UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 30, 2014 (September 24, 2014)

 

 

NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New Jersey   001-8359   22-2376465

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

1415 Wyckoff Road

Wall, New Jersey

  07719
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(732) 938-1480

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

A . Amendment of Note Purchase Agreement Dated May 15, 2008 (“2008 NPA”)

On September 24, 2014, New Jersey Natural Gas Company (“NJNG”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Jersey Resources Corporation (the “Company”), entered into the First Amendment to the 2008 NPA dated as of May 15, 2008, between NJNG and each of the holders of the $125,000,000 5.60% Senior Notes due May 15, 2018 (the “First Amendment”). The 2008 NPA was amended to permit the replacement of the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated April 1, 1952, (“Old Mortgage Indenture”) between NJNG and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor in interest to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as Trustee (the “Former Trustee”) with the New Mortgage Indenture (as described below in Part B. of this Item). The First Amendment was effective as of September 24, 2014. A copy of the First Amendment is included herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

 

B. Amendment and Restatement of First Mortgage Indenture

On September 24, 2014, NJNG and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, entered into the Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture (“36 th Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of September 1, 2014 to the Old Mortgage Indenture. The 36 th Supplemental Indenture amends and restates the Old Mortgage Indenture in its entirety and names U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), by virtue of an Omnibus Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014, by and among the Former Trustee, U.S. Bank National Association, the holders of more than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding bonds under the Old Mortgage Indenture, the collateral agents for the holders of certain of NJNG’s senior notes, the owner of the EDA Bonds (as described below in Part C. of this Item) and the EDA Bond Trustee (as described below in Part C. of this Item).

The Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage dated as of September 1, 2014 (“New Mortgage Indenture”), secures all of the outstanding First Mortgage Bonds (“FMBs”) issued under the Old Mortgage Indenture. The New Mortgage Indenture provides a direct first mortgage lien upon substantially all of the operating properties and franchises of NJNG (other than excepted property, such as cash on hand, choses-in-action, securities, rent, natural gas meters and certain materials, supplies, appliances and vehicles), subject only to certain permitted encumbrances. The New Mortgage Indenture contains provisions subjecting after-acquired property (other than excepted property and subject to pre-existing liens, if any, at the time of acquisition) to the lien thereof.

The New Mortgage Indenture provides that additional FMBs may be issued, subject to the provisions of the New Mortgage Indenture, in principal amounts equal to (1) 70 percent of the Net Amount of Property Additions (as defined in the New Mortgage Indenture and described below); (2) the amount of cash deposited with the Trustee for the purpose of obtaining the authentication of such additional FMBs; or (3) the aggregate principal amount of FMBs delivered to the Trustee by NJNG or otherwise to be retired, and which have not previously been used by NJNG for any purpose under the New Mortgage Indenture.

The New Mortgage Indenture permits the release of mortgaged property upon compliance with certain conditions. One alternative basis for the release of mortgaged property is if the value of the Trust Estate (as defined in the New Mortgage Indenture) exceeds ten-sevenths (10/7) of the outstanding principal amount of the FMBs. This ability to release mortgaged property is subject to the release not materially adversely affecting NJNG’s business nor impairing the security of the FMBs.

Events of Default, as defined in the New Mortgage Indenture, consist mainly of (1) failure for 30 days to pay interest when due; (2) failure to pay principal or premium when due and payable; (3) failure to make sinking fund payments when due; (4) failure to comply with any other covenants of the New Mortgage Indenture after 30 days’ written notice from the Trustee; (5) failure to pay or provide for judgments in excess of $30,000,000 in aggregate amount within 60 days of the entry thereof; or (6) certain events which are or could be the basis of a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or receivership proceeding. Upon the occurrence and continuance of such an Event of Default, the New Mortgage Indenture, subject to any provisions of law applicable thereto, provides that the Trustee may take possession and conduct the business of the NJNG, may sell the trust estate, or proceed to foreclose the lien of the New Mortgage Indenture. The interest rate on defaulted principal and interest, to the extent permitted by law, on the FMBs issued under the New Mortgage Indenture is the rate stated in the applicable supplement or if no such rate is stated, six percent per annum.


The above description of the 36 th Supplemental Indenture and the New Mortgage Indenture is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 36 th Supplemental Indenture and the New Mortgage Indenture, a copy of each of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3, respectively. NJNG and its affiliates regularly engage U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates to provide other banking services. All of these engagements are negotiated at arm’s length.

 

C . $97,045,000 New Jersey Economic Development Authority Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011A-C (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)

On September 24, 2014, NJNG completed a change in interest rate mode for a total of $97,045,000 principal amount of Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds Series 2011A-C (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (“EDA Bonds”) issued by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (“NJEDA”). In connection with the change in interest rate mode, NJNG entered into a Continuing Covenant Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014 (the “CCA”) with Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to buy the EDA Bonds. The EDA Bonds are special, limited obligations of the NJEDA payable solely from payments made by NJNG pursuant to a Loan Agreement dated as of August 1, 2011, between the NJEDA and NJNG (the “Loan Agreement”), and are secured by the pledge of $97,045,000 principal amount FMBs issued by NJNG and secured under the New Mortgage Indenture. The EDA Bonds were issued pursuant to an Indenture between the NJEDA and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (“EDA Bond Trustee”), which was amended and restated effective September 1, 2014, to accommodate a new variable rate mode. Each series of EDA Bonds is expected to accrue interest for five years at a variable rate determined monthly, which rate is initially calculated as 0.55% plus 70% of one month LIBOR, subject to earlier redemption or conversion to another interest rate mode. The maximum interest rate on the EDA Bonds is 12% per annum. NJNG’s obligations under the Loan Agreement (and its corresponding obligations under the FMBs) match the respective principal amounts, interest rates and maturity dates of the EDA Bonds. The EDA Bonds are not subject to optional tender while they bear interest at a LIBOR index rate.

The CCA also contains representations, warranties, covenants and defaults consistent with those contained in similar financing documents of NJNG, including but not limited to: (a) a maximum leverage ratio (consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated total capitalization as defined in the CCA), of not more than 0.65 to 1.00 at any time; (b) limitations on liens and incurrence of debt, investments, and mergers and asset dispositions, and the use of the proceeds of the CCA; (c) requirements to preserve corporate existence, and comply with laws; and (d) default provisions, including defaults for non-payment, defaults for breach of representations and warranties, defaults for insolvency, defaults for non-performance of covenants, cross-defaults and guarantor defaults.

As a result of the change in the interest rate mode on the EDA Bonds from a daily rate, on September 26, 2014, NJNG terminated the $100,000,000 four-year credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated August 29, 2011, which had previously provided additional liquidity for its obligations under the Loan Agreement.

The above description of the CCA is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the entire CCA, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.4. NJNG and its affiliates regularly engage affiliates of the Purchaser to provide other banking services. All of these engagements are negotiated at arm’s length.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information required by this item is included in Item 1.01 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information required by this item is included in Item 1.01 and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.   Not applicable.
(b)   Pro Forma Financial Information.   Not applicable.
(c)   Exhibits  

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

99.1    First Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2014
99.2    36 th Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 2014, between NJNG and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
99.3    Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage dated as of September 1, 2014, between NJNG and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
99.4    Continuing Covenant Agreement between NJNG and Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC, dated September 24, 2014


SIGNATURE

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

 

      NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
Date: September 30, 2014      
    By:  

/s/ Glenn C. Lockwood

     

Glenn C. Lockwood

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

 

 

F IRST A MENDMENT

Dated as of September 1, 2014

to

N OTE P URCHASE A GREEMENT

Dated as of May 15, 2008

 

 

Re: $125,000,000 5.60% Senior Notes

Due May 15, 2018

 

 

 


F IRST A MENDMENT TO N OTE P URCHASE A GREEMENT

T HIS F IRST A MENDMENT dated as of September 1, 2014 (the or this “First Amendment” ) to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2008 is between N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , a New Jersey corporation (the “Company” ), and each of the institutions which is a signatory to this First Amendment (collectively, the “Noteholders” ).

R ECITAL S :

A. The Company and each of the purchasers named in Schedule A thereto have heretofore entered into that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2008 (the “Note Purchase Agreement” ). The Company has heretofore issued $125,000,000 of its 5.60% Senior Notes, due May 15, 2018 (the “Notes” ), dated May 15, 2008 pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement. The Noteholders are the holders of 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes.

B. The Company and the Noteholders now desire to amend the Note Purchase Agreement in the respects, but only in the respects, hereinafter set forth.

C. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Note Purchase Agreement unless herein defined or the context shall otherwise require.

D. All requirements of law have been fully complied with and all other acts and things necessary to make this First Amendment a valid, legal and binding instrument according to its terms for the purposes herein expressed have been done or performed.

N OW , THEREFORE , in consideration of good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Noteholders do hereby agree as follows:

 

S ECTION  1. A MENDMENTS .

Section 1.1. Section 2.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 2.2. Security for the Notes; First Mortgage Bonds; Release; New Security for the Notes. (a) Prior to the Release Date, the Notes shall be secured by an equal principal amount of the First Mortgage Bonds issued by the Company under the Mortgage Indenture to The Bank of New York, as collateral agent for the holders of the Notes (the “Collateral Agent” ). The First Mortgage Bonds will rank pari passu with all other existing and future first mortgage bonds issued pursuant to the Mortgage Indenture.


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

(b) Terms of First Mortgage Bonds. The First Mortgage Bonds will have the same stated interest rate, interest payment dates, stated maturity and redemption provisions (including Make-Whole Amount, if any), and will be in the same aggregate principal amount, as the Notes; provided, however, that the interest rate on defaulted principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the First Mortgage Bonds, to the extent permitted by law, is 6% per annum. Payments of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be deemed to satisfy and discharge the Company’s obligation to make such payments on the First Mortgage Bonds. Principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the First Mortgage Bonds are payable at the principal office of the Mortgage Trustee in Chicago, Illinois or at the Company’s option at the principal office of the Collateral Agent.

(c) Parallel Payments of Notes and First Mortgage Bonds. The First Mortgage Bonds shall contain optional and mandatory redemption provisions (including Make-Whole Amount, if any) which correspond to the optional and mandatory prepayment provisions of the Notes; provided, however, that the interest rate on defaulted principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the First Mortgage Bonds, to the extent permitted by law, is 6% per annum. In addition, the First Mortgage Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption if the Company or the Mortgage Trustee is notified that an Event of Default under this Agreement has occurred and is continuing and that the principal amount of all Notes then outstanding has become due and payable in accordance with this Agreement. Prior to the Release Date and from and after the New Security Date:

(1) In the event the Company elects to or is required to prepay the Notes, in whole or in part, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the Company’s obligations with respect to a principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds or New First Mortgage Bonds, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of such Notes being prepaid will, upon prepayment of such Notes, be satisfied and discharged, and the Collateral Agent shall deliver corresponding First Mortgage Bonds or New First Mortgage Bonds, as applicable, in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Notes so prepaid to the Company for further delivery to the Mortgage Trustee or the trustee under the New Indenture, as applicable, for cancellation.

 

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(2) In the event the Company elects to or is required to redeem First Mortgage Bonds or New First Mortgage Bonds, as applicable, in whole or in part, in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage Indenture or the New Indenture, as applicable, the Company shall prepay a principal amount of Notes equal to the principal amount of such First Mortgage Bonds or New First Mortgage Bonds, as applicable, being redeemed in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 , as applicable, and the Company’s obligation in respect of First Mortgage Bonds or New First Mortgage Bonds, as applicable, equal to the principal amount of such prepaid Notes will be satisfied and discharged, and the Collateral Agent shall deliver corresponding First Mortgage Bonds or New First Mortgage Bonds, as applicable, in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Notes so prepaid to the Company for further delivery to the Mortgage Trustee or the trustee under the New Indenture, as applicable, for cancellation.

(d) Release of Security for the Notes. Upon the occurrence of the Release Date, the Company shall promptly furnish the Collateral Agent and each holder of the Notes an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the conditions precedent to the occurrence of the Release Date have been satisfied. From and after the Release Date, the obligations of the Company with respect to the First Mortgage Bonds shall be deemed to be satisfied and discharged, the First Mortgage Bonds shall cease to secure in any manner the Company’s obligations under this Agreement or the Notes, and the Collateral Agent shall forthwith deliver the First Mortgage Bonds to the Company which shall then deliver the First Mortgage Bonds to the Mortgage Trustee for cancellation. On the Release Date, the Notes shall become unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank pari passu in right of repayment with other unsecured Senior Debt of the Company. Following the Release Date, the Company shall cause the Mortgage Indenture to be closed after payment of all first mortgage bonds and the Company shall not issue any additional first mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Indenture.

(e) New Security for the Notes. At any time after the Release Date, the Company may, at its option without the consent of the holders, secure the outstanding Notes by an equal principal amount of New First Mortgage Bonds issued by the Company under a New Indenture upon the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Section 24 .

 

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Section 1.2. Section 7.1(g) of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

(g) Requested Information — with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder, under the Notes and, prior to the Release Date, under the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), the First Mortgage Bond Documents to which the Company is a party, and the First Mortgage Bonds and, from and after the New Security Date, under the New Indenture and the New First Mortgage Bonds (including any related new bond documents to which the Company is a party), as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.

Section 1.3. Section 7.2(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

(b) Event of Default — a statement that such Senior Financial Officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof and, prior to the Release Date, the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), and the First Mortgage Bond Documents to which the Company is a party and, from and after the New Security Date, under the New Indenture and any related new bond documents to which the Company is a party, and has made, or caused to be made, under his or her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished to the date of the certificate and that such review shall not have disclosed the existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists (including, without limitation, any such event or condition resulting from the failure of the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company shall have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 1.4. Section 8.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 8.2. Required Prepayment—Condemnation; Required Sale. (a) Prior to the Release Date, in the event that, pursuant to the terms of Section 8.08 of the Mortgage Indenture, the First Mortgage Bonds are called for redemption, in whole or in part, then the Company shall, (i) at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date of the First Mortgage Bonds pursuant to Section 8.08 of the Mortgage Indenture, give written notice to the Collateral Agent, as the registered holder of the First Mortgage Bonds, and each holder of Notes, of the redemption of all or a portion of the First Mortgage Bonds and the corresponding prepayment of all or a portion of the Notes, and (ii) on the redemption date of the First Mortgage Bonds so called for redemption, prepay the Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of First Mortgage Bonds called for redemption at a prepayment price equal to 100% of the First Mortgage Bonds being redeemed, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of such prepayment. The notice described in (i) above shall specify the prepayment date (which shall be a Business Day), the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with Section 8.4) , and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid.

(b) From and after the New Security Date, in the event that, pursuant to the terms of the New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds are called for mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, in the event of the occurrence of events substantially similar to those described in section 8.08 of the Mortgage Indenture, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, then the Company shall, (i) at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date of the New First Mortgage Bonds pursuant to the New Indenture, give written notice to the Collateral Agent, as the registered holder of the New First Mortgage Bonds, and each holder of Notes, of the redemption of all or a portion of the New First Mortgage Bonds and the corresponding prepayment of all or a portion of the Notes, and (ii) on the redemption date of the New First Mortgage Bonds so called for redemption, prepay the Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount of first mortgage bonds called for redemption at a prepayment price equal to 100% of New First Mortgage Bonds being redeemed, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of such prepayment. The notice described in (i) above shall specify the prepayment date (which shall be a Business Day), the aggregate principal amount and series of the Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid

 

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N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

(determined in accordance with Section 8.4) , and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid.

Section 1.5. Section 9.7 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 9.7. Notes to Rank Pari Passu . After the Release Date until the New Security Date, the Company will ensure that its payment obligations under this Agreement and the Notes will at all times rank at least pari passu in right of payment with all other unsecured Senior Debt (actual or contingent) of the Company.

Section 1.6. Section 10.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 10.1. Limitations on Debt. From and after the Release Date until the New Security Date, the Company will not permit, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company: (a) the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated Total Capitalization to exceed 0.65 to 1.00; or (b) Priority Debt to exceed 20% of Consolidated Total Capitalization.

Section 1.7. Section 10.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 10.2. Liens . The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or permit to exist (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any Lien on or with respect to any property or asset (including, without limitation, any document or instrument in respect of goods or accounts receivable) of the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary, whether now owned or held or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or otherwise convey any right to receive income or profits, except:

(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges which are not yet due and payable or the payment of which is not at the time required by Section 9.4 ;

(b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due and payable or the payment of which is not at the time required by Section 9.4 ;

 

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N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

(c) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (1) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or retirement benefits, or (2) to secure (or to obtain letters of credit that secure) the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety bonds, appeal bonds, bids, leases (other than Capital Leases), performance bonds, purchase, construction or sales contracts, and other similar obligations, in each case not incurred or made in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property;

(d) subject to Section 11(l) , any attachment or judgment Lien, unless the judgment it secures shall not, within 30 days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall not have been discharged within 30 days after the expiration of any such stay;

(e) leases or subleases granted to others, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances or minor survey exceptions, in each case incidental to, and not interfering with, the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, provided that such Liens do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of such property;

(f) Liens on property or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary securing Debt owing to the Company or to a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary;

(g) Liens existing on the date of the Closing and described on Schedule 5.15 hereto (other than Liens on “Excepted Property” of the Company as defined in the Mortgage Indenture as in effect on the date of the Closing);

 

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N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

(h) Liens on accounts receivable owned by Securitization Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries and incurred pursuant to Receivables Securitization Transactions;

(i) any Lien created to secure all or any part of the purchase price, or to secure Debt incurred or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction, of property (or any improvement thereon) acquired or constructed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the Closing, provided that:

(1) any such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of such property (or improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating such Lien, other property (or improvement thereon) which is an improvement to or is acquired for specific use in connection with such acquired or constructed property (or improvement thereon) or which is real property being improved by such acquired or constructed property (or improvement thereon);

(2) the principal amount of the Debt secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the cost to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the property (or improvement thereon) so acquired or constructed and (ii) the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by one or more officers of the Company to whom authority to enter into the subject transaction has been delegated by the board of directors of

 

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N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

the Company) of such property (or improvement thereon) at the time of such acquisition or construction;

(3) any such Lien shall be created contemporaneously with, or within 180 days after, the acquisition or construction of such property; and

(4) after the Release Date until the New Security Date, the aggregate principal amount of all Debt secured by such Liens shall be permitted by the limitation set forth in Section 10.1(a) if tested on the date such Lien is created and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company;

(j) any Lien existing on property of a Person immediately prior to its being consolidated with or merged into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or its becoming a Subsidiary, or any Lien existing on any property acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at the time such property is so acquired (whether or not the Debt secured thereby shall have been assumed), provided that (1) no such Lien shall have been created or assumed in contemplation of such consolidation or merger or such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition of property, (2) each such Lien shall extend solely to the item or items of property so acquired and, if required by the terms of the instrument originally creating such Lien (i) other property which is an improvement to or is acquired for specific use in connection with such acquired property or (ii) other property that does not constitute property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (3) after the Release Date until the New Security Date, the aggregate amount of all Debt secured by such Liens shall be permitted by the limitation set forth in Section 10.1(a) if tested on the date of such event and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company;

 

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N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

(k) (1) Liens on assets of the Company (other than Liens on “Excepted Property” as defined in the Mortgage Indenture as in effect on the date of the Closing) which Liens secure Debt outstanding as of the date of the Closing under the Mortgage Indenture and any additional Debt that is issued in accordance with Article Two of the Mortgage Indenture (as in effect on the date of the Closing) and after the Release Date until the New Security Date, is otherwise permitted by the limitation set forth in Section 10.1(a) if tested on the date of such event and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company; provided that such additional Debt shall not contain covenants, defaults and other terms and conditions more restrictive than or in addition to those contained in this Agreement; and (2) from and after the New Security Date, Liens on assets of the Company which Liens secure Debt that is issued in accordance with the New Indenture; provided that such additional Debt shall not contain covenants, defaults and other terms and conditions more restrictive than or in addition to those contained in this Agreement;

(l) any Lien renewing, extending or refunding any Lien permitted by paragraphs (g), (i), (j) or (k) of this Section 10.2 , provided that (1) the principal amount of Debt secured by such Lien immediately prior to such extension, renewal or refunding is not increased or the maturity thereof reduced, (2) such Lien is not extended to any other property and (3) immediately after such extension, renewal or refunding no Default or Event of Default would exist ( provided that, after the Release Date until the New Security Date, with respect to the limitations set forth in Section 10.1 , calculation of compliance therewith shall be made as of the date of determination under this Section 10.2(l) and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company); and

(m) other Liens not otherwise permitted by paragraphs (a) through (l), inclusive, of this Section 10.2 securing Debt, provided that after the Release Date until the New Security Date, the Debt

 

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secured by such Liens shall be permitted by the limitations set forth in Section 10.1 if tested on the date such Lien is created and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company.

Section 1.8. Section 10.3 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 10.3. Restricted Payments . (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, declare or make or incur any liability to declare or make any Restricted Payment unless immediately after giving effect to such action no Default or Event of Default would exist ( provided that, after the Release Date until the New Security Date, with respect to Section 10.1 , calculation of compliance therewith shall be made as of the date of determination under this Section 10.3 and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company).

(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, declare a Restricted Payment that is not payable within 60 days of such declaration.

Section 1.9. Section 10.4 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 10.4. Restrictions on Dividends of Subsidiaries, Etc. The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any agreement which would restrict any Restricted Subsidiary’s ability or right to pay dividends to, or make advances to or investments in, the Company or, if such Restricted Subsidiary is not directly owned by the Company, the “parent” Restricted Subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or this Agreement, any Bank Credit Agreement or the Mortgage Indenture (in each case, as in effect on the date of Closing) or, if applicable, the New Indenture, so long as any such restrictions in the New Indenture are not more restrictive than such restrictions in the Mortgage Indenture, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

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Section 1.10. Section 10.5 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 10.5. Sale of Assets, Etc. (a) Except as permitted under Section 10.6 and Section 10.7 , the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless :

(1) in the good faith opinion of the Company, the Asset Disposition is in the best interest of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) immediately after giving effect to the Asset Disposition, no Default or Event of Default would exist ( provided that, after the Release Date until the New Security Date, with respect to Section 10.1 , calculation of compliance therewith shall be made as of the date of determination under this Section 10.5 and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company); and

(3) immediately after giving effect to the Asset Disposition the Disposition Value of all property that was the subject of any Asset Disposition occurring in the immediately preceding 12 consecutive month period would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the end of the then most recently ended fiscal year of the Company.

(b) If the Net Proceeds Amount for any Transfer is, within 365 days after such Transfer, (1) applied to a Debt Prepayment Application, (2) applied to or would otherwise constitute a Property Reinvestment Application or (3) applied to any combination of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), then such Transfer, only for the purpose of determining compliance with subsection (3) of Section 10.5(a) as of a date on or after the Net Proceeds Amount is so applied, shall be deemed not to be an Asset Disposition.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale of accounts receivable to a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Receivables Securitization Transaction shall not be considered an Asset Disposition for purposes of this Section 10.5 ; provided, that, to the extent any such sale results in the aggregate amount of Debt of all Securitization Subsidiaries under all Receivables Securitization Transactions being in excess of $100,000,000, the

 

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Company shall treat that portion of such sale resulting in the aggregate amount of Debt of all Securitization Subsidiaries under all Receivables Securitization Transactions being in excess of $100,000,000 as an Asset Disposition subject to this Section 10.5 without application of this clause (c).

Section 1.11. Section 10.6 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 10.6. Merger, Consolidation, Etc. The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consolidate with or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person (except that a Restricted Subsidiary may (x) consolidate with or merge with, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any other Person so long as such Restricted Subsidiary is the surviving Person and (y) convey, transfer or lease all of its assets in compliance with the provisions of Section 10.5 or 10.7 ), provided that the foregoing restriction does not apply to the consolidation or merger of the Company with, or the conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a single transaction or series of transactions to, any Person so long as:

(a) the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as an entirety, as the case may be (the “Successor Corporation” ), shall be a solvent Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof (including the District of Columbia);

(b) if the Company is not the Successor Corporation, (1) such Person shall have executed and delivered to each holder of the Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement and the Notes and, prior to the Release Date, the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), the First Mortgage Bond Documents to which it is a party and the First Mortgage Bonds and, from and after the New

 

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Security Date, the New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents to which it is a party (pursuant to such agreements or instruments as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders), and (2) such Person shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of the Notes an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel, or other independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; and

(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default would exist ( provided that, after the Release Date until the New Security Date with respect to Section 10.1 , calculation of compliance therewith shall be made as of the date of determination under this Section 10.6 and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company).

No such conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall have the effect of releasing the Company or any Successor Corporation that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Section 10.6 from its liability under this Agreement or the Notes or, prior to the Release Date, the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), the First Mortgage Bond Documents to which it is a party or the First Mortgage Bonds or, from and after the New Security Date, the New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds or any related new bond documents to which it is a party.

Section 1.12. Section 10.12 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 10.12. Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Company may designate any Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary and may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary by giving written notice to each holder of Notes that the Board of Directors of the Company has made such designation, provided, however, that no Subsidiary may be designated a Restricted Subsidiary and no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless, at the time of

 

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such action and after giving effect thereto, (a) solely in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary being designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Restricted Subsidiary being designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not have any continuing Investment in the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary and (b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing ( provided that, after the Release Date until the New Security Date, with respect to Section 10.1 , calculation of compliance therewith shall be made as of the date of determination under this Section 10.12 and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company). Any Restricted Subsidiary which has been designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary and which has then been redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in accordance with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 10.12 , shall not at any time thereafter be redesignated an Unrestricted Subsidiary without the prior written consent of the Required Holders. Any Unrestricted Subsidiary which has been designated a Restricted Subsidiary and which has then been redesignated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case in accordance with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section 10.12 , shall not at any time thereafter be redesignated a Restricted Subsidiary without the prior written consent of the Required Holders.

Section 1.13. Sections 11(e) and (g) of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

(e) any representation or warranty made in writing by or on behalf of the Company or by any officer of the Company in this Agreement or prior to the Release Date, in the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture) or, from and after the New Security Date, in the New Indenture, or in any writing furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby proves to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on the date as of which made; or

(g) prior to the Release Date, an “Event of Default” under the Mortgage Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing or, from and after the New Security Date, an “Event of Default” or similar term under the New Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, however, that anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the waiver or cure of such default

 

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under the Mortgage Indenture or the New Indenture, as the case may be, and the rescission and annulment of the consequences thereof under the Mortgage Indenture or the New Indenture, as the case may be, shall constitute a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default hereunder and a rescission and annulment of the consequences thereof hereunder; or

Section 1.14. Section 12.2(b) of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended to read as follows:

(b) (1) If any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Notes then outstanding have become due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1 , the holders of the Notes may, prior to the Release Date, immediately proceed to exercise their rights pursuant to section 10.87(a) of the Mortgage Indenture (added by section 3.1 of the Supplemental Indenture), to require the redemption of the First Mortgage Bonds and, upon any failure of the Company to so redeem the First Mortgage Bonds, to exercise all rights as beneficial owners of the First Mortgage Bonds under the Mortgage Indenture and (2) if any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Notes then outstanding have become due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1 , the holders of the Notes may, from and after the New Security Date, immediately proceed to exercise their rights under the New Indenture to require the redemption of the New First Mortgage Bonds and, upon any failure of the Company to so redeem the First Mortgage Bonds, to exercise all rights as beneficial owners of the New First Mortgage Bonds under the New Indenture.

Section 1.15. Section 15.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Section 15.1. Transaction Expenses . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or any proposed New Indenture Installation are consummated, the Company will pay the costs and expenses incurred in connection with the initial filing of this Agreement and all related documents and financial information, and all subsequent annual and interim filings of documents and financial information related thereto, with the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor organization, all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees of a special counsel and, if reasonably required, local or other counsel) incurred by the Purchasers or any

 

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other holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), the First Mortgage Bonds, the New Indenture, or the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including, without limitation: (a) the costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), the First Mortgage Bonds, the New Indenture, or the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement, the Notes, the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), the First Mortgage Bonds, the New Indenture, or the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents, or by reason of being a holder of any Note and (b) the costs and expenses, including financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Notes, by the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), by the First Mortgage Bonds, by the New Indenture, or by the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents. The Company will pay, and will save the Purchasers and each other holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses, if any, of brokers and finders (other than those retained by such Person).

Section 1.16. Section 19 of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

  S ECTION  19. R EPRODUCTION OF D OCUMENTS .

This Agreement, the Mortgage Indenture (including the Supplemental Indenture), or the New Indenture, as the case may be, and all documents relating hereto and thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by the Purchasers at the Closing (except the Notes themselves) and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to any holder of the Notes, may be reproduced by such holder by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other similar

 

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process and such holder may destroy any original document so reproduced. The Company agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by any holder of the Notes in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section 19 shall not prohibit the Company or any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction.

Section 1.17. The Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is further amended by adding at the end thereof a new Section 23.19 to read as follows:

Section 23.19. New Indenture . In connection with a New Indenture Installation in compliance with the requirements of Section 24 , a collateral agent, meeting the requirements of Section 23.14 as though it was a successor Collateral Agent, shall be appointed and the appointment and direction of a collateral agent under this Agreement to act on behalf of and for the benefit of the holders, shall be on terms substantially similar to those set forth in this Section 23 .

Section 1.18. The Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is further amended by adding at the end thereof a new Section 24 to read as follows:

 

  S ECTION  24. N EW I NDENTURE I NSTALLATION .

Section 24.1. New Indenture Installation . At any time after the Release Date and subject to the fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 24.2 below, the Company may, at its option and without the consent of the holders of the Notes, on the date designated by the Company (the “New Security Date” ), secure the outstanding Notes with an equal principal amount of new first mortgage bonds (the “New First Mortgage Bonds” ) issued by the Company under a new first mortgage indenture (including any supplemental indentures thereto, the “New Indenture” ) to a collateral agent for the holders of the Notes appointed pursuant to Section 23.19 (referred to herein as a “New Indenture Installation” ). The New First Mortgage Bonds will rank pari passu with all other first mortgage bonds issued pursuant to the New Indenture.

 

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Section 24.2. Conditions to New Indenture Installation . The occurrence of a New Indenture Installation is subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions:

(a) After giving pro forma effect to any New Indenture Installation, the Company (on a secured basis) shall be rated at least the same as immediately prior to the Release Date (by way of a rating made available to the holders of all Notes) by at least one of the Required Rating Agencies, and such Required Rating Agency shall not have such rating on a credit watch or proposed downgrade and the Company shall have provided written evidence of the foregoing to each holder of Notes and the Collateral Agent in a form satisfactory to them.

(b) At the Company’s sole expense, a collateral agent shall be appointed pursuant to Section 23.19 , and the appointment and direction of such collateral agent under this Agreement to act on behalf of and for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, shall be on terms substantially similar to those set forth in Section 23 .

(c) The New First Mortgage Bonds of each series shall secure equally and ratably the payment of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount and interest on, the related Notes and if any Event of Default under Section 11 has occurred and is continuing and the Notes then outstanding have become due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1 , the holders of the Notes may exercise their rights under the New Indenture to require the redemption of the New First Mortgage Bonds and, upon any failure of the Company to so redeem the New First Mortgage Bonds, to exercise all rights as beneficial owners of the New First Mortgage Bonds under the New Indenture;

(d) The Company shall provide a certificate to each holder of a Note and the Collateral Agent that the New Indenture creates a first priority lien in favor of the mortgage trustee thereunder for the benefit of the holders of the New First Mortgage Bonds on the real and personal property of the Company described in the New

 

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Indenture, which property shall be subject to no prior lien for borrowed money except for any prior liens existing on the date the New Indenture becomes effective;

(e) (A) all other necessary amendments or modifications to this Agreement, the Notes and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, shall have been made (at the Company’s sole expense) in order to duly and properly secure the Notes by an equal and ratable amount of the New First Mortgage Bonds issued by the Company under the New Indenture, such amendments and modifications, and the New Indenture and the New First Mortgage Bonds (and any related new bond documents), each to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders and the Collateral Agent, (B) the Collateral Agent shall be reasonably acceptable to the mortgage trustee under the New Indenture, and (C) the Collateral Agent may (at the direction of Required Holders and at the Company’s sole expense) consult with Purchasers’ special counsel with respect to any of the matters set forth in this Section 24.2(e) or elsewhere in Section 24 or otherwise;

(f) The Company shall deliver an opinion of Chapman and Cutler LLP or other reputable and qualified outside counsel to the Company, to the Collateral Agent and each holder of the Notes, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders and the Collateral Agent, containing customary opinions (subject to customary qualifications) with respect to the security provided by the New First Mortgage Bonds issued under the New Indenture, including, without limitation, that: (i) the New Indenture is in proper form for statutory recording; (ii) the New Indenture is effective to create, in favor of the mortgage trustee thereunder, for the benefit of the holders of the New First Mortgage Bonds, a legal, valid, and enforceable lien and security interest in all right, title, and interest of the Company in the real and personal property described therein, entitling such holders to an equal and ratable share

 

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of such properties with the other holders of bonds under the New Indenture (except as otherwise provided in the New Indenture and except to the extent that enforcement of such lien may be limited by the effect of certain laws and judicial decisions upon the remedies provided for in the New Indenture, which, however, do not make the remedies afforded inadequate for the practical realization of the security and benefits provided by the New Indenture); (iii) the New Indenture and any necessary related financing statements have been duly filed and recorded in all jurisdictions in which it is necessary for such instruments to be filed and recorded in order to constitute a lien of record on the property subject thereto, and no other filing or recordation is presently necessary in order to perfect the lien of the New Indenture on such property; (iv) all taxes, fees or other charges that are payable to any federal, state or local entity on account of the execution, delivery, filing or recording of the New Indenture or any of the New First Mortgage Bonds as so secured have been paid by the Company; (v) neither the Collateral Agent (or other agent on behalf of the holders of the Notes) nor any holder of a New First Mortgage Bond shall be required to qualify to do business in the jurisdiction in which the New Indenture is recorded solely by reason of the transactions contemplated by the New Indenture or in order to enforce their rights under the New Indenture; (vi) the interest rate as set forth in the New First Mortgage Bonds is not usurious under the jurisdictions in which the New Indenture is recorded; (vii) the New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents to which the Company is a party have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms; and (viii) the execution and delivery of the New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents to which the Company is a party, by the Company do not, and its performance thereof will not, (A) violate any provision of applicable law to which the Company is subject, (B) violate the

 

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certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (C) result in the breach of, or constitute a default under, an indenture, mortgage, contract or other instrument to which the Company is a party, (D) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on, or security interest in, the assets of the Company (other than the Lien of the New Indenture) or (E) result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any order, judgment, decree or ruling binding on the Company;

(g) No First Mortgage Bonds shall be outstanding, the Mortgage Indenture shall have been terminated, and the Liens created by the Mortgage Indenture shall have been released;

(h) Each series of the New First Mortgage Bonds will have the same stated interest rate, interest payment dates, stated maturity and redemption provisions (including Make Whole Amount, if any), and will be in the same aggregate principal amount, as the related Notes; the New First Mortgage Bonds shall contain optional and mandatory redemption provisions (including Make Whole Amount, if any) which correspond to the optional and mandatory prepayment provisions of the related Notes; the New First Mortgage Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption if the Company or the trustee under the New Indenture is notified that an Event of Default under this Agreement has occurred and is continuing and that the principal amount of all Notes then outstanding has become due and payable in accordance with this Agreement; and the New Indenture and each series of the New First Mortgage Bonds shall contain provisions that are substantially the same as section 2.1 and section 3.1 of the Supplemental Indenture, and section 10.87 of the Mortgage Indenture;

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in the New Indenture and the related new bond documents to which it is a party shall be correct on the New Security Date; and the Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this

 

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Agreement, the New Indenture and the related new bond documents to which it is a party required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the New Security Date;

(j) The Company shall have delivered to each holder a certificate of its Secretary, dated the New Security Date, certifying as to (i) the resolutions attached thereto and other corporate proceedings relating to the authorization, execution and delivery of the New Indenture, the related new bond documents to which it is a party and the New First Mortgage Bonds and (ii) the Company’s organizational documents as then in effect;

(k) The conditions specified in Sections 4.11 and 4.12, if applicable to the New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds and the related new bond documents, shall have been satisfied as at the New Security Date;

(l) The holders shall have received an Officer’s Certificate, dated the New Security Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in clause (i) have been fulfilled and each of the representations in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.6, 5.7, 5.19, 5.20 and 5.21, in each case as if applicable to the New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents instead of the Mortgage Indenture, the First Mortgage Bonds and the Supplemental Indenture, shall be correct on the New Security Date; and

(m) The New Indenture, the New First Mortgage Bonds and any related new bond documents shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Holders.

 

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Section 1.19. The following definitions in Section B of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as follows:

“Asset Disposition” shall mean any Transfer except:

(a) any

(1) Transfer from a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary; and

(2) Transfer from the Company to a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary;

so long as immediately before and immediately after the consummation of any such Transfer and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist ( provided that, after the Release Date until the New Security Date, calculation of compliance therewith shall be made as of any date of determination thereof and not as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company); and

(b) any Transfer made in the ordinary course of business and involving only property that is either (1) inventory held for sale or (2) equipment, fixtures, supplies or materials no longer required in the operation of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that is obsolete.

“Collateral Agent” shall mean, (a) prior to the Release Date, the party identified as collateral agent for the holders of the Notes in Section 2.2(a) , and (b) from and after the New Security Date, the party appointed to act as collateral agent for the holders of the Notes pursuant to Section 23.19 .

“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes, (d) prior to the Release Date, the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Mortgage Indenture or the First Mortgage Bonds, (e) prior to the Release Date, the validity or the enforceability of the Mortgage Indenture or the First Mortgage Bonds, (f) from and after the New Security Date, the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the New Indenture or the New First Mortgage Bonds or (g) from and after the New Security Date, the validity or the enforceability of the New Indenture or the New First Mortgage Bonds.

 

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Section 1.20. Section B of the Note Purchase Agreement shall be and is amended by adding the following definitions in alphabetical order.

“New First Mortgage Bonds” is defined in Section 24.1 .

“New Indenture” is defined in Section 24.1 .

“New Indenture Installation” is defined in Section 24.1 .

“New Security Date” is defined in Section 24.1.

“Required Rating Agency” means any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as recognized and accepted as such by the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor organization.

 

S ECTION  2. R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES OF THE C OMPANY .

Section 2.1. To induce the Noteholders to execute and deliver this First Amendment (which representations shall survive the execution and delivery of this First Amendment), the Company represents and warrants to the Noteholders that:

(a) this First Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and this First Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation, contract and agreement of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws or equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally;

(b) the Note Purchase Agreement, as amended by this First Amendment, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation, contract and agreement of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws or equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally;

(c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this First Amendment (i) has been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and, if required, shareholder action, (ii) does not require the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body or agency, and (iii) will not (A) violate (1) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation or its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, (2) any order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any other agency or government binding upon it, or (3) any provision of any material indenture, agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or by which its properties or assets are or may be bound, or (B) result in a breach or constitute (alone or with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument referred to in clause (iii)(A)(3) of this Section 2.1(c) ;

 

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(d) as of the date hereof and after giving effect to this First Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred which is continuing; and

(e) the Company has not paid or agreed to pay, and will not pay or agree to pay, any fees or other compensation to any holder of any Note with respect to the execution or delivery of this First Amendment other than for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses as contemplated by Section 3.5 hereof.

 

S ECTION  3. M ISCELLANEOUS .

Section 3.1. This First Amendment shall be construed in connection with and as part of the Note Purchase Agreement, and except as modified and expressly amended by this First Amendment, all terms, conditions and covenants contained in the Note Purchase Agreement and the Notes are hereby ratified and shall be and remain in full force and effect.

Section 3.2. Any and all notices, requests, certificates and other instruments executed and delivered after the execution and delivery of this First Amendment may refer to the Note Purchase Agreement without making specific reference to this First Amendment but nevertheless all such references shall include this First Amendment unless the context otherwise requires.

Section 3.3. The descriptive headings of the various Sections or parts of this First Amendment are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

Section 3.4. T HIS F IRST A MENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE THE LAW OF THE S TATE OF N EW Y ORK EXCLUDING CHOICE - OF - LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH S TATE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH S TATE .

Section 3.5. The Company agrees to pay upon demand the reasonable fees and expenses of special counsel to the Noteholders in connection with the negotiation, preparation, approval, execution and delivery of this First Amendment.

 

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N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Section 3.6. The execution hereof by you shall constitute a contract between us for the uses and purposes hereinabove set forth, and this First Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original, but all together only one agreement.

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY
By  

/s/ Kathleen T. Ellis

  Its:   Executive Vice President and Chief
    Operating Officer


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

  T HE P RUDENTIAL I NSURANCE C OMPANY OF A MERICA
  By:  

/ S / B RIAN L EMONS

    Title:   Vice President
  P RUDENTIAL R ETIREMENT I NSURANCE AND A NNUITY C OMPANY
  By:   Prudential Investment Management, Inc.,
    as investment manager
  By:  

/ S / B RIAN L EMONS

    Title:   Vice President
P HYSICIANS L IFE I NSURANCE C OMPANY
  By:  

Prudential Private Placement Investors, L.P.

(as Investment Advisor)

  By:  

Prudential Private Placement Investors, Inc.

(as its General Partner)

  By:  

/ S / B RIAN L EMONS

    Title:   Vice President


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

T HE N ORTHWESTERN M UTUAL L IFE I NSURANCE C OMPANY
By:  

/s/ Randal W. Ralph

  Title:   Its Authorized Representative


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

T HRIVENT F INANCIAL FOR L UTHERANS
By:  

/s/ Patricia H. Eitrheim

  Title:   Director


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

H ARTFORD L IFE AND A NNUITY I NSURANCE C OMPANY
H ARTFORD L IFE I NSURANCE C OMPANY
By:   Hartford Investment Management Company,
  Their Agent and Attorney-in-Fact
By:  

/ S / K ENNETH D AY

  Name:   Kenneth Day
  Title:   Vice President


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

S TATE F ARM L IFE I NSURANCE C OMPANY
By:  

/s/ Julie Hoyer

  Title:   Senior Investment Officer- Fixed Income
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Attwood

  Title:   Investment Officer


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

S TATE F ARM L IFE AND A CCIDENT A SSURANCE C OMPANY
By:  

/s/ Julie Hoyer

  Title:   Senior Investment Officer- Fixed Income
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Attwood

  Title:   Investment Officer


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

AXA E QUITABLE L IFE I NSURANCE C OMPANY
By:  

/s/ Amy Judd

  Title:   Investment Officer


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

MONY L IFE I NSURANCE C OMPANY
By:  

/s/ Diane S. Griswold

  Title:   2 nd VP Investments


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

M ODERN W OODMEN OF A MERICA
By:  

/s/ Douglas A. Pannier

  Title:   Group Head- Private Placements


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY    F IRST A MENDMENT

 

Accepted and Agreed to:

 

G REAT -W EST L IFE & A NNUITY I NSURANCE C OMPANY
By:  

/s/ Eve Hampton

  Title:   Vice President, Investments
By:   /s/ Ward Argust
  Title:   Manager, Investments

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

 

M ORTGAGE

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

T O

U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION ,

As Trustee

 

 

T HIRTY -S IXTH S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE

Dated as of September 1, 2014

 

 

A MENDING AND R ESTATING THE I NDENTURE OF M ORTGAGE AND

D EED OF T RUST D ATED A PRIL  1, 1952

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:    William M. Libit, Esq.    Record and Return to:    Richard Reich, Esq.
   Chapman and Cutler LLP       NJR Service Corporation
   111 West Monroe Street       1415 Wyckoff Road
   Chicago, Illinois 60603       Wall, New Jersey 07719


M ORTGAGE

T HIRTY -S IXTH S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE , dated as of September 1, 2014, between N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey (hereinafter called the “Company” ), having its principal office at 1415 Wyckoff Road, Wall, New Jersey, party of the first part, and U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , a national banking association, (hereinafter called the “Trustee” ), having a principal office at 21 South Street, 3rd Floor, Morristown, New Jersey, as Trustee under the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust hereinafter mentioned, party of the second part.

W HEREAS , the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to Harris Trust and Savings Bank (the “Original Trustee” ) its Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated April 1, 1952 (hereinafter sometimes called the “Original Indenture” ) to secure the payment of the principal of and the interest and premium (if any) on all Bonds at any time issued and outstanding thereunder, and to declare the terms and conditions upon which Bonds are to be issued thereunder; and

W HEREAS , the Company thereafter executed and delivered to the Original Trustee its First Supplemental Indenture dated February 1, 1958, its Second Supplemental Indenture dated December 1, 1960, its Third Supplemental Indenture dated July 1, 1962, its Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated September 1, 1962, its Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated December 1, 1963, its Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated June 1, 1966, its Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated October 1, 1970, its Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated May 1, 1975, its Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated February 1, 1977, its Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1980, its Eleventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1983, its Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 1984, its Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1985, its Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 1986, its Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 1987, its Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 1987, its Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 1988, its Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 1989, its Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 1991, its Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 1992, its Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 1993, its Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1993, its Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 15, 1994, its Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1994, its Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 15, 1995, its Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1995, its Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1997, its Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 1, 1998, its Twenty-Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 1998, its Thirtieth


Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2003, its Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2005, its Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2008, its Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011, its Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 2013 and its Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2014, supplementing and amending the Original Indenture (the Original Indenture, as so supplemented and amended is hereinafter referred to as the “Existing Indenture” ); and

W HEREAS , Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,500,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as an initial series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 4-1/4% Series A due 1977,” herein sometimes called “1977 Series A Bonds,” which 1977 Series A Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Two Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,250,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, as a second series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 5% Series B due 1983”, herein sometimes called “1983 Series B Bonds,” which 1983 Series B Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, as a third series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 5-1/8% Series C due 1985,” herein sometimes called “1985 Series C Bonds,” which 1985 Series C Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Fourth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a fourth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 4-7/8% Series D due 1987,” herein sometimes called “1987 Series D Bonds,” which 1987 Series D Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Fifth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a fifth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 4-3/4% Series E due 1988,” herein sometimes called “1988 Series E Bonds,” which 1988 Series E Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

 

-2-


W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Seventh Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a sixth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 9-1/4% Series F due 1995,” herein sometimes called “1995 Series F Bonds,” which 1995 Series F Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Eighth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive as a seventh series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 10% Series G due 1987,” herein sometimes called “1987 Series G Bonds,” which 1987 Series G Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Ninth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as an eighth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 9% Series H due 1992,” herein sometimes called “1992 Series H Bonds,” which 1992 Series H Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Nine Million Five Hundred Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($9,545,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Tenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a ninth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 9-1/8% Series J due 2000,” herein sometimes called “2000 Series J Bonds,” which 2000 Series J Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Eleventh Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a tenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 10-3/8% Series K due 2013,” herein sometimes called “2013 Series K Bonds,” which 2013 Series K Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,500,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twelfth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive,

 

-3-


as an eleventh series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 10-l/2% Series L due 2014,” herein sometimes called “2014 Series L Bonds,” which 2014 Series L Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirteenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twelfth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 10.85% Series M due 2000,” herein sometimes called “2000 Series M Bonds,” which 2000 Series M Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture as supplemented and amended by the First through the Fourteenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirteenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 10% Series N due 2001,” herein sometimes called “2001 Series N Bonds,” which 2001 Series N Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Fifteenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a fourteenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 8.50% Series P due 2002,” herein sometimes called “2002 Series P Bonds,” which 2002 Series P Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Thirteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($13,500,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Sixteenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a fifteenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 9% Series Q due 2017,” herein sometimes called “2017 Series Q Bonds,” which 2017 Series Q Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Seventeenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a sixteenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 8.50% Series R due 2018,” herein sometimes called “2018 Series R Bonds,” which 2018 Series R Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First

 

-4-


through the Eighteenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a seventeenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 10.10% Series S due 2009,” herein sometimes called “2009 Series S Bonds,” which 2009 Series S Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Nine Million Five Hundred Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($9,545,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Nineteenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as an eighteenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 7.05% Series T due 2016,” herein sometimes called “2016 Series T Bonds,” which 2016 Series T Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) were authorized, of which Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) have been issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Nineteenth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a nineteenth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 7.25% Series U due 2021,” herein sometimes called “2021 Series U Bonds,” which 2021 Series U Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twentieth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twentieth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 7.50% Series V due 2002,” herein sometimes called “2002 Series V Bonds,” which 2002 Series V Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-First Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-first series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 5-3/8% Series W due 2023,” herein sometimes called “2023 Series W Bonds,” which 2023 Series W Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Second Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-second series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 6.27% Series X due 2008,” herein sometimes called “2008 Series X Bonds,” which 2008 Series X Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

 

-5-


W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,500,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Third Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-third series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 6.25% Series Y due 2024,” herein sometimes called “2024 Series Y Bonds,” which 2024 Series Y Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-fourth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 8.25% Series Z due 2004,” herein sometimes called “2004 Series Z Bonds,” which 2004 Series Z Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-fifth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Adjustable Rate Series AA due 2030,” herein sometimes called “2030 Series AA Bonds,” which 2030 Series AA Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-sixth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Adjustable Rate Series BB due 2030,” herein sometimes called “2030 Series BB Bonds,” which 2030 Series BB Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-seventh series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, 6-7/8 Series CC due 2010,” herein sometimes called “2010 Series CC Bonds,” which 2010 Series CC Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Thirteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($13,500,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-eighth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Adjustable Rate Series DD due 2027,” herein sometimes called “2027 Series DD Bonds,” which 2027 Series DD Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

 

-6-


W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Nine Million Five Hundred Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($9,545,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a twenty-ninth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Adjustable Rate Series EE due 2028,” herein sometimes called “2028 Series EE Bonds,” which 2028 Series EE Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirtieth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Adjustable Rate Series FF due 2028,” herein sometimes called “2028 Series FF Bonds,” which 2028 Series FF Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Eighteen Million Dollars ($18,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Twenty-Ninth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-first series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Adjustable Rate Series GG due 2033,” herein sometimes called “2033 Series GG Bonds,” which 2033 Series GG Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirtieth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-second series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series HH due 2038,” herein sometimes called “2038 Series HH Bonds,” which 2038 Series HH Bonds have since been paid and redeemed by the Company; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-First Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-third series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series II due 2023,” herein sometimes called “2023 Series II Bonds,” of which Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,500,000) were issued under and in

 

-7-


accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-First Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-fourth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series JJ due 2024,” herein sometimes called “2024 Series JJ Bonds,” of which Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,500,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-First Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-fifth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series KK due 2040,” herein sometimes called “2040 Series KK Bonds,” of which Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of One Hundred Twenty Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-sixth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series LL due 2018,” herein sometimes called “2018 Series LL Bonds,” of which One Hundred Twenty Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Nine Million Five Hundred Forty Five Thousand Dollars ($9,545,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-seventh series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series MM due 2027,” herein sometimes called “2027 Series MM Bonds,” of which Nine Million Five Hundred Forty Five Thousand Dollars ($9,545,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Forty One Million Dollars ($41,000,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-eighth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series NN due 2035,” herein sometimes called “2035 Series NN Bonds,” of which Forty One Million Dollars ($41,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Forty Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($46,500,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-ninth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds,

 

-8-


Series OO due 2041,” herein sometimes called “2041 Series OO Bonds,” of which Forty Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($46,500,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a fortieth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series PP due 2028,” herein sometimes called “2028 Series PP Bonds,” of which Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a forty-first series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series QQ due 2024,” herein sometimes called “2024 Series QQ Bonds,” of which Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , thereafter Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifty-five Million Dollars ($55,000,000) were authorized under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a forty-second series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series RR due 2024,” herein sometimes called “2044 Series RR Bonds,” of which Fifty-five Million Dollars ($55,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof; and

W HEREAS , that on May 17, 2000 BNY Midwest Trust Company, as transferee of the corporate trust business of Harris Trust and Savings Bank, trustee under the Original Indenture, became successor Trustee under the Original Indenture; and

W HEREAS , by virtue of an Omnibus Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014 by and among the Company, the Original Trustee, U.S. Bank National Association, and the holders of more than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Bonds, on September 24, 2014 U.S. Bank National Association became successor to the Original Trustee under the Existing Indenture; and

W HEREAS , the Existing Indenture provides that, subject to certain exceptions not presently relevant, such changes in or additions to the provisions of the Indenture (the term “Indenture” and other terms used herein having the meanings assigned thereto in the Existing Indenture except as herein expressly modified) may be made to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company in the Indenture contained other covenants and agreements thereafter to be observed by the Company; and to provide for the creation of

 

-9-


any series of Bonds, designating the series to be created and specifying the form and provisions of the Bonds of such series as in the Indenture provided or permitted; and

W HEREAS , the Indenture further provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Indenture to convey, transfer and assign unto the Trustee and to subject to the lien of the Indenture additional properties acquired by the Company; and

W HEREAS , the Company, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred upon and reserved to it under the provisions of the Indenture and pursuant to appropriate resolutions of its Board of Directors, has duly resolved and determined to make, execute and deliver to the Trustee a Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture in the form hereof for the purposes herein provided; and

W HEREAS , all conditions and requirements necessary to make this Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal instrument have been done, performed and fulfilled and the execution and delivery hereof have been in all respects duly authorized.

N OW , T HEREFORE , THIS I NDENTURE W ITNESSETH :

A RTICLE  I

A MENDMENT AND R ESTATEMENT OF I NDENTURE

The first W HEREAS paragraph and all provisions of the Original Indenture as heretofore amended and supplemented which follow such paragraph, including, without limitation, the form of bond, the Granting Clauses and Articles I through XVIII of such Original Indenture, are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read as set forth in Exhibit A hereto, provided that this restatement shall not, with respect to Bonds which are outstanding on the date hereof (i) postpone the maturity date fixed for the payment of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, or (ii) reduce the principal of, or premium on, or the rate of interest payable on, or (iii) permit the creation of any lien not otherwise permitted, prior to or on a parity with the lien of the Indenture, or (iv) reduce the percentage of the principal amount of the consent of the holders of which is required for the authorization of any such change or addition. The form of Bond hereinafter issued under the Indenture shall only be in registered form and the form of such Bond to be used hereinafter is set forth in Exhibit A.

 

-10-


A RTICLE  II

M ISCELLANEOUS

§ 2.1. The Company is lawfully seized and possessed of all the real estate, franchises and other property described or referred to in the Indenture (except properties released from the lien of the Indenture pursuant to the provisions thereof) as presently mortgaged, subject to the exceptions stated therein, such real estate, franchises and other property are free and clear of any lien prior to the lien of the Indenture except as set forth in the Granting Clauses of the Indenture and the Company has good right and lawful authority to mortgage the same as provided in and by the Indenture.

§ 2.2. The Trustee assumes no duties, responsibilities or liabilities by reason of this Supplemental Indenture other than as set forth in the Indenture, and this Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions of its acceptance of the trust under the Indenture, as fully as if said terms and conditions were herein set forth at length.

§ 2.3. This Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture sets forth amendments to the Existing Indenture and completely restates the Existing Indenture without any interruption of the Lien of the Existing Indenture, which shall continue under the Indenture against the Trust Estate described therein. This Thirty-Sixth Supplement Indenture sets forth the Indenture which states the complete agreement of the parties hereto without any reference to the Original Indenture and the supplemental indentures thereto.

§ 2.4. Neither the approval by the Board of Public Utilities of the State of New Jersey of the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture nor the approval by said Board of the issue of any Bonds under the Indenture shall in any way be construed as the approval by said Board of any other act, matter or thing which requires approval of said Board under the laws of the State of New Jersey; nor shall approval by said Board of the issue of any Bonds under the Indenture bind said Board or any other public body or authority of the State of New Jersey having jurisdiction in the premises in any future application for the issue of Bonds under the Indenture or otherwise.

§ 2.5. This Supplemental Indenture may be 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.

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

-11-


N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY HEREBY DECLARES THAT IT HAS READ THIS T HIRTY -S IXTH S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE , HAS RECEIVED A COMPLETELY FILLED - IN TRUE COPY OF IT WITHOUT CHARGE AND HAS SIGNED THIS T HIRTY -S IXTH S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE ON THE DATE CONTAINED IN ITS ACKNOWLEDGMENT HEREOF .

I N WITNESS WHEREOF , N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , party of the first part, has caused these presents to be signed in its corporate name by its Executive Vice President and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its Corporate Secretary, and U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , party of the second part, in evidence of its acceptance of the trust hereby created, has caused these presents to be signed in its corporate name by one of its Vice Presidents and attested by one of its Vice Presidents.

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY
By  

/s/ Kathleen T. Ellis

  Name:   Kathleen T. Ellis
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief
    Operating Officer

 

[Corporate Seal]
A TTEST :

/s/ Rhonda M. Figueroa

Name:   Rhonda M. Figueroa
Title:   Corporate Secretary

 

-12-


U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Christopher E. Golabek

  Name:   Christopher E. Golabek
  Title:   Vice President

 

A TTEST :

/s/ Stephanie Roche

Name:   Stephanie Roche
Title:   Vice President

 

-13-


S TATE   OF  N EW  J ERSEY   )  
  )   SS:
C OUNTY   OF  M ONMOUTH   )  

B E I T R EMEMBERED that on this 24 th  day of September, 2014, before me, the subscriber, Richard Reich, an Attorney-at-Law of the State of New Jersey, and I hereby certify that I am such an Attorney-at-Law as witness my hand, personally appeared R HONDA  M. F IGUEROA , to me known, who, being by me duly sworn according to law, on his oath, does depose and make proof to my satisfaction that she is the Corporate Secretary of N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , the grantor or mortgagor in the foregoing Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture and named; that she well knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that it was so affixed in pursuance of a resolution of the Board of Directors of said corporation; that K ATHLEEN T. E LLIS is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of said corporation; that she saw said K ATHLEEN T. E LLIS as such Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer affix said seal thereto, sign and deliver said Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, and heard her declare that she signed, sealed and delivered the same as the voluntary act and deed of said corporation, in pursuance of said resolution, and that this deponent signed her name thereto, at the same time, as attesting witness.

 

/ S / R HONDA M. F IGUEROA

Rhonda M. Figueroa
Corporate Secretary

 

Subscribed and sworn to before me an Attorney-at-Law of the State of New Jersey, at Wall, New Jersey, the day and year aforesaid.

/ S /    R ICHARD R EICH        

Richard Reich
An Attorney-at-Law of the
State of New Jersey

 

-14-


S TATE   OF  N EW  J ERSEY    )   
   )    SS:
C OUNTY   OF  M ORRIS    )   

On the 18th day of September, in the year 2014, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared Christopher E. Golabek, a Vice President of U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , personally known to be or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to be that he executed the same in his capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed this instrument.

 

/ S / F LORENCE M. N OLL

 

 


E XHIBIT A

AMENDED AND RESTATED INDENTURE FILED AS EXHIBIT 99.3 TO THIS FORM 8-K

Exhibit 99.3

 

 

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

TO

U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION ,

as Trustee

A MENDED AND R ESTATED

I NDENTURE OF M ORTGAGE ,

D EED OF T RUST AND S ECURITY A GREEMENT

Dated as of September 1, 2014

 

 

 


[T ABLE OF C ONTENTS ]

 

              P AGE  

P ARTIES AND R ECITALS

     1   

G RANTING C LAUSES

     7   

  I.

  

Franchises

     7   

  II.

  

Gas Distribution Systems and Related Property

     7   

  III.

  

Contracts

     9   

  IV.

  

Additional Property

     9   

  V.

  

Excepted Property

     9   

  VI.

  

Habendum Clause and Trust Declarations

     10   

A RTICLE  O NE

  

C ERTAIN D EFINITIONS AND C ONSTRUCTIONS

     10   

§ 1.01.

  

General

     10   

§ 1.02.

  

General Definitions and Constructions

     11   
  

Accountant

     11   
  

Additions Credits

     11   
  

affiliate

     11   
  

control

     11   
  

Appraiser

     11   
  

Authorized Newspaper

     11   
  

Bond

     12   
  

Bond, Bondholder, and holder

     12   
  

Bond Register

     12   
  

Bond Retirements Certificate

     12   
  

Certificate of the Company

     12   
  

Company

     12   
  

corporation

     12   
  

Cost

     12   
  

cost basis

     12   
  

CPI or CPI Index

     12   
  

Depositary

     12   
  

Deposited Cash

     12   
  

EDA

     12   
  

Engineer

     12   
  

Events of Default

     13   
  

Excepted Property

     13   
  

Exchange Act

     13   
  

Existing Bonds

     13   
  

Existing Indenture

     13   
  

Fair Value

     13   
  

Funded Cash

     13   

 

-i-


              P AGE  
  

Funded Property

     13   
  

Gas Business

     14   
  

Gas Properties

     14   
  

Global Bond

     14   
  

Government Obligations

     15   
  

Gross Amount of Property Additions

     15   
  

Hedging Transaction

     15   
  

indebtedness

     15   
  

guaranty

     15   
  

primary obligor

     15   
  

Indenture

     15   
  

Independent

     15   
  

Interest Charges on Indebtedness

     16   
  

Counterparty

     16   
  

Mandatory Sinking Funds

     17   
  

Mandatory Sinking Funds Payment Date

     17   
  

Net Amount of Property Additions

     17   
  

Gross Amount of Property Additions

     17   
  

Net Earnings

     17   
  

Net Earnings Available for Interest

     17   
  

Opinion of Counsel

     18   
  

Original Indenture

     18   
  

outstanding

     18   
  

Overdue Rate

     19   
  

Permitted Encumbrances

     19   
  

person

     20   
  

premium

     20   
  

Principal Office of the Trustee

     20   
  

Property Additions

     20   
  

Gas Properties

     20   
  

Property Additions Certificate

     21   
  

Purchase Money Liens

     21   
  

release price

     21   
  

Resolution of the Board

     21   
  

responsible officer or officers

     21   
  

Retirements

     22   
  

Retirements Credits

     22   
  

Subsidiary

     22   
  

Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture

     22   
  

Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture

     23   
  

Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture

     23   
  

Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture

     23   
  

Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture

     23   
  

Trust Estate

     23   
  

Trust Moneys

     23   

 

-ii-


              P AGE  
  

Trustee

     23   
  

Trustee’s Prime Rate

     23   
  

2005 EDA Bond Indenture

     23   
  

2005 EDA Loan Trustee

     23   
  

2005 Loan Agreement

     23   
  

2005A EDA Bonds

     23   
  

2005B EDA Bonds

     23   
  

2005C EDA Bonds

     23   
  

2011 EDA Bond Indenture

     23   
  

2011 EDA Loan Trustee

     23   
  

2011 Loan Agreement

     23   
  

2011A EDA Bonds

     23   
  

2011B EDA Bonds

     23   
  

2011C EDA Bonds

     23   
  

2018 Series LL Bond

     24   
  

2023 Series II Bond

     24   
  

2024 Series JJ Bond

     24   
  

2024 Series QQ Bond

     24   
  

2027 Series MM Bond

     24   
  

2028 Series PP Bond

     24   
  

2035 Series NN Bond

     24   
  

2040 Series KK Bond

     24   
  

2041 Series OO Bond

     24   
  

2044 Series RR Bond

     24   
  

Written Order of the Company, Written Request of the Company and Written Consent of the Company

     24   

§ 1.03.

  

Certain Phrases; Determination of Earnings

     24   

§ 1.04.

  

Provisions governing certain certificates, opinions and other documents

     25   

§ 1.05.

  

Truth and accuracy of documents presented to the Trustee by the Company shall be condition precedent and Trustee may rely upon such documents

     26   

§ 1.06.

  

More than one document may be delivered

     27   

§ 1.07.

  

Cash deposited

     27   

A RTICLE  T WO

  

T HE B ONDS

     27   

§ 2.01.

  

Aggregate principal amount of Bonds is unlimited, except as provided

     27   

 

-iii-


              P AGE  

§ 2.02.

  

Bonds shall be issued in series as authorized; and as registered bonds

     27   

§ 2.03.

  

Bonds of all series shall be generally entitled “First Mortgage Bonds”

     27   

§ 2.04.

  

Designations, optional provisions and forms of Bonds

     28   

§ 2.05.

  

Denominations of Bonds and interest accrual

     29   

§ 2.06.

  

Exchange of Bonds

     29   

§ 2.07.

  

Execution of Bonds by the Company

     29   

§ 2.08.

  

Authentication of Bonds by the Trustee

     30   

§ 2.09.

  

Temporary Bonds and issuance of definitive Bonds in exchange therefor

     30   

§ 2.10.

  

Books for registration and transfer; Transfer of Bonds; Deemed owner of Bonds; Global Bonds

     31   

§ 2.11.

  

Payment of taxes or charges on transfers

     32   

§ 2.12.

  

Mutilated, lost, stolen, or destroyed Bonds

     32   

§ 2.13.

  

Legend for Global Bonds

     33   

§ 2.14.

  

CUSIP Numbers

     33   

§ 2.15.

  

Execution of Allonges by the Company

     33   

§ 2.16.

  

Authentication of Allonges by the Trustee

     34   

A RTICLE  T HREE

  

E XISTING B ONDS

     34   

§ 3.01.

  

2023 Series II Bonds

     34   

§ 3.02.

  

2024 Series JJ Bonds

     34   

§ 3.03.

  

2040 Series KK Bonds

     34   

§ 3.04.

  

2018 Series LL Bonds

     35   

§ 3.05.

  

2027 Series MM Bonds

     35   

 

-iv-


              P AGE  

§ 3.06.

  

2035 Series NN Bonds

     36   

§ 3.07.

  

2041 Series OO Bonds

     36   

§ 3.08.

  

2028 Series PP Bonds

     36   

§ 3.09.

  

2024 Series QQ Bonds

     37   

§ 3.10.

  

2044 Series RR Bonds

     37   

§ 3.11.

  

Maintenance of office or agency of Company

     38   

A RTICLE  F OUR

  

A UTHENTICATION AND D ELIVERY OF B ONDS UPON THE B ASIS OF P ROPERTY A DDITIONS

     38   

§ 4.01.

  

Provisions governing the issuance of Additional Bonds against Property Additions

     38   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     38   
  

B.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     38   
  

C.

 

A Certificate of the Company dated the date of authentication

     39   
  

D.

 

Independent Appraiser’s Certificate

     39   
  

E.

 

Mortgages, Deeds, Conveyances, Assignments, Transfers and Instruments of Further Assurance, Certificates and Other Evidence

     39   
  

F.

 

An Opinion or Opinions of Counsel

     39   
  

G.

 

Supplemental Indenture

     40   

§ 4.02.

  

Bonds limited to 70% of Net Amount of Property Additions

     40   

A RTICLE  F IVE

  

A UTHENTICATION AND D ELIVERY OF B ONDS UPON D EPOSIT OF C ASH WITH T RUSTEE

     41   

§ 5.01.

  

Provisions governing the issuance of Additional Bonds against Cash

     41   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     41   
  

B.

 

Cash

     41   
  

C.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     41   
  

D.

 

Certificates and other evidence

     41   
  

E.

 

An Opinion or Opinions of Counsel

     41   
  

F.

 

Supplemental Indenture

     41   

§ 5.02.

  

Bonds limited to amount of cash deposited

     41   

§ 5.03.

  

Definition of “Deposited Cash” and terms of withdrawal.

     41   

 

-v-


              P AGE  

A RTICLE  S IX

  

A UTHENTICATION AND D ELIVERY OF B ONDS UPON R ETIREMENT OF B ONDS P REVIOUSLY I SSUED H EREUNDER

     42   

§ 6.01.

  

Provisions governing the issuance of Additional Bonds against Retirement of Bonds

     42   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     42   
  

B.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     42   
  

C.

 

§4.01C(2) Certificate of the Company

     42   
  

D.

 

Certificates and other evidence

     42   
  

E.

 

An Opinion or Opinions of Counsel

     42   
  

F.

 

Bonds and/or Cash

     42   
  

G.

 

Supplemental Indenture

     42   

§ 6.02.

  

Bonds limited to amount of Bonds deposited, paid, redeemed, etc.

     42   

§ 6.03.

  

Bonds to be cancelled

     43   

A RTICLE  S EVEN

  

R ELEASE OF M ORTGAGED P ROPERTY

     43   

§ 7.01.

  

Provisions governing the rights of the Company to possess, use, alter or otherwise take action with respect to mortgaged property

     43   

§ 7.02.

  

Release of Mortgaged Property

     45   
  

A.

 

Fair Value

     45   
  

B.

 

Written Request: Trust Estate Exceeds Bonds

     45   
  

C.

 

Written Request: Release Less than 1%

     46   
  

D.

 

Written Request: Cash

     47   

§ 7.03.

  

Provisions governing the taking of property by eminent domain

     50   
  

A.

 

A Written Request of the Company

     50   
  

B.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     50   
  

C.

 

Award or Proceeds

     50   
  

D.

 

Opinion of Counsel

     51   

§ 7.04.

  

Provisions governing the sale or other disposal of any unprofitable and useless part of the Trust Estate

     51   

§ 7.05.

  

Consent of the Trustee to release in case of default

     52   

§ 7.06.

  

Provisions governing a receiver or trustee

     52   

§ 7.07.

  

Provisions governing a purchaser in good faith

     52   

§ 7.08.

  

Application of Cash

     52   

 

-vi-


              P AGE  

A RTICLE  E IGHT

  

A PPLICATION AND W ITHDRAWAL OF T RUST M ONEYS

     53   

§ 8.01.

  

General Provision with respect to the application and withdrawal of Trust Moneys

     53   

§ 8.02.

  

Provisions governing withdrawal of certain Trust Moneys against Gross Amount of Property Additions

     53   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     53   
  

B.

 

Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments

     54   

§ 8.03.

  

Provisions governing withdrawal of certain Trust Moneys deposited pursuant to § 5.01 against Net Amount of Property Additions

     55   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     55   
  

B.

 

Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments

     55   

§ 8.04.

  

Provisions governing withdrawal of certain Trust Moneys against Bonds

     56   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     56   
  

B.

 

Bonds, Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments

     56   

§ 8.05.

  

Provisions governing application of Trust Moneys to the payment or redemption of Bonds

     57   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     57   
  

B.

 

Cash

     57   
  

C.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     57   
  

D.

 

An Opinion of Counsel

     57   

§ 8.06.

  

Deposit of cash

     58   

§ 8.07.

  

Application of Trust Moneys held more than two years

     58   

§ 8.08.

  

Mandatory redemption of Bonds in certain cases

     58   

§ 8.09.

  

Power of Company or receiver after default

     59   

§ 8.10.

  

Cancellation of Bonds delivered to the Trustee under Article Eight

     59   

§ 8.11.

  

Moneys received by Trustee to be held in trust

     60   

A RTICLE  N INE

  

P ARTICULAR C OVENANTS OF THE C OMPANY

     60   

§ 9.01.

  

Provisions governing payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on Bonds

     60   

 

-vii-


              P AGE  

§ 9.02.

  

[Reserved.]

     60   

§ 9.03.

  

Provisions governing title to Company’s property

     60   

§ 9.04.

  

Provisions governing payment of taxes; Negative pledge

     61   

§ 9.05.

  

Provisions governing maintenance of property

     62   

§ 9.06.

  

Provisions governing further assurances and filings; Annual certificate and opinion

     64   
  

A.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     65   
  

B.

 

An Opinion of Counsel

     65   
  

C.

 

Mortgages, Deeds, Conveyances, Assignments, Transfers and Instruments of Further Assurance

     65   

§ 9.07.

  

Provisions governing insurance; Annual insurance certificate

     65   

§ 9.08.

  

[Reserved.]

     66   

§ 9.09.

  

Provisions governing books of record

     66   

§ 9.10.

  

Provisions governing inspection of books by agent of Trustee

     66   

§ 9.11.

  

Provisions governing maintenance of existence and franchises

     67   

§ 9.12.

  

Provisions governing advances by the Trustee

     67   

§ 9.13.

  

[Reserved.]

     67   

§ 9.14.

  

Provisions governing certain filings by the Company

     67   

§ 9.15.

  

Provisions governing furnishing of list of Bondholders

     68   

§ 9.16.

  

Provisions governing preservation of list of Bondholders

     68   

§ 9.17.

  

Provisions governing filing with Trustee of Balance Sheets and Income Statements

     69   

§ 9.18.

  

Provisions governing modifications and amendments to the Indenture

     70   

A RTICLE  T EN

  

R EDEMPTION OF B ONDS

     70   

§ 10.01.

  

Bonds may be redeemable

     70   

 

-viii-


              P AGE  

§ 10.02.

  

Provisions governing notice and selection of Bonds to be redeemed

     70   
  

A.

 

Cash

     71   
  

B.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     72   
  

C.

 

An Opinion of Counsel

     72   
  

D.

 

Certificates and other evidence

     72   

§ 10.03.

  

Methods of effecting redemption

     72   

§ 10.04.

  

Bonds redeemed shall be cancelled

     73   

§ 10.07.

  

Redemption provisions for 2023 Series II Bonds

     73   

§ 10.06.

  

§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2023 Series II Bonds

     73   

§ 10.07.

  

Redemption provisions for 2024 Series JJ Bonds

     73   

§ 10.08.

  

§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2024 Series JJ Bonds

     74   

§ 10.09.

  

Redemption provisions for 2040 Series KK Bonds

     74   

§ 10.10.

  

§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2040 Series KK Bonds

     75   

§ 10.11.

  

Redemption provisions for 2018 Series LL Bonds

     75   

§ 10.12.

  

§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2018 Series LL Bonds

     75   

§ 10.13.

  

Redemption provisions for 2027 Series MM Bonds

     75   

§ 10.14.

  

§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2027 Series MM Bonds

     76   

§ 10.15.

  

Redemption provisions for 2035 Series NN Bonds

     76   

§ 10.16.

  

§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2035 Series NN Bonds

     76   

§ 10.17.

  

Redemption provisions for 2014 Series OO Bonds

     77   

§ 10.18.

  

§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2041 Series OO Bonds

     77   

§ 10.19.

  

Redemption provisions for 2028 Series PP Bonds

     77   

§ 10.20.

  

§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2028 Series PP Bonds

     78   

§ 10.21.

  

Redemption provisions for 2024 Series QQ Bonds

     78   

§ 10.22.

  

§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2024 Series QQ Bonds

     78   

 

-ix-


              P AGE  

§ 10.23.

  

Redemption provisions for 2027 Series RR Bonds

     78   

§ 10.24.

  

§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2044 Series RR Bonds

     79   

A RTICLE  E LEVEN

  

M ANDATORY S INKING F UNDS

     79   

§ 11.01.

  

Reserved

     79   

§ 11.02.

  

Provisions governing maintenance of Sinking Funds for specific series of Bonds

     79   

§ 11.03.

  

Payment of interest and premium

     80   

§ 11.04.

  

Provisions governing notice and selection for redemption of Bonds for the Sinking Fund

     80   

§ 11.05.

  

Moneys paid pursuant to § 11.02 and § 11.03 held in trust

     80   

§ 11.06.

  

Bonds redeemed and paid through operation of Sinking Fund shall be cancelled

     80   

A RTICLE  T WELVE

  

R EMEDIES OF T RUSTEE AND B ONDHOLDERS

     81   

§ 12.01.

  

Events of Default

     81   

§ 12.02.

  

Provisions governing powers of Trustee in case of Event of Default

     82   

§ 12.03.

  

Additional powers of the Trustee in case of Event of Default

     84   

§ 12.04.

  

Holders of majority of Bonds then outstanding may direct Trustee

     84   

§ 12.05.

  

Provisions governing notice of sale by Trustee

     85   

§ 12.06.

  

Provisions governing adjournment of sale

     85   

§ 12.07.

  

Provisions governing delivery of deeds and other instruments to purchaser

     85   

§ 12.08.

  

Provisions governing sale of Trust Estate as an entirety

     86   

§ 12.09.

  

Principal and accrued interest on Bonds shall become due in case of any sale

     86   

§ 12.10.

  

Application of proceeds of sale

     86   

 

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              P AGE  

§ 12.11.

  

Use of proceeds from Bonds in paying for property

     87   

§ 12.12.

  

Powers of Trustee in judicial proceedings

     87   

§ 12.13.

  

Provisions governing payments by the Company upon payment default, including interest at the Overdue Rate on overdue payments

     87   

§ 12.14.

  

Restrictions on the right of Bondholders to institute legal proceedings; Obligation of Company on Bonds absolute and unconditional

     88   

§ 12.15.

  

Remedies of Trustee and Bondholders shall be non-exclusive and cumulative

     89   

§ 12.16.

  

No waiver; Filing of proof of debt in any bankruptcy proceedings

     90   

§ 12.17.

  

Trustee shall have power to institute legal proceedings

     90   

§ 12.18.

  

Restoration of rights after certain proceedings

     91   

§ 12.19.

  

Direction of proceedings by Bondholder

     91   

§ 12.20.

  

Waiver of right to marshall

     91   

§ 12.21.

  

No recourse against stockholders, officers, directors, etc.

     91   

§ 12.22.

  

Bonds held by Company

     92   

§ 12.23.

  

Provisions governing assessment of litigation costs

     92   

A RTICLE  T HIRTEEN

  

E VIDENCE OF R IGHTS OF B ONDHOLDERS

     92   

§ 13.01.

  

Instruments executed by Bondholders

     92   

§ 13.02.

  

Proof of execution of instrument by Bondholders

     92   

§ 13.03.

  

Proof of amount of Bonds held by a Bondholder; Binding effect of Bondholder consent or vote

     92   

A RTICLE  F OURTEEN

  

M ERGER , C ONSOLIDATION , T RANSFER OR L EASE

     93   

§ 14.01.

  

Provisions governing merger, consolidation, conveyance, etc.

     93   

§ 14.02.

  

Provisions governing any successor person

     94   

 

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              P AGE  

A RTICLE  F IFTEEN

  

C ONCERNING THE T RUSTEE

     95   

§ 15.01.

  

Qualification of Trustee

     95   

§ 15.02.

  

Acceptance by the Trustee of the Trusts of the Indenture and of the duties and obligations thereunder and conditions thereof

     95   

§ 15.03.

  

Conflict in Interest of Trustee

     99   

§ 15.04.

  

Provisions governing deposit of certain moneys in Special Account

     99   

§ 15.05.

  

Report of Trustee

     102   

§ 15.06.

  

Further provisions governing the removal or resignation of the Trustee

     104   

§ 15.07.

  

Further provisions governing the disqualification of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee

     104   

§ 15.08.

  

Provisions governing the merger or consolidation of the Trustee

     105   

§ 15.09.

  

Provisions governing appointment of co-trustee

     106   

§ 15.10.

  

Notice to Trustee and Company

     106   

A RTICLE  S IXTEEN

  

D ISCHARGE OF M ORTGAGE

     107   

§ 16.01.

  

Provisions governing Discharge of the Indenture

     107   
  

A.

 

A Resolution of the Board

     107   
  

B.

 

Cash

     107   
  

C.

 

A Written Order of the Company

     107   
  

D.

 

Cash, sufficient to pay other sums payable

     107   
  

E.

 

A Certificate of the Company

     107   
  

F.

 

Opinion of Counsel

     107   

§ 16.02.

  

Return of unclaimed moneys deposited with Trustee

     108   

A RTICLE  S EVENTEEN

  

S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURES

     108   

§ 17.01.

  

Provisions governing the modification of Indenture by a Supplemental Indenture

     108   

§ 17.02.

  

Authority of Trustee to enter into Supplemental Indentures; Effect of Supplemental Indenture

     110   

§ 17.03.

  

Trustee may exercise discretion in determining whether or not to enter into Supplemental Indentures

     111   

 

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              P AGE  

A RTICLE  E IGHTEEN

  

M ISCELLANEOUS P ROVISIONS

     111   

§ 18.01.

  

Interested parties

     111   

§ 18.02.

  

Successors and assigns

     111   

§ 18.03.

  

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act of 1939

     111   

§ 18.04.

  

Approval of Department of Public Utilities, Board of Public Utility Commissioners of State of New Jersey

     111   

§ 18.05.

  

Counterparts

     112   

§ 18.06.

  

Governing law

     112   

§ 18.07.

  

Restatement of Indenture and Continuing Lien

     112   

 

E XHIBIT A    -      General Form of Bond
E XHIBIT  B    -      Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture
E XHIBIT  C    -      Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture
E XHIBIT  D    -      Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture
E XHIBIT  E    -      Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture
E XHIBIT  F    -      Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture
E XHIBIT  G    -      Certificate of the Company pursuant to § 4.01
E XHIBIT  H    -      Certificate of the Company pursuant to § 6.01
E XHIBIT  I    -      Form of Allonge

 

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A MENDED AND R ESTATED I NDENTURE OF M ORTGAGE , D EED OF T RUST AND S ECURITY A GREEMENT , dated as of September 1, 2014, between N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey (hereinafter called the “Company” ), having its principal office at 1415 Wyckoff Road, Wall, New Jersey, party of the first part, and U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , a national banking association, (hereinafter called the “Trustee” ), having its principal office at 21 South Street, Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, party of the second part.

This Indenture is also a Security Agreement and financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New Jersey and in compliance therewith the following information is set forth:

1. The names and addresses of the Debtor and Secured Party are:

 

Debtor:    N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY
   1415 Wyckoff Road,
   Wall, New Jersey
   07719
   Attention:    Treasurer
Secured Party:    U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION
   21 South Street, 3rd Floor
   Morristown, New Jersey
   07960
   Attention:    Corporate Trust Dept.

2. The property covered by this Security Agreement and financing statement is described in the Granting Clauses hereof.

3. Some or all of the fixtures, equipment and other property described herein are or may become fixtures.

W HEREAS , the Company is authorized by law, and deems it necessary from time to time, to borrow money for its proper corporate purposes, and to that end, in the exercise of said authority, has heretofore executed and delivered to Harris Trust and Savings Bank its Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated April 1, 1952 (hereinafter sometimes called the Original Indenture ) to secure the payment of the principal of and the interest and premium (if any) on all bonds at any time issued and outstanding thereunder, and to declare the terms and conditions upon which bonds are to be issued thereunder; and

W HEREAS , that on May 17, 2000 BNY Midwest Trust Company, as transferee of the corporate trust business of Harris Trust and Savings Bank, trustee under the Original Indenture, became successor trustee under the Original Indenture (collectively, the Original Trustees ); and


W HEREAS , the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the applicable Original Trustee its First Supplemental Indenture dated February 1, 1958, its Second Supplemental Indenture dated December 1, 1960, its Third Supplemental Indenture dated July 1, 1962, its Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated September 1, 1962, its Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated December 1, 1963, its Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated June 1, 1966, its Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated October 1, 1970, its Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated May 1, 1975, its Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated February 1, 1977, its Tenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1980, its Eleventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1983, its Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 1984, its Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1985, its Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 1986, its Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 1987, its Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 1987, its Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 1988, its Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 1989, its Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 1991, its Twentieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 1992, its Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 1993, its Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1993, its Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 15, 1994, its Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1994, its Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 15, 1995, its Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1995, its Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 1997, its Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 1, 1998, its Twenty-Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 1998, its Thirtieth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2003, its Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2005, its Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2008, its Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011, its Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 2013 and its Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2014, supplementing and amending the Original Indenture (the Original Indenture, as so supplemented and amended is hereinafter referred to as the Existing Indenture ); and

W HEREAS , the Company has entered into a Loan Agreement dated as of October 1, 2005 (the 2005 Loan Agreement ) with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (herein sometimes called the “EDA”), a public body corporate and politic of the State of New Jersey, pursuant to which (i) the proceeds of the issuance by the EDA of Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) in aggregate principal amount of its Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2005A (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the 2005A EDA Bonds ) loaned to the Company to provide for the refinancing of certain natural gas and functionally related and subordinate facilities (consisting of the refunding of $10,300,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1993A (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)), (ii) the proceeds of the issuance by the EDA of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,500,000) in aggregate principal amount of its Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2005B (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the 2005B EDA Bonds ) loaned to the Company to provide for the refinancing of certain natural gas and functionally related and subordinate facilities (consisting of the refunding of $10,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1994A (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)) and (iii) the proceeds of the issuance by the EDA of Fifteen

 

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Million Dollars ($15,000,000) in aggregate principal amount of its Natural Gas Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2005C (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2005C EDA Bonds” ) loaned from time to time to the Company to finance a portion of the cost of the construction of natural gas pipelines and auxiliary equipment throughout the franchise portion of Morris County, New Jersey, which 2005A EDA Bonds, 2005B EDA Bonds and 2005C EDA Bonds (herein collectively referred to as the “2005 Series EDA Bonds” ) were issued pursuant to the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture (as defined below); and

W HEREAS , Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-First Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-third series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series II due 2023,” herein sometimes called “2023 Series II Bonds,” of which Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof each issued and delivered (in conjunction with the assignment by the EDA of certain of its rights under the 2005 Loan Agreement) to The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2005 EDA Loan Trustee” ) pursuant to an Indenture of Trust dated as of October 1, 2005 (the “2005 EDA Bond Indenture” ) between the EDA and the 2005 EDA Loan Trustee for the benefit and security of the holders of the 2005A EDA Bonds; and

W HEREAS , Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,500,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-First Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-fourth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series JJ due 2024,” herein sometimes called “2024 Series JJ Bonds,” of which Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,500,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof each issued and delivered (in conjunction with the assignment by the EDA of certain of its rights under the 2005 Loan Agreement) to the 2005 EDA Loan Trustee pursuant to the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture for the benefit and security of the holders of the 2005B EDA Bonds; and

W HEREAS , Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-First Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-fifth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series KK due 2040,” herein sometimes called “2040 Series KK Bonds,” of which Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof each issued and delivered (in conjunction with the assignment by the EDA of certain of its rights under the 2005 Loan Agreement) to the 2005 EDA Loan Trustee pursuant to the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture for the benefit and security of the holders of the 2005C EDA Bonds; and

W HEREAS , the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2008 (the “2008 Note Purchase Agreement” ) with the Purchasers identified in Schedule A attached thereto, pursuant to which the Company issued its senior notes designated “5.60% Senior Notes due May 15, 2018” in the aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 (the “Senior Notes due May 15, 2018” ); and

 

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W HEREAS , Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-sixth series designated “First Mortgage Bonds, Series LL due 2018,” herein sometimes called “2018 Series LL Bonds,” of which One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof and which were delivered and pledged to The Bank of New York, as collateral agent pursuant to the 2008 Note Purchase Agreement for the benefit and security of the holders of the Senior Notes due May 15, 2018; and

W HEREAS , the Company entered into a Loan Agreement dated as of August 1, 2011 (the “2011 Loan Agreement” ) with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (herein sometimes called the “EDA” ), a public body corporate and politic of the State of New Jersey, pursuant to which (i) the proceeds of the issuance by the EDA of Nine Million Five Hundred Forty Five Thousand Dollars ($9,545,000) in aggregate principal amount of its Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011A (Non-AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2011A EDA Bonds” ) were loaned to the Company to provide for the refinancing of certain natural gas and functionally related and subordinate facilities (consisting of the refunding of $9,545,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1998A (New Jersey Natural Gas Project)); (ii) the proceeds of the issuance by the EDA of Forty-One Million Dollars ($41,000,000) in aggregate principal amount of its Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011B (AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2011B EDA Bonds” ) were loaned to the Company to provide for the refinancing of certain natural gas and functionally related and subordinate facilities (consisting of the refunding of (a) $25,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1995A (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) and (b) $16,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 1995B (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)); and (iii) the proceeds of the issuance by the EDA of Forty-Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($46,500,000) in aggregate principal amount of its Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011C (AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2011C EDA Bonds” and together with the 2011A EDA Bonds and the 2011B EDA Bonds, the “2011 Series EDA Bonds” ) were loaned to the Company to provide for the refinancing of certain natural gas and functionally related and subordinate facilities (consisting of the refunding of (a) $13,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1997A (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project); (b) $15,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 1998B (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project); and (c) $18,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 1998C (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)) were issued pursuant to the EDA Bond Indenture (as defined below); and

W HEREAS , Bonds were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a thirty-seventh series of Bonds, known as “First Mortgage Bonds, Series MM due 2027,” herein sometimes called 2027 Series MM Bonds ; a thirty-eighth series

 

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of Bonds, known as “First Mortgage Bonds, Series NN due 2035,” herein sometimes called “2035 Series NN Bonds,” and a thirty-ninth series of Bonds, known as “First Mortgage Bonds, Series OO due 2041,” herein sometimes called “2041 Series OO Bonds,” each issued and delivered (in conjunction with the assignment by the EDA of certain of its rights under the Loan Agreement) to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2011 EDA Loan Trustee” ) pursuant to an Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011 (the “2011 EDA Bond Indenture” ) between the EDA and the 2011 EDA Loan Trustee for the benefit and security of the holders of the 2011 Series EDA Bonds; and

W HEREAS , the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 8, 2013 (the “2013 Note Purchase Agreement” ) with the Purchasers identified in Schedule A attached thereto, pursuant to which the Company issued its senior notes designated “3.15% Senior Notes due April 15, 2028” in the aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 (the “Senior Notes due April 15, 2028” ); and

W HEREAS , Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a fortieth series designated as “First Mortgage Bonds, Series PP due 2028,” herein sometimes called “2028 Series PP Bonds,” of which Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) in principal amount are outstanding at the date hereof and which were delivered and pledged to U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent” ) pursuant to the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement for the benefit and security of the holders of the Senior Notes due April 15, 2028; and

W HEREAS , the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 7, 2014 (the “2014 Note Purchase Agreement” ) with the Purchasers identified in Schedule A attached thereto, pursuant to which the Company issued its senior notes designated (i) “3.58% Series A Senior Notes due March 13, 2024” in the aggregate principal amount of $70,000,000 (the “Senior Notes due March 13, 2024” ) and (ii) “4.61% Series B Senior Notes due March 13, 2044” in the aggregate principal amount of $55,000,000 (the “Senior Notes due March 13, 2044” ); and

W HEREAS , Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000) and Fifty-Five Million Dollars ($55,000,000), respectively, were issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture, as supplemented and amended by the First through the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indentures, inclusive, as a forty-first and forty-second, respectively, series designated as (i) “First Mortgage Bonds, Series QQ due 2024,” herein sometimes called “2024 Series QQ Bonds,” and (ii) “First Mortgage Bonds, Series RR due 2044,” herein sometimes called “2044 Series RR Bonds,” respectively , of which Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000) and Fifty-Five Million Dollars ($55,000,000), respectively, are outstanding as of the date hereof and which were delivered and pledged to U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent” ) pursuant to the 2014 Note Purchase Agreement for the benefit and security of the holders of the Senior Notes due March 13, 2024 and the Senior Notes due March 13, 2044, respectively; and

 

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W HEREAS , by virtue of an Omnibus Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014 by and among the Company, the Original Trustee, U.S. Bank National Association, and the holders of more than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Bonds, on September 24, 2014 U.S. Bank National Association became successor to the Original Trustees under the Existing Indenture; and

W HEREAS , the Existing Indenture provides that, subject to certain exceptions not presently relevant, such changes in or additions to the provisions of the Existing Indenture may be made to the covenants and agreements of the Company in the Existing Indenture thereafter to be observed by the Company; and to provide for the creation of any series of Bonds, designating the series to be created and specifying the form and provisions of the Bonds of such series as in the Existing Indenture provided or permitted; and

W HEREAS , the Company is authorized by law, and deems it necessary from time to time, to borrow money for its proper corporate purposes, and to that end, in the exercise of said authority, has duly authorized and directed the creation of an issue of its bonds of substantially the form and terms hereinafter in this Indenture provided or permitted; and, in order to secure the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on said bonds (hereinafter called the “Bonds” ), to provide for the authentication and delivery thereof by the Trustee and to establish and declare the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds are to be issued and secured, the Company has duly authorized and directed the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

W HEREAS , the execution of this Indenture has been duly authorized and all other things necessary to constitute this Indenture as a valid mortgage and deed of trust to secure the payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on all Bonds, including without limitation, the Bonds outstanding on the date hereof, to be issued hereunder have been done and performed and the creation, execution and delivery of this Indenture and the creation, execution and issue of the Bonds, including without limitation, the Bonds outstanding as of the date hereof, have in all respects been duly authorized; and

W HEREAS , the Company wishes to amend and restate the terms of the Existing Indenture and the holders of the Bonds outstanding as of the date hereof have previously agreed to such amendment and restatement of the Existing Indenture; and

W HEREAS , the texts of the Bonds and the certificate of authentication of the Trustee to be executed thereon are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, respectively, with such appropriate omissions, insertions and variations as are in this Indenture provided or permitted:

A ND W HEREAS , the Company represents (a) that all acts and proceedings required by law and by the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, including all action requisite on the part of its stockholders, directors and officers, necessary to make the Bonds, when executed by the Company, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and duly issued, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to constitute this Indenture a valid and binding mortgage for the security of the Bonds, in accordance with its and their terms, have been done and taken; and (b) that the execution and delivery of this Indenture have been in all respects duly authorized;

 

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[G RANTING C LAUSES ]

N OW , T HEREFORE , THIS I NDENTURE W ITNESSETH :

That N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , by way of further assurance and in consideration of the premises and of the acceptance by and as the Trustee of the trusts hereby created 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 principal of and any premium which may be due and payable on and the interest on all Bonds at any time issued and outstanding under the Indenture 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, warranted, aliened, remised, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over and confirmed, and by these presents does grant, bargain, sell, warrant, alien, remise, release, convey, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, set over and confirm, unto the party of the second part, and to its successors in the trust, and to it and its assigns forever, and has granted and does hereby grant thereunto a security interest in, all of the property, real, personal and mixed, now owned by the Company and situated in the Counties of Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Sussex in the State of New Jersey, or wherever situate (except Excepted Property (as hereinafter defined) and property released from the lien of the Indenture by the terms of the Indenture) and also all of the property, real, personal and mixed, hereafter acquired by the Company wherever situate (except Excepted Property (as hereinafter defined) and property released from the lien of the Indenture by the terms of the Indenture), including both as to property now owned and property hereafter acquired, without in any way limiting or impairing the enumeration of the same, the scope and intent of the foregoing or of any general or specific description contained in the Indenture, the following, which collectively is hereinafter called the “Trust Estate” :

I. F RANCHISES

All and singular, the franchises, grants, permits, immunities, privileges and rights of the Company owned and held by it at the date of the execution hereof or hereafter acquired for the construction, maintenance, and operation of the gas plants and systems now or hereafter subject to the lien hereof, as well as all certificates, franchises, grants, permits, immunities, privileges, and rights of the Company used or useful in the operation of the property now or hereafter mortgaged hereunder, including all and singular the franchises, grants, permits, immunities, privileges, and rights of the Company granted by the governing authorities of any municipalities or other political subdivisions and all renewals, extensions and modifications of said certificates, franchises, grants, permits, privileges, and rights or any of them.

II. G AS D ISTRIBUTION S YSTEMS AND R ELATED P ROPERTY

All gas generating plants, gas storage plants and gas manufacturing plants of the Company, all the buildings, erections, structures, generating and purifying apparatus, holders, engines, boilers, benches, retorts, tanks, instruments, appliances, apparatus, facilities, machinery, fixtures, and all other property used or provided for use in the generation, manufacturing and purifying of gas, together with the land on which the same are situated, and all other lands and easements, rights-of-way, permits, privileges, and sites forming a part of such plants or any of them or occupied, enjoyed or used in connection therewith.

 

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All gas distribution or gas transmission systems of the Company, all buildings, erections, structures, generating and purifying apparatus, holders, engines, boilers, benches, retorts, tanks, pipe lines, connections, service pipes, meters, conduits, tools, instruments, appliances, apparatus, facilities, machinery, fixtures, and all other property used or provided for use in the construction, maintenance, repair or operations of such distribution or transmission systems, together with all the certificates, rights, privileges, rights-of-way, franchises, licenses, easements, grants, liberties, immunities, permits of the Company, howsoever conferred or acquired, under, over, or upon any private property or any public streets or highways within as well as without the corporate limits of any municipal corporation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, there are expressly included the gas distribution or gas transmission systems located in the Counties of Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Sussex in the State of New Jersey, and in the following municipalities in said State and Counties: Aberdeen Township (formerly Matawan Township), Allenhurst Borough, City of Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands Borough, Avon By the Sea Borough, Barnegat Light Borough, Barnegat Township (formerly named Union Township), Bay Head Borough, Beach Haven Borough, Beachwood Borough, Belmar Borough, Berkeley Township, Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Bradley Beach Borough, Brick Township, Brielle Borough, Colts Neck Township, Deal Borough, Denville Township, Dover Town, Dover Township, Eagleswood Township, East Brunswick Township, Eatontown Borough, Englishtown Borough, Fair Haven Borough, Farmingdale Borough, Franklin Township in Somerset County, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Hanover Township, Harvey Cedars Borough, Hazlet Township, Highlands Borough, Holmdel Township, Hopatcong Borough, Howell Township, Interlaken Borough, Island Heights Borough, Jackson Township, Jefferson Township, Keansburg Borough, Keyport Borough, Lacey Township, Lakehurst Borough, Lakewood Township, Lavallette Borough, Lincoln Park Borough, Little Egg Harbor Township, Little Silver Borough, Loch Arbour Village, Long Beach Township, Long Branch City, Manalapan Township, Manasquan Borough, Manchester Township, Mantoloking Borough, Marlboro Township, Matawan Borough, Middletown Township, Milltown Borough, Mine Hill Township, Monmouth Beach Borough, Monroe Township, Montville Township, Morris Plains Borough, Mount Arlington Borough, Mount Olive Township, Mountain Lakes Borough, Neptune City Borough, Neptune Township, Netcong Borough, New Brunswick City, North Brunswick Township, Ocean Township in Monmouth County, Ocean Township in Ocean County, Ocean Gate Borough, Oceanport Borough, Old Bridge Township (formerly named Madison Township), Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, Pine Beach Borough, Point Pleasant Borough, Point Pleasant Beach Borough, Randolph Township, Red Bank Borough, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, Roxbury Township, Rumson Borough, Sayreville Borough, Sea Bright Borough, Sea Girt Borough, Seaside Heights Borough, Seaside Park Borough, Ship Bottom Borough, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, South Belmar Borough, South Brunswick Township, South River Borough, South Toms River Borough, Spring Lake Borough, Spring Lake Heights Borough, Stafford Township, Surf City Borough, Tinton Falls Borough (formerly named New Shrewsbury Borough), Tuckerton Borough, Union Beach Borough, Union Township, Victory Gardens Borough, Wall Township, Washington Township in Burlington County, Washington Township in Morris County, West Long Branch Borough, West Milford Township and Wharton Borough.

 

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III. C ONTRACTS

All of the Company’s right, title and interest in and under all contracts, licenses or leases for the purchase of gas, either in effect at the date of execution hereof or hereafter made and any extension or renewal thereof.

IV. A DDITIONAL P ROPERTY

Also any and all property, real, personal or mixed, including Excepted Property, that may, from time to time hereafter, by delivery or by writing of any kind for the purposes hereof be in any way subjected to the lien hereof or be expressly conveyed, mortgaged, assigned, transferred, deposited or pledged by the Company or by anyone in its behalf or with its consent, to and with the Trustee, which is hereby authorized to receive the same at any and all times as and for additional security.

V. E XCEPTED P ROPERTY

There is, however, expressly excepted and excluded from the lien and operation of this Indenture the property of the Company hereinafter in this Clause V described, herein sometimes referred to as Excepted Property :

A. All cash on hand and in bank; all contracts (other than contracts for the purchase of gas) and other choses-in-action; all shares of stock, bonds, notes, evidences of indebtedness and other securities; all bills, notes and accounts receivable; and all conditional sales contracts or agreements; other than any of the foregoing which are by the express provisions of this Indenture subjected or required to be subjected to the lien hereof,

B. Rents, issues, income or profits of property constituting part of the Trust Estate except, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in case the Trustee or a receiver or trustee appointed by a court shall enter into or upon such property following the happening of an Event of Default or shall otherwise become entitled under applicable law to such rents, issues, income or profits,

C. Gas and by-products thereof, materials, supplies, merchandise, goods and appliances held for the purpose of sale in the ordinary course of business; and all fuel, materials, supplies and similar personal property which is consumable in its use in the operation of the plants or systems of the Company,

D. Automobiles, buses, trucks and similar vehicles, and

E. Gas meters and related equipment.

provided , however , that if an Event of Default shall happen and be continuing and if thereafter the Trustee or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of the Trust Estate, such

 

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Trustee or receiver or trustee may, to the extent not prohibited by law, take possession of any and all of the Excepted Property then on hand and use and administer and consume the same to continue the operations of the Trust Estate in all respects as if such Excepted Property were part of the Trust Estate, accounting therefor, if required by law, to such persons, if any, as may be lawfully entitled to such an accounting.

The Company may, however, pursuant to the provisions of Clause IV of the Granting Clauses hereof, subject to the lien and operation of this Indenture all or any part of the Excepted Property.

VI. H ABENDUM C LAUSE AND T RUST D ECLARATIONS

T OGETHER WITH ALL AND SINGULAR the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the Trust Estate, or any part thereof, with the reversion or reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, income and profits thereof, and all the right, title, interest and claim whatsoever, at law or in equity, which the Company now has or which it may hereafter acquire in and to the Trust Estate and every part and parcel thereof.

T O HAVE AND TO HOLD the Trust Estate and all and singular the lands, properties, estates, rights, franchises, privileges and appurtenances hereby mortgaged, conveyed, pledged or assigned, or intended so to be, together with all the appurtenances thereto appertaining, unto the Trustee and its successors and assigns forever;

S UBJECT , HOWEVER , as to property hereby conveyed, to Permitted Encumbrances;

B UT IN TRUST , NEVERTHELESS , under and subject to the terms and conditions hereafter set forth, for the equal and proportionate use, benefit, security and protection of each and every person who may be or become the holders of the Bonds hereby secured without preference, priority or distinction as to the lien or otherwise of one Bond over or from the others by reason of priority in the issue or negotiation thereof, or by reason of the date of maturity thereof, or otherwise (except as any sinking, amortization, improvement, renewal or other analogous fund, established in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, may afford additional security for the Bonds of any particular series), and for securing the observance and performance of all the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture.

T HIS I NDENTURE F URTHER W ITNESSETH , that the Company has agreed and covenanted, and hereby does agree and covenant with the Trustee and its successors and assigns and with the respective holders from time to time of the bonds, or any thereof, as follows:

A RTICLE O NE .

Certain Definitions and Constructions.

§1.01. [General . ] For all purposes of this Indenture (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) the terms defined in this Article One shall have the respective meanings specified in §1.02 and in §1.03.

 

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All references herein to “Articles” and other subdivisions are to the corresponding Articles or other subdivisions of this Indenture; references by the symbol “§” are to corresponding Sections of this Indenture; the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” “hereinbefore” and “hereinafter” and other words of similar purport refer to this Indenture and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision hereof; words importing any gender include the other gender; the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular; and the words “including,” “include,” and “includes” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” References to any Section by number and one or more other letters or numbers shall be construed as referring to that clause, paragraph or subdivision of said Section so lettered or numbered and not to said Section as a whole.

Upon qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, whenever a term not otherwise defined in this Indenture is defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, such term shall have the meaning set forth in said Act as in effect at the date of this Indenture.

§ 1.02. [Definitions and Constructions.] In these presents, for all purposes of the Indenture, and in all certificates delivered pursuant to the Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise expressly provided:

(a) Accountant shall mean any individual who is a certified or public accountant or any firm or co-partnership, of certified public accountants.

(b) “Additions Credits” shall mean “Property Additions” as defined and determined under the Existing Indenture as of June 30, 2014 which have not been included in a previous certificate filed with the Trustee or the trustee under the Existing Indenture pursuant to § 4.01, § 5.03 or § 8.03 of this Indenture or the Existing Indenture or otherwise been used for any purpose of this Indenture or the Existing Indenture.

(c) “affiliate” when used with reference to the Company or any other person who is liable on the Bonds shall mean an individual, firm, corporation or other legal entity which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or such other person. The term “control shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a firm, corporation or other legal entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(d) “Appraiser” shall mean any corporation engaged in the business of appraising property or any qualified individual or co-partnership.

(e) “Authorized Newspaper” when used with reference to a particular municipality or county shall mean a newspaper printed in the English language and regularly published and of general circulation in such municipality or county at least once on each day, other than holidays and Sundays, in each calendar week. When no particular municipality or county is mentioned, such newspaper shall be one published in the County of Monmouth or Essex, New Jersey.

 

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(f) “Bond” shall mean one of the bonds issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Bonds.

(g) “Bond,” “Bondholder,” and “holder” shall include the plural as well as the singular number and vice versa unless otherwise expressly indicated, and “Bondholder” and “holder” shall include the registered owner of a Bond.

(h) “Bond Register” is defined in § 2.10.

(i) “Bond Retirements Certificate is defined in § 6.01B.

(j) “Certificate of the Company shall mean a written certificate signed by the President, a Vice President or the Treasurer and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.

(k) “Company shall mean and include New Jersey Natural Gas Company, the party of the first part hereto, and also any successor corporation which shall become such in the manner prescribed in Article Fourteen.

(l) corporation shall also include voluntary associations, joint stock companies and other similar organizations.

(m) “Cost” of Property Additions shall be determined in compliance with § 1.03(b).

(n) “cost basis” when used with reference to Retirements, shall mean the cost thereof.

(o) CPI or CPI Index means the Consumer Price Index for the New York, New York, Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, All-Items for all Urban Consumers, 1982-1984 Base, published by the United States Department of Labor, or, if such index is no longer published or its method of computation is substantially modified, a substitute index published by the United States Government or by a reputable publisher of financial or economic statistics that will fairly and reasonably reflect the same or substantially the same information as the discontinued or modified index selected by the Company.

(p) “Depositary” shall mean, with respect to Bonds of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Bonds, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Bonds as contemplated by § 2.04.

(q) “Deposited Cash” is defined in § 5.03.

(r) “EDA” shall mean the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, a public body corporate and politic of the State of New Jersey.

(s) “Engineer” shall mean an individual or a co-partnership or a corporation engaged in the engineering profession, who, unless specifically required to be an Independent Engineer (as hereinafter in Paragraph (jj) defined), may be regularly employed in the service of the Company or of an Affiliate.

 

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(t) Events of Default is defined in § 12.01.

(u) Excepted Property is defined in the Granting Clauses.

(v) “Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as heretofore amended, and as may be amended from time to time.

(w) Existing Bonds are those Bonds outstanding at the execution of this Indenture and are described in Article Three.

(x) “Existing Indenture is defined in the Recitals.

(y) Fair Value of Property Additions shall mean the fair value thereof to the Company as certified in the relevant Certificates delivered hereunder with respect thereto.

(z) Funded Cash shall mean:

(1) Cash (held by the Trustee hereunder or by the trustee or other holder of any mortgage or other lien constituting a prior lien) to the extent that it represents the proceeds of the release of Funded Property or the proceeds of insurance of or the taking by eminent domain or other disposition of Funded Property, or the proceeds of Funded Property purchased by any governmental body or agency upon exercise of any right which it may have to purchase the same or the proceeds of the payment of purchase money obligations held by the Trustee or distributions upon stock or other securities which are to be retained by the Trustee pursuant to § 7.01.

(2) Any cash deposited with the Trustee under § 5.01.

(3) Any cash deposited with the Trustee under § 11.02 and any cash deposited with the Trustee to meet the requirements of any sinking fund, amortization, improvement, renewal or other analogous fund, if any, which may hereafter be created.

(4) Any cash deposited with the Trustee under the Granting Clauses of this Indenture of any indenture supplemental hereto.

(z) Funded Property shall mean

(1) All property other than Excepted Property owned by the Company on June 30, 2014.

 

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(2) All Property Additions which shall have been included in a Property Additions Certificate of the Company in respect of the authentication and delivery of additional Bonds under this Indenture.

(3) All Property Additions which shall have been included in a Property Additions Certificate of the Company in respect of the withdrawal of any Funded Cash held by the Trustee hereunder.

(4) All Property Additions which have been included in a Renewal and Replacement Certificate (as defined in the Existing Indenture) delivered to the Trustee to meet the requirements of §11.01 of the Existing Indenture.

(5) All Property Additions which have been included in any Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee to compute the amount of Property Additions being used to meet the requirements of any sinking fund, amortization, improvement, renewal or other analogous fund, if any, which may hereafter be created permitting the satisfaction thereof by the use of Property Additions.

(6) All Property Additions to the extent that the same shall have been substituted for Funded Property in the exercise by the Company of any right which it may have to apply the proceeds of insurance (or of property sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the provisions of § 7.01) to the acquisition of such substituted property without depositing such proceeds with the Trustee.

(7) All property constituting repairs of Funded Property.

(8) All property constituting renewals or replacements of Funded Property to the extent that the cost thereof under sound accounting practice should properly be reflected as a current operating expense.

(9) All Property Additions which shall have been included in a Property Additions Certificate of the Company delivered pursuant to § 8.02B or § 8.03B.

If any Funded Property owned by the Company shall be released from the lien hereof as herein provided, the property so released shall cease to be Funded Property, but may at any time thereafter again become Funded Property through the operation of any of the foregoing clauses (2) through (9).

(aa) Gas Business is defined within the definition of Property Additions .

(bb) Gas Properties is defined within the definition of Property Additions .

(cc) Global Bond shall mean a Bond that evidences all or part of the Bonds of any series and bears the legend set forth in § 2.13 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by § 2.04 for such Bonds).

 

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(dd) Government Obligations means securities which are direct obligations of the United States of America (including trust receipts evidencing an interest therein) and securities for which the United States of America has fully guaranteed the payment of principal and interest.

(ee) Gross Amount of Property Additions is defined in the definition of Net Amount of Property Additions .

(ff) “Hedging Transaction” means an agreement, expressly identified in a certificate of a Vice President or Treasurer of the Company as being entered into in order to hedge the interest payable on all or a portion of any Bonds, which agreement may include, without limitation, an interest rate swap, a forward or futures contract or an option ( e.g . , a call, put, cap, floor or collar) and which agreement does not constitute an obligation to repay money borrowed, credit extended or the equivalent thereof.

(gg) indebtedness of a person shall mean and include all indebtedness of that person (i) for money borrowed by any person, including any guaranty by such person of any indebtedness, liability or other obligation of any other person (except those guaranties incurred in the ordinary course of business and further excepting customer deposits), (ii) representing obligations incurred by such person in connection with the acquisition of assets, and (iii) representing a mortgage or other lien on or pledge of any property of such person (to the extent of the value of such property) securing any indebtedness, liability or other obligation of any other person, whether or not the indebtedness, liability, or other obligation shall have been assumed. The term guaranty ,” as used above, by any particular person shall mean all obligations of such person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other person (the primary obligor ) in any manner whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such particular person (i) to purchase such indebtedness or obligation or any property or assets constituting security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (x) for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation or (y) to maintain working capital or equity capital or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure the owner of the indebtedness or obligation of the primary obligor against loss in respect thereof.

(hh) “Indenture” shall mean this amended and restated indenture of mortgage, deed of trust and security agreement, either as originally executed or as the same may from time to time be supplemented, modified or amended by any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to the provisions hereof.

(ii) Independent when applied to any Engineer or other person signing any other certificate or report, shall mean such a person who (i) is in fact independent, (ii) does not have any substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or in any affiliate of the Company and (iii) is not connected with the Company or any affiliate of the Company, as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar functions.

 

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(jj) Interest Charges on Indebtedness of the Company for any period shall be determined by adding the interest charges during such period on each of the following:

(1) All Bonds outstanding under the Indenture at the date of such determination. (In the case of any Bonds pledged as security for any indebtedness of the Company, the amount of the interest charges during such period on such pledged Bonds shall be deemed to be the greater of (i) the amount of the interest charges during such period on such indebtedness or (ii) the amount of the interest charges during such period on such pledged Bonds).

(2) All Bonds the authentication and delivery of which is being or has been applied for at the date of such determination.

(3) All indebtedness secured by a lien upon the Trust Estate, or any part thereof, prior to the lien of this Indenture, except Permitted Encumbrances which are not Purchase Money Liens.

In the event any Bonds bear, are being issued which bear, or are to bear, interest at a variable rate during such period, annual Interest Charges on Indebtedness on such variable rate Bonds for any such period shall be computed by assuming that the rate of interest applicable to such period is the highest of (A) the actual rate at the date of calculation, or if the Bonds are not yet outstanding, the initial rate, (B) if the Bonds have been outstanding for at least 12 months, the average rate over the 12 months immediately preceding the date of calculation, and (C)(1) if the obligations which are secured by such Bonds are issued as obligations the interest on which is excludable from gross income under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the rate of interest shown in the most recently published interest rate in The Bond Buyer as the 30 Year Index of 25 Revenue Bonds or a comparable index selected by a Vice President or the Treasurer or (2) if interest on the obligations which are secured by such Bonds is not intended to be so excludable or if such Bonds do not secure a separate obligation of the Company, the interest rate on Government Obligations with comparable maturities, but in each case not in excess of the lesser of (a) the maximum rate authorized by law and (b) the maximum rate permitted in the supplement to the Indenture authorizing the issuance of the related Bonds.

In the event the Company has entered into a Hedging Transaction in connection with any Bonds for such period, the computation of the annual Interest Charges on Indebtedness for such Bonds for such period may, at the option of a Vice President or the Treasurer, include payments made and received by the Company or to be made and received by the Company under the related Hedging Transaction, provided that at the time such option is initially exercised the Company delivers a certificate to the effect that (1) the institution other than the Company that is party to such Hedging Transaction (the Counterparty ) is obligated under such Hedging Transaction to make payments thereunder for the period for which the computation of the annual Interest Charges on Indebtedness on such Bonds is being determined, and (2) as of the date the Company and the Counterparty entered into such Hedging Transaction, the long-term debt

 

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obligations of the Counterparty or of any guarantor of the Counterparty’s obligations under such Hedging Transaction were rated “A” or better by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group.

(kk) Mandatory Sinking Funds is defined in § 11.02.

(ll) Mandatory Sinking Funds Payment Date is defined in § 11.02.

(mm) Net Amount of Property Additions when used with reference to Property Additions included in any particular Property Additions Certificate of the Company, shall mean the amount obtained by deducting from the Cost or Fair Value (whichever is less) of all such Property Additions (herein called the Gross Amount of Property Additions ) an amount equal to the cost basis of all Retirements not theretofore reflected in a Certificate filed with the Trustee pursuant to § 4.01, § 5.03 or § 8.03, after deducting from such Retirements, Retirements Credits, if any, to the extent that the same have not previously been used as a Retirements Credit (whether under this Indenture or the Existing Indenture).

(nn) Net Earnings of the Company for any period shall be determined by deducting from the amount of its gross revenues for such period, all operating expenses and other proper deductions from income for such period, including (without in any respect limiting the generality of the foregoing) interest on all outstanding indebtedness, amortization of debt discount and expense, amortization of all other deferred items properly subject to amortization, provisions for all taxes, including income taxes, provisions for all contingency reserves, whether general or special, provisions for depletion, if any, and provisions for depreciation and obsolescence in amounts not less than those actually deducted on the books of the Company, provided , however , that

(a) Profits realized or losses sustained from the sale or other disposition of capital assets shall be excluded.

(b) Net Earnings shall reflect as a deduction from earnings amortization of the cost of conversion of customers appliances to the use of natural gas.

(c) The net amount of income from the sale or installation, in connection with the Gas Business of the Company, of gas consuming appliances and accessory equipment may be included.

(oo) Net Earnings Available for Interest of the Company for any period shall be determined by adding to the Net Earnings of the Company for such period (but only to the extent that the same were deducted in computing such Net Earnings) (i) all interest charges for such period, (ii) all amortization of debt discount and expense for such period, and (iii) all income taxes, excess profits taxes or other like taxes imposed on, or measured by, income determined after deduction of interest charged for such period, and by deducting from such Net Earnings of the Company for such period the amount, if any, by which net non-operating revenues of the Company for such period exceeds ten per cent (10%) of the gross operating revenues of the Company for such period.

 

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If at the time of any such computation any property of the Company is subject to any lien or other encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) prior to the lien hereof, securing indebtedness in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), the net earnings (but not a net loss) of such property, estimated if necessary, shall be excluded in making the foregoing computation of Net Earnings Available for Interest.

In case the Company shall have acquired any property which is subject to the lien of this Indenture within or after the period for which Net Earnings Available for Interest is calculated, the Company, in computing the same, shall be entitled to include the net earnings of such property for the whole of such period, to the extent that the same may not have been otherwise included and might have been included if such property had 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 Retirements having an aggregate cost basis in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), the earnings of which can be separately determined under the bookkeeping practice of the Company, shall have occurred within or after the period for which the calculation of net earnings is made and before the authentication and delivery of the Bonds in respect to which the Net Earnings Available for Interest have been computed, the Net Earnings Available for Interest for such period shall exclude the net earnings, estimated if necessary, of such Retirements.

(pp) Opinion of Counsel shall mean a written opinion of counsel engaged in the independent practice of the law, selected by the Company, who may be counsel for the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

(qq) Original Indenture is defined in the Recitals.

(rr) outstanding when used as of any particular time with reference to Bonds, shall mean all the Bonds which theretofore shall have been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except

(1) Bonds theretofore cancelled or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(2) Bonds for the payment or redemption of which money in the necessary amount shall have been deposited with the Trustee, whether upon or prior to the maturity or the redemption date of such Bonds, provided that if such Bonds are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given, as provided herein, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made therefor; and

(3) Bonds in lieu of and in substitution for which other Bonds shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of § 2.12.

 

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Any reference to the holders of a majority or a particular percentage of the Bonds, or to the holders of a majority or a particular percentage of the Bonds of a particular series, shall mean the holders at the time in question of a majority or the specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of all the Bonds then outstanding under this Indenture, or of all the Bonds of such particular series then outstanding under this Indenture, as the case may be, excluding Bonds owned by or for the account or benefit of the Company or any other person who is liable on the Bonds, or an affiliate of the Company or of any such person; provided that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any direction, consent or waiver by the holders of Bonds, only Bonds which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be excluded.

(ss) Overdue Rate as of any date shall mean that rate of interest stated in the applicable Bond, or the supplement creating such Bond, as its Overdue Rate, or if no such rate is so stated, six per cent (6%) per annum.

(tt) Permitted Encumbrances shall mean as of any particular time any of the following:

(1) Liens for taxes, assessments, or governmental charges for the then current year or which are not yet due or delinquent.

(2) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges already due, but the validity of which is being contested at the time in good faith as provided in § 9.04.

(3) Liens and charges incidental to current operation or construction effected during the six months next preceding such time, which have not been filed or asserted.

(4) Liens, securing obligations neither assumed by the Company nor on account of which it customarily pays interest, existing, either at the date of execution hereof, or, as to property thereafter acquired, at the time of acquisition by the Company, upon real estate or rights in or relating to real estate acquired by the Company for transmission line, distribution line, or right of way purposes and liens, securing like obligations, upon, and defects or irregularities of titles affecting, real estate purporting to be owned by customers, to the extent that the same constitute liens upon, or defects or irregularities of title affecting property and equipment of the Company installed on such real estate.

(5) Zoning laws and ordinances, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and similar encumbrances and minor defects or irregularities of title which do not impair the use of the property in the operation of the business.

In determining, for the purpose of any opinion to be delivered hereunder, whether any such defect, irregularity, law or ordinance, or easement, restriction or similar encumbrance impairs the use of the property subject thereto in the operation of the business of the Company, counsel giving such opinion may, subject to the requirements of any statement therein made pursuant to § 1.04, rely on a Certificate of Engineer.

 

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(6) The lien of this Indenture.

(7) Liens junior to this Indenture.

(8) Mortgages or other liens on property hereafter acquired by the Company which may exist at the date of the acquisition of such property by the Company and purchase money mortgages created by the Company at the time of acquisition of such property; provided that except for any such mortgages or liens securing, in the aggregate, not in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), in no event shall the amount secured by any mortgage or lien permitted by this Clause (8) (herein called Purchase Money Liens ) be in excess of sixty-six and two-thirds per cent (66-2/3%) of the cost or fair value at the time of acquisition, whichever is less, of the property subject thereto, and provided further that the amount secured by all such mortgages or other liens shall not exceed in aggregate amount at any one time outstanding fifteen per cent (15%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding.

(uu) person shall mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or political subdivision thereof.

(vv) premium shall include, without limitation, any “make-whole amount”.

(ww) Principal Office of the Trustee shall mean the office of the Trustee located at 21 South Street, Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, or such other office as shall be designated by the Trustee in a notice to the Company and the Bondholders.

(xx) Property Additions shall mean and comprise (i) all Additions Credits and (ii) only tangible property, including tangible betterments, improvements and additions of, upon and to the property of the Company, and equipment and appliances installed as a part of the operating property of the Company, located in the State of New Jersey, used by or useful to the Company in the business (herein called the Gas Business ) of generating, manufacturing, purchasing, transmitting, distributing, selling and/or supplying gas and any by-products thereof as a public utility (such properties being herein sometimes referred to as Gas Properties ) acquired by the Company subsequent to June 30, 2014, by purchase, consolidation, merger, construction or in any other way, and the term “Property Additions” shall include but not be limited to the following:

(1) Permanent improvements, betterments and additions of the character above described in process of construction or partially completed construction work, insofar as actually constructed or erected subsequent to such date.

(2) Property of the character above described constructed or acquired to replace an item of property whose retirement has been credited to plant account.

(3) Paving, grading and other improvements to public highways, streets and alleys and other public lands required for or in connection with the installation or repair of overhead, surface or underground facilities of the Company and paid for by the Company (notwithstanding the fact that the title thereto may not be in the Company).

 

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Among other properties not constituting Property Additions under the foregoing provisions, the term “Property Additions” shall not be deemed to include

(a) Any property acquired or constructed by the Company on or prior to April 1, 1952.

(b) Any item of property constructed or acquired to replace a similar item of property whose retirement has not been credited to plant account; or any property acquired or constructed by the Company, the cost of which may not properly be capitalized in accordance with the practice lawfully prescribed by the Department of Public Utilities, Board of Public Utility Commissioners of the State of New Jersey or other regulatory authority of the State of New Jersey having jurisdiction over the Company in the premises, or other lawfully prescribed practice and, in the absence of any practice so prescribed, in accordance with sound accounting practice.

(c) Any Excepted Property.

(d) Any property subject to a lien or encumbrance other than a Permitted Encumbrance.

(e) Going concern value or good will or franchises or governmental permits granted to or acquired by the Company, separate and distinct from the property pledged thereunder.

(f) Any property released from the lien of this Indenture pursuant to §7.02B or C unless such property shall have again been made subject to the lien of this Indenture.

(yy) “Property Additions Certificate is defined in § 4.01B.

(zz) “Purchase Money Liens is defined in the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances.”

(aaa) “release price is defined in § 7.04.

(bbb) “Resolution of the Board” shall mean a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company under its corporate seal to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting thereof duly called and held and at which a quorum was present or by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting, and to be still in full force and effect.

(ccc) “responsible officer or officers of the Trustee whenever used in this Indenture shall mean and include the chairman of the board of directors, the president, any vice president, any assistant vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, any trust officer, or assistant trust

 

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officer, and every officer and assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the foregoing individuals or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his knowledge of, and familiarity with, a particular subject.

(ddd) “Retirements” shall mean:

(1) All Funded Property which shall have been released from the lien hereof, or from the lien of the Existing Indenture.

(2) All Funded Property which shall have been worn out, retired or abandoned or which has otherwise permanently ceased to be used or useful in the Gas Business of the Company.

(3) All Funded Property which has been destroyed.

For the avoidance of doubt, any Additions Credit not owned by the Company on June 30, 2014 that become Funded Property pursuant to clauses (2) through (9) of the definition of Funded Property shall thereupon be considered Funded Property for the purposes of determining whether such Additions Credit is a Retirement under clauses (1) through (3) of this definition.

(eee) “Retirements Credits” shall mean the following credits, which may be applied against Retirements:

(1) The amount of cash and/or other consideration received by the Trustee in connection with the release of any Funded Property,

(2) The amount of insurance monies paid to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of § 9.07 on account of the destruction of any Funded Property,

but in each case only to the extent that the same have not previously been used as a Retirements Credit.

(fff) “Subsidiary” shall mean, as to any person, any corporation, association, or other business entity in which such person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient issued and outstanding shares of which having ordinary voting power to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such entity, and any partnership or joint venture if more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership or joint venture can and does ordinarily take major business actions without the prior approval of such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries). Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.

(ggg) “Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture” shall mean the Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2014, supplemental to the Original Indenture.

 

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(hhh) “Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture” shall mean the Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2005, supplemental to the Original Indenture.

(iii) “Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture shall mean the Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 2013, supplemental to the Original Indenture.

(jjj) “Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture” shall mean the Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2008, supplemental to the Original Indenture.

(kkk) T hirty-Third Supplemental Indenture shall mean the Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011, supplemental to the Original Indenture.

(lll) “Trust Estate” is defined in Granting Clauses.

(mmm) “Trust Moneys” is defined in § 8.01.

(nnn) “Trustee shall mean U.S. Bank National Association, the party of the second part hereto, or, subject to the provisions of Article Fifteen, its successors in the trusts hereby created.

(ooo) “Trustee’s Prime Rate” shall mean that rate of interest that is the rate of interest publicly announced by Trustee as its “base” or “prime” rate.

(ppp) “2005 EDA Bond Indenture” is defined in §  10.05.

(qqq) “2005 EDA Loan Trustee” is defined in §  10.05.

(rrr) “2005 Loan Agreement” is defined in §  10.05.

(sss) “2005A EDA Bonds” is defined in §  10.05.

(ttt) “2005B EDA Bonds” is defined in §  10.07.

(uuu) “2005C EDA Bonds” is defined in §  10.09.

(vvv) “2011 EDA Bond Indenture” is defined in §  10.13.

(www) “2011 EDA Loan Trustee” is defined in §  10.13.

(xxx) “2011 Loan Agreement” is defined in §  10.13.

(yyy) “2011A EDA Bonds” is defined in §  10.13.

(zzz) “2011B EDA Bonds” is defined in §  10.15.

(aaaa) “2011C EDA Bonds” is defined in §  10.17.

 

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(bbbb) “2018 Series LL Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series LL due 2018, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(cccc) “2023 Series II Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series II due 2023, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(dddd) “2024 Series JJ Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series JJ due 2024, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(eeee) “2024 Series QQ Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series QQ due 2024, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(ffff) “2027 Series MM Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series MM due 2027, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(gggg) “2028 Series PP Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series PP due 2028, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(hhhh) “2035 Series NN Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series NN due 2035, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(iiii) “2040 Series KK Bond” shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series KK due 2040, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(jjjj) “2041 Series OO Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series OO due 2041, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(kkkk) “2044 Series RR Bond shall mean one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series RR due 2044, issued under the Existing Indenture.

(llll) “Written Order of the Company, “Written Request of the Company” and “Written Consent of the Company,” shall mean, respectively, a written order, request or consent signed in the name of the Company under its corporate seal by the President, a Vice President or the Treasurer and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.

§ 1.03. [Certain Phrases; Determination of Earnings.] (a) [ “been used by the Company for any purpose of this Indenture” ] Whenever the Company is required to state in any Property Additions Certificate of the Company or other Certificate of the Company delivered hereunder that Property Additions or Bonds have not theretofore “been used by the Company for any purpose of this Indenture” or “for any purposes of the Existing Indenture” such statement shall mean (when used with reference to Property Additions) that the Property Additions in question have not (and will not by virtue of any then pending application) become Funded Property or been made the basis for the withdrawal of any cash (whether or not Funded Cash) from the Trustee or from the trustee or other holder of a prior lien or for any credit in lieu of cash under any provision of this Indenture or the Existing Indenture and that no part of said Property Additions includes any property acquired or constructed to replace property disposed of pursuant

 

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to § 7.01 (or § 7.01 of the Existing Indenture) or to repair, replace or restore insured property (whether or not Funded Property) the proceeds of the insurance on which shall not have been required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of § 9.07 (or § 9.07 of the Existing Indenture). When used with reference to Bonds such statement shall mean that the Bonds in question have not been (and will not by virtue of any then pending application, be) made the basis for the withdrawal of any cash (whether or not Funded Cash) from the Trustee or from a trustee or other holder of a prior lien and have not been redeemed or paid through the application of cash (whether or not Funded Cash) by the Trustee or the trustee or other holder of a prior lien, and that such Bonds have not been purchased or paid through the application of Trust Moneys pursuant to § 8,04, § 8.05 or § 8.08, or of any provisions for an amortization, improvement, renewal, sinking, or other analogous fund contained in any indenture supplemental hereto, and have not been cancelled upon the issuance of other Bonds in exchange or substitution therefor, and have not been made the basis of any application pursuant to Article Six.

The fact that property has theretofore become subject to the lien of this Indenture, or is required so to be, shall not be deemed to mean that the same has “theretofore been used by the Company for any purpose of this Indenture” within the meaning of this §  1.03(a).

(b) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this § 1.03, all determinations of costs of Property Additions or of earnings pursuant to this Indenture shall be made and all financial statements to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with the practice prescribed by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company in the premises, or other lawfully prescribed practice and, in the absence of any practice so prescribed, in accordance with sound accounting practice.

§ 1.04. [Provisions governing certain certificates, opinions and other documents.] Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that a certificate, opinion or other document shall comply with the provisions of this § 1.04, such document shall include:

(1) a statement that the person making such certificate, opinion or other document has read the covenant or condition in respect of which such document is furnished;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such document are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he 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

(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that a certificate signed by an officer or officers of the Company shall comply with the provisions of this § 1.04, such certificate shall include a

 

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statement that the conditions precedent relating to the authentication and delivery of Bonds, to the release or the release and substitution of property, to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, or to any other action to be taken by the Trustee at the request of or upon the application of the Company, as the case may be, have been complied with; and whenever in this Indenture it is provided that an opinion of counsel shall comply with the provisions of this § 1.04, such opinion shall include a like statement that in the opinion of such counsel such conditions precedent have been complied with.

§ 1.05. [Truth and accuracy of documents presented to the Trustee by the Company shall be condition precedent and Trustee may rely upon such documents.] Wherever in this Indenture, in connection with any application for the authentication and delivery of Bonds hereunder or for the withdrawal of any moneys held by the Trustee under any provision hereof or for the execution of any release, or any other application or certificate or report to the Trustee hereunder, it is provided that the Company shall deliver resolutions, certificates, statements, opinions, evidence, reports, orders and/or other papers as a condition of the granting of such application, or as evidence of the compliance by the Company with any condition or covenant herein contained, the truth and accuracy, at the time of the granting of such application or at the effective date of such certificate or report (as the case may be), of the facts and opinions stated in such resolutions, certificates, statements, opinions, evidence, reports, orders and/or other papers shall in each and every such case be conditions precedent to the right of the Company to have such application granted or to the effectiveness of such certificate or report. Nevertheless, upon any such application, certificate or report, the resolutions, certificates, statements, opinions, evidence, reports, orders and/or other papers required by any of the provisions of this Indenture to be delivered to the Trustee as a condition of the granting of such application, or as evidence of such compliance, may, subject to the provisions of § 15.02, be received by the Trustee as conclusive evidence of any statements therein contained, and, subject to such provisions, shall be full warrant, authority and protection to the Trustee acting on the faith thereof, not only in respect of the statements of fact therein made, but also in respect of the opinions therein set forth. Before granting any such application, or accepting such evidence of compliance, the Trustee shall not (subject to the provisions of § 15.02) be under any duty to make any further investigation into the trust of the matters evidenced by any such resolution, certificate, statement, opinion, evidence, report, order and/or other paper, but it may in its discretion make any such independent inquiry or investigation into the truth of the matters evidenced by any such resolution, certificate, statement, opinion, evidence, report, order and/or other paper, but it may in its discretion make any such independent inquiry or investigation as to it may seem proper. If the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, either itself or by agent or attorney, and unless satisfied, with or without such examination, of the truth and accuracy of the matters stated in such resolutions, certificates, statements, opinions, evidences, reports, orders and/or other papers, it shall be under no obligation to grant the application or to accept such evidence of compliance. The reasonable expenses of every such examination or other inquiry shall be paid by the Company, or if paid by the Trustee shall be repaid by the Company, upon demand, with interest at the Trustee’s Prime Rate, and until such repayment shall be secured under this Indenture in priority to the Bonds.

 

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§ 1.06. [More than one document may be delivered.] Whenever in this Indenture provision is made for the delivery of any certificate, opinion or other document signed by an officer or officers of the Company or by any other person, such provision may be complied with by the delivery of more than one certificate or opinion or other document, each covering a particular part of the matter or matters required to be included in the certificate or opinion or other document so provided for, and in such event such separate certificates, opinions or other documents need not all be signed by the same officers or persons, provided that such separate certificates, opinions or other documents shall, taken together, contain all of the statements herein provided for and be signed by an officer or officers or person or persons, as the case may be, by whom the certificate, opinion or other document so provided for is authorized or required to be signed.

§ 1.07. [Cash deposited.] Wherever in this Indenture it is provided or permitted that there be deposited with or held in trust by the Trustee or other person cash sufficient to pay or redeem any bonds, obligations or other indebtedness, the amount of cash so to be deposited or held shall be the principal amount of such bonds, obligations or other indebtedness and all unpaid interest thereon to maturity, unless said bonds, obligations or other indebtedness are redeemable and are to be redeemed prior to maturity and there shall be furnished to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that notice of such redemption on a specified redemption date has been duly given or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall be made for such notice, in which case the amount of cash so to be deposited or held shall be the principal amount of such bonds, obligations or indebtedness and interest thereon to the redemption date, together with the redemption premium, if any.

A RTICLE  T WO .

The Bonds.

§ 2.01. [Aggregate principal amount of Bonds is unlimited, except as provided.] The aggregate principal amount of Bonds which may be authenticated and delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is not limited, except as hereinafter in Articles Three, Four, Five and Six provided. The power of the Company to issue Bonds hereunder may be exercised from time to time upon obtaining any applicable regulatory approvals, and whenever Bonds may be authenticated and delivered in accordance with Articles Three, Four, Five and Six; and this Indenture shall be and constitute a continuing lien to secure the full and final payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds which may, from time to time, be executed, authenticated and delivered hereunder, and issued by the Company.

§ 2.02. [Bonds shall be issued in series as authorized; and as registered bonds.] The Bonds issuable under this Indenture shall be issued in series as from time to time shall be authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company; and issued as registered Bonds without coupons.

§ 2.03. [Bonds of all series shall be generally entitled “First Mortgage Bonds” .] The Bonds of all series shall be known and entitled generally as the “First Mortgage Bonds” of

 

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the Company. With respect to the Bonds of any particular series, the Company may incorporate in the general title of such Bonds the rate of interest borne by the Bonds of such series, the maturity date or any other words or figures descriptive thereof or of the security therefor or distinctive or definitive of such series, as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine.

§ 2.04. [Designations, optional provisions and forms of Bonds.] The Bonds of each series shall bear such date or dates, shall be payable at such place or places, shall be transferable or registerable at such place or places, shall mature on such date or dates, shall bear interest (including any interest at the applicable Overdue Rate) at such rate or rates, payable in such installments and on such dates, and may be redeemable before maturity at such price or prices and upon such terms and conditions, as shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, and as shall be appropriately expressed in the Bonds of such series.

The Company may, at the time of the creation of any particular series of Bonds or at any time thereafter, make, and the Bonds of such series may contain any or all of the following:

A. Provision for the payment of the principal of and/or the interest on the Bonds of such series without deduction for specified taxes, assessments or other governmental charges;

B. Provision for refunding or reimbursing to the holders of the Bonds of such series, specified taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, but the obligation of the Company to refund or reimburse any such taxes, assessments or other governmental charges shall not be deemed to be a part of the indebtedness secured by this Indenture;

C. Provision for the exchange or conversion of the Bonds of such series for or into new Bonds issuable hereunder of different series and/or shares of stock of the Company and/or other securities;

D. Provision for a sinking, amortization, improvement, renewal or other analogous fund complying with the foregoing requirements of this § 2.04;

E. Provision limiting the aggregate principal amount of the Bond of such series; and

F. Provision that any Bonds of a series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Bonds and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Bonds, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Bond in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in § 2.13 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of § 2.10 in which any such Global Bond may be exchanged in whole or in part for Bonds registered, and any transfer of such Global Bond in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of persons other than the Depositary for such Global Bond or a nominee thereof;

 

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all to such extent, at such times and upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine and fix.

Each series of Bonds, except the Existing Bonds, shall be created by an indenture supplemental hereto authorized by a Resolution of the Board delivered to the Trustee. Such supplemental indentures shall be numbered sequentially beginning with a first supplemental indenture hereto.

The Bonds of each series shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, with such omissions, variations and insertions as are permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon, as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or to conform to any usage in respect thereof, or as may, consistently herewith, be prescribed by the Board of Directors of the Company.

§ 2.05. [Denominations of Bonds and interest accrual.] The Bonds of each series shall be issued in such denominations as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine.

Bonds shall bear interest from and shall be dated the date provided in the Supplemental Indenture creating such series of Bonds.

§ 2.06. [Exchange of Bonds.] If and to the extent that the Company, by Resolution of the Board delivered to the Trustee, or by an indenture supplemental hereto authorized by like resolution, shall so determine, either at the time of the creation of any series of Bonds or at any time thereafter, Bonds of such series may, at the option of the holders thereof, and upon the surrender thereof to the Company, be exchanged for Bonds of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount and bearing interest at the same rate, but of a different authorized denomination or denominations.

All Bonds surrendered for exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form approved by the Company or the Trustee, executed by the registered owner in person or by attorney authorized in writing. All Bonds so surrendered shall be forthwith delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and cancelled by the Trustee. All Bonds executed, authenticated and delivered in exchange for Bonds so surrendered shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt as the Bonds surrendered, and shall be secured by the lien of this Indenture and entitled to all of the benefits and protection hereof to the same extent as the Bonds in exchange for which they shall be executed, authenticated and delivered.

Any such exchange of Bonds shall be subject to the payment of the charges set forth in § 2.11.

§ 2.07. [Execution of Bonds by the Company.] From time to time the Bonds issuable hereunder shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President, a Vice-President or the Treasurer, under its corporate seal attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or by such other form of execution, including by facsimile, as may be prescribed in accordance with

 

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applicable law by a Resolution of the Board delivered to the Trustee. The corporate seal of the Company may be affixed to any Bond by printing, engraving, lithographing, stamping, facsimile or otherwise making, placing or affixing, or causing to be printed, engraved, lithographed, stamped, faxed or otherwise made, placed or affixed, upon such Bond, by any process whatsoever, any impression, facsimile or other representation of said corporate seal. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed or sealed any Bond shall cease to be such officer of the Company before the Bonds so signed or sealed shall have been actually authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, such Bond, nevertheless, may be authenticated and delivered and issued as though the person who had signed or sealed such Bond had not ceased to be an officer of the Company; and also any Bond may be signed and sealed on behalf of the Company by such person as at the actual date of the execution of such Bond shall be the proper officer of the Company, although at the date of such Bond such person shall not have been an officer of the Company.

§ 2.08. [Authentication of Bonds by the Trustee.] The Bonds when executed shall be delivered to the Trustee for authentication by it; and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver said Bonds as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise. Only such Bonds as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, executed by the Trustee, shall be secured by this Indenture or be entitled to any lien, right or benefit hereunder. No Bond shall be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until such certificate of authentication shall have been duly executed on such Bond; and such authentication by the Trustee upon any Bond shall be conclusive evidence and the only evidence that the Bond so authenticated has been duly issued hereunder.

§ 2.09. [Temporary Bonds and issuance of definitive Bonds in exchange therefor.] Pending the preparation of definitive Bonds of any series the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of such definitive Bonds and subject to the same provisions, limitations and conditions, one or more temporary printed lithographed or typewritten Bonds, of any denomination specified in the Written Order of the Company for the authentication and delivery thereof, substantially of the tenor of the Bonds to be issued as hereinbefore recited and with such omissions, insertions and variations as the officers executing such Bonds may determine. Temporary Bonds may be issued without the provision entitling the holder to register the Bonds or a recital of specific redemption prices, and may contain such reference to any provision of this Indenture as may be appropriate; and the text of the temporary Bonds may express the interest rate or rates of the Bonds and the series thereof by reference to the title of the Bonds. The Company shall without unreasonable delay, at its own expense, prepare, execute and deliver to the Trustee, and thereupon, upon the surrender of temporary Bonds, the Trustee shall deliver in exchange therefor, definitive authenticated Bonds of the same series and for the same principal amount in the aggregate as the temporary Bonds surrendered without charge to the holder. Definitive Bonds may be in the form of fully engraved Bonds or printed or lithographed Bonds on steel engraved borders. All temporary Bonds so surrendered, whether in exchange for definitive Bonds or for other temporary Bonds, shall be forthwith cancelled by the Trustee. Until exchanged for definitive Bonds, each of the temporary Bonds shall in all respects be entitled to the lien and security of this Indenture, and interest thereon, when and as payable, shall be paid to the bearer of such Bond upon presentation thereof for notation of such payment thereon, unless such temporary Bond shall be a fully registered Bond.

 

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§ 2.10. [Books for registration and transfer; Transfer of Bonds; Deemed owner of Bonds; Global Bonds.] The Company shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trustee, and at the principal office of the Company in the State of New Jersey, books for the registration and transfer of Bonds issued hereunder (the “Bond Register” ), and shall register the Bonds issued hereunder, upon presentation for such purposes, the Company shall, under such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, register or transfer or cause to be registered or transferred therein, any of the Bonds issued hereunder.

Such books shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection by the Trustee.

Whenever the registered owner of any Bond shall surrender the same to the Company for transfer at said principal office of the Trustee or at said principal office of the Company, together with a written instrument of transfer in form approved by the Company, executed by such registered owner in person, or by attorney authorized in writing, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, and the Company shall deliver in exchange therefor a new registered Bond or Bonds, of the same series, for the same aggregate principal amount. All Bonds so surrendered shall be forthwith cancelled by the Trustee.

The Company shall not be required to make transfers of Bonds as provided in this Section for a period of two days next preceding any interest payment date, but shall not be prohibited hereby from so doing.

Similar books may also be kept at such other place or places as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine for the registration and transfer of the Bonds of any particular series, open at all times to inspection by the Trustee, in which the Bonds of such series may be registered and transferred as in this Section provided; and such other place or places may (but need not) be appropriately recited in the Bond of such series.

The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the person whose name any Bond, temporary or definitive, shall be registered upon the books of the Company as hereinbefore provided, as the absolute owner of such Bond for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and interest on such Bond and, subject to the provisions of § 9.16(b), for all other purposes; and all such payments so made to any such registered owner or upon his order shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon such Bond to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, and neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Bonds:

(1) Each Global Bond authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Bond or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Bond shall constitute a single Bond for all purposes of this Indenture.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Bond may be exchanged in whole or in part for Bonds registered, and no transfer of a Global Bond in whole or

 

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in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the Depositary for such Global Bond or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Bond or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Bond or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by § 2.04.

(3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Bond for other Bonds may be made in whole or in part, and all Bonds issued in exchange for a Global Bond or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Bond shall direct.

(4) Every Bond authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Bond or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Bond, unless such Bond is registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary for such Global Bond or a nominee thereof.

§ 2.11. [Payment of taxes or charges on transfers.] For any exchange of Bonds for Bonds of another denomination, or for any transfer of any Bond, the Company at its option may require the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any stamp tax or other governmental charge incident thereto, and in addition thereto, a further sum equal to any other reasonable expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) in connection with such exchange or transfer. No charge except for taxes or governmental charges or such expenses shall be made against any holder of any Existing Bonds for the exchange, transfer or registration of transfer thereof.

§ 2.12. [Mutilated, lost, stolen, or destroyed Bonds.] In case any Bond shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, then, upon the production of such mutilated Bond or upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee of the loss, theft or destruction of such Bond and of the ownership and authenticity thereof, and upon receipt also of indemnity satisfactory to each of them, the Company in its discretion may execute, and thereupon the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Bond of like tenor in exchange for, and upon cancellation of, the mutilated Bond, or in lieu of the Bond so lost, stolen or destroyed; or, if any such mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Bond shall have matured or be about to mature, instead of issuing a new Bond, the Company, with the consent of the Trustee, may pay the same without surrender thereof, in the case of any such lost, stolen or destroyed Bond. Any new Bond issued under this Section in lieu of any Bond alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed shall constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the Bond alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed be at any time enforceable by anyone; and such new Bond shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all other Bonds issued hereunder.

The Company and the Trustee, in their discretion, may place upon any such new Bond a distinguishing mark or a legend to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or to conform to any usage with respect thereto, but such mark or legend shall in no way affect the

 

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validity of such new Bond. The Company may at its option require the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any stamp tax or other governmental charge, and any expenses incurred by the Company (including any fee of the Trustee) or the Trustee in connection with the issuance of any such new Bond.

§ 2.13. [Legend for Global Bonds.] Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by § 2.04 for the Bonds evidenced thereby, every Global Bond authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS BOND IS A GLOBAL BOND WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

§ 2.14. [CUSIP Numbers.] The Company in issuing the Bonds may use “CUSIP” or other similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee may use “CUSIP” or such other numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders of Bonds; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Bonds or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Bonds, in which case neither the Company nor the Trustee, or any agent of any of them, shall have any liability in respect of any CUSIP number used on any such notice, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in “CUSIP” numbers.

§ 2.15. [Execution of Allonges by the Company.] An allonge to each of the Existing Bonds substantially in the form of Exhibit I and further evidencing that this Indenture shall be and constitute a continuing lien to secure the full and final payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Existing Bond shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President, a Vice-President or the Treasurer, under its corporate seal attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or by such other form of execution, including by facsimile, as may be prescribed in accordance with applicable law by a Resolution of the Board delivered to the Trustee. The corporate seal of the Company may be affixed to any allonge by printing, engraving, lithographing, stamping, facsimile or otherwise making, placing or affixing, or causing to be printed, engraved, lithographed, stamped, faxed or otherwise made, placed or affixed, upon such allonge, by any process whatsoever, any impression, facsimile or other representation of said corporate seal.

 

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§ 2.16. [Authentication of Allonges by the Trustee.] The allonges to each of the Existing Bonds when executed shall be delivered to the Trustee for authentication by it; and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver said allonges to the holders of the Existing Bonds.

A RTICLE T HREE .

Existing Bonds.

§ 3.01. 2023 Series II Bonds. The 2023 Series II Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $10,300,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit B is a copy of the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2023 Series II Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit B to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.81   Section 10.05
Section 10.82   Section 10.06

§ 3.02. 2024 Series JJ Bonds. The 2024 Series JJ Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $10,500,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit B is a copy of the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2024 Series JJ Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit B to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.83   Section 10.07
Section 10.84   Section 10.08

§ 3.03. 2040 Series KK Bonds. The 2040 Series KK Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $15,000,000.

 

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A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit B is a copy of the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2040 Series KK Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit B to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.85   Section 10.09
Section 10.86   Section 10.10

§ 3.04. 2018 Series LL Bonds. The 2018 Series LL Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $125,000,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit C is a copy of the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2018 Series LL Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit C to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.87   Section 10.11
Section 10.88   Section 10.12

§ 3.05. 2027 Series MM Bonds. The 2027 Series MM Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $9,545,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit D is a copy of the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2027 Series MM Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit D to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.89   Section 10.13
Section 10.90   Section 10.14

 

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§ 3.06. 2035 Series NN Bonds. The 2035 Series NN Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $41,000,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit D is a copy of the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2035 Series NN Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit D to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.91   Section 10.15
Section 10.92   Section 10.16

§ 3.07. 2041 Series OO Bonds. The 2041 Series OO Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $46,500,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit D is a copy of the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2041 Series OO Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit D to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.93   Section 10.17
Section 10.94   Section 10.18

§ 3.08. 2028 Series PP Bonds. The 2028 Series PP Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $50,000,000.

 

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A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit E is a copy of the Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2028 Series PP Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit E to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.95   Section 10.19
Section 10.96   Section 10.20

§ 3.09. 2024 Series QQ Bonds. The 2024 Series QQ Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $70,000,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit F is a copy of the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2024 Series QQ Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit F to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04   Section 10.02
Section 10.97   Section 10.21
Section 10.98   Section 10.22

§ 3.10. 2044 Series RR Bonds. The 2044 Series RR Bonds have been duly issued and are presently outstanding and secured by this Indenture in the principal amount of $55,000,000.

A. Attached to this Indenture as Exhibit F is a copy of the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture setting forth the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the 2044 Series RR Bonds.

B. References in Exhibit F to the section of the Existing Indenture identified in the table below as the “Original Section” shall now refer to the section of the Indenture set forth in the table below as the “Restated Section.”

 

O RIGINAL S ECTION   R ESTATED S ECTION
Section 10.04     Section 10.02
Section 10.99     Section 10.23
Section 10.100   Section 10.24

 

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§ 3.11. [Maintenance of office or agency of Company.] At all times until the payment of all of the Bonds the Company will maintain at the principal office of the Company in the State of New Jersey, and the Trustee will maintain at the Principal Office of the Trustee, an office or agency where the Bonds may be presented for payment and where notices and demands in respect of the Bonds or of this Indenture may be served, and for the performance of all obligations which the Company agrees in this Indenture to perform at any such office or agency.

The Company will from time to time give the Trustee written notice of the location of each such office or agency, and in case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency or to give the Trustee written notice of the location thereof, any such notice, presentation or demand in respect of the Bonds or this Indenture, may be given or made, unless other provision is expressly made herein, to or upon the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby authorizes such presentation and demand to be made to and such notice to be served on the Trustee in such event, and the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Bonds shall in such event be payable at said office of the Trustee.

A RTICLE F OUR .

Authentication and Delivery of Bonds

upon the Basis of Property Additions.

§ 4.01. [Provisions governing the issuance of Additional Bonds against Property Additions.] Additional Bonds may at any time and from time to time, upon obtaining any applicable regulatory approvals, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee, and thereupon the same shall, subject to the provisions of § 4.02, be authenticated and delivered under this Article by the Trustee upon the Written Order of the Company, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of the following:

A. A Resolution of the Board, requesting the authentication and delivery pursuant to the provisions of this Article of a specified principal amount of Bonds of any designated series.

B. A Certificate of the Company, in substantially the form of Exhibit G (a Property Additions Certificate ), with appropriate exhibits annexed thereto and the blanks appropriately completed showing that after giving effect to the issuance of additional Bonds the aggregate principal amount of such additional Bonds shall not exceed seventy percent (70%) of the Net Amount of Property Additions included in the Property Additions Certificate.

 

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[ If the Property Additions Certificate of the Company so delivered is dated the date of authentication and delivery of the Bonds, the Certificate required by the following Paragraph C may be omitted. ]

C. A Certificate of the Company dated the date of authentication and delivery of the Bonds, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, to the effect that:

(1) The aggregate amount of Retirements which have occurred after the date of the Property Additions Certificate of the Company filed with the Trustee pursuant to the foregoing Paragraph B and prior to the granting of the application in respect of which said certificate was delivered does not have a cost basis greater than five per cent (5%) of the Net Bondable Additions specified in said Certificate.

(2) The statement set forth in Clause (15) of said Property Additions Certificate is true on and as of the date hereof or [ in the case that Interest Charges on Indebtedness as computed on such date are greater than as computed on the date of such Property Additions Certificate ] any increase in Interest Charges on Indebtedness since the date of such Property Additions Certificate has not caused the ratio of Net Earnings Available for Interest to Interest Charges on Indebtedness as of the date hereof to exceed two.

D. In case any part of such Property Additions is shown by said Certificate furnished pursuant to Paragraph B to have been acquired by the Company, in whole or in part, for consideration consisting of securities, a Certificate, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, signed by an Independent Appraiser selected by the Company and approved by the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care, stating, in the opinion of the signer, the Fair Value of such securities at the time of the delivery thereof as consideration for the acquisition of such part of such Property Additions.

E. The Mortgages, Deeds, Conveyances, Assignments, Transfers and Instruments of Further Assurance and the Certificate or Certificates and Other Evidence, if any, specified in the Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Clauses (2), (6) and (7) of the following Paragraph F.

F. An Opinion or Opinions of Counsel, addressed to the Company and the Trustee complying with the provisions of § 1.04:

(1) Stating that the instruments which have been or are therewith delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to authenticate and deliver the Bonds applied for, and that the Bonds applied for may be lawfully authenticated and delivered under this Article.

(2) Specifying the mortgages, deeds, conveyances, assignments, transfers and instruments of further assurance, if any, which will be sufficient to

 

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subject the Property Additions described in said Certificate to the lien of this Indenture, and stating that, upon the recordation or filing, in the manner stated in such opinion, of the instrument so specified, if any, or upon the recordation or filing of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture in the manner stated in such opinion, or without any recordation, or filing, this Indenture will constitute a valid lien upon such property.

(3) Stating that the Company has a good and valid title to said Property Additions, and that the same and every part thereof is free and clear of all liens, charges and encumbrances prior to the lien of this Indenture, except Permitted Encumbrances which are not Purchase Money Liens.

(4) Stating that the Company has lawful power to acquire, own and use said Property Additions in its business; and that the Company lawfully holds franchises, permits, liens, rights of way and easements necessary for the maintenance and use of such Property Additions or is otherwise entitled by law to maintain and operate such Property Additions and that no such franchise, permit, lien, right of way or easement in the opinion of such counsel contains any provisions materially prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders.

(5) Stating that, since the date of the last previous Opinion of Counsel filed with the Trustee pursuant to § 4.01F(2) or § 5.01E or § 6.01E of this Indenture or the Existing Indenture (or, in the case of the first such opinion, since the date of the execution and delivery hereof), no part of the Trust Estate has become subject to any then subsisting lien or encumbrance (except Permitted Encumbrances) prior to the lien created by this Indenture for the security of the Bonds whose authentication and delivery is then applied for.

(6) Specifying the certificate or other evidence which will be sufficient to show compliance with the requirements, if any, of any mortgage recording tax law or other tax law applicable to the issuance of the Bonds then applied for, or stating that there are no such legal requirements.

(7) Specifying the certificate or other evidence which will be sufficient to show any required authorization, approval or consent of or to the issuance by the Company of the Bonds then applied for, by any Federal, State or other governmental regulatory body or commission at the time having jurisdiction in the premises, or stating that no such authorization, approval or consent is required.

G. The Supplemental Indenture, if any, required by § 2.04.

§ 4.02. [Bonds limited to 70% of Net Amount of Property Additions.] Upon compliance with the provisions of § 4.01, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Bonds of an aggregate principal amount equal to the amount requested in the Resolution filed pursuant to § 4.01A, up to, but not exceeding, seventy per cent (70%) of the Net Amount of Property Additions shown in Clause (16)(e) of the Property Additions Certificate.

 

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A RTICLE F IVE .

Authentication and Delivery of Bonds

upon Deposit of Cash with Trustee.

§ 5.01. [Provisions governing the issuance of Additional Bonds against Cash.] Additional Bonds may at any time and from time to time, upon obtaining any applicable regulatory approvals, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and thereupon the same shall, subject to the provisions of § 5.02, be authenticated and delivered under this Article by the Trustee upon the Written Order of the Company, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of the following:

A. A Resolution of the Board, requesting the authentication and delivery pursuant to the provisions of this Article of a specified principal amount of Bonds of any designated series.

B. Cash equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds the authentication and delivery of which is then applied for.

C. A Certificate of the Company, covering Clauses (13), (14), (15), (17) and (18) of a Property Additions Certificate and (if required by the instructions preceding § 4.01C) a Certificate of the Company, dated the date of authentication and delivery of the Bonds, covering Clause (2) of § 4.01C.

D. The Certificates and other evidence, if any, specified in the Opinion of Counsel required by the following § 5.01E.

E. An Opinion or Opinions of Counsel addressed to the Company and the Trustee, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, covering Clauses (1), (5), (6) and (7) of § 4.01F.

F. Supplemental Indenture, if any, required by § 2.04.

§ 5.02. [Bonds limited to amount of cash deposited.] Upon compliance with the provisions of § 5.01 the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Bonds of an aggregate principal amount up to, but not exceeding, the amount of the cash deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 5.01B.

§ 5.03. [Definition of “Deposited Cash” and terms of withdrawal.] Cash deposited with the Trustee under the provisions of § 5.01 (in this Indenture sometimes referred to as “Deposited Cash” ) shall be withdrawable only upon compliance with the provisions of § 8.03 applicable thereto; and until the same shall have been paid over by the Trustee upon the Written Order of the Company as in § 8.03 provided, the Trustee shall hold all Deposited Cash as a part

 

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of the Trust Estate hereunder, subject, however , to the provisions of § 8.11; and, upon default in the payment of the principal of any of the Bonds, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether by the terms thereof or by declaration or otherwise as herein provided, any Deposited Cash then in the hands of the Trustee shall become applicable to the purposes specified in, and in accordance with the provisions of, § 12.10.

A RTICLE S IX .

Authentication and Delivery of Bonds

upon Retirement of Bonds Previously Issued Hereunder.

§ 6.01. [Provisions governing the issuance of Additional Bonds against Retirement of Bonds.] Additional Bonds may at any time and from time to time, upon obtaining any applicable regulatory approvals, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and thereupon the same shall be authenticated and delivered under this Article by the Trustee upon the Written Order of the Company, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of the following:

A. A Resolution of the Board, requesting the authentication and delivery pursuant to the provisions of this Article of a specified principal amount of Bonds of any designated series.

B. A Certificate of the Company, in substantially in the form of Exhibit H (a “Bond Retirement Certificate ), with appropriate exhibits annexed thereto and the blanks appropriately completed, showing that the aggregate principal amount of Bonds issued under this § 6.01 does not exceed the aggregate principal amount of retired Bonds.

C. Certificate, if any, required by § 4.01C(2).

D. The Certificates and other evidence, if any, specified in the Opinion of Counsel as provided by the following § 6.01E.

E. An Opinion or Opinions of Counsel addressed to the Company and the Trustee, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, covering Clauses (1), (5), (6) and (7) of § 4.01F.

F. Bonds and/or Cash, if any, specified in Clause (1) of a Bond Retirement Certificate.

G. Supplemental Indenture, if any, required by § 2.04.

§ 6.02. [Bonds limited to amount of Bonds deposited, paid, redeemed, etc.] Upon compliance with the provisions of § 6.01, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Bonds of an aggregate principal amount up to, but not exceeding, the principal amount of the Bonds deposited with the Trustee, and/or paid, redeemed or otherwise retired, and/or for whose payment or redemption cash has been deposited with or is held in trust by the Trustee, as in § 6.01 provided.

 

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§ 6.03. [Bonds to be cancelled.] Every Bond delivered uncancelled to the Trustee, and on the basis of which an additional Bond is authenticated and delivered under this Article, shall be immediately cancelled.

A RTICLE S EVEN .

Release of Mortgaged Property.

§ 7.01. [Provisions governing the rights of the Company to possess, use, alter or otherwise take action with respect to mortgaged property.] The Company, unless an Event of Default shall have happened and shall not have been remedied,

(a) Shall be entitled to possess, manage, operate, use and enjoy and to remain in the actual and undisturbed possession of all its mortgaged properties (other than bonds, certificates of stock and other securities and cash deposited or required to be deposited with the Trustee) and to receive, take and use the rents, income and profits thereof, to use and consume any fuel and similar materials and supplies consumable in the operation of any properties of the Company and to use, consume, sell or dispose of any gas or by-products thereof, materials, supplies or merchandise held by the Company for the purpose of distribution or sale in the ordinary course of business, all as if this Indenture had not been made.

(b) May, without obtaining any release and without obtaining the consent of the Trustee, sell or otherwise dispose of, free from the lien of this Indenture, any furniture, machinery, equipment, tools and appliances which may have become obsolete, inadequate or worn-out or otherwise unsuitable for use in the business of the Company, provided as a condition precedent that the Company shall have replaced, or shall contemporaneously replace, the same by, or substitute for the same, other furniture, machinery, equipment, tools or appliances, not necessarily of the same character but of at least equal value and efficiency, which shall forthwith become, without further action, subject to the lien of this Indenture; provided that , if such replacement furniture, machinery, equipment, tools or appliances are not of at least equal value, such items shall be of at least equal efficiency and otherwise of a quality consistent with prudent industry standards.

(c) May, without the consent of the Trustee, alter, change the location of, add to, repair and replace any and all transmission and distribution lines, pipe lines, measuring stations, compressor stations, machinery, fixtures and other equipment.

(d) Shall be entitled to receive and collect for its own use all dividends paid on shares of stock of any corporation held by the Trustee hereunder which are paid in cash out of the earned surplus or net profits of the issuing corporation and all interest upon obligations or indebtedness of any person held by the Trustee hereunder; and, in

 

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case such shares of stock shall be transferred into the name of the Trustee or of its nominee or nominees, the Trustee from time to time shall execute and deliver upon the Written Order of the Company suitable assignments and orders in favor of the Company or its nominee named in such order for the payment of such cash dividends and interest, provided, however , and it is hereby declared and agreed that the Company shall not be entitled to receive and the Trustee shall not pay over to it,

(i) the principal of any obligation or indebtedness at the time held by the Trustee hereunder, or

(ii) any dividend upon any share of stock at the time held by the Trustee hereunder other than a dividend paid in cash out of the earned surplus or net profits of the issuing corporation, or

(iii) any sum paid upon liquidation or dissolution or reduction of capital or redemption, upon any obligation or indebtedness or share of stock, at the time held by the Trustee hereunder.

(e) Shall also have the right, except as herein expressly limited to vote and/or give consents with respect to all shares of stock held by the Trustee hereunder, and from time to time, in case such shares of stock shall have been transferred into the name of the Trustee or of its nominee or nominees, the Trustee, upon the Written Request of the Company, shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to the Company or its nominee named in such Written Request appropriate powers of attorney or proxies to vote such stock or to execute a waiver or consent or certificate with respect to such stock, for such purpose or purposes as may be specified in such request, except that each such power of attorney or proxy may be limited so as to provide in effect that the powers thereby conferred do not include any power to vote for or to authorize or consent to any act or thing inconsistent with this Indenture.

(f) May, without the consent of the Trustee, surrender or permit to lapse, or assent to the modification of, any franchise which it may hold or under which it may be operating, provided either (i) that (x) in the event of any such surrender or lapse, the Company shall then have or shall receive at the time of such surrender or lapse a franchise or right or privilege pursuant to which, in the opinion of Counsel, it shall be authorized to do the same or an extended business in the same or an extended territory during the same or an extended or unlimited period of time, and (y) in the event of any such modification, the franchise as modified shall, in the opinion of counsel, authorize the continuance of the same or an extended business in the same or an extended territory during the same or an extended or unlimited period of time, or (ii) that in the written opinion, filed with the Trustee, of an Engineer, (x) the Company is exercising the privileges granted thereby without a fair return to it and (y) such surrender, lapse or modification is in the best interests of the Company and the Bondholders.

(g) May, without the consent of the Trustee, make changes or alterations in or substitutions for any licenses, contracts or leases which may at any time be subject to the

 

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lien of this Indenture or surrender and cancel the same, provided that such change, alteration or substitution or such surrender or cancellation, as the case may be, in the opinion of the President, a Vice President or the Treasurer of the Company, is in the interest of the Company and will not materially impair the security of the Bonds outstanding hereunder.

§ 7.02. [Release of Mortgaged Property.]

A. For the purposes of this § 7.02, Fair Value when applied to property is its value as determined without deduction to reflect that such property may be of value only to the Company or another operator of the Trust Estate as a whole, which value may be determined without physical inspection by use of accounting and engineering records and other data maintained by, or available to, the Company.

B. Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon receipt of a Written Request of the Company requesting the release of any of the Trust Estate pursuant to this Paragraph B, the Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Company the documents and instruments described in this Paragraph B, releasing from the lien of this Indenture any of the Trust Estate if the Fair Value of all of the Trust Estate (excluding the Trust Estate to be released but including any Trust Estate to be acquired by the Company with the proceeds of, or otherwise in connection with, such release) stated on the Engineer’s certificates delivered pursuant to Clause (2) of Paragraph B and Clause (3) of Paragraph B, equals or exceeds an amount equal to ten-sevenths (10/7) of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding at the date of such Written Request of the Company as stated on the Certificate of the Company delivered pursuant to Clause (4) of Paragraph B, upon receipt by the Trustee of:

(1) appropriate documents and instruments releasing without recourse the interest of the Trustee in the Trust Estate to be released, and describing in reasonable detail the Trust Estate to be released;

(2) a certificate of an Engineer, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, dated the date of such Written Request of the Company, stating

(i) that the signers of such Engineer’s certificate have examined the Certificate of the Company delivered pursuant to Clause (4) of Paragraph B in connection with such release,

(ii) the Fair Value, in the opinion of the signer of such Engineer’s certificate, of (A) all of the Trust Estate, and (B) the portion of the Trust Estate to be released, in each case as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date of such Written Request of the Company, and

(iii) that in the judgment of such signers, such release (A) will not materially adversely affect the Company’s business or the ability to conduct business using the Trust Estate after giving effect to such release, and (B) will not impair the security of the Bonds outstanding hereunder;

 

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(3) in case any Property Additions are being acquired by the Company with the proceeds of, or otherwise in connection with, such release, an Engineer’s certificate, dated the date of such Written Request of the Company, as to the Fair Value, as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date of such Written Request of the Company, of the Property Additions being so acquired (and if within six months prior to the date of acquisition by the Company of the Property Additions being so acquired, any property included within such Property Additions had been used or operated by others than the Company in a business similar to that in which it has been or is to be used or operated by the Company, and the Fair Value thereof to the Company, as set forth in such Engineer’s certificate, is not less than one percent (1%) of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds then outstanding, such certificate shall be an Independent Engineer’s Certificate);

(4) a Certificate of the Company, dated the date of such Written Request of the Company, stating

(i) that the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding at the date of such Written Request of the Company, and stating that the Fair Value of all of the Trust Estate (excluding the Trust Estate to be released but including any Property Additions to be acquired by the Company with the proceeds of, or otherwise in connection with, such release) stated on the Engineer’s certificate filed pursuant to Clause (2) of Paragraph B equals or exceeds an amount equal to ten-sevenths (10/7) of such aggregate principal amount, and

(ii) that, to the knowledge of the signer, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

(5) an Opinion of Counsel, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that the instruments which have been or are delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to execute and deliver the release requested.

C. If the Company is unable, or elects not, to obtain, in accordance with the preceding Paragraph B, the release from the lien of this Indenture of any of the Trust Estate, then unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon receipt of a Written Request of the Company requesting the release of any of the Trust Estate pursuant to this Paragraph C, the Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Company the documents and instruments described in Clause (1) of Paragraph C releasing from the lien of this Indenture any of the Trust Estate if the Fair Value thereof, as stated on the Engineer’s certificate delivered pursuant to Clause (2) of Paragraph C is less than one percent (1%) of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding at the date of such Written Request of the Company, provided that the aggregate Fair Value of all Trust Estate released pursuant to this Paragraph C, as stated on all Engineer’s certificates filed pursuant to this Paragraph C in any period of 12 consecutive calendar months which includes the date of such Engineer’s certificate, shall not exceed two percent (2%) of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding at the date of such Written Request of the Company as stated in the Certificate of the Company delivered pursuant to Clause (3) of Paragraph C, upon receipt by the Trustee of:

(1) appropriate documents and instruments releasing without recourse the interest of the Trustee in the Trust Estate to be released, and describing in reasonable detail the Trust Estate to be released;

 

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(2) a certificate of an Engineer complying with the provisions of § 1.04, dated the date of such Written Request of the Company, stating

(i) that the signer of such Engineer’s certificate has examined the Certificate of the Company delivered pursuant to Clause (3) of Paragraph C in connection with such release,

(ii) the Fair Value, in the opinion of the signers of such Engineer’s certificate, of such Trust Estate to be released as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the date of such Written Request of the Company, and

(iii) that in the judgment of such signers, such release (A) will not materially adversely affect the business of the Company or the ability to conduct business using the Trust Estate after giving effect to such release and (B) will not impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof;

(3) a Certificate of the Company, dated the date of such Written Request of the Company, stating

(i) the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding at the date of such Written Request of the Company,

(ii) that one percent (1%) of such aggregate principal amount exceeds the Fair Value of the Trust Estate for which such release is applied for,

(iii) that two percent (2%) of such aggregate principal amount exceeds the aggregate Fair Value of all property of the Trust Estate released from the lien of this Indenture pursuant to this Paragraph C, as shown by all Engineer’s certificates filed pursuant to Clause (2) of Paragraph C in such period of 12 consecutive calendar months, and

(iv) that, to the knowledge of the signer, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

(4) an Opinion of Counsel addressed to the Company and the Trustee, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that the instruments which have been or are delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to execute and deliver the release requested.

D. If the Company is unable, or elects not, to obtain, in accordance with Paragraphs B or C, the release from the lien of this Indenture of any of the Trust Estate, then unless an Event of

 

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Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon receipt and deposit of a Written Request of the Company requesting the release of any of the Trust Estate pursuant to this Paragraph D and those items at Clause (2) in this Paragraph D, the Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Company the documents and instruments described in Clause (1) of Paragraph D releasing from the lien of this Indenture the Trust Estate described in the Written Request of the Company:

(1) appropriate documents and instruments releasing without recourse the interests of the Trustee in the Trust Estate to be released, and describing in reasonable detail the Trust Estate to be released;

(2) cash in an amount equal to the greater of the following items (i) and (ii):

(i) the Fair Value of the property to be released, or

(ii) the consideration received or to be received by the Company therefor (valuing purchase money obligations at their principal amount and property received in exchange at its Fair Value as stated in said certificate),

provided, however, that in lieu of all or any part of such cash, the Company shall have the right to deposit with or deliver to the Trustee any of the following:

(a) purchase money obligations secured by a mortgage on the property to be released, or a portion thereof, not exceeding in principal amount sixty six and two thirds per cent (66-2/3%) of the Fair Value (as certified as above set forth) of the property covered by such purchase money mortgage, which purchase money obligations and the mortgages securing the same, shall be duly assigned to the Trustee and shall be received by the Trustee at the principal amount thereof in lieu of cash; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not accept any such purchase money obligations in lieu of cash as provided in this Clause if thereby the aggregate principal amount of all purchase money obligations received by the Trustee pursuant to this Clause and at the time held by the Trustee would equal or exceed 10 per cent (10%) of the principal amount of all Bonds then outstanding hereunder.

(b) a Certificate of the Trustee or other holder of a prior lien on all or any part of the property to be released, stating that a specific amount of cash and/or a specified principal amount of purchase money obligations of the character described in subparagraph (a) of this Clause and representing proceeds of the sale of such property, have been deposited with such trustee or other holder pursuant to the requirements of such prior lien, provided, however, that the aggregate of the cash and principal amount of purchase money obligations so certified at any one time shall in no event exceed the principal amount of the prior lien obligations outstanding thereunder, less any amounts then held by the trustee or other holder of such prior lien other than for the payment or redemption of prior lien obligations not deemed outstanding under this Indenture; and such certificate shall be received by the Trustee in lieu of cash equal to the cash and the principal amount of the purchase money obligations so certified to have been deposited with such trustee or other holder of such prior lien.

 

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(c) the Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments which the Company would be required to furnish to the Trustee, upon a Written Request for the authentication and delivery of Bonds on the basis of Property Additions under Article Four, but with the following variations and omissions of the instruments specified in § 4.01:

(i) There shall be an additional statement in Clause (2) of the Property Additions Certificate, to the effect that no part of the Property Additions therein described has in any other previous or then pending application been made the basis for the release of any property which is not Funded Property from the lien of this Indenture or for the withdrawal of any cash which is not Funded Cash from the Trustee or from the trustee or other holder of a prior lien, or to repair, replace, or restore insured property which is not Funded Property which shall have been damaged or destroyed but the proceeds of the insurance on which shall not have been required to be paid to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of § 9.07;

(ii) It shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee the Resolution required by Paragraph A of § 4.01, the Retirements required by Paragraphs (11) and (12) or the Net Earnings required by Paragraphs (13) and (14) and the Property Additions Certificate;

(iii) If no part of the property to be released is Funded Property and such property or any part thereof is subject to a prior lien, the Property Additions then so certified may be subject to the same prior lien, and the Property Additions Certificate and the Opinion of Counsel required by Paragraph F of § 4.01 may be modified accordingly.

Such Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments shall be received by the Trustee in lieu of cash up to the Gross Amount of Property Additions so certified to the Trustee;

(3) an Opinion or Opinions of Counsel addressed to the Company and the Trustee, complying with the provisions of § 1.04,

(a) stating that the instruments which have been or are therewith delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to execute and deliver the release requested, and that, upon the basis of the cash, purchase money obligations, certificates, opinions and other instruments delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Paragraph D of this Section, the property to be released from the lien of this Indenture may lawfully be released from the lien of this Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section;

 

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(b) stating that the purchase money obligations, if any, delivered to the Trustee or to the trustee or other holder of a prior lien pursuant to subparagraph (a) of Clause (2) of Paragraph D of this Section are valid obligations and are duly secured by a valid purchase money mortgage constituting a direct lien upon all the property to be released, or upon the portion thereof described, free and clear of all prior liens, charges or encumbrances, except any prior liens or other charges or encumbrances prior to the lien of this Indenture which may have existed on the property to be released immediately prior to such release and that the assignment of any mortgage securing such purchase money obligations is valid and in recordable form; and

(c) in case, pursuant to subparagraph (a) of Clause (2) of Paragraph D of this Section, any cash or purchase money obligations shall be certified to have been deposited with the trustee or other holder of a prior lien, stating that the property to be released, or a specified portion thereof, is or immediately before such sale or disposition was subject to such prior lien and that such deposit is required by such prior lien.

§ 7.03. [Provisions governing the taking of property by eminent domain.] If any part of the Trust Estate be taken by the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or if any state, municipality, or other governmental authority at any time exercises any right which it may then have to purchase any part of the trust estate, the Company, forthwith upon receipt, shall deposit the award for any property so taken by eminent domain and/or the proceeds of any such purchase with the Trustee, or, to the extent required, in the Opinion of Counsel, by the terms of a prior lien on all or any part of any property so taken or purchased, with the trustee or other holder of such prior lien. In the event of any such taking or purchase, the Trustee shall release the property so taken or purchased, but only upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of:

A. A Written Request of the Company, requesting such release and describing the property so to be released.

B. A Certificate of the Company, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that such property has been taken by eminent domain and the amount of the award therefor, or that said property has been purchased by a state, municipality, or other governmental authority pursuant to a right vested in it to purchase such property and the amount of the proceeds of such purchase, and also stating whether any of such property was Funded Property.

C. The Award for said property or the Proceeds of such purchase; provided, however, that, in lieu of all or any part of such award or proceeds, the Company shall have the right to deliver to the Trustee a Certificate of the trustee or other holder of a prior lien on all or any part of the property to be released, stating that said award or proceeds, or such specified part thereof, has been deposited with such trustee or other holder pursuant to the requirements of such prior lien, in an amount not exceeding the principal amount of prior lien obligations secured thereby.

 

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D. An Opinion of Counsel addressed to the Company and the Trustee, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating

(1) That such property has been duly taken by the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or has been duly purchased by a state, municipality or other governmental authority in the exercise of a right which it had to purchase such property, and that the instruments which have been or are therewith delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to execute and deliver the release requested.

(2) That the amount of the award for the property so taken by eminent domain or the amount of the proceeds of the property so purchased is not less than the amount to which the Company is entitled under the applicable laws governing such taking.

(3) In case, pursuant to the preceding Paragraph C, the award for said property, or the proceeds of such purchase or any portion thereof, shall be certified to have been deposited with the trustee or other holder of a prior lien, that the property to be released, or a specified portion thereof, is or immediately before such taking or purchase was subject to such prior lien, and that such deposit is required by such prior lien.

In any proceedings for the taking or purchase of any part of the Trust Estate by the exercise of eminent domain the Trustee may be represented by counsel, who may be counsel for the Company.

§ 7.04. [Provisions governing the sale of other disposal of any unprofitable and useless part of the Trust Estate.] In addition to the provisions of § 7.01 through § 7.03, inclusive, unless an Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing, the Company may at any time and from time to time, without any release or consent by the Trustee, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of any part of the Trust Estate (except cash, securities, contracts or other personal property pledged or deposited with or required to be pledged or deposited with the Trustee hereunder) which shall no longer be useful, necessary, profitable or advantageous in the judicious management and maintenance of the Trust Estate or in the conduct of the business of the Company provided the aggregate of the release prices of the items of property so sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of in any one calendar year shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). The Company covenants that, upon the completion of any such sale, exchange or other disposition, it will deposit with the Trustee cash in an amount equal to the release price of the property sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of. On or before May 1 of each year, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a Certificate of the Company briefly describing, and setting forth both the sales prices and the fair values of the several items of property so sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of since the date of the next preceding Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee pursuant to this Section (or in the case of the first such certificate, since the date of the execution and delivery hereof).

 

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At the request of the Company, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Certificate of the Company and an Opinion of Counsel (both complying with the requirements of § 1.04) as to compliance with this § 7.04, the Trustee shall execute any release or consent which may be necessary or advisable to confirm any action taken by the Company pursuant to this § 7.04, but no such release or consent shall be necessary. In such event the Trustee may, to the extent permitted by § 15.02, accept such Certificate and Opinion as conclusive evidence of compliance with the provisions of this § 7.04.

The term “release price” as used in this § 7.04 with reference to items of property shall mean the sales price of such property or the fair value thereof (so certified) at the time of sale, whichever is greater.

§ 7.05. [Consent of the Trustee to release in case of default.] The Company, while in possession of the Trust Estate (other than securities and cash held by the Trustee, or the trustee, or other holder of a prior lien), may do any of the things enumerated in § 7.01 (except Clause (d) thereof), notwithstanding that an Event of Default shall have happened and shall not have been remedied, and may do any of the things enumerated in § 7.02, § 7.03 or § 7.04 notwithstanding that it is in default in the performance of a covenant on its part to be performed under this Indenture, if in each case the Trustee may, but shall be under no obligation to, in writing expressly authorize or consent to such action.

§ 7.06. [Provisions governing a receiver or trustee.] In case the Trust Estate (other than securities and cash held by the Trustee or the trustee or other holder of a prior lien) shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee lawfully appointed, the powers in this Article conferred upon the Company with respect to the sale or other disposition and release of the Trust Estate may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be exercised by such receiver or trustee (subject, in the cases specified in § 7.05, to authorization or consent of the Trustee as provided therein), in which case a written request signed by said receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of the Written Request of the Company required by § 7.02 or § 7.03 and a certificate signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any Certificate of the Company required by any provision of this Indenture. If the Trustee shall be in possession of the Trust Estate (other than securities and cash held by the trustee or other holder of a prior lien) under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee in its discretion.

§ 7.07. [Provisions governing a purchaser in good faith.] No purchaser in good faith of property purporting to be released herefrom shall be bound to ascertain the authority of the Trustee to execute the release or to inquire as to the existence of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority; nor shall any purchaser or grantee of any property or rights permitted by this Article to be sold, granted or otherwise disposed of by the Company, be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Company to make any such sale, grant or other disposition.

§ 7.08. [Application of Cash.] Except as herein otherwise specifically provided, cash received by the Trustee pursuant to this Article, or pursuant to § 9.04, shall be held and paid over or applied by the Trustee as provided in Article Eight, and all purchase money obligations

 

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received by the Trustee pursuant to this Article or pursuant to § 9.04, shall be held by the Trustee as a part of the Trust Estate. The principal of and (subject to the provisions of § 7.01(d)) interest on all such obligations shall be received by the Trustee as and when the same shall become payable, and the Trustee may take any action which in its judgment may be desirable or necessary for the collection thereof or for the enforcement of the security therefor or otherwise for the protection thereof. Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and shall not have been remedied, or unless to the knowledge of the Trustee the Company shall be in default in the performance of any of the covenants on its part to be performed under this Indenture, all interest received by the Trustee on any such obligation shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon its Written Order in accordance with § 7.01(d).

Upon payment by or on behalf of the Company to the Trustee of the principal amount of any such obligation, or the portion thereof remaining unpaid, the Trustee shall release and surrender such obligation to the Company upon its Written Order.

A RTICLE E IGHT .

Application and Withdrawal of Trust Moneys.

§ 8.01. [General Provision with respect to the application and withdrawal of Trust Moneys.] All moneys received by the Trustee pursuant to § 5.01B, all moneys received by the Trustee upon the release of property from the lien of this Indenture, including the principal of all purchase money obligations when paid, all moneys received by the Trustee as compensation for any part of the Trust Estate taken by the exercise of the power of eminent domain or purchased by a public authority, all moneys received by the Trustee as proceeds of the sale of or insurance upon any part of the Trust Estate, all other moneys elsewhere herein provided to be held and applied as in this Article provided, and all moneys, if any, received by the Trustee the disposition of which is not elsewhere herein otherwise specifically provided for (all of such moneys in this Section described being herein sometimes called “Trust Moneys,” whether or not the same be Funded Cash), shall be held by the Trustee as a part of the Trust Estate, and, upon default in the payment of the principal of any of the Bonds when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether by the terms thereof or by declaration or otherwise, as herein provided, said moneys shall, unless and until such default shall be remedied, be applicable only to the purposes specified in, and in accordance with the provision of, § 12.10; but, unless such a default shall have happened and shall not have been remedied, all or any part of said Trust Moneys, at the request and election of the Company, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, may be withdrawn from and shall be applied by the Trustee from time to time as provided in § 8.02, § 8.03, § 8.04, § 8.05, § 8.07 or § 8.08.

§ 8.02. [Provisions governing withdrawal of certain Trust Moneys against Gross Amount of Property Additions.] Trust Moneys which are proceeds of insurance upon any part of the Trust Estate may be withdrawn on the basis of Gross Amount of Property Additions and shall be paid by the Trustee upon the Written Order of the Company at any time and from time to time, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of the following:

A. A Written Request of the Company, in the case of amounts of Trust Moneys not exceeding One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), or, in all other cases, a Resolution of the Board, requesting the withdrawal and payment of a specified amount of Trust Moneys, designating the Trust Moneys so to be withdrawn and identifying the same as moneys subject to withdrawal pursuant to this § 8.02.

 

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B. The Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments W hich the Company would be required to furnish to the Trustee, upon an application for the authentication and delivery of Bonds on the basis of Property Additions under Article Four, but with the following variations and omissions of the instruments specified in § 4.01:

(1) Clause (1) of a Property Additions Certificate shall contain an additional statement to the effect that no part of the Property Additions therein described has been acquired by the Company more than ninety (90) days prior to the date when the Trustee received the Trust Moneys the withdrawal of which is then requested (or in the case of Trust Moneys representing the proceeds of purchase money obligations, the date when the Trustee received such proceeds).

(2) There shall be an unqualified statement in Clause (2) of a Property Additions Certificate that no part of the Property Additions therein described has theretofore been used for any purpose of this Indenture; said Certificate shall not contain the statements in Clauses (10), (11) and (12) in a Property Additions Certificate relating to Retirements; and by Clauses (13), (14) and (15) in a Property Additions Certificate relating to Net Earnings and the summary required by clause (16) of a Property Additions Certificate shall show only the Gross Amount of Property Additions.

(3) It shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee the Resolution required by § 4.01A; the Certificate required by § 4.01C; or any of the certificates or parts of the Opinion of Counsel referred to in § 4.01F(1), (6) and (7).

(4) The Property Additions Certificate shall contain an additional clause stating what part of the Trust Moneys to be withdrawn is Funded Cash.

(5) The Opinion of Counsel required by § 4.01F shall contain an additional Clause stating that the instruments which have been or are therewith delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to pay over the Trust Moneys applied for, and that the Trust Moneys the withdrawal of which is then requested may be lawfully paid over under this Section.

Subject to the provisions of § 8.08, upon compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company shall be entitled to withdraw and the Trustee shall pay upon the Written Order of the Company an amount of Trust Moneys equal to the amount of the Gross Amount of Property Additions so certified to the Trustee pursuant to § 8.02B.

 

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§ 8.03. [Provisions governing withdrawal of certain Trust Moneys deposited pursuant to § 5.01 against Net Amount of Property Additions.] (a) Trust Moneys deposited pursuant to § 5.01 may be withdrawn on the basis of seventy per cent (70%) of the Net Amount of Property Additions certified to the Trustee as hereinafter in this § 8.03 provided and (b) other Trust Moneys (including, without limitation, Trust Moneys deposited pursuant to Granting Clause IV) may be withdrawn on the basis of one hundred per cent (100%) of the Net Amount of Property Additions so certified and in either case shall be paid by the Trustee on the Written Order of the Company at any time and from time to time, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of the following:

A. A Written Request of the Company, in the case of amounts of Trust Moneys not exceeding One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), or, in all other cases, a Resolution of the Board requesting the withdrawal and payment of a specified amount of Trust Moneys, and designating the Trust Moneys so to be withdrawn, particularly identifying any such Trust Moneys deposited pursuant to § 5.01.

B. The Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments which the Company would be required to furnish to the Trustee upon an application for the authentication and delivery of Bonds on the basis of a Net Amount of Property Additions under Article Four, but with the following variations and omissions of the instruments specified in § 4.01:

(1) There shall be an unqualified statement in Clause (2) of the Property Additions Certificate that none of the Property Additions therein described has theretofore been used for any purpose of this Indenture; and said Certificate shall omit Clauses (13), (14) and (15) relating to Net Earnings.

(2) It shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee the Resolution required by § 4.01A or any of the certificates or parts of the Opinion of Counsel referred to in § 4.01F(1), (6) and (7); and the Certificate, if any, required by § 4.01C shall omit Clause (2) thereof.

(3) The Property Additions Certificate shall contain an additional Clause stating what part of the Trust Moneys to be withdrawn is Funded Cash, and stating what part, if any, of the Trust Moneys to be withdrawn are moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 5.01.

(4) The Opinion of Counsel required by § 4.01F shall contain an additional Clause stating that the instruments which have been or are therewith delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to pay over the Trust Moneys applied for, and that upon the basis of the acquisition of the Property Additions described in the Certificate delivered to the Trustee pursuant to this Paragraph B, the Trust Moneys the withdrawal of which is then requested may be lawfully paid over under this Section.

 

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Subject to the provisions of § 8.08, upon compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company shall be entitled to withdraw and the Trustee shall pay upon the Written Order of the Company an amount of Trust Moneys deposited pursuant to § 5.01 up to, but not exceeding, seventy per cent (70%) of the Net Amount of Property Additions certified to the Trustee pursuant to § 8.03B and an amount of other Trust Moneys up to, but not exceeding, one hundred per cent (100%) of the Net Amount of Property Additions so certified to the Trustee pursuant to § 8.03B.

§ 8.04. [Provisions governing withdrawal of certain Trust Moneys against Bonds.] Trust Moneys may be withdrawn on the basis of the retirement of Bonds and shall be paid by the Trustee upon the Written Order of the Company at any time and from time to time, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of the following:

A. A Written Request of the Company, in the case of amounts of Trust Moneys not exceeding One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), or, in all other cases, a Resolution of the Board, requesting the withdrawal and payment of a specified amount of Trust Moneys, and designating the Trust Moneys so to be withdrawn.

B. The Bonds, Certificates, Opinions and Other Instruments which the Company would be required to furnish to the Trustee upon an application for the authentication and delivery of Bonds under Article Six, but with the following variations or omissions of the items specified in § 6.01:

(1) The Bond Retirement Certificate shall contain an additional statement to the effect that all of the Bonds which are then made the basis of the withdrawal of such Trust Moneys are Bonds which were originally issued by the Company by way of bona fide sale, other than to an Affiliate of the Company.

(2) Clause (2) of the Bond Retirement Certificate shall contain an unqualified statement that the Bonds which are then made the basis for the withdrawal of the Trust Moneys then applied for do not include any Bond which has theretofore been used for any purpose of this Indenture.

(3) It shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee the Resolution required by § 6.01A or those parts of the Opinion of Counsel specified in § 6.01E which are required by reference to Clauses (1), (6) and (7) of § 4.01F or the data relating to Net Earnings required by Clause (4) of a Bond Retirement Certificate or the Certificate required by § 6.01C.

(4) The Bond Retirement Certificate shall contain an additional Clause stating what part of the Trust Moneys to be withdrawn is Funded Cash.

(5) The Opinion of Counsel required by § 6.01E shall contain an additional Clause stating that the instruments which have been or are therewith delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to pay over the

 

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Trust Moneys applied for, and that, upon the basis of the retirement (or provision therefor) of the Bonds then made the basis of the withdrawal of such Trust Moneys pursuant to this Paragraph B, such Trust Moneys may be lawfully paid over under this Section.

Subject to the provisions of § 8.08, upon compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company shall be entitled to withdraw and the Trustee shall pay upon the Written Order of the Company an amount of Trust Moneys equal to the principal amount of the Bonds then made the basis of such withdrawal of Trust Moneys pursuant to § 8.04B.

§ 8.05. [Provisions governing application of Trust Moneys to the payment or redemption of Bonds.] Trust Moneys may be applied by the Trustee at any time and from time to time to the payment of the principal of Bonds upon redemption prior to maturity, or upon the purchase of Bonds upon tender or in the open market or at private sale or upon any securities exchange, or in any one or more of said ways, as the Company shall determine, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of the following:

A. A Written Request of the Company, in the case of amounts of Trust Moneys not exceeding One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), or, in all other cases, a Resolution of the Board, requesting the application pursuant to the provisions of this Section of a specified amount of Trust Moneys, designating the Trust Moneys so to be applied, and specifying the principal amount of Bonds and the series thereof to be redeemed and the redemption price, or, in case such moneys are to be applied to the purchase of Bonds, prescribing the method of purchase, the price or prices to be paid, which price or prices shall not exceed such then current redemption price, and the maximum principal amount of Bonds and the series thereof to be purchased.

B. Cash sufficient to cover the amount of the accrued interest and premium, if any, required to be paid in connection with any such redemption or purchase, which cash shall be held by the Trustee in trust for such purpose, and, repaid to the Company, to the extent not required for such purpose, shall be repaid to the Company.

C. A Certificate of the Company, complying with the provisions of § 1.04,

(1) Stating what part of the Trust Moneys so to be applied is Funded Cash.

(2) Stating that all Bonds so to be redeemed or purchased were originally issued by the Company by way of bona fide sale to a person other than an Affiliate.

(3) Stating that the Company is not in default in the performance of any of the covenants on its part to be performed under this Indenture.

D. An Opinion of Counsel, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that it is proper for the Trustee, under the provisions of this Section, to apply Trust Moneys in accordance with such Resolution of the Board.

 

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Subject to the provisions of § 8.08 and § 8.09, upon compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall apply Trust Moneys as requested by said Resolution of the Board for the purpose of purchasing or redeeming Bonds, using the cash deposited pursuant to § 8.05B, to the extent necessary, to pay any accrued interest and premium or excess over the principal amount of the Bonds purchased, in connection with any such redemption or purchase.

§ 8.06. [Deposit of cash.] Wherever in this Indenture provision is made for the deposit of cash with the Trustee which is subject to disposition as provided in this Article Eight, such cash need not actually be deposited if and to the extent that the Company shall at the time furnish to the Trustee all items necessary to withdraw such cash pursuant to this Article Eight. In such event, however, such cash shall, for the purposes of any reference in this Indenture to cash deposited with or received by the Trustee or withdrawn, be deemed to have been actually deposited with the Trustee and released or applied by it pursuant to this Article Eight.

§ 8.07. [Application of Trust Moneys held more than two years.] Whenever any Trust Moneys shall not have been applied as provided in this Article Eight within two (2) years after the receipt thereof by the Trustee, such cash, unless it shall amount to less than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), shall be applied to the redemption of Bonds pro rata as between the several series of Bonds then outstanding which are redeemable, in the ratio of the respective aggregate principal amounts of each such series outstanding at the aforesaid time. In case such Trust Moneys shall be applied to redemption of Bonds of any series, redemption shall be effected at the redemption price then applicable upon a redemption of Bonds of such series at the option of the Company, in such manner and upon such notice as may be specified in respect of said Bonds of each series in this Indenture or in any applicable indenture supplemental hereto.

§ 8.08. [Mandatory redemption of Bonds in certain cases.] In case of the sale and release, or the taking by eminent domain, of either the entire Trust Estate or all or substantially all of that portion of the Trust Estate used in the Gas Business of the Company, the Company will call for redemption and redeem all of the Bonds then outstanding hereunder. In the case of the sale and release to any state, municipality, or other governmental authority pursuant to the exercise of any right which it may then have to purchase any part of the trust estate, or the taking by eminent domain, of all or substantially all of that portion of the Trust Estate used in the Gas Business of the Company in any particular municipality for a consideration of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) or more, then all Trust Moneys representing the proceeds thereof received by the Trustee shall be applied by the Trustee to the redemption of Bonds outstanding hereunder (prorated among the several series, according to the principal amount of Bonds outstanding of each series, if Bonds of more than one series be outstanding and redeemable) at such then applicable redemption prices, in such manner and upon such notice (which shall be given by the Trustee for and on behalf of the Company, and in the name of the Company) as may be specified in respect of said Bonds of each series in this Indenture or in any applicable indenture supplemental hereto. In the case of any redemption pursuant to this § 8.08,

 

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the 2023 Series II Bonds, the 2024 Series JJ Bonds and the 2040 Series KK Bonds shall be redeemed at the redemption price specified in § 10.06, § 10.08 and § 10.10, respectively, and the 2018 Series LL Bonds shall be redeemed at the redemption price specified in § 10.12, and the 2027 Series MM Bonds, the 2035 Series NN Bonds and the 2041 Series OO Bonds shall be redeemed at the redemption price specified in § 10.14, § 10.16 and § 10.18, respectively, and the 2028 Series PP Bonds shall be redeemed at the redemption price specified in § 10.20, and the 2024 Series QQ Bonds and the 2044 Series RR Bonds shall be redeemed at the redemption price specified in § 10.22 and § 10.24, respectively.

Whenever Bonds shall be redeemed pursuant to § 8.07 or this § 8.08, the Company shall in each case pay to the Trustee cash sufficient to cover the amount of the accrued interest and premium, if any, required to be paid in connection with any such redemption, which cash shall be held by the Trustee in trust for such purpose, and, to the extent not required for such purpose, shall be repaid to the Company.

§ 8.09. [Power of Company or receiver after default.] In case the Company shall be in default hereunder (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing), the Company, while in possession of the Trust Estate (other than securities and cash held by the Trustee or the trustee or other holder of a prior lien), may do any of the things enumerated in § 8.02 to § 8.05, inclusive, if the Trustee, in its discretion, or the holders of at least a majority in amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding, shall in writing expressly authorize or consent to such action, in which event any certificate filed pursuant to any of said Sections may contain a statement referring to such authorization or consent in lieu of any statement that the Company is not in default hereunder.

In case the Trust Estate (other than securities and cash held by the Trustee or the trustee or other holder of a prior lien) shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee lawfully appointed, the powers hereinbefore in § 8.02 and § 8.03 conferred upon the Company with respect to the withdrawal of Trust Moneys may be exercised by such receiver or trustee (subject to similar authorization or consent of the Trustee or Bondholders as aforesaid), in which case a written request signed by said receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any Resolution of the Board or any Written Request of the Company required by any provision of this Article, and a certificate signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any Certificate of the Company required by any provision of this Indenture, and such certificate shall contain a statement to the effect that the Company is not in default in payment of the principal of any Bond, but need not contain a statement to the effect that the Company is not otherwise in default hereunder. If the Trustee shall be in possession of the Trust Estate (other than securities and cash held by the trustee or other holder of a prior lien) under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee so in possession of the Trust Estate, in its uncontrolled discretion.

§ 8.10. [Cancellation of Bonds delivered to the Trustee under Article Eight.] All Bonds delivered uncancelled to the Trustee and on the basis of which Trust Moneys are paid over, or for whose redemption or purchase Trust Moneys are applied, under this Article, when received by the Trustee, shall be immediately cancelled.

 

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§ 8.11. [Moneys received by Trustee to be held in trust.] All moneys received by the Trustee, including any moneys received for the payment of Bonds, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, shall be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but, except to the extent required by applicable law, need not be segregated in any manner from any other moneys, and the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to pay interest thereon except such, if any, as during the period it may generally allow on similar funds or as it may agree to pay. Unless an Event of Default has happened and shall be continuing, any interest so allowed by the Trustee shall be paid over to the Company.

A RTICLE N INE .

Particular Covenants of the Company.

The Company hereby further covenants, agrees and warrants as follows:

§ 9.01. [Provisions governing payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on Bonds.] The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on every Bond issued under this Indenture, on the dates and at the place and in the manner specified in the Bonds. The interest on Bonds shall be paid to or upon the order of the registered owners thereof by the method and at the address specified for such purpose by the registered owner, and if such interest shall be paid otherwise than by check of, or wire transfer from, the Trustee, evidence satisfactory to the Trustee with respect to such payment shall be furnished to the Trustee promptly after payment.

Money deposited with the Trustee or with any paying agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Bonds, shall constitute a trust fund for such purpose and for no other purpose whatsoever. Every paying agent which may be appointed for the purpose of making payments of the principal of, premium, if any, or the interest on any Bond shall be required to notify the Trustee in writing promptly of any default by the Company in the payment of any such principal or interest.

The Company covenants and agrees that if it should at any time act as its own paying agent it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premiums, if any, or interest on any of the Bonds, set aside and segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of such Bonds, a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest so becoming due, and will notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.

§ 9.02. [Reserved.]

§ 9.03. [Provisions governing title to Company’s property.] The Company is lawfully seized and possessed of and has good title to all property described in the Granting Clauses hereof as being presently mortgaged and pledged hereunder, and it has good right and lawful authority to mortgage and pledge the same as provided in and by this Indenture; said property is free and clear of all liens and encumbrances except Permitted Encumbrances, and the Company warrants and will defend the title to such property and every part thereof to the Trustee, its successors in the trust and assigns, forever, for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds, against the claims and demands of all persons whomsoever.

 

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This Indenture is and always will be kept a first lien upon the Trust Estate subject only to Permitted Encumbrances and prior liens permitted by § 9.04.

§ 9.04. [Provisions governing payment of taxes; Negative pledge.] The Company will pay or cause to be paid all taxes and assessments levied or assessed upon the Company or upon the Trust Estate or upon any income therefrom or upon the interest of the Trustee or of the Bondholders in respect of the Trust Estate, when the same shall become due, and will duly observe and conform to all valid requirements of any governmental authority relative to any of the Trust Estate, and all covenants, terms and conditions upon or under which any of the Trust Estate is held.

The Company will not create or suffer to be hereafter created, or to exist, any lien upon the Trust Estate, or any part thereof, or the income therefrom, prior to, or having equality with, the lien of these presents, except Permitted Encumbrances.

The Company will not permit any increase of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding prior lien obligations secured by any prior lien.

The Company will not permit any default to occur in the payment of any principal of or any interest or premium on any prior lien obligations, and will not permit any act or omission, which is or may be declared to be a default under any mortgage securing prior lien obligations, to occur hereafter or to continue beyond the period of grace, if any, specified in any such mortgage, and will, at all times, protect its title to the Trust Estate and every part thereof against loss by reason of any foreclosure or other proceeding to enforce any prior lien thereon.

Upon the cancellation and discharge of any prior lien, the Company will cause all cash, obligations or other property then held by the trustee or other holder of such prior lien, which were received by such trustee or other holder by reason of the release of, or which represents the proceeds of the taking by eminent domain or the purchase by a public authority or any other disposition of, or insurance on, any of the Trust Estate (including all proceeds of or substitutes for any thereof), in case such cash, obligations or other property was received by such trustee or other holder while the property released was subject to the lien of this Indenture, and not otherwise, to be paid and/or deposited and pledged with the Trustee, subject to no lien or charge prior to the lien of this Indenture, such cash to be held and paid over or applied by the Trustee as provided in Article Eight and such obligations or other property to be held by the Trustee as part of the Trust Estate.

Within three months after the accruing of any lawful claims or demands for labor, material, supplies or other objects, which, if unpaid, might by law be given precedence over this Indenture as a lien or charge upon the Trust Estate or the income thereof, the Company will pay the same, or make adequate provision to satisfy or discharge the same.

 

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Nothing contained in this Section shall require the Company to observe or conform to any requirement of any governmental authority or to pay or cause to be paid or discharged, or make provision for, any tax, prior lien, charge, claim or demand so long as the validity thereof shall be contested by it in good faith and by appropriate legal proceedings and such security for the payment thereof shall be given as the Trustee may require; and it will not suffer to be done any matter or thing whereby the lien hereof might or could be impaired.

The Company will not claim or demand or be entitled to receive any credit on the interest payable on the Bonds or on any other payment secured hereby for any portion of any taxes assessed against the Trust Estate.

§ 9.05. [Provisions governing maintenance of property.] The Company covenants that the business of the Company will be carried on and conducted in accordance with prudent business management; all property, plants, appliances and equipment of the Company useful in the carrying on of its business will be kept in repair and maintained in good working order and condition, and if worn-out or injured will be replaced by other property suitable to the business of the Company and of at least equal value or efficiency; provided that, if such other property is not of at least equal value, such property shall be of at least equal efficiency and otherwise of a quality consistent with prudent industry standards; and no rights, franchises or privileges of the Company will, except as permitted by the provisions of § 7.01, be allowed to lapse or be forfeited prior to the expiration thereof according to their respective terms.

The Company will promptly classify as Retirements for the purpose of the computation of the Net Amount of Property Additions hereunder all Funded Property that has permanently ceased to be used or useful in the Gas Business of the Company.

Whenever the holders of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds per cent (66-2/3%) in principal amount of any of the series of the Bonds then outstanding shall so request in a written notice served upon the Company and the Trustee, the Company at its own expense shall promptly appoint the Independent Engineer named by such holders in such request to make an inspection of the mortgaged property and a review of the operations of the Company and within a reasonable time after his appointment to report to the Company and to the Trustee (a) 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 hereinabove in this Section set forth, and if not, such report shall specify the character and extent of, and the estimated cost of making good, the deficiency in such maintenance, and, if longer than one year, the time reasonably necessary to make good such deficiency; (b) whether or not the Company shall have complied with the covenants in the next preceding paragraph regarding the classification of Funded Property as Retirements; and (c) whether or not in his opinion the operations of the Company have been carried on in accordance with prudent business management.

The Company shall not be obligated to make more than one such appointment within any period of sixty (60) months.

The report of such Independent Engineer shall be placed on file by the Trustee and shall be open to inspection by any Bondholder at any reasonable time, and the Trustee shall, within

 

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thirty (30) days after said report has been filed with it, transmit by mail a copy of said report to each registered holder of ten per cent (10%) or more in principal amount of the Bonds outstanding hereunder.

Such report shall be binding upon the Trustee, the Company and the Bondholders unless, within thirty (30) days after filing of the report, the Company (by notice in writing to the Trustee) or the Trustee acting upon the written request of the holders of a majority in amount of the Bonds outstanding hereunder (by notice in writing to the Company) shall state that such report is not approved, specifying with reasonable particularity the matters therein which are not approved. All matters so specified in such notice shall forthwith be referred to three arbitrators selected in the following manner:

The Trustee, within ten (10) days after receipt of notice, shall name one arbitrator and give notice of such selection to the Company. Within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice of selection, the Company shall name one arbitrator and give notice of such selection to the Trustee, and upon failure so to do the Trustee shall name an arbitrator to represent the Company. The two thus selected shall, within ten (10) days after the appointment of the arbitrator representing the Company, select a third arbitrator, but if said arbitrators are unable within said ten (10) days to agree upon such third arbitrator then, upon the application of either the Company or the Trustee, the person who is the District Judge of the United States of America for the District of New Jersey, senior in service, shall have the power to appoint such third arbitrator upon application to said District Judge by either the Company or the Trustee on five (5) days notice thereof to the other. Each of such three arbitrators so selected shall be an Independent Engineer.

The written decision of a majority of such arbitrators shall be filed as soon as practicable with the Trustee and a copy thereof delivered to the Company, and shall be binding upon the Trustee, the Company and the Bondholders.

If such written decision shall modify the report of the Independent Engineer which was the subject of arbitration, reference hereinafter in this § 9.05 to such report of the Independent Engineer shall be deemed to mean the report of such Independent Engineer as modified by the decision of such arbitrators. Pending the final determination of arbitrators pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section, the statements contained in the report of such Independent Engineer which is the subject of arbitration shall not be deemed evidence of failure to comply with the provisions of this Section.

In the computation hereunder of the Net Amount of Property Additions, after any such report of an Independent Engineer shall have become final the Company shall classify as Retirements, at the amount or amounts which such report specifies, the property which said report states should be classified as Retirements for the purpose of such computation and which has not been retired on the books of the Company.

The Company shall, with all reasonable speed, (a) do such maintenance work as may be necessary to make good such maintenance deficiency, if any, as shall have been specified to exist in such report, and (b) modify its method of operation to correct such defaults, if any, as shall

 

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have been specified to exist in such report in respect of the operations of the Company, and upon completion thereof such Independent Engineer (or, in the case of his refusal or inability to act, some other Independent Engineer of national reputation selected by the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care) shall report in writing to the Trustee that (a) any maintenance deficiency specified in said report has been made good, and/or (b) any default in respect of the operations of the Company has been corrected.

Unless the Trustee shall (in the case of a maintenance deficiency) be so informed in writing by such Independent Engineer within one year from the date of the report with respect to the maintenance deficiency (or such longer period as may be specified in such report to be reasonably necessary for the purpose), that such maintenance deficiency has been made good, the Company shall be deemed to have defaulted in the due performance of the covenants of this Section 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.

Unless the Trustee shall (in the case of a default in respect of other operations of the Company) be so informed in writing by such Independent Engineer within sixty (60) days after written notice of such default shall have been given pursuant to § 12.01D, said report of such Independent Engineer shall be conclusive evidence against the Company of the existence of the default therein set forth, and the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying thereon.

All expenses incurred pursuant to this Section shall be borne by the Company.

In the event that the Department of Public Utilities, Board of Public Utility Commissioners of the State of New Jersey or other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company in the premises shall determine that the expenditures required by this Section for repairs and maintenance are excessive or shall, by order or regulation, 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, to the extent that such expenditures for repairs and maintenance shall have been held excessive or shall be prohibited.

§ 9.06. [Provisions governing further assurances and filings; Annual certificate and opinion.] At any and all times the Company will do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, file and/or record, and will cause to be done, executed, acknowledged, delivered, filed and/or recorded, all and every such further acts, deeds, conveyances, mortgages, transfers and assurances in law as the Trustee shall reasonably require for the better assuring, conveying, pledging, transferring, mortgaging, assigning and confirming unto the Trustee all and singular the hereditaments and premises, estate and property hereby conveyed, pledged, transferred or assigned, or intended so to be.

The Company will cause this Indenture and every instrument amendatory hereof or supplementary hereto which shall be executed pursuant to the provisions hereof, forthwith upon

 

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execution, to be recorded as a real estate mortgage and, if required by law, recorded and/or filed or refiled as a chattel mortgage and will, to the extent permitted by law, pay any mortgage recording or filing or other tax legally due upon such recording and filing or the issuing of Bonds hereunder, and will punctually and fully comply with the requirements of any and every mortgage recording tax law or other law, or direction of the Trustee, affecting the due recording and re-recording and filing and re-filing of this Indenture or of such additional instruments in such manner as may be necessary fully to preserve, continue and protect the security and validity of the Bonds, the superior lien of this Indenture on the Trust Estate and the rights and remedies of the Trustee.

Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company will furnish to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel addressed to the Company and the Trustee, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, either stating that in the opinion of such counsel this Indenture has been properly recorded and filed so as to make effective the lien intended to be created hereby and that all other action required by the preceding paragraph theretofore to have been taken has been taken, and reciting the details of such action, or stating that in the opinion of such counsel no such recording, filing or other action is necessary to make such lien effective.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing covenants of this Section, the Company will furnish to the Trustee on or before May 1st in each year, the following:

A. A Certificate of the Company, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, briefly describing (or referring to descriptions thereof in other Certificates of the Company) each item of property which was acquired in the preceding calendar year at a cost of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (escalating at the CPI from September, 2014), and which under the terms hereof is subjected to the lien of this Indenture, or required so to be.

B. An Opinion of Counsel, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, either stating that in the opinion of such counsel such action has been taken with respect to the recording, filing, re-recording and re-filing of this Indenture as is necessary to maintain the lien hereof, and reciting the details of such action, or stating that in the opinion of such counsel no such action is necessary to maintain such lien, and stating whether, under the then applicable law, such action will be necessary or advisable within the next ensuing period of twelve months.

C. Mortgages, Deeds, Conveyances, Assignments, Transfers and Instruments of Further Assurance, if any, specified in such Opinion of Counsel and not theretofore delivered to the Trustee.

§ 9.07. [Provisions governing insurance; Annual insurance certificate.] The Company will at all times keep the Trust Estate insured with good and reputable insurance companies against loss or damage by fire or other risk, to the extent that property of similar character is usually insured by companies engaged in a similar business; provided the Company may at its election carry as self insurer primary limits of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (escalating at the CPI from September, 2014) in respect of such liabilities or damages, any such

 

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system of self-insurance (including an appropriate reserve or reserves therefor) provided that the same conforms to approved practices of similar companies maintaining systems of self insurance. The Company will also at all times maintain proper insurance against loss or damage from such hazards and risks to the person and property of others as are usually insured against by companies engaged in a similar business. All policies or other contracts for insurance upon the Trust Estate shall provide that any insurance moneys in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (escalating at the CPI from September, 2014) which are payable in respect of any one loss under all policies covering such loss shall be payable to the Trustee as its interest may appear, or to the trustee or other holder of any prior lien if required by the terms thereof; and, if so requested in writing by the Trustee, the Company will, subject to the provisions of any prior lien, cause policies for such insurance to be delivered to the Trustee.

Any such insurance moneys received by the Trustee shall be held by the Trustee and be applied from time to time as provided in Article Eight.

There shall be deposited with the Trustee, at such reasonable times as it may request, and at least once in each year on or before May 1 without any such request, a Certificate of the Company, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, with respect to the compliance by the Company with the covenants contained in this § 9.07, which certificate (i) shall include the names of the issuing companies, the numbers and expiration dates of the policies, the amounts of such policies and the risks covered thereby, (ii) the amounts of any self insurance in respect of liabilities or damages maintained by the Company and (iii) shall state that it has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of this § 9.07. In case the Trustee shall at any time notify the Company in writing that it disapproves of any insurance company with which the Company has taken out any insurance, or of the terms of any such policy, other insurance satisfactory to the Trustee shall forthwith be effected by the Company.

Except as may be otherwise required by § 15.02, the Trustee may accept as conclusive the adjustment of any loss or losses between the Company and any insurance company, and the Trustee shall be under no duty or obligation to check or verify any insurance policies or any list of insurance policies at any time filed with it hereunder, or to ascertain whether the Trust Estate is adequately or properly insured and may accept a certificate of the Company as conclusive evidence of any such adjustment and also as conclusive evidence that the total amounts payable by insurance companies with respect to any given loss by the Company are or will be less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).

§ 9.08. [Reserved.]

§ 9.09. [Provisions governing books of record.] The Company will keep books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or transactions relative to the plants, properties, business and affairs of the Company.

§ 9.10. [Provisions governing inspection of books by agent of Trustee.] All books, documents and vouchers relative to the plants, properties, business and affairs of the Company shall at all reasonable times be open to the inspection of such accountant or other agent as the Trustee may from time to time designate, and the Company will bear all reasonable

 

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expenses of such inspections at intervals of not more than once every two years. Except as may be otherwise required by § 15.02, the Trustee shall be under no duty to cause any such inspection to be made, unless requested so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in amount of the Bonds.

§ 9.11. [Provisions governing maintenance of existence and franchises.] Except in the case of a merger, consolidation, conveyance or transfer as in Article Fourteen provided, the Company will at all times maintain its corporate existence and right to carry on business, and will duly procure all renewals and extensions thereof, and except as provided in Article Seven will diligently maintain, preserve and renew all the rights, powers, privileges, immunities and franchises owned by it.

§ 9.12. [Provisions governing advances by the Trustee.] If the Company shall fail to perform any of the covenants contained in § 9.04 and § 9.07, the Trustee may make advances to perform the same in its behalf, but, except as may be otherwise required by § 15.02, shall be under no obligation so to do; and all sums advanced shall be at once repayable by the Company, and shall bear interest at the Trustee’s Prime Rate until paid, and shall be secured hereby and have the benefit of the lien hereby created in priority to the Bonds issued hereunder, but no such advance shall be deemed to relieve the Company from any default hereunder.

§ 9.13. [Reserved.]

[ None of the provisions of the following § 9.14, § 9.15 or § 9.16 shall be operative for any purpose (except for the purpose of reference thereto made in other provisions of this Indenture) unless and until this Indenture shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Upon such qualification, however, all such provisions shall become operative for all purposes .]

§ 9.14. [Provisions governing certain filings by the Company.] The Company covenants and agrees

(1) To file with the Trustee and any applicable regulatory authority within fifteen (15) days after the Company is required to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as such Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with such Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents, or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by said Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents, and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.

 

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(2) To file with the Trustee and the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by said Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

(3) To transmit to the holders of the Bonds in the manner and to the extent provided in § 15.05(c) with respect to reports pursuant to § 15.05(a), such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Clauses (1) and (2) of this § 9.14 as may be required by the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

§ 9.15. [Provisions governing furnishing of list of Bondholders.] The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee between April 15 and April 30 and between October 15 and October 30 in each year, beginning with the month of October in the year after this Indenture shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require containing all the information in the possession or control of the Company or of its paying agents, as to the names and addresses of the holders of Bonds obtained since the date as of which the next previous list, if any, was furnished. Any such list may be dated as of a date not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the time such information is furnished or caused to be furnished, and need not include information received after such date.

§ 9.16. [Provisions governing preservation of list of Bondholders.] (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Bonds (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in § 9.15, (2) received by it in the capacity of paying agent hereunder, and (3) filed with it within two (2) preceding years pursuant to the provisions of § 15.05(c)(2). The Trustee may (1) destroy any list furnished to it as provided in § 9.15 upon receipt of a new list so furnished; (2) destroy any information received by it as paying agent upon delivering to itself as Trustee, not earlier than forty-five (45) days after an interest payment date of the Bonds, a list containing the names and addresses of the holders of Bonds obtained from such information since the delivery of the next previous list, if any; (3) destroy any list delivered to itself as Trustee which was compiled from information received by it as paying agent upon the receipt of a new list so delivered; and (4) destroy any information received by it pursuant to the provisions of § 15.05(c)(2), but not until two (2) years after such information has been filed with it.

(b) In case three or more holders of Bonds (hereinafter referred to as “applicants” ) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Bond for a period of at least six (6) months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Bonds with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Bonds, and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five (5) business days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either

 

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(1) afford to such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Clause (a) of this Section; or

(2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Bonds whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of Clause (a) of this Section, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Bondholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford to such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Bondholder whose name and address appears in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Clause (a) of this Section, a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment or provision for the payment of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five (5) days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of bonds, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, after opportunity for, a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Bondholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

(c) The Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of the mailing of any material pursuant to any request made under Clause (b) of this Section.

§ 9.17. [Provisions governing filing with Trustee of Balance Sheets and Income Statements.] The Company covenants and agrees to deliver to the Trustee:

A. Within fifty five (55) days after the end of each quarterly period, except the last, of each fiscal year, a copy of its balance sheet and its statement of capitalization as at the end of such quarterly period, its income statement for the three months to the end of such quarterly period, and its statements of cash flows for the three months to the end of such quarterly period together with the figures for the corresponding date or period or fiscal year end prior thereto, as the case may be, in reasonable detail, certified by a financial officer of the Company; and

B. Within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its balance sheet as at the end of such year, its income statement for such year, its statement of cash flows for such year, its statement of capitalization for such year and its statement of common stock equity and comprehensive income for such year, in reasonable detail, certified by Independent Accountants of recognized standing selected by the Company.

 

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§ 9.18. [Provisions governing modifications and amendments to the Indenture.] The rights of the holders of Bonds and the obligations of the Company under this Indenture may be added to, modified, or eliminated, if and to the extent authorized by the written consent of the holders of at least sixty-six and two thirds (66-2/3%) in principal amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding (excluding Bonds not entitled to consent under the provisions of § 1.02(rr) and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds issued hereunder are so affected, of at least sixty-six and two thirds (66-2/3%) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and so entitled to consent of each series affected thereby, provided that no such addition to, modification, or elimination shall be made without the written consent of the holders of all of such Bonds which would (1) postpone the maturity date fixed herein or in such Bonds for the payment of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, such Bonds, or (2) reduce the principal of, or premium on, or the rate of interest payable on, such Bonds, or (3) permit the creation of any lien, not otherwise permitted, prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture, or (4) reduce the percentage of the principal amount of such Bonds, the consent of the holders of which is required for the authorization of the execution of an indenture supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of § 17.01I, or (5) reduce the percentage of the principal amount of such Bonds, the consent of the holders of which is required for such addition to, modification or elimination pursuant to the provisions of this § 9.18, or which would modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee, further provided that the provision for amendment of the Indenture set forth in this § 9.18 is in addition to, and not in limitation of, the provisions of § 17.01 and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict or qualify the provisions therein pursuant to which the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Indenture without the consent of holders of Bonds for the purposes stated therein.

A RTICLE  T EN .

Redemption of Bonds .

§ 10.01. [Bonds may be redeemable.] Such of the Bonds issued hereunder as are by their terms redeemable before maturity may, at the election of the Company evidenced by a Resolution of the Board delivered to the Trustee, be redeemed at such times, in such amounts and at such prices as may be specified therein, and in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

§ 10.02. [Provisions governing notice and selection of Bonds to be redeemed.] If the Company shall elect to exercise such right of redemption, it shall give notice thereof in accordance with this Section. Notice of redemption shall be sufficiently given if mailed, postage prepaid, at least thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date on which such redemption is to be made, to all registered owners of Bonds to be redeemed, at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Bond Register of the Trustee. Each notice of redemption shall state such election on the part of the Company and shall specify, in case less

 

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than all of the Bonds of a series are to be redeemed, the distinctive numbers of the Bonds to be redeemed, and shall also state that the interest on the Bonds in such notice designated for redemption shall cease on such redemption date and that on said date there will become due and payable upon each of said Bonds the redemption price therein specified, at a place at which it is expressed to be payable at maturity.

In case the Company shall have elected to redeem less than all the outstanding Bonds of any series, it shall, in each instance, at least ten (10) days before the mailing of notice of redemption is required to be made, notify the Trustee in writing of such election and of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds of such series to be redeemed.

The selection of Bonds to be redeemed shall, in case less than all of the outstanding Bonds of any series are to be redeemed, be made by the Trustee pro rata or substantially pro rata, unless otherwise directed by written order of all such holders filed with the Trustee at or prior to such time of designation. If less than the whole principal amount of any such Bond shall be called for redemption, said notice shall also specifically state the portion of the principal amount thereof which is to be redeemed and that, upon presentation of such Bond for partial redemption, there will be issued, in lieu of the unredeemed portion of the principal amount thereof, a new Bond or Bonds of an aggregate principal amount equal to such unredeemed portion, as requested by the registered owner thereof; and in such case the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the registered owner of any such Bond, at the expense of the Company, a Bond or Bonds of the same series, and (but only in authorized denominations) for the principal amount of the unredeemed portion of such Bond or, at the option of such registered owner, the Trustee shall, upon presentation of such Bond for the purpose, make a notation thereon of the payment of the portion thereof so called for partial redemption.

Notice having been given as aforesaid, the Bonds (or the specified portions of Bonds) so to be redeemed shall on the date designated in such notice become due and payable at the redemption price so specified; and from and after the date of redemption so designated (unless the Company shall make default in the payment of the redemption price of such Bonds) interest on the Bonds so designated for redemption, (or in the case of partial redemption of a Bond, on the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall cease to accrue, and upon surrender at a place at which it is expressed to be payable at maturity in accordance with said notice, of any Bond specified therein, such Bond (or the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall be paid by the Company at the redemption price aforesaid. If the redemption price shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof, said Bond shall continue to bear interest at the rate therein specified.

Before the redemption date specified in any notice given by the Company of its exercise of its right to redeem Bonds, the Company shall deliver to and deposit with the Trustee the following:

A. Cash, in trust, subject to the provisions of § 16.02, in an amount sufficient to redeem all of the Bonds which are to be redeemed (in whole or in part) on the redemption date specified in such notice, which cash shall be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the respective holders of such Bonds, subject to the provisions of § 16.02, and shall be paid to them respectively as aforesaid.

 

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B. A Certificate of the Company, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that all conditions precedent which relate to the redemption of such Bonds have been complied with.

C. An Opinion of Counsel, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that all conditions precedent which relate to the redemption of such Bonds have been complied with.

D. The Certificates and other evidence, if any, specified in the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to the foregoing Paragraph C.

Payment of the redemption price of a portion of any Bond may be made directly to the registered holder thereof without presentation or surrender thereof if there shall be filed with the Trustee a Certificate of the Company to the effect that such registered holder (or the person for whom such registered holder is a nominee) and the Company have entered into a written agreement that payment shall be so made, provided that such registered holder will promptly make notation of any such payment on such Bond, of the portion so redeemed and will notify the Trustee in writing that such notation has been made, and provided further that if such registered holder shall sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of such Bond, it will prior to delivery thereof surrender such Bond to the Trustee in exchange for a new Bond or Bonds for the unredeemed balance of the principal amount thereof.

§ 10.03. [Methods of effecting redemption.] If and so soon as

A. The Company shall have duly elected to redeem any Bond pursuant to § 10.01 and shall have delivered to the Trustee

(1) proof satisfactory to the Trustee that notice of redemption thereof has been duly mailed as required by § 10.02; or

(2) a Written Order of the Company, expressed to be irrevocable, authorizing the Trustee to give such notice on behalf of the Company;

and shall have deposited with the Trustee an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Bond;

and

B. The Company shall have deposited with the Trustee sufficient funds for the payment of all interest on any such Bond payable on or before the date designated for redemption thereof which is not included in the redemption price thereof;

 

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then in every such case the money held by the Trustee for the redemption of such Bond shall, without further act, be deemed forthwith to be reserved for the benefit of, and shall constitute a trust fund for, the holder of such Bond, subject to the provisions of § 16.02, but no interest shall accrue thereon in his favor. Thereafter, such Bond (or in the case of partial redemption of a Bond, the portion thereof to be redeemed) shall be excluded from participation in the lien of this Indenture or in the Trust Estate on and after the date fixed for redemption. Money held in trust by the Trustee for the redemption of any Bond shall not be deemed to be a part of the Trust Estate.

§ 10.04. [Bonds redeemed shall be cancelled]. All Bonds redeemed pursuant to § 10.02 (except Bonds partially redeemed and not surrendered, as permitted by said § 10.02) shall be cancelled by the Trustee.

§ 10.05. [Redemption provisions for 2023 Series II Bonds.] The 2023 Series II Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption as follows: payments of principal of and premium on the 2023 Series II Bonds shall be made to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “2005 EDA Loan Trustee” ) to redeem 2023 Series II Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement dated as of October 1, 2005 between the EDA and the Company (the “2005 Loan Agreement” ), to provide funds under the 2005 Loan Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the $10,300,000 aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2005A (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2005A EDA Bonds” )) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required by the 2005 Loan Agreement in connection with any mandatory, special mandatory, optional or extraordinary optional redemption of 2005A EDA Bonds; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the 2005A EDA Bonds shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company under the 2005 Loan Agreement or from other moneys expressly available therefor in a redemption account or subaccount for the 2005A EDA Bonds under the indenture of trust dated as of October 1, 2005 between the EDA and the 2005 EDA Loan Trustee (the “2005 EDA Bond Indenture” ) or, as far as principal is concerned, reduced by the principal amount of any 2005A EDA Bonds deemed paid pursuant to Article X of the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture. Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2005.

§ 10.06. [§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2023 Series II Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2023 Series II Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2023 Series II Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.04, and subject to the provisions of § 2.1 of the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium.

§ 10.07. [Redemption provisions for 2024 Series JJ Bonds.] The 2024 Series JJ Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption as follows: payments of principal of and

 

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premium on the 2024 Series JJ Bonds shall be made to the 2005 EDA Loan Trustee to redeem 2024 Series JJ Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 Loan Agreement, to provide funds under the 2005 Loan Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the $10,500,000 aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2005B (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2005B EDA Bonds” )) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required by the 2005 Loan Agreement in connection with any mandatory or optional redemption of 2005B EDA Bonds; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the 2005B EDA Bonds shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company under the 2005 Loan Agreement or from other moneys expressly available therefor in a redemption account or subaccount for the 2005B EDA Bonds under the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture or, as far as principal is concerned, reduced by the principal amount of any 2005B EDA Bonds deemed paid pursuant to Article X of the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture. Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2005.

§ 10.08. [§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2024 Series JJ Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2024 Series JJ Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2024 Series JJ Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 3.1 of the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium.

§ 10.09. [Redemption provisions for 2040 Series KK Bonds.] The 2040 Series KK Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption as follows: payments of principal of and premium on the 2040 Series KK Bonds shall be made to the 2005 EDA Loan Trustee to redeem 2040 Series KK Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 Loan Agreement, to provide funds under the 2005 Loan Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2005C (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2005C EDA Bonds” )) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required by the 2005 Loan Agreement in connection with any mandatory or optional redemption of 2005C EDA Bonds; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the 2005C EDA Bonds shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company under the 2005 Loan Agreement or from other moneys expressly available therefor in a redemption account or subaccount for the 2005C EDA Bonds under the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture or, as far as principal is concerned, reduced by the principal amount of any 2005C EDA Bonds deemed paid pursuant to Article X of the 2005 EDA Bond Indenture. Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 2005.

 

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§ 10.10. [§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2040 Series KK Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2040 Series KK Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2040 Series KK Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 4.1 of the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium.

§ 10.11. [Redemption provisions for 2018 Series LL Bonds.] The 2018 Series LL Bonds shall be subject to redemption as follows: payments of principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the 2018 Series LL Bonds shall be made to the Collateral Agent to redeem 2018 Series LL Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement, to provide funds under the Note Purchase Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the Senior Notes due May 15, 2018) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required or permitted by the Senior Notes due May 15, 2018 in connection with any prepayment of the Senior Notes due May 15, 2018; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the Senior Notes due May 15, 2018 shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company on the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement; provided, further, however, that any principal and Make-Whole Amount, and any interest which is overdue shall bear interest at the Overdue Rate (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law). Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2008.

§ 10.12. [§ 8.08 redemption provisions for 2018 Series LL Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2018 Series LL Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2018 Series LL Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 2.1 of the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium or Make-Whole Amount.

§ 10.13. [Redemption provisions for 2027 Series MM Bonds.] The 2027 Series MM Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption as follows: payments of principal of and premium on the 2027 Series MM Bonds shall be made to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2011 EDA Loan Trustee” ) to redeem 2027 Series MM Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement dated as of August 1, 2011 between the EDA and the Company (the “2011 Loan Agreement” ), to provide funds under the 2011 Loan Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the $9,545,000 aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011A (Non-AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2011A EDA Bonds” )) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required by the Loan Agreement in connection with any mandatory, special mandatory, optional or extraordinary optional redemption of 2011A EDA Bonds; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this

 

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Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the 2011A EDA Bonds shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company under the Loan Agreement or from other moneys expressly available therefor in a redemption account or subaccount for the 2011A EDA Bonds under the Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011 between the EDA and the 2011 EDA Loan Trustee (the “2011 EDA Bond Indenture” ) or, as far as principal is concerned, reduced by the principal amount of any 2011A EDA Bonds deemed paid pursuant to Article X of the 2011 EDA Bond Indenture. Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011.

§ 10.14. [§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2027 Series MM Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2027 Series MM Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2027 Series MM Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 2.1 of the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium.

§ 10.15. [Redemption provisions for 2035 Series NN Bonds.] The 2035 Series NN Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption as follows: payments of principal of and premium on the 2035 Series NN Bonds shall be made to the 2011 EDA Loan Trustee to redeem 2035 Series NN Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the 2011 Loan Agreement, to provide funds under the 2011 Loan Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the $41,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011B (AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2011B EDA Bonds” )) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required by the 2011 Loan Agreement in connection with any mandatory, special mandatory, optional or extraordinary optional redemption of 2011B EDA Bonds; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the 2011B EDA Bonds shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company under the 2011 Loan Agreement or from other moneys expressly available therefor in a redemption account or subaccount for the 2011B EDA Bonds under the 2011 EDA Bond Indenture or, as far as principal is concerned, reduced by the principal amount of any 2011B EDA Bonds deemed paid pursuant to Article X of the 2011 EDA Bond Indenture. Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011.

§ 10.16. [§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2035 Series NN Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2035 Series NN Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2035 Series NN Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 3.1 of the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium.

 

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§ 10.17. [Redemption provisions for 2014 Series OO Bonds.] The 2041 Series OO Bonds shall be subject to mandatory redemption as follows: payments of principal of and premium on the 2041 Series OO Bonds shall be made to the 2011 EDA Loan Trustee to redeem 2041 Series OO Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the 2011 Loan Agreement, to provide funds under the 2011 Loan Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the $46,500,000 aggregate principal amount of the EDA’s Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011C (AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project) (the “2011C EDA Bonds” )) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required by the 2011 Loan Agreement in connection with any mandatory, special mandatory, optional or extraordinary optional redemption of 2011C EDA Bonds; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the 2011C EDA Bonds shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company under the 2011 Loan Agreement or from other moneys expressly available therefor in a redemption account or subaccount for the 2011C EDA Bonds under the 2011 EDA Bond Indenture or, as far as principal is concerned, reduced by the principal amount of any 2011C EDA Bonds deemed paid pursuant to Article X of the 2011 EDA Bond Indenture. Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011.

§ 10.18. [§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2041 Series OO Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2041 Series OO Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2041 Series OO Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 4.1 of the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium.

§ 10.19. [Redemption provisions for 2028 Series PP Bonds.] The 2028 Series PP Bonds shall be subject to redemption as follows: payments of principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the 2028 Series PP Bonds shall be made to the Collateral Agent to redeem 2028 Series PP Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement, to provide funds under the Note Purchase Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the Senior Notes due April 15, 2028) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required or permitted by the Senior Notes due April 15, 2028 in connection with any prepayment of the Senior Notes due April 15, 2028; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the Senior Notes due April 15, 2028 shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company on the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement; provided, further, however, that any principal and Make-Whole Amount, and any interest which is overdue shall bear interest at the Overdue Rate (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law). Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 2013.

 

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§ 10.20. [§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2028 Series PP Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2028 Series PP Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2028 Series PP Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 2.1 of the Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium or Make-Whole Amount.

§ 10.21 . [Redemption provisions for 2024 Series QQ Bonds.] The 2024 Series QQ Bonds shall be subject to redemption as follows: payments of principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the 2024 Series QQ Bonds shall be made to the Collateral Agent to redeem 2024 Series QQ Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement, to provide funds under the Note Purchase Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the Senior Notes due March 13, 2024) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required or permitted by the Senior Notes due March 13, 2024 in connection with any prepayment of the Senior Notes due March 13, 2024; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially, as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the Senior Notes due March 13, 2024 shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company on the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement; provided, further, however, that any principal and Make-Whole Amount, and any interest which is overdue shall bear interest at the Overdue Rate (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law). Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2014.

§ 10.22. [§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2024 Series QQ Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2024 Series QQ Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2024 Series QQ Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 2.1 of the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium or Make-Whole Amount.

§ 10.23. [Redemption provisions for 2044 Series RR Bonds.] The 2044 Series RR Bonds shall be subject to redemption as follows: payments of principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on the 2044 Series RR Bonds shall be made to the Collateral Agent to redeem 2044 Series RR Bonds in such amounts as shall be necessary, in accordance with the provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement, to provide funds under the Note Purchase Agreement to (a) make, when due, payment at maturity (including, without limitation, maturity upon acceleration of the Senior Notes due March 13, 2044) and (b) make, when due, any prepayment required or permitted by the Senior Notes due March 13, 2044 in connection with any prepayment of the Senior Notes due March 13, 2044; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any redemption payments under this Section shall be fully or partially,

 

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as the case may be, satisfied and discharged to the extent that at any time such payment shall be due, the then due payment at maturity or redemption payment on any of the Senior Notes due March 13, 2044 shall have been fully or partially made from payments made by the Company on the Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement; provided, further, however, that any principal and Make-Whole Amount, and any interest which is overdue shall bear interest at the Overdue Rate (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law). Terms used and not defined in this Section shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2014.

§ 10.24. [§8.08 Redemption provisions for 2044 Series RR Bonds.] In the case of the redemption of 2044 Series Bonds out of moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to § 8.08, such 2044 Series RR Bonds shall, upon compliance with provisions of § 10.02, and subject to the provisions of § 4.1 of the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, be redeemable at the principal amounts thereof, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without premium or Make-Whole Amount.

A RTICLE  E LEVEN .

Mandatory Sinking Funds.

§ 11.01. [Reserved.]

§ 11.02. [Provisions governing maintenance of Sinking Funds for specific series of Bonds.] The Company will maintain one or more Mandatory Sinking Funds for such of the several series of Bonds as may be entitled thereto under the supplement creating such Bonds to be applied as provided in such supplement, and for that purpose will pay to the Trustee on the respective dates (a “Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date” ) and in the respective amounts specified in the supplement creating such Bonds (a “Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment” ), cash to be applied as provided in the supplement creating such Bonds for the redemption of Bonds of such series plus the amount then payable pursuant to § 11.03, provided that nothing in this § 11.02 shall be deemed to require the Company to pay to the Trustee at any time in respect of principal of any series of Bonds then outstanding a sum greater than the then unpaid principal amount of such series of Bonds.

Except as expressly provided in this Indenture, the Company shall not be entitled to increase, or to anticipate, any payment in satisfaction of its obligations in respect of Mandatory Sinking Funds. The Company shall, however, have the right, at its option, (unless expressly negated in the supplemental Indenture creating the particular series of Bonds) to satisfy any obligation in respect of the Mandatory Sinking Fund for any series of Bonds on any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date in whole or in part by delivering to the Trustee not earlier than ninety (90) days prior to such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date and not later than forty (40) days prior thereto, any Bonds of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered hereunder and not previously cancelled or called for redemption and the Trustee shall credit the obligation of the Company in respect of such Mandatory Sinking Fund on such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date with a payment equal to the principal amount of the Bonds of such series so delivered. Any Bonds so delivered shall be accompanied by a Written Order of the Company instructing the Trustee to credit such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment as aforesaid.

 

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§ 11.03. [Payment of interest and premium.] Whenever Bonds are required to be redeemed pursuant to the provisions of this Article, the Company shall in each case prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof pay to the Trustee in cash (a) all unpaid interest accrued on such Bonds to said date fixed for redemption plus (b) the applicable redemption premium.

§ 11.04. [Provisions governing notice and selection for redemption of Bonds for the Sinking Fund.] Promptly after the fortieth day next preceding each Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date, the Trustee shall proceed (i) to select for redemption, in the manner provided in Article Ten of the Indenture, a principal amount of Bonds of the series to be redeemed on such date equal to the amount, if any, of the Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment for such series required to be paid in cash in respect to such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date, after giving effect to the credit, if any, against such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment resulting from the delivery of Bonds of such series to the Trustee pursuant to § 11.02 and (ii) for and on behalf of and in the name of the Company, the Trustee shall give notice (by mail, as may be required by the provisions of Article Ten) of the redemption for the Mandatory Sinking Fund of the Bonds so selected on the next ensuing Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date. A copy of such notice shall also be mailed to the Company. Such notice shall state that the redemption is for the Mandatory Sinking Fund in lieu of stating that the Company has elected to redeem the Bonds designated therein. Subject to the provisions of this Section, the redemption of such Bonds shall be effected in the manner and upon the terms provided in Article Ten, the redemption price to be paid on Bonds so redeemed for the purposes of the Mandatory Sinking Fund shall be the applicable redemption prices respectively specified as such in Article Ten.

§ 11.05. [Moneys paid pursuant to § 11.02 and §11.03 held in trust.] All moneys paid to the Trustee pursuant to § 11.02 and unpaid interest paid concurrently therewith pursuant to § 11.03 in respect of any series of Bonds shall be held by the Trustee in trust for the benefit of the respective holders of the Bonds of such series which are to be redeemed (in whole or in part) and shall be paid to them as provided in Article Ten, subject to the provisions of § 16.02.

Nothing contained in the Indenture or in any Bond shall be construed to imply any obligation upon the Trustee to make any payment except out of moneys deposited with it for such purpose by the Company.

§ 11.06. [Bonds redeemed and paid through operation of Sinking Fund shall be cancelled.] All Bonds redeemed and paid through the operation of any Mandatory Sinking Fund (including any Bonds delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of § 11.02) shall be cancelled by the Trustee.

 

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A RTICLE T WELVE .

Remedies of Trustee and Bondholders.

§ 12.01. [Events of Default.] In case one or more of the following events (herein called “Events of Default” ) shall happen, that is to say:

A. Default shall be made in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Bond issued hereunder when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided; or

B. Default shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Bond issued hereunder when and as the same shall become due and payable, and any such default shall have continued for a period of thirty (30) days; or

C. Default shall be made in the due performance or observance of any covenant or condition required by § 11.02 or by the provisions for any other sinking, amortization, improvement, renewal or other analogous fund established hereunder; or

D. Default shall be made in the due performance or observance of any other covenant or condition herein required to be performed or observed by the Company (except in respect of the refund or reimbursement of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges for which the holders of Bonds may look only to the Company), and any such default shall have continued for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof to the Company from the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee from the holders of at least fifteen per cent (15%) in amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding; or

E. If final judgment for the payment of money which, with one or more other outstanding judgments, exceeds Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000) in aggregate amount, shall be rendered against the Company and the same shall not be discharged or provision made for the discharge thereof in accordance with its terms within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof, or an appeal therefrom or other appropriate proceeding for the appellate review thereof shall not be taken within said period and a stay of execution pending such appeal shall not be secured or if such appeal be taken and on such appeal the same shall be affirmed and the Company shall not discharge said judgment within sixty (60) days after the entry of the order or decree of affirmance;

F. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall make a final order not vacated or stayed within sixty (60) days from the date of entry thereof, (i) adjudicating the Company a bankrupt, (ii) appointing a trustee or receiver of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or (iii) approving a petition for, or effecting, an arrangement in bankruptcy, a reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or any other judicial modification or alteration of the rights of the Bondholders or of other creditors, or if the Company shall itself (i) file any petition or (ii) take or consent to any other action seeking any such judicial order, or if the Company shall make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

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then, and in every such case, if such default or defaults shall not have been remedied, the Trustee, by notice in writing to the Company, may, and upon the written request of the holders of at least a majority in amount of the Bonds then outstanding and with indemnification reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall, and the holders of at least twenty-five per cent (25%) in amount of the Bonds may, by notice in writing to the Trustee and the Company, declare the principal of and interest on all the Bonds to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Bonds contained to the contrary notwithstanding. The right to declare principal and interest due and payable is subject, however, to the condition that if, at any time after such declaration, but before any sale of the Trust Estate, or any part thereof, shall have been made under this Article, all overdue installments of interest upon all the Bonds, with interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on overdue principal and installments of interest at the legal rate of interest then in effect in the State of New Jersey, together with all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under any provision hereof and the reasonable and proper charges, expenses and liabilities of the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other sums payable by the Company hereunder, except the principal of, and interest accrued since the next preceding interest date on, the Bonds due and payable solely by virtue of such declaration, shall either be paid by or for the account of the Company or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall be made for such payment, and all Events of Default hereunder shall be remedied, then, and in every such case, the holders of at least a majority in amount of the Bonds then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration in its entirety; but no such action shall extend to or affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

The Trustee shall give to the Bondholders, in the manner and to the extent provided in § 15.05(c), notice of the happening of any of the defaults (whether or not the same shall have continued for the required period) set forth in the preceding Paragraphs A to E which are known to it, within thirty (30) days after the happening thereof.

§ 12.02. [Provisions governing powers of Trustee in case of Event of Default.] In case one or more of the Events of Default shall happen and shall not have been remedied, then, and in every such case, to the extent permitted by law, the Trustee, personally or by agents or attorneys, may enter into and upon all or any part of the Trust Estate (including the books, papers and financial records of the Company, but excluding money, securities and property deposited or pledged, or required by the terms hereof to be deposited or pledged, with the trustee, mortgagee or other holder of some prior lien), and may exclude the Company, its agents and servants, and all persons claiming under the Company, wholly or partly therefrom; and having and holding the same, may, to the extent permitted by law, use, operate, manage and control the Trust Estate and conduct the business thereof, by superintendents, managers, receivers, agents, servants and/or attorneys. Upon every such entry, the Trustee may, from time to time, at the expense of the Trust Estate, make all, such repairs, renewals, replacements and useful or required alterations, additions, betterments and improvements to and on the Trust Estate, as to it may seem necessary, proper or judicious. In each such case, the Trustee shall have the right to manage the Trust

 

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Estate and to carry on the business and to exercise all rights and powers of the Company, either in the name of the Company, or otherwise, as the Trustee shall deem best, and the Trustee shall be entitled to collect and receive all earnings, income, rents, issues and profits of the same and every part thereof, without prejudice, however, to any right of the Trustee as provided in Article Seven to collect and receive all income from money, obligations or other property deposited or pledged, or required by the terms hereof to be deposited or pledged, with the Trustee. Such earnings, income, rents, issues and profits shall be applied to pay the expenses of holding and operating the Trust Estate and of conducting the business thereof, and of all maintenance, repairs, renewals, replacements, alterations, additions, betterments and improvements, and to make all payments which the Trustee may be required or may elect to make, if any, for taxes, assessments, insurance and other prior or proper charges upon the Trust Estate or any part thereof (including interest on and principal of prior lien obligations), and to set up such reasonable reserves as the Trustee may deem advisable for taxes, assessments, interest and other prior or proper charges, and to make all other payments which the Trustee may be required or authorized to make under any provision of this Indenture, as well as just and reasonable compensation for the services of the Trustee, and of all superintendents, managers, receivers, agents, attorneys, counsel, servants and other employees engaged and employed in conducting the business of the Company, and to employ engineers or accountants to investigate and make reports upon the business and affairs of the Company. The remainder of such income, rents, issues and profits shall be applied as follows:

In case the principal of the Bonds then outstanding shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of the interest in default, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on overdue installments of interest at the Overdue Rate; such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto without discrimination or preference.

In case the principal of any of the Bonds then outstanding shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and shall be unpaid, first to the payment of the accrued interest on the principal in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest (treating for this purpose each semi-annual accrual of interest on overdue Bonds as an installment of interest), with interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on overdue principal and installments of interest at the Overdue Rate; and then to the payment of the whole amount due and unpaid upon the principal of the Bonds; in every instance such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled to such payments without any discrimination or preference.

If and whenever, prior to any sale of the Trust Estate, or any part thereof, all overdue installments of interest upon, all the Bonds, with interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on overdue principal and installments of interest at the Overdue Rate, together with all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under any provision hereof and the reasonable and proper charges, expenses and liabilities of the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other sums then payable by the Company hereunder, including the principal of and all accrued unpaid interest on all Bonds which shall then be payable, by declaration (unless such declaration shall have been annulled, pursuant to § 12.01) or otherwise,

 

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shall either be paid by or for the account of the Company or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall be made for such payment, and all Events of Default hereunder shall be remedied, the Trustee shall surrender to the Company, its successors or assigns, the possession of the Trust Estate (except money, securities or property deposited or pledged, or required by the terms hereof to be deposited or pledged, with the Trustee), and shall pay over upon the Written Order of the Company the amount, if any there be, of any earnings, income, rents, issues and profits of the Trust Estate then remaining unexpended in the hands of the Trustee, and thereupon the Company and the Trustee shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder in respect of the Trust Estate, but no such surrender shall extend to or affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

In case one or more Events of Default shall happen and shall not have been remedied, the Trustee shall collect and receive all dividends on any stock and all sums payable for interest on any obligations or indebtedness held by the Trustee hereunder, and the Trustee shall cancel and revoke all assignments and orders in respect thereof in favor of the Company or its nominee, and all moneys so received by the Trustee shall, prior to any sale of the Trust Estate under this Indenture, be applied to any one or more of the purposes to which income from the Trust Estate may be applied as provided in this § 12.02, and upon any such sale any moneys so received by the Trustee and remaining unexpended in its hands shall be held and applied in the same manner as the proceeds of such sale; but in every such case, after the rights of the Company shall have been restored as in this § 12.02 provided, the right of the Company to receive and collect interest and dividends to the extent set forth in § 7.01, and the duty of the Trustee to execute and deliver assignments and orders for the same as provided in § 7.01, shall revive and continue as though no Event of Default had occurred; and the Trustee shall pay over upon the Written Order of the Company the amount, if any there be, of any such interest or dividends collected or received by the Trustee and then remaining unexpended in its hands.

§ 12.03. [Additional powers of the Trustee in case of Event of Default.] In case one or more of the Events of Default shall happen and shall not have been remedied, the Trustee, by agents or attorneys, with or without entry, if the Trustee shall deem it advisable,

(a) may to the full extent permitted by applicable law sell to the highest bidder all and singular the Trust Estate, such sale to be made at public auction at such place or places and at such time or times and upon such terms as the Trustee may fix in compliance with law and briefly specify in the notice of sale to be given as herein provided or as may be required by law; or

(b) may proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Bondholders under this Indenture by a suit or suits in equity or at law, whether for the specific performance of any covenant herein contained, or in aid of the execution of any power herein granted, or for the foreclosure of this Indenture or for the enforcement of any other legal or equitable right, as the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall deem most effectual to enforce any of its rights or to perform any of its duties hereunder.

§ 12.04. [Holders of majority of Bonds then outstanding may direct Trustee.] Upon the written request of the holders of at least a majority in amount of the Bonds then

 

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outstanding, in case of the happening of any Event of Default, if the same shall not have been remedied, it shall be the duty of the Trustee, upon being indemnified as provided in § 15.02, to take all such steps for the protection and enforcement of its rights and the rights of the holders of the Bonds, or to take such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall deem most expedient in the interest of the holders of the Bonds.

§ 12.05. [Provisions governing notice of sale by Trustee.] Notice of any sale under the power of sale herein granted shall state the time when and the place where the same is to be made, and shall contain a brief description of the property to be sold, and shall be sufficiently given if mailed, postage prepaid, at least thirty (30) days and not more than forty (40) days prior to such sale, to all registered owners of Bonds, at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Bond Register of the Trustee, or if published once in each of four successive calendar weeks prior to such sale in one Authorized Newspaper in each of the Counties of Monmouth and Essex, New Jersey, and one in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York (upon any day of the week and in any such newspaper, the first publication to be made not less than thirty (30) days nor more than forty (40) days prior to such sale), and in such other manner as may be required by law.

§ 12.06. [Provisions governing adjournment of sale.] The Trustee may from time to time adjourn any sale to be made under the power of sale granted by this Indenture, by announcement at the time and place appointed for such sale or for any adjournment thereof; and without further notice or publication except such as may be required by applicable law, may make such sale at the time and place to which the same shall have been so adjourned.

§ 12.07. [Provisions governing delivery of deeds and other instruments to purchaser.] Upon the completion of any sale or sales under this Indenture, the Trustee shall execute and deliver to the accepted purchaser or purchasers a good and sufficient deed or deeds of conveyance, and such other instruments as in the judgment of the Trustee may be desirable or proper, conveying, assigning and transferring the properties and rights sold; and the Trustee hereunder at such time is hereby irrevocably appointed the true and lawful attorney of the Company, in its name and stead, to make all necessary deeds and conveyances of the property thus sold; and for that purpose the Trustee may execute all necessary deeds and instruments of assignment and transfer, the Company hereby ratifying and confirming all that its said attorneys shall lawfully do by virtue hereof.

Any such sale or sales made under or by virtue of this Indenture, whether under the power of sale herein granted or by virtue of judicial proceedings, shall operate to divest all right, title, interest, claim and demand whatsoever, either at law or in equity, of the Company of, in and to the property so sold, and shall be a perpetual bar, both at law and in equity, against the Company, its successors and assigns, and against any and all persons claiming or who may claim the property sold, or any part thereof, from, through or under the Company, its successors or assigns.

The receipt of the Trustee or of the court officer conducting any such sale shall be a full and sufficient discharge to any purchaser of any property sold as aforesaid, for the purchase money; and no such purchaser, or his representatives, grantees or assigns, after paying such

 

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purchase money and receiving such receipt, shall be bound to see to the application of such purchase money upon or for any trust or purpose of this Indenture, or in any manner whatsoever be answerable for any loss, misapplication or non-application of any such purchase money or any part thereof, or be bound to inquire as to the authorization, necessity, expediency or regularity of any such sale.

The Trustee shall obtain any necessary approval of any applicable regulatory authority, before consummating any sale of the Trust Estate.

§ 12.08. [Provisions governing sale of Trust Estate as an entirety.] In the event of any sale under this Article, whether made under the power of sale herein granted or by virtue of judicial proceedings, the whole of the Trust Estate shall (if permitted under applicable law) be sold in one parcel and as an entirety, unless either (i) the holders of at least a majority in amount of the Bonds then outstanding shall in writing request the Trustee to cause said property to be sold in parcels, in which case (to the extent permitted by applicable law) the sale shall be made in such parcels as may be specified in such request, or (ii) such sale as an entirety is impracticable by reason of some statute or other cause.

§ 12.09. [Principal and accrued interest on Bonds shall become due in case of any sale.] In case of any sale of the Trust Estate, or any part thereof, under this Article, whether made under the power of sale herein granted, or by virtue of judicial proceedings, the principal of and accrued interest on all the Bonds then outstanding, if not already due, shall immediately become due and payable, anything in the Bonds or in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding.

§ 12.10. [Application of proceeds of sale.] The purchase money, proceeds and avails of any such sale shall be applied as follows:

First: To the payment of the costs and expenses of such sale, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all charges, reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred (and all advances made) without negligence or bad faith by the Trustee in managing and maintaining the Trust Estate or in executing any trust or power hereunder, and, if in conformity with applicable law, to the payment of all taxes, assessments or liens prior to the lien of this Indenture, except any taxes, assessments or other superior liens subject to which such sale shall have been made;

Second: To the payment of the whole amount then due and unpaid upon the Bonds then outstanding, for principal and interest, with accrued interest on the principal, and with interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on the overdue installments of interest at the Overdue Rate; and in case such proceeds shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Bonds, then to the payment of such principal and interest, without preference or priority of principal over interest or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any series of the Bonds over any other series of the Bonds, ratably according to the aggregate so due for such principal and the accrued and unpaid interest, at the date fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys; and

Third: The surplus, if any, shall be paid to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

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Any other sums which may be held by the Trustee as part of the Trust Estate at the time of such application of the purchase money, proceeds and avails of any such sale, as aforesaid, shall be applied together with such purchase money, proceeds and avails, in the manner provided in the foregoing Paragraphs First, Second and Third, but shall not be separately so applied.

§ 12.11. [Use of proceeds from Bonds in paying for property.] In case of any sale as aforesaid of the Trust Estate or any part thereof, any purchaser shall be entitled, for the purpose of making settlement or payment for the property purchased, to use and apply any Bonds then outstanding, in order that there may be credited thereon the sums payable out of the net proceeds of such sale to the holder of such Bonds, as its ratable share of such net proceeds; and thereupon such purchaser shall be credited, on account of such purchase price, with the portion of such net proceeds that shall be applicable to the payment of, and that shall have been credited upon, the Bonds so used and applied; and at any such sale, any Bondholder or the Trustee may bid for and purchase the property offered for sale, may make payment on account thereof as aforesaid, and upon compliance with the terms of sale, may hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability therefor.

§ 12.12. [Powers of Trustee in judicial proceedings.] Upon filing a bill in equity or upon other commencement of judicial proceedings by the Trustee to enforce any right under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to exercise any and all other rights and powers herein conferred and provided to be exercised by the Trustee upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

§ 12.13. [Provisions governing payments by the Company upon payment default, including interest at the Overdue Rate on overdue payments.] The Company covenants that

(1) in case default shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Bond when and as the same shall become due and payable, and any such default shall have continued for a period of thirty (30) days, or

(2) in case default shall be made in the payment of the principal of any Bond when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided,

then, and upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds in respect of which such default shall be made, the whole amount due and payable on all such Bonds, for principal and interest, including the redemption price of any Bonds called for redemption, with accrued interest on the principal and, to the extent that the

 

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same is enforceable under applicable law, interest at the Overdue Rate; 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 recover judgment for the whole amount so due and unpaid.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover judgment as aforesaid either before, after or during the pendency 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 the Trust Estate and the application of the proceeds of sale to the payment of the Bonds, 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 then outstanding, for the benefit of the holders thereof, and shall be entitled to recover judgment for any portion of the same remaining unpaid, with interest. No recovery of any such judgment by the Trustee shall in any manner or to any extent affect the lien of the Trustee upon the Trust Estate or any part thereof or any rights, powers or remedies of the Trustee hereunder or any rights, powers or remedies of the holders of the Bonds; but such lien, rights, powers and remedies shall continue unimpaired as before.

All moneys collected by the Trustee under this Section shall be applied as follows:

First: To the payment of the costs and reasonable expenses of the proceedings resulting in the collection of such moneys, including counsel fees, and of the charges, expenses and liabilities incurred and all advances made by the Trustee, without negligence or bad faith, in theretofore managing and maintaining the Trust Estate or in executing any trust or power hereunder; and

Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Bonds in respect of which or for the benefit of which such moneys shall have been collected, ratably and without any preference or priority of any kind according to the amounts due and payable upon such Bonds at the date fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys.

The provisions of this § 12.13 and the powers by it granted to the Trustee are subject to the limitation that, if by the commencement of any action to recover judgment for any amount due and unpaid upon the 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 surrendered, waived or lost, despite the foregoing provisions of this § 12.13, the Trustee shall not have power to commence such action or so to exercise such other remedy.

§ 12.14. [Restrictions on the right of Bondholders to institute legal proceedings; Obligation of Company on Bonds absolute and unconditional.] No holder of any Bond issued hereunder shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding at law or in equity for the foreclosure of this Indenture, for the execution of any trusts hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

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(a) such holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; and

(b) the holders of at least twenty-five per cent (25%) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding shall have filed a written request with the Trustee to exercise the powers hereinbefore granted or to institute such action, suit or proceeding in the name of the Trustee; and

(c) said holders shall have tendered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by compliance with such request, if the Trustee is entitled under the provisions of § 15.02 to such security or indemnity; and

(d) the Trustee shall have refused or omitted to comply with such request after reasonable opportunity so to do, and said tender of indemnity (if the Trustee is entitled thereto as aforesaid) shall have been made to the Trustee.

Such notification, request and tender of indemnity (if the Trustee is entitled thereto as aforesaid) are hereby declared, in every case, at the option of the Trustee, but subject to the provisions of § 15.02, to be conditions precedent to any action or cause of action for foreclosure or for the execution of any trusts hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder; it being understood and intended that no one or more holders of Bonds shall have any right in any manner whatever by his or their action to affect, disturb or prejudice the lien of this Indenture or to enforce any right hereunder, except in the manner herein provided; and that all proceedings at law or in equity to enforce any provision of this Indenture shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal benefit of all holders of the outstanding Bonds.

It is, however, expressly provided that nothing in this Indenture or in the Bonds shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay at the respective dates of maturity and places therein expressed the principal of and interest on the Bonds to the respective holders of the Bonds, or affect or impair the right of action, which is also absolute and unconditional, of such holders to enforce such payment. Neither enforcement by any such holder of such right of action in respect of any Bond nor entry of any judgment thereon shall in any manner or to any extent affect the lien of the Trustee upon the Trust Estate or any part thereof, or any rights, powers or remedies hereunder of the Trustee or of the holders of the Bonds, except to the extent if any that the rights, powers or remedies of such holder with respect to such Bond may under applicable law be affected thereby.

§ 12.15. [Remedies of Trustee and Bondholders shall be non-exclusive and cumulative.] Except as herein expressly provided to the contrary, no remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the holders of Bonds is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy but each and every such remedy shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute.

 

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§ 12.16. [No waiver; Filing of proof of debt in any bankruptcy proceedings.] No delay or omission of the Trustee, or of any holder of Bonds, to exercise any right or power arising upon the happening of any Event of Default shall impair any right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Bondholders, may, subject to the provisions of § 12.14, be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Bondholders.

All rights of action under this Indenture may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Bonds or the production thereof on the trial or other proceedings, and any such suit or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its name.

The Trustee shall be entitled and empowered either in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, or as attorney-in-fact for the holders of the Bonds, or in any one or more such capacities, to file such proof of debt, amendment of proof of debt, claim, petition or other document as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the holders of Bonds allowed in any equity receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, readjustment, reorganization or other similar proceedings, or in any judicial proceedings, relative to the Company or to any other obligor upon the Bonds or to their respective creditors or property. The Trustee is hereby irrevocably appointed (and the successive respective holders of the Bonds, by taking and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have so appointed the Trustee) the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of the respective holders of the Bonds, with authority to make or file in the respective names of the holders of the Bonds, or on behalf of all the holders of the Bonds as a class (subject to deduction from any such claim of the amounts of any claim filed by any of the holders of the Bonds themselves), any proof of debt, amendment of proof of debt, claim, petition or other document in any such proceedings and to receive payment of any sums becoming distributable on account thereof, and to execute any other papers and documents and do and perform any and all acts and things for and on behalf of such holders of the Bonds, as may be necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Trustee, in order to have the respective claims of the holders of the Bonds against the Company or any other obligor upon the Bonds and/or their respective properties allowed in any such proceeding, and to receive payment of or on account of such claims; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower the Trustee to consent to or accept or adopt, on behalf of any Bondholder, any plan of reorganization or readjustment of the Company affecting the Bonds.

§ 12.17. [Trustee shall have power to institute legal proceedings.] The Trustee shall have power to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as it may be advised by counsel shall be necessary or expedient to prevent any impairment of the security hereunder by any acts which may be unlawful or in violation of this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as it may be advised by counsel shall be necessary or expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Bondholders in respect of the Trust Estate and in respect of the income, earnings, issues and profits arising therefrom, but nothing herein contained shall be deemed to limit the duties and obligations of the Trustee set forth in § 15.02.

 

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§ 12.18. [Restoration of rights after certain proceedings.] In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture by foreclosure, entry or otherwise, and such proceeding 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 without further act be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder in respect of the Trust Estate, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

§ 12.19. [Direction of proceedings by Bondholder.] Anything contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the holders of at least a majority in amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding shall have the right, at any time, by instrument or instruments in writing executed and delivered to the Trustee, to direct the method, time and place of conducting all proceedings to be taken for any sale of the Trust Estate or for the foreclosure of this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or any other proceedings hereunder; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction which in its opinion would be unjustly prejudicial to Bondholders not parties to such direction, but, subject to the provisions of § 15.02, shall be fully protected with respect to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with such direction.

§ 12.20. [Waiver of right to marshall.] The Company, to the full extent that it may lawfully do so, for itself and all who may claim through or under it, waives any and all right to have the property included in the Trust Estate marshalled upon any foreclosure of the lien hereof, and agrees that any court having jurisdiction to foreclose such lien may sell the Trust Estate as an entirety.

If any law in this Section referred to and now in force, of which the Company or its successor or successors might take advantage despite the provisions hereof, shall hereafter be repealed or cease to be in force, such law shall not thereafter be deemed to constitute any part of the contract herein contained or to preclude the operation or application of the provisions of this Section.

§ 12.21. [No recourse against stockholders, officers, directors, etc.] No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any Bond 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 constitution 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 thereby authorized, or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds thereby secured, or implied therefrom.

 

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§ 12.22. [Bonds held by Company.] No Bonds owned or held by, for the account of or for the benefit of the Company or any other obligor on the Bonds (other than Bonds pledged to secure an obligation) shall be deemed entitled to share in any payment or distribution provided in this Article Twelve.

§ 12.23. [Provisions governing assessment of litigation costs.] 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, the Court may in its discretion require the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the cost of such suit, and that such Court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney’s 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 § 12.23 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 Bondholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on his Bonds at and after the maturity of such principal or interest.

A RTICLE T HIRTEEN .

Evidence of Rights of Bondholders.

§ 13.01. [Instruments executed by Bondholders.] Any request, consent or other instrument required by this Indenture to be signed and executed by Bondholders may be in any number of concurrent writings of substantially similar tenor and may be signed or executed by such Bondholders in person or by agent or agents duly appointed in writing. Proof of the execution of any such request or other instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of holding by any person of Bonds transferable by delivery, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and shall be conclusive in favor of the Company and, subject to the provisions of § 9.16 and § 15.02, in favor of the Trustee, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

§ 13.02. [Proof of execution of instrument by Bondholders.] The fact and date of the execution by any person of any such request, consent or other instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer of any jurisdiction, authorized by the laws thereof to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the person signing such request, consent or other instrument acknowledged to him the execution thereof.

§ 13.03. [Proof of amount of Bonds held by a Bondholder; Binding effect of Bondholder consent or vote.] The amount of Bonds transferable by delivery held by any person executing any such request, consent or other instrument as a Bondholder, and the distinguishing numbers of the Bonds held by such person, and the date of his holding the same, may be proved by a certificate executed by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary (wherever situated), if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing

 

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that at the date therein mentioned such person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bonds herein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the person executing such request or other instrument as a Bondholder, if such certificate or affidavit shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Company and, subject to the provisions of § 9.16 and § 15.02, the Trustee may conclusively assume that such ownership continues until written notice to the contrary is served upon the Trustee and the Company. The fact and the date of execution of any request, consent or other instrument and the amount and distinguishing numbers of Bonds held by the person so executing such request, consent or other instrument may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee may deem sufficient.

The ownership of Bonds shall be proved by the register of such Bonds.

Any request, consent or vote of the holder of any Bond shall bind every future holder of the same Bond and the holder of every Bond issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in pursuance of such request, consent or vote.

A RTICLE F OURTEEN .

Merger, Consolidation, Transfer or Lease .

§ 14.01. [Provisions governing merger, consolidation, conveyance, etc.] Nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other person or persons, or any conveyance, transfer or lease, subject to the lien of this Indenture, of all or substantially all the Trust Estate as an entirety to any person lawfully entitled to acquire or lease and operate the same; provided, however, and the Company covenants and agrees, that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease shall be upon such terms as fully to preserve and in no respect to impair the lien or security of this Indenture or any of the rights or powers of the Trustee or the Bondholders hereunder, provided further, that every such lease shall be made expressly subject to termination by the Company or by the Trustee at any time upon the happening of an Event of Default hereunder, and also by the purchaser at any sale hereunder of the property so leased, whether such sale be made under the power of sale hereby conferred or pursuant to judicial proceedings; provided further, that, upon and in connection with any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the Bonds according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, shall be assumed by the successor person formed by such consolidation or into which such merger shall have been made or which acquires by conveyance or transfer all or substantially all the Trust Estate as an entirety; and such successor person shall execute and deliver to the Trustee, simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, an indenture supplemental hereto containing

(1) an agreement on the part of such successor person punctually to make all the payments and to perform and observe all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture which are to be made or performed or observed by the Company, with the same effect and to the same extent as if the maker of such agreement has been the party of the first part hereto, and

(2) a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage of the character described in Paragraph A or Paragraph B of § 14.02;

 

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provided further, that upon and in connection with any such lease, the lessee under such lease shall execute and deliver to the Trustee, simultaneously with such lease, an indenture supplemental hereto containing a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage subjecting to the direct lien of this Indenture all properties and franchises of the character described in § 14.02B which may be acquired by such lessee after the date of such lease.

§ 14.02. [Provisions governing any successor person.] In case the Company, pursuant to § 14.01, shall be consolidated with or merged into any other person or persons or shall convey or transfer, subject to the lien of this Indenture, all or substantially all of the Trust Estate as an entirety, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company shall have been merged or which shall have received a conveyance or transfer as aforesaid, upon causing to be recorded the supplemental indenture referred to in said § 14.01, shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, subject, however, to the following limitations and restrictions:

A. If said supplemental indenture shall contain a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage in terms sufficient to include and subject to the lien of this Indenture all property and franchises then owned and which may be thereafter acquired by such successor person (other than Excepted Property), thereupon and thereafter such successor person may cause to be executed, either in its own name or in the name of N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, any Bonds issuable hereunder; and upon the order of such successor person in lieu of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and restrictions in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver any of the Bonds which shall have been previously executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any of such Bonds which such successor person shall thereafter, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, cause to be executed and delivered to the Trustee for such purpose. Such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in such Bonds as may be appropriate in view of such consolidation or merger or conveyance or transfer. All such Bonds when issued by such successor person shall in all respects have the same legal rank and security as the Bonds theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and issued, as though all of said Bonds had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

B. If said supplemental indenture shall not contain the grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage described in the preceding Paragraph A, then such successor person shall not be entitled to procure the authentication and delivery of Bonds hereunder pursuant to Articles Three, Four, Five or Six, and (notwithstanding the generality of the Granting Clauses) this Indenture shall not, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, or by virtue of said supplemental indenture, become a lien upon

 

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any of the properties or franchises of such successor corporation owned by it at the time of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer (unless such successor person, in its discretion, shall subject the same to the lien hereof), but this Indenture shall become and be a lien upon the following, and only the following, properties and franchises acquired by such successor person after the date of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, to wit:

(1) all betterments, extensions, improvements, additions, repairs, renewals, replacements, substitutions and alterations to, upon, for and of the property, contracts and/or franchises subject to the lien hereof, and all property constituting appurtenances of the Trust Estate;

(2) all Property Additions made the basis of the withdrawal of cash from the Trustee or from the trustee, mortgagee or other holder of a prior lien, or the release of property from the lien of this Indenture; and all property acquired or constructed with the proceeds of any insurance on any part of the Trust Estate; and

(3) all property acquired in pursuance of § 9.05 or of any other covenants herein contained to maintain and preserve and keep the Trust Estate in good condition, repair and working order, or in pursuance of some other covenant or agreement herein contained to be performed by the Company;

and in such event said supplemental indenture shall contain a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage subjecting the property described in the preceding Clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this Paragraph B to the direct lien of this Indenture.

A RTICLE F IFTEEN .

Concerning the Trustee.

§ 15.01. [Qualification of Trustee.] The Trustee shall at all times be a corporation eligible under § 15.07 and have a combined capital and surplus of not less than Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000). If the Trustee publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority referred to in § 15.07, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital and surplus of the Trustee shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.

§ 15.02. [Acceptance by the Trustee of the Trusts of the Indenture and of the duties and obligations thereunder and conditions thereof.] (a) The Trustee, for itself and its successors, hereby accepts the trusts of this Indenture. In case an Event of Default shall happen and shall not be remedied, the Trustee undertakes to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

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(b) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as relieving 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 happened and shall not have been remedied the Trustee shall be under no duty with respect to the performance of any duties except such as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenant or obligation 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.

(2) Unless an Event of Default shall have happened and shall not have been remedied, the Trustee may, in the absence of a finding of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, rely conclusively, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificate or opinion furnished to it pursuant to and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, however, that the Trustee shall examine any certificate or opinion required to be furnished to it by the Company under any provision of this Indenture to determine whether such certificate or opinion conform to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee shall be entitled to, and may rely upon, an opinion of counsel in connection with such duties.

(3) The Trustee shall not be 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.

(c) The recitals herein and in the Bonds contained shall be taken as the statements of the Company and shall not he considered as made by, or imposing any obligation or liability upon, the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the value or condition of the Trust Estate or any part thereof, or as to the title of the Company thereto or as to the validity or adequacy of the security afforded thereby, or hereby, or as to the validity of this Indenture or of the Bonds issued hereunder, and the Trustee shall incur no liability or responsibility in respect of any of such matters.

(d) Whenever it is provided in this Indenture that the Trustee shall take any action either upon the happening of a specified event or upon the fulfillment of any condition or upon the request of the Company or the Bondholders, the Trustee shall have full power to give any and all notices and to do any and all acts and things incidental to such action.

(e) The Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, consult, and rely upon the advice of, legal counsel to be selected and employed by it, and, to the extent permitted by Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section, the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel. The Trustee shall be under no responsibility, except for the exercise of reasonable care, in respect of the selection, appointment or approval of any engineer, appraiser or counsel or any other person or firm for any of the purposes expressed in this Indenture.

 

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(f) The Company shall pay to the Trustee, from time to time on demand, its customary compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which shall not be limited to the compensation of trustees of any express trust as provided by law) and also all reasonable expenses, charges, counsel fees and other disbursements and those of its agents, attorneys and employees, incurred in the administration and execution of the trusts hereby created, and the Company agrees to indemnify and save the Trustee harmless against and from any claim, action, liability, damages or judgments which it may incur or sustain in the exercise and performance, without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, or any of its respective powers and duties hereunder. The Trustee shall have a lien for such compensation, expenses and indemnity on the Trust Estate and the proceeds thereof prior to the lien of the Bonds.

(g) The Trustee shall not be liable personally, or otherwise, for any debt contracted or for any expenditure made by it, in operating the business of the Company or for any damage to persons or property or for any salary or non-fulfillment of any contract arising out of or in connection with the management of the property of the Company or any part thereof, upon entry as herein provided, and the Trust Estate is hereby charged with a paramount lien in favor of the Trustee as security and indemnification against any such liability.

(h) Except as provided in Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section, the Trustee shall be under no obligation or duty, in case of an Event of Default, to exercise any of the remedies given to it under this Indenture or to appear in, institute or defend any suit in respect hereof, or of the Trust Estate, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of at least a majority in amount of the Bonds then outstanding.

Subject to the provisions of Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section, the Trustee shall be under no obligation or duty to exercise any remedies given to it under this Indenture (other than the obligation of the Trustee to give written notice pursuant to § 12.01) or to declare the principal of all Bonds outstanding hereunder and the interest accrued thereon immediately due and payable pursuant to § 12.01, or to appear in, institute or defend any suit in respect hereof, or of the Trust Estate, if the payment within a reasonable time of the costs, expenses and liabilities to the Trustee which may be incurred in taking such action is not in the opinion of the Trustee reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, unless and until the Trustee shall receive reasonable security and indemnity satisfactory to it against such costs, expense and liabilities.

(i) To the extent permitted by Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section:

(1) The Trustee may rely upon and shall be protected in acting upon any notice, resolution, request, consent, order, certificate, report, opinion, statement, bond, obligation, appraisal or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties or by a person or persons authorized to act on his or their behalf.

(2) The Trustee may accept a certificate signed by the Secretary (or an Assistant Secretary) of the Company, under its corporate seal, as conclusive evidence that any resolution has been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and/or

 

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that the same is still in full force and effect, and such certificate shall constitute full protection to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in reliance thereon.

(3) The Trustee shall not be under any duty to examine into or pass upon the validity or genuineness of any obligations or other securities at any time pledged and deposited hereunder, and the Trustee shall be entitled to assume that any obligations or other securities presented for pledge and deposit hereunder are genuine and valid and what they purport to be, and that any endorsement or assignment thereon is genuine and legal.

(4) The Trustee shall be under no responsibility or duty with respect to the disposition of the Bonds or the application of the proceeds thereof or of any moneys paid to the Company under any of the provisions hereof.

(j) The Trustee may act as depositary for the Company or any committee formed to protect the rights of holders of Bonds or any other securities of the Company or to effect or aid in any reorganization growing out of the enforcement of the Bonds or this Indenture, whether or not any such committee shall represent the holders of a majority in amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding.

(k) The Trustee and any paying agent or other agent of the Company, may each acquire and hold Bonds and subject to the provisions of § 15.03, § 15.04 and § 15.05, may otherwise deal with the Company in the same manner and to the same extent and with like effect as though it were not Trustee hereunder or as though it were not such agent.

(l) None of the provisions in this Indenture contained shall require the Trustee to advance or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability, personal or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it (i) by the security afforded by the terms of this Indenture, or (ii) by other reasonable security or indemnity.

(m) In connection with the delivery of any certificate delivered under this Indenture by an Independent person (including an Independent Engineer, Independent Appraiser or Independent Accountant), in the event such person requires the Trustee to agree to the procedures performed by such person, the Company shall direct the Trustee in writing to so agree ( provided , that the Company determines that such procedures are not inconsistent with standard practice with respect to certificates relating to such matters), it being understood and agreed that the Trustee will deliver such written agreement in conclusive reliance upon the direction of the Company.

[ None of the provisions of the following § 15.03, § 15.04 or § 15.05 shall be operative for any purpose (except for the purpose of reference thereto made in other provisions of this Indenture) unless and until this Indenture shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Upon such qualification, however, all such provisions shall become operative for all purposes . ]

 

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§ 15.03. [Conflict in Interest of Trustee.] The Trustee shall be subject to and shall comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Nothing in this Indenture shall be deemed to prohibit the Trustee or the Company from making any application permitted pursuant to Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

§ 15.04. [Provisions governing deposit of certain moneys in Special Account.] (a) Subject to the provisions of Clause (b) of this Section, if the Trustee shall be or become a creditor, directly or indirectly, secured or unsecured, of the Company within four months’ prior to a default, as defined in Clause (e) of this Section, or subsequent to such a default, then, unless and until such default shall be cured, provided sufficient funds are available to it in the accounts maintained under this Indenture, the Trustee shall set apart and hold in a special account for the benefit of the Trustee individually, the holders of the Bonds, and the holders of other indenture securities (as defined in Clause (e) of this Section):

(1) an amount equal to any and all reductions in the amount due and owing upon any claim as such creditor in respect of principal or interest, effected after the beginning of such four months’ period and valid as against the Company and its other creditors, except any such reduction resulting from the receipt or disposition of any property described in Paragraph (2) of this Clause (a), or from the exercise of any right of set-off which the Trustee could have exercised if a petition in bankruptcy had been filed by or against the Company upon the date of such default; and

(2) all property received by the Trustee in respect of any claim as such creditor, either as security therefor, or in satisfaction or composition thereof, or otherwise, after the beginning of such four months’ period, or an amount equal to the proceeds of any such property, if disposed of, subject, however, to the rights, if any, of the Company and its other creditors in such property or such proceeds.

(b) Nothing contained in this Section shall affect the right of the Trustee:

(1) to retain for its own account (i) payments made on account of any such claim by any person (other than the Company) who is liable thereon, and (ii) the proceeds of the bona fide sale of any such claim by the Trustee to a third person, and (iii) distributions made in cash, securities or other property in respect of claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law;

(2) to realize, for its own account, upon any property held by it as security for any such claim, if such property was so held prior to the beginning of such four months’ period;

(3) to realize, for its own account, but only to the extent of the claim hereinafter mentioned, upon any property held by it as security for any such claim, if

 

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such claim was created after the beginning of such four months’ period and such property was received as security therefor simultaneously with the creation thereof; and if the Trustee shall sustain the burden of proving that at the time such property was so received the Trustee had no reasonable cause to believe that a default, as defined in Clause (e) of this Section, would occur within four months; or

(4) to receive payment on any claim referred to in Paragraphs (2) or (3) of this Clause (b) against the release of any property held as security for such claim as provided in said Paragraphs (2) or (3), as the case may be, to the extent of the fair value of such property.

For the purposes of Paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this Clause (b), property substituted after the beginning of such four months’ period for property held as security at the time of such substitution shall, to the extent of the fair value of the property released, have the same status as the property released, and, to the extent that any claim referred to in any of such Paragraphs is created in renewal of or in substitution for or for the purpose of repaying or refunding any pre-existing claim of the Trustee as such creditor, such claim shall have the same status as such pre-existing claim.

(c) If the Trustee shall be required to account, as in this Section provided, the funds and property held in such special account and the proceeds thereof shall be apportioned between the Trustee, the Bondholders, and the holders of any other indenture securities in such manner that the Trustee, the Bondholders, and the holders of other indenture securities realize, as a result of payments from such special account, and payments of dividends on claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, the same percentage of their respective claims, figured before crediting to the claim of the Trustee anything on account of the receipt by it from the Company of the funds and property in such special account and before crediting to the respective claims of the Trustee, the Bondholders, and the holders of other indenture securities dividends on claims filed against the Company in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, but after crediting thereon receipts on account of the indebtedness represented by their respective claims from all sources other than such dividends and from the funds and property so held in such special account. As used in this Clause (c), with respect to any claim, the term “dividends” shall include any distribution with respect to such claim in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Act or applicable State law, whether such distribution is made in cash, securities, or other property, but shall not include any such distribution with respect to the secured portion, if any, of such claim.

The court in which such bankruptcy, receivership or proceedings for reorganization is pending shall have jurisdiction (1) to apportion between the Trustee, the Bondholders, and the holders of other indenture securities, in accordance with the provisions of this Clause (c), the funds and property held in such special account and the proceeds thereof, or (2) in lieu of such apportionment, in whole or in part, to give to the provisions of this Clause (c) due consideration in determining the fairness of the distributions to be made to the Trustee, the Bondholders, and the holders of other indenture securities, with respect to their respective claims, in which event it

 

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shall not be necessary to liquidate or to appraise the value of any securities or other property held in such special account or as security for any such claim or to make a specific allocation of such distributions as between the secured and unsecured portions of such claims or otherwise to apply the provisions of this Clause (c) as a mathematical formula.

(d) Any Trustee who has resigned or been removed after the beginning of such four months’ period shall be subject to the provisions of this Section as though such resignation or removal had not occurred. If any Trustee has resigned or been removed prior to the beginning of such four months’ period, it shall be subject to the provisions of this Section if and only if—

(i) the receipt of property or reduction of claim which would have given rise to the obligation to account, if such Trustee had continued as Trustee, occurred after the beginning of such four months’ period; and

(ii) such receipt of property or reduction of claim occurred within four months after such resignation or removal.

(e) As used in this Section, the term “default” means any failure to make payment in full of the principal of or interest upon the Bonds or upon the other indenture securities when and as such principal or interest becomes due and payable; and the term “other indenture securities” means securities upon which the Company is an obligor (as defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939) outstanding under any other indenture (1) under which the Trustee is also trustee, (2) which is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and (3) under which a default exists at the time of the apportionment of the funds and property held in said special account.

(f) None of the foregoing provisions of this Section shall be applicable in respect of a creditor relationship arising from—

(1) the ownership or acquisition of securities issued under any indenture, or any security or securities having a maturity of one year or more at the time of acquisition by the Trustee;

(2) advances authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction, or by this Indenture, for the purpose of preserving the property subject to the lien of this Indenture or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances on the Trust Estate, if notice of such advance and of the circumstances surrounding the making thereof is given to the Bondholders as provided in § 15.05(a), (b) and (c) with respect to advances by the Trustee as such;

(3) disbursements made in the ordinary course of business in the capacity of trustee under an indenture, transfer agent, registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent or depositary, or other similar capacity;

(4) an indebtedness created as a result of services rendered or premises rented; or an indebtedness created as a result of goods or securities sold in a cash transaction, as defined in this Clause (f);

 

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(5) the ownership of stock or other securities of a corporation organized under the provisions of Section 25(a) of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, which is directly or indirectly a creditor of the Company; or

(6) the acquisition, ownership, acceptance, or negotiation of any drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances or obligations which fall within the classification of self-liquidating paper as defined in this Clause (f).

The term “security” or “securities” as used in this Clause (f) shall have the same meaning as the definition of the word “security” in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The term “cash transaction” as used in this Clause (f) means any transactions in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand.

The term “self-liquidating paper” as used in this Clause (f) means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacture, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security as received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the obligor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

In the event that any person other than the Company shall at any time become an obligor upon any of the Bonds, so long as such person shall continue to be such obligor the provisions of this Section in addition, to being applicable to the Trustee and the Company, shall be applicable to the Trustee and such obligor with the same effect as if the name of such obligor were substituted for that of the Company in said provisions.

§ 15.05. [Report of Trustee.] (a) The Trustee shall transmit to the Bondholders as hereinafter provided, on or before July 1 of each year a brief report as of May 1 with respect to

(1) its eligibility and its qualifications under § 15.01, § 15.03 and § 15.07, or in lieu thereof, if to the best of its knowledge it continued to be eligible and qualified under such Sections, a written statement to such effect;

(2) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by it as Trustee under this Indenture which remain unpaid on the date of such report, and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Bonds, on the Trust Estate or on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate more than one-half of one per centum (1/2 of 1%) of the principal amount of the Bonds outstanding on such date;

 

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(3) the amount, interest rate and maturity date of all other indebtedness owing to it in its individual capacities on the date of such report, by the Company or any obligor upon the Bonds, with a brief description of any property held as collateral security therefor, except an indebtedness based upon a creditor relationship arising in any manner described in § 15.04(f)(2), (3), (4) or (6);

(4) the property and funds physically in the possession of the Trustee in such capacity on the date of such report;

(5) any release, or release and substitution, of property subject to the lien of this Indenture (and the consideration therefor, if any) which it has not previously reported, provided, however, that to the extent that the aggregate value as shown by the release papers of any or all of such released properties does not exceed an amount equal to one per cent (1%) of the principal amount of Bonds then outstanding, the report need only indicate the number of such releases, the total value of property released as shown by the release papers, the aggregate amount of cash received and the aggregate value of property received in substitution therefor as shown by the release papers;

(6) any additional issue of Bonds which it has not previously reported; and

(7) any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of its duties under this Indenture which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the Bonds or the Trust Estate, except action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be withheld by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of § 12.01.

(b) The Trustee shall transmit to the Bondholders, as hereinafter provided, a brief report with respect to—

(1) the release, or release and substitution, of property subject to the lien of this Indenture (and the consideration therefor, if any) unless the fair value of such property, as set forth in the Certificate required by § 7.02, is less than the greater of either (i) ten (10%) per centum of the principal amount of Bonds outstanding at the time of such release, or such release and substitution or (ii) One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), such report to be transmitted within ninety (90) days after such time; and

(2) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by it, as Trustee, since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to the provisions of Clause (a) of this Section (or if no such report has been transmitted since the date of execution of this Indenture), for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Bonds, on the Trust Estate or on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee and which it has not previously reported pursuant to this Paragraph (2), if such advances remaining unpaid at any time aggregate more than ten (10%) per centum of the principal amount of the Bonds outstanding at such time, such report to be transmitted within ninety (90) days after such time.

 

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(c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted by mail—

(1) to all registered holders of the Bonds, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the registration books of the Company;

(2) to such holders of Bonds as have, within the two (2) years preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for that purpose; and

(3) except in the case of reports pursuant to Clause (b) of this Section, to each Bondholder whose name and address is preserved at the time by the Trustee, as provided in § 9.16(a).

(d) The Trustee shall, at the time of the transmission to the Bondholders of any report pursuant to this Section, file a copy of such report with each stock exchange upon which the Bonds are listed and with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

§ 15.06. [Further provisions governing the removal or resignation of the Trustee.] The Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged from the trusts created by this Indenture by giving written notice thereof to the Company and to all registered holders of Bonds, specifying a date when such resignation shall take effect, and such resignation shall take effect upon the date specified in such notice unless previously a successor Trustee shall have been appointed in the manner provided in § 15.07, in which event such resignation shall take effect immediately upon the appointment of such successor Trustee and its acceptance of such appointment. This Section shall not be applicable to resignations pursuant to § 15.03.

The Trustee may be removed at any time with or without cause by the holders of a majority in amount of the Bonds then outstanding, by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing, signed in triplicate by such holders, of which one copy shall he filed with the Company and one with the Trustee. So long as no Event of Default shall exist, the Trustee may be removed with or without cause by the Company by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing of which one copy shall be filed with the Trustee and one copy shall be mailed to all registered holders of Bonds.

§ 15.07. [Further provisions governing the disqualification of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.] In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State which (a) is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and (b) is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority, or shall cease to have a combined capital and surplus of at least Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000), then the Trustee shall resign immediately; and, in the event that the Trustee does not resign immediately in such case, then it may be removed forthwith by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing filed with the Trustee and either (i) signed and sealed by the President, a Vice-President or the Treasurer of the Company with its corporate seal attested by a Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, or (ii) signed and acknowledged by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding hereunder or by their attorneys-in-fact duly authorized.

 

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In case at any time the Trustee shall resign or be removed (unless the Trustee shall be removed as provided in § 15.03 in which event the vacancy shall be filled as provided in said § 15.03) or otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company, by Written Order of the Company, shall appoint a successor Trustee to fill such vacancy and the Company shall provide notice of such appointment by mail, postage prepaid, to all registered owners of Bonds, at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Bond Register of the Trustee.

If in a proper case no appointment of a successor Trustee shall be made pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section within six months after a vacancy shall have occurred in the office of Trustee, the holder of any Bond outstanding hereunder or any retiring Trustee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Said court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as said court may deem proper, prescribe and appoint a successor Trustee.

Every Trustee appointed under the provisions of this Section shall be a trust company or bank organized and doing business under the laws of the State of New Jersey or New York or under the laws of the United States of America, having its principal office for the transaction of business in the State of New Jersey or The City of New York, and (a) which shall have a capital and surplus aggregating at least Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) on the date of its appointment, (b) which shall be authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, and (c) which shall be subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority.

Any successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder and shall deliver one counterpart thereof to the Company and one counterpart thereof to the retiring Trustee. Upon the execution and delivery of such instrument of acceptance, such successor Trustee shall, without any further act, deed or conveyance, become vested with all the estates, properties, rights, powers and trusts of its predecessor in the trust hereunder with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but the Trustee retiring shall, nevertheless, if and when requested in writing by either the successor Trustee or by the Company, and upon payment of its lawful charges and disbursements then unpaid, if any, execute and deliver an instrument or instruments conveying and transferring to the successor Trustee, upon the trusts herein expressed, all the estates, properties, rights, powers and trusts of the Trustee so retiring, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee so appointed in its place all property and money held by it hereunder. Should any deed, conveyance or instrument in writing from the Company be required by any successor Trustee for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to it the said estates, properties, rights, powers and trusts, then any and all such deeds, conveyances and instruments in writing shall, on request of such successor Trustee, be made, executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Company.

§ 15.08. [Provisions governing the merger or consolidation of the Trustee.] Any corporation into which the Trustee hereunder 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 corporation which shall otherwise become the lawful successor to the assets and business of the Trustee as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, provided such corporation shall be a corporation which would be qualified to be appointed as successor Trustee under § 15.07.

 

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§ 15.09. [Provisions governing appointment of co-trustee.] At any time or times, in order to conform to any legal requirements, the Trustee and the Company shall have power to appoint, and upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall join with the Trustee in the execution and delivery of all instruments and the performance of all acts necessary or proper to appoint, another trust company or bank or one or more persons, approved by the Trustee, either to act as co-trustee or co-trustees of all or any part of the Trust Estate jointly with the Trustee, or to act as substitute trustee or trustees of any part of the same, and in any case with all of the powers, rights, duties, obligations and immunities hereby conferred or imposed on the Trustee, and for such term, if any limitation is placed thereon, as may be specified in the instrument of appointment, the same to be exercised jointly with the Trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed the Trustee 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 such co-trustee or co-trustees or substitute trustee or trustees; and, if an Event of Default shall have happened and shall not have been remedied or if the Company shall fail to join with the Trustee in any such appointment within five days after being requested by the Trustee so to do, the Trustee shall have power, without any action on the part of the Company and without the necessity of the execution of any such instrument of appointment by the Company, to appoint such co-trustee or co-trustees or substitute trustee or trustees as aforesaid, and to execute all instruments and perform all acts necessary or convenient and proper for such purpose. The Trustee may receive the opinion of any counsel selected and approved by it as the necessity or propriety of appointing any such co-trustee or substitute trustee and as to the form and effect of any such instrument to be executed or any act to be taken to effect such appointment and as to any other matter arising under this Section, and, subject to the provisions of § 15.02, such opinions shall be full protection to Trustee for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it pursuant thereto.

If this Indenture be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, any separate or co-trustee appointed pursuant to the provisions of this § 15.09 shall be subject to the requirements of the provisions of this Indenture inserted pursuant to Sections 310(b), 311, 313 and 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

§ 15.10. [Notice to Trustee and Company.] Any notice to or demand upon the Trustee may be served or presented, and such demand shall be made, at the Principal Office of the Trustee. Any notice to or demand upon the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served by the Trustee on the Company, for all purposes, by being deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office or postal letter box addressed as follows:

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY ,

1415 W YCKOFF R OAD ,

W ALL , N EW J ERSEY 07719

A TTN : T REASURER ( WITH A COPY TO L EGAL D EPT .)

 

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or addressed to the Company at such other address as may be filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee.

A RTICLE S IXTEEN .

Discharge of Mortgage.

§ 16.01. [Provisions governing Discharge of the Indenture.] The Trustee shall forthwith cause satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture to be entered upon the record at the cost and charge of the Company, upon receipt by and deposit with the Trustee of each of the following:

A. A Resolution of the Board, requesting the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.

B. Cash, in trust, at or before maturity, sufficient to pay the principal and interest to become due on all Bonds then outstanding and any premium which may be due and payable thereon, at the times and in the manner stipulated therein; provided, however, that in lieu of all or any part of such cash, the Company shall have the right to deliver to and deposit with the Trustee Bonds outstanding hereunder for cancellation by the Trustee, such Bonds thereupon to be deemed to be paid and retired.

C. A Written Order of the Company, expressed to be irrevocable, authorizing the Trustee to give notice of redemption of the Bonds, if any, to be redeemed as aforesaid, in compliance with § 10.04, or proof satisfactory to the Trustee that said notice has been given.

D. Cash, sufficient to pay all other sums payable hereunder by the Company (except in respect of the refund or reimbursement of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, for which the holders of Bonds shall look only to the Company).

E. A Certificate of the Company, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that the cash and/or Bonds, if any, deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Paragraph B of this Section and the cash, if any, deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Paragraph D of this Section are sufficient to comply with the requirements of the respective Paragraphs and that all conditions precedent which relate to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

F. An Opinion of Counsel, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, stating that all conditions precedent which relate to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with, and that the resolutions, cash, Bonds, certificates and other instruments which have been or are therewith delivered to the Trustee conform to the requirements of this Indenture and constitute sufficient authority under this Indenture for the Trustee to satisfy and discharge the Indenture, and that, upon the basis thereof, the Trustee may lawfully satisfy and discharge the Indenture.

 

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The Company may at any time surrender to the Trustee for cancellation by it any Bonds previously authenticated and delivered hereunder, which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and such Bonds, upon such surrender and cancellation, shall be deemed to be paid and retired.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the Company will reimburse and indemnify the Trustee for and hold it harmless against any loss, liability or expense, incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, as well as the reasonable cost and expense of defending against any claim of liability in the premises, as to which the Trustee would be entitled to be reimbursed or indemnified by the Company or held harmless by the Company if the Indenture had not been so satisfied or discharged.

§ 16.02. [Return of unclaimed moneys deposited with Trustee.] Any moneys deposited with the Trustee to provide for payment of Bonds or interest or premium thereon, and remaining unclaimed by the holders of Bonds for six (6) years after the date upon which the moneys so deposited shall have been payable to such holders shall, after the expiration of said period of six (6) years be paid by the Trustee to the Company, and upon such payment to the Company the Trustee shall be fully relieved of any liability or responsibility in respect thereof and the holders of such Bonds shall be entitled to look only to the Company for the payment thereof. Before paying over any such moneys to the Company the Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, provide by mail, postage prepaid, to all registered owners of Bonds, at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Bond Register of the Trustee notice that after a date named in said notice said moneys will be paid to the Company unless claimed by the holders of Bonds entitled thereto prior to the date so named.

A RTICLE S EVENTEEN .

Supplemental Indentures.

§ 17.01. [Provisions governing the modification of Indenture by a Supplemental Indenture.] Without any consent or other action of Bondholders except as required by the following Paragraph I, but after obtaining any applicable regulatory approvals, the Company, when authorized by a Resolution of the Board, and the Trustee, from time to time, and at any time, subject to the restrictions in this Indenture contained, may, and when so required by this Indenture, shall, enter into such indentures supplemental hereto as may or shall by them be deemed necessary or desirable, for one or more of the following purposes:

A. To correct the description of any property hereby conveyed or pledged or intended so to be, or to assign, convey, mortgage, pledge, transfer and set over unto the Trustee, additional property of the Company;

B. To add to the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authentication and delivery of, and on the authorized amount, terms, provisions and purposes of issue of, Bonds or any series of Bonds as herein set forth, other conditions, limitations and restrictions thereafter to be observed;

 

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C. To add to the covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture contained other covenants and agreements thereafter to be observed by the Company, and/or to surrender any right or power herein reserved to or conferred upon the Company;

D. To provide for the creation of any series of Bonds designating the series to be created and specifying the form and provisions of the Bonds of such series as hereinbefore provided or permitted;

E. To provide a sinking, amortization, improvement or other analogous fund for the benefit of all or any of the Bonds of any one or more series, of such character and of such amount (subject to the provisions of § 2.04) and upon such terms and conditions as shall be contained in such supplemental indenture;

F. To provide the terms and conditions of the exchange of Bonds of one series for Bonds of another or other series, or of the exchange of Bonds of one denomination or kind for Bonds of another denomination or kind, of the same series;

G. To provide that the principal of the Bonds of any series may be converted at the option of the holders into capital stock, bonds and/or other securities, and the terms and conditions of such conversion;

H. To change, alter, modify, vary or eliminate any of the terms, provisions, restrictions or conditions of this Indenture except as otherwise in this Section provided; provided, however, that any such changes, alterations, modifications, variations or eliminations made in a supplemental indenture pursuant to this Paragraph shall be expressly stated in such supplemental indenture to become, and shall, become, effective only when there are no Bonds outstanding of any series authenticated and delivered prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture; provided further, that such supplemental indenture shall be specifically referred to in the text of all Bonds of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture; provided further, that the Trustee may, in its uncontrolled discretion, decline to enter into any such supplemental indenture which, in its opinion, may not afford adequate protection to the Trustee when the same shall become operative;

I. If and to the extent authorized by the written consent of the holders of at least sixty-six and two thirds (66-2/3%) in principal amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding (excluding Bonds not entitled to consent under the provisions of § 1.02(rr) and, in case one or more but less than all of the series of the Bonds issued hereunder are so affected, of at least sixty-six and two thirds (66-2/3%) in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and so entitled to consent of each series affected thereby, to change and modify the rights and obligations of the Company and of the holders of the Bonds (including those pertaining to any sinking or other fund) or to make such other changes in or additions to the provisions of this Indenture as may be deemed necessary or

 

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advisable, provided that no such change shall be made without the written consent of the holders of all of the Bonds which would (1) postpone the maturity date fixed herein or in the Bonds for the payment of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, the Bonds, or (2) reduce the principal of, or premium on, or the rate of interest payable on, the Bonds, or (3) permit the creation of any lien not otherwise permitted, prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture, or (4) reduce the percentage of the principal amount of the Bonds the consent of the holders of which is required for any addition to, modification of or elimination of, the rights of the holders of the Bonds and the obligations of the Company under this Indenture pursuant to the provisions of § 9.18, or (5) reduce the percentage of the principal amount of the Bonds the consent of the holders of which is required for the authorization of the execution of an indenture supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph I, or which would modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee; and such written consent of Bondholders required by this Paragraph I need not approve the particular form of any proposed Supplemental Indenture if such consent shall approve the substance thereof, and may be executed by proxies and attorneys-in-fact for Bondholders as well as by Bondholders; and/or

J. For the purpose of curing any ambiguity or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provisions contained herein or in any supplemental indenture.

[ None of the provisions of the following paragraph shall be operative for any purpose unless and until this Indenture shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Upon such qualification, however, such provisions shall become operative for all purposes . ]

No such Supplemental Indenture shall eliminate, nor contain any provision in contravention of, any provision of this Indenture required to be included herein by any provision of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Any such supplemental indenture, and this Indenture as so supplemented, shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act, of 1939.

§ 17.02. [Authority of Trustee to enter into Supplemental Indentures; Effect of Supplemental Indenture.] The Trustee is authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained, and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder. Any supplemental indenture executed in accordance with any of the provisions of this Article shall thereafter form a part of this Indenture; and all the terms and conditions contained in any such supplemental indenture as to any provision authorized to be contained therein shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture, for any and all purposes, and, if deemed necessary or desirable by the Trustee, any of such terms or conditions may be set forth in reasonable and customary manner in the Bonds of the series to which supplemental indenture shall apply. In case of the execution and delivery of any supplemental indenture, express reference may be made thereto in the text of the Bonds of any series authenticated and delivered thereafter, if deemed necessary or desirable by the Trustee.

 

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§ 17.03. [Trustee may exercise discretion in determining whether or not to enter into Supplemental Indentures.] In each and every case provided for in this Article, the Trustee shall be entitled to exercise its discretion in determining whether or not any proposed supplemental indenture, or any term or provision therein contained, is proper or desirable, having in view the purposes of such instrument, the needs of the Company, and the rights and interest of the Bondholders, and the Trustee shall, subject to the provisions of § 15.02, be under no responsibility or liability to the Company or to any Bondholder or to anyone whomsoever, for any act or thing which it may do or decline to do in good faith, subject to the provisions of this Article, in the exercise of such discretion. Subject to the provisions of § 15.02, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel, complying with the provisions of § 1.04, as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental indenture complies with the provisions of this Indenture, and that it is proper for the Trustee, under the provisions of this Article, to join in the execution of such supplemental indenture.

A RTICLE E IGHTEEN .

Miscellaneous Provisions.

§ 18.01. [Interested parties.] 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 of the Bonds outstanding hereunder, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition or stipulation hereof; and all the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by and on behalf of the Company shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and of the holders of the Bonds outstanding hereunder.

§ 18.02. [Successors and assigns.] Whenever in this Indenture either of the parties hereto is named or referred to, this shall be deemed to include the successors or assigns of such party, and all the covenants 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 the respective successors and assigns of such party, whether so expressed or not.

The provisions of the following § 18.03 shall not be operative for any purpose unless and until this Indenture shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Upon such qualification, however, such provisions shall become operative for all purposes.

§ 18.03. [Conflict with Trust Indenture Act of 1939.] If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with any other provision which would be required to be included herein by any of Sections 310 to 317 inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, if this Indenture were qualified under said Act, the provision required to be so included shall control.

§ 18.04. [Approval of Department of Public Utilities, Board of Public Utility Commissioners of State of New Jersey.] Neither the approval by the Department of Public Utilities, Board of Public Utility Commissioners, of the State of New Jersey of the execution and

 

-111-


delivery of this Indenture nor the approval by said Board or any other applicable regulatory authority of the issue of any Bonds hereunder shall in anywise be construed as the approval by said Board of any other act, matter or thing which requires approval of said Board under the laws of the State of New Jersey; nor shall approval by said Board of the issue of any Bonds hereunder bind said Board or any other public body or authority of the State of New Jersey having jurisdiction in the premises in any future application for the issue of Bonds under this Indenture or otherwise.

§ 18.05. [Counterparts.] This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, all or any of which may be treated for all purposes as one original and shall constitute and be one and the same instrument.

§ 18.06. [Governing law.] This Indenture and each Bond issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New Jersey, and shall be construed according to the laws of said State.

§ 18.07. [Restatement of Indenture and Continuing Lien.] This Indenture completely restates and amends the Existing Indenture without any interruption of the Lien of the Existing Indenture, which continues under this Indenture against the Trust Estate described herein. This Indenture states the complete agreement of the parties hereto without any reference to the Existing Indenture.

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , party of the first part, has caused this Indenture to be signed in its corporate name by its Executive Vice President and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested by its Corporate Secretary and U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , party of the second part, in evidence of its acceptance of the trust hereby created, has caused this Indenture to be signed in its corporate name by one of its Vice Presidents and attested by one of its Vice Presidents.

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY
By:  

/s/ Kathleen T. Ellis

  Name:   Kathleen T. Ellis
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Attest:

/s/ Rhonda M. Figueroa

Name:   Rhonda M. Figueroa
Title:   Corporate Secretary

[C ORPORATE S EAL ]

 

-112-


U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Christopher E. Golabek

  Name:   Christopher E. Golabek
  Title:   Vice President

 

Attest:

/s/ Stephanie Roche

Name:   Stephanie Roche
Title:   Vice President

 

-113-


S TATE   OF  N EW  J ERSEY   )  
  )   SS:
C OUNTY   OF  M ONMOUTH   )  

B E I T R EMEMBERED that on this 24th day of September, 2014, before me, the subscriber, Richard Reich, an Attorney-at-Law of the State of New Jersey, and I hereby certify that I am such an Attorney-at-Law as witness my hand, personally appeared R HONDA  M. F IGUEROA , to me known, who, being by me duly sworn according to law, on his oath, does depose and make proof to my satisfaction that she is the Corporate Secretary of N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , the grantor or mortgagor in the foregoing Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement named; that she well knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that it was so affixed in pursuance of a resolution of the Board of Directors of said corporation; that K ATHLEEN  T. E LLIS is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of said corporation; that she saw said K ATHLEEN  T. E LLIS as such Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer affix said seal thereto, sign and deliver said Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, and heard her declare that she signed, sealed and delivered the same as the voluntary act and deed of said corporation, in pursuance of said resolution, and that this deponent signed her name thereto, at the same time, as attesting witness.

 

/ S / R HONDA M. F IGUEROA

Rhonda M. Figueroa
Corporate Secretary

 

Subscribed and sworn to before me an Attorney-at-Law of the State of New Jersey, at Wall, New Jersey, the day and year aforesaid.

/ S /    R ICHARD R EICH        

Richard Reich
An Attorney-at-Law of the
State of New Jersey


S TATE   OF  N EW  J ERSEY   )  
  )   SS:
C OUNTY   OF  M ORRIS   )  

On the 18th day of September, in the year 2014, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared Christopher E. Golabek, a Vice President of U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , personally known to be or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to be that he executed the same in his capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed this instrument.

 

/ S / F LORENCE M. N OLL

 

 


E XHIBIT A

[G ENERAL F ORM OF B OND ]

 

No.             $            

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

F IRST M ORTGAGE B OND ,     % S ERIES          ,

D UE                     

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY (hereafter called the “Company” ), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                         , or registered assigns, on the      day of                     ,                                          Dollars, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest thereon from the date hereof, at the rate of                      per cent (    %) per annum, in like coin or currency semi-annually on                      and                      in each year until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and thereafter if default be made in the payment of such principal, at the rate of      per cent (    %) per annum (the “Overdue Rate” ) until the principal hereof shall be paid. Payments of both principal and interest are to be made at                      or at the office or agency specified in the supplement to the Indenture hereinafter mentioned creating this Bond.

This Bond is one of an authorized issue of Bonds of the Company known as its “First Mortgage Bonds,” of an unlimited permitted aggregate principal amount, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, and issued and to be issued in one or more series under, and all equally and ratably secured (except as any sinking, amortization, improvement, renewal or other analogous fund, established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, may afford additional security for the Bonds of any particular series) by, an Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated as of September 1, 2014 (hereinafter called the “Indenture” ), executed by the Company to U.S. Bank National Association, (herein called the “Trustee” ), as Trustee, to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the properties mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security, the rights of the holders of said Bonds and of the Trustee and of the Company in respect of such security, and the terms and conditions upon which said Bonds are and are to be issued and secured.

To the extent permitted by the Indenture and as provided therein, with the consent of the Company and upon the written consent of at least a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and entitled to consent, and of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding and entitled to consent of each series affected thereby in case one or more but less than all of the series of Bonds issued under the Indenture are so affected, the rights and obligations of the Company and of the holders of Bonds, and the terms and provisions of the Indenture and of any instrument supplemental thereto may be modified from time to time,


provided that no such modification or alteration shall be made without the consent of the holders of all of the Bonds which would (i) postpone the date fixed herein or in the Indenture for the payment of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, the Bonds, or (ii) reduce the principal of, premium, if any, on, or the rate of interest payable on, the Bonds, or (iii) reduce the percentage of the principal amount of Bonds the consent of which is required for the authorization of any such modification or alteration, or which would modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee.

As provided in said Indenture, said Bonds are issuable in series which may vary as in said Indenture provided or permitted. This Bond is one of a series of Bonds entitled “First Mortgage Bonds,     % Series     .”

(Here insert reference to redemption if Bonds of a particular series are redeemable and to sinking or other fund if such Bonds are entitled thereto.)

If an event of default, as defined in said Indenture, shall occur, the principal of this Bond may become or be declared due and payable, in the manner and with the effect provided in said Indenture.

This Bond is transferable by the registered owner hereof in person or by attorney authorized in writing, at                                         , upon surrender for cancellation of this Bond and on payment of charges, and upon any such transfer a new Bond, of the same series, for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor.

(Here insert provisions for exchangeability, if any.)

The Company and the Trustee and any paying agent may deem and treat the person in whose name this Bond is registered as the absolute owner hereof, for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and interest due hereon, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall 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 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 constitution 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 contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds thereby secured, or implied therefrom.

 

-2-


This Bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee, or its successor as Trustee under said Indenture.

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Company has caused this Bond to be signed in its name by its President or one of its Vice-Presidents, and its corporate seal to be impressed or imprinted hereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.

 

Dated  

 

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY
By:  

 

  Vice-President

 

Attest:

 

Assistant Secretary

[F ORM OF T RUSTEE S C ERTIFICATE OF A UTHENTICATION FOR ALL B ONDS ]

This is one of the Bonds described in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

 

-3-


E XHIBIT  B

T HIRTY -F IRST S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


E XHIBIT  C

T HIRTY -S ECOND S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


E XHIBIT  D

T HIRTY -T HIRD S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


E XHIBIT  E

T HIRTY -F OURTH S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


E XHIBIT  F

T HIRTY -F IFTH S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE


E XHIBIT  G TO I NDENTURE

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

A MENDED AND R ESTATED I NDENTURE OF M ORTGAGE , D EED OF T RUST AND S ECURITY A GREEMENT

D ATED AS OF S EPTEMBER  1, 2014

C ERTIFICATE OF THE C OMPANY F ILED P URSUANT TO § 4.01

                    , the President, and                     , the                      Treasurer, of N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , hereby certify:

(1) The Company has acquired, by purchase [ or, in the alternative, by construction or other specified manner ] certain Property Additions briefly described in Exhibit B hereto, such description including a statement of the principal and sub-divisions 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, 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 B.

(2) No part of said Property Additions have been used by the Company for any purpose of this Indenture or the Existing Indenture [ the following may be added if applicable ] except the following, which have not constituted the same Funded Property: [ Specify uses. ]

(3) No part of said Property Additions is subject to any lien or encumbrances other than a Permitted Encumbrance and no Permitted Encumbrance to which the same is subject to a Purchase Money Lien.

(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 the lien of this 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 consists of property which, within six months prior to the date of acquisition thereof by the Company, has been used or operated by others than the Company in a business similar to that in which it has been or is to be used or operated by the Company [ the following may be added if applicable ] except Property Additions identified as such in Exhibit B hereto and separately described.


(6) No part of said Property Additions was acquired from an Affiliate of the Company [ the following may be added if applicable ] except Property Additions identified as such in Exhibit B hereto and separately described.

(7) No part of said Property Additions was acquired the Company, in whole or in part, for a consideration consisting of securities [ the following may be added if applicable ] except Property Additions identified in as such in Exhibit B hereto and separately described. Said securities are described in Exhibit C hereto.

If, by virtue of the provisions of the foregoing Clauses (5), (6) and/or (7) of this Paragraph, any of said Property Additions shall be separately described in said Certificate, the Cost and Fair Value to the Company of such Property Additions shall be separately stated; and, in the case of Property Additions of the character described in Clauses (5) and/or (6) of this Paragraph, said Fair Value shall not exceed the value of such Property Additions as certified by an Independent Engineer under Clause (20) if certification by an Independent Engineer is required by the provisions of said Clause (20); and in the case of Property Additions of the character described in Clause (7) of this Paragraph, the portion of the Cost thereof represented by securities shall not exceed the Fair Value of such securities as shown by the Appraiser’s Certificate filed with the Trustee pursuant to Paragraph D of this Section.

(8) The Cost to the Company of said Property Additions is $        .

(9) The Fair Value of said Property Additions to the Company at the date of this Certificate is [ either ] $         [ or, in the alternative ] not less than the Cost specified in Clause (8).

(10) The aggregate amount of all Retirements up to the date of this Certificate which have not been included in a previous Certificate filed with the Trustee pursuant to § 4.01, § 5.03, or § 8.03 of the Indenture or the Existing Indenture is $        . The amount of such Retirements has been computed as required by § 1.02 and § 1.03 of the Indenture.

(11) A brief description of such Retirements and the principal subdivisions of plant account to which such Retirements have been or will be credited is set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

 

-2-


(12) The amounts (stated separately according to the categories specified in § 1.02 and § 1.03 of the Indenture, and similarly numbered) of all Retirement Credits which are to be applied against such Retirements is as follows:

 

(1)

   $                

(2)

   $                

(3)

   $                

(4)

   $                

(5)

   $                

Total

   $                

Such Retirement Credits have been computed as required by said § 1.02 and § 1.03.

(13) The amount of the Net Earnings Available for Interest, for the period from                      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 $        .

(14) 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 Trust Estate, or any part thereof, prior to the lien of this Indenture, except Permitted Encumbrances which are not Purchase Money Liens

   $                
Total such annual interest charges [ Such annual interest charges are, in the Indenture, called the annual “Interest Charges on Indebtedness” of the Company ]    $                

(15) The amount of the Net Earnings Available for Interest set forth in Clause (13) above have been at least equal to two (2) times the aggregate amount of the annual Interest Charges on Indebtedness of the Company, set forth in Clause (14) above.

 

-3-


(16) 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 (8)

   $                

(b) Retirements, as shown by Clause (10)

   $                

(c) Retirement Credits, as shown by Clause (12)

   $                

(d) Net Retirements—Item (b) minus Item (c), but in no event less than zero

   $                

(e) Net Amount of Property Additions—Item (a) minus (d)

   $                

(f) Amount of First Mortgage Bonds to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this application (not more than 70% of Item (e))

   $                

(17) The Company is not in default in the performance of any of the covenants on its part to be performed under the Indenture and no Event of Default has happened and is continuing.

(18) [ Here insert statements required by § 1.04 of the Indenture. ]

Dated:                     , 20    .

(Not more than 45 days prior to the application)

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

 

President or Vice President

 

Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer

 

-4-


(19) I certify that the statements in the foregoing Clauses (1), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (12) are correct.

 

 

Engineer,
as defined in § 1.03 of the Indenture.

[ If, but only if, required to comply with the requirements of Item (a) or (b) of the following Clause (20), the following Clause (20), signed by an Independent Engineer selected by the Company and approved by the Trustee in the exercise of reasonable care) is to be added . ]

(20) (a) [ If any Property Additions shall be separately described pursuant to Clause (5), the following statement shall be made. ] The Fair Value to the Company, in the opinion of the undersigned, of each part of said Property Additions which has been separately described pursuant to Clause (5) is as follows:

(b) [ If any Property Additions shall be separately described pursuant to Clause (6), and if such Property Additions shall be shown in Clause (6) to have a Cost to the Company in excess of $10,000,000, the following statement is to be made. ] The Fair Value to the Company, in the opinion of the undersigned, of Property Additions separately described in Exhibit B pursuant to Clause (6) is as follows:

 

 

Independent Engineer,
as defined in § 1.03.

 

-5-


E XHIBIT  H TO I NDENTURE

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

A MENDED AND R ESTATED I NDENTURE OF M ORTGAGE , D EED OF T RUST AND S ECURITY A GREEMENT

DATED AS OF S EPTEMBER  1, 2014

C ERTIFICATE OF C OMPANY FILED PURSUANT TO § 6.01

                                         , the                      President, and                                         , the                      Treasurer of N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY , hereby certify:

(1) [ Either (a) and/or (b) and/or (c) ].

(a) There is 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:

 

S ERIES    B OND  N UMBERS      P RINCIPAL  A MOUNT
     
     
     
     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:

 

S ERIES    P RINCIPAL  A MOUNT      R EDEMPTION  P RICE   OR
A MOUNT TO B E P AID
     
     
     
     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:

 

S ERIES    B OND  N UMBERS      P RINCIPAL  A MOUNT
     
     
     
     Total      

(2) The Bonds, the retirement of which (or provision therefor) is made the basis for the authentication and delivery of Bonds hereunder, do not include any Bond which has theretofore been used by the Company for any purpose of the Indenture [ the following may be added if applicable ] except the following Bonds purchased, paid, retired or redeemed through the operation of the                  fund which was created by the Supplemental Indenture dated                      [ or other instrument ] which does not preclude the authentication and delivery of the Bonds under Article Six upon the basis of the redemption, purchase or other retirement of such Bonds: [ Insert description of such Bonds. ]

(3) The Company is not in default in the performance of any of the covenants on its part to be performed under the Indenture and no Event of Default has happened and is continuing.

[The statements required by the following Clause (4) need not be added if either

(a) the Bonds, the retirement of which (or provision therefor) is made the basis for the authentication and delivery of the Bonds then applied for, bear interest at a higher rate than the Bonds the authentication of which is sought, provided, however, that nothing in this Item (a) shall be deemed to excuse the Company from making such statements if said first mentioned Bonds shall not have been issued by the Company or shall have ceased to be outstanding hereunder during any period or periods prior to the authentication and delivery of the Bonds then applied for, and during said period or periods a Property Additions Certificate shall have been delivered to the Trustee pursuant to any provision of this Indenture in which the annual interest requirements on any such Bond which shall have so ceased to be outstanding shall not have been included in Interest Charges on Indebtedness of the Company, or

(b) the payment date or the redemption date of said first mentioned Bonds (if they have been paid or have been or are to be redeemed) or the date of their surrender to the Trustee (if they have been acquired by the Company and surrendered to the Trustee) is less than three (3) years prior to the maturity date stated in such Bonds.]

 

-2-


(4) [ Here insert statements respecting Net Earnings required by Clauses (13), (14) and (15) of a Property Additions Certificate. ]

(5) [ Here insert statements required by § 1.04 of the Indenture. ]

Dated:                 , 20    .

(Not more than 45 days prior to the application)

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY

 

President or Vice President

 

Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer

 

-3-


E XHIBIT  I

F ORM OF A LLONGE

In furtherance of the Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated as of September 1, 2014 (hereinafter called the “Indenture” ), executed by N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY (hereafter called the “Company” ), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, to U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, the Company hereby confirms and acknowledges that the full and final payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the foregoing First Mortgage Bond, Series     , due                      shall be and is secured by the lien of the Indenture in accordance with the terms thereof. This instrument constitutes an allonge to, and forms a part of, the foregoing First Mortgage Bond, Series     , due                     .

 

Dated  

 

 

N EW J ERSEY N ATURAL G AS C OMPANY
By:  

 

  Vice-President

 

Attest:

 

Assistant Secretary

This is one of the allonges described in the above mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. B ANK N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION , as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

Exhibit 99.4

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

CONTINUING COVENANT AGREEMENT

between

NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY

and

WELLS FARGO MUNICIPAL CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LLC

Relating to

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

$9,545,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds,

Series 2011A (Non-AMT)

(New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

$41,000,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds,

Series 2011B (AMT)

(New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

$46,500,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds,

Series 2011C (AMT)

(New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)

Dated as of September 24, 2014

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.01.

 

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.02.

 

Incorporation of Certain Definitions by Reference

     19   

Section 1.03.

 

Accounting Matters

     19   

Section 1.04.

 

Computation of Time Periods

     19   

Section 1.05.

 

New York City Time Presumption

     19   

Section 1.06.

 

Relation to Other Documents; Incorporation by Reference

     20   

Section 1.07.

 

Construction

     20   
ARTICLE II   
PURCHASE OF BONDS   

Section 2.01.

 

Purchase of Bonds

     21   
ARTICLE III   
THE BORROWER’S OBLIGATIONS   

Section 3.01.

 

Repayment Obligations

     21   

Section 3.02.

 

Default Interest

     22   

Section 3.03.

 

Determination of Taxability

     22   

Section 3.04.

 

Fees; Costs and Expenses

     23   

Section 3.05.

 

Computation of Interest and Fees

     23   

Section 3.06.

 

Increased Costs

     24   

Section 3.07.

 

Net of Taxes, Etc

     25   

Section 3.08.

 

Method and Application of Payments

     27   

Section 3.09.

 

Maintenance of Accounts

     27   

Section 3.10.

 

Cure

     27   

Section 3.11.

 

Maximum Interest Rate

     27   

Section 3.12.

 

Breakage Expenses

     28   
ARTICLE IV   
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PURCHASE OF BONDS   

Section 4.01.

 

Documentary Requirements

     28   

Section 4.02.

 

Credit Requirements

     30   

Section 4.03.

 

Additional Conditions Precedent

     30   
ARTICLE V   
REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES   

Section 5.01.

 

Organization; Qualification

     31   

Section 5.02.

 

Power; Authority

     31   

Section 5.03.

 

Validity; Binding Effect

     31   

Section 5.04.

 

No Conflict; Compliance with Related Documents

     31   

Section 5.05.

 

Consents and Approvals

     32   

Section 5.06.

 

Compliance with Applicable Law

     32   

Section 5.07.

 

Title to Properties

     32   


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page  
Section 5.08.  

Tax Returns and Payments

     32   
Section 5.09.  

Litigation

     33   
Section 5.10.  

Absence of Defaults and Events of Default

     33   
Section 5.11.  

Financial Statements

     33   
Section 5.12.  

Accuracy and Completeness of Information

     33   
Section 5.13.  

Incorporation of Representations and Warranties

     34   
Section 5.14.  

No Usury

     34   
Section 5.15.  

Insurance

     34   
Section 5.16.  

Bond

     34   
Section 5.17.  

Plans and Benefit Arrangements

     34   
Section 5.18.  

Investment Company Act

     35   
Section 5.19.  

Pending Legislation and Decisions

     35   
Section 5.20.  

Environmental Matters

     35   
Section 5.21.  

Anti-Terrorism Representations

     36   
Section 5.22.  

Security

     37   
Section 5.23.  

Labor Matters

     37   
Section 5.24.  

Taxpayer Identification Number

     37   
Section 5.25.  

Subsidiaries

     37   
Section 5.26.  

Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock

     37   
Section 5.27.  

Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc

     38   
Section 5.28.  

Hedging Contract Policies

     38   
Section 5.29.  

Permitted Related Business Opportunities

     38   
Section 5.30.  

Most Favored Nations

     38   
ARTICLE VI   
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   
Section 6.01.  

Compliance with Applicable Laws

     39   
Section 6.02.  

Reporting Requirements

     39   
Section 6.03.  

Notices

     41   
Section 6.04.  

Further Assurances

     44   
Section 6.05.  

Right of Entry

     44   
Section 6.06.  

Payment of Obligations; Removal of Liens

     45   
Section 6.07.  

Reserved

     45   
Section 6.08.  

Insurance

     45   
Section 6.09.  

Conversion

     45   
Section 6.10.  

Employee Benefit Plan Compliance

     45   
Section 6.11.  

Disclosure to Participants

     46   
Section 6.12.  

Proceeds of Bonds

     46   
Section 6.13.  

Compliance with Related Documents

     46   
Section 6.14.  

Reserved

     46   
Section 6.15.  

Reserved

     46   
Section 6.16.  

Maintenance of Properties

     46   
Section 6.17.  

Maintenance of Patents, Trademarks, Etc

     46   

 

ii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page  
Section 6.18.  

Preservation of Existence, Etc

     46   
Section 6.19.  

Hedge Agreements

     47   
Section 6.20.  

Lien on Trust Estate

     47   
Section 6.21.  

Most Favored Covenant

     47   
Section 6.22.  

Filing of Agreement

     47   
Section 6.23.  

CUSIP Numbers

     47   
ARTICLE VII   
NEGATIVE COVENANTS   
Section 7.01.  

Amendments

     48   
Section 7.02.  

Reserved

     48   
Section 7.03.  

Reserved

     48   
Section 7.04.  

Business

     48   
Section 7.05.  

Certain Information

     48   
Section 7.06.  

Trustee; Paying Agent; Etc

     48   
Section 7.07.  

Accounting Methods and Fiscal Year

     48   
Section 7.08.  

Exempt Status

     48   
Section 7.09.  

Optional Redemption; Conversion; Defeasance

     49   
Section 7.10.  

Limitation on Hedge Agreements

     49   
Section 7.11.  

Liens

     49   
Section 7.12.  

Reserved

     49   
Section 7.13.  

Debt

     49   
Section 7.14.  

Maximum Leverage Ratio

     50   
Section 7.15.  

Creation of Subsidiaries; Loans and Transfers to Subsidiaries

     50   
Section 7.16.  

Reserved

     50   
Section 7.17.  

Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities

     50   
Section 7.18.  

Reserved

     51   
Section 7.19.  

Reserved

     51   
Section 7.20.  

Reserved

     51   
Section 7.21.  

Anti-Terrorism Laws

     51   
Section 7.22.  

Loans and Investments

     51   
Section 7.23.  

Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations and Acquisitions

     51   
Section 7.24.  

Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries

     52   
Section 7.25.  

Subsidiaries as Guarantors

     53   
Section 7.26.  

Restrictions on Payment of Dividends; Redemptions

     54   
ARTICLE VIII   
EVENTS OF DEFAULT   
Section 8.01.  

Events of Default

     54   
Section 8.02.  

Consequences of an Event of Default

     58   
Section 8.03.  

Special Acceleration Terms for Certain Events of Default

     59   
Section 8.04.  

No Waiver; Remedies

     59   
Section 8.05.  

Injunctive Relief

     59   

 

iii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page  
ARTICLE IX   
NATURE OF OBLIGATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION   
Section 9.01.  

Obligations Absolute

     60   
Section 9.02.  

Liability of the Purchaser

     60   
Section 9.03.  

Indemnification

     61   
ARTICLE X   
CONVERSION OF INTEREST RATE DETERMINATION METHOD   
Section 10.01.  

Conversion

     62   
ARTICLE XI   
MISCELLANEOUS   
Section 11.01.  

Reserved

     62   
Section 11.02.  

Amendments and Waivers

     62   
Section 11.03.  

Counterparts

     62   
Section 11.04.  

Notices

     63   
Section 11.05.  

Severability

     64   
Section 11.06.  

Arbitration

     64   
Section 11.07.  

Governing Law; Consent To Jurisdiction; Waiver Of Jury Trial

     66   
Section 11.08.  

Successors and Assigns

     67   
Section 11.09.  

Complete and Controlling Agreement

     69   
Section 11.10.  

Patriot Act

     69   
Section 11.11.  

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     69   
Section 11.12.  

Payment Set Aside

     70   
Section 11.13.  

Contractual Interpretation

     70   
Section 11.14.  

Electronic Signatures

     70   
Section 11.15.  

Confidentiality

     71   

EXHIBIT A - FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

EXHIBIT B - FORM OF REQUEST FOR CONVERSION OF BANK INDEX RATE PERIOD

EXHIBIT C - PERMITTED LIENS

EXHIBIT D - EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS

EXHIBIT E - CONSENTS AND APPROVALS

EXHIBIT F - SUBSIDIARIES

EXHIBIT G - HEDGING CONTRACT POLICIES

EXHIBIT H - PERMITTED RELATED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

 

iv


CONTINUING COVENANT AGREEMENT

THIS CONTINUING COVENANT AGREEMENT is dated as of September 24, 2014, by and between NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY and WELLS FARGO MUNICIPAL CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LLC . All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned in Section 1.01 or as otherwise provided in Section 1.02.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, at the request of the Borrower, the Issuer has issued its Bonds pursuant to the terms of the Original Indenture;

WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of the Original Indenture, the Issuer and the Borrower entered into the Loan Agreement pursuant to which the Issuer loaned the Bond Proceeds to the Borrower;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Issuer amend and restate the Original Indenture to provide that the Bonds may bear interest at a Bank Index Rate;

WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase the Bonds, and as a condition to such purchase, the Purchaser has required the Borrower to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, including the covenants, terms and conditions hereinafter contained, and to induce the Purchaser to purchase the Bonds, the Purchaser and the Borrower agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Definitions . In addition to terms defined at other places in this Agreement, the following defined terms are used throughout this Agreement with the following meanings:

Accountant ” means an independent certified public accountant or a firm of independent certified public accountants, selected by the Borrower and reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser.

Acquired Person ” means a Person or business acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in a transaction which is a Permitted Acquisition.

Acquisition Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 7.23.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (a) which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, (b) which


beneficially owns or holds 10% or more of any class of the voting or other equity interests of such Person, or (c) 10% or more of any class of voting interests or other equity interests of which is beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by such Person. Control, as used in this definition, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, including the power to elect a majority of the directors or trustees of a corporation or trust, as the case may be.

Agreement ” means this Continuing Covenant Agreement.

Applicable Law ” means (a) all applicable common law and principles of equity and (b) all applicable provisions of all (i) constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations and orders of all Governmental Authorities, (ii) Governmental Approvals and (iii) orders, decisions, judgments, writs, injunctions and decrees of all courts (whether at law or in equity) and arbitrators.

Applicable Spread ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Bank Index Rate Period ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Bank Purchase Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Bank Transferee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.08(c).

Bankruptcy Code ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Base Rate ” means, for any date of determination, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Fed Funds Rate plus 2.00%, (b) the Prime Rate plus 1.00%, or (c) 7.00%.

Benefit Arrangement ” means an “employee benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is neither a Plan, a Multiple Employer Plan, nor a Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained, sponsored or otherwise contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group.

Bond Documents ” means, collectively, the Indenture, the Bonds, the Loan Agreement, the Tax Certificate, the Security Documents and shall also include any other agreement or instrument relating to the issuance of the Bonds.

Bond Interest is Taxable ” means that interest paid or to be paid on a Bond is or will be includable for federal income tax purposes in the gross income of the Purchaser or any other Owner thereof (other than in the case of an Owner of any Bond who is a substantial user of the project financed with the proceeds of such Bond or a related person within the meaning of Section 147(a) of the Code or Section 103(b)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954), but excluding the inclusion of interest on such Bond as an item of tax preference for purposes of the calculation of an alternative minimum tax imposed on the Purchaser or such other Owner.

Bond Proceeds ” means the principal of the Bonds and any investment earnings thereon.

 

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Bonds ” means, collectively, the Series 2011A Bonds, the Series 2011B Bonds and the Series 2011C Bonds.

Borrower ” means New Jersey Natural Gas Company, a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, and its successors and assigns permitted hereunder.

Breakage Expenses ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.12.

Business Day ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Calculation Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Change in Law ” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, including, without limitation Risk-Based Capital Guidelines, (b) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, ruling, guideline, regulation or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, rulings, guidelines, regulations or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, rulings, guidelines, regulations or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States of America or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to the Basel III (or a successor Basel Accord), shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Closing Date ” means September 24, 2014, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and all rules and regulations (including temporary and proposed regulations) from time to time promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute thereto.

Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity ” means as of any date of determination the sum of the amounts under the headings, as applicable, “Common Stock Equity” and “Preferred Shareholders’ Equity” on the balance sheet, prepared in accordance with GAAP, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date of determination.

Consolidated Total Capitalization ” means as of any date of determination the sum of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness, plus (b) Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” means as of any date of determination total Debt, without duplication, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Contamination ” means the presence or release or threat of release of Regulated Substances in, on, under or migrating or emanating to or from the Property, which pursuant to Environmental Laws requires notification or reporting to an Official Body, or which pursuant to Environmental Laws requires the performance of a Remedial Action or which otherwise constitutes a violation of Environmental Laws.

 

3


Contract ” means any indenture, agreement (other than this Agreement), other contractual restriction, lease, instrument, guaranty, certificate of incorporation, charter or by law.

Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Covered Entity ” means (a) the Borrower, each of Borrower’s Subsidiaries (if any), and any guarantors and pledgors of collateral, and (b) each Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of a Person described in clause (a) above. For purposes of this definition, control of a Person means the direct or indirect (x) ownership of, or power to vote, 25% or more of the issued and outstanding equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or other Persons performing similar functions for such Person, or (y) power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by ownership of equity interests, contract or otherwise.

CUSIP Number ” means, collectively, the Series 2011A CUSIP Number, the Series 2011B CUSIP Number and the Series 2011C CUSIP Number.

Debt ” means, as to any Person at any time, any and all indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or joint or several) of such Person for or in respect of: (a) borrowed money, (b) amounts raised under or liabilities in respect of any note purchase or acceptance credit facility, (c) reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) under any letter of credit, currency swap agreement, interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate or currency exchange rate management device, (d) any other transaction (including forward sale or purchase agreements, capitalized leases and conditional sales agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing of money entered into by such Person to finance its operations or capital requirements (but not including trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not represented by a promissory note or other evidence of indebtedness and which are not more than sixty (60) days past due), (e) without duplication, any Hedging Transaction, to the extent that any indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of such Person in respect thereof constitutes “indebtedness” as determined in accordance with GAAP, (f) any Guaranty of any Hedging Transaction described in the immediately preceding clause (e), (g) any Guaranty of Debt, (h) any Hybrid Security described in clause (a) of the definition of Hybrid Security, or (i) the mandatory repayment obligation of the issuer of any Hybrid Security described in clause (b) of the definition of Hybrid Security.

Default ” means the occurrence of any event or the existence of any condition which constitutes an Event of Default or the occurrence of any event or the existence of any condition which with the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Rate ” means, for any date of determination, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the Base Rate plus 3.00%.

 

4


Determination of Taxability ” means any final determination, decision, decree or advisement by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, or any District Director of Internal Revenue or any court of competent jurisdiction to the effect that Bond Interest is Taxable, provided that such determination, decision, decree or advisement shall not be considered final for purposes of this definition until the conclusion of any consent, review or appeal thereof, if sought by the Borrower as provided in Section 3.03. A Determination of Taxability also shall be deemed to have occurred on the first to occur of the following:

(i) the date when the Borrower files any statement, supplemental statement, or other tax schedule, return or document, which discloses that Bond Interest is Taxable; or

(ii) the effective date of any federal legislation enacted or federal rule or regulation promulgated after the date of the Indenture which has the effect that Bond Interest is Taxable.

EMMA ” means the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s Electronic Municipal Access System or any service or services established by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (or any of its successors) as a successor to the Electronic Municipal Access System.

Environmental Law(s) ” all federal, state, local and foreign Laws (including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq., the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq., the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f-300j, the Federal Air Pollution Control Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq., the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136 to 136y, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq., each as amended, and any regulations promulgated or any equivalent state or local Law, and any amendments thereto) and any final, non-appealable consent decrees, consent orders, consent agreements, settlement agreements, judgments or orders, or binding directives, policies or programs, issued by or entered into with an Official Body pertaining or relating to: (a) pollution or pollution control; (b) protection of human health from exposure to Regulated Substances; (c) protection of the environment and/or natural resources; (d) protection of employee safety in the workplace and protection of employees from exposure to Regulated Substances in the workplace (but excluding workers compensation and wage and hour Laws); (e) the presence, use, management, generation, manufacture, processing, extraction, treatment, recycling, refining, reclamation, labeling, sale, transport, storage, collection, distribution, disposal or release or threat of release of Regulated Substances; (f) the presence of Contamination; (g) the protection of endangered or threatened species; and (h) the protection of Environmentally Sensitive Areas.

Environmental Permits ” means all permits, licenses, bonds or other forms of financial assurances, waivers, exemptions, consents, registrations, identification numbers, approvals or authorizations required under Environmental Laws (a) to own, occupy or maintain the Property; (b) for the operations and business activities of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries; or (c) for the performance of a Remedial Action.

 

5


Environmentally Sensitive Area ” means (a) any wetland as defined by applicable Environmental Laws; (b) any area designated as a coastal zone pursuant to applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws; (c) any area of historic or archeological significance or scenic area as defined or designated by applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws; (d) habitats of endangered species or threatened species as designated by applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws; or (e) a floodplain or other flood hazard area as defined pursuant to any applicable Laws.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute of similar import, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect.

ERISA Group ” means the Borrower and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all other entities which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Event of Default ,” in relation to this Agreement, shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01, and in relation to any Related Document, shall have the meaning set forth therein.

Event of Insolvency ” means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

(a) the issuance, under the laws of any state or under the laws of the United States of America, of an order of rehabilitation, liquidation or dissolution of such Person;

(b) the commencement by or against such Person of a case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to such Person or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar state or federal law now or hereafter in effect, including, without limitation, the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official for such Person or any substantial part of its Property or there shall be appointed or designated with respect to it, an entity such as an organization, board, commission, authority, agency or body to monitor, review, oversee, recommend or declare a financial emergency or similar state of financial distress with respect to it or there shall be declared or introduced or proposed for consideration by it or by any legislative or regulatory body with competent jurisdiction over it, the existence of a state of financial emergency or similar state of financial distress in respect of it, and, in the instance of a case or proceeding against such Person only, such case or proceeding (i) is not dismissed within 60 days after the filing thereof or (ii) results in an order for such relief;

(c) the making of an assignment for the benefit of creditors by such Person;

(d) the declaration of a moratorium with respect to the payment of the debts of such Person;

(e) such Person shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts when due;

 

6


(f) such Person is “insolvent” as defined in Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code; or

(g) the initiation of any action in furtherance of or to authorize any of the foregoing by or on behalf of such Person.

Excess Bond Interest Amount ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11(b).

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Purchaser or any Owner, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which the Purchaser or such Owner is organized or in which its principal office is located, and (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located.

Exposure ” means, for any date of determination, with respect to a Person and any Hedge Agreement, the amount of any Settlement Amount that would be payable by such Person if such Hedge Agreement were terminated as of such date. Exposure shall be determined in accordance with the methodology for calculating amounts due upon early termination as set forth in the related Hedge Agreement and the notional principal amount, term and other relevant provisions thereof.

Facilities ” means, collectively, (a) the Project and (b) all materials, supplies, equipment, apparatus and other items of personal property owned by the Borrower and attached to, installed in or used in connection with the Project, including, without limitation, water, gas, electrical, storm and sanitary sewer facilities and all other utilities whether or not situated in easements.

Fed Funds Rate ” means, for any date of determination, a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the weighted average (rounded to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average (rounded to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. Each determination of the Fed Funds Rate by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower.

First Mortgage Bonds ” means the Borrower’s (i) $9,545,000 First Mortgage Bonds, Series MM due 2027 (the “Series MM First Mortgage Bonds”), (ii) $41,000,000 First Mortgage Bonds, Series NN due 2035 (the “Series NN First Mortgage Bonds”), and (iii) $46,500,000 First Mortgage Bonds, Series OO due 2041 (the “Series OO First Mortgage Bonds”).

First Mortgage Indenture ” means that certain Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement dated as of September 1, 2014 from the Borrower to U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, as hereafter amended, modified and supplemented from time to time (including without limitation by the joinder of Subsidiaries thereto).

 

7


Fiscal Year ” means the period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months for which financial statements of the respective entity have been examined by its Accountants; currently for the Borrower, a year ending on September 30 th .

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

Governing Body ” means, with respect to the Borrower, its Board of Directors.

Governmental Approvals ” means an authorization, consent, approval, permit, license, certificate of occupancy or an exemption of, a registration or filing with, or a report to, any Governmental Authority.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation or any political subdivision thereof or any governmental or quasi-governmental entity, including any court, department, commission, board, bureau, agency, administration, central bank, service, district or other instrumentality of any governmental entity or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory, fiscal, monetary or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank), or any arbitrator, mediator or other Person with authority to bind a party at law.

Guarantor ” shall mean each Person which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor after the date hereof pursuant to Section 7.25.

Guaranty ” of any Person means any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any liability or obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any agreement to indemnify or hold harmless any other Person, any performance bond or other suretyship arrangement and any other form of assurance against loss, except endorsement of negotiable or other instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.

Guaranty Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly guaranteed any Debt or other obligation of any other Person (the “obligee”) and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement condition or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof

 

8


or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, that the term “Guaranty Obligations” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

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

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

Hedging Contract Policies ” means the written internal policies and procedures of the Borrower with respect to hedging or trading of gas contracts or other commodity, hedging contracts of any kind, or any derivatives or other similar financial instruments, as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as hereafter amended in accordance with Section 5.28, a copy of which has been delivered to the Purchaser.

Hedging Transaction ” means any transaction entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the Hedging Contract Policies.

Hybrid Security ” means any of the following: (a) beneficial interests issued by a trust which constitutes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, substantially all of the assets of which trust are unsecured Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or proceeds thereof, and all payments of which Debt are required to be, and are, distributed to the holders of beneficial interests in such trust promptly after receipt by such trust, or (b) any shares of capital stock or other equity interest that, other than solely at the option of the issuer thereof, by their terms (or by the terms of any security into which they are convertible or exchangeable) are, or upon the happening of an event or the passage of time would be, required to be redeemed or repurchased, in whole or in part, or have, or upon the happening of an event or the passage of time would have, a redemption or similar payment.

Inactive Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any Subsidiary of any Person, which Subsidiary (a) does not conduct any business or have operations, and (b) does not have total assets with a net book value, as of any date of determination, in excess of $100,000.00.

 

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Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indenture ” means the Amended and Restated Indenture dated as of September 1, 2014, between the Issuer and the Trustee.

Initial Bank Purchase Date ” means September 24, 2019.

Initial Period ” means the initial Bank Index Rate Period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the first to occur of (i) the Initial Bank Purchase Date and (ii) the Conversion Date next succeeding the Closing Date (provided that the Purchaser shall have consented thereto in writing).

Initial Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(a).

Interest Payment Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Interest Rate Determination Method ” means any of the methods of determining the interest rate on the Bonds described in Section 2.3(B) of the Indenture.

Investment Policy ” means the investment policy of the Borrower delivered to the Purchaser pursuant to Section 4.01(a).

Investor Letter ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.08(d).

Issuer ” means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and its successors and assigns permitted under the Indenture.

Law ” means any treaty or any federal, regional, state and local law, statute, rule, ordinance, regulation, code, license, authorization, decision, injunction, interpretation, order or decree of any court or other Governmental Authority.

LIBOR Index Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected or effective under Applicable Law, as well as the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital or finance lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset and, in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

Loan Agreement ” means the Loan Agreement dated as of August 1, 2011, between the Issuer and the Borrower.

Majority Bondholder ” means the Owners owning a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds from time to time Outstanding. As of the Closing Date, Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC shall be the Majority Bondholder.

 

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Mandatory Purchase Date ” means (a) a Conversion Date, (b) each Bank Purchase Date, and (c) the fourth Business Day after receipt by the Trustee of a written notice from the Purchaser that an Event of Default under this Agreement has occurred and is continuing.

Margin Stock ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U promulgated by the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve System, as now and hereafter from time to time in effect.

Material Adverse Change ” means any set of circumstances or events which has resulted, or reasonably could be expected to result, in a material and adverse change in the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since the last day of the period reported in the audited annual financial statements of the Borrower dated as of September 30, 2013, or which has or could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely effects (a) the enforceability of this Agreement or any Related Document, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder or (c) the rights of or benefits or remedies available to the Purchaser under this Agreement or the Related Documents.

Material Adverse Effect ” means any set of circumstances of events (a) with respect to the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, which have or could reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) with respect to this Agreement or any Related Document, a material adverse effect upon (i) the enforceability of this Agreement or any Related Document, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Related Document or (iii) the rights of or benefits or remedies available to the Purchaser under this Agreement or any Related Document.

Material Debt ” means (a) any Debt owed to the Purchaser or any Affiliate of the Purchaser; (b) the Bonds; (c) any Debt payable from or secured under the First Mortgage Indenture which as to priority of payment is on a parity with or senior to the Bonds; and (d) any other Debt which has a principal amount outstanding of not less than $30,000,000 (measured in the case of any Hedge Agreement, by a Person’s Exposure thereunder).

Material Litigation ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.09.

Maximum Interest Rate ” means the lesser of (i) the Maximum Rate and (ii) the maximum, non-usurious, lawful rate of interest that may be contracted for, charged or received in connection with the relevant obligation under Applicable Law without regard to any filing made by a lender with respect to notice of rates in excess of any statutory or regulatory threshold interest rate.

Maximum Rate ” means 12% per annum.

Mortgage Trustee ” means U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the First Mortgage Indenture.

 

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Multiemployer Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and to which the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or, solely for the purposes of Section 5.17, within the preceding five Plan years, has made or had an obligation to make such contributions.

Multiple Employer Plan ” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (at least one of which is the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA.

Non-Bank Transferee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.08(d).

Obligor Rating ” means the debt rating assigned by any Rating Agency to any long-term Debt of the Borrower which (a) is secured under the First Mortgage Indenture, (b) as to priority of payment is on a parity with or senior to the Bonds and (c) is not guaranteed by any other Person or subject to any third-party credit enhancement.

Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities ” means any liability or obligation, absolute, contingent or otherwise, incurred under an “off-balance sheet arrangement” as defined in the Final Rule: Disclosure in Management’s Discussion and Analysis about Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations, Securities And Exchange Commission 17 CFR Parts 228, 229 and 249, as such rule may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Official Body ” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting financial accounting or regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).

Original Indenture ” means the Indenture dated as of August 1, 2011, between the Issuer and the Trustee.

Other Taxes ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.07(a).

Outstanding ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Owner ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Parent ” means New Jersey Resources Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, of which the Borrower is a wholly owned Subsidiary.

 

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Participant(s) ” means any bank(s) or other financial institution(s) which may purchase a participation interest from the Purchaser in this Agreement and certain of the Related Documents pursuant to a participation agreement between the Purchaser and the Participant(s).

Patriot Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Title III of Pub. L. 107 56 (signed into law October 26, 2001).

Paying Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

Permitted Acquisition ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.23.

Permitted Liens ” means Liens in favor of the Purchaser or the Trustee and any of the following Liens securing any Debt of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries on their Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired:

(a) Liens for taxes, assessments, or similar charges, incurred in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are maintained on such Person’s books, and which could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

(b) Pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure payment of workers’ compensation, or to participate in any fund in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions or other social security programs or retirement benefits legislation;

(c) Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers, or other like Liens, securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not yet due and payable and Liens of landlords securing obligations to pay lease payments that are not yet due and payable or in default, or in either case are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are maintained on such Person’s books and which could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

(d) Any Lien arising out of judgments or awards but only to the extent that the creation of any such Lien shall not be an event or condition which, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would cause Borrower to be in violation of Section 8.01(i);

(e) Security interests in favor of lessors of personal property, which property is the subject of a true lease;

(f) Good-faith pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money) or leases, not in excess of the aggregate amount due thereunder, or to secure statutory obligations, or surety, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds required in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(g) Encumbrances consisting of zoning restrictions, easements, rights-of-way or other restrictions on the use of real property and minor defects to title to real property, none of which materially impairs the use of such property or the value thereof;

(h) Liens on property leased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower securing obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the lessor under such leases, so long as to the extent the payments or other amounts due and owing under any such lease constitute Debt, such Debt is either Debt under the Permitted Sale and Leaseback Program or is otherwise permitted under Section 7.13(c);

(i) Liens on assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under the First Mortgage Indenture described in Part A of Exhibit C, which Liens presently secure Debt permitted under Section 7.13(b) and described on Exhibit D;

(j) Purchase Money Security Interests encumbering only the assets so purchased and the proceeds thereof, and securing only Debt incurred to acquire such assets to the extent such Debt is permitted under Section 7.13(c);

(k) Liens on any property or asset of an Acquired Person so long as: (i) such Liens secure Debt of the Acquired Person and such Debt and such Liens on property or assets of the Acquired Person existed prior to the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition and were not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, (ii) such Liens apply solely to the assets of the Acquired Person and do not apply to any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (iii) such Debt is permitted under Section 7.13(c);

(l) Liens (other than those described in clause (i) above) described in Part B of Exhibit C;

(m) Liens in the form of pledges by the Borrower of the first mortgage bonds issued under the First Mortgage Indenture which secure net principal Debt permitted under Section 7.13(b) and described on Exhibit D;

(n) Liens on assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary granted after the Closing Date, which Liens secure additional Debt (including, without limitation, Debt incurred or to be incurred under the First Mortgage Indenture) permitted under Section 7.13(c); and

(o) Liens in the form of pledges by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the first mortgage bonds issued under the First Mortgage Indenture, which Liens secure Debt permitted under Section 7.13(c).

Permitted Related Business Opportunity ” means any transaction with another Person (other than any Inactive Subsidiary of Parent) involving business activities or assets reasonably related or complementary to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as conducted on

 

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the Closing Date or as may be conducted pursuant to Section 7.04, including, without limitation, the management and marketing of storage, capacity and transportation of gas and other forms of energy, the generation, transmission or storage of gas and other forms of energy, the access to gas and energy transmission lines, distribution and delivery of gas and other forms of energy, and business initiatives for the conservation and efficiency of gas and energy.

Permitted Sale and Leaseback Program ” means the sale and leaseback of gas meters by the Borrower, consistent with its existing sale and leaseback program, in an aggregate amount in each fiscal year not to exceed $12,000,000.00.

Person ” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint venture, a trust, a business trust, a limited liability company or any other entity or organization, including a governmental or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

Plan ” means an “employee pension benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section (3)(2) of ERISA (not including a Multiple Employer Plan or a Multiemployer Plan), which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and either (a) is maintained by any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (b) solely for purposes of Section 5.17, has at any time within the preceding five years been maintained by any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any entity which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

Prime Rate ” means, for any date of determination, the rate of interest per annum most recently established by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association in its sole discretion as its “prime rate.” The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be publically announced or be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks. If at any time (a) Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ceases to exist or (b) Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ceases to establish or publish a prime rate from which the Prime Rate is then determined, the applicable variable rate from which the Prime Rate is determined thereafter shall be instead the prime rate reported in The Wall Street Journal (or the average prime rate if a high and a low prime rate are therein reported). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective without notice as of the opening of business on the day such change in the prime rate occurs.

Principal Payment Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Prohibited Transaction ” means any prohibited transaction as defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 406 of ERISA for which neither an individual nor a class exemption has been issued by the United States Department of Labor.

Project ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Loan Agreement.

Property ” means, when used in connection with any Person, any and all rights, title and interests of such Person in and to any and all property (including cash) whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, and wherever situated.

 

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Purchase Money Security Interest ” means Liens upon tangible personal property securing loans to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or deferred payments by the Borrower or such Subsidiary for the purchase of such tangible personal property.

Purchase Price ” means, as of any date of determination, one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount of all Bonds which are Outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase.

Purchaser ” means, initially, Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC, a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of Delaware, and its successors and assigns, and upon the receipt from time to time by the Trustee and the Borrower of a notice described in Section 11.08(b) means the Person designated in such notice as the Purchaser, as more fully provided in Section 11.08(b).

Qualified Institutional Buyer ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

Rating Agency ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

Rating Documentation ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(h).

Regulated Substances ” means, without limitation, any substance, material or waste, regardless of its form or nature, defined under Environmental Laws as a “hazardous substance,” “pollutant,” “pollution,” “contaminant,” “hazardous or toxic substance,” “extremely hazardous substance,” “toxic chemical,” “toxic substance,” “toxic waste,” “hazardous waste,” “special handling waste,” “industrial waste,” “residual waste,” “solid waste,” “municipal waste,” “mixed waste,” “infectious waste,” “chemotherapeutic waste,” “medical waste,” or “regulated substance”, or any other substance, material or waste, regardless of its form or nature, which is regulated, controlled or governed by Environmental Laws due to its radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive, explosive, toxic, carcinogenic or infectious properties or nature or any other material, substance or waste, regardless of its form or nature, which otherwise is regulated, controlled or governed by Environmental Laws, including without limitation, petroleum and petroleum products (including crude oil and any fractions thereof), natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures thereof, asbestos, urea formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenlys, mercury, radon and radioactive materials.

Related Documents ” means, collectively, the Bond Documents, and any exhibits, schedules, instruments or agreements relating thereto.

Remedial Action ” means any investigation, identification, characterization, delineation, cleanup, removal, remediation, containment, control or abatement of or other response actions to Regulated Substances and any closure or post-closure measures associated therewith.

Reportable Compliance Event ” means that any Covered Entity becomes a Sanctioned Person, or is charged by indictment, criminal complaint or similar charging instrument, arraigned, or custodially detained in connection with any Anti-Terrorism Law or any predicate crime to any Anti-Terrorism Law, or has knowledge of facts or circumstances to the effect that it is reasonably likely that any aspect of its operations is in actual or probable violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

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Reportable Event ” means a reportable event described in Section 4043 of ERISA and regulations thereunder with respect to a Plan, Multiple Employer Plan which is covered under Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 or 430 of the Internal Revenue Code, or Multiemployer Plan.

Risk-Based Capital Guidelines ” means (a) the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the United States of America, including transition rules in effect as of the Closing Date, and (b) the corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities outside the United States of America including transition rules in effect as of the Closing Date, and any amendment to such regulations.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, or any successor thereto.

Sanctioned Country ” means a country subject to a sanctions program maintained under any Anti-Terrorism Law.

Sanctioned Person ” means any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing listed or otherwise recognized as a specially designated, prohibited, sanctioned or debarred person, group, regime, entity or thing, or subject to any limitations or prohibitions (including but not limited to the blocking of property or rejection of transactions), under any Anti-Terrorism Law.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any governmental agencies substituted therefor.

SEC Filing ” means the New Jersey Resources Corporation’s Form 10-K, filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto.

Security Documents ” means, collectively, the First Mortgage Indenture and the First Mortgage Bonds.

Series 2011A Bonds ” means the Issuer’s $9,545,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011A (Non-AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project).

Series 2011B Bonds ” means the Issuer’s $41,000,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011B (AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project).

Series 2011C Bonds ” means the Issuer’s $46,500,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011C (AMT) (New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project).

Series 2011A CUSIP Number ” means 645779 BY4.

 

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Series 2011B CUSIP Number ” means 645779 BZ1.

Series 2011C CUSIP Number ” means 645779 CA5.

Settlement Amount ” means, with respect to a Person and any Hedge Agreement, any amount payable by such Person under the terms of such Hedge Agreement in respect of, or intended to compensate the other party for, the value of such Hedge Agreement upon an early termination thereof.

SIFMA Index Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture.

State ” means the State of New Jersey.

Subsidiary ” of any Person at any time means (a) any corporation or trust of which 50% or more (by number of shares or number of votes) of the outstanding capital stock or shares of beneficial interest normally entitled to vote for the election of one or more directors or trustees (regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) is at such time owned directly or indirectly by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries, (b) any partnership of which such Person is a general partner or of which 50% or more of the partnership interests is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries, (c) any limited liability company of which such Person is a member or of which 50% or more of the limited liability company interests is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries or (d) any corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability company or other entity which is controlled or capable of being controlled by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries.

Tax Certificate ” means the Tax Certificate and Agreement dated August 29, 2011, between the Issuer and the Borrower, as supplemented, amended or restated thereafter, together with the Compliance Certificate of the Borrower dated September 24, 2014.

Taxable Date ” means the date on which interest on the Bonds is first includable in gross income for federal income tax purposes of an Owner (including, without limitation, any previous Owner) (other than in the case of an Owner of any Bond who is a substantial user of the project financed with the proceeds of such Bond or a related person within the meaning of Section 147(a) of the Code or Section 103(b)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954) thereof as a result of a Determination of Taxability.

Taxable Period ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.03(a).

Taxable Rate ” means an interest rate per annum equal to the product of the interest rate on the Bonds then in effect multiplied by 1.54.

Taxes ” means, with respect to any Person, all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority on such Person, including any interest, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

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Termination Fee ” means an amount equal to the product of (a) the Applicable Spread on the date of a redemption or conversion of the Bonds, (b) the principal amount of Bonds so redeemed or converted on such date and (c) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from and including the date of such redemption or conversion, as applicable, to and including the first anniversary of the Closing Date and the denominator of which is 360.

Transferee ” means each Bank Transferee or Non-Bank Transferee pursuant to Section 11.08 for so long as such Bank Transferee or Non-Bank Transferee is an Owner.

Trust Estate ” means the property and rights pledged to the Trustee as security for the Bonds, including the property and rights pledged to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Indenture.

Trustee ” means U.S. Bank National Association, or any successor trustee which may at any time be substituted in its place as provided in the Indenture.

Unremarketed Bonds ” means Bonds with respect to which the Purchaser has not received payment of the Purchase Price on the Mandatory Purchase Date.

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

written ” or “ in writing ” means any form of written communication or a communication by means of a facsimile device.

Section 1.02. Incorporation of Certain Definitions by Reference . Each capitalized term used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning provided therefor in the Indenture or the Loan Agreement, as applicable, unless the context otherwise requires.

Section 1.03. Accounting Matters . Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein without definition shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP. In the event of changes to GAAP which become effective after the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Purchaser agree to negotiate in good faith appropriate revisions of this Agreement so as to perpetuate the meaning and effect of such provisions as originally negotiated and agreed upon.

Section 1.04. Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement, in the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, unless otherwise specified herein, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

Section 1.05. New York City Time Presumption . All references herein to times of the day shall be presumed to refer to New York City time unless otherwise specified.

 

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Section 1.06. Relation to Other Documents; Incorporation by Reference .

(a) Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to amend, or relieve the Borrower of any of its obligations under, any Related Document to which it is a party. Conversely, to the extent that the provisions of any Related Document allow the Borrower to take or not take certain actions, the Borrower nevertheless shall be fully bound by the provisions of this Agreement.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) below, all references to this Agreement or any other documents, including, without limitation, the Related Documents, shall be deemed to include all amendments, restatements, modifications and supplements thereto to the extent such amendment, restatement, modification or supplement is made in accordance with the provisions of such document and this Agreement.

(c) All provisions of this Agreement making reference to specific Sections of any Related Document shall be deemed to incorporate such Sections into this Agreement by reference as though specifically set forth herein (with such changes and modifications as may be herein provided) and shall continue in full force and effect with respect to this Agreement notwithstanding payment of all amounts due under or secured by the Related Documents, the termination or defeasance thereof or any modification thereto or any waiver given in connection therewith, so long as this Agreement is in effect and until all amounts due and owing to the Purchaser under this Agreement, the Bonds and the other Related Documents are paid in full. No amendment, modification, consent, waiver or termination with respect to any of such Sections shall be effective as to this Agreement until specifically agreed to in writing by the Purchaser with specific reference to this Agreement.

Section 1.07. Construction . Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires, references to the plural include the singular, to the singular include the plural and to the part include the whole. The word “including” shall be deemed to mean “including but not limited to,” and “or” has the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The Section headings contained in this Agreement and the table of contents preceding this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not control or affect the construction of this Agreement or the interpretation thereof in any respect. Article, section, subsection, exhibit, schedule and annex references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any exhibit, schedule or annex attached hereto is incorporated by reference herein and is a constituent part of this Agreement. The recitals hereto are true and correct and are incorporated into this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE II

PURCHASE OF BONDS

Section 2.01. Purchase of Bonds .

(a) Initial Purchase Price . Upon the terms and conditions and based on the representations, warranties and covenants of the Borrower set forth herein and in the Related Documents, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trustee and the Borrower hereby agrees to cause the Trustee to sell to the Purchaser, all, but not less than all, of the Bonds at the purchase price of $97,045,000 representing the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds (the “Initial Purchase Price”).

(b) Closing . On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Purchaser the documents described in Article IV. Upon delivery of such documents, the Purchaser will pay the Initial Purchase Price for the Bonds in immediately available federal funds payable to the Trustee on behalf of the Borrower. One fully registered Bond, in the aggregate principal amount equal to the Initial Purchase Price, shall be issued to and registered in the name of the Purchaser, or as otherwise directed by the Purchaser. The Bonds shall be so issued and registered to and held by the Purchaser, or as otherwise directed by the Purchaser.

ARTICLE III

THE BORROWER’S OBLIGATIONS

Section 3.01. Repayment Obligations . The Borrower hereby unconditionally, irrevocably and absolutely agrees to make prompt and full payment of all amounts due and owing to the Purchaser under this Agreement, the Bonds and the other Related Documents and to pay all amounts due and owing to the Purchaser whether now existing or hereafter arising, irrespective of their nature, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, with interest thereon at the rate or rates provided in this Agreement, the Bonds or such other Related Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the payment obligations of the Borrower described in this Section are obligations in the nature of a loan and separate and independent of the Borrower’s obligations under the Related Documents. The Borrower unconditionally, irrevocably and absolutely agrees to pay to the Purchaser the following:

(a) Interest on an amount equal to the principal amount of the Bonds on each Interest Payment Date at the interest rate applicable to the Bonds as set forth in the Indenture;

(b) Principal on the dates and in the amounts set forth in Exhibit A. The Borrower shall cause Bonds to be optionally redeemed on the dates and in principal amounts equal to the amounts required to be paid pursuant to this subsection;

(c) An amount equal to the Purchase Price of the Bonds on any Mandatory Purchase Date (including, but not limited to, the Bank Index Rate Period Purchase Date).

 

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The Outstanding principal amount of the Bonds, together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon, shall be subject to mandatory purchase on each Mandatory Purchase Date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. In the event the Purchaser does not receive the Purchase Price on the Mandatory Purchase Date, the Borrower shall cause Unremarketed Bonds, together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon, to be redeemed on such Mandatory Purchase Date; and

(d) To the extent that the Purchaser receives payment through ownership of the Bonds, the Borrower’s obligation to make payments pursuant this Section, to the extent of the payment so received by the Purchaser, shall be deemed satisfied.

Section 3.02. Default Interest . The Borrower agrees to pay, or cause to be paid, to the Purchaser, upon demand, interest on any and all amounts due and owing by the Borrower under this Agreement, the Bonds or the other Related Documents from and after the earlier of (a) the date amounts owed hereunder are due and not paid and (b) the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, but only for so long as such amounts due remain unpaid or such Event of Default continues, at the Default Rate; provided, however, that all interest owed with respect to the Bonds in excess of the Maximum Interest Rate shall be paid in accordance with Section 3.11 hereof. The obligations of the Borrower under this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Bonds.

Section 3.03. Determination of Taxability.

(a) In the event a Taxable Date occurs, in addition to (but not in duplication of) the amounts required to be paid pursuant to the Related Documents, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Purchaser and any other Owner, as applicable, on demand therefor (i) an amount equal to the difference between (A) the amount of interest paid to the Purchaser and such other Owner on the Bonds during the period in which interest on the Bonds is includable in the gross income of the Purchaser or such other Owner beginning on the Taxable Date (the “Taxable Period”) and (B) the amount of interest that would have been paid to the Purchaser and such other Owner during such Taxable Period had the Bonds borne the Taxable Rate, and (ii) an amount equal to any interest, penalties or charges owed by the Purchaser and such other Owner as a result of interest on the Bonds becoming includable in the gross income of the Purchaser or such other Owner, together with any and all attorneys’ fees, court costs, or other out of pocket costs incurred by the Purchaser or such other Owner in connection therewith.

(b) Subject to the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) below, the Purchaser or such other Owner, as applicable, shall afford the Borrower the opportunity, at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense, to contest (i) the validity of any amendment to the Code which causes the interest on the Bonds to be includable in the gross income of the Purchaser or such other Owner or (ii) any challenge to the validity of the tax exemption with respect to the interest on the Bonds, including the right to direct the necessary litigation contesting such challenge (including administrative audit appeals).

(c) As a condition precedent to the exercise by the Borrower of its right to contest set forth in subsection (b) above, the Borrower shall, on demand, immediately

 

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reimburse the Purchaser and such other Owner, as applicable, for (i) any and all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees for services that may be required or desirable, as determined by the Purchaser and such other Owner, as applicable, in their sole discretion) that may be incurred by the Purchaser and such other Owner, as applicable, in connection with any such contest, and (ii) any and all penalties or other charges payable by the Purchaser and such other Owner, as applicable, for failure to include such interest in its gross income; provided, that if the Borrower prevails in its contest described in (b) above, and if directly as a result of the Borrower prevailing in such contest, an Owner (or, if applicable, the Purchaser) is refunded any such taxes, interest, penalties or other charges from a Governmental Authority, the Owner (or, if applicable, the Purchaser) shall refund to the Borrower such amounts actually received pursuant to this clause (c).

(d) The obligations of the Borrower under this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Bonds.

Section 3.04. Fees; Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay within thirty (30) days after demand:

(a) for each amendment of this Agreement or any Related Document, or consent or waiver by the Purchaser under this Agreement or any Related Document, in each case, a fee as the Bank may generally charge or incur from time to time in connection with the modification, consent or waiver of this Agreement or any Related Document;

(b) the reasonable fees and out of pocket expenses for counsel or other reasonably required consultants to the Purchaser in connection with responding to requests from the Borrower for consents, amendments and waivers;

(c) all of the Purchaser’s out of pocket expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel or other reasonably required consultants to the Purchaser) arising in connection with the enforcement or administration of, or preservation of rights (including in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or any workout) in connection with, this Agreement or the Related Documents; and

(d) in the event of a partial or complete redemption or conversion of the Bonds prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay the Termination Fee to the Purchaser upon such partial or complete redemption or conversion of the Bonds; provided, however, no such Termination Fee shall be payable if the Borrower effects any such redemption or conversion after increased costs pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 3.05. Computation of Interest and Fees . Interest payable hereunder accruing at the LIBOR Index Rate shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed, and interest payable hereunder accruing at the SIFMA Index Rate or at the Default Rate shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days or 366 days, as applicable, and the actual number of days elapsed. Fees and other amounts payable hereunder shall be

 

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calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed. Interest shall accrue during each period for which interest is computed from and including the first day thereof to but excluding the last day thereof.

Section 3.06. Increased Costs .

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

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, liquidity ratio, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or advances, loans or other credit extended or participated in by, the Purchaser or any Owner;

(ii) subject the Purchaser or any Owner to any Taxes of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or the Bonds, or change the basis of taxation of payments to the Purchaser or such Owner in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes covered by Section 3.07 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Taxes payable by the Purchaser or any Owner); or

(iii) impose on the Purchaser or any Owner any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or the Bonds;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Purchaser or such Owner of maintaining this Agreement or owning the Bonds, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Purchaser or such Owner hereunder or under the Bonds (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon written request of the Purchaser or such Owner as set forth in subsection (c) below, the Borrower shall promptly pay to the Purchaser or such Owner, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Purchaser or such Owner, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements . If the Purchaser or any Owner determines that any Change in Law affecting the Purchaser or such Owner or the Purchaser’s or such Owner’s parent or holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the Purchaser’s or such Owner’s capital or the capital of the Purchaser’s or such Owner’s parent or holding company holding, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, or ownership of the Bonds, to a level below that which the Purchaser or such Owner or the Purchaser’s or such Owner’s parent or holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration the Purchaser’s or such Owner’s policies and the policies of the Purchaser’s or such Owner’s parent or holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time upon written request of the Purchaser or such Owner as set forth in subsection (c) below, the Borrower shall promptly pay to the Purchaser or such Owner, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Purchaser or such Owner or the Purchaser’s or such Owner’s parent or holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of the Purchaser or any Owner setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Purchaser or any such Owner or the Purchaser’s or any such Owner’s parent or holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) above and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay the Purchaser or any such Owner, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within twenty (20) days after receipt thereof. An Owner shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower of any event that will entitle it to any compensation pursuant to this Section 3.06 as promptly as practicable after it becomes aware thereof and, if ascertainable, the estimated amount of such compensation; provided, that in no event shall the failure of the Owner to so provide such notice limit, affect or modify the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.06. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Borrower be required to pay to any Owner any increased cost in excess of the amount the Borrower would have paid to the Purchaser if the Purchaser had not assigned or transferred the Bonds to such Owner.

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

(e) Survival . Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Bonds and the obligations of the Borrower thereunder and hereunder.

Section 3.07. Net of Taxes, Etc.

(a) Any and all payments to the Purchaser or any Owner by the Borrower hereunder or with respect to the Bonds shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all Indemnified Taxes. If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any Indemnified Taxes imposed by the United States or any political subdivision thereof from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or with respect to the Bonds, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Purchaser or such Owner receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law. If the Borrower shall make any payment under this

 

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Section to or for the benefit of the Purchaser or such Owner with respect to Indemnified Taxes and if the Purchaser or such Owner shall claim any credit or deduction for such Indemnified Taxes against any other taxes payable by the Purchaser or such Owner to any taxing jurisdiction in the United States then the Purchaser or such Owner shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to the amount by which such other taxes are actually reduced; provided, that the aggregate amount payable by the Purchaser or such Owner pursuant to this sentence shall not exceed the aggregate amount previously paid by the Borrower with respect to such Indemnified Taxes. In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp, recording or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States from any payment made hereunder or under the Bonds or from the execution or delivery of this Agreement or the Bonds, or otherwise with respect to this Agreement or the Bonds (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”). The Purchaser or such Owner shall provide to the Borrower within a reasonable time a copy of any written notification it receives with respect to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes owing by the Borrower to the Purchaser or such Owner hereunder; provided, that the Purchaser or such Owner’s failure to send such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay such amounts hereunder.

(b) The Borrower shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the provisions hereof, pay the Purchaser or such Owner for the full amount of Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes including any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section paid by the Purchaser or such Owner or any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted; provided, that the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay the Purchaser or such Owner for any penalties, interest or expenses relating to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes arising from the Purchaser or such Owner’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Purchaser or such Owner agrees to give notice to the Borrower of the assertion of any claim against the Purchaser or such Owner relating to such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as promptly as is practicable after being notified of such assertion; provided, that the Purchaser or such Owner’s failure to notify the Borrower promptly of such assertion shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation under this Section. Payments by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date the Purchaser or such Owner makes written demand therefor, which demand shall be accompanied by a certificate describing in reasonable detail the basis thereof. The Purchaser or such Owner agrees to repay to the Borrower any refund (including that portion of any interest that was included as part of such refund) with respect to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section received by the Purchaser or such Owner for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes that were paid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section and to contest, with the cooperation and at the expense of the Borrower, any such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes which the Purchaser or such Owner or the Borrower reasonably believes not to have been properly assessed.

 

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(c) Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of Indemnified Taxes by the Borrower, the Borrower shall furnish to the Purchaser or such Owner, as applicable, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

(d) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Bonds and the obligations of the Borrower thereunder and hereunder.

Section 3.08. Method and Application of Payments . All payments by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Purchaser hereunder shall be fully earned when due and nonrefundable when paid and made in lawful currency of the United States of America and in immediately available funds. Amounts payable to the Purchaser hereunder shall be transferred to the Purchaser at such account as the Purchaser may specify from time to time in writing to the Borrower or the Trustee. Any payment received by the Purchaser after 3:30 p.m. on the date payment is due shall be deemed to have been received by the Purchaser on the next Business Day. If any payment hereunder is due on a day that is not a Business Day, then such payment shall be due on the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of the computation of the interest or fees hereunder, such extension of time shall, in such case, be included in the computation of the payment due hereunder. Payments received by the Purchaser shall be applied, first, to any fees, costs, charges or expenses payable by the Borrower under this Agreement; second, to past due interest; third, to current interest; and, fourth, to principal.

Section 3.09. Maintenance of Accounts . The Purchaser shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower and the amounts payable and paid from time to time hereunder. In any legal action or proceeding in respect of this Agreement, the entries made in such account or accounts shall be presumptive evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded. The failure to record any such amount shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder to repay all amounts owed hereunder, together with all interest accrued thereon as provided herein.

Section 3.10. Cure . The Purchaser shall have the right, but not the obligation, to cure any Default, Event of Default or event of nonperformance. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Purchaser on demand, any amounts advanced by or on behalf of the Purchaser, to the extent required to cure any Default, Event of Default or event of nonperformance under this Agreement or any Related Document, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate. The Purchaser shall give the Borrower reasonably prompt notice of any such advances.

Section 3.11. Maximum Interest Rate .

(a) If the interest rate borne by the Bonds, calculated without regard to the limitation of such rate to the Maximum Rate, as provided in the Indenture, for any period would exceed the Maximum Interest Rate, then interest accruing on the Bonds during such period shall be limited to the Maximum Interest Rate.

 

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(b) An amount equal to interest that would have accrued on the Bonds for any Interest Period (as defined in the Indenture) but for the limitation set forth in the Indenture limiting the interest rate on the Bonds to the Maximum Interest Rate, less interest actually paid on the Bonds for such Interest Period, shall be payable by the Borrower under this Agreement and shall constitute the “Excess Bond Interest Amount.” If there is any accrued and unpaid Excess Bond Interest Amount as of any Interest Payment Date, then the Borrower shall, to the extent possible without violating Applicable Law, pay to the Purchaser the Excess Bond Interest Amount on such Interest Payment Date.

(c) If the interest rate borne by amounts owed hereunder, excluding the Excess Bond Interest Amount, for any period would exceed the Maximum Lawful Rate, then such interest rate for such period shall be limited to the Maximum Lawful Rate.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, on the date on which no principal amount hereunder remains unpaid with respect to the Bonds, to the extent possible without violating Applicable Law, the Borrower shall pay to the Purchaser and each other Owner, as applicable, a fee equal to any accrued and unpaid Excess Bond Interest Amount.

Section 3.12. Breakage Expenses . In the event the Purchaser shall incur any loss, cost, or expense (including, without limitation, any loss, cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired or contracted to be acquired by the Purchaser to purchase or hold the Bonds or the relending or reinvesting of such deposits or other funds or amounts paid or prepaid to the Purchaser) as a result of any prepayment, redemption or conversion of the Bonds on a date other than a LIBOR Index Reset Date (the “Breakage Expenses”) for any reason, whether before or after a Default, and whether or not such payment is required by any provision of this Agreement or the Related Documents, then upon the demand of the Purchaser, the Borrower shall pay to the Purchaser a prepayment, redemption or conversion premium, as applicable, in such amount as will reimburse the Purchaser for such Breakage Expenses. If the Purchaser requests such prepayment, redemption or conversion premium, as applicable, it shall provide to the Borrower a certificate setting forth the computation of the Breakage Expenses giving rise to the request for such prepayment, redemption or conversion premium, as applicable, in reasonable detail and such certificate shall be conclusive if reasonably determined.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PURCHASE OF BONDS

Section 4.01. Documentary Requirements . The obligation of the Purchaser to purchase the Bonds is subject to the conditions precedent that the Purchaser shall have received, on or before the Closing Date, the items listed below in this Section, each dated and in form and substance as is satisfactory to the Purchaser. However, should the Purchaser purchase the Bonds prior to its receipt and approval of any of the following items, such purchase shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any documentary requirement.

 

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(a) The following Borrower organizational documents:

(i) Copies of the resolutions of the Governing Body of the Borrower approving the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Related Documents to which the Borrower is a party, approving the form of the Related Documents to which it is not a party and the other matters contemplated hereby and thereby, certified by its Secretary as being true and complete and in full force and effect on the Closing Date;

(ii) The organizational documents of the Borrower, certified by its Secretary to be in full force and effect on the Closing Date;

(iii) Certificates issued by an appropriate official of the State, issued no more than thirty (30) days preceding the Closing Date, stating that the Borrower is in good standing in such jurisdiction;

(iv) A certificate by the Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and signatures of the persons authorized to sign, on behalf of the Borrower, this Agreement and the Related Documents to which it is a party and the other documents to be delivered by it hereunder or thereunder; and

(v) A certified copy of the Hedging Contract Policies of the Borrower.

(b) The following financing documents:

(i) An executed original of this Agreement and each of the Related Documents;

(ii) Each Bond; and

(iii) Such financing statements as may be required by the Purchaser.

(c) The following opinions, addressed to the Purchaser or on which the Purchaser is otherwise expressly authorized to rely:

(i) From counsel to the Borrower, as to the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the Related Documents to which it is a party, their validity, binding effect and enforceability and such other customary matters as the Purchaser may reasonably request;

(ii) From Bond Counsel, in customary form, an opinion to the effect that the Bonds have been duly authorized and validly issued, that the Indenture creates a valid lien on the Trust Estate and that interest on the Bonds is not included in gross income of the Owners thereof for federal tax purposes; and

(iii) Each other opinion delivered by any Person pursuant to the Related Documents.

(d) A closing fee of $35,000.

 

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(e) Evidence of liability and casualty insurance satisfactory to the Purchaser.

(f) A certificate signed by a principal officer of the Borrower, stating that on and as of the Closing Date (i) the Borrower is in compliance with all of the terms, provisions and conditions of each financial covenant and any other material provision of this Agreement and the Related Documents and any Contract entered into in connection with any Debt; (ii) all requirements and preconditions to the issuance, execution, delivery and purchase of the Bonds shall have been satisfied; (iii) the Borrower has complied with all agreements and covenants and satisfied all conditions stated in this Agreement on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) since September 30, 2013 there has been no event or occurrence which has caused or might reasonably be anticipated to cause a Material Adverse Effect or which may adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents; (v) each representation and warranty on the part of the Borrower contained in this Agreement and the Related Documents is true and correct as though made on and as of the Closing Date, (vi) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the execution or performance of this Agreement or the Related Documents to which the Borrower is a party; (vii) since the date of the Rating Documentation, the Obligor Rating has not been withdrawn, suspended or reduced; (viii) no petition by or against the Borrower has at any time been filed under the Bankruptcy Code or under any similar Law.

(g) Evidence that the Obligor Rating shall be not less than “A+” in the case of S&P (the “Rating Documentation”).

(h) Written evidence that each CUSIP Number has been obtained and reserved from Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service for the Bonds.

(i) Such other instruments, documents and opinions as the Purchaser shall reasonably require to evidence and secure the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Related Documents and to comply with the provisions of this Agreement and the Related Documents and the requirements of any Governmental Authority to which the Purchaser or the Borrower is subject.

Section 4.02. Credit Requirements . Prior to the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall have determined, in its sole discretion, based in part upon the information and reports submitted by the Borrower, that the Borrower has met the Purchaser’s credit requirements.

Section 4.03. Additional Conditions Precedent . On or prior to the Closing Date, the Borrower shall have paid all costs and expenses of the Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Related Documents and any other documents delivered in connection with any of the foregoing including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses of counsel for the Purchaser in the amount of $50,000.

 

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ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Purchaser as of the Closing Date as follows:

Section 5.01. Organization; Qualification . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Inactive Subsidiary is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey in the case of the Borrower, or its respective jurisdiction of organization in the case of such Subsidiary. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Inactive Subsidiary has the lawful power to own or lease its properties and to engage in the business it presently conducts or proposes to conduct. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Inactive Subsidiary is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction where the failure to be so licensed or qualified could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.02. Power; Authority . The Borrower has full power to enter into, execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement and the other Related Documents to which it is a party, to incur the Debt contemplated by the Related Documents and to perform its Obligations under the Related Documents to which it is a party, and all such actions have been duly authorized by all necessary proceedings on its part.

Section 5.03. Validity; Binding Effect . This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Borrower, and each other Related Document which the Borrower is required to execute and deliver on or after the date hereof will have been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower on the required date of delivery of such Related Document. This Agreement and each other Related Document constitutes, or will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower on and after its date of delivery thereof, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability of any of such Related Document may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally or limiting the right of specific performance.

Section 5.04. No Conflict; Compliance with Related Documents . Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Related Documents by the Borrower nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by the Borrower will conflict with, constitute a default under or result in any breach of (a) the terms and conditions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents of the Borrower or (b) any Law or any material agreement or instrument or order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which it is subject, or result in the creation or enforcement of any Lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any property (now or hereafter acquired) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Liens granted under the Related Documents and other than Permitted Liens). None of the Borrower nor any Subsidiaries of the Borrower is in violation of

 

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(a) any term of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents or (b) any material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be subject or bound where such violation could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.05. Consents and Approvals . No material consent, approval, exemption, order or authorization of, or a registration or filing with, any Official Body or any other Person is required by any Law or any agreement in connection with the execution, delivery and carrying out of this Agreement and the other Related Documents by the Borrower, except as listed on Exhibit E, all of which shall have been obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date except as otherwise indicated on Exhibit E.

Section 5.06. Compliance with Applicable Law . The Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Applicable Laws, including all Governmental Approvals, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Applicable Law is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted by or on behalf of the Borrower and (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and will not cause a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.07. Title to Properties . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title to or valid leasehold interest in all properties, assets and other rights which it purports to own or lease or which are reflected as owned or leased on its books and records, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens, and subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable leases, except where the failure to hold such assets and other rights subject to such terms and conditions could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. All leases of property are in full force and effect without the necessity for any consent which has not previously been obtained upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to the extent that the failure of such leases to be in full force and effect or to have obtained any such consent could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.08. Tax Returns and Payments . All federal, state, local and other tax returns required to have been filed with respect to the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date have been filed, and payment or adequate provision has been made for the payment of all taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges which have or may become due pursuant to said returns or to assessments received, except (a) to the extent that such taxes, fees, assessments and other charges are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which such reserves or other appropriate provisions if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made or (b) to the extent that with respect to taxes (other than any U.S. federal or state income taxes, state taxes on equity or capital or comparable state taxes on income, equity or capital and which are otherwise related to the conduct of business or local real property taxes all of which taxes are subject to the requirements of the immediately preceding clause (a)), fees, assessments or other government charges, the failure to so pay or so contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. As of the Closing Date, there are no agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitations applicable to any federal income tax return of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower for any period.

 

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Section 5.09. Litigation . Except as set forth in the SEC Filing, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations (other than Environmental Complaints which are specifically addressed in Section 5.20) pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower at law or equity before any Official Body which individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. None of the Borrower or any Subsidiaries of the Borrower is in violation of any order, writ, injunction or any decree of any Official Body which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change. (any of the foregoing referred to herein as “Material Litigation”).

Section 5.10. Absence of Defaults and Events of Default . No event has occurred and is continuing and no condition exists or will exist after giving effect to the borrowings or other extensions of credit to be made on the Closing Date under or pursuant to the Related Documents which constitutes an Event of Default or Default.

Section 5.11. Financial Statements . The Borrower has delivered to the Purchaser copies of its audited consolidated year-end financial statements for and as of the end of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 and its unaudited consolidated financial statements for and as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2014 (the “Historical Statements”). The Historical Statements were compiled from the books and records maintained by the Borrower’s management, are correct and complete and fairly represent the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of their dates and the results of operations for the fiscal periods then ended and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (subject, in the case of such quarterly financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnote disclosures). Since September 30, 2013, no Material Adverse Change has occurred.

Section 5.12. Accuracy and Completeness of Information . All information, reports, financial statements and other papers and data furnished to the Purchaser or its counsel by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Purchaser were, at the time the same were so furnished, complete and correct in all material respects, to the extent necessary to give the recipient a true and accurate knowledge of the subject matter. No fact is known to the Borrower which has had or in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower may in the future have a Material Adverse Effect which has not been set forth in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.11 or in such information, reports or other papers or data or otherwise disclosed in writing to the Purchaser prior to the Closing Date. Any financial, budget and other projections furnished to the Purchaser by the Borrower were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were fair and reasonable in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such financial, budget or other projections, and represented, and as of the date of this representation, represent the Borrower’s best estimate of its future financial performance. No document furnished or other written statement made to the Purchaser in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or the Related Documents contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state (as of the date made or furnished) any material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were or will be made, not misleading.

 

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Section 5.13. Incorporation of Representations and Warranties . Except for those representations and warranties which due to the passage of time are no longer true, the Borrower hereby makes to the Purchaser the same representations and warranties made by the Borrower in each Related Document to which it is a party, which representations and warranties, together with the related definitions of terms contained therein, are incorporated herein by this reference with the same effect as if each and every such representation and warranty and definition were set forth herein in its entirety. No amendment to or waiver of such representations, warranties, covenants or definitions made pursuant to the relevant Related Document or incorporated by reference shall be effective to amend such representations and warranties and definitions as incorporated by reference herein without the prior written consent of the Purchaser.

Section 5.14. No Usury .

(a) The terms of this Agreement and the Related Documents regarding the calculation and payment of interest and fees do not violate any applicable usury laws.

(b) The Bonds are not subject to any Applicable Law prescribing a maximum rate of interest.

Section 5.15. Insurance . The Borrower currently maintains insurance of such type (including self-insurance) and in such amounts or in excess of such amounts as are customarily carried by, and insures against such risks as are customarily insured against by, businesses of like type, size and character to the Borrower and as required by the Loan Agreement.

Section 5.16. Bond . Each Bond has been or will be duly and validly issued under the Indenture and entitled to the benefits thereof.

Section 5.17. Plans and Benefit Arrangements .

(a) The Borrower and each other member of the ERISA Group are in compliance with any applicable provisions of ERISA with respect to all Benefit Arrangements, Plans, Multiple Employer Plans and Multiemployer Plans except where any instance of noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. There has been no Prohibited Transaction with respect to any Benefit Arrangement or any Plan or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Borrower and all other members of the ERISA Group have made when due any and all material payments required to be made under any agreement relating to a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan or any Law pertaining thereto except for any failure that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. With respect to each Plan and Multiple Employer Plan, the Borrower and each other member of the ERISA Group (i) have fulfilled in all material respects their obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA, (ii) have not incurred any material liability to the PBGC which has not been paid in the ordinary course, and (iii) have not had asserted against them any penalty for failure to fulfill the

 

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minimum funding requirements of ERISA except for any failure that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. All Plans, Benefit Arrangements and, to the best knowledge of Borrower, Multiple Employer Plans and Multiemployer Plans have been administered in all material respects in accordance with their terms and applicable Law except for any failure that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(b) No event requiring notice to the PBGC under Section 303(k)(4)(A) of ERISA has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan except for any failure that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(c) To the best knowledge of the Borrower, neither the Borrower nor any other member of the ERISA Group has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Borrower nor any other member of the ERISA Group has been notified by any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan has been terminated within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, no Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan is reasonably expected to be reorganized or terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.18. Investment Company Act . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiaries of the Borrower is an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under the “control” of an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 and shall not become such an “investment company” or under such “control.” Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiaries of the Borrower is subject to any other federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Debt for borrowed money.

Section 5.19. Pending Legislation and Decisions . There is no amendment, or to the best knowledge of the Borrower, proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State or any State law or any published administrative interpretation of the Constitution of the State or any State law, or any proposition or referendum (or proposed proposition or referendum) or other ballot initiative or any legislation that has passed either house of the legislature of the State, or any published judicial decision interpreting any of the foregoing, the effect of which could reasonably be expected to adversely affect (a) the issuance of, or security for, any of the Bonds, (b) the rights or remedies of the Purchaser or of any Owner of the Bonds, or (c) the power or ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or under any of the Related Documents including, without limitation, the Borrower’s ability to repay when due its obligations under this Agreement, any Related Document or any of its Material Debt.

Section 5.20. Environmental Matters . Except as set forth in the SEC Filing, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower has received any Environmental Complaint which individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to result in a Material

 

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Adverse Change. There are no pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened Environmental Complaints relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or any of the Properties or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, any prior owner, operator or occupant of any of the Properties pertaining to, or arising out of, any Contamination or violations of Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws in all jurisdictions in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is doing business except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Borrower holds and its Subsidiaries hold and are operating in compliance with Environmental Permits, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.21. Anti-Terrorism Representations .

(a) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates is in violation of any laws relating to terrorism or money laundering (“Anti-Terrorism Laws”), including Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001 (the “Executive Order”), and the Patriot Act;

(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates is any of the following:

(i) a Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

(ii) a Person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

(iii) a Person with which the Purchaser is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law;

(iv) a Person that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order; or

(v) a Person that is named as a “specially designated national and blocked person” on the most current list published by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) or any list of Persons issued by OFAC pursuant to the Executive Order at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list;

(c) To the best knowledge of the Borrower, neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Person described in subsection (b) above, (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any Property or interests in Property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order or (iii) engages in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

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Section 5.22. Security . The Indenture and the irrevocable pledge of the Revenues, other amounts payable under the Loan Agreement, and other assets held by the Trustee in the funds established under the Indenture, create in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Owners of the Bonds a legally valid, binding and perfected first-priority Lien upon and security interest in the Trust Estate, subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens. No filing, registering, recording or other actions are required to establish the pledge under the Indenture or to perfect, protect or maintain the Lien created thereby on the Trust Estate except as have been taken and except for such other future action as may be required by Applicable Law. The Indenture does not permit any Lien on the Trust Estate securing any Debt to rank senior to the Lien on the Trust Estate securing the Bonds. All amounts payable under this Agreement are payable on a parity with the Bonds.

Section 5.23. Labor Matters . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower is in compliance with the Labor Contracts and all applicable federal, state and local labor and employment Laws including those related to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, labor relations, minimum wage, overtime, child labor, medical insurance continuation, worker adjustment and relocation notices, immigration controls and worker and unemployment compensation, where the failure to comply could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. There are no outstanding grievances, arbitration awards or appeals therefrom arising out of the Labor Contracts or current or threatened strikes, picketing, handbilling or other work stoppages or slowdowns at facilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which in any case could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.24. Taxpayer Identification Number . The Borrower’s U.S. taxpayer identification number is 21-0621680.

Section 5.25. Subsidiaries . Exhibit F states the name of each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, its jurisdiction of incorporation, its authorized capital stock, the issued and outstanding shares (referred to herein as the “Subsidiary Shares”) and the owners thereof if it is a corporation, its outstanding partnership interests (the “Partnership Interests”) if it is a partnership and its outstanding limited liability company interests, interests assigned to managers thereof and the voting rights associated therewith (the “LLC Interests”) if it is a limited liability company and also indicates if such Subsidiary is an Inactive Subsidiary. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title to all of the Subsidiary Shares, Partnership Interests and LLC Interests it purports to own, free and clear in each case of any Lien. All Subsidiary Shares, Partnership Interests and LLC Interests have been validly issued, and all Subsidiary Shares are fully paid and nonassessable. All capital contributions and other consideration required to be made or paid in connection with the issuance of the Partnership Interests and LLC Interests have been made or paid, as the case may be. There are no options, warrants or other rights outstanding to purchase any such Subsidiary Shares, Partnership Interests or LLC Interests except as indicated on Exhibit F.

Section 5.26. Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock .

(a) General . The Borrower intends to use the Bond Proceeds in accordance with the Indenture and the Related Documents.

 

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(b) Margin Stock . Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower engages or intends to engage principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock (within the meaning of Regulation U). No part of the Bond Proceeds has been or will be used, immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or to refund Debt originally incurred for such purpose, or for any purpose which entails a violation of or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower holds or intends to hold Margin Stock in such amounts that more than 25% of the reasonable value of the assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower is or will be represented by Margin Stock.

Section 5.27. Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Licenses, Etc . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower owns or has the contractual right to use all the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, registrations, franchises, permits and rights reasonably necessary to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as presently conducted and planned to be conducted by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, without known possible, alleged or actual conflict with the rights of others, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. The Borrower has all necessary State of New Jersey, Board of Public Utilities licenses, permits, franchises and approvals necessary for the conduct of its business and for its entry into, and performance under, the Related Documents, except where the failure to have such licenses, permits, franchises and approvals could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.28. Hedging Contract Policies . Exhibit G is a true and correct copy of the Hedging Contract Policies. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower is subject to and is in compliance with the Hedging Contract Policies and the Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries which engages in any Hedging Transaction to continue to comply with the Hedging Contract Policies, to the extent that the failure to comply, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 5.29. Permitted Related Business Opportunities . The information set forth on Exhibit H is true, complete and correct in all material respects and sets forth a list of all of the Investments in Permitted Related Business Opportunities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and includes, without limitation, the amount and nature of each such Investment, a description of the activities engaged in by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with such Investment, and a description of the activities engaged in by the Person in which the Investment has been made.

Section 5.30. Most Favored Nations . The Borrower has not previously entered into any agreement or instrument (or any amendment, supplement or modification thereto) (each a “Relevant Agreement”) under which any Person made loans, refinanced or restructured existing Debt or extended credit or liquidity to the Borrower, which Relevant Agreement is currently in effect and contains a covenant, provision or agreement which permits such a Person to take advantage of the provisions of another Relevant Agreement if such provisions would be more advantageous to such Person than the terms of its Relevant Agreement (an “MFL Covenant”).

 

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ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower covenants and agrees that it will comply, and will cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower to comply, with the following affirmative covenants until the date on which no amount is due or owing to the Purchaser under this Agreement, the Bonds or any other Related Document, unless the Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing:

Section 6.01. Compliance with Applicable Laws . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable Laws, including all Environmental Laws, in all material respects, provided that it shall not be deemed to be a violation of this Section if any failure to comply with any Law would not result in fines, penalties, costs associated with the performance of any Remedial Actions, other similar liabilities or injunctive relief which in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, obtain, maintain, renew and comply with all Environmental Permits applicable to their respective operations and activities, provided that it shall not be deemed to be a violation of this Section if any failure to do so would not result in cease and desist orders or fines, penalties or other similar liabilities or injunctive relief which in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.02. Reporting Requirements . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower shall keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all dealings or transactions of or in relation to the business and affairs of such Person on a consolidated or combined basis in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower shall furnish to the Purchaser two copies of each of the following:

(a) Annual Financial Statements . As soon as available, and in any event within 105 days after the close of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, the financial statements of the Borrower which shall be audited and reported on without qualification by an Accountant and shall be certified to the Borrower by such Accountant (other than with respect to any consistency qualification in the method used to prepare the financial statements as to which such Accountant concurs), and shall include, without limitation, balance sheets, profit and loss statements and statements of cash flows, together with notes and supporting schedules, all on a consolidated and consolidating basis and in reasonable detail. The Borrower will be deemed to have complied with the delivery requirements of this Section 6.02(a) if within 105 days after the end of its fiscal year (or such earlier or later date, from time to time established by the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), the Borrower delivers to the Purchaser a copy of its Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the financial statements and certification of public accountants contained therein meets the requirements described in this Section 6.02(a).

 

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(b) Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as available, and in any event within 55 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, the unaudited financial statements of the Borrower, including a balance sheet, profit and loss statement, statement of cash flow and notes as of the end of such fiscal quarterly period and for such fiscal quarterly period and the current Fiscal Year to the end of such fiscal quarterly period, which shall be internally prepared by management of the Borrower and presented to the Purchaser on a consistent basis, along with a certification by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower as to having been prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and setting forth in comparative form the respective financial statements for the corresponding date and period in the previous fiscal year. The Borrower will be deemed to have complied with the delivery requirements of this Section 6.02(b) if within 55 days after the end of its fiscal quarter (or such earlier or later date, from time to time established by the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), the Borrower delivers to the Purchaser a copy of its Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the financial statements contained therein meets the requirements described in this Section 6.02(b).

(c) Certificate of Compliance . Simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer of the Borrower, (i) stating that such officer has made a review of activities during the preceding period for the purpose of determining whether the Borrower has complied with all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and the Related Documents, (ii) attesting that, to the best of his/her knowledge, the Borrower has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every such covenant, provision and condition on its part to be performed and no Event of Default or Default has occurred, or if an Event of Default or Default has occurred such certificate shall specify such event or condition, the nature and status thereof and any remedial steps taken or proposed to correct such event or condition and (iii) containing calculations of the applicable financial covenants (to the extent applicable as of such date), including those in Section 7.14.

(d) Budgets, Forecasts, and Other Reports . Promptly upon their becoming available to the Borrower:

(i) any information provided to the Mortgage Trustee pursuant to Section 9.14 of the First Mortgage Indenture on a date provided to the Mortgage Trustee which shall be no later than the date permitted for such delivery under such Section 9.14,

(ii) to the extent not publicly accessible through the SEC’s, the Parent’s or the Borrower’s respective websites, regular or periodic reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses, filed by the Borrower or the Parent with the SEC,

 

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(iii) to the extent not previously reported in regular or periodic reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses, filed by the Borrower or the Parent with the SEC, the Borrower shall notify the Purchaser promptly of the enactment or adoption of any published Law which could, in the Borrower’s opinion, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(iv) to the extent requested by the Purchaser, the annual budget and any forecasts or projections of the Borrower, and

(v) with respect to the Hedging Transaction activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, to the extent not previously reported in regular or periodic reports, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, registration statements and prospectuses, filed by the Borrower or the Parent with the SEC, such other reports and information as the Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request.

(e) Amendments . Promptly after the adoption thereof, copies of any amendments of or supplements to any of the Related Documents; provided, however, supplements to the First Mortgage Indenture that are entered into for the sole purpose of securing Material Debt and which supplements do not otherwise amend the substantive terms of the First Mortgage Indenture and amendments to the First Mