contained in subparagraph (3) of paragraph 2 and in paragraph 5 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06, and
(e) such allowance for interest during construction, taxes, engineering, casualties and other items of overhead incurred or expended as, in the opinion of the signers of the certificate required is properly chargeable to Property Account, under Required Accounting Practice, in connection therewith.
The Cost of any Acquired Plant shall be deemed to include the Cost of any franchises or other rights to the extent the Cost thereof is properly included in Property Account under Required Accounting Practice.
3. (a) "Net Amount of Property Additions" Defined. The "Net Amount of Property Additions", for the purpose of preparing any Net Property Additions Certificate of the Company delivered hereunder, shall be determined by deducting from the Cost or Fair Value (whichever is less) of all Property Additions described in such Net Property Additions Certificate (except that Property Additions which have been retired shall be included at Cost) an amount equal to the Cost Basis of all Retirements not theretofore deducted in a Net Property Additions Certificate delivered hereunder, after crediting against the Cost Basis of such Retirements an amount equal to all unused Retirements Credits set forth in such Net Property Additions Certificate.
(b) "Retirements" Defined. The term "Retirements" shall mean and include at any time as of which the amount• thereof is to be determined, all property at any time theretofore subject to the lien of this Indenture which shall have been subsequent to December 31, 1960, released from the lien hereof or destroyed or retired from service or abandoned or shall have become obsolete or worn out or shall have permanently ceased to be used or useful in the business of the company, or shall for any reason have been removed from Property Account.
(c) "Cost Basis" Defined. The term "Cost Basis", when used with reference to Retirements, shall mean, as to any property acquired subsequent to December 31, 1960, the Cost thereof and, as to any property acquired prior to January 1, 1961, the amount at which the same was carried in the Property Accounts on the books of the Company on December 31, 1960, after deducting there from applicable reserves for depreciation and/or for retirements as of that date.
(d) "Used for Any Purpose of This Indenture" Defined. The
phrase "used for any purpose of this Indenture", when used with reference to Property Additions, shall mean and include the following
(i) all Property Additions and Additions Credits which have been used as the basis for authentication and delivery of Bonds hereunder;
(ii) all Property Additions and Additions Credits which have been used as the basis for the withdrawal of moneys .under. any of the provisions hereof ;
(iii) all Property Additions which have been acquired by the Company as consideration for property released from the lien of this Indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.03; and
(iv) all Property Additions which have been used to . create an Additions Credit hereunder; .
(v) all Property Additions and Additions Credits which have been used as a credit against a Sinking Fund Requirement under the provisions of Section 4.14 and Section 4.15, or used as a credit against any sinking, improvement or analogous fund created under the terms of any supplemental indenture.
The fact that Property Additions have theretofore become subject to the lien of this Indenture, or are required so to be, shall not of itself be deemed to mean that the same have heretofore been "used for any purpose of this Indenture."
The phrase "used for any purpose of this Indenture", when used with reference to Bonds, shall mean and include the following:
(i) all Bonds which have been used as the basis for the authentication and delivery of Bonds hereunder;
(ii) all Bonds which have been used as the basis for the withdrawal of moneys under any of the provisions of this Indenture or which have been purchased, paid, redeemed or otherwise retired by the application of any moneys held by the Trustee under any provision of this Indenture ; and
(iii) all Bonds used as a credit against a Sinking Fund Requirement under the provisions of Section 4.14 and Section 4.15, or used as a credit against any sinking, improvement or analogous fund created under the terms of any supplemental indenture.
(e) "Additions Credit" Defined. If the Net Amount of Property Additions shown by any Net Property Additions Certificate delivered to the Trustee shall be in excess of the amount required for the purpose for which such Certificate is so furnished, such excess amount of Property Additions shall constitute an "Additions Credit" and may thereafter be used in any subsequent certificate with respect to Property Additions delivered to the Trustee.
( f) "Retirements Credits" Defined. The amount of "Retirements Credits" available for use in any Net Property Additions Certificate as a credit against the amount of Retirements reflected therein shall be determined by adding, but without duplication
(i) the amount of any cash, the Fair Value (as of the date of issue or delivery) of any securities and the Fair Value (as of the date of transfer) of any other property received upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of any property released pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.03;
(ii) the amount of cash deposited with the Trustee in connection with the sale, exchange or other disposition of property pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.04;
(iii) the amount of the award or consideration therefore of any property released pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06; and
(iv) the amount of any insurance moneys paid to the Trustee or to the trustee or other holder of a Prior Lien pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.05 on account of the destruction of property; but in each case only to the extent that the same have not theretofore been used as a credit against Retirements.
4. "Net Earnings" Defined. The term "Net Earnings" for any period of twelve months for the purpose of any Net Earnings Certificate shall mean an amount determined as follows
From the sum of the operating revenues and the net non-operating revenues (or less net non-operating losses) of the Company (excluding all profits realized or losses sustained from the sale or other disposition of capital assets or from the acquisition, sale or other disposition of securities or stock of the Company) there shall be deducted all operating expenses of the Company, including therein, without limitation, salaries, wages, rentals, cost of water purchased, taxes (except as hereinafter provided), insurance charges, license fees, expenditures for maintenance and repairs and charges representing provision for depreciation of property, but not including in operating expenses, however, interest charges, charges for amortization of debt discount or premium and expense, charges representing provisions for the amortization of or the write-off or write-down of any excess of book value of the Company's properties over the original cost thereof or over the cost thereof to any previous owner thereof (whether such charges be made against income or surplus), and payments made pursuant to Sections 4.14 and 4.15 and payments to any other improvement, sinking, purchase or analogous fund for the retirement of bonds or stock, or any income or excess profits taxes (including surtaxes on undistributed profits) imposed on income only after the deduction of interest charges.
If the net non-operating revenues included in the foregoing calculation of net earnings shall exceed fifteen per cent. (15%) of the Net Earnings as so calculated, then there shall be deducted from such net earnings a sufficient part of such net non-operating revenues so that the remaining non-operating revenues included in the resultant figure shall amount to fifteen per cent. (15%) of such resultant figure, and such resultant figure shall be deemed to be the Net Earnings of the Company in any Net Earnings Certificate.
In case the Company shall have acquired any Acquired Plant within or after the period for which the calculation of Net Earnings is made, the Company, in computing its Net Earnings, shall be entitled to include the net earnings of such property for the whole of such period (if such net earnings can be separately determined under the bookkeeping practice of the Company), to the extent that the same may not have been otherwise included and might have been included had such property been owned by the Company during the whole of such period. The net earnings of any property so acquired for the period preceding such acquisition shall be ascertained and computed as if such property had been owned by the Company during such period. If any property, the net earnings of which can be separately determined under the bookkeeping practice of the Company, shall have been released from the lien hereof within or after the period for which the calculation of Net Earnings is made, the Net Earnings shall not include the net earnings of any such property so released.
If any calculation of Net Earnings shall be made subsequent to a consolidation or merger or transfer or conveyance as provided in Section 11.01, it shall not include and shall contain a statement to the effect that such Net Earnings do not include, any earnings derived from the operation of any property of the Successor Corporation which is not subject to the lien hereof.
In determining Net Earnings, operating revenues shall be deemed to include only the revenues derived by the Company from its operations as a water company or as a water utility and revenues from all other sources shall be deemed to be non-operating revenues.

(B) Documents Required.
Bonds shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Section 3.06 only upon receipt by the Trustee of the resolutions, certificates, instruments, and opinions provided for in Section 3.04 and also the following
1. Net Earnings Certificate. A Net Earnings Certificate, signed by the President or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company, in substantially the following form with the blanks appropriately completed

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE DATED AS OF JULY 1, 1961
NET EARNINGS CERTIFICATE

filed pursuant to paragraph 1 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06 of said Indenture (to which reference is made for the definition of terms used herein).
the            President and
, the            Treasurer, of Artesian Water Company, hereby certify:
(1) The amount of the Net Earnings for the period of to            , inclusive [twelve (12) consecutive calendar months within the fifteen (15) calendar months immediately preceding the date on which the present application for the authentication and delivery of Bonds is made] is $

(2) The aggregate amount of the annual interest charges on
(a) All Bonds outstanding under the Indenture at the date of this Certificate. [In the case of any Bonds pledged as security for any indebtedness of the Company, the amount of the annual interest charges on such pledged Bonds is stated as the greater of (i) the amount of the annual interest charges on such indebtedness or (ii) the amount of the annual interest charges on such pledged Bonds] $
(b) All Bonds the authentication and delivery of which is applied for in this application and in any other pending application          $
(c) All indebtedness secured by a lien upon the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, prior to the lien of the Indenture, other than Permitted Encumbrances and Funded Prior Liens $

Total            $

(3) The amount of the Net Earnings set forth in Clause (1) above is at least equal to two (2) times the aggregate amount of the annual interest charges set forth in Clause (2) above.

(4) To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the Company is not in default in the performance of any of the terms or covenants on its part to be performed under the Indenture.
Dated:            19.
[Not more than 60 days prior to the application]
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,
President or Vice-President.
Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer.

2. Net Property Additions Certificate. A Net Property Additions Certificate, dated within the sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date on which the application for the authentication and delivery of Bonds is made, but as of a date. subsequent to the last date on which any Bonds have been authenticated and delivered or moneys withdrawn under any of the provisions of this Indenture or any property has been released pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6.03, 6.04 or 6.06 or any Property Additions have been used for any purpose of this Indenture, signed by the President or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company, in substantially the following form with appropriate exhibits annexed thereto and the blanks appropriately completed:

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE DATED AS OF JULY 1, 1961
NET PROPERTY ADDITIONS CERTIFICATE
filed pursuant to paragraph 2 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06 of said Indenture (to which reference is made for the definition of terms used herein).
, the            President and
,.the            Treasurer, of Artesian Water Company, hereby certify:
(1) The Company has acquired by purchase or construction [or, in the alternative, by other specified manner] the Property Additions briefly described in Exhibit A hereto, such description including a statement of the principal subdivisions of plant account to which the Cost of such Property Additions has been charged. [If such Property Additions include any additional tract or parcel of real estate not previously or concurrently described in a supplemental indenture delivered to the Trustee, the following is to be added:] A separate description of each additional tract or parcel of real estate included in such Property Additions is also set forth, in Exhibit A.
No part of said Property Additions has heretofore been used for any purpose of the Indenture, as such phrase is defined in subparagraph (d) of paragraph 3 of subdivision
(A) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture.

[The following Clause (2) may be added if desired.]

(2) The Company desires to use the following Additions Credits
Date of Certificates Creating Additions Credits
Total Amount of Additions Credits
Previously Used (Date; Amount)
Amount to be Used Hereunder

Total Additions Credits to be used            $

The portion of any such Additions Credit which the Company so desires to use has not heretofore been used by the Company for any purpose of the Indenture, as such phrase is defined in subparagraph (d) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture.
(3) No part of said Property Additions is subject to any liens or encumbrances prior to or on a parity with the lien of the Indenture other than Permitted Encumbrances or Funded Prior Liens.
(4) There is no outstanding indebtedness of the Company for the purchase price or construction of, or for labor, wages or materials in connection with the construction of, such Property Additions which could become the basis of a lien upon said Property Additions prior to or on a parity with the lien of the Indenture which, in the opinion of the signers of this Certificate, might materially impair the security afforded thereby.
(5) No part of said Property Additions was acquired by the Company, in whole, or in part, for consideration other than cash [the following may be added if applicable] except Property Additions identified as such in Exhibit A hereto and separately described. The consideration for such Property Additions is described in Exhibit B hereto. The Cost of such separately identified Property Additions does not exceed the Fair Value of such consideration other than cash as shown by the Appraiser's Certificate or Engineer's Certificate filed with the Trustee pursuant to paragraph 3 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture.
(6) The Cost to the Company of said Property Additions is $ . The Fair Value to the Company at the date of this Certificate of said Property Additions is [either] $ in the aggregate, as shown in Exhibit A hereto [or, in the alternative] not less than the Cost so specified.
(7) All of said Property Additions constitute Property Additions as said term is defined in paragraph 1 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture.
(8) The aggregate Cost Basis of all Retirements up to the date of this Certificate determined in compliance with subparagraph (c) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture and required to be included in this Certificate is $
(9) A brief description of such Retirements and the principal subdivisions of plant account to which such Retirements have been credited is set forth in Exhibit C hereto.
(10) The amounts (computed as required by subparagraph (f) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture and listed in sufficient detail to identify the same) of all Retirements Credits which have not been included in a previous Certificate filed with the Trustee and which are to be applied against such Retirements are as follows:
Total Retirements Credits to be used            $
(11) The following is a summary of amounts shown in this Certificate
(a) Gross Amount of Property Additions, at Cost or Fair Value (whichever is less) as shown by Clause (6)          $
(b) Unused Additions Credits, as shown by Clause (2)            $
(c) Retirements, as shown by Clause (8) .. $
(d) Retirements Credits, as shown by Clause (10)            $
(e) Net. Retirements Item (c) minus Item (d) [may be less than zero only to the extent that the aggregate of all Retirements included in certificates previously delivered to the Trustee exceeds the aggregate of all Retirements Credits included in such certificates]            $
(f) Net Amount of Property Additions Item (a) plus Item (b) minus Item (e) $
(g) Amount of First Mortgage Bonds to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this application [not more than 66 2 / 3 %
(12) To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the Company is not in default in the performance of any of the covenants on its part to be performed under the Indenture.
Dated:            19 .
[Not more than 60 days prior to the application]
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
President or Vice-President
Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer

3. Appraiser's or Engineer's Certificate. (a) In case any Property Additions listed in the certificate furnished pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subdivision (B) of Section 3.06 shall have been constructed or acquired by the Company in whole or in part through the issue or delivery of securities, a certificate of an appraiser or other competent person (who may be in the regular employ of the Company), selected by the Board of Directors and satisfactory to the Trustee, stating, in the opinion of the signer or signers thereof, the Fair Value of such securities at the date of issue or delivery thereof in payment for, or for the acquisition of, such Property Additions.
(b) In case any Property Additions listed in the certificate furnished pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subdivision (B) of Section 3.06 shall have been acquired by the Company in whole or in part in exchange for any property, other than cash or securities, a certificate of an engineer or firm of engineers (who may be in the regular employ of the Company or under regular retainer from the Company), selected by the Board of Directors and satisfactory to the Trustee, stating, in the opinion of the signer or signers thereof, the Fair Value of such property at the date of transfer thereof in exchange for such Property Additions.
4. Instruments of Conveyance, etc. Such instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer (if any) as may be necessary, as stated in the Opinion of Counsel referred to in paragraph 5 of this subdivision (B) of Section 3.06, to subject to the lien of this Indenture all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to the property (other than property theretofore retired) included in the Property Additions listed in the Certificate furnished pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subdivision (B) of Section 3.06.
5. Opinion of Counsel. An Opinion of Counsel:
(a) Specifying the mortgages, deeds, conveyances, assignments, transfers and instruments of further assurance, if any, which will be sufficient to subject to the lien of this Indenture, subject to no lien prior to, or on a parity with, the lien hereof other than Permitted Encumbrances and Funded Prior Liens, the Property Additions listed in the certificate furnished pursuant to paragraph 2 of this subdivision (B) of Section 3.06, and stating that upon the recordation or filing in the manner stated in such opinion of the instruments so specified, no further recording or re-recording or filing or re-filing of this Indenture or any other instrument is required to maintain such lien as against creditors and subsequent purchasers; or stating what further recordation or filing of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture is or will be necessary for that purpose; or stating that said Property Additions are then subject to the lien of this Indenture, subject to no lien prior to, or on a parity with the lien hereof other than Permitted Encumbrances and Funded Prior Liens, and that no such mortgage, deed, conveyance, transfer or instrument of further assurance is necessary for such purpose;
(b) Stating that the Company has a good and valid title to the property (other than property theretofore retired) comprising said Property Additions (or, in case of any rights-of-way, easements or real property acquired solely for right-of-way purposes, or rights to use or appropriate water or to overflow the land of others, has valid rights or easements, subject only to such defects therein as the Company itself shall have power to cure by appropriate legal proceedings) ; that the Company has corporate authority and is otherwise entitled by law to acquire, own and operate such property; and that such property and every part thereof is free and clear of any easements or similar encumbrances except such as, in the opinion of such counsel, do not impair the use of such property for the purposes for which it was acquired and subject to no liens or charges prior to, or on a parity with, the lien of this Indenture other than Permitted Encumbrances and Funded Prior Liens.
6. Officers’ Certificate as to No Adverse Changes. If the Net Property Additions Certificate or the Net Earnings Certificate shall be dated before the date of the authentication and delivery of the Bonds, an Officers' Certificate, dated as of the date on which application is made for the authentication and delivery of Bonds, stating that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the signers, up to the time of delivery of such Officers' Certificate, there have been no substantial adverse changes with respect to any of the facts set forth in such Net Property Additions Certificate or Net Earnings Certificate.

SECTION 3.07. Issuance o f Bonds . Based on Deposit o f Cash; Withdrawal of Cash So Deposited. From time to time hereafter the Company, in addition to the Bonds authorized to be issued pursuant to other provisions of this Article III, may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee, upon compliance by the Company with the provisions of Section 3.04, shall thereupon authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Company, Bonds hereby secured, upon the deposit with the Trustee of an amount in cash equal to the amount of the principal of the Bonds so requested to be authenticated and delivered and upon receipt by the Trustee of a Net Earnings Certificate, which certificate shall also state that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the signers, no default exists on the part of the Company in the performance of any of the terms or covenants of this Indenture. Moneys so deposited shall be held by the Trustee as part of the Mortgaged Property; and, whenever the Company shall become entitled to the authentication and delivery of Bonds under any of the provisions of this Article III, then, upon compliance by the Company with the provisions of the Section or Sections of this Article III under which it has become entitled to the authentication and delivery of Bonds and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written order of the Company, signed by the President or a Vice-President and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, the Trustee shall pay over to the Company, out of the moneys so deposited, in lieu of each such Bond which the Company shall then be entitled to have authenticated and delivered, a sum equal to the principal amount of such Bond; provided, however, that neither the Net Earnings Certificate provided for in any such Section nor the resolutions, certificates, opinions and instruments required under the provisions of Section 3.04 shall be required in connection with any such payment to the Company; and provided further that any instruments required to be furnished to the Trustee under the provisions of this Section 3.07 may contain such additions, omissions and modifications as may be necessary or appropriate in order to make such instruments applicable to the withdrawal of moneys hereunder. Any moneys deposited with the Trustee under the provisions of this Section 3.07 and not withdrawn by the Company in lieu of the authentication and delivery of Bonds shall, at the request of the Company, be applied by the Trustee to the purchase or redemption of Bonds issued hereunder, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 7.04, and if not so applied, shall, upon the happening of the conditions specified in Section 7.05, be applied by the Trustee to the purchase or redemption of Bonds issued hereunder, in the manner, to the extent and subject to the conditions provided in Section 7.05.

SECTION 3.08. Issuance of Bonds to Refund Bonds Issued Under Indenture. From time to time hereafter the Company, in addition to the Bonds authorized to be issued pursuant to other provisions of this Article III, may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee, upon compliance by the Company with the provisions of Section 3.04, shall thereupon authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Company, Bonds hereby secured, upon the satisfaction, discharge and cancellation of, or for the purpose of paying, redeeming or refunding, any Bonds theretofore issued under any of the provisions of this Indenture ; provided, however, that no Bonds shall be so authenticated and delivered in excess of the principal amount of the Bonds so satisfied, discharged and cancelled or so to be paid, redeemed or refunded; and provided further that Bonds shall be so authenticated and delivered only upon receipt by the Trustee, in addition to the resolutions, certificates, instruments and opinions provided for in Section 3.04,' of the following:
1. Certified Resolution. A Certified Resolution specifying the Bonds theretofore authenticated and delivered hereunder which before or simultaneously with the authentication and delivery of such additional Bonds are to be satisfied, discharged and cancelled, or for the payment, redemption or refunding of which such additional Bonds are to be authenticated and delivered.
2. Bonds or Cash. Either (a) the Bonds specified in the Certified Resolution mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Section 3.08, uncancelled and with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, which Bonds shall be equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Bonds the authentication and delivery of which is desired, or (b) in lieu of any or all of the Bonds specified in such resolution, an amount in cash equal to the principal amount of such Bonds, with interest thereon to maturity, or, to the extent that such Bonds are subject to redemption and the provisions of Section 5.02 and any additional provisions applicable to redemption of Bonds of any series contained in any indenture supplemental hereto shall have been complied with, or provision therefore satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made, equal to the redemption price of such Bonds, including interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption.
3. A Certificate of the Company in substantially the following form with appropriate exhibits annexed thereto and the blanks appropriately completed


ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE
DATED AS OF JULY 1, 1961
Certificate of Company Filed Pursuant to Section 3.08 of said Indenture
(to which reference is made for the definition of terms used herein)
, the            President, and
, the            Treasurer of ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, hereby certify.
(1) [Either (a) and/or (b) and/or (c)].
(a) There are delivered to the Trustee herewith Bonds heretofore authenticated and delivered, which have been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired, of the following series and principal amounts respectively
Series            Bond Numbers           Principal Amount
Total
[and/or]
(b) There is delivered to the Trustee herewith [or, in the alternative, the Trustee now holds] in trust, irrevocably, for the purpose of payment or redemption thereof, cash
sufficient to pay or redeem the following Bonds heretofore authenticated and delivered under the Indenture
Series
Principal Amount
Redemption Price or Amount to be Paid
Total
Instructions with respect to the payment or redemption of such Bonds are as follows : [Insert instructions]

[and/or]
(c) The following Bonds heretofore authenticated and delivered under the Indenture have been paid, redeemed or otherwise retired and heretofore delivered to the Trustee:
Series            Bond Numbers           Principal Amount Total
(2) The Bonds, the retirement of which (or provision therefore) is made the basis for the authentication and delivery of Bonds hereunder, do not include any Bond heretofore used for any purpose of the Indenture as such phrase is defined in subparagraph (d) of paragraph 3 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture.
(3) To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned the Company is not in default in the performance of any of the terms or covenants on its part to be performed under the Indenture.
Dated:            19 .
[Not more than 60 days prior to the application]
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,
President or Vice-President. Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer.

4. Net Earnings Certificate. If the additional Bonds are to be authenticated and delivered more than one year prior to the date of maturity expressed in the Bonds so satisfied, discharged and cancelled or so to be paid, redeemed or refunded, and are to bear a higher rate of interest than said Bonds, a Net Earnings Certificate.

In the event of the deposit with the Trustee of moneys pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.08, the Company shall, from time to time, upon delivery to the Trustee for cancellation of any of the Bonds, with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, in respect of which such deposit shall have been made, be entitled to receive from the Trustee the moneys held by it in respect of such Bonds; and all such Bonds and coupons so delivered to the Trustee shall be forthwith cancelled by it and, on the written request of the Company, delivered to the Company. All moneys deposited with the Trustee under the provisions of this Section 3.08 shall, unless so repaid to the Company, be applied by the Trustee to the redemption or to the payment, as the case may be, of the Bonds and coupons in respect of which such moneys were deposited, but only upon presentation of the same for such redemption or payment.

SECTION 3.09. Issuance of Bonds in Exchange for Bonds of Other Series. Any of the Bonds at any time issued and outstanding under this Indenture may, at the request of the Company, expressed by a Certified Resolution, and with the consent of the holders or registered owners of such Bonds (if held by others than the Company itself), be exchanged for Bonds of one or more other series issuable hereunder of an equal aggregate principal amount, and the Trustee, upon the request of the Company and upon compliance by the Company with the provisions of Section 3.04, shall authenticate Bonds as specified in such request for the purpose of such exchange and shall deliver them upon surrender of the Bond or Bonds so to be exchanged therefore, but only upon receipt by the Trustee of the resolutions, certificates, instruments and opinions provided for in Section 3.04 and of a certificate conforming to the requirements of paragraph 3 of Section 3.08 with respect to the Bonds so surrendered; provided, however, that, if the Bonds so to be delivered in exchange are to be issued more than one year prior to the date of maturity of the Bonds surrendered and are to bear a higher rate of interest than the Bonds surrendered, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver such new Bonds pursuant to this Section 3.09 in exchange for the Bonds so surrendered unless the Trustee shall have received a Net Earnings Certificate. All Bonds so surrendered and all Bonds delivered in exchange therefore shall be accompanied by all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto. The Trustee shall forthwith cancel all Bonds and coupons so surrendered and, on the written request of the Company, deliver the same to the Company.

SECTION 3.10. Independent Investigation by Trustee. The Trustee may make such independent investigation as it may see fit of the facts and conclusions stated in the resolutions, certificates, opinions and other instruments provided for in this Article III, and in that event may decline to authenticate and deliver Bonds or release moneys, as the case may be, unless satisfied by such investigation of the truth and accuracy of the matters so investigated. The expense of such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand with interest at the rate of six per cent. (6%)   per annum from the date of demand.

ARTICLE IV.
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
The Company hereby covenants and agrees

SECTION 4.01. Title and Lien. That it is lawfully seized and possessed of all the real estate, franchises and other property herein described or referred to as presently mortgaged hereby, subject to the exceptions and matters recited in the Granting Clauses hereof ; that upon the first issue of any Bonds hereunder such real estate, franchises and other property will be free and clear of any lien prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture except as set forth in the Granting Clauses hereof ; that it has good right and lawful authority to mortgage the same as provided in and by this Indenture ; that it will warrant and defend the title to the same against claims of all persons whomsoever and that it will (subject to the provisions of Section 4.04) maintain and preserve the lien of this Indenture so long as any of the Bonds issued hereunder are outstanding.

SECTION 4.02. Payment o f Principal, Premium and Interest; Separately Pledged or Transferred Coupons. That it will promptly pay or cause to be paid the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on all the Bonds issued hereunder according to the terms thereof. As the coupons attached to said Bonds are paid they shall be. cancelled; and coupons shall not be kept alive after maturity by extension thereof or by the purchase thereof by or on behalf of the Company. No coupon appertaining to any Bond hereby secured which in any way at or after maturity shall have been transferred or pledged separate or apart from the Bond to which it relates or which shall in any manner have been kept alive after maturity by extension or by the purchase thereof by or on behalf of the Company shall be entitled, in case of a default hereunder, to any benefit of or from this Indenture, except after the prior payment in full of the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on the Bonds issued hereunder and of all coupons and interest obligations not so transferred, pledged, kept alive, extended or purchased.

SECTION 4.03. Maintenance of Offices and Agencies; Books for Registration and Transfer o f Bonds. That it will maintain an office or agency in the city in which the principal office of the Trustee, or its successor in the trust, is located, while any Bonds are outstanding hereunder, where notices, presentations and demands to or upon it in respect of this Indenture or said Bonds, or the coupons appertaining thereto, may be given or made; that it will maintain an office or agency for the payment of the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on any Bonds at the time outstanding in any place or places where such principal, premium or interest shall be payable; that it will keep books for the registration and transfer of Bonds at an office or agency in such place or places as are specified in said Bonds, or in any indenture supplemental hereto with respect hereto, as the place or places where said Bonds are registerable or transferable; that such books shall be open to inspection by the Trustee at all reasonable times ; and that it will lodge from time to time with the Trustee notice of each designation and change of any such office or agency, when and as made. In the event that the Company shall at any time fail to designate and maintain an office or agency for any such purpose so required to be maintained, the principal office of the Trustee shall be conclusively deemed to be the agency of the Company for such purposes.

SECTION 4.04. Payment of Taxes, etc.; Observance of Legal Requirements; Restrictions on Liens. That it will duly pay and discharge or cause to be paid and discharged, as the same shall become due and payable, all real estate and personal property taxes, assessments and other governmental charges lawfully levied and imposed upon or with respect to the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, including franchises, and upon or with respect to the interest of the Trustee in the Mortgaged Property, and upon the earnings and business of the Company, and will duly observe and conform to all valid requirements of any regulatory body having jurisdiction which relate to any of the Mortgaged Property and all covenants, terms and conditions upon or under which any property, rights or franchises covered hereby are held; and that it will not suffer any mechanic's, laborer's, statutory or other lien to exist or to be hereafter created and remain upon said property, or any part thereof, or the income there from, which shall be prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture, except (i) Permitted Encumbrances and (ii) liens of purchase money mortgages, vendors' liens . and liens existing on any property hereafter acquired by the Company which shall exist thereon prior to the acquisition thereof,. provided that the Company shall not default in the performance of any of its obligations with respect to any such mortgage or lien if such default will endanger the security afforded by this Indenture ; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section.4.04 shall be deemed to require the Company to pay or cause to be paid any such tax,' assessment or charge, or to satisfy any such lien, or to conform 'to any such requirement so long as the Company in good faith by appropriate . action diligently pursued shall. contest or cause to be contested the validity thereof, provided the security afforded by this Indenture shall not be endangered by any sale or otherwise on account thereof and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.04 with respect to liens prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture on property subject hereto shall not apply to any liens existing on the property of any Successor Corporation to the Company at the time of the merger, consolidation or conveyance referred to in Section 11.01, or to any renewals or refundings of the indebtedness secured by such liens made thereafter by such Successor Corporation.

SECTION 4.05. Insurance on Mortgaged Property; Certificate. That it will keep or cause to be kept all property subject to the lien of this Indenture of a character usually insured by companies similarly situated insured by reputable insurance companies or associations against loss or damage by fire and such other hazards and risks as are customarily insured against by companies similarly situated, in such amount as such property is usually insured by companies similarly situated, any one loss (whether payable by one or more insurers) in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to be made payable to the Trustee or to the trustee or other holder of any lien on such property prior to the lien of this Indenture as the interests of the Trustee or of such trustee or other holder may appear. On or before July 1 of each year, beginning with the year 1962, the Company will furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate summarizing the insurance outstanding and in force upon the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof.

SECTION 4.06. Maintenance and Improvement o f Mortgaged Property; Maintenance of Corporate Existence. That, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, it will at all times maintain, preserve and keep or cause to be maintained, preserved and kept the Mortgaged Property, and every part thereof, with the appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof, in good repair, working order and condition, and will from time to time make or cause to be made all needful and proper repairs and renewals, replacements and substitutions, so that at all times the efficiency of the property hereby mortgaged shall be fully preserved and maintained, and, subject to the provisions hereof, will maintain its corporate existence and will ,use its best efforts to maintain, preserve and renew all the rights, powers, privileges and franchises by it owned.

SECTION 4.07. Supplemental Indentures; Recordation of Indenture and Supplemental Indentures. That it will execute and deliver all such indentures supplemental hereto, and will cause this Indenture and all indentures supplemental hereto at all times to be recorded, registered and filed and to be kept recorded, registered and filed in such manner and in such places, as may be required by law in order fully to preserve and protect the security of the Bondholders and all rights of the Trustee hereunder. The provisions of this Section 4.07 shall not be construed to require the execution and delivery by the Company of a supplemental indenture specifically conveying to the Trustee property acquired by the Company after the date of the execution of this Indenture more often than once in any period of two successive calendar years or in any event unless the aggregate cost of all such property acquired after such date or after the date of the most recent supplemental indenture so executed and delivered, whichever shall be the latest, shall be in excess of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000), and in no event shall such recording, registration or filing be required if the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that no such recording, registration or filing is necessary to preserve and protect the security of the Bondholders and the rights of the Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 4.08. Performance of Certain Covenants by Trustee. That, if it shall fail to perform or cause to be performed any of the covenants contained in Sections 4.04, 4.05, 4.06 or 4.07, the Trustee (or any receiver appointed in any action or proceeding for the foreclosure hereof or for the enforcement of the rights of the Trustee or of the Bondholders under this Indenture) may perform the same on behalf and for the account of the Company and may make advances for the purpose (which advances shall be made by the Trustee if requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than twenty-five per cent. (25%) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and furnished with funds for the purpose) ; and ,the Company hereby agrees to repay on demand all sums so advanced in its behalf, with interest at the rate of six per cent. (6%) per annum from the date of demand, and all sums so advanced with interest as aforesaid shall be secured hereby, having the benefit of the lien hereby created in priority to the indebtedness evidenced by the Bonds and coupons ;but no such advance shall be deemed to relieve the Company from any default hereunder.

SECTION 4.09. Instruments of Further Assurance. That it will, upon reasonable request by the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture, and in particular (without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing) to make subject to the lien hereof any property hereafter acquired by it (except property of the character herein specifically excepted from the lien hereof), to transfer to any successor trustee or trustees the estate, powers, instruments and funds held in trust hereunder and to confirm the lien of this Indenture with respect to any series of Bonds issued or to be issued hereunder. No failure to request such further instruments or further acts shall be deemed a waiver of any right to the execution and delivery of such instruments or the doing of such acts or be deemed to affect the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.10. Keeping of Books; Financial Statements to Trustee; Inspection. That it will at all times keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries of its transactions will be made in accordance with Required Accounting Practice, and that it will at its own expense
(a) upon the written request of the Trustee, permit the Trustee, by its agents and attorneys, to examine all the books of account, records, reports and other papers of the Company pertinent to the performance of its duties hereunder and to make copies and extracts there from and to examine the plants and properties of the Company; and
(b) within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, which fiscal year, until the Company shall advise the Trustee otherwise, shall be from January, 1 to December 31, furnish to the Trustee a detailed balance sheet showing accurately the financial condition of the Company as at the end of, and a detailed statement of its earnings and expenses for, such fiscal year, accompanied by a certificate of the Comptroller or an Assistant Comptroller of the Company or, at the election of the Company, of a firm of independent accountants selected by the Company, and satisfactory to the Trustee.

SECTION 4.11. Later Mortgages to Be Subordinated. That, in case it shall hereafter create any mortgage upon any of the property subject to the lien of this Indenture, such mortgage shall be and shall be expressed to be subject to the prior lien of this Indenture for the security of all Bonds then issued or thereafter to be issued hereunder.

SECTION 4.12. Maintenance and Depreciation Covenant. That, upon the written request made to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds of any series outstanding under the Indenture, the Company at its own expense will promptly appoint an independent engineer selected by the Company and acceptable to the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care to make an inspection of the mortgaged property and within a reasonable time after his appointment to report in writing to the Company and to the Trustee whether or not the mortgaged property, as an operating system, has been maintained in good repair, working order and condition in accordance with the covenants contained in Section 4.06; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to make more than one such appointment upon the request of the holders of a majority in principal amount of any outstanding series of Bonds in any period of five (5) years, provided that the qualifications of the engineer and the manner and substance of his report shall not be less than the foregoing requirements. If the Company shall fail to so appoint an independent engineer within one hundred and twenty (120) days following the receipt by the Trustee of such written request, the Trustee shall itself select an independent engineer to make such inspection and report.
Said report shall be presented to the Company and, accompanied by evidence of such presentation, shall be presented to the Trustee in such number of copies as the Trustee may reasonably request. The Trustee shall mail a copy of said report to each registered owner of not less than ten per cent. (10%) in principal amount of the Bonds of any series at the time outstanding and shall retain one copy on file at its office, open to inspection by any Bondholder at any reasonable time.
If such independent engineer shall report that the mortgaged property as an operating system has not been so maintained, he shall specify in his report the character and extent of, and the estimated cost of making good the deficiencies in such maintenance, and, if longer than one year, the time reasonably necessary, to make good such deficiencies.
The Company shall, with all reasonable speed, do such maintenance work as may be necessary to make good such maintenance deficiencies, if any, as shall have been specified to exist in such report.
Within one year from the date of the report, if any, with respect to any maintenance deficiency (or such longer period as may be specified in such report to be reasonably necessary for the purpose), such independent engineer (or, in the case of his refusal or inability to act, another independent engineer appointed by the Company or the Trustee in like manner) will report in writing to the Company and the Trustee whether such maintenance deficiency has been made good. If he reports that such maintenance deficiency has not been made good, the Company shall be deemed to have defaulted in the due performance of the covenants contained in Section 4.06 with respect to the maintenance of the mortgaged property; and in any proceedings consequent upon such default, said report of such independent engineer shall be conclusive evidence against the Company of the existence of the facts and conditions therein set forth, and the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying thereon.'
All expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 4.12 shall be borne by the Company.
In the event that any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company in the premises by order or regulation shall determine that. the expenditures required by this Section 4.12 for repairs and maintenance are excessive or shall prohibit, in whole or in part, any such expenditures for repairs and maintenance, then, upon filing with the Trustee a certified copy of such order or a copy of such regulation, as the case may be, the Company shall, so long as such order or such regulation remains in effect, be relieved from compliance with the covenants contained in this Section 4.12 to the extent that such expenditures for repairs and maintenance shall have been so held excessive or prohibited.
Further, the Company will accrue upon its books a reserve or reserves for depreciation at a rate or rates fixed by the Company and acceptable to the regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company which, so long as any of the Bonds of Series A or Series B are outstanding, shall not be less than a composite rate of one percent. (1%) per annum of depreciable property.

SECTION 4.13. Series A and Series B Dividend Restriction. That, so long as any of the Bonds of Series A or Series B are outstanding, no dividends shall be declared or paid, directly or indirectly, on any shares of capital stock of the Company, nor shall any shares of capital stock of the Company be purchased, retired, or otherwise acquired by the Company, if, after such declaration, payment or acquisition the aggregate of the capital of the Company attributable to its capital stock and its surplus would be less than (1) $1,436,000 plus the actual proceeds to the Company of any sales after the date hereof of any shares of capital stock of the Company, or (2) $1,836,000, whichever is the lesser amount; provided, however, that the restriction provided for in this Section 4.13 shall not apply to dividends paid on preferred stock of the Company prior to July 1, 1966, nor to the redemption or retirement of preferred stock prior to July 1, 1966 through the operation of a sinking fund provided for under .the terms thereof. In determining the aggregate of the capital of the Company attributable to its capital stock and its surplus for the purpose of this Section 4.13, any write-up of assets, or write-down or write-off of the excess over original cost of property made on the books of the Company - subsequent to December 31, 1960 shall be disregarded.
The term "preferred stock", as used in this Section 4.13, shall mean and include any capital stock of any class of the Company which shall be limited by its terms to a fixed sum or percentage in respect of the rights of the holders thereof to participate in dividends or in the distribution of assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company.

SECTION 4.14. Series A Sinking Fund. That, so long as any of the Bonds of Series A are outstanding, it will on or before September 1 in each year, beginning with the year 1962, deposit with the Trustee the sum of $32,000 (herein called a "Sinking Fund Requirement") less, however, to the extent that the Company desires to take credit for the same, (a) sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) of the Cost or Fair Value, whichever is less, of the Net Amount of Property Additions which, but for the use thereof as such a credit, might be made the basis of the authentication and delivery of additional Bonds; and/or (b) the principal amount of Bonds of Series A, previously issued and sold by the Company at a bona fide sale thereof, then delivered to the Trustee in negotiable form with all unmatured coupons, if any, appertaining thereto.
The Company shall be entitled to use the credit provided for in clause (a) of the preceding paragraph upon furnishing to the Trustee the documents specified in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06, with such modification as may be appropriate to conform such instruments to this Section 4.14.
All moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.14 shall be held by the Trustee as part of the trust estate, subject to the provisions of Section 8.14, unless and until the same shall be applied as hereinafter in this Section 4.14 provided.
As soon as practicable after each September 1, the Trustee shall in the manner provided in Section 5.03 select for redemption on or before the next ensuing November 1, a sufficient number of Bonds of Series A to exhaust to the nearest $1,000 the cash deposited with and then held by the Trustee under the provisions of this Section 4.14. The Trustee in the name of the Company shall cause notice of redemption of such Bonds to be given in the manner provided in Section 5.02, except that if notice by publication is required under the provisions of Section 5.02, such notice shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, once (rather than four times) at least thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for redemption; and on the redemption date the Trustee shall apply such cash to the redemption of the bonds so selected at the redemption price specified in subdivision (A) of Section 2.02. Bonds called for redemption or delivered to the Trustee by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.14 shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 5.05, 5.06 and 5.07 and shall not be used for any other purpose of this Indenture.
All interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption upon Bonds redeemed by the Trustee through the operation of the Series A Sinking Fund shall be paid by the Company as an additional payment to the Trustee prior to the date of redemption, and the expenses of the Trustee in connection with the operation of the Series A Sinking Fund shall forthwith be repaid to it by the Company upon demand.

SECTION 4.15. Series B Sinking Fund. That, so long as any of the Bonds of Series B are outstanding, it will on or before November 1 in each year, beginning with the year 1963, deposit with the Trustee the sum of $20,000 (herein called a "Sinking Fund Requirement") less, however, to the extent that the Company desires to take credit for the same, (a) sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) of the Cost or Fair Value, whichever is less, of the Net Amount of Property Additions which, but for the use thereof as such a credit, might be made the basis of the authentication and delivery of additional Bonds; and/or (b) the principal amount of Bonds of Series B, previously issued and sold by the Company at a bona fide sale thereof, then delivered to the Trustee in negotiable form with all unmatured coupons, if any, appertaining thereto.
The Company shall be entitled to use the credit provided for in clause (a) of the preceding paragraph upon furnishing to the Trustee the documents specified in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06, with such modification as may be appropriate to conform such instruments to this Section 4.15.
All moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.15 shall be held by the Trustee as part of the trust estate, subject to the provisions of Section 8.14, unless and until the same shall be applied as hereinafter in this Section 4.15 provided.
As soon as practicable after each November 1, the Trustee shall in the manner provided in Section 5.03 select for redemption on or before the next ensuing January 1, a sufficient number of Bonds of Series B to exhaust to the nearest $1,000 the cash deposited with and then held by the Trustee under the provisions of this Section 4.15. The Trustee in the name of the Company shall cause notice of redemption of such Bonds to be given in the manner provided in Section 5.02, except that if notice by publication is required under the provisions of Section 5.02, such notice shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, once (rather than four times) at least thirty (30), days and not more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for redemption; and on the redemption date the Trustee shall apply such cash to the redemption of the bonds so selected at the redemption price specified in subdivision (A) of Section 2.03. Bonds called for redemption or delivered to the Trustee by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.15 shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 5.05, 5.06 and 5.07 and shall not be used for any other purpose of this Indenture.
All interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption upon Bonds redeemed by the Trustee through the operation of the Series B Sinking Fund shall be paid by the Company as an additional payment to the Trustee prior to the date of redemption, and the expenses of the Trustee in connection with the operation of the Series B Sinking Fund shall forthwith be repaid to it by the Company upon demand.

SECTION 4.16. Compliance With Law. The Company will do all things necessary to be done by reason' of any law of the United States of America or of any state in which it does business or by reason of any order or regulation of any competent authority thereof for the purpose of maintaining the trusts hereby created for the security of the payment of the Bonds and the coupons appertaining thereto and for the performance of all obligations hereby imposed upon the Company.

SECTION 4.17. Truth of Recitals. That the recitals of fact and the statements contained in this Indenture are true.

ARTICLE V.
REDEMPTION OF BONDS.
SECTION 5.01. Reservation of Right to Redeem. The Company reserves the right to redeem the Bonds of Series A and the Bonds of Series B issued hereunder as set forth in Sections 2.02 and 2.03. In the creation of each particular series of Bonds issued hereunder other than Series A and Series B, the Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay prior to their fixed maturity all or any part of the Bonds of such series at such time or times, and from time to time, and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine and as shall be appropriately expressed in the Bonds of such series and in the supplemental indenture with respect to the Bonds of such series.

SECTION 5.02. Notice of Redemption. In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right of redemption of all or any part of the Bonds in accordance with the right so reserved by it, it shall publish, or cause to be published on its behalf, in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and, if the Bonds so to be redeemed shall so specify, in an Authorized Newspaper in each of such other cities, if any, in which the interest on such Bonds is payable, at least once in each of four successive calendar weeks, on any day of each such week, the first publication to be at least thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for redemption, a notice to the effect that the Company has elected to redeem all the Bonds or a part thereof, as the case may be, on a date therein designated, specifying, in the case of the redemption of less than all series, the serial designations of the Bonds to be redeemed, and, in the case of the redemption of less than all of the outstanding Bonds of a series, the distinctive numbers of the Bonds to be redeemed, and in every case stating that on said date there will become and be due and payable upon each Bond so to be redeemed, at the principal office of the Trustee, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, the principal thereof, together with the accrued interest to such date, with such premium, if any, as is due and payable on such Bond upon such redemption, and that from and after such date interest thereon will cease to accrue. If such redemption is pursuant to the provisions of any improvement, sinking, renewal, maintenance, replacement or analogous fund, such notice shall so state, and each notice of redemption of Bonds
(i) through the application of any proceeds of any of the Mortgaged Property which under the provisions of this Indenture is required to be applied solely to the redemption or purchase of Bonds, or
(ii) pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto specifying that such redemption shall be at a price lower than the then applicable redemption price at which the same are redeemable at the option of the Company,
shall state that the redemption is through the application of such proceeds or pursuant to such provision.
If any of the Bonds to be redeemed are registered Bonds without coupons or coupon Bonds registered as to principal, similar notice shall be mailed by the Company, postage prepaid, at least thirty (30) days prior to such redemption date, to the persons respectively who shall appear by the registration and transfer books of the Company to be the registered owners of such Bonds, at their addresses as the same shall appear, if at all, upon such books; but such mailing shall not be a condition precedent to such redemption, and failure so to mail any notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of such Bonds.
If all the Bonds of any series which are to be redeemed are registered Bonds without coupons or coupon Bonds registered as to principal, then, at the option of the Company, publication of such notice of redemption with respect to the Bonds of such series may be omitted; but, if publication of such notice of redemption with respect to the Bonds of any series shall be so omitted, then such notice shall be mailed, by registered mail with return receipt requested, at least thirty (30) days prior to such redemption date, to the registered owners of the Bonds of such series which are to be redeemed, at their addresses as above provided, and such mailing thereof (but not the receipt thereof or the return of the receipt so requested) shall be a condition precedent to the redemption of the Bonds of such series.
In case provision shall be made in respect of any series for the publication of such notice of redemption in other cities or for publication more than once in each of four successive calendar weeks or in more newspapers or for a longer period than thirty (30) days prior to the redemption date or for any other additional condition to the redemption of Bonds of such series, compliance shall be made with such provision in case Bonds of such series shall be redeemed.

SECTION 5.03. Partial Redemption. In case the Company shall have elected to redeem less than all of the outstanding Bonds of any series, it shall in each such instance, at least ten (10) days before the first date upon which the notice of redemption hereinbefore mentioned is required to be given, notify the Trustee in writing of such election and of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds of such series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall draw by lot from the numbers of Bonds outstanding, in any manner deemed by it proper in order to assure to each holder of registered or coupon Bonds a fair opportunity to have his Bond or Bonds drawn (due consideration being given to the principal amount of each Bond outstanding), the Bonds to be redeemed and shall notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Bonds so drawn in ample time to permit the notice of redemption to be given as herein provided. In case any registered Bond without coupons is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall specify the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that, at the option of the registered owner, such Bond may be presented for the notation thereon of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, or may be surrendered for redemption in which case a new Bond or new Bonds of the same series of an aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such registered Bond will be issued in lieu thereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such new Bond or Bonds to or upon the written order of the registered owner of such registered Bond, at the expense of the Company.
In case the Company shall have elected to redeem less than - all of the outstanding Bonds of any series, and if all of the outstanding Bonds of such series shall at the time be either registered Bonds without coupons or coupon Bonds registered as to principal, the Bonds to be redeemed need not be selected by lot as provided in the preceding paragraph of this Section 5.03 but (in the absence of an agreement as hereinafter referred to) shall be selected by the Trustee, in accordance with any method which it shall adopt, in such manner that the principal amount of Bonds of each registered owner thereof to be so redeemed shall, except as hereinafter provided, bear to the aggregate principal amount of Bonds at the time to be redeemed the same ratio as is borne by the principal amount of Bonds at the time registered in the name of that owner to the aggregate principal amount of Bonds at the time outstanding; provided, however, that, to the extent, but only to the extent, that Bonds or portions thereof to be redeemed cannot be selected in the exact ratios above provided by reason of the fact that the application of such ratios would involve the selection of fractional parts. of Bonds (that is, portions of principal amounts thereof. less than $1000), the Trustee shall select the principal amount of Bonds of each of the registered owners thereof to be redeemed in such amount as shall be deemed, in the discretion of the Trustee, appropriate to maintain, through successive partial redemptions, the ratios above provided. If an agreement with respect to the selection of the Bonds to be redeemed duly executed by the registered owners of all of .the outstanding Bonds of such series shall be filed with the 'Trustee at least ten (10) days prior to the date upon which the first publication or mailing of the notice of redemption hereinbefore mentioned is required to be made, the Bonds to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of such agreement.

SECTION 5.04. Deposit of Cash for Redemption. On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption, the Company shall, and it hereby covenants that it will, deposit with the Trustee an amount in cash sufficient to effect the redemption of the Bonds specified in such notice, except that such amount may be reduced to the extent that' moneys then held by the Trustee under any of the provisions of this Indenture are available for such redemption. All moneys, deposited by the Company with the Trustee or set :apart by the Trustee under the provisions of this Indenture for the redemption of Bonds shall be held in trust for the account of the respective holders or registered owners of the Bonds to be redeemed and applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 16.03.

SECTION 5.05. Bonds Due and Payable on Redemption Date; Interest Ceases to Accrue. On the redemption date designated in the notice of redemption the principal amount of each Bond so to be redeemed, together with the accrued interest thereon to such date, and such premium, if any, as is due and payable on such Bond upon such redemption, shall become due and payable; and from and after such date (such notice having been given in accordance with the provisions of this Article V and such deposit having been made or moneys set apart as aforesaid), then, notwithstanding that any Bonds so called for redemption shall not have been surrendered, no further interest shall accrue on any of such Bonds (or, in the case of registered Bonds without coupons, on the portion thereof so to be redeemed), and any coupons for interest appertaining to any such Bonds and maturing after such date shall be void. From and after such date of redemption (such notice having been given in accordance with the provisions of this Article V and such deposit having been made or moneys set apart as aforesaid), or from and after the date moneys shall have been deposited with or set apart by the Trustee for redemption as aforesaid and shall have been made immediately available to the holders of the Bonds to be redeemed (provided provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for the publication or mailing, or both, as required or permitted by the provisions of this Article V, of notice of redemption and for the payment of the expense thereof, such notice to state that such moneys are so immediately available), all such Bonds or such portions thereof, as the case may be, and all coupons appertaining thereto, shall, in so far as such deposit shall have been made or moneys set apart as aforesaid, be deemed to have been paid in full as between the Company and the respective holders or registered owners thereof and shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding hereunder, and the Company shall be under no further liability in respect thereof.
SECTION 5.06. Cancellation of Redeemed Bonds. All Bonds so redeemed, and all coupons appertaining thereto, shall forthwith be cancelled by the Trustee and, on the written request of the Company, delivered to the Company.

SECTION 5.07. Bonds Held by Company Not Outstanding for Redemption Purposes; Pledged Bonds. No Bonds held by the Company shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of any redemption of Bonds so long as any other Bonds are outstanding hereunder, and the Company, in case of any such redemption, shall furnish to the Trustee the numbers of any Bonds so held by it of any series of which any Bonds are so to be redeemed. Unless such notice shall be received by the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively assume that no such Bonds are held by the Company. Bonds pledged to secure any bona fide indebtedness of the Company shall not be deemed "held by the Company" within the meaning of this Section 5.07.

ARTICLE VI.
POSSESSION, USE AND RELEASE OF PROPERTY.
SECTION 6.01. Possession of and Dealing With Mortgaged Property Until Default; Leases, etc. Unless and until one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall be suffered and permitted to possess, use and enjoy all the property and appurtenances, franchises and rights mortgaged by, this Indenture, except cash and obligations required by any provision of this Indenture to be deposited with the Trustee, and to receive and use the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, income, product and profits thereof, with power in the ordinary course of business, freely and without let or hindrance on the part of the Trustee or the bondholders,
(a) to use and consume materials and supplies,
(b) except as herein otherwise expressly provided to the contrary, to deal with choses in action, leases, leasehold interests and contracts, and to exercise the rights and powers conferred upon it thereby,
(c) to alter, repair and remove its buildings and structures,
(d) to change the position of its pipes, mains, conduits or other property whatsoever, provided that such change shall not impair the lien of this Indenture thereon,
(e) to replace and renew any of its equipment, machinery or other similar property, and
(f) to make any lease, or grant or convey any right-of-way, easement or license (but the property so leased and the property over, through, under or with respect to which and such right-of-way, easement or license shall be so granted or conveyed shall remain subject to the lien of this Indenture 'to the same extent and in the same manner as it was prior to such lease, grant or conveyance), provided that
(i) no such lease, grant, conveyance or other disposition shall be made unless, in the judgment of the Board of Directors the same would not be prejudicial to the security of the Bonds;
(ii) any lease hereafter made by the Company shall be made expressly subject to the lien of this Indenture and such lease shall be subject to termination by a trustee in bankruptcy or in reorganization proceedings (including reorganization proceedings under any Federal bankruptcy law or similar statutory proceedings), lawfully appointed, or by the Trustee, or by any receiver appointed in any action or proceeding for the foreclosure hereof or for the enforcement of any of the rights of the Trustee or of the Bondholders under this Indenture if, during the continuance of an Event of Default hereunder, such trustee or the Trustee or such receiver shall have entered upon and taken possession of the Mortgaged Property.

SECTION 6.02. Disposal of Mortgaged Property Without Trustee's Consent. Unless and until one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without notice to or any release or consent by the Trustee
1. Replacement of Worn Out Property. Sell or otherwise dispose of, free from the lien of this Indenture, any apparatus, tools, implements, machinery, equipment, pipe or other similar property comprising part of the Mortgaged Property, which has become worn out, obsolete, unserviceable or unnecessary for use in the conduct of the Company's business, upon replacing the same with or substituting for the same other property of a value at least equal to the Fair Value to the Company of the property so disposed of, which (except for property of the kinds excepted in the Granting Clauses hereof) shall become subject to the lien of this Indenture, free and clear of all Prior Liens except Permitted Encumbrances and except Prior Liens to which the property so disposed of was subject; or
2. Abandonment of Worn Out Property. In the ordinary course of business, demolish, dismantle, tear down, use for scrap, abandon or surrender any property which has become worn out, unserviceable or unnecessary for use in the conduct of the Company's business; or
3. Modification or Surrender of Franchises, Etc. Surrender in whole or in part, or assent to the modification of, any franchise, license or permit which it may hold, or under which it may be operating, provided that
(a) in the written opinion, filed with the Trustee, of an engineer (who may be in the regular employ of the . Company), selected by the Board of Directors and satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company is exercising the privileges granted thereby without a fair return to it and such surrender or modification is to the best interest of the Company, or
(b) in the event of any such modification, the franchise, license or permit as modified shall, in the Opinion of Counsel, filed with the Trustee, authorize the continuance by the Company of the same or an extended business in the same or an extended territory during the same or an extended or unlimited or indefinite period of time, or
(c) in the event of any such surrender, the Company shall receive in exchange a new franchise, license or permit which, in the Opinion of Counsel, filed with the Trustee, shall authorize it to do the same or an extended business in the same or an extended territory during the same or an extended or unlimited or indefinite period of time, or
(d) after the surrender or modification of any such franchise, license or permit, the Company shall still, under some other franchise, license or permit, have the right, in the Opinion of Counsel, filed with the Trustee, to conduct the same or an extended business in the same or an extended territory during the same or an extended or unlimited or indefinite period of time.

For the purposes of this paragraph 3 and of any opinion to be rendered under it, any right of any municipality or other governmental body to terminate a franchise, license or permit by purchase shall not be deemed to abridge or affect its duration.

SECTION 6.03. Release by Trustee of Mortgaged Property Sold by Company. The Company may at any time sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any of its property (in addition to the property referred to in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.04) which is subject to the lien hereof, upon compliance with the requirements and conditions of this Section 6.03, and the Trustee shall release the same from the lien hereof upon receipt by the Trustee of
1. Certified Resolution. A Certified Resolution requesting such release;
2. Certificate o f the Company. A Certificate of the Company, signed by the President or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company and by an engineer (who may be in the employ of the Company) or firm of engineers (who may be under regular retainer from the Company) or, if any consideration mentioned therein consists of securities, by an appraiser, engineer or other competent person or firm (who may be in the regular employ of the Company or under regular retainer from the Company), in each case selected by the Board of Directors and satisfactory to the Trustee, in substantially the following form with appropriate exhibits annexed thereto and the blanks appropriately completed

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY
INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE
DATED AS OF JULY 1, 1961
CERTIFICATE OF COMPANY FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 6.03 OF SAID INDENTURE
(to which reference is made for the definition of terms used herein)
,the            President, and           
,the Treasurer Of ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, hereby certify

(1) The Company has [either] sold or disposed of [or, in the alternative] [contracted to sell or dispose of] the property described in Exhibit A hereto, and desires to release the same. The consideration to be received for such property is also set forth in Exhibit A hereto;
(2) In the opinion of the undersigned, such release is in the best interests of the Company [unless all or substantially all of the property of the Company which is used or useful in connection with its business as a water company or as a water utility is to be released, add] [and the property to be released is not necessary for the efficient operation of its remaining property which is used or useful as a water utility, and the security afforded by the Indenture will not be impaired by such release] ;
(3) The Company has sold or exchanged or otherwise disposed of, or has contracted to sell or exchange or otherwise dispose of, the property so to be released for a consideration representing, in the opinion of the undersigned, at least its Fair Value to the Company, which consideration is described in Exhibit A hereto, and, [in case the property to be released constitutes all or substantially all of the property at the time subject to the lien of the Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon which is used or useful in connection with the business of the Company as a water company or as a water utility, such consideration shall consist solely o f cash] consists of
(i) cash in the amount of $            ,
(ii) obligations secured by a purchase money closed first mortgage upon the property so to be released, as described in Exhibit A hereto, and
(iii) other property, as described in Exhibit A hereto, which, upon acquisition thereof by the Company, will be Property Additions, as such term is defined in paragraph 1 of subdivision (A) of Section 3.06 of the Indenture;
(4) To the best of the knowledge and belief of the signers, no default exists on the part of the Company in the compliance with any of the terms or covenants of the Indenture.
(5) The consideration described in Exhibit A hereto does [or does not] include an Acquired Plant.

Dated :            19 .
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY,
President or Vice-President.
Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer.

I certify that I concur in the opinions expressed in the foregoing paragraphs (2), (3), and (5).
Engineer or Appraiser.

3. Consideration; Instruments of Conveyance. Any money or obligations stated in such certificate to be or to have been received as consideration for any property so to be released (or, to the extent that such money or obligations constitute the consideration for property subject to a Prior Lien, a certificate of the trustee or other holder of such Prior Lien that it has received such money or obligations and has been irrevocably authorized by the Company to pay over to the Trustee any balance of such money or obligations remaining after the discharge of such Prior Lien,. which trustee shall be the corporate trustee if there be a corporate trustee and if the terms of the instrument creating such lien permit the corporate trustee thereunder to receive such money or obligations) ; and, if any property other than cash or obligations is included in the consideration for any property so to be released, such instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, if any, as may be necessary, in the Opinion of Counsel hereinafter referred to, to subject to the lien of this Indenture all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to such property;
4. Opinion of Counsel. An Opinion of Counsel (1) to the effect that
(a) any obligations included in the consideration for any property so to be released are valid obligations and are effectively pledged hereunder,
(b) any purchase money mortgage securing the same is sufficient to afford a first mortgage lien upon the property so to be released,
(c) in case the Trustee is requested to release any franchise, license or permit (unless all or substantially all of the property of the Company which is used or useful in connection with its business as a water company or water utility is then being released), such release will not impair the then existing right of the Company to operate any of its remaining property as a water company or as a water utility,
(d) all votes or consents of Bondholders, if any, required by law for the release of the property have been obtained, and
(e) the property so to be released is not subject to a Prior Lien or, if it is and if any part of the consideration received for the property so to be released has been deposited with the trustee or other holder of such Prior Lien, such trustee or other holder (specifying the trustee or other holder and the lien) is entitled to receive the same;
and
(2) in case any part of the consideration received for the property so to be released consists of property which would be included in Property Additions as set forth in the certificate of the Company pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Section 6.03, conforming to the requirements of paragraph 5 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06 as to the title of the Company to such property and stating
(a) either (i) that such instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer as shall be delivered to the Trustee are sufficient to subject to the lien of this Indenture all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to such property, subject to no lien prior to, or on a parity with, the lien hereof other than Permitted Encumbrances, Funded Prior Liens and other than the same Prior Liens, if any, as existed upon the property so to be released, or (ii) that no instruments of conveyance, assignment or transfer are necessary for such purpose, and
(b) that the Company has corporate power to acquire, own and operate all property included in the consideration for such release ; and constituting evidence of the authorization or approval of or consent to the sale, exchange or other disposition of the property so to be released, the consideration to be received therefor and the acquisition of any property constituting any part of such consideration, by each governmental body at the time having jurisdiction in the premises, together with an Opinion of Counsel that the same constitutes sufficient evidence of such authorization, approval or consent, and that no such authorization, approval, or consent by any other governmental body is required, or (b) an Opinion of Counsel that no such authorization, approval or consent by any governmental body is required.

SECTION 6.04. Release of Property of Value Not Over $25,000.  The Company may at any time sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any of its property (in addition to the property referred to in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) which is subject to the lien hereof, of an aggregate Fair Value to the Company not exceeding Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in any one calendar year, except cash or obligations required by some other provision hereof to be deposited with the Trustee hereunder, without notice to or any release or consent by the Trustee; provided, however, that the Company shall forthwith deposit with the Trustee a sum in cash equal to the Fair Value to the Company of the property so sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of (but not less than the consideration received by the Company for such property) and shall forthwith file with the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating in substance as follows
(a) That the sum in cash so deposited with the Trustee represents the Fair Value to the Company of the property so sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of (but not less than the consideration received by the Company for such property) and that such property was not necessary for the efficient conduct by the Company of its business as a water company or as a water utility;
(b) That the Fair Value to the Company of the property so sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of, together with the Fair Value to the Company of all other property theretofore sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.04 during the calendar year in question, does not exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000); and
(c) That, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the signers, no default exists on the part of the Company in the compliance with any of the terms or covenants of this Indenture.

If the Company shall so request, the Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate confirmatory instrument or instruments of release or conveyance with respect to any property so sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of, but the execution and delivery of any such instrument or instruments shall not be nor be deemed to be a condition precedent to the sale, exchange or other disposition of property by the Company free from the lien of this Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.04.

SECTION 6.05. New Property Subject to Lien of Indenture. Any new property acquired by the Company (by exchange, purchase, construction or otherwise) to take the place of any property released hereunder, shall forthwith and without further conveyance become subject to the lien of and be covered by this Indenture ; but, if requested by the Trustee, the Company shall convey the same to the Trustee by proper deeds or other instruments upon the trusts and for the purposes of this Indenture.

SECTION 6.06. Eminent Domain, etc. In the event that all or any part of the property of the Company which is subject to the lien of this Indenture shall at any time be acquired by or on behalf of any one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies by the exercise of the power of eminent domain or by the exercise of a right reserved to purchase the same or by a sale or conveyance by the Company in lieu of and in reasonable anticipation of the impending exercise of such a power or of such a right, the award or consideration payable therefore shall be paid to the Trustee, except to the extent that the Opinion of Counsel, delivered under this Section states that the trustee or other holder of some Prior Lien is entitled to receive the same or some part thereof, and the Trustee shall accept the same and the Trustee shall execute and deliver a release of the property so acquired and shall be fully protected in so doing upon receipt by the Trustee of
1. Certified Resolution. A Certified Resolution requesting the release of the property and stating that acceptance of such award or consideration is in the best interests of the Company and of the Bondholders ;
2. Consideration. The award or consideration received for such property (or, to the extent that such award or consideration constitutes an award or consideration for property subject to a Prior Lien, a certificate of the trustee or other holder of such Prior Lien that it has received such award or consideration and has been irrevocably authorized by the Company to pay over to the Trustee any balance of such award or consideration remaining after the discharge of such Prior Lien, which trustee shall be the corporate trustee if there be a corporate trustee and if the terms of the instrument creating such lien permit the corporate trustee thereunder to receive such money or obligations) ; and
3. Opinion of Counsel. An Opinion of Counsel to the effect
(a) that such property has been duly and lawfully acquired by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities, or agencies by the exercise of the power of eminent domain or by the exercise of a right reserved to purchase the same, or by a sale or conveyance by the Company in lieu of and in reasonable anticipation of the impending exercise of such a power or of such a right, and
(b) in case any part of the award or consideration received for such property has been deposited with a trustee or other holder of a Prior Lien, that such trustee or other holder (specifying the trustee or other holder and the lien) is entitled to receive the same.

In any such proceeding, the Trustee may be represented by counsel, who may be of counsel to the Company.

SECTION 6.07. Application of Proceeds on Release of Substantially All Mortgaged Property. 1. In the event that either (i) all or substantially all of the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of this Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon or (ii) all or substantially all of the property of the Company at the time subject to the lien of this Indenture as a first mortgage lien thereon which is used or useful in connection with the business of the Company as a water company or as a water utility shall be released from the lien of this Indenture under the provisions of Section 6.03 or Section 6.06, then the award or consideration for such property so released, together with any other moneys held by the Trustee under this Indenture, including the proceeds of any sales of obligations or securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.01 or Section 7.06 (such award or consideration and other moneys being hereinafter in this Section 6.07 referred to collectively as "available moneys"), shall be applied by the Trustee First, to the payment of such taxes and assessments as constitute a lien upon such moneys, of the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee and its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other sums payable to or by the Trustee under any provision of this Indenture, Second, to the redemption in full of all Bonds then outstanding at the respective redemption prices then applicable, any moneys held for the account of any particular Bonds or coupons being applied to the redemption (or payment, if matured) of such Bonds or the payment of such coupons, as the case may be, and to the payment of all expenses in connection with such redemption or payment, and Third, any balance to the Company.

If such available moneys shall not be sufficient for such redemption in full, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee on or before the date fixed for redemption an amount of cash sufficient to enable the Trustee to pay in full such redemption price of the Bonds, together with interest accrued to such redemption date and all expenses in connection with such redemption.

2. In case any redemption of all Bonds outstanding hereunder is to-be made under the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Section 6.07, the same shall be done in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto, except that any notice that such Bonds are to be redeemed may, at the option of the Company, state that such notice and such redemption are conditional upon the actual receipt of the award or consideration in question on or prior to the redemption date. In any such case if the award or consideration shall be received on or prior to such date, the Bonds shall become due and payable on such date at their respective applicable redemption prices together with interest accrued thereon to such date.

3. If the first publication of such notice of redemption shall not have been made, or (in the event that notice of redemption by mailing is permitted) if such notice of redemption shall not have been mailed, the Trustee within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of the award or consideration by it, shall give notice, in the name and at the expense of the Company and on its behalf, of the call of the Bonds for redemption on a date not later than forty-five (45) nor earlier than thirty (30) days after such receipt, in the manner and with the effect specified in Article V and in any indenture supplemental hereto, except that any notice that such Bonds are to be redeemed may, at the option of the Trustee, state that such notice and such redemption are conditional upon the actual receipt by the Trustee of the cash required by paragraph 1 of this Section 6.07 to be deposited by the Company with the Trustee.

4. If the available moneys shall not be sufficient for the payments specified in paragraph 1 of this Section 6.07 and the Company shall default in its obligation to pay the balance to the Trustee, the Trustee shall, pursuant to Section 7.01, proceed to sell the obligations and securities held by it under this Indenture, and, pending such sale, shall apply such available moneys, to the extent thereof, to the partial payment of all Bonds then outstanding, pro rata in proportion to the respective amounts then due and owing thereon for principal, premium (if any) and interest, but until the full amount then due and owing on the Bonds shall have been paid, no such partial payment shall discharge the obligation of the Company on any Bonds, except to the extent of such partial payment. All amounts so to be paid on the Bonds shall be paid over by the Trustee to the holders or registered owners of the Bonds upon presentation at the principal office of the Trustee of the Bonds, with all unmatured coupons, if any, attached, for stamping thereon of a notation as to the amount so paid thereon or for otherwise providing with respect to such payment in any manner satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee.

5. In the event of any such partial pro rata payment, notice thereof shall be given once (but need not be given more than once) by the Trustee, in the manner provided in Article V with respect to the redemption of Bonds, not later than one week after the date for which the Bonds were called for redemption, and from and after a date to be specified in such notice (to be fixed by the Trustee and to be not earlier than the date upon which such notice is given nor later than ten (10) days after such redemption date) interest shall cease to accrue on the obligation of the Company on the Bonds so called for redemption, to the extent of the partial payment so provided. Subsequently, if any additional moneys applicable to an additional partial payment or to the payment of the entire balance then due on the Bonds shall be received by the Trustee, the Trustee shall, with reasonable promptness, give like notice of any such payment (specifying a date within ten (10) days after the date of such notice) with like effect.

SECTION 6.08. Purchaser of Released Property Not Required to Investigate. In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property which the Trustee has purported to release hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Trustee to execute the release, or to inquire as to any facts required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority, or to see to the application of the purchase money; nor shall any purchaser of machinery or equipment or other similar property be under obligation to ascertain or inquire into the occurrence of the event on which any such sale is hereby authorized.

SECTION 6.09. Exercise o f Company Powers After Event o f Default. Notwithstanding that any one or mare Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in case the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof shall be in the possession of a receiver, trustee or other custodian, lawfully appointed, or of an assignee for the benefit of creditors, the powers in and by this Article VI conferred upon the Company may, with the consent of the Trustee, be exercised by such receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee with respect to such part of the Mortgaged Property as may then be in his or its possession; and, if the Trustee shall be in possession of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof under any provision of this Indenture, then all the powers by this Article VI conferred upon the Company may be exercised by the Trustee in its discretion with respect to such part of the Mortgaged Property as may then be in the possession of the Trustee. A written request signed by such receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee shall be deemed the equivalent of any resolution of the Board of Directors required by the provisions of this Article VI, and any certificate required by such provisions to be signed by any officer of the Company may be signed by such receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee instead of such officer.
Notwithstanding that any one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company, so long as it shall be in possession of the Mortgaged Property, may, with the consent of the Trustee, exercise any of the powers in and by this Article VI conferred upon it.
The consent of the Trustee to the exercise, pursuant to this Section 6.09, by any receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee, or by the Company of the powers conferred on the Company by this Article VI may be given by the Trustee in its discretion and shall be given upon the written request of the holders or registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding hereunder.

In the case of any release made pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.09, it shall not be necessary to include in any certificate filed with the Trustee in connection therewith a statement that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the signers, no default exists on the part of the Company in the performance of any of the terms or covenants of this Indenture.
SECTION 6.10. Independent Investigation by Trustee. The Trustee may make such independent investigation as the Trustee may see fit of the facts and conclusions stated in the resolutions, certificates, opinions and other instruments provided for in this Article VI, and in that event may decline to release any properties unless satisfied by such investigation of the truth and accuracy of the matters so investigated. The expense of any such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand with interest at the rate of six per cent. (6%) per annum from the date of demand.

ARTICLE VII.
CONCERNING OBLIGATIONS AND APPLICATION OF MONEYS RECEIVED BY THE TRUSTEE.
SECTION 7.01. Obligations and Securities Held by the Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.06, all obligations received by the Trustee under any of the provisions of this Indenture, unless released pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.03, shall be held by the Trustee as part of the Mortgaged Property and collected by it, and the Trustee shall have the right to enforce the payment thereof and each and every provision thereof by proceedings at law or in equity but, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing hereunder, only with the consent of the Company.
Unless, to the knowledge of the Trustee, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(a) interest and dividends on obligations and securities held by or pledged with the Trustee hereunder, shall, as received by the Trustee, be paid over to the Company; and
(b) the Company shall be entitled to exercise any and all rights to vote or consent with respect to any such obligations and securities.

All obligations held by the Trustee in pledge hereunder may be released pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.03.
In the event that the Bonds outstanding hereunder shall become redeemable under the provisions of Section 6.07 and the moneys available in the hands of the Trustee for such redemption shall not be sufficient to effect such redemption in full as provided in said Section 6.07, the Trustee shall endeavor to sell, in such - manner, upon such terms, at such times and at such prices as in its discretion it may determine, such amount of any obligations and securities held by it under this Indenture as may be necessary to provide funds for or toward such redemption in full.

SECTION 7.02. Withdrawal of Certain Trust Moneys by Company. Unless and until one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, any moneys received by the Trustee
(a) on account of the principal of any obligation received under any of the provisions of this Indenture, or
(b) as proceeds of released property or of property taken by the power of eminent domain or otherwise acquired by or on behalf of one or more governments or municipal corporations or other governmental subdivisions, bodies, authorities or agencies, or
(c) as proceeds of any insurance, or
(d) upon the satisfaction, discharge or other release of any mortgage or other lien prior to the lien of this Indenture, shall be held by the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.06, as a part of the security for the Bonds issued and outstanding hereunder and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.07, shall be paid over from time to time by the Trustee to or upon the written order of the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company:

1. To reimburse the Company for expenditures made for the replacement, restoration or repair of property destroyed or damaged (to the extent that insurance moneys arising from such
loss or damage are in the hands of the Trustee), upon receipt by the Trustee of
(a) an Officers' Certificate describing in reasonable detail such replacement, restoration or repair and stating the amount expended therefore and that such amount is, in the opinion of the signers, reasonable, and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel substantially conforming to the requirements of paragraph 5 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06 with respect to such property as replaced, restored or repaired;
or
2. In an amount not exceeding one hundred per cent. (1007o) of the Net Amount of Property Additions, which, but for the use thereof as the basis of the withdrawal of such moneys, might be made the basis of the authentication and delivery of Bonds under the provisions of Section 3.06, upon receipt by the Trustee of the instruments and opinions specified in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of subdivision (B) of Section 3.06, with such additions, omissions and modifications as may be necessary to make the same applicable to the withdrawal of moneys hereunder ; or
3. In an amount equal to one hundred per cent. (100%) of the principal amount of Bonds then delivered to the Trustee which, but for the use thereof as the basis for the withdrawal of such moneys, might be made the basis of the authentication and delivery of Bonds under the provisions of Section 3.08, upon receipt by the Trustee of the Bonds and instruments specified in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Section 3.08, with such additions, omissions and modifications as may be necessary to make the same applicable to the withdrawal of moneys hereunder.

SECTION 7.03. Exercise of Company Powers After Event of Default. Notwithstanding that any one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in case the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof shall be in the possession of a receiver, trustee or other custodian, lawfully appointed, or of an assignee for the benefit of creditors, the powers' conferred upon the Company by Section 7.02 may, with the consent of the Trustee, be exercised by such receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee with respect to such part of the Mortgaged Property as may then be in his or its possession; and, if the Trustee shall be in possession of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof under any provision of this Indenture, then the powers conferred upon the Company by Section 7.02 may be exercised by the Trustee in its discretion, with respect to such part of the Mortgaged Property as may then be in the possession of the Trustee. Any certificate required by the provisions of Section 7.02 to be signed by any officer of the Company may be signed by the Trustee or by such receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee instead of such officer. Notwithstanding that any one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company, so long as it shall be in possession of the Mortgaged Property, may, with the consent of the Trustee, exercise the powers conferred upon it by Section 7.02.
The consent of the Trustee to the exercise, pursuant to this Section 7.03, by any receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee or by the Company of the powers conferred upon the Company by Section 7.02 (i) may, if all of the Bonds outstanding are registered and held by six (6) holders or less, be given by the Trustee only upon the written approval of the registered holders of a majority in principal amount of the bonds then outstanding hereunder if any one of the Events of Default specified in clauses (a), (b), or (c) of Section 8.01 has occurred and is continuing, and (ii) may, in circumstances other than those specified in clause (i) above, be given by the Trustee in its discretion, and shall be given upon the written request of the holders or registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding hereunder.
In the case of any exercise, pursuant to this Section 7.03, of the powers conferred upon the Company by Section 7.02, it shall not be necessary to include in any certificate filed with the Trustee in connection therewith a statement that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the signers, no default exists on the part of the Company in the performance of any of the terms or covenants in this Indenture.

SECTION 7.04.. Company May Request Application of Trust Moneys to Purchase or Redemption of Bonds. Unless and until one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, all or any part of any moneys received by the Trustee as specified in Section 7.02 and not theretofore paid over or requested to be paid over to the Company pursuant to said Section 7.02 or applied or required to be applied pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.07, and all or any part of any moneys deposited with the Trustee under the provisions of Section 3.07 and not theretofore applied as therein authorized, shall, at the election and in accordance with the request of the Company, be applied by the Trustee from time to time to the purchase or to the redemption, if redeemable, of Bonds issued hereunder, of such series as may be specified in such request, upon receipt by the Trustee of
(a) a Certified Resolution evidencing such election and request,
(b) an Officers' Certificate stating that, to the best of the knowledge and belief of the signers, no default exists on the part of the Company in the performance of any of the terms or covenants of this Indenture, and
(c) an Opinion of Counsel that all authorizations or approvals of or consents to such purchase or redemption by each governmental body at the time having jurisdiction in the premises have been obtained or that no such authorization, approval or consent by any governmental body is required.
Any such redemption shall be effected in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article V and of any indenture supplemental hereto.
Before making any purchase of Bonds of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.04, the, Trustee may, and if requested by the Company to do so shall, by notice published once in each of two successive calendar weeks, on any day of each such week, in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, advertise for written proposals to sell to it the Bonds which the Company has requested to be purchased.; and the Trustee, to the extent of the funds then in its hands and requested by the Company to be so applied, shall purchase the Bonds so offered at the lowest price or prices asked therefore, except as hereinafter provided. If requested by the Company to do so, the Trustee may, in its discretion, make such purchases in the open market or at private sale or upon any exchange as it may determine. The Company may tender Bonds to the Trustee, and the Trustee may purchase such Bonds from the Company. Should there be two or more proposals at the same price aggregating more than the amount which the Trustee has available for the purchase of Bonds after having accepted all proposals at lower prices, such proposals shall, if possible under their terms, be accepted pro rata, as nearly as may be; provided, however, that no proposal shall be accepted and no purchase made by the Trustee at a price in excess of the maximum price specified by the Company in its request to the Trustee, which maximum shall not exceed the redemption price then in effect for Bonds of such series, or, if the Company shall not have specified any such maximum price, in excess of such redemption price, or, if there be no such redemption price then in effect, in excess of the principal amount thereof, in each case with accrued interest to the date of delivery, which date shall not be more than five (5) days after the date of the agreement of the Trustee to purchase. unless the written consent of the Company to a later date shall have been given; and provided further that the Trustee may, in its discretion, reject any or all proposals in whole or in part if, in its opinion, such action is justified.
In every case of the purchase of Bonds pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.04, the Trustee shall forthwith cancel the purchased Bonds and coupons and, on the written request of the Company, deliver the same to the Company.
All interest accrued up to but not including the date of delivery or redemption, as the case may be, of all Bonds to be purchased or redeemed by the Trustee under the provisions of this Section 7.04, together with (a) the amount (if any) by which the aggregate purchase price to be paid by the Trustee exceeds the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds to be purchased and (b) the premiums (if any) payable upon redemption, shall be paid by the Company as an additional payment to the Trustee prior to the date of delivery or redemption, as the case may be, and the cost of all advertising and publishing shall be paid by the Company, or, if paid by the Trustee, shall forthwith be repaid to it by the Company upon demand, with interest at the rate of six per cent. (6%) per annum from the date of demand.

SECTION 7.05. Application by Trustee of Unused Moneys to Purchase or Redemption o f Bonds. Unless and until one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, all or any part of any moneys received by the Trustee as specified in Section 7.02 and not theretofore paid' over or requested to be paid over to the Company pursuant to Section 7.02 or applied or required to be applied pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.07 or of Section 7.04, and all or any part of any moneys deposited with the Trustee under the provisions of Section 3.07 and not theretofore applied by the Company or requested by it to be applied as therein or in Section 7.04 authorized, within three (3) years after the receipt of such moneys by the Trustee, shall, to the extent practicable, be applied by the Trustee at the expiration of such period, without any further action on the part of the Company, to the purchase of Bonds of any series in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.04 and, to the extent that Bonds are not so purchased within six months after the expiration of said three-year period, shall, but only if the moneys then available for the purpose shall be at least Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), forthwith be applied by the Trustee, to the extent practicable, pro rata on the basis of the respective principal amounts of Bonds of all the series then outstanding, to the redemption of- Bonds of each series then outstanding hereunder and subject to redemption, in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article V and of any indenture supplemental hereto ; and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes the Trustee, in the name of and at the expense of the Company and on its behalf, to give notice of the call of such Bonds for redemption, in the manner and with the effect specified in Article V and in such supplemental indentures; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be required to make any such purchase or redemption unless furnished with an Opinion of Counsel that all authorizations or approvals of or consents to such purchase or redemption by each governmental body at the time having jurisdiction in the premises have been obtained or that no such authorization, approval or consent by any governmental body is required; and provided further that the Trustee shall not be required to take any such action or give any such notice unless
(a) the Company shall have theretofore indemnified it against any and all costs and expenses in connection therewith, and
(b) there shall be paid to the Trustee an amount equal to all interest accrued up to but not including the date of delivery or redemption, as the case may be, on all Bonds so to be purchased or redeemed under the provisions of this Section 7.05, together with (i) the amount (if any) by which the aggregate purchase price to be paid by the Trustee exceeds the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds to be purchased and (ii) the premiums (if any) payable upon redemption.
Upon receipt of notice from the Trustee of any such proposed purchase or redemption, the Company will make timely application for the authorization, approval or consent of each governmental body at the time having jurisdiction in the premises which may be required, and will do all other things necessary on its part to be done to effect any such purchase or redemption, including the making of the indemnification and of the payments and the furnishing of the Opinion of Counsel hereinabove provided for.
For the purpose of determining which of the moneys deposited with the Trustee have not been paid over or applied, or requested to be paid over or applied, within said three-year period, it shall be deemed, unless the certificate of the Company requesting any withdrawal or application shall specify to the contrary, that the moneys first deposited are the moneys first paid over or applied.

SECTION 7.06. Investment in Government Obligations. All or any part of any moneys held by the Trustee hereunder (except moneys held for the account of any particular Bonds or coupons) shall from time to time at the request of the Company, signed by the President or any Vice-President and the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, be invested or reinvested by the Trustee in any bonds or other obligations of the United States of America designated by the Company, which as to principal and interest constitute direct obligations of the United States of America, at such prices as shall be set forth in such request of the Company. Until one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, any interest on such bonds and obligations (in excess of any accrued interest paid at the time of purchase) which may be received by the Trustee shall be forthwith paid to the Company. Such bonds and obligations shall be held by the Trustee as a part of the Mortgaged Property, subject to the same provisions hereof as the cash used by it to purchase such bonds or obligations; but, upon a like request of the Company, the Trustee shall sell all or any designated part of the same and the proceeds of such sale shall be held by the Trustee subject to the same provisions hereof as the cash used by it to purchase the bonds or obligations so sold. If under the provisions of Sections 6.07, 7.04 or 7.05 any moneys held by the Trustee and so invested or reinvested shall be required to be applied to the redemption of Bonds, the Trustee shall forthwith sell such bonds or obligations in an amount equivalent to such moneys. In case the net proceeds (exclusive of interest) realized upon. any . such sale shall amount to less than the amount invested by the Trustee in the purchase of the bonds or obligations so sold (after appropriate adjustment on account of any accrued interest paid at the time of purchase), the Trustee shall within five days after such sale notify the Company in writing thereof and within five days thereafter the Company shall pay to the Trustee the amount of the difference between such purchase price and the amount so realized, and the amount so paid shall be held by the Trustee in like manner and subject to the same conditions as the proceeds realized upon such sale.
Whenever application is made by the Company under any provision of this Indenture to withdraw all or any part of moneys deposited or held by the Trustee, the Company shall accept bonds or obligations held by the Trustee as a part of the Mortgaged Property pursuant to this Section 7.06 to the extent that such bonds or obligations shall be tendered to it by the Trustee in lieu of cash; and such bonds or obligations shall be accepted in lieu of such cash at the net cost thereof (exclusive of accrued interest) to the Trustee.
The Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any loss resulting from any investment or reinvestment pursuant to this Section 7.06.

SECTION 7.07. Independent Investigation by Trustee. The Trustee may make such independent investigation as the Trustee may see fit of the facts and conclusions stated in the resolutions, certificates, opinions and other instruments provided for in this Article VII, and in that event may decline to make any payment unless satisfied by such investigation of the truth and accuracy of the matters so investigated. The expense of any such investigation shall be paid by the Company, or if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand with interest at the rate of six percent. (6%) per annum from the date of demand.

ARTICLE VIII.
REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT.
SECTION 8.01. Events o f Default; Acceleration o f Maturity; Waiver of Default. In case one or more of the following events herein called "Events of Default", shall occur and be continuing, that is to say
(a) default shall be made in the payment of the principal of or any premium which may be due and payable on any Bond hereby secured, when the same shall become payable, whether at maturity or otherwise ; or
(b) default shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Bond hereby secured, and such default shall continue for
thirty (30) days; or
(c) default shall be made in the payment, discharge or satisfaction of any sinking, improvement, maintenance, renewal, replacement, depreciation, purchase or similar fund and such default shall continue for thirty (30) days; or
(d) default shall be made by the Company in the due observance or performance of any of the other covenants, agreements or conditions on its part in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture contained and such default shall continue for sixty (60) days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee electing 'to treat such event as an Event of Default, which notice may be given by the Trustee in its discretion, and shall be given at the written request of the holders or registered owners of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding; or
(e) the Company shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or shall institute proceedings for voluntary bankruptcy, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
( f ) the Company shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they mature, or shall institute proceedings for reorganization under any Federal bankruptcy law or other similar law, and the Trustee shall give written notice to the Company electing to treat such event as an Event of Default, which notice may be given by the Trustee, in its discretion, and shall be given at the written request of the holders or registered owners of not less than ten per cent. (10%) in principal amount of the bonds hereby secured and then outstanding; or
(g) a receiver, trustee or custodian of the Company, or of the Mortgaged Property as, or substantially as, an entirety, shall be appointed, or a decree or order shall be entered equivalent to a determination that proceedings for reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition, liquidation, dissolution or any similar relief with respect to the Company have been properly instituted, otherwise than by the Company, under any present or future Federal bankruptcy law or other similar State or Federal law, and such appointment, decree or order shall not be vacated within sixty (60) days, or such longer period as may be required to permit the Company to complete the prosecution of any appeal from such appointment, decree or order which it shall at the time be prosecuting in good faith and with due diligence, after written notice to the Company by the Trustee electing to treat such event as an Event of Default, which notice may be given by the Trustee in its discretion, and shall be given at the written request of the holders or registered owners of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds hereby secured and then outstanding; then and in every such case the Trustee, by notice in writing given to the Company, may, and upon the written request of the holders or registered owners of not less than twenty-five per cent. (257o) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding shall, declare the principal amount of all Bonds then outstanding and the interest accrued thereon immediately due and payable, and said principal and interest shall thereupon become and be immediately due and payable; provided, however, that the holders or registered owners of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding (or, if such Event of Default be a default only in the payment of any principal of or premium or interest on the Bonds of any particular series, then of the holders or registered owners of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds of such series then outstanding), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may annul such declaration and destroy its effects and waive any such default hereunder at any time before any sale under this Article VIII, if, before any such sale,
(i) all covenants, conditions and agreements with respect to which default shall have been made shall be fully performed, and
(ii) all arrears of interest upon all Bonds then outstanding and the principal of and any premium which at the time may be payable on any Bonds which have theretofore been called for redemption or which have matured in due course by their terms and the reasonable charges and expenses of the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, all other sums owed to the Trustee in connection with the exercise and performance of its powers and duties hereunder, and all other indebtedness secured hereby, except the principal of Bonds the date of maturity of which has not yet arrived and interest accrued since the last interest payment date, shall be paid, or the amount thereof shall be paid to the Trustee for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto.

SECTION 8.02. Trustee's Right to Enter and Take Possession, Operate and Apply Income. If one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Company, upon demand of the Trustee, shall forthwith surrender to the Trustee the actual possession, and, to the extent permitted by law, the Trustee, itself, or by such officers or agents as it may appoint, may enter and take possession of all the Mortgaged Property together with all property of which the Trustee is permitted to take possession, use and administer under the terms of the Granting Clauses of this Indenture (or any of the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto) together with the books, papers and accounts of the Company, and may exclude the Company, its agents and servants, wholly therefore, and may hold, operate and manage the same and from time to time make all needful repairs and such alterations, additions and improvements as to the Trustee shall seem wise; and may receive the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, income, product and profits thereof, and out of the same may pay all proper costs and expenses of so taking, holding and managing the same, including reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any charges and all sums owed to the Trustee hereunder in connection with the exercise and performance of its powers and duties hereunder, and any taxes and assessments and other charges prior to the lien of this Indenture which the Trustee may deem it wise to pay, and all expenses of such repairs, alterations, additions and improvements, and, subject to the provisions with respect to extended, pledged and transferred coupons contained in Section 4.02, shall apply the remainder of the moneys so received by the Trustee as follows:
(a) In case the principal of none of the Bonds then outstanding shall have become due, to the payment of the interest in default, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest; such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference; or
(b) In case the principal of any of the Bonds then outstanding shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, first to the payment of the interest in default, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest; second, to the payment of the principal of all Bonds then due; and third, to the payment of any premium which may be due and payable upon Bonds theretofore called for redemption; such payments, respectively, to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference, as of the date fixed therefore by the Trustee.
All of such payments shall be made only upon presentation of the Bonds and coupons, upon stamping payment thereon if partly paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid.
Whenever all that is due upon such interest installments and upon the principal of and premium on such Bonds, and under any of the terms of this Indenture, shall have been paid and all defaults made good, the Trustee shall surrender possession to the Company, its successors or assigns. The same right of entry, however, shall exist if any subsequent Event of Default shall occur and be continuing.
If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, itself, or by its agents or attorneys, may (to the extent permitted by law) collect or enforce the collection of and receive all dividends, interest and other amounts payable in respect of all stocks, bonds, notes, obligations or other indebtedness or securities which may be at the time held as part of the Mortgaged Property, and the Trustee may exercise in its discretion any and all of the voting powers, if any, represented by any such securities. Any sums so received by the Trustee shall be applied by the Trustee in like manner as is provided in the first paragraph of this Section 8.02.

SECTION 8.03. Trustee's Power of Sale. If one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee may, if and to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, itself, or by such officers or agents as it may appoint, with or without entry, sell the Mortgaged Property as an entirety or, if permitted by law, in such parcels as the holders or registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding shall in writing request, or, in the absence of such request, as the Trustee may determine, at public auction at some convenient place in the County of New Castle, State of Delaware, or in such other place or places as may be required by law, having first given notice of such sale by publication in at least one Authorized Newspaper in the place or places where such sale is to take place, or, if there be no such newspaper, in a newspaper printed in the English language and, of general circulation in the county or counties where such sale is to take place, at least once a week for four successive calendar weeks, on any day of each such week, next preceding such sale, and any other or further or additional notice which may be required by law, and from time to time may adjourn such sale by announcement at the time and place appointed for such sale or for such adjourned sale or sales without further notice except such as may be required by law, and upon such sale the Trustee may make and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers a good and sufficient deed or deeds for the same, which sale, as likewise any sale made under this Indenture by virtue of any judicial proceedings, shall, to the extent permitted by law, be a perpetual bar both in law and in equity against the Company and all persons and corporations lawfully claiming or to claim by or through or under it.

SECTION 8.04. Trustee Authorized to Execute Deeds, etc. The Trustee is further hereby irrevocably appointed the true and lawful attorney of the Company, in its name and stead, for the purpose of effectuating any such sale to execute and deliver all necessary deeds, bills of sale, assignments and transfers, and to substitute one or more persons or corporations with like power, the Company hereby ratifying and confirming all that its said attorney, or such substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do by virtue hereof. Nevertheless, if so requested by the Trustee, or by any purchaser, the Company shall ratify and confirm any such sale or transfer by executing and delivering to the Trustee or to such purchaser or purchasers all proper conveyances, assignments, instruments of transfer and releases as may be designated in any such request.

SECTION 8.05. Trustee Empowered to Enforce Payment, Foreclose and Sell Mortgaged Property. If one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee may, either after entry as hereinbefore provided or other entry or without entry, proceed by suit or suits at law or in equity or by any other appropriate remedy to enforce payment of the Bonds hereby secured and to foreclose this Indenture and to sell, as an entirety, or, if permitted by law, in separate parcels, the Mortgaged Property under the judgment or decree of a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, and it shall be obligatory upon the Trustee to take action either by such proceedings or by the exercise of its powers with respect to entry or sale as the Trustee may determine, upon being requested in writing so to do by the holders or registered owners of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, and upon being indemnified as provided in Section 12.02.

SECTION 8.06. Limitations on Proceedings by Bondholders. No Bondholder or Bondholders shall be entitled to take any proceedings under or in respect of this Indenture or the lien hereof, except in case of refusal or neglect of the Trustee to act after such continued default and such request and tender of indemnity as aforesaid; provided, however, that nothing in this Indenture or in any of the Bonds or coupons contained shall affect or impair the right, which is unconditional and absolute, of the holder or registered owner of any Bond or coupon to enforce payment of the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on the Bond and payment of the coupon at or after the date therein expressed as the date when the same shall respectively become due, or the obligation of the Company, which is also unconditional and absolute, to pay the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on the Bonds to the respective holders or registered owners thereof and of the coupons at the respective times and places therein expressed.

SECTION 8.07. Undertaking for Costs in Action to Enforce Remedy Under Indenture. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the parties to this Indenture and the Bondholders agree that in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it, as trustee, the court may in its discretion require the filing by any party litigant in , such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 8.07 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, either directly or through an agent or agents, or to any suit instituted by any Bondholder, or group of Bondholders, holding in the aggregate more than ten per cent. (10%) in principal amount of the Bonds outstanding or to any suit instituted by any holder of any Bond or coupon for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium (if any) or interest then due on such Bond.

SECTION 8.08. Remedies Cumulative. No remedy by the terms of this Indenture conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee, or to the Bondholders is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, but each and every such remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute.

SECTION 8.09. Majority of Bondholders May Control Proceedings. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the holders and registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, from time to time, shall have the right, to the extent permitted by law, by an instrument in writing executed and delivered to the Trustee, to direct the time, method and place of conducting all proceedings to be taken for any sale of the Mortgaged Property or for the foreclosure of this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver, and any other proceedings under this Article VIII; provided that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with the provisions hereof.

SECTION 8.10. Trustee Entitled to Appointment of Receiver. If one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, then upon the filing of a bill in equity or other commencement of judicial proceedings to enforce the right of the Trustee and of the Bondholders, the Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, shall be entitled as a matter of right to the appointment of a receiver or receivers of the Mortgaged Property, and of thee tolls, rents, revenues, issues, income, product and profits thereof, pending such proceedings, with such powers as the court making such appointment shall confer, but notwithstanding the appointment of any receiver, trustee or other custodian, the Trustee shall be entitled as pledge to the possession and control of any cash, securities or other instruments at the time held by, or payable or deliverable under the provisions of this Indenture to, the Trustee.

SECTION 8.11. Principal and Interest Become Due on Sale. Upon any sale being made either under the power of sale hereby given or under judgment or decree in any judicial proceedings for foreclosure or otherwise for the enforcement of this Indenture, the principal of all Bonds then outstanding, if not previously due, and the interest accrued thereon, shall at once become and be immediately due and payable.

SECTION 8.12. Purchase of Mortgaged Property by Bondholders or Trustee; Application o f Bonds Toward Purchase Price. Upon any such sale, whether made under the power of sale hereby given or under judgment or decree of court or otherwise, any Bondholder or Bondholders or the Trustee may bid for and purchase the Mortgaged Property and, upon compliance with the terms of sale, may hold, retain and possess and dispose of such property in his, their or its own absolute right without further accountability; and any purchaser at any such sale may, if permitted by law, after allowing for the proportion of the total purchase price required to be paid in cash for the costs and expenses of the sale, compensation and other charges, in paying purchase money, turn in Bonds or coupons, or both, then outstanding, in lieu of cash, to the amount which shall, upon distribution of the net proceeds of such sale, be payable thereon, subject however, to the provisions with respect to extended, pledged and transferred coupons contained in Section 4.02. Said Bonds .and coupons, in case the amount so payable thereon shall be less than the amount due thereon, shall be returned to the holders or registered owners thereof after being properly stamped to show partial payment.

SECTION 8.13. Receipt of Trustee or Court Officer Making Sale Sufficient Discharge to Purchaser. Upon any such sale, whether made under the power of sale hereby given or under judgment or decree of court or otherwise, the receipt of the Trustee or of the officer making a sale under judicial proceedings shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers for the purchase money, and such purchasers, and their assigns or personal representatives, shall not, after paying such purchase money and receiving such receipt therefor, be obliged to see to the application of such purchase money, or be in any wise answerable for any loss, misapplication or non-application thereof.

SECTION 8.14. Application of Proceeds of Sale. The proceeds of any such sale, whether made under the power of sale hereby conferred upon the Trustee or under judgment or decree of court or otherwise, together with any other moneys then held by the Trustee under this Indenture as part of the Mortgaged Property or the proceeds thereof, except any moneys held for the benefit and security or payment of any particular Bonds or coupons, shall be applied as follows:
First: To the payment of all lawful taxes, assessments or. Prior Liens, except those subject to which such sale shall have been made, and of all costs and expenses of such sale, including reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other sums payable to the Trustee hereunder by reason of any expenses or liabilities incurred or advances made by it in connection with the management or administration of the trusts hereby created;
Second: To the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Bonds then outstanding for principal, premium (if any) and interest; and, in case such proceeds shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid, then to the payment of such principal, premium (if any) and interest ratably, without preference or priority of any one over any other, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest (except as otherwise provided with regard to extended, pledged and transferred coupons in Section 4.02) ; such payments shall be made, as of the date fixed therefor by the Trustee, upon presentation of the Bonds and coupons, and upon stamping payment thereon if partly paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid; and
Third: Any surplus then remaining, to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

SECTION 8.15. Waiver of Appraisement, Valuation, Stay, Extension and Redemption Laws. The Company agrees, to , the full extent that it may lawfully so agree, that in case of a default on its part,, as aforesaid, neither the Company nor any one claiming through or under it shall or will set up, claim or seek to take advantage of any appraisement, valuation, stay, extension or redemption laws now or hereafter in force in any locality where any property subject to the lien hereof may be situated, in order to prevent or hinder the enforcement or foreclosure of this Indenture, or the absolute sale of the property hereby conveyed, or the final and absolute putting into possession thereof, immediately after such sale, of the purchasers thereat; and the Company, for itself and all who may at any time claim through or under it, hereby waives, to the full extent that it may lawfully so do, the benefit of all such laws, and any and all right to have the estates comprised in the security intended to be created hereby marshalled upon any foreclosure of the lien hereof and agrees that the Trustee or any court having jurisdiction to foreclose such lien may sell the Mortgaged Property as an entirety.

SECTION 8.16. No Waiver of One Default to Affect Another. No waiver of any default hereunder, whether by the Trustee or the Bondholders, shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent or any other then existing default or shall impair any rights or remedies consequent thereon.

SECTION 8.17. Discontinuance of Proceeding on Default-Position of Parties Restored. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture by foreclosure, entry or otherwise, and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company and the Trustee shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder with respect to the Mortgaged Property, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee shall continue as if no such proceedings had been taken.

SECTION 8.18. Trustee to File Proofs of Claim in Receivership, etc.; Not to Consent to Reorganization Plan. In the case of any receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition, or other judicial proceedings affecting the Company, its creditors or its property, the Trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Bondholders allowed in such proceedings for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under this Indenture at the date of the institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount which may become due and payable by the Company hereunder after such date, without prejudice, however, to the right of any Bondholder to file a claim in his own behalf ; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Indenture shall be deemed
(a) to give the Trustee any right to accept or consent to any plan of reorganization or otherwise by action of any character in any such proceeding to waive or change in any way any right of any Bondholder; or
(b) to constitute a waiver by the Company of its right to contest the validity of any claim made against it.

SECTION 8.19. Company to Pay All Bonds on Any Default in Payment; Application of Moneys by Trustee. If an Event of Default shall occur in respect of the payment of any principal or premium or interest hereby secured, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders or registered owners of the Bonds and the holders of the coupons then outstanding hereunder, the whole amount due and payable on all such Bonds and coupons for principal, premium (if any) and interest; and, in case the Company shall fail to pay the same forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled to sue for and to recover judgment for the whole amount so due and unpaid.
The Trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law and except as hereinafter in this Section 8.19 provided, be entitled to sue and recover judgment as aforesaid either before, after or during the tendency of any proceedings for the enforcement of the lien of this Indenture, and the right of the Trustee to recover such judgment shall not be affected by any entry or sale hereunder, or by the exercise of any other right, power or remedy for the enforcement of the provisions of this Indenture or the foreclosure of the lien hereof.
In case of a sale of any of the Mortgaged Property and of the application of the proceeds of sale to the payment of the debt hereby secured, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled to enforce payment of and to receive all amounts then remaining due and unpaid upon any and all of the Bonds and coupons then outstanding hereunder, for the benefit of the holders or registered owners thereof, and the Trustee shall be entitled to recover judgment for any portion of ' the debt remaining unpaid, with interest.
The Company agrees, to the full extent that it may lawfully so agree, that no recovery of any such judgment by the Trustee and no attachment or levy of any execution upon any such judgment upon any of the Mortgaged Property or upon any other property shall in any manner or to any extent affect the lien of this Indenture upon the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or any lien, rights, powers or remedies of the Trustee hereunder, or any lien, rights, powers or remedies of the holders or registered owners of the Bonds, but such lien, rights, powers and remedies of the Trustee and of the Bondholders shall continue unimpaired as before.
The provisions of this Section 8.19 and the powers granted to the Trustee by this Section are subject to the limitation that if by the commencement or continuance of any action to recover judgment for any amount due and unpaid upon the Bonds or upon coupons appertaining to Bonds or hereunder, or by the exercise of any other remedy prior to or concurrently with proceedings to enforce the lien of this Indenture, the lien of this Indenture or the security hereby provided for would be prejudiced, surrendered, waived or lost, the Trustee shall not have power to exercise any such remedy.
Any moneys thus collected or received by the Trustee under this Section 8.19 shall be applied
First, to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and other sums owed to the Trustee in connection. with the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder, and,
Second, toward payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon such Bonds and coupons in respect of which such moneys shall have been collected, ratably and without any preference or priority of any kind (except as otherwise provided with regard to extended, pledged and transferred coupons in Section 4.02), according to the amounts due and payable upon such Bonds and coupons, respectively, as of the date fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, but only upon presentation of the several Bonds and coupons, and upon stamping such payment thereon if partly paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid.

SECTION 8.20. Trustee May Enforce Rights Without Bonds. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Bonds outstanding hereunder, enforceable by the Trustee, may be enforced by the Trustee, without the possession of any of such Bonds or the coupons appertaining thereto or the production thereof on the trial or other proceedings relative thereto-; and any such suit or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name for the' ratable benefit of the holders or registered owners of said Bonds and the holders of said coupons, subject to the provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 8.21. Delay or Omission No Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder or registered owner of Bonds outstanding hereunder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default shall exhaust or impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default, or acquiescence therein ; and. every power and remedy given by this Indenture to the Trustee or to the Bondholders may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Bondholders.

SECTION 8.22. Rights, Remedies and Powers Subject to Mandatory Provisions of Law. All rights, remedies and powers provided for in this Article VIII may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law in the premises and all the provisions of this Article VIII are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling in the premises and to be limited to the extent necessary, so that they will not render this Indenture invalid, unenforceable in whole or in part, or not entitled to be recorded or filed under the provisions of any applicable law.

ARTICLE IX.
EVIDENCE OF RIGHTS OF BONDHOLDERS.
SECTION 9.01. Evidence o f Rights o f Bondholders. Any request or other instrument which this Indenture may require or permit to be signed and executed by the Bondholders may be in any number of concurrent instruments of similar tenor and may be signed and executed by such Bondholders in person or by attorney appointed in writing. Proof of the execution of any such request or other instrument, or of a writing appointing any such attorney, or of the holding or owning by any person of Bonds, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any person of such request or other instrument or writing may be proved by the certificate of any notary public, or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds to be recorded in any State of the
United States, that the person signing such request or other instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof, or by an affidavit (sworn to before such a notary public or other officer) of a witness to such execution;
(b) The amount and description of Bonds transferable by delivery held by any person executing such request or other instrument or writing as a Bondholder and the date of his holding the same may be proved, unless herein otherwise provided, by a certificate executed by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary acceptable to the Trustee, wheresoever situated, showing that at. the date therein mentioned such person had on deposit with such depositary the Bonds described in such certificate; and the fact and date of execution by any such person of a proxy in respect of any such Bonds may also be proved by having the signature of such person on such proxy witnessed or guaranteed by such trust company, bank, banker, or other depositary; and
(c) The ownership of registered Bonds without coupons and of coupon Bonds registered as to principal shall be proved by the registration and transfer books of the Company herein provided for or by a certificate of the custodian thereof.
The Trustee or the Company may nevertheless in the discretion of either require further proof in cases where further proof is deemed desirable, and may require the production of any Bond or Bonds, and shall not be bound to recognize any person as a Bondholder unless and until his title to the Bonds held by him is proved in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee or to the Company.

SECTION 9.02. Future Holders Bound. Any request, consent or assent of the holder or registered owner of or other person entitled by any other provision of this Indenture to give any such request, consent or assent with respect to any Bond shall bind all future holders and registered owners of the same Bond, or any Bond or Bonds issued in lieu thereof or in exchange therefore (whether or not such future holder or owner has notice thereof).

ARTICLE X.
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS.
SECTION 10.01. Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in any indenture supplemental hereto, or in any Bond or coupon hereby secured, or because of any indebtedness hereby secured, shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture, any indenture supplemental hereto and the obligations hereby secured, are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to, or be incurred by, such incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the incurring of the indebtedness hereby or thereby authorized, or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any indenture supplemental hereto or in any of the Bonds or coupons thereby secured, or implied therefrom.

ARTICLE XI.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR LEASE.
SECTION 11.01. Conditions Under Which Merger, Consolidation, Sale or Lease Permitted. Nothing in this Indenture contained shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into, or any conveyance or transfer, subject to the lien of this Indenture, of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety or any lease of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any corporation lawfully entitled to acquire or lease and operate the same; provided, however, that
(a) any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease shall be upon such terms as shall in no respect impair the lien of this Indenture or any of the rights or powers of the Trustee or the Bondholders hereunder, and
(b) any such lease shall be made expressly subject to immediate termination by the Trustee or by any receiver appointed hereunder at any time during the continuance of a default hereunder and also by the purchaser of the property so leased at any sale thereof hereunder, whether such sale be made under the power of sale hereby conferred or under judicial proceedings, and
(c) upon any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which such merger shall have been made or acquiring such property as aforesaid (such corporation being herein called the "Successor Corporation") shall execute and cause to be recorded, a supplemental indenture with the Trustee, satisfactory to the Trustee, whereby the Successor Corporation shall assume and agree to pay, duly and punctually, the principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on the Bonds issued hereunder and secured hereby in accordance with the provisions of said Bonds and coupons and of this Indenture and all indentures supplemental hereto, and shall agree to perform, observe and fulfill, duly and punctually, all the terms, covenants and conditions of this Indenture and any indentures supplemental hereto to be performed, observed or fulfilled by the Company, subject to the provisions of Section 11.03.

SECTION 11.02. Substitution of Successor Corporation; Conditions Imposed; Opinion o f Counsel as to Title and Indenture o f Successor Corporation. Upon executing and causing to be recorded the indenture with the Trustee referred to in clause (c) of Section 11.01, the Successor Corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the mortgagor company and the Successor Corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, issued and delivered, either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Bonds which shall not theretofore have been signed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Corporation in lieu of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and restrictions in this Indenture contained with respect to the authentication and issue of Bonds, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver any of such Bonds which shall have been previously signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication and any of such Bonds which the Successor Corporation shall thereafter, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for such purpose. All the Bonds so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and security as the Bonds theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, as though all of said Bonds had been issued at the date of the execution hereof; provided, however, that as a condition precedent to the execution by the Successor Corporation and the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of any such additional Bonds in respect of the purchase, construction, erection or other acquisition by the Successor Corporation of any Property Additions, or the exercise by the Successor Corporation of any other privilege in respect of Property Additions conferred upon the Company by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, the indenture with the Trustee to be executed by the Successor Corporation as in Section 11.01 provided, or one or more subsequently executed supplemental indentures, shall contain a conveyance or transfer, assignment and pledge in terms sufficient to include such Property Additions; and provided further, that the lien created thereby shall have similar force, effect and standing, subject to the provisions of Section 11.03, as the lien of this Indenture would have if the Company had not been consolidated with or merged into such other corporation or had not conveyed or transferred subject to the lien of this Indenture all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, as aforesaid, to the Successor Corporation, and had itself purchased, constructed, erected or otherwise acquired said Property Additions and requested the authentication and delivery of Bonds, or the exercise of such other privilege, under the provisions of this Indenture in respect thereof.
The Trustee may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such indenture executed pursuant to Section 11.01 or this Section 11.02 complies with the respective provisions thereof, and that the Successor Corporation is lawfully entitled to acquire the Mortgaged Property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety and to operate the same, and that all other pertinent provisions of this Article XI have been complied with.

SECTION 11.03. Indenture Not a Lien on Successor Corporation's Property; Exceptions. In case the Company, pursuant, to Section 11.01, shall be consolidated with or merged into any other corporation, or shall convey or transfer, subject to the lien of this Indenture, all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property, as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, as aforesaid, neither this Indenture nor the indenture with the Trustee to be executed and caused to be recorded by the Successor Corporation as in Section 11.01 provided shall, unless such indenture shall otherwise expressly provide, become or be a lien upon any of the properties or franchises of the Successor Corporation except
(a) those acquired by it from the Company,
(b) any Property Additions of the Successor Corporation used by it as the basis for the authentication and delivery of Bonds or the withdrawal of moneys under this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto or for the exercise of any other privilege conferred upon the Company by the terms of this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto,
(c) property received in exchange for property released from the lien hereof,
(d) such franchises, replacements and additional property as may be acquired by the Successor Corporation in pursuance of the covenants herein contained to maintain, preserve and renew the franchises covered by this Indenture and to keep and maintain the property covered by this Indenture in good repair, working order and condition or in pursuance of some other covenant or agreement hereof to be kept or performed by the Company, and
(e) permanent improvements, extensions, additions and betterments appurtenant to any property described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 11.03;
but in case of any such merger, consolidation, conveyance or transfer, the accounts of the Successor Corporation shall be so kept that the earnings of the Mortgaged Property may be at all times distinguished and all covenants herein contained affecting the Mortgaged Property may be fully performed.

SECTION 11.04. Instruments by Successor Corporation; Seal. Any order, request, certificate or any other instrument of any officer or officers of the Company provided for in this Indenture may be made by like officers of the Successor Corporation, and any resolution provided to be adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company may be adopted by the board of directors or board of trustees, as the case may be, of the Successor Corporation. The word "seal", wherever contained in this Indenture, shall include the seal of the Successor Corporation.
SECTION 11.05. Surrender of Power by Company or Successor Corporation. At any time prior to the exercise of any power by this Article XI reserved to the Company or to a Successor Corporation, the Company or such Successor Corporation may surrender any power so reserved by delivering to the Trustee an instrument in writing, executed by its President or a Vice-President under its corporate seal, attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, accompanied by the affidavit of its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the execution of such instrument was duly authorized by the vote of the Board of Directors of the Company or board of directors or board of trustees, as the case may be, of such Successor Corporation, given at a meeting duly called and held, and thereupon the power so surrendered shall cease.

ARTICLE XII.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE.
The Trustee accepts the trusts hereunder and agrees to perform the same, but only upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the Company and the respective holders of the Bonds and coupons at any time outstanding by their acceptance thereof agree:

SECTION 12.01. Duties of Trustee. The Trustee undertakes, except while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to exercise such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and, while such an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to exercise such of the rights and powers as are vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as an ordinarily prudent man would do or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. The Trustee, upon receipt of the evidence furnished to it by or on behalf of the Company, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, will examine the same to determine whether or not such evidence conforms to the requirements of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.02. Obligation of Trustee to Investigate or Take Action; Indemnification. Except as elsewhere in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided
(1) unless an Event of Default. shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action or make any investigation in respect of the subject matter of this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto unless requested in writing so to do by the holders or registered owners of not less than twenty-five per cent. (25%) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, and
(2) whether or not an Event of Default shall have occurred, the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action under this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto which in its opinion may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its opinion, assured to it by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, unless and until requested in writing so to do by one or more holders or registered owners of Bonds outstanding hereunder and furnished, from time to time as it may require, with reasonable security and indemnity; provided, however, that no security or indemnity furnished by the holders or registered owners of Bonds to the Trustee shall be applicable to any liability
(a) which is incurred by the Trustee as a result of any action taken by the Trustee not reasonably in accordance with the request or requests delivered to the Trustee by such holders or registered owners of the Bonds, or
(b) which is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be a liability imposed upon the Trustee as a result of its default or negligence in the performance of the duties imposed upon or undertaken by the Trustee by the terms of this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto.

SECTION 12.03. Trustee's Liability. The Trustee shall not be personally liable save for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct. No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that
(1) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture; and
(2) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may rely conclusively, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be personally liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer or officers of the Trustee unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, but the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture; and
(4) the Trustee shall not be personally liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with any direction or request of the holders of the Bonds with which it is required by the provisions hereof to comply.

For the purpose of this Section 12.03 the term "responsible officer" of the Trustee shall mean any of the following: the President, every Vice-President, every Assistant Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, every Trust Officer and every other officer and assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers respectively or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

SECTION 12.04. Trustee Not Personally Liable for Debts. Subject to the provisions of Section 12.01 and Section 12.03, the Trustee shall not be personally liable in case of entry by it upon the Mortgaged Property for debts contracted or liability or damages incurred in the management or operation thereof.

SECTION 12.05. Trustee's Reliance Upon Documents and Opinions o f Counsel. To the extent permitted by Sections 12.01, 12.02 and 12.03
(1) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate, Bond, coupon, resolution, appraisal, report or other paper or document believed by the Trustee to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties ; and
(2) The Trustee may consult with counsel (who may be of counsel to the Company) and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by the Trustee hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion of such counsel.

SECTION 12.06. No Representations by Trustee. The recitals and statements contained herein and in the Bonds and coupons issued hereunder shall not be considered as made by or as imposing any obligation or liability upon the Trustee. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity of this Indenture or of any indenture supplemental hereto, or of any Bonds or coupons issued hereunder, or as to the security hereby or thereby afforded, or as to the title of the Company to the Mortgaged Property or as to the descriptions thereof.

SECTION 12.07. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee; Lien Therefor. The Company will from time to time, on demand, pay to the Trustee reasonable compensation for its services, reimburse the Trustee for all its advances and expenditures, including advances to and fees and expenses of independent appraisers, accountants, surveyors, engineers, counsel or other experts employed by it, in the exercise and performance of its powers and duties hereunder, and indemnify and save the Trustee harmless against any liabilities, not arising from its own default or negligence, which it may incur in the exercise and performance of its powers and duties hereunder; and, as security for such indemnification, reimbursement and compensation, the Trustee shall have the benefit of the lien hereby created in priority to the indebtedness evidenced by the Bonds and coupons issued hereunder.

SECTION 12.08. Certificate o f Company as Proof. Whenever, in the administration of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that any matter be proved or established prior to its taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed), subject to Sections 12.01 and 12.03, may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and, subject as aforesaid, such Certificate shall be full v; arrant and authority to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture in reliance thereon; but the Trustee in its discretion may, and if requested in writing so to do by the holders or registered owners of not less than twenty-five per cent. (25%) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and furnished with security and indemnity against the costs and expenses of such examinations as required by Section 12.02 shall, require such further and additional evidence and make such further investigation as to it may seem reasonable. The agents and representatives of the Trustee and any experts or counsel whose opinions are required by the Trustee for any purpose hereunder or are deliverable to the Trustee under any provisions hereof shall likewise be fully warranted in relying and acting upon the existence of any matters proved or established by any such certificate, unless other evidence establishing such fact or facts be specifically required by this Indenture.

SECTION 12.09. Moneys Received by Trustee Trust Funds-Segregation, Interest. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.06, all moneys received by the Trustee under or pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture (including any moneys received by the Trustee as paying agent) shall constitute trust funds for the purpose for which they were paid or are held, but need not be segregated in any manner from other moneys held by the Trustee in trust and may be deposited by the Trustee under such conditions as may be prescribed by law for trust funds; the Trustee shall allow and (unless, to the knowledge of the Trustee, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing) shall pay over to the Company interest upon such moneys received by it at such rates as shall at the time be customarily allowed by it upon other deposits of similar character or as shall be agreed upon from time to time between the Company and the Trustee.

SECTION 12.10. Trustee May Hold Bonds. The Trustee or any corporation in or with which the Trustee or its stockholders may be interested or affiliated or any officer or director of the Trustee or of any other such corporation may acquire and hold Bonds and coupons issued hereunder and otherwise deal with the Company or with any other corporation having relations with the Company, to the full extent permitted by law.

SECTION 12.11. Notices to Company by Trustee. Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee on the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given and served for all purposes by being deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box, addressed to the Company at Newport, Wilmington 4, Delaware, or at such other address as the Company may have furnished to the Trustee in writing.

SECTION 12.12. Execution and Certification by Company of Documents Furnished to Trustee. Except when otherwise in this Indenture expressly provided, any order, request, notice, consent or other instrument in writing to be delivered or furnished by the Company to the Trustee, shall be sufficiently executed if signed, whether in the name of the Company or not, by its President or a Vice-President and by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or its Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or by such officer or officers as the Board of Directors of the Company may by a Certified Resolution direct.

SECTION 12.13. Resignation of Trustee; Removal. The Trustee may resign and be discharged from the trusts created by this Indenture by giving to the Company notice in writing, and to the Bondholders notice by publication, of such resignation, specifying a date when such resignation shall take effect, which notice shall be published at least once a week for two successive calendar weeks, on any day of each such week, the first publication to be at least ten days prior to the date so specified, in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but if all the outstanding Bonds are registered Bonds without coupons or coupon Bonds registered as to principal, then, in lieu of such notice by publication, such notice shall be mailed, by registered mail with return receipt requested at least ten (10) days prior to the date of resignation specified, to the registered owners of the Bonds at their addresses as the same appear, if at all, upon the registration and transfer books of the Company. Such resignation shall take effect on the day specified in such notice, unless previously a successor trustee shall have been appointed as provided in Section 12.14, in which event such resignation shall take effect immediately upon the appointment of such successor trustee.
The Trustee may be removed at any time by an instrument or instruments in writing, executed by the holders or registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and filed with the Trustee specifying the removal and the date when it shall take effect. Prompt written notice of such removal shall be given by the Trustee to the Company.

SECTION 12.14. Appointment of Successor Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall resign or shall be removed or otherwise shall become incapable of acting, a successor may be appointed by the holders or registered owners of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, by an instrument or instruments in writing executed by such Bondholders and filed with the successor trustee; but, until a new trustee shall be appointed by the Bondholders as herein authorized, the Company, by an instrument in writing executed by order of its Board of Directors and filed with the successor trustee, shall appoint a trustee to fill such vacancy. After any such appointment by the Company, it shall cause notice of such appointment to be published once a week, for two successive calendar weeks, in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but if all the outstanding Bonds are registered Bonds without coupons or coupon Bonds registered as to principal, then, in lieu of such notice by publication, such notice shall be mailed, by registered mail with return receipt requested, to the registered owners of the Bonds at their addresses as the same appear, if at all, upon the registration and transfer books of the Company. Any new trustee so appointed by the Company shall immediately and without further act be superseded by a trustee appointed by the holders or registered owners of a majority in principal amount of said Bonds in the manner hereinabove provided.
If in a proper case no appointment of a successor trustee shall be made pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Article XII within six months after a vacancy shall have occurred in the office of trustee, the holder or registered owner of any Bond hereby secured or the retiring trustee (but not if such trustee has been removed) may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor trustee, and such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a successor trustee.

SECTION 12.15. Succession of Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and the retiring trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon such successor trustee, without any further act, deed, conveyance or transfer, shall become vested with the title to the Mortgaged Property, with all the rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of its predecessor in the trust hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein. Upon the request of such successor trustee, however, the Company and the trustee ceasing to act shall execute and deliver such instruments of convey ante and further assurance and do such other things as may reasonably be required for more fully and certainly vesting and confirming in such successor trustee all the right, title and interest of the trustee ceasing to act in and to the Mortgaged Property and all such rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations, and the trustee ceasing to act shall also assign and deliver to the successor trustee any property subject to the lien of this Indenture which may then be in its possession.

SECTION 12.16. Qualification of Successor Trustee. Except as hereinafter in Section 12.18 provided, every trustee appointed hereunder in succession to the Trustee shall always be a state or national bank or trust company in good standing, organized under the laws of the State of Delaware or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or of the United States of America and doing business in the City of Philadelphia, or in the State of Delaware having capital, undivided profits and surplus aggregating at least Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000), if there be such a bank or trust company. willing and able to accept such trust upon reasonable and customary terms.

SECTION 12.17. Successor Trustee by Merger. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any state or national bank or trust company in any manner succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Trustee or of any successor trustee as a whole or substantially as a whole, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding. In case any of the Bonds shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor trustee may adopt the certificate of the Trustee and deliver the same so authenticated ; and in case any of such Bonds shall not have been authenticated, any such successor trustee may authenticate such Bonds in the name of such successor trustee.

SECTION 12.18. Appointment of Separate or Co-Trustee. At any times or times, for the purpose of conforming to any legal requirements, restrictions or conditions in any state in which any part of the Mortgaged Property may be located, the Company and the Trustee shall have power to appoint, and, upon the request of the Trustee, the Company shall for such purpose join with the Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance of any instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint another corporation or one or more persons, approved by the Trustee, to act either as separate trustee or trustees or as co-trustee or co-trustees jointly with the Trustee of all or any part of the trust estate. If one or more Events of Default specified in Section 8.01 hereof shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, acting alone, shall have power to make any such appointment.
Such separate trustee or trustees or co-trustee or co-trustees shall have such powers and duties as shall be conferred or imposed by the terms of its or their appointment; but every such separate trustee or co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed subject to the following provisions and conditions, namely:
(1) Bonds issued hereunder shall be authenticated and delivered, and all powers, duties, obligations and rights conferred upon the Trustee in respect of the custody of all obligations and other securities and of all cash pledged or deposited hereunder shall be exercised, solely by Wilmington Trust Company or its successor in the trust hereunder, and any moneys at any time coming into the hands of any such separate trustee or trustees or co-trustee or co-trustees shall be at once paid over to Wilmington Trust Company or its successor in the trust hereunder;
(2) All rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon any such separate trustee or trustees or co-trustee or co-trustees or any of them shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by Wilmington Trust Company or its successor in the trust hereunder and any such separate trustee or trustees or co-trustee or co-trustees jointly, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed, such Wilmington Trust Company or its successor in the trust hereunder shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by any such separate trustee or trustees or co-trustee or co-trustees;
(3) No power shall be exercised hereunder by any such separate trustee or trustees or co-trustee or co-trustees except jointly or with the consent in writing of Wilmington Trust Company or its successors in the trust hereunder;
(4) The Company and Wilmington Trust Company or its successor in the trust hereunder, at any time by an instrument in writing executed by them jointly, may remove any separate trustee or co-trustee appointed under this Section 12.18, and may likewise and in like manner appoint a successor to such separate trustee or co-trustee so removed or who shall resign or become incapable of acting, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding ; and
(5) Any notice, request or other writing delivered solely to Wilmington Trust Company or its successor in the trust hereunder shall be deemed to have been delivered to all of the trustees as effectually as if delivered to each of them.

ARTICLE XIII.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
SECTION 13.01. Supplemental Indentures, Execution Thereof by Company. In addition. to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized or permitted by this Indenture, the Company, pursuant to resolutions adopted by its Board of Directors, may, at any time and from time to time, subject to the conditions and restrictions in this Indenture contained, execute an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, which thereafter shall form a part hereof, for any one or more or all of the following purposes
(a) To add to the conditions, limitations, and restrictions of the authorized amount, terms, provisions, purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Bonds specified in Article II and Article III, other conditions, limitations and restrictions thereafter to be observed with respect to the Bonds or any one or more series thereof
(b) To add to the covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture contained, other covenants and agreements thereafter to be observed;
(c) To provide for the creation of any series of Bonds other than Series A and Series B as more fully set forth in paragraph 2 of Section 3.04 . ;
(d) To evidence the: succession of, another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumptions, agreements and grants contemplated by Article XI;
(e) To convey, transfer and assign to the Trustee, and to subject to the lien of this Indenture, with the same force and effect as though included in the Granting Clauses hereof, additional properties, rights and franchises hereafter acquired by the Company through consolidation or merger, or by purchase or in any other manner whatsoever;
(f) To cure any ambiguity, or to cure, correct or supplement any defect or inconsistent provision contained in this Indenture or in any indenture supplemental hereto, or to make any provisions with respect to matters arising under this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto or for any other purpose if such provisions are necessary or desirable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Bonds;
(g) To add to the powers, duties or obligations of the Trustee, or to impose requirements, in addition to those set forth in Section 12.16, with respect to the qualification or disqualification of any bank or trust company to act as trustee under this Indenture, but no such supplemental indenture shall be made without the consent of the Trustee; and
(h) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (g) of this Section 13.01, to add to the provisions of this Indenture such provisions (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, provisions relating to the powers, duties or obligations of the Trustee, or imposing requirements in addition to those set forth herein with respect to the qualification or disqualification of the Trustee) as would at the time be required in an indenture then to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as then amended, or under other legislation enacted in substitution therefore.
No vote or consent of the holders of the Bonds issued hereunder or of the stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with the execution and delivery of any such supplemental indenture.

SECTION 13.02. Trustee to Join in Supplemental Indentures; May Rely on Opinion o f Counsel as Evidence o f Compliance. The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the provisions of this Indenture and to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained, and the Trustee in executing any supplemental indenture shall be fully protected in relying on an Opinion of Counsel that such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by the provisions of this Indenture and that all required consents, if any, of the Bondholders have been obtained.

ARTICLE XIV.
MEETINGS AND CONSENTS OF BONDHOLDERS.
SECTION 14.01. Modifications of Indenture and Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Bondholders. Modifications and alterations of this Indenture, of any indenture supplemental hereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and of the holders of the Bonds and coupons issued hereunder may be made as hereinafter provided in this Article.

SECTION 14.02. Meetings of Bondholders; Notice of. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of the Bondholders, and it shall call such a meeting on the written request of the Company or of the holders of not less than ten per cent. (10 %) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding. In the event of the Trustee's failing for ten days to call a meeting after being. thereunto requested as above set forth, the holders of ten per cent. (10%) or more in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, or the Company pursuant to a resolution adopted by its Board of Directors, may call such meeting. Every such meeting called at the instance of the Trustee shall be held at the principal office of the Trustee in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or, if there be a successor trustee, at its principal office, but if called by or at the request of the Bondholders or of the Company shall be held at such place in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or in the State of Delaware, as may be specified in the notice calling such meeting or the request that such meeting be called. If such meeting is called by the Trustee, written notice thereof, stating the place and time thereof and in general terms the business to be submitted, shall be mailed by the Trustee not less than thirty days before such meeting,
(a) to the registered owners of coupon Bonds registered as to principal and of registered Bonds without coupons then outstanding addressed to them at their addresses appearing, if at all, on the registration and transfer books of the Company,
(b) to each holder of any coupon Bond not registered as to principal who shall have filed with the Trustee an address for such notices, addressed to him at such address, and
(c) to the Company addressed to it at its address as specified in Section 12.11, and shall be published by the Trustee at least two times in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in each of such other cities, if any, in which interest on the Bonds is payable, provided, however, that the mailing of any such notice shall in no case be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken at such meeting. If all the outstanding Bonds are registered Bonds without coupons or coupon Bonds registered as to principal, however, publication of such notice may be omitted, and in such event notice shall be , mailed, by registered mail with return receipt requested at least thirty (30) days before the meeting, to the registered owners’ of the Bonds then outstanding at their addresses as the same appear, if at all, on the registration and transfer books of the Company. The first such publication shall be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting and the second such publication shall be made in any calendar week after the calendar week in which the first such publication is made and preceding the meeting. If such meeting is called by the Bondholders or the Company, after failure of the Trustee to call the same after being requested so to do in accordance with this Section 14.02, notice of such meeting shall be sufficient for all purposes hereof if given by newspaper publication as aforesaid stating the place and time of the meeting and in general terms the business to be submitted. Any meeting of Bondholders shall be valid without notice if the holders of all Bonds then outstanding are present in person or by proxy and if the Company and the Trustee are present by duly authorized representatives, or if notice is waived in writing before or after the meeting by the Company, by the holders of all Bonds then outstanding and by the Trustee.

SECTION 14.03. Qualifications for Voting and Attendance.
1. All holders of Bonds outstanding at the time of any meeting called pursuant to Section 14.02 shall be entitled to vote thereat, except that
(a) with respect to any coupon Bond which has been stamped or upon which a notation has been made recording the issue of a certificate for voting at such meeting issued in the manner provided in paragraph 2 of this Section 14.03 (whether or not such Bond is thereafter registered as to principal) only the holder of such certificate and his proxies shall be entitled to vote such Bond at said meeting and any adjournment thereof ;
(b) the Trustee may, and, upon request of the Company or of the holders of not less than twenty-five per cent. (25%) in principal, amount of the Bonds then outstanding, shall fix a date not exceeding ninety (90) days preceding the date for which the meeting is called as a record date for determination of the registered holders of coupon Bonds registered as to principal and holders of registered Bonds without coupons entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof, and only holders of coupon Bonds registered as to principal and holders of registered Bonds without coupons who shall have been such holders on the date so fixed, and who are entitled to vote such Bonds at the meeting, shall be entitled to receive notice of such meeting, and, subject to the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph 1, the coupon Bonds registered as to principal on such. record date and registered Bonds without coupons may be voted at such meeting and any adjournment thereof only by the holders, and their proxies, who shall have been registered holders of such Bonds on such record date, notwithstanding any transfer of any such Bonds on the books of the Company after such date. If any coupon Bonds registered as to principal on such record date shall thereafter be transferred to bearer, a suitable notation may be made upon such Bonds at the time of their transfer from such registered holders' names to record the fact that the registered holders of such Bonds on said record date and their proxies shall be the only persons entitled to vote such Bonds at the meeting. If any registered Bonds without coupons are, transferred or exchanged for coupon Bonds after such record date, a suitable notation may be made on the Bonds issued on such transfer or exchange at the time thereof to record the fact that the registered holders on said record date of the Bonds so transferred or exchanged and their proxies shall be the only persons entitled to vote at the meeting the Bonds so issued on such transfer or exchange. If any Bonds in bearer form on such record date are thereafter registered as to principal and before any certificate as provided in paragraph 2 of this Section 14.03 has been issued with respect to such Bonds, the first registered holder to whom such Bonds in bearer form are transferred prior to the meeting shall be deemed to have been a registered holder of such Bonds on the record date for the purposes of this Article, except as to his right to receive notice of such meeting; and
(c) no one shall be entitled to vote in respect of any Bond owned by or held by, for the account of or for the benefit or interest of, the Company.
2. Attendance by Bondholders at any meeting may be in person or by proxy. In order that Bonds transferable by delivery may be voted at any such Bondholders' meeting without being produced thereat, the Trustee may, and, upon request of the Company or of the holders of not less than twenty-five per cent. (25%) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, shall, make and from time to time vary such regulations as it shall deem fit permitting holders of Bonds transferable by delivery to submit such Bonds to, or deposit their Bonds with, any trust companies, banks, bankers or other depositaries or their duly authorized agents, which shall issue to or upon the order of the holders of such Bonds certificates with respect thereto entitling the holders thereof to be present and vote at any such meeting and to appoint proxies to represent them and vote for them at any such meeting in the same way as if the persons so present and voting, either personally or by proxy, were the actual bearers of the Bonds, in respect of which such certificates shall have been issued, and any regulations so made shall be binding upon the Trustee, the Company, the Inspectors of Votes and all Bondholders. Unless the Bonds so received are to be kept on deposit pending the holding of such Bondholders' meeting and any adjournments thereof, said trust companies, banks, bankers or other depositaries or their duly authorized agents, upon issuing any such certificates shall make a notation upon the Bonds with respect to which the certificates are to be issued recording the issue of such certificates, and shall forthwith return the Bonds bearing such notation to the persons entitled thereto. Thereafter the Bonds bearing such notation shall not be entitled to be voted at the meeting except by the holders, and their duly authorized proxies or agents, of the certificates issued with respect to such Bonds.
Each person seeking to attend or vote at any meeting of Bondholders must, if required by any authorized representative of the Trustee or of the Company, produce such proof of Bond or certificate ownership or personal identity as shall be satisfactory to the Inspectors of Votes. Every proxy shall be signed by the Bondholder or certificate holder himself or by his duly authorized attorney, and shall be witnessed; and its genuineness if questioned shall be established to the satisfaction of the Inspectors of Votes. All proxies and certificates presented at any meeting shall be delivered to the Inspectors of Votes and filed with the Trustee.
Officers and nominees of the Company and of the Trustee may attend any such meeting and take part therein, but shall not be entitled to vote thereat except to the extent that they may, in their own right and not as representatives of or on behalf of the Company or of the Trustee, be Bondholders or may hold proxies of Bondholders or may hold certificates entitling them to vote issued as in this paragraph 2 provided.

SECTION 14.04. Chairman; Secretary; Inspectors of Votes. Persons named by the Trustee, if the Trustee is represented at the meeting, shall act as temporary Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the meeting, but if the Trustee shall not be represented or shall fail to nominate such persons or if any person so nominated shall not be present, then the Bondholders and holders of certificates issued as in Section 14.03 provided and proxies present shall by a majority per capita vote, irrespective of the amount of their holdings, elect other persons from those present to fill such vacancy or vacancies. A permanent Chairman and a permanent Secretary of such meeting shall be elected from those present by a majority in principal amount of the Bonds represented by the Bondholders and holders of such certificates and proxies present. The Trustee, if represented at the meeting, shall appoint two Inspectors of Votes who shall count all votes cast at such meeting, except votes on the election of a Chairman and Secretary as aforesaid, and who shall make and file with the Secretary of the meeting their verified written report in duplicate of all such votes so cast at said meeting. If the Trustee shall not be represented at the meeting or shall fail to appoint such Inspectors of Votes or if either Inspector of Votes fails to attend the meeting, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the permanent Chairman of the meeting.

SECTION 14.05. Quorum; Adjournment. The holders (or persons entitled to vote the same) of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds entitled to be voted at any such meeting must be present at such meeting in person or by proxy in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, less than a quorum, however, having power to adjourn. If such meeting is adjourned by less than a quorum for more than seven days, notice thereof shall forthwith be mailed by the Trustee, if such meeting shall have been called by the Trustee, to the persons specified in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 14.02, and shall be published at least once during the period of such adjournment in the newspaper or newspapers specified in Section 14.02, such publication to be made at least five (5) days prior to the date of the adjourned meeting. The failure to mail such notice as aforesaid shall in no case affect the validity of any action taken at any meeting held pursuant to such adjournment. If such meeting shall have been called by the Bondholders or by the Company after failure of the Trustee to call the same after being requested so to do in accordance with Section 14.02, notice of such adjournment shall be given by the Chairman and Secretary of the meeting in the newspaper or newspapers specified in Section 14.02, such publication to be made at least five (5) days prior to the date of the adjourned meeting, and shall be sufficient if so given.

SECTION 14.06. Vote Required. Any modifications or alterations of this Indenture, of any indenture supplemental hereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and of the holders of the Bonds and coupons in any particular may be made at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened and held in accordance with the provisions of this Article, but only by a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote, in person or by proxy, of the holders (or persons entitled to vote the same) of sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount or more of the Bonds at the time outstanding and entitled to be voted upon any such modification or alteration when such meeting is held, and affected by such modification and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture and entitled to vote would be affected by the modification or alteration differently from or without affecting the Bonds of any of the other series, by an affirmative vote of the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. (66 2 / 3 %) in principal amount of the Bonds of each series so affected, in each case approved by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company as hereinafter specified; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration may be made which would extend the maturity of, or reduce the principal amount of, or reduce the rate of, or extend the time of payment of interest on, or reduce any premium payable upon any redemption of, any Bond or modify the terms of payment of principal or interest, or reduce the percentage required for the taking of any such action, without the express consent of the holder thereof. For all purposes of this Article the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon an Opinion of Counsel with respect to the extent, if any, as to which any action taken at such meeting affects the rights under this Indenture or under any indenture supplemental hereto of any holders of Bonds then outstanding.

SECTION 14.07. Company-Owned Bonds Disregarded. Bonds owned or held by, for the account of or for the benefit of, the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any vote, consent, request or direction hereunder, or of any calculation of outstanding Bonds provided for in this Article or for the purpose of the quorum provided for in Section 14.05. At each meeting held pursuant to this Article the Company shall furnish to the Chairman and Secretary of the meeting a notification in writing specifying the principal amount of Bonds owned by or held by, for the account of or for the benefit or interest of, the Company, or stating that no Bonds are so owned or held. For all purposes of this Article, the Trustee, the Chairman and Secretary of any meeting held pursuant to this Article and the Inspectors of Votes at any such meeting, shall (unless challenged by any Bondholder at such meeting) be entitled conclusively to rely upon such notification in writing by the Company. If such a notification in writing is not furnished by the Company at a meeting, the Trustee, the Chairman and Secretary of such meeting and the Inspectors of Votes at such meeting shall be entitled conclusively to assume that none of the Bonds outstanding under this Indenture is so owned or held.

SECTION 14.08. Record of Proceedings. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Bondholders shall be prepared by the Secretary of the meeting and shall have attached thereto the original reports of the Inspectors of Votes, and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and a copy of the notice of adjournment thereof, if required under Section 14.05, and showing that said notices were published or mailed as provided in Section 14.02 and, in a proper case, as provided in Section 14.05. Such record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent Chairman, the permanent Secretary of the meeting, and a duly authorized representative of the Trustee if such a representative was present at the meeting, and one duplicate thereof shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee for preservation by the Trustee. Any record so signed and verified shall be proof of the matters therein stated until the contrary is proved, and such meeting shall be deemed conclusively to have been duly convened and held, and any resolution or proceeding stated in such record to have been adopted or taken shall be deemed conclusively to have been duly adopted or taken by such meeting. A true copy of any resolution adopted by such meeting shall be mailed by the Trustee to each holder of coupon Bonds registered as to principal and each owner of registered Bonds without coupons outstanding addressed to him at his address appearing, if at all, on the registration and transfer books of the Company and to each holder of any coupon Bond not registered as to principal who shall have filed with the Trustee an address for such notices, addressed to him at such address (but failure to mail copies of such resolution as aforesaid shall not affect the validity thereof), and a copy or summary thereof shall be published by the Company at least once in the newspaper or newspapers specified in Section 14.02, such publication or publications to be made not more than fifteen (15) days after the adoption of such resolution. Proof of such publication and mailing by the affidavit or affidavits of some person or persons having knowledge of the facts shall be filed with the Trustee. Such Bondholders' resolution shall not become effective unless so. published and unless and until approved by the Board of Directors of the Company as evidenced by a Certified Resolution filed with the Trustee, and any resolution of Bondholders so published, adopted and approved shall be deemed conclusively to be binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all Bonds and coupons, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Article; provided, that no such resolution of the Bondholders, or of the Board of Directors of the Company, shall in any manner change or modify any of the rights or obligations of the Trustee without the Trustee's written assent thereto. Nothing in this Article contained shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Bondholders or of any right expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Bondholders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Bonds.

SECTION 14.09. Notation on Bonds o f Action Taken at Bondholders' Meeting. Bonds authenticated and delivered after the date of any Bondholders' meeting may bear a notation, in form approved by the Trustee, as to the action taken at meetings of Bondholders theretofore hold, and, in such case, upon demand of the holder of any Bond outstanding at the date of any such meeting and presentation of his Bond for the purpose at the principal office of the Trustee, the Company shall cause suitable notation to be made on such Bond by endorsement or otherwise as to any action taken at any meeting of Bondholders theretofore held. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Bonds so modified that they will, in the opinion 'of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, conform to such Bondholders' resolutions, shall be prepared, authenticated and delivered, and such new Bonds shall be exchanged for Bonds of the same series and maturity then outstanding hereunder, upon demand of, and without cost to, the holders thereof, upon surrender of such Bonds with, in the case of coupon Bonds, all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto. The Company or the Trustee may require Bonds to be presented for notation or exchange as aforesaid if either shall see fit to do so. Instruments supplemental to this Indenture embodying any modification or alteration of this Indenture, or of any indenture supplemental hereto, or of the rights and obligations of the Company or of the holders of the Bonds and coupons made at any Bondholders' meeting approved by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, as aforesaid may be executed by the Trustee and the Company; and upon demand of the Trustee, or if so specified in any resolution adopted by any such Bondholders' meeting, shall be executed by the Company and the Trustee.

SECTION 14.10. Consents of Bondholders. Any action which can be taken pursuant to a Bondholders' meeting as in this Article XIV provided may also be taken without such a meeting with the same force and consequences provided that the written consent of the holders (or the persons entitled to vote the same) of the percentages of Bonds specified in this Article XIV to such action is given and that the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, and, if required by this Article XIV, the written consent of the Trustee are given as provided in this Article XIV, and provided further that notice of such proposed action shall have been given to all the Bondholders by mailing written notice to the persons specified in Section 14.02 and publishing such notice one time in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and in each of such other cities, if any, in which interest on the Bonds is payable at least ten (10) days prior to the initial date for the filing of consents with the Trustee.
The foregoing provisions of this Article XIV with respect, among other things, to the persons entitled to vote at meetings of Bondholders and the evidence of their right so to vote, with such modifications thereof as are appropriate, shall apply to the giving of such written consents and in this connection the Trustee may make and from time to time vary such regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture with respect to such matters and other matters arising under this Article, including the form, content and execution of such consents, as it may deem proper. Any such consent .of the holder of or other person entitled to give such consent with respect to any Bond shall thereafter be binding upon such holder or other person and upon any subsequent holder of such Bond (whether or not such subsequent holder has notice thereof). Notice of any such action taken upon written consent of the holders of or other persons entitled to give such consents with respect to Bonds as above provided shall be mailed and published in the manner provided in Section 14.08 with respect to a resolution adopted at a meeting of Bondholders, such publication and mailing to be made within fifteen (15) days after the holders of or other persons entitled to give such consents with respect to the required percentage of Bonds shall have filed their consents with the Trustee. Notation of any such action taken upon written consent of the holders of or other persons entitled to give such consent with respect to Bonds as above provided may be made by the Trustee upon any Bonds authenticated and delivered after the date such consents representing Bonds in the required percentage have been filed.


ARTICLE XV.
DEFEASANCE.
SECTION 15.01. Defeasance. If the Company, or its successors or assigns, shall pay or cause to be paid unto the holders or registered owners of all Bonds and the holders of all coupons then outstanding the principal and interest to become due thereon and any premium which may be due and payable thereon at the times and in the manner stipulated therein, and if the Company shall pay all other sums payable hereunder or under any indenture supplemental hereto, then (at the option of the Company, evidenced by a Certified Resolution) this Indenture and the estate and the rights hereby granted shall cease, determine and be void, and thereupon the Trustee shall, upon the request of the Company and at its expense, cancel and discharge the lien of this Indenture, and execute and deliver to the Company such deeds or other instruments as shall be requisite to satisfy the lien hereof, and shall re-convey to the Company the estate and title hereby conveyed, and shall assign and deliver to the Company any property hereby conveyed and subject to the lien of this Indenture which may then be in the possession of the Trustee, other than moneys deposited with the Trustee as provided below for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Bonds or for the payment of any coupons. Bonds and coupons for the payment or redemption of which sufficient moneys shall have been irrevocably deposited with or paid to, and set apart in trust by, the Trustee (whether upon or prior to the maturity or the redemption date of such Bonds) and made immediately available for payment to the, holders thereof shall, for the purposes of this Article XV, be deemed to have been paid in full as between the Company and the respective holders or registered owners thereof and shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding hereunder, and the Company shall have no further liability in respect thereof, provided, however, that
(a) in case of the deposit or payment of moneys prior to the maturity of the Bonds for the payment thereof at the maturity thereof, notice of such deposit or payment (such notice to state that such moneys are so immediately available) shall have been duly given by publication, in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and, if the Bonds so to be paid shall so specify, in an Authorized Newspaper in each of the other cities, if any, in which the interest on such Bonds is payable, at least once in each of four successive calendar weeks, on any day of each such week, or if all of the Bonds so to be paid are registered Bonds without coupons or coupon bonds registerable as to principal, at the option of the Company, by mailing, by registered mail return receipt requested, such notice to the registered owners of the Bonds so to be paid at their addresses as the same appear on the registration and transfer books of the Company, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of such notice shall have been made, and
(b) if said Bonds are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, the provisions of Article V and any additional provisions applicable to the redemption of such Bonds contained in any indenture supplemental hereto shall have been complied with, and notice of the redemption of such Bonds (such notice to state that such moneys are so immediately available) shall have been duly given in accordance with such provisions, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of such notice shall have been made.

ARTICLE XVI.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
SECTION 16.01. Indenture for Benefit of Parties Thereto. Nothing in this Indenture expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or to give to any person or corporation, other than the parties hereto and the holders or registered owners of the Bonds and the holders of coupons issued hereunder, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, or any covenant, condition or stipulation hereof or thereof ; and the covenants, stipulations and agreements in this Indenture and in any and all indentures supplemental hereto contained are and shall be f or the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, their successors and assigns, and of the holders or registered owners of the Bonds and of the holders of the coupons issued hereunder.

SECTION 16.02. Successors and Assigns Included in Parties. Whenever in this Indenture one of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all the covenants, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the Trustee shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 16.03. Trustee's Application of Moneys Held for Payment or Redemption of Bonds. All moneys deposited with or paid to or set apart in trust by the Trustee for the redemption of Bonds or for the payment of Bonds or coupons issued hereunder upon the maturity thereof or otherwise shall be held by the Trustee in trust for the account of the respective holders or registered owners of such Bonds and coupons and shall be paid, when due, to the respective holders or registered owners of such Bonds and to the bearers of such coupons, upon presentation and surrender of said Bonds (bearing all unmatured coupons, if any) and said coupons, accompanied by such duly executed instruments of transfer as may be required by the Company or the Trustee in the case of registered Bonds without coupons or coupon Bonds registered as to principal. Any such moneys remaining unclaimed by the holders or registered owners of such Bonds or the bearers of such - coupons for six years after the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, shall, upon the written request of the Company therefore and if no Event of Default shall to the knowledge of the Trustee have occurred and be continuing, be paid to the Company against its written receipt therefore, and the holders or registered owners of such Bonds and the bearers of such coupons shall thereafter be entitled to look only to the Company for payment thereof; provided, however, that the Trustee, before being required to make any such payment to the Company, may, at the expense of the Company, cause a notice, stating that such moneys remain unclaimed and that after a date stated therein any balance thereof then remaining will be returned to the Company, to be published once in an Authorized Newspaper in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

SECTION 16.04. Titles, Headings, etc. The titles and headings of the articles, sections and subdivisions of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 16.05. Cremation of Bonds and Coupons. Whenever in this Indenture provision is made for the cancellation by the Trustee and the delivery to the Company of any Bonds or coupons, the Trustee may, upon the request of the Company, in lieu of such delivery, destroy or cremate such Bonds or coupons and deliver a certificate of such destruction or cremation to the Company. No Bonds or coupons shall be issued under this Indenture in lieu of any cancelled or cremated Bonds or coupons, except as expressly permitted by the provisions hereof.

SECTION 16.06. Invalid Provisions to Affect No Others. In case any one or more of the covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in the Bonds shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity of the remaining covenants or agreements contained herein and in the Bonds shall be in nowise affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

SECTION 16.07. Counterparts of Indenture. This Indenture may be simultaneously executed in any number of counterparts, and all said counterparts executed and delivered, each as an original, shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 16.08. Impossibility of Strict Compliance With Publication Provisions. In case it shall be impossible to make the required publication of any notice required herein, then such publication or other notice in lieu thereof as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice. Such publication or other notice shall, so far as possible, approximate the terms and conditions of the publication in lieu of which it is given.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY has caused these presents to be signed in its corporate name by its President or one of its Vice-Presidents and sealed with its corporate seal, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY has caused these presents to be signed in its corporate name by its President or one of its Vice-Presidents or Assistant Vice-Presidents and sealed with its corporate seal, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries, all as of the day and year first above written.

ARTESIAN. WATER COMPANY,
By ELLIS D. TAYLOR
[CORPORATE SEAL]
President.

Attest : E. J. Rowe
Secretary.

Signed, sealed and delivered by ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY In the presence of
ROBERT M. BAXTER
E. G. HENRY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
By A. C. KNIGHT
[CORPORATE SEAL]
Assistant Vice-President.

Attest : J. P. WORTZ, JR.
Assistant Secretary.

Signed, sealed and delivered by WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY in the presence of
ROBERT M. BANTER
ELIZABETH F. HITLER


STATE OF DELAWARE }
COUNTY OF NEW CASTLE }SS.:
On this the 13th day of Nov., A. D. 1961, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for said County in the State of Delaware, Ellis D. Taylor and E. J. Rowe, to me known and known to me to be respectively the President and the Secretary of ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, the corporation which executed the foregoing instrument, who severally acknowledged that they did sign and seal said instrument as such President and Secretary for and on behalf of said corporation, and that the same is their free act and deed as such President and Secretary, respectively, and the free and corporate act and deed of said Corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal at Newport, Delaware, this 13th day of Nov., A. D. 1961.
SAMUEL W. BAKER,
[NOTARIAL SEAL]
Notary Public, My Commission Expires : May 22, 1963
STATE OF DELAWARE }
COUNTY OF NEW CASTLE }SS.:

On this 13th day of Nov., A. D. 1961, personally appeared . before me, a Notary Public within and for said County in the State of Delaware, A. C. Knight and J. P. Wortz, Jr., to me known and known to me to be respectively an Assistant Vice-President and an Assistant Secretary Of WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, the corporation which executed the foregoing instrument, who severally acknowledged that they did sign and seal said instrument as such Assistant Vice-President and Assistant Secretary for and on behalf of said corporation, and that the same is their free act and deed as such Assistant Vice-President and Assistant Secretary, respectively, and the free and corporate act and deed of said corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal at Wilmington, Delaware, this 13th day of Nov., A. D. 1961.
NEDRA R. HAWK,
[NOTARIAL SEAL]
Notary Public, My Commission Expires : March 17, 1962


Exhibit A
REDEMPTION TABLE FOR BONDS OF SERIES A

Period
(Both Dates Inclusive)
 
Redemption Prices
(Percentage of Principal Amount)
   
Column A
 
Column B
 
From the date of issue to October 31,
1963
Non-redeemable
105
November 1, 1963 to October 31,
1964
Non-redeemable
104 2 / 3
November 1, 1964 to October 31,
1965
Non-redeemable
104 1 / 3
November 1, 1965 to October 31,
1966
Non-redeemable
104
November 1, 1966 to October 31,
1967
Non-redeemable
103 2 / 3
November 1, 1967 to October 31,
1968
Non-redeemable
103 1 / 3
November 1, 1968 to October 31,
1969
Non-redeemable
103
November 1, 1969 to October 31,
1970
Non-redeemable
102 2 / 3
November 1, 1970 to October 31,
1971
Non-redeemable
102 1 / 3
November 1, 1971 to October 31,
1972
104
102
November 1, 1972 to October 31,
1973
103 1 / 8
101 2 / 3
November 1, 1973 to October 31,
1974
102 2 / 8
101 1 / 3
November 1, 1974 to October 31,
1975
102
101
November 1, 1975 to October 31,
1976
101 1 / 8
100 2 / 3
November 1, 1976 to October 31,
1977
100 2 / 8
100 1 / 3
November 1, 1977 to October 31,
1978
100
100




Exhibit B
REDEMPTION TABLE FOR BONDS OF SERIES B
Period
(Both Dates Inclusive)
 
Redemption Prices
(Percentage of Principal Amount)
   
Column A
 
Column B
 
From the date of issue to June 30,
1964
Non-redeemable
105 3 / 8
July 1, 1964 to June 30,
1965
Non-redeemable
105
July 1, 1965 to June 30,
1966
Non-redeemable
105
July 1, 1966 to June 30,
1967
Non-redeemable
104 3 / 4
July 1, 1967 to June 30,
1968
Non-redeemable
104 ½
July 1, 1968 to June 30,
1969
Non-redeemable
104 1 / 4
July 1, 1969 to June 30,
1970
Non-redeemable
104
July 1, 1970 to June 30,
1971
Non-redeemable
103 3 / 4
July 1, 1971 to June 30,
1972
105
103 ½
July 1, 1972 to June 30,
1973
104 ½
103 1 / 4
July 1, 1973 to June 30,
1974
104
103
July 1, 1974 to June 30,
1975
103 2 / 3
102 3 / 4
July 1, 1975 to June 30,
1976
103 1 / 3
102 ½
July 1, 1976 to June 30,
1977
103
102 1 / 4
July 1, 1977 to June 30,
1978
102 2 / 3
102
July 1, 1978 to June 30,
1979
102 1 / 3
101 3 / 4
July 1, 1979 to June 30,
1980
102
101 ½
July 1, 1980 to June 30,
1981
101 2 / 3
101 1 / 4
July 1, 1981 to .June 30,
1982
101 1 / 3
101
July 1, 1982 to June 30,
1983
101
100 3 / 4
July 1, 1983 to June 30,
1984
100 2 / 3
100 ½
July 1, 1984 to June 30,
1985
100 1 / 3
100 1 / 4
July 1, 1985 to June 30,
1986
100
100




RECORDATION

STATE OF DELAWARE
NEW CASTLE COUNTY S8.:

Received for record November 13, 1961, 1:57 P. M. Recorded in the Recorder's Office at Wilmington, in Mortgage Record A, Volume 56, Page 1 etc., the 13th day of November, A. D., 1961.

Witness my hand and official seal,
HOWARD A. CASSEDAY
Recorder
[SEAL]
By ANTHONY J. BUDA
Deputy



EXECUTION VERSION


FIRST AMENDMENT TO BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT

FIRST AMENDMENT TO BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment” ) dated as of January 18, 2017, amending that certain Bond Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2008 (as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Bond Purchase Agreement” ), made by and between ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC. a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter, the “ Company” ) and COBANK, ACB, a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States (hereinafter, the “ Purchaser” ).

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 20.5 of the Bond Purchase Agreement, the parties desire to amend the Bond Purchase Agreement as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements contained herein and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Indenture, the undersigned parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I AMENDMENTS

Effective as of the date hereof, the Bond Purchase Agreement is amended as follows:

1.            Amendment to Section 10. Section 10 of the Bond Purchase Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, and replaced with the following:

“SECTION 10. COVENANTS.

The Company covenants and agrees that on and after the date hereof, so long as any Bond shall be outstanding and shall be held by the Purchaser, without the Purchaser’s prior written consent:

Section 10.1.   Compliance With Laws and Agreements. The Company will, and will cause each of its subsidiaries to, comply with (i) all applicable statutes,  rules,  regulations,  orders  and  restrictions  of   all  governmental authorities and of any court, arbitrator or grand jury, in respect of the conduct of their respective businesses and the ownership of their respective properties (including, without limitation, applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions relating to equal employment opportunities or environmental laws), the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or assets or the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company; and (ii) all agreements, indentures, mortgages and other instruments to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or assets or the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company.

Section 10.2.   Capitalization.   The Company agrees to purchase such equity in the Purchaser as the Purchaser may from time to time require in accordance with its Bylaws and Capital Plan (as each may be amended from


time to time), except that the maximum amount of equity that the Company may be required to purchase in the Purchaser in connection with the Series T Bonds may not exceed the maximum amount permitted by the Bylaws at the time this Agreement is entered into. The rights and obligations of the parties with respect to such equity and any distributions made on account thereof or on account of Borrower’s  patronage  with  CoBank  shall  be  governed  by  the  Purchaser’s Bylaws and Capital Plan (as each may be amended from time to time). The Company hereby consents and agrees that the amount of any distributions with respect to its patronage with the Purchaser that are made in qualified written notices of allocation (as defined in 26 U.S.C. § 1388) and that are received by the Company from the Purchaser, will be taken into account by the Company at the  stated  dollar  amounts  whether   the  distribution  is  evidenced  by  a Participation Certificate or other form of written notice that such distribution has been made and recorded in the name of the Company on the records of the Purchaser. All such investments and all other equities that the Company may now own or hereafter acquire or be allocated in the Purchaser shall be subject to a statutory first lien in favor of the Purchaser. The Purchaser shall not be obligated to set off or otherwise apply such equities to the Company’s obligations to the Purchaser.

Section 10.3.   Licenses, Etc. The Company will, and will cause each of its subsidiaries to, duly and lawfully obtain and maintain in full force and effect all licenses, certificates, permits, authorizations, approvals and the like that are material to the conduct of its business or that otherwise may be required by laws, to the extent the failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on its business, assets or condition, financial or otherwise.

Section 10.4.   Water Rights. The Company will maintain and procure water rights with such quantities, priorities and qualities as are necessary adequately to serve the present and reasonably anticipated needs of its customers.   The Company will continue to control, own or have access to all such water rights free and clear of the interest of any third party, will not suffer or permit any transfer or encumbrance of such water rights, will not abandon such water rights, or any of them, and will not do any act or thing which would impair or cause the loss of such water rights.

Section 10.5.   Loans and Investments. The Company will not, after the date hereof, make any loan or advance to, invest in, purchase or make any commitment to purchase any commercial paper, stock, bonds, notes, or other securities of any person or entity (each, whether made directly or indirectly (an “ Investment ”), other than:

(a)      commercial paper maturing not in excess of one year from the date of acquisition and rated “P1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or “A1” by Standard & Poor’s Corporation on the date of acquisition;
2


(b)      certificates of deposit in North American commercial banks rated “C” or better by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., or “3” or better by Cates Consulting Analysts, maturing not in excess of one year from the date of acquisition;

(c)     securities or deposits issued, guaranteed, or fully insured as to payment by the United States government or any agency thereof, and Class C Stock or other securities of the Purchaser;

(d)    repurchase  agreements  of  any  bank  or  trust  company incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof and fully secured by a pledge of obligations issued or fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States government;

(e)      stocks and other voting securities that are not included within the scope of clauses (a) through (d) above and are issued by corporations or other entities not engaged in any business other than the water or wastewater utility business and that are incorporated or organized under the laws of the United State of America or any state thereof; provided that prior to or as a result of such investment the Company holds not less than seventy five percent (75%) of the voting securities of such corporation or entity; and

(f)        commercial paper, bonds, stocks or other securities that are not included within the scope of clauses (a) through (e) above and are issued by corporations or other entities incorporated or organized under the laws of the United State of America or any state thereof (collectively, “ Other Investments ”); provided that the aggregate amount (calculated based on cost) of all such Other Investments shall not at any time exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).

Section 10.6.   Guarantees. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, guarantee, assume or otherwise become obligated or liable with respect to the indebtedness or other obligations of any person or entity, other than in the ordinary course of its business.

Section 10.7.   Mergers; Acquisitions; Etc. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with any other entity unless the Company or, solely to the extent the Company is not a party to such merger or consolidation, the applicable subsidiary, shall be the continuing and surviving corporation and, after such merger or consolidation, there shall exist no Event of Redemption or event that, with the passage of time or giving of notice, or both, would constitute an Event of Redemption, or commence operations under any other name, organization or entity, including any joint venture.

Section 10.8.   Transfer of Assets. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease, enter into any contract for
3


the sale, transfer or lease of, or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets, except in the ordinary course of its business.

Section 10.9.   Change in Business. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, engage in any business activity or operation different from or unrelated to its current business activities or operations.

Section 10.10. Distributions .  The Company will not make, declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any dividend or other distribution of assets to shareholders of the Company, or retire, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of stock of the Company, if (a) an Event of Default or Event of Redemption shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result from  such dividend, distribution, retirement, redemption, purchase or acquisition, or (b) the Company shall have failed to maintain, calculated for the four full fiscal quarters immediately preceding such dividend, distribution, retirement, redemption, purchase or acquisition, an Interest Coverage Ratio of not less than 2.50 to 1.00, or (c) the Company would have a ratio of Funded Debt to Total Permanent Capital that exceeds 0.6667 to 1.0000 on the date of and after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, retirement, redemption, purchase or acquisition.

Section 10.11. Anti-Corruption; Anti-Terrorism; Sanctions.

(a)  None of the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees or agents will engage in any dealings or transactions with any Sanctioned Person or in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Terrorism Laws or Sanctions.

(b)   The Company will not fund all or any part of any payment under this Agreement or any other Bond Document out of proceeds derived from transactions that violate Sanctions, or with any Sanctioned Person, or with or connected to any country, territory or sector that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions or that is, or whose government is, the subject of any list-based or territorial or sectorial Sanctions.”

2.            Amendment to Section 11.1. Section 11.1 of the Bond Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new clauses to the end thereof:

“(g)    Bankruptcy, Etc.    The occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or for any part of its property or order the winding up  or  liquidation  of  its  affairs,  or (ii)  an  involuntary  case  under  any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
4


effect is commenced against the and such petition remains un stayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any substantial part of its property  or  make  any  general  assignment  for  the benefit of creditors; or (iv) the Company shall become insolvent or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or any action shall be taken by the Company in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes; or

(h)   ERISA. The occurrence of any of the following events or conditions if the same, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably expected to result in a liability of an amount greater than or equal to $500,000: (i) any “accumulated funding deficiency,” as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code (as hereinafter defined), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any lien shall arise on the assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) in favor of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (as defined in ERISA) (“ PBGC ”) or a Plan; (ii) a Termination Event (as hereinafter defined) shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan (as hereinafter defined), which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Purchaser, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (iii) a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan (as hereinafter defined), which is reasonable opinion of the Purchaser, likely to result in (x) the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (y) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (iv) any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which would be reasonably expected to subject the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(1) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability. As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth: (1) “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time; (2) “ ERISA Affiliate ” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that  is  treated  as  a  single  employer together with the Company under section 414 of the Code; (3) “ Multiemployer Plans ” shall mean any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); (4) “ Multiple Employer Plan ” shall mean a Plan covered by
5


Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the Company or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors; (5) “ Single Employer Plan ” shall mean any Plan which is covered by Title 1V of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan; and (6) “ Termination Event ” shall mean (A) with respect to any Single Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of ERISA), (B) the withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan, (C) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section 4041 (a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA, (D) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, (E) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or (F) the complete or partial withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; or

(i)   Indenture; Security. (i) An “Event of Default” (as defined in the Indenture) shall exist or (ii) any lien purported to be created under the Indenture or any other security document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by the Company not to be, a valid or perfected lien on any portion of the collateral or mortgage property, with the priority required by the Indenture or the applicable security document, except (i) as a result of a release pursuant to the Indenture, or (ii) as a result of the sale or other disposition of the   applicable   collateral   or   mortgaged   property   in   a transaction permitted under the Bond Documents.”

3.         Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall not become effective until each of the parties hereto shall have received a counterpart of this Amendment signed by each party hereto.

4.         Ratification of Bond Purchase Agreement. Except as specifically amended, modified or supplemented by this Amendment, the Bond Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects and shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment shall not constitute a novation of the Bond Purchase Agreement, but shall constitute an amendment thereof. Each of the parties to the Bond Purchase Agreement agrees to be bound by the terms of the obligations of the Bond Purchase Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, as though the terms and obligations of such Bond Purchase Agreement were set forth herein.

5.         General Terms.   Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Bond Purchase Agreement. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
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6.      Counterparts; Electronic Signatures.   This Amendment may be executed in counterparts and all such counterparts shall constitute one agreement binding on all the parties, notwithstanding that the parties are not signatories to the same counterpart.



[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
7



COBANK, ACB
$20,000,000.00 CREDIT FACILITIES
TO
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.

LOAN CLOSING CHECKLIST

No.
DOCUMENT
TO BE EXECUTED/PERFORMED BY:
NUMBER OF COPIES
 
Rec'd
1.
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
·   Exhibit A: Definitions and Rules
·   Exhibit B: Form of Promissory Note
·   Exhibit C: Form of Annual Officer's Certificate
·   Schedule 4.04: Litigation
·   8.01: Addresses, Etc. For  Communications
 
Authorized Officer of the Company (See Board Resolution) and CoBank
1 original and 1 copy
 
9/28/2017
2.
Amended and Restated Promissory Note  ($20,000,000)
 
Authorized Officer of the Company (See Board Resolution) and CoBank
1 original and 1 copy
 
9/28/2017
3.
Secretary's Certificate attaching:
·   Exhibit A: Board Resolutions
·   Exhibit B: Incumbency Certificate.
·   Exhibit C: Certificate of Incorporation (certified by the Secretary of State of Delaware)
·   Exhibit D: Bylaws
·   Exhibit E:  Good Standing Certificate
 
Secretary of the Company
1 original and 1 copy
9/28/2017
4.
Loan Origination Fee(s)
 
Waived by CoBank
N/A
N/A
5.
Closing Officer's Certificate
Financial Officer
2 originals (or 1 original and 1 copy_
9/28/2017
6.
Evidence of Insurance
 
Company
2 copies of a certificate of insurance
9/28/2017
7.
Notice to  Company
CoBank to Provide
2 copies
 
9/28/2017
8.
Closing Costs and Legal Fees
 
Company
 
Post-Closing

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT




BETWEEN



ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.


AND


COBANK, ACB



DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2017


ARTICLE 1
SECTION 1.01.
SECTION 1.02.
ARTICLE 2
SECTION 2.01.
SECTION 2.02.
SECTION 2.03.
SECTION 2.04.
SECTION 2.05.
SECTION 2.06.
SECTION 2.07.
SECTION 2.08.
SECTION 2.09.
SECTION 2.10.
SECTION 2.11.
ARTICLE 3  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
SECTION 3.01.
SECTION 3.02.
ARTICLE 4  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01.
SECTION 4.02.
SECTION 4.03.
SECTION 4.04.
SECTION 4.05.
SECTION 4.06.
SECTION 4.07.
SECTION 4.08.
SECTION 4.09.
SECTION 4.10.
SECTION 4.11.
SECTION 4.12.
SECTION 4.13.
SECTION 4.14.
SECTION 4.15.
SECTION 4.16.
SECTION 4.17.
SECTION 4.18.
SECTION 4.19.
SECTION 4.20.
SECTION 4.21.   [Intentionally Omitted]
SECTION 4.22.
SECTION 4.23.
SECTION 4.24.
SECTION 4.25.
SECTION 4.26.
SECTION 4.27.
ARTICLE 5  FURNISHING FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
SECTION 5.01.
SECTION 5.02.
SECTION 5.03.
SECTION 5.04.
SECTION 5.05.
SECTION 5.06.
SECTION 5.07.
SECTION 5.08.
SECTION 5.09.
SECTION 5.10.
ARTICLE 6  COVENANTS
SECTION 6.01.
SECTION 6.02.
SECTION 6.03
SECTION 6.04.
SECTION 6.05.
SECTION 6.06.
SECTION 6.07.
SECTION 6.08.
SECTION 6.09.
SECTION 6.10.
SECTION 6.11.
SECTION 6.12.
SECTION 6.13.
SECTION 6.14.
SECTION 6.15.
SECTION 6.16.
SECTION 6.17.
SECTION 6.18.
SECTION 6.19.
SECTION 6.20.
SECTION 6.21.
SECTION 6.22.
SECTION 6.23.   Sanctions, Etc…………………………………………………………….15
ARTICLE 7  EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 7.01.
SECTION 7.02.
SECTION 7.03.
ARTICLE 8  MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01.
SECTION 8.02.
SECTION 8.03.
SECTION 8.04.
SECTION 8.05.
SECTION 8.06.   Amendments, Waivers and Consents
SECTION 8.07.
SECTION 8.08.
SECTION 8.09.
SECTION 8.10.
SECTION 8.11.
SECTION 8.12.
SECTION 8.13.
SECTION 8.14.
SECTION 8.15.
SECTION 8.16.
SECTION 8.17.
EXHIBIT A
EXHIBIT B
EXHIBIT C
SCHEDULE 4.04  LITIGATION
SCHEDULE 8.01  WRITTEN NOTICE AND TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATIONS


AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING   CREDIT AGREEMENT (this " Agreement ") is entered into as of September 28, 2017, between ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the " Company "), and CoBANK, ACB, a federally chartered instrumentality of the United States ( the " Lender " or " CoBank ").
BACKGROUND

The Company and CoBank are parties to a Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of January 19, 2010, as amended (collectively, the "Existing Credit Agreement "). The parties now desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE , for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement to read as follows:

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01.   Definitions. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, capitalized terms used in this Agreement and defined in Exhibit A hereto shall have the meanings set forth in such Exhibit.
SECTION 1.02.   Rules of Interpretation. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the rules of interpretation set forth in Exhibit A hereto shall apply to this Agreement.


ARTICLE 2
AMOUNT AND TERMS OF LOANS
SECTION 2.01.   The Commitment.   On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Lender agrees to make loans (each a " Loan " and collectively the " Loans ") to the Company from time to time during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on July 20, 2018 or such later date as CoBank may, in its sole discretion, authorize in writing (the " Maturity   Date "), in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, $20,000,000 (the " Commitment "). Within the limits and during the term of the Commitment, the Company may borrow, prepay pursuant to Section  2.07 hereof, and reborrow.

SECTION 2.02.   Purpose.  The purpose of the Loans is to finance the operations of the Company and to provide up to $10,000,000 for the purpose of making loans to Artesian Water Maryland, Inc. The Company agrees to use the proceeds of the Loans for those purposes and no other.

SECTION 2.03.   Availability. Loans will be made available on any Business Day upon the telephonic,  written, or, if provided by separate agreement between the parties, electronic request of an authorized employee of the Company; provided, however, that any request made telephonically shall be promptly confirmed in writing by the Company if required by CoBank. Requests for Loans must be received not later than 12:00 Noon, Eastern time on the date the Loan is to be made.  Loans will be made available by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Wire transfers shall be made to such account or accounts as may be authorized by the Company on forms supplied or approved by CoBank.

  SECTION 2.04. Interest.

  (A) Interest Rate Options. The Company agrees to pay interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Loans in accordance with one or more of the following interest rate options, as selected by the  Company in accordance with the terms hereof:

  (1) Weekly Variable Rate Option. At a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest established by CoBank on the first Business Day of each week (the " Variable   Rate   Option "). The rate established by CoBank shall be effective until the first Business Day of the next week. Each change in the rate shall be applicable to all balances subject to this option and information about the then current rate shall be made available upon telephonic request.

(2)   LIBOR Option .  At a fixed rate per annum equal to the LIBOR plus 1.50% (the " LIBOR Option "). Under this option rates may be fixed: (A) for Interest Periods of 1, 2, 3, or 6, months, as selected by the  Company; provided, however, that in no event may rates be fixed for Interest Periods expiring after the Maturity Date; (B) on balances of $100,000 or in multiples thereof; (C) on a Banking Day on 3 Banking Days' prior notice; and (D) on not more than five (5) separate balances at any one time.

  (B) Elections . Subject to the limitations set forth above, the  Company: (1) shall select the applicable rate option(s) each time it requests a Loan; (2) may, on three Banking Days' notice, elect to convert balances bearing interest at the Variable Rate Option to the LIBOR Option; (3) may, three (3) Banking Days' prior to the expiration of any Interest Period elect, effective on the last day of the Interest Period, to refix a rate under the LIBOR Option or convert the balance the Variable Rate Option. .  In the absence of an election provided for herein, the Company shall be deemed to have elected the Variable Rate Option.  All elections provided for herein may be made telephonically, in writing, or, if agreed to in a separate agreement, electronically, and must be received by 12:00 Noon Company's local time on the applicable day.  Any election made telephonically, shall, if required by CoBank, be promptly confirmed in writing.

  (C) Calculation and Payment .  Interest shall be calculated on the actual number of days each Loan is outstanding   on the basis of a year consisting of 360 days.  In calculating interest, the date each Loan is made shall be included and the date each Loan is repaid shall, if received before 3:00 P.M. Mountain time, be excluded.  Interest shall be: (1) calculated monthly in arrears as of the last day of each month and on the Maturity Date; and (2) due and payable on the 20 th day of the following month and on the Maturity Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, at CoBank's option, interest on balances bearing interest at the LIBOR Option shall be payable on the last day of the Interest Period or, in case of Interest Periods of longer than three months, at three month intervals.

  (D) Additional Provisions Regarding LIBOR Option .  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, CoBank shall have the right to temporarily suspend or permanently terminate the  Company's ability to fix rates under the LIBOR Option or for one or more Interest Periods if, for any reason whatsoever (including a change in Applicable Law): (1) LIBOR is no longer being quoted in the London interbank market or is no longer being quoted for an Interest Period; (2) CoBank is prohibited from offering rates based on LIBOR; or (3) CoBank's cost to fund balances bearing interest at the LIBOR Option (as determined by CoBank in its sole discretion) increases beyond any corresponding increase in LIBOR or decreases less than any corresponding decrease in LIBOR. In addition, if as a result of a change in Applicable Law or otherwise, CoBank is required to allocate additional capital to, or otherwise bear increased costs as a result of maintaining balances under, the LIBOR Option, the  Company agrees to indemnify CoBank upon demand against all such costs.

  SECTION 2.05. Commitment Fees.   In consideration of the Commitment, the  Company agrees to pay to the Lender a commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the Commitment from the date hereof until the Commitment expires or is terminated at the rate of 1/4 th of 1% (0.25%) per annum (calculated on an actual/360 day basis). Such fees shall be: (a) calculated quarterly in arrears as of the last day of each calendar quarter  and on the date the Commitment expires or is terminated; and (b) due and payable on the 20 th day of each January, April, July and October and on the date the Commitment expires or is terminated.  Such fee shall be payable for each quarter or portion thereof during the original or any extended term of the Commitment; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall obligate CoBank to extend the term of the Commitment.

  SECTION 2.06. Repayment.   The Loans shall mature and be due and payable on the Maturity Date.

  SECTION 2.07. Prepayment.

(A)   Voluntary. The  Company shall have the right upon one, or, in the case of LIBOR Balances, three Business Days prior notice (which notice shall be irrevocable), to prepay the Loans in whole or part. In the event the Company prepays any LIBOR Balance, then at the time thereof, the Company shall pay to CoBank a prepayment surcharge calculated in accordance with Section  2.11 hereof.

(B)   Mandatory . The Company shall prepay the Loans if required pursuant to Section 7.02 hereof.

  SECTION 2.08. Note. The  Company's obligation to repay the Loans shall be evidenced by a promissory note in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, duly completed, dated the date hereof, and in the amount of the Commitment (the " Note ").

SECTION 2.09.   Security.  The Company's obligations under the Credit Documents shall be secured by a statutory first priority Lien on all equity which the Company may now own or hereafter acquire or be allocated in the Lender and all proceeds thereof. The Company agrees to take such steps (including the execution and recording of such instruments and documents) as the Lender may from time to time require in order to confirm or enable the Lender to realize upon its Lien.

  SECTION 2.10.   Payments.

  (A) Manner of Making Payments. The  Company shall make all payments to the Lender under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the following wire transfer instructions (or in accordance with such other wire transfer instructions as the Lender may direct by notice):

Name of Bank:  COBANK
Location:   Greenwood Village, CO
ABA No.   307088754
Reference:   Artesian Water Company, Inc.

  (B) Business Days . In the event any day on which any payment required to be made hereunder or under the Note is not a Business Day, then such payment shall be due and payable on the next Business Day and, in the case of principal, interest shall continue to accrue thereon.

  (C) Records . The Lender shall keep a record of the unpaid principal balance of the Loans, the interest rate elections made with respect thereto, the interest accrued on the Loans, and all payments made with respect to the Loans, and such record shall, absent proof of error, be conclusive evidence of the outstanding principal and interest on the Loans.

SECTION 2.11.   Broken Funding Surcharge .  In the event the Company:  (i) repays any LIBOR Balance prior to the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, whether such payment is made voluntary, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise; or (ii) fails for any reason to borrow, convert to, or renew any LIBOR Balance on the date fixed therefor, then the  Company shall pay to the Lender a surcharge calculated in accordance with the next sentence hereof.  Such surcharge shall be in an amount equal to the greater of: (i) the present value of the sum of: (a) any funding losses imputed by t he Lender to have been incurred as a result of such payment, conversion or failure; and (b) a per annum yield of ½ of 1% on the amount prepaid, converted or not borrowed for the period such amount was scheduled to have been outstanding at such fixed rate; or (ii) $300.  Such surcharge shall be determined and calculated in accordance with methodology established by the Lender , a copy of which will be made available upon request.

ARTICLE 3
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

SECTION 3.01.   Conditions Precedent to Initial Loan.   The obligation of the Lender to make the initial Loan to the Company is subject to the conditions precedent that the Lender shall have received, on or before the day of such initial Loan, each of the following (which, in the case of instruments or documents, must be originals and in form and content satisfactory to the Lender):

(A)   This Agreement. This Agreement, duly executed by each of the parties hereto in sufficient counterparts for each party hereto.

(B)   The Note. The Note duly executed by the  Company.

  (C) Secretary's Certificate . A certificate of the Secretary of the Company in form and content prescribed by CoBank, attaching and certifying as to each of the following (each of which must be in form and content reasonably acceptable to CoBank): (1) resolutions of the  Company's board of directors authorizing the transactions contemplated herein and in the other Credit Documents; (2) a certificate of incumbency showing the names and true ink signatures of the officers of the  Company that are authorized to enter into this Agreement and the other Credit Documents; (3) the certificate of incorporation of the  Company, as amended to the date hereof; (4) the bylaws of the  Company, as amended to the date hereof; and (5) a certificate of the Secretary of State of Delaware attesting to the due incorporation and good standing of the Company in the State of Delaware.

(D)   [Intentionally Omitted].

(E)   Fees and Expenses. Payment by the  Company of all fees and expenses owed by it to the Lender.

(F)   Insurance.   Such evidence as the Lender shall require that the  Company is in compliance with Section 6.14 hereof .

(G)   Officer's Certificate .  A certificate of a Financial Officer of the Company as of the Closing Date in form and content prescribed by CoBank.

SECTION 3.02.   Conditions to Each Loan.  The obligation of the Lender to make any Loan to the  Company, including the initial Loan, is subject to the conditions precedent that: (A) each of the representations and warranties set forth herein and in such other Credit Documents be true and correct   on the date of such Loan, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly related to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date); (B) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (C) at the time of such Loan, there shall not exist any event which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The  Company hereby represents and warrants to the Lender that:

SECTION 4.01.   Organizations and Good Standing.  The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware with corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, which consists of the gathering, purification, transportation, storage and distribution of water solely in the State of Delaware. The Company is a wholly -owned subsidiary of Artesian Resources Corporation, a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the " Corporation ") .

SECTION 4.02.   Subsidiaries. The Company has no Subsidiaries.

SECTION 4.03.   Financial Statements . (A) The balance sheets of the Company for the year ended December 31 in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and the related statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the years ended on said dates, copies of all of which have been furnished to the Lender, accompanied by a report thereon containing an opinion unqualified as to scope limitations imposed by the Company and otherwise without qualification except as therein noted, by the Company's independent certified public accountants, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and the applicable provisions of the regulatory authorities having jurisdiction in the premises, are correct and complete, and present fully and fairly the financial position of the Company as of such dates and the results of its operations and changes in its financial position for such periods.
(B)   Since December 31, 2016, there has been no change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company as shown on the balance sheet as of such date except increases, if any, in its current indebtedness to banks incurred for working capital and except changes in the ordinary course of business, none of which individually or in the aggregate has had a Material Adverse Effect.
(C)   All budgets, projections, feasibility studies, and other similar documentation submitted by the Company to the Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement were based upon assumptions that were reasonable and, as of the date hereof, no fact has come to light, and no event has occurred, that would cause any such assumption not to be reasonable.
SECTION 4.04.   Litigation . Except as set forth in Schedule 4.04 hereof, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company at law or in equity or before or by any Governmental Authority, that would reasonably be expected to involve the possibility of any material judgment or liability against the Company or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not in default with respect to any order of any court or Governmental Authority.

SECTION 4.05.   Taxes . The Company has filed prior to delinquency all required tax returns and paid all applicable federal, state and local taxes, other than taxes not yet due or that may hereafter be paid without penalty, and the Company has no knowledge of any material deficiency or additional assessment in connection therewith not provided for on the books of the Company.

SECTION 4.06.   Liens . There are no Liens on any property of the Company other than the Lien of the Indenture and Permitted Encumbrances.

SECTION 4.07.   Title to Properties . The Company has good title to all its property and assets reflected on the balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2016 (other than property or assets subsequently disposed of in the normal and ordinary course of business).

SECTION 4.08.   [Reserved ].

SECTION 4.09.   Calamities, Strikes, etc . Since December 31, 2016, the business, properties and assets of the Company have not been adversely affected in any substantial way as the result of any fire, explosion, accident, windstorm, strike, labor disturbance, lockout, combination of workmen, requisition or taking of property by the United States or any agency thereof or by the State of Delaware or any municipality or other agency thereof, flood, drought, embargo, riot, war or act of God or the public enemy.

SECTION 4.10.   Restrictions on the Company . The Company is not a party to or bound by any contract, indenture, agreement or instrument, or any law, rule or regulation, any judgment or order of any court or Governmental Authority that restricts or limits the right or ability of the Company to enter into and perform the Credit Documents; and no approval, authorization, consent or withholding of objection on the part of any Person, including any Governmental Authority, is necessary in connection with the execution or performance of the Credit Documents. No action on the part of any shareholder of the Company is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of and the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Credit Documents.

SECTION 4.11.   No Conflicts . The execution and delivery of the Credit Documents and the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, and the compliance with the Credit Documents by the Company, will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of, the charter or by-laws of the Company, or any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Corporation is a party, or by which the property or assets of either may be bound or affected.

SECTION 4.12.   No Defaults . The Company is operating its business in compliance with the terms of the Credit Documents, and no Default or Event of Default exists.

SECTION 4.13.   Compliance with Laws .

(A) The Company is not (i) in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or (ii) in default in any material respect under any law, ordinance, order, regulation, license or demand (including ERISA, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and laws and regulations establishing quality criteria and standards for air, water, land and toxic waste) of any Governmental Authority, default under which would have consequences that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(B)   The Company is not in violation of any applicable Federal, state or local
laws, statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, permit, licenses or authorizations relating to public health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, relating to releases, discharges, emissions or disposals to air, water, land or ground water, to the withdrawal or use of ground water, to the use, handling or disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos or urea formaldehyde, to the treatment, storage, disposal or management of hazardous substances (including, without limitation, petroleum, crude oil or any fraction thereof or other hydrocarbons), pollutants or contaminants, to exposure to toxic, hazardous or other controlled, prohibited or regulated substances which violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect . The Company does not know of any liability or class of liability of the Company under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.), or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.).

SECTION 4.14.   Validity . Enforceable Obligations . This Agreement and the other Credit Documents have been duly executed and delivered and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the  Company enforceable against the  Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.

SECTION 4.15.   Full Disclosure . The financial statements referred to in Section 4.03 of this Agreement do not, nor does any other written statement furnished to the Lender by the Company in connection herewith, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein or herein not misleading. There is no fact peculiar to the Company that the Company has not disclosed to the Lender in writing that materially affects adversely nor, so far as the Company now can reasonably foresee, will materially affect adversely the properties, business, prospects, profits or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company.

SECTION 4.16.   Use of Proceeds . None of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement (including, without limitation, the use of proceeds from the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any regulation issued pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, Regulations G, T and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 12 C.F.R., Chapter II. The Company does not intend to purchase, with the proceeds  of the Loans, any "margin stock" within the meaning of said Regulation G. None of the proceeds from the Loans will be used to purchase, or refinance any borrowing the proceeds of which were used to purchase, any "security" within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

SECTION 4.17.   ERISA.  The consummation of the transactions provided for in the Agreement and compliance by the Company with the provisions thereof will not involve any prohibited transaction within the meaning of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code. Each "Plan" (as hereinafter defined) complies in all material respects with all applicable statutes and governmental rules and regulations, and (i) no "Reportable Event" (as hereinafter defined) has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Plan, (ii) the Company has not withdrawn from any Plan or instituted steps to do so, and (iii) no steps have been instituted to terminate any Plan. No condition exists or event or transaction has occurred in connection with any Plan that could result in the incurrence by the Company of any material liability, fine or penalty. No Plan maintained by the Company, nor any trust created thereunder, have incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency" as defined in Section 302 of ERISA nor does the present value of all benefits vested under all Plans exceed, as of the last annual valuation date, the value of the assets of the Plans allocable to such vested benefits. The Company does not have any contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement "welfare benefit plans" (as such term is defined in ERISA) except as has been disclosed to the Lender.

SECTION 4.18.   Principal Place of Business; Records . The principal place of business and chief executive office of the Company and the place where the records of the Company are kept is at the address of the Company shown in Schedule 8.01 of this Agreement.

SECTION 4.19.   Rate Matters . The Company's current rates for the provision of water services have been approved by all necessary Governmental Authorities, including, without limitation, the Delaware Public Service Commission. There are no pending, nor to the Company's knowledge, any threatened, proceedings before any Governmental Authority the objective or result of which is or could be to materially reduce or otherwise materially change adversely any of the Company's rates for the provision of water services or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect .

SECTION 4.20.   System Condition; Water Rights . The Company's utility facilities reasonably meet present demand in all material respects, are constructed in a good and workmanlike manner, are in good working order and condition, and comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders, codes, and the like. The Company has water rights with such quantities, priorities and qualities as are necessary adequately to service the present and reasonably anticipated needs of its customers. The Company controls, owns, or has access to all such water rights free and clear of the interest of any third party which would individually or in the aggregate materially adversely affect the Company's intended use thereof and has not suffered or permitted any transfer or encumbrance of such water rights, has not abandoned such water rights, or any of them, and has not done any act or thing which would materially impair or cause a material loss of any such water rights.

SECTION 4.21.   [Intentionally Omitted]

SECTION 4.22.   Investment Company Act . The Company is not an "investment company" as that term is defined in, or otherwise subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SECTION 4.23.   No Default Under Other Agreements . The  Company is not in default in any respect under any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or other agreement or obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound which default has ha d or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect .

SECTION 4.24.   Indebtedness. As of the Closing Date, the Company has  no secured Indebtedness or Off Balance Sheet Indebtedness other than, in each case, as set forth in the Company's most recent annual report filed on Form 10-K and quarterly report filed on Form 10-Q, in each case as  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SECTION 4.25.   Solvency. The Company is and, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, will be Solvent.

SECTION 4.26.   Insurance. The Company maintains insurance for the benefit of the  Company with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar business and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the  Company operates.

SECTION 4.27.   Franchise, Licenses, Etc . The Company possesses all material franchises, certificates, licenses, permits and other authorizations necessary for the operation of its businesses.

SECTION 4.28.   Sanctions . None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are: (A) the subject/target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (" OFAC "), the U.S. Department of State, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively " Sanctions ") or (B) located, organized or resident is a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions.




ARTICLE 5
FURNISHING FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION

The  Company hereby covenants and agrees that so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Loans, together with interest, fees and other monetary obligations hereunder have been paid in full and the Commitment expires or is terminated:

SECTION 5.01.   Annual Financial Statements of Company . The Company will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Lender as soon as available, and in any event within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Company:

(i) a balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year, and

(ii) statements of income, retained earnings and cash flow of the Company for such fiscal year,

in each case setting forth in comparative form the figures for the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by an opinion thereon of a firm of independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company to the effect that the financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and present fairly the financial condition of the Company as of the end of such fiscal year and the results of its operations for the fiscal year then ended and a written statement from such accountants that their examination in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and auditing procedures as were considered necessary in the circumstances, and, to the extent applicable, disclosing all defaults by the Company in the performance of any obligation or under its certificate of incorporation of which they have obtained knowledge in making the examination necessary to their opinion.

SECTION 5.02.   Financial Statements of the Corporation .

( i)   Quarterly Statements . As soon as available and in any event within forty five (45) days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period (except the last) of each fiscal year of the Corporation, the Company will deliver to the Lender copies of:

(A) consolidated balance sheets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of the close of such quarterly period, and

(B) consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, for such quarterly period and for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such period,

in each case setting forth in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified as presenting fairly the financial condition of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of the end of such period and the results of their operations for such period, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, by the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

(ii)   Annual Statements . As soon as available and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of each fiscal year of the Corporation, the Company will deliver to Lender, copies in duplicate of:

(A) consolidated balance sheets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year, and

(B) consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flow of the Corporation and its subsidiaries for such fiscal year,
in each case setting forth in comparative form the consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by an opinion thereon of a firm of independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Corporation to the effect that the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP and present fairly the financial condition of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the results of their operations for the fiscal year then ended and a written statement from such accountants that their examination in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and auditing procedures as were considered necessary in the circumstances, and, to the extent applicable, disclosing all defaults by the Corporation in the performance of any obligation or under its certificate of incorporation of which they have obtained knowledge in making the examination necessary to their opinion

SECTION 5.03.   SEC and Other Related Reports . The Company will deliver to the Lender, promptly upon their becoming available, copies of all registration and proxy statements and reports that the Company or the Corporation shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor and corresponding Governmental Authority, and copies of such financial statements, reports, proxy statements and returns as it, or the Corporation, shall send to its or their stockholders or to the Trustee or file with any securities exchange.

SECTION 5.04.   Requested Information . The Company with reasonable promptness shall furnish the Lender such other data and information as may reasonably be requested.

SECTION 5.05.   Officer's Annual Certificate . Concurrently with delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 5.01 hereof, the Company will deliver to the Lender a certificate of its President or its Treasurer or Controller in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

SECTION 5.06.   Inspection . The Company will permit the Lender, or such person or persons as the Lender may designate in writing, to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and to examine its books of account and discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss with the Lender the finances and affairs of the Company), all at such reasonable times and as often as the Lender may desire; provided that, unless a Default or Event of Default exists, the Lender shall bear the cost of any such inspection.

SECTION 5.07.   Notice of Default . Promptly after becoming aware thereof, the Company will deliver to the Lender notice of  the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default provided; however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the Lender's rights and power to exercise any and all of the remedies specified herein.

SECTION 5.08.   Notice of Non-Environmental Litigation . Promptly after the commencement thereof, the Company will deliver to the Lender notice of the commencement of all actions, suits, or proceedings before any court, arbitrator, or Governmental Authority affecting it that, if adversely determined, could have a Material Adverse Effect .

SECTION 5.09.   Notice of Environmental Matters . Without limiting the provision of Section 5.08 hereof, promptly after receipt thereof, the Company will deliver to the Lender notice of its receipt of all pleadings, orders, complaints, indictments, or other written communications alleging a condition that would reasonably be expected to require the Company to undertake or to contribute to a cleanup or other response under any Environmental Law, or that seeks material penalties, damages, injunctive relief, or criminal sanctions related to alleged violations of any Environmental Law, or that makes any material claim for personal injury or property damage as a result of environmental factors or conditions or that, if adversely determined, could otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect .

SECTION 5.10.   ERISA Reportable   Events . Within 10 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Reportable Event  with respect to the Company, a statement describing such Reportable Event and the actions proposed to be taken in response to such Reportable Event.

ARTICLE 6
COVENANTS

The  Company hereby covenants and agrees that so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Loans, together with interest, fees and other monetary obligations hereunder have been paid in full and the Commitment expires or is terminated:

SECTION 6.01.   Compliance With Laws and Agreements . The Company will comply with (i) all Applicable Laws  of all Governmental Authorities and of any court, arbitrator or grand jury, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its properties (including, without limitation, applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions relating to equal employment opportunities or Environmental Laws), the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect ; and (ii) all agreements, indentures, mortgages and other instruments to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect .

SECTION 6.02.   Capitalization . The Company agrees to purchase such equity in the Lender as the Lender may from time to time require in accordance with its Bylaws and Capital Plan (as each may be amended from time to time), except that the maximum amount of equity that the Company may be required to purchase in the Lender in connection with the Loans may not exceed the maximum amount permitted by the Lender's Bylaws at the time this Agreement is entered into. The rights and obligations of the parties with respect to such equity and any distributions made on account thereof or on account of Borrower's patronage with CoBank shall be governed by the Lender's Bylaws and Capital Plan (as each may be amended from time to time). All such investments and all other equities that the Company may now own or hereafter acquire or be allocated in the Lender shall be subject to a statutory first Lien in favor of the Lender. The Lender shall not be obligated to set off or otherwise apply such equities to the Company's obligations to the Lender.

SECTION 6.03.   Licenses, Etc. The Company will duly and lawfully obtain and maintain in full force and effect all licenses, certificates, permits, authorizations, approvals and the like that are material to the conduct of its business or that otherwise may be required by laws, to the extent the failure to do so could have a Material Adverse Effect .

SECTION 6.04 .   Water Rights . The Company will maintain and procure water rights with such quantities, priorities and qualities as are necessary adequately to serve the present and reasonably anticipated needs of its customers. The Company will continue to control, own or have access to all such water rights free and clear of the interest of any third party, will not suffer or permit any transfer or encumbrance of such water rights, will not abandon such water rights, or any of them, and will not do any act or thing which would impair or cause the loss of such water rights.

SECTION 6.05 .   Loans and Investments . The Company will not, after the date hereof, make any loan or advance to, invest in, purchase or make any commitment to purchase any commercial paper, stock, bonds, notes, or other securities of any person or entity (each, whether made directly or indirectly, (an " Investment "), other than:

(A)   commercial paper maturing not in excess of one year from the date of acquisition and rated "P1" by Moody's or "A1" by S&P on the date of acquisition;

(B)   certificates of deposit in North American commercial banks rated "C" or better by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., or "3" or better by Cates Consulting Analysts, maturing not in excess of one year from the date of acquisition;

(C)   securities or deposits issued, guaranteed, or fully insured as to payment by the United States government or any agency thereof, and equity or investments in the Lender;

(D)   repurchase agreements of any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof and fully secured by a pledge of obligations issued or fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States government;

(E)   stocks and other voting securities that are not included within the scope of clauses (A) through (D) above and are issued by corporations or other entities not engaged in any business other than the water or wastewater utility business and that are incorporated or organized under the laws of the United State of America or any state thereof; provided that prior to or as a result of such investment the Company holds not less than seventy five percent (75%) of the voting securities of such corporation or entity;

(F)   commercial paper, bonds, stocks or other securities that are not included within the scope of clauses (A) through (E) above and are issued by corporations or other entities incorporated or organized under the laws of the United State of America or any state thereof (collectively, " Other Investments "); provided that the aggregate amount (calculated based on cost) of all such Other Investments shall not at any time exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); and

(G)   Loans to Artesian Water Maryland, Inc. in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed, at any one time outstanding, $10,000,000.

SECTION 6.06.   Guarantees. The Company will not guarantee, assume or otherwise become obligated or liable with respect to the indebtedness or other obligations of any person or entity, other than in the ordinary course of its business.

SECTION 6.07.   Mergers; Acquisitions: Etc . The Company will not: (A) merge or consolidate with any other entity unless the Company shall be the continuing and surviving corporation and, after such merger or consolidation, there shall exist no Default or Event of Default; or (B) commence operations under any other name, organization or entity, including any joint venture.

SECTION 6.08.   Transfer of Assets . The Company will not sell, transfer, lease, enter into any contract for the sale, transfer or lease of, or otherwise dispose of, any of its assets, except in the ordinary course of its business.

SECTION 6.09.   Change in Business . The Company will not engage in any business activity or operation different from or unrelated to its current business activities or operations.

SECTION   6.10.   Distributions . The Company will not make, declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any dividend or other distribution of assets to shareholders of the Company, or retire, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of stock of the Company, if at the time thereof or after giving effect thereto a Default or Event of Default exists or would exist..

SECTION   6.11.   Preservation of Existence, Franchise and Assets . The  Company will do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights, franchises and authority. The  Company shall generally maintain its properties, real and personal, in good condition, and the  Company shall not waste or otherwise permit such properties to deteriorate, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

  SECTION 6.12. Books and Records . The  Company will keep complete and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance with good accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the establishment and maintenance of appropriate reserves).

  SECTION 6.13. Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness . The  Company will pay, settle or discharge (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before they shall become delinquent, (b) all lawful claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon any of its properties, and (c) all of its other Indebtedness as it shall become due (to the extent such repayment is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement); provided, however, that the  Company shall not be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy, claim or Indebtedness which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves therefore have been established in accordance with GAAP, unless the failure to make any such payment (i) would give rise to an immediate right to foreclose or collect on a Lien securing such amounts or (ii) would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

  SECTION 6.14. Insurance . The Company will at all times maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker's compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) with responsible and reputable insurance companies in such amounts, covering such risks and liabilities and with such deductibles or self-insurance retentions as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the  Company operates. The Company agrees to deliver to CoBank such proof of compliance with this Section as Lender may from time to time require.

SECTION 6.15.   Performance of Obligation . The  Company will perform in all material respects all of its obligations under the terms of all material agreements, indentures, mortgages, security agreements or other debt instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

SECTION 6.16.   Audits/Inspections. Upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours, the  Company will permit representatives appointed by the Lender, including, without limitation, employees of the Lender, independent accountants, agents, attorneys, and appraisers, to visit and inspect the  Company's property, including its books and records, its accounts receivable and inventory, the Company's facilities and its other business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof and to write down and record any information such representative obtains and shall permit the Lender or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of information provided to the Lender and to discuss all such matters with the officers, employees and representatives of the  Company.

SECTION 6.17   . Nature of Business . The Company will not alter the character of its business from that of a water or wastewater utility company.

SECTION 6.18.   Arm's-Length Transactions . The  Company will not enter into any transaction or series of transactions, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, with any officer, director or Affiliate other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to the Company as would be obtainable in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director or Affiliate.

SECTION 6.19.   Fiscal Year; Organization Documents . The  Company will not (a) change its fiscal year or (b) change its form of organization from a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 6.20.   Liens . The  Company will not contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its property or assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or intangible), whether now owned or after acquired, except for the Lien of the Indenture and Liens permitted by the Indenture.

SECTION 6.21.   Indebtedness . The Company will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to incur, assume, guarantee or in any other manner become liable, with respect to:

(A)   Short-Term Debt (including Company Obligations) in excess of, at any one time outstanding, $40,000,000.

(B)   Funded Indebtedness in excess of, at any one time outstanding, 66.67% of Total Permanent Capital of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

SECTION 6.22.   EBITDA to Total Interest Expense Ratio. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, if any, will have at the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an EBITDA to Total Interest Expense Ratio of not less than 2.50 to 1.00.

SECTION 6.23.   Sanctions, Etc. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the loans, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person, to fund any activities or business of or with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, or other relevant sanctions authority. In addition, the Company agrees that: (1) it will not become a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order, or knowingly engage in any dealings or transactions with any such Person; and (2) no part of the proceeds of the loans will be used, directly or indirectly, in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption law.

ARTICLE 7
EVENTS OF DEFAULT

SECTION 7.01.   Events of Default . An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an "Event of Default"):

(A)   Payment .  The Company shall default in the payment when due of any principal of any of the Loans or in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or of any fees or other amounts owing hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents.

(B)   Representations .  Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed to be made by the Company herein, in any of the other Credit Documents, or in any statement or certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was deemed to have been made.

  (C) Certain Covenants . The failure by the Company to perform or comply with any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement (excluding Sections 2.02, 5.07, 5.08, 5.09,  6.21, and 6.22), and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after written notice thereof shall have been delivered by the Lender to the Company;

  (D) Other Covenants . The failure by the Company to perform or comply with Sections 2.02, 5.07, 5.08, 5.09, 6.21 or 6.22 of this Agreement.

(E)   Cross-Default . The occurrence of any event of default under, or lapse of or failure on the part of the Company to observe, keep, or perform any covenant or agreement contained in any other Credit Document or any other agreement between the Company and the Lender, including, without limitation, any guaranty, loan agreement, security agreement, pledge agreement, indenture, mortgage or other agreement.

(F)   Other Indebtedness.  The Company should fail to pay when due any indebtedness to any other Person for borrowed money or any long-term obligation for the deferred purchase price of property (including any capitalized lease), or any other event occurs which, under any agreement or instrument relating to such indebtedness or obligation, has the effect of accelerating or permitting the acceleration of such indebtedness or obligation, whether or not such indebtedness or obligation is actually accelerated or the right to accelerate is conditioned on the giving of notice, the passage of time, or otherwise.

(G)   Judgment. The rendering against the Company of a judgment for the payment of moneys in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) and the continuance of such judgment unsatisfied and without stay of execution thereon for a period of forty-five (45) days after the entry of such judgment, or the continuance of such judgment unsatisfied for a period of forty-five (45) days after the termination of any stay of execution thereon entered within such first mentioned forty-five (45) days.

(H)   Bankruptcy, etc . The occurrence of any of the following with respect to the  Company (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the  Company or for any part of its property or order the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or (ii) an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect is commenced against the Company and such petition remains unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) the  Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any substantial part of its property or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) the Company shall become insolvent or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or any action shall be taken by the Company in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes.

(I)   ERISA .  The occurrence of any of the following events or conditions if the same, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably expected to result in a liability of an amount greater than or equal to $500,000: (A) any "accumulated funding deficiency," as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any Lien shall arise on the assets of the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Plan; (B) a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Lender, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (C) a Termination Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Lender, likely to result in (i) the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (ii) the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of such Plan; or (D) any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which would be reasonably expected to subject the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(1) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability.

(J)   Indenture .  An "Event of Default" (as defined in the Indenture) shall exist.

SECTION 7.02.   Acceleration; Remedies . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, the Lender shall have no obligation to make any Loan to the Company and may discontinue doing so at any time without prior notice. In addition, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at any time thereafter unless and until such Event of Default has been waived by the Lender, the Lender may, by written notice to the Company, take any of the following actions:

(A)   Termination of Commitments .  Declare the Commitment terminated whereupon the Commitment shall be immediately terminated provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 7.01(H) hereof, the Commitment shall automatically terminate without the need to provide notice of any kind, which is hereby waived by the Company.

(B)   Acceleration of Loans .  Declare the unpaid amount of all Company Obligations to be due whereupon the same shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the  Company; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 7.01(H) hereof, the Company Obligations shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the  Company.

(C)   Enforcement of Rights .  Enforce any and all rights and interests created and existing under the Credit Documents, including, without limitation, all rights of set-off.

(D)   Other Rights . Exercise all other rights provided in this Agreement, any other Credit Document, or under law.

In addition to the foregoing, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default the unpaid principal balance of the Loans, together with any overdue payments of interest, fees or other charges hereunder, shall automatically accrue interest at the Default Rate.

SECTION 7.03.   Application of Payments After Event of Default . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, after the exercise of any remedies by the Lender pursuant to Section 7.02 (or after the Commitment shall automatically terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts under the Credit Documents shall automatically become due and payable in accordance with the terms of such Section), all amounts collected or received by the Lender on account of amounts outstanding under any of the Credit Documents shall be applied as follows:

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including without limitation reasonable Attorney Costs) of the Lender in connection with enforcing the rights of the Lender under the Credit Documents;

SECOND, to payment of any fees or surcharges owed to the Lender;

THIRD, to the payment of all accrued interest payable to the Lender hereunder;

FOURTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans;

FIFTH, to all other obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents and not repaid pursuant to clauses "FIRST" through "FOURTH" above; and

SIXTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

In carrying out the foregoing, amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category.
ARTICLE 8
MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.01.   Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies

  (A) General .  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All written notices and all other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 8.01 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties. All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B)  if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (C) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of subsection (C) below), when delivered.

  (B) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures .  Credit Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable law, have the same force and effect as manually-signed originals and shall be binding on the  Company and the Lender. The Lender may also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided, however, that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document or signature.

  (C) Limited Use of Electronic Mail.   Electronic mail and internet and intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as financial statements and other information as provided in Sections 5.01 through 5.04, and to distribute Credit Documents for execution by the parties thereto, and may not be used for any other purpose.

  (D) Reliance by Lender .  The Lender shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic notices of borrowing and interest elections) purportedly given by or on behalf of the  Company even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The  Company shall indemnify the Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the  Company. All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Lender may be recorded by the Lender, and the  Company hereby consents to such recording.

SECTION 8.02.   Rights of Set-Off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and the commencement of remedies described in Section 7.02, the Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (all of which rights being hereby expressly waived), to hold, set-off and appropriate and apply any and all proceeds of any equity in the Lender , any deposits (general or special), and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by the Lender (whether or not due) to or for the credit or the account of the Company against the  Company Obligations irrespective of whether the Lender shall have made any demand hereunder and although such  Company Obligations, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured; provided, however, that the Lender shall not be obligated to effect any such setoff. The  Company hereby agrees that any Person purchasing a participation in the Loans and Commitments hereunder pursuant to Section 8.03 may exercise all rights of set-off with respect to its participation interest as fully as if such Person were a Lender hereunder.

SECTION 8.03.   Successors and Assigns

  (A) Generally .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the  Company may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participation Purchasers to the extent provided in subsection (B) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnities) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

  (B) Participations .  Without limiting the foregoing, the Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Company, sell participations to any Participation Purchaser in all or a portion of the Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Commitment and/or the Loans); provided that (i) if such sale is other than to a Farm Credit System
Institution, such sale shall be subject to the  Company's consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, (ii) the Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, ( iii ) the Lender shall remain solely responsible to the  Company for the performance of such obligations and ( iv ) the Company and the Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with the Lender in connection with the Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which the Lender sells such a participation shall provide that the Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that the Lender will not, without the consent of the Participation Purchaser, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 8.06 that directly affects such Participation Purchaser. To the extent permitted by law, each Participation Purchaser also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 8.02 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participation Purchaser agrees to share any amount received in excess of its pro rata share with the Lender and all other Participation Purchasers.

  (C) Nonrestricted Assignments .  The Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under the Credit Documents (including under the Note) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations arising in connection with the issuance of notes by the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

  (D) Information .  The Lender may furnish any information concerning the  Company in the possession of such Lender from time to time to Participation Purchasers (including prospective Participation Purchasers).

  SECTION 8.04. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative . No failure or delay on the part of the Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document and no course of dealing between the Company and the Lender shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Lender would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on the  Company in any case shall entitle the  Company to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Lender to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.

  SECTION 8.05. Payment of Expenses, Etc .

  (A) The  Company agrees (i) to pay or reimburse the Lender for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of Sherman & Howard L.L.C., special counsel to the Lender), and (ii) to pay or reimburse the Lender for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any "workout" or restructuring in respect of the Company Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding of the  Company), including all Attorney Costs. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes related thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by the Lender. All amounts due under this Section 8.05(A) shall be payable within ten Business Days after written notice is provided to the Company demanding payment therefor. In addition, the Company will pay all taxes (including interest and penalties) that may be payable in respect of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other Credit Documents or of any amendment of, or waiver or consent under or with respect to, this Agreement  or the Note, and will hold the Lender harmless against any loss or liability resulting from nonpayment or delay in payment of any such tax. The obligations of the Company under this Section 8.05 shall survive the payment of the Loans.

(B )   Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the  Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnities from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Credit Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) the Commitment or any Loan, (c) any actual or alleged presence or release of hazardous materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or any liability resulting from any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws related in any way to the  Company, any Subsidiary of the  Company or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"), in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date). All amounts due under this Section 8.05(B) shall be payable within ten Business Days after written notice is provided to the Company demanding payment therefor.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the  termination of the Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other  Company Obligations.
(C)   Payments Free of Taxes .  Any and all payments by or on account of any Company Obligation to Lender under any Credit Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any taxes, except as required by Applicable Law.  If any Applicable Law requires the deduction or withholding of any tax from any such payment by the Company, then: (1) the Company shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law; and (2) the sum payable by the Company shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.  The Company's obligations under this Section shall survive the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Company Obligations.

SECTION 8.06.   Amendments, Waivers and Consents . Neither this Agreement, nor any other Credit Document nor any of the terms hereof or thereof may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing and signed by the Lender and the Company; provided that no such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination shall without the consent of each Participation Purchaser affected thereby:

  (A) extend the Maturity Date, or postpone or extend the time for any payment or prepayment of principal;

  (B) reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) thereon or fees or other amounts payable hereunder;

  (C) reduce or waive the principal amount of any Loan;

  (D) increase or extend the Commitment (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default shall not constitute a change in the terms of the Commitment);

  (E) release the  Company from its obligations under the Credit Documents;

  (F) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 8.06 , or Sections 7.01(A), 8.02, 8.03 or 8.05 ; or

  (G) consent to the assignment or transfer by the  Company of any of its rights and obligations under (or in respect of) the Credit Documents.

  SECTION 8.07. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which where so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

  SECTION 8.08. Headings . The headings of the sections and subsections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

  SECTION 8.09. Survival of Indemnification and Representations and Warranties . All indemnities set forth herein and all representations and warranties made herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the making of the Loans, and the repayment of the Loans and other  Company Obligations and the termination of the Commitment hereunder.

  SECTION 8.10. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE . The  Company irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any competent court in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at the address for notices pursuant to Section 8.01 , such service to become effective 30 days after such mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Lender to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

  SECTION 8.11. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS  AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY.

  SECTION 8.12. Severability . If any provision of any of the Credit Documents is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

  SECTION 8.13. Further Assurances . The  Company agrees, upon the request of the Lender, to promptly take such actions, as reasonably requested, as are necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

  SECTION 8.14. Entirety . This Agreement together with the other Credit Documents represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.

  SECTION 8.15. Binding Effect; Continuing Agreement.

(A)   This Agreement shall become effective at such time as all of the conditions set forth in Section 3.01 have been satisfied or waived by the Lender and it shall have been executed by the  Company and the Lender, and thereafter this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the  Company and the Lender and their respective successors and assigns.

(B)   This Agreement shall be a continuing agreement and shall remain in full force and effect until all Loans, interest, fees and other Company Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitment expires or has been terminated. Upon termination, the  Company shall have no further obligations (other than the indemnification provisions that survive) under the Credit Documents; provided that should any payment, in whole or in part, of the  Company Obligations be rescinded or otherwise required to be restored or returned by the Lender, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, then the Credit Documents shall automatically be reinstated and all amounts required to be restored or returned and all costs and expenses incurred by the Lender in connection therewith shall be deemed included as part of the  Company Obligations.

  SECTION 8.16. Confidentiality . The Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process (provided, in the event of any disclosure pursuant to this clause (c), the Lender shall promptly notify the  Company of its disclosure of such Information); (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 8.16 , to (i) any  Participation Purchaser in, or any prospective Participation Purchaser in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such contractual counterparty's or prospective counterparty's professional advisor) to any credit derivative transaction relating to obligations of the  Company; (g) with the consent of the  Company; (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 8.16 or (ii) has been available or becomes available to the Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the  Company; or (i) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender's or its Affiliates' portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender or its Affiliates. For the purposes of this Section 8.16 , "Information" means all information received from the  Company relating to the  Company or its Subsidiaries or business. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 8.16 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, "Information" shall not include, and the Lender and the  Company may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, any information with respect to the "tax treatment" and "tax structure" (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Lender or the  Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction as well as other information, this sentence shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment or tax structure of the Loans and transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 8.17.   USA PATRIOT ACT . CoBank hereby notifies the Company that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Publ. 107 56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the " Act "), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Company, which information includes the name and address of the Company and other information that will allow CoBank to identify the Company in accordance with the Act.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Revolving Credit Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
BORROWER :
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.



By:    
Name:    
Title:    

LENDER :
CoBANK, ACB



By:  
Name:  
Title:  


EXHIBIT A

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF INTERPRETATION

  SECTION 1.01 Definitions. As used in the Agreement, any amendment thereto, or in any other Credit Document, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

" Affiliate " means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling (including but not limited to all directors and officers of such Person), controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power (a) to vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such corporation or (b) to direct or cause direction of the management and policies of such corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. " Agreement " shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.
" Agreement " shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory clause hereof, and shall be deemed to include all amendments hereto.
" Applicable Law " means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, and ordinances applicable to the Person, conduct, transaction, covenant or contract in question.
" Attorney Costs " means all reasonable fees and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel.
" Banking Day" shall mean a day that is both a Business Day and a day on which dealings between banks are carried on in U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
" Business Day " means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which the Lender is closed for business.
" Capital Stock " means (a) in the case of a corporation, all classes of capital stock of such corporation, (b) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (c) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests and (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
" Closing Date " means the date hereof.
" CoBank " shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory clause hereof, and shall include its successors and assigns.
" CoBank Base Rate " shall mean the rate of interest established by CoBank from time to time as its CoBank Base Rate, which rate is intended by CoBank as a reference rate and not its lowest rate. The CoBank Base Rate will change on the effective date of each change in the rate.
" Code " means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
" Commitment " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 .
" Company " means Artesian Water Company, Inc.
" Company Obligations " means, without duplication, all of the obligations of the Company to the Lender, whenever arising, under this Agreement, the Note or any of the other Credit Documents, including, without limitation, the obligation to pay principal, interest, fees, surcharges, premiums, expense, and other amounts owing hereunder.
" Corporation " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.01 hereof.
" Credit Documents " means this Agreement, the Note, and all other related agreements and documents issued or delivered hereunder or thereunder or pursuant hereto or thereto.
" Default " means any event, act or condition which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
" Default Rate " shall mean the CoBank Base Rate plus 2% per annum.
" Dollars " and " $ " means dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.
" EBITDA To Total Interest Expense Ratio " shall mean a ratio of: (1) operating revenues minus operating expenses for the fiscal year, plus depreciation and amortization expenses for such fiscal year; to (2) total interest expense for such fiscal year (all as calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied). For the avoidance of doubt, in calculating operating expenses, interest expense and income taxes will not be included.

" Environmental Laws " means any current or future legal requirement of any Governmental Authority pertaining to (a) the protection of health, safety, and the indoor or outdoor environment, (b) the conservation, management, or use of natural resources and wildlife, (c) the protection or use of surface water and groundwater or (d) the management, manufacture, possession, presence, use, generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release, threatened release, abatement, removal, remediation or handling of, or exposure to, any hazardous or toxic substance or material or (e) pollution (including any release to land surface water and groundwater) and includes, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 USC 9601 et seq., Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment of 1984, 42 USC 6901 et seq., Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977,33 USC 1251 et seq., Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended, 42 USC 7401 et seq., Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, 15 USC 2601 et seq., Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 USC App. 1801 et seq., Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 USC 651 et seq., Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 USC 2701 et seq., Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 USC 11001 et seq., National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 USC 4321 et seq., Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 USC 300(f) et seq., any analogous implementing or successor law, and any amendment, rule, regulation, order, or directive issued thereunder.
" ERISA " means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.
" ERISA Affiliate " means an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common control with the  Company or any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, or is a member of a group which includes the  Company or any of its Subsidiaries and which is treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b), (c), (m), or (0) of the Code.
" Eurocurrency Liabilities " shall have meaning as set forth in Regulation D.
" Event of Default " has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
" Financial Officer " means any one of the chief financial officer, the chief accounting officer, the Vice President, Finance or the Senior Vice President, Finance and Planning of the  Company.
" Funded Indebtedness " shall mean all bonds, debentures and other evidence of indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, secured or unsecured, for money borrowed but excluding (i) indebtedness maturing on demand or within one year from the date incurred and not renewable or extendable at the option of the debtor, (ii) indebtedness of the Company to any Subsidiary and any indebtedness of a Subsidiary to the Company, and (iii) indebtedness that has been called for redemption and for the payment of which monies have been irrevocably deposited with a trustee.  Funded Indebtedness shall be calculated on a consolidated basis, excluding all intercompany items, in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and shall include the portion of bonds, notes or other indebtedness maturing, or required to be redeemed, within one year from the date as of which Funded Indebtedness is being determined, provided that for purposes of computations under this Agreement, capitalized lease obligations shall be excluded from Funded Indebtedness.
" GAAP " means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis.
" Governmental Authority " means any Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.
" Guaranty Obligations " means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or other obligation or any property constituting security therefore, (b) to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of such Indebtedness or obligation or to maintain working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such other Person (including, without limitation, maintenance agreements, comfort letters, take or pay arrangements, put agreements or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of the holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (c) to lease or purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or (d) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made.
" Indebtedness " of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person to the extent of the value of such property (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations, other than intercompany items and trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business, of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased by such Person which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (f) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person, (g) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under (i) capital lease obligations and (ii) Off Balance Sheet Indebtedness, (h) all obligations of such Person to repurchase any securities which repurchase obligation is related to the issuance thereof, including, without limitation, obligations commonly known as residual equity appreciation potential shares, (i) all net principal obligations of such Person in respect of interest rate protection agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements, commodity purchase or option agreements or other interest or exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreements, (j) the maximum amount of all performance and standby letters of credit issued or bankers' acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), and (k) the aggregate amount of uncollected accounts receivable of such Person subject at such time to a sale of receivables (or similar transaction) regardless of whether such transaction is effected without recourse to such Person or in a manner that would not be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP .
" Indemnified Liabilities " has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(B) .
" Indemnities " means, collectively, the Lender and its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys- in-fact.
" Indenture " means that certain Indenture of Mortgage dated as of July 1, 1961 between the Company (successor to the Corporation) and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee as the same may from time to time be supplemented, modified, amended, renewed, extended or consolidated.
" Interest Period " means  a period commencing on the date the LIBOR Option is to take effect (including continuations and conversions) and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month or the month that is 2, 3, 6, or 9 months thereafter, as the case may be; provided, however, that: (i) in the event such ending day is not a Banking Day, such period shall be extended to the next Banking Day unless such next Banking Day falls in the next calendar month, in which case it shall end on the preceding Banking Day; and (ii) if there is no numerically corresponding day in the ending month, then such period shall end on the last Banking Day in the relevant month.
" Investment " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.05 hereof.
" Lender " means CoBank, ACB, together with its successors and assigns.
 " LIBOR " shall mean the rate (rounded upward to the nearest sixteenth and adjusted for reserves required on Eurocurrency Liabilities for banks subject to Regulation D or required by any other federal law or regulation) quoted by the ICE Benchmark Administration ( "ICE") at 11:00 a.m. London time 2 Banking Days before the commencement of the Interest Period for the offering of U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank market for the Interest Period designated by the Company, as published by Bloomberg or another major information vendor listed on ICE's official website.
" LIBOR Balance " shall mean a balance bearing interest at the LIBOR Option.
" LIBOR Option " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(A)(2) .
" Lien " means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing or similar statement or notice filed under the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in the relevant jurisdiction or other similar recording or notice statute, and any lease in the nature thereof).
" Loans "  shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 hereof.
" Material Adverse Effect " means a material adverse effect on (a) the operations, business, assets, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the  Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents, or the rights and remedies of the Lender hereunder or thereunder.
" Maturity Date " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.
" Moody's " means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business of rating securities.
" Multiemployer Plan " means a Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
" Multiple Employer Plan " means a Plan covered by Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.
" Note " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08 hereof, as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time.
" OFAC " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.28 hereof.
" Off Balance Sheet Indebtedness " means any obligation of a Person that would be considered indebtedness for tax purposes but is not set forth on the balance sheet of such Person, including, but not limited to, (a) any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product of such Person, (b) the aggregate amount of uncollected accounts receivables of such Person subject at such time to a sale of receivables (or similar transaction) and (c) obligations of any partnership or joint venture that is recourse to such Person.
" Other Investments " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.05(F) hereof.
" Participation Purchaser " means any Person (other than a natural person or the  Company or any of the  Company's Affiliates or Subsidiaries) to whom a Lender sells a participation as specified in Section 8.03(B) .
" PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA and any successor thereto.
" Permitted Encumbrances " shall have the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
" Person " means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, association, trust, limited liability company or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated), or any government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof
" Plan " means any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is covered by ERISA and with respect to which the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate is ( or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" within the meaning of Section 3(5) of ERISA.
" Regulation D, O, T, U or X " means Regulation D, O, T, U or X, respectively, of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect, any amendment thereto and any successor to all or a portion thereof
" Reportable Event " means a "reportable event" as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA with respect to which the notice requirements to the PBGC have not been waived.
" S&P " means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such division in the business of rating securities.
"Sanctions" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.28 hereof.
" Short-Term Debt " means debt of the Company that matures within one year of the date created.
" Single Employer Plan " means any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
" Solvent " means, with respect to the  Company as of a particular date, that on such date (a) the  Company is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (b) the  Company does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond the  Company's ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature in their ordinary course, (c) the  Company is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which the  Company's assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which the  Company is engaged or is to engage and (d) the fair value of the assets of the Company, taken as a whole on a going concern basis, is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of the  Company. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed as the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
" Subsidiary " means, as to any Person, (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not, at the time, any 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 owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than 50% equity interest at any time.
" Termination Event " means (a) with respect to any Single Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of ERISA), (b) the withdrawal of the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan, (c) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section 4041 (a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA, (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA, (e) any event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or (f) the complete or partial withdrawal of the  Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.
" Total Assets " means all assets of the  Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as shown on its most recent annual audited consolidated balance sheet, as determined in accordance with GAAP .
" Total Permanent Capital " shall mean, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries: (i) the sum of the par or stated value of all outstanding capital stock of the Company and all paid-in premiums thereon; (ii) all surplus, including capital and earned surplus but not including surplus from any revaluation of the Company's assets after December 31, 2008; (iii) the minority interest (if any) in consolidated Subsidiaries, but not including any earned surplus of Subsidiaries prior to the date of acquisition of such Subsidiaries; and (iv) all Funded Indebtedness of the Company and such Subsidiaries.  Total Permanent Capital shall be calculated on a consolidated basis, excluding all intercompany items, and in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
" Variable Rate Option " shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(A)(1).
RULES OF INTERPRETATION

SECTION 2.01 Rules of Interpretation.  The following rules of interpretation shall apply to the Agreement, the other Credit Documents and all amendments to either of the foregoing:

  Accounting Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered to the Lender hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

Number.  All terms stated in the singular shall include the plural, and all terms stated in the plural shall include the singular.

  Including.  The term "including" shall be construed as meaning "including, but not limited to".

  Default . The expression "while any Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing" (or like expression) shall be deemed to include the period following any acceleration of the  Company Obligations (unless such acceleration is rescinded).

References in this Agreement to "Articles", "Sections", "Schedules" or "Exhibits" shall be to Articles, Sections, Schedules or Exhibits of or to this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided.

  Renewal of Commitment. References in the Agreement to the renewal of the Commitment shall not be construed as obligating the Lender to renew the Commitment, and no obligation to renew the Commitment shall arise unless contained in a writing signed by the Lender .


EXHIBIT B
FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
PROMISSORY NOTE

$20,000,000.00 Denver, Colorado
September 28, 2017

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to CoBank, ACB ("CoBank"), or its assigns, in lawful money of the United States and in immediately available funds, on the "Maturity Date" (as defined in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal amount of TWENTY   MILLION AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($20,000,000.00), or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement referred to below) made by CoBank to the Company pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement and outstanding on the Maturity Date , whichever is less.  The Company also promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Loans for the period such balance is outstanding in like money, at the rates of interest, at the times, and calculated in the manner, set forth in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement.  All payments made hereunder shall be made at the times and in the manner set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement.
The Company hereby authorizes CoBank to endorse on a schedule to this Note: (i) the amount of all Loans; (ii) the interest rate elections made with respect thereto; and (iii) all payments of principal and interest in respect of such Loans, which endorsements, absent proof of error, shall be conclusive as to the outstanding principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Loans; provided   however , that the failure to make such notation with respect to any Loan or payment shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Company under the Revolving Credit Agreement or this Note.
This is the Note referred to in that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2017, by and between the Company and CoBank, as amended from time to time (the "Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement"), to evidence the Loans made by CoBank thereunder, all of the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference. All capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement.
The Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of principal upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and for prepayments on the terms and conditions specified therein.
The Company hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, and any other notice or formality with respect to this Note, and all defenses on the ground of delay or of any extension of time for payment hereof which may, without obligation, hereafter be given by the holder hereof.
Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, this Note shall be governed by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to choice of law doctrine.
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.

By:    
Name:  
Title:  

SCHEDULE TO REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF ANNUAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

TO:   COBANK, ACB
FROM:   ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.
DATE:   _______________, 20____
SUBJECT:
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE FOR FISCAL PERIOD ENDING ON ____________________, 20___.
Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September 28, 2017 (the " Credit Agreement "), between ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC. (the " Company ") and COBANK, ACB (" Lender "). Capitalized terms used in this certificate and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to those terms in the Credit Agreement.
I am the _______________________________ 1 of the Company and am furnishing this Certificate to you pursuant to Section 5.05 of the Credit Agreement.
Attached hereto are the annual financial statements required by Section 5.01 of the Credit Agreement.  The undersigned hereby certifies that the annual financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial conditions and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP consistently applied .
In addition to the above, attached hereto is a certificate calculating the financial covenants set forth in Sections  6.21 and 6.22 of the Credit Agreement. The undersigned hereby certifies that the financial covenants were calculated in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Credit Agreement.
I hereby certify that a review in reasonable detail of the activities of Company during the period covered by the financial statements attached hereto has been made or caused to be made under my supervision and that [ please check one of the following boxes and, if the second box is checked, complete the information required thereunder ]:
[ ] Such review has not disclosed the existence during or at the end of the period covered by the financial statements of any condition or event which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default;
[ ] Such review has disclosed the existence of the following Default(s) and/or Event(s) of Default [ specify the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto ]: ___________________________________________________.

(Signature)

(Print Name)
________________________________
(Title)



1 Must be from the President, Treasurer or Controller.

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.

FINANCIAL COVENANT CERTIFICATE

For fiscal year ending on _______________

The undersigned hereby certifies to COBANK, ACB that set forth below are: (1) the financial ratios that the Company was required to achieve for the fiscal year end covered by this Certificate; and (2) the actual results achieved by the Company:

RATIO
 
Required
Achieved
Short Term Debt
·   CoBank:            $_____________
·   Other Lenders:  $_____________
 
Not greater than $40,000,000
 
Ratio of EBITDA to Total Interest Expense:
·   EBITDA:   $___________
·   Total Interest Expense:   $________
 
Not less than 2.50 to 1.00
 
Funded Indebtedness to Total Permanent Capital:
·   Funded Indebtedness:       $___________
·   Total Permanent Capital:  $___________
 
Not greater than 66.7 of Total Permanent Capital
 

All of the above ratios were calculated in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.

By:    
  Its:
Chief Financial Officer


SCHEDULE 4.04

LITIGATION



None


SCHEDULE 8.01

WRITTEN NOTICE AND TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATIONS

If to CoBank, to:

CoBank, ACB
6340 S. Fiddlers Green Circle
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
Facsimile:  (303) 740-4002
E-Mail: bervin@cobank.com
Attention:  Energy & Water Group

If to Artesian, to:
Artesian Water Company, Inc.
664 Churchmans Road
Newark, DE 19702
Facsimile: (302) 453-6957
E-Mail: dspacht@artesianwater.com
Attention: Chief Financial Officer




ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.
SECRETARY'S CERTIFICATE

Reference is made to the following documents between Artesian Water Company, Inc. (the "Company") and CoBank, ACB ("CoBank"): (1) Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September 28, 2017 (the "Credit Agreement"); and (2) various instruments and documents furnished in connection therewith (collectively, the "Credit Documents"). Capitalized terms used in this Certificate and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to those terms in the Credit Agreement. This Certificate is being furnished pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

I, Joseph A. DiNunzio, in my capacity as Secretary of the Company, and in connection with the transaction contemplated by the Credit Documents, hereby certify to CoBank that:

1.   The execution, delivery, and performance of the Credit Documents were duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to resolutions adopted on September 24, 2017 (the "Resolutions"), and the Resolutions are still in force and effect as of the date hereof;

2.   Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true, current and complete copy of the Resolutions;

3.   Attached hereto as Exhibit B are the names, titles, and true ink signatures of the officers of the Company that are authorized to sign the Credit Documents on behalf of the Company;

4.   Attached hereto as Exhibit C  is a copy, certified by the Secretary of State of Delaware, of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company. The attached copy of the Certificate of Incorporation is a correct and complete copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to the date hereof.

4.   Attached hereto as Exhibit D is a current, correct and complete copy of the By-laws of the Company, as amended to the date hereof.

5.   Attached hereto as Exhibit E is a good standing certificate for the Company issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

6.   I know of no proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or threatening its existence.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , I have hereunto set my hand as of this 28 th day of September, 2017.

______________________________________





EXHIBIT A

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
of
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC .
Newark, Delaware

WHEREAS, Artesian Water Company, Inc. (" Company"), under its certificate of incorporation and bylaws has full power and authority to borrow money and to secure the same with its own property and property delivered to it for marketing or otherwise; and

WHEREAS, all prerequisite acts and proceedings preliminary to the adoption of these Resolutions have been taken and done in due and proper form, time and manner;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED , that each of the Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer and the Executive Vice President & Secretary (collectively, the "Officers") of the  Company are jointly and severally authorized and empowered to obtain for and on behalf of the  Company from time to time, from CoBank, ACB ("CoBank"), a loan or loans or other financial accommodations not exceeding the principal sum of TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS (including, without limitation, letters of credit, note purchase agreements and bankers acceptances) (collectively, a "Loan") under these Resolutions; and for such purposes: (1) to execute such application or applications (including exhibits, amendments and/or supplements thereto) as may be required for all borrowings; (2) to obligate the  Company to pay such rate or rates of interest as the Officers so acting shall deem proper, and in connection therewith to purchase such interest rate risk management products as may be offered from time to time by CoBank; (3) to obligate the  Company to such other terms and conditions as the Officers so acting shall deem proper; (4) to obligate the  Company to make such investments in CoBank as required by CoBank; (5) to execute and deliver to CoBank or its nominee all such written loan agreements, documents and instruments as may be required by CoBank in regard to or as evidence of any Loan made pursuant to the terms of these Resolutions; (6) to pledge, grant a security interest or lien in, or assign all equity in CoBank that the Company may now or hereafter own as security for any or all obligations (past, present and/or future) of the  Company to CoBank; (7) from time to time extend, amend, renew or refinance any such Loan; (8) to reborrow from time to time, subject to the provisions of these Resolutions, all or any part of the amounts repaid to CoBank on any Loan made pursuant hereto (whether for the same or a different purpose); (9) to execute and deliver to CoBank an Electronic Commerce Master Service Agreement, a separate Service Agreement for each different service requested by the  Company, and such other agreements, addenda, documents or instruments as may be required by CoBank in the event that the  Company elects to use CoBank's electronic banking system (the "System"); (10) to execute and deliver to CoBank any agreements, addenda, authorization forms and other documents or instruments as may be required by CoBank in the event that the  Company elects to use any services or products related to the Loan that are offered by CoBank now or in the future, including without limitation an automated clearing house (ACH) service; (11)   to direct and delegate to designated employees of the  Company the authority to direct, by written or telephonic instructions or electronically, if the  Company has agreed to use the System for such purpose , the disposition of the proceeds of any Loan authorized herein or any property of the  Company at any time held by CoBank; and (12) to delegate to designated employees of the  Company the authority to request by telephonic or written means or electronically, if the  Company has agreed to use the System for such purpose, loan advances and/or other financial accommodations, and in connection therewith, to fix rates and agree to pay fees.  In the absence of any direction or delegation authorized in (11) or (12) above, all existing directions and/or delegations shall remain in full force and effect and shall be applicable to any Loan authorized herein.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That each of the Officers are hereby jointly and severally authorized to:  (1) establish a Cash Investment Services Account at CoBank; (2) make such investments therein as any Officer shall deem proper; (3) direct by written or telephonic instructions or electronically, if the  Company has agreed to use the System for such purposes, the disposition of the proceeds therein;  (4) delegate to designated employees of the  Company the authority set forth in (2) and (3) above; and (5) execute and deliver all documents and agreements necessary to carry out this authority.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That each of the Officers are hereby jointly and severally authorized and directed to do and/or cause to be done, from time to time, all things which may be necessary and/or proper for the carrying out of the terms of these Resolutions.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That all prior acts by the Officers or other employees or agents of the  Company to accomplish the purposes of these Resolutions are hereby approved and ratified.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That any Officer of the  Company is hereby authorized and directed to cast the ballot of the  Company in any and all proceedings in which the  Company is entitled to vote for the selection of a member of CoBank's board of directors or for any other purpose.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That these Resolutions shall remain in full force and effect until a certified copy of a duly adopted resolution effecting a revocation or amendment, as the case may be, shall have been received by CoBank.  The authority hereby granted shall apply with equal force and effect to the successors in office of the Officers herein named.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the  Company is hereby authorized and directed to certify to CoBank a copy of these Resolutions, the names and specimen signatures of the present Officers above referred to, and if and when any change is made in the personnel of any said Officers, the fact of such change and the name and specimen signatures of the new Officers.  CoBank shall be entitled to rely on any such certification until a new certification is actually received by CoBank.

CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, a Secretary of the  Company, hereby certifies that the Board of Directors, at a meeting duly called, noticed, convened and held on the 24th day of September , 2017, at which a quorum was present, did adopt the foregoing resolutions and that said resolutions have not been revoked or amended in any way.

Dated this 28th day of September, 2017.


By:
 
   
   
   




EXHIBIT B

ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.
INCUMBENCY CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, as Secretary of the Company named below, hereby certifies that the following persons are the current, duly elected or appointed Officers enumerated in applicable Resolutions of the Company's Board of Directors and that the following are the specimen signatures of those Officers:

OFFICERS


CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER
 
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY
 
__________________________________________________
 
 
__________________________________________________
Signature
 
Signature
 
__________________________________________________
 
 
________________________________________________
TYPE or PRINT name
 
 
TYPE or PRINT name
 

Dated this 28th day of September, 2017.   Change of address?    Yes     No

_____________________________________   Artesian Water Company, Inc.
Secretary   664 Churchmans Road
Newark, Delaware  19702
Annual Meeting Month :  _______________   Phone:   (302) 453-6912
Fax No:   302-453-6957



NOTICE TO BORROWER


THE FOLLOWING DISCLOSURE RELATES TO THE AT RISK NATURE OF THE EQUITY INVESTMENT REQUIRED AS A CONDITION TO AN EXTENSION OF CREDIT.  PLEASE READ THESE MATERIALS CLOSELY WHEN EVALUATING THE PROPOSED CREDIT TERMS.

You have received, or the bank has made available to you, the bank's most recent annual report, the most recent quarterly report, a copy of the Bylaws, and a copy of the current Capital Plan.

As a condition to the extension of credit, borrowers are required to own equity in the bank.  Equity ownership requirements are established by the board of directors from time to time as set forth in the Capital Plan.  Currently the Capital Plan requires each active stockholder to own a minimum investment of the bank's capital of $1,000 or 2 percent of the loan, whichever is less.  After this minimum level is achieved, all future capitalization requirements will be made through retained patronage earnings and no additional out-of-pocket equity purchases beyond the initial investment will be required.  Equity of owners whose current investment is above target level will be available for retirement until the target equity level is reached.  The Capital Plan may be amended from time to time by the board of directors.  Such amendments may increase the amount of capital required to be invested to maintain a loan.

Equity will be retired and patronage distributions will be made in accordance with the Bylaws and Capital Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

ALL EQUITY IN THE BANK:  (1) IS RETIREABLE ONLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THEN ONLY IF MINIMUM CAPITAL STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY LAW ARE MET; AND (2) IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE BANK THAT IS AT RISK AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED EQUIVALENT TO A COMPENSATING BALANCE.  AT PRESENT, THE BANK MEETS ITS MINIMUM CAPITAL STANDARDS AND KNOWS OF NO REASON WHY IT SHOULDN'T CONTINUE TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS ON THE BANK'S NEXT EARNINGS DISTRIBUTION DATE.


FORM OF CLOSING OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE

TO:   COBANK, ACB
FROM:   ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.
DATE:   September 28, 2017
SUBJECT:
CLOSING OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE.
Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September 28, 2017 (the " Credit Agreement "), between ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC. (the " Company ") and COBANK, ACB (" Lender "). Capitalized terms used in this certificate and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to those terms in the Credit Agreement.
I am the _______________________________ 2 of the Company and am furnishing this Certificate to you pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Credit Agreement.
To induce CoBank to extend credit under the Credit Agreement, I hereby certify that each of the representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is operating its business in compliance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and no Default or Event of Default exists.

(Signature)

(Print Name)
________________________________
(Title)



2 Must be from the Treasurer or Controller Chief Financial Officer

AMENDED AND RESTATED
PROMISSORY NOTE

$20,000,000.00 Denver, Colorado
September 28, 2017

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to CoBank, ACB ("CoBank"), or its assigns, in lawful money of the United States and in immediately available funds, on the "Maturity Date" (as defined in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal amount of TWENTY   MILLION AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($20,000,000.00), or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement referred to below) made by CoBank to the Company pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement and outstanding on the Maturity Date , whichever is less.  The Company also promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Loans for the period such balance is outstanding in like money, at the rates of interest, at the times, and calculated in the manner, set forth in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement.  All payments made hereunder shall be made at the times and in the manner set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement.
The Company hereby authorizes CoBank to endorse on a schedule to this Note: (i) the amount of all Loans; (ii) the interest rate elections made with respect thereto; and (iii) all payments of principal and interest in respect of such Loans, which endorsements, absent proof of error, shall be conclusive as to the outstanding principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Loans; provided   however , that the failure to make such notation with respect to any Loan or payment shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Company under the Revolving Credit Agreement or this Note.
This is the Note referred to in that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2017, by and between the Company and CoBank, as amended from time to time (the "Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement"), to evidence the Loans made by CoBank thereunder, all of the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference. All capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement.
The Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of principal upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and for prepayments on the terms and conditions specified therein.
The Company hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, and any other notice or formality with respect to this Note, and all defenses on the ground of delay or of any extension of time for payment hereof which may, without obligation, hereafter be given by the holder hereof.
Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, this Note shall be governed by, and interpreted and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to choice of law doctrine.
ARTESIAN WATER COMPANY, INC.

By:    
Name:  
Title:  

SCHEDULE TO REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE



EXHIBIT 21

ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

Subsidiaries of Registrant

The following list includes the Registrant and all of its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017. The voting equity interests of each company shown is owned, to the extent indicated by the percentage, by the company immediately above, which is not indented to the same degree. All subsidiaries of the Registrant appearing in the following table are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Registrant and its subsidiaries.

Name of Company
 
State of Incorporation
 
Percentage of Voting Equity Interests Owned
 
 
 
 
 
Artesian Resources Corporation
 
Delaware
 
 
Artesian Water Company, Inc.
 
Delaware
 
100
Artesian Water Pennsylvania, Inc.
 
Pennsylvania
 
100
Artesian Water Maryland, Inc.
 
Delaware
 
100
Artesian Development Corporation
 
Delaware
 
100
Artesian Wastewater Management, Inc.
 
Delaware
 
100
Artesian Wastewater Maryland, Inc.
 
Delaware
 
100
Artesian Utility Development, Inc.
 
Delaware
 
100
  Artesian Storm Water, Inc.                    Delaware              100
Artesian Consulting Engineers, Inc.
 
Delaware
 
100
EXHIBIT 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
Artesian Resources Corporation
Newark, Delaware

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-88531) and Form S-8 (No. 333-05255, 333-31209, 333-78043, 333-126910 and 333-208582) of Artesian Resources Corporation of our reports dated March 15, 2018, relating to the consolidated financial statements, and the effectiveness of Artesian Resources Corporation's internal control over financial reporting, which appear in this Form 10-K.


/s/BDO USA, LLP

Wilmington, Delaware
March 15, 2018
EXHIBIT 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Artesian Resources Corporation, required
by Rule 13a – 14(a) as adopted under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

I, Dian C. Taylor, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017 of Artesian Resources Corporation;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 15, 2018
   /s/ Dian C. Taylor
 
Dian C. Taylor
 
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
EXHIBIT 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Artesian Resources Corporation, required
by Rule 13a – 14(a) as adopted under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

I, David B. Spacht, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017 of Artesian Resources Corporation;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: March 15, 2018
   /s/ David B. Spacht
 
David B. Spacht
 
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
EXHIBIT 32

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

I, Dian C. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, and David B. Spacht, Chief Financial Officer, of Artesian Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, based on our knowledge:

1.
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2017 (the " Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 USC Section 78m(a) or Section 78o(d)), as amended; and

2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Company at the end of the period covered by the Report and results of operations of the Company for the period covered by the Report.


Date: March 15, 2018

Chief Executive Officer:
 
Chief Financial Officer:
     
     
   /s/ Dian C. Taylor
 
   /s/ David B. Spacht
Dian C. Taylor
 
David B. Spacht
     


      These certifications accompany the Report to which they relate, are not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (whether made before or after the date of the Report), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing .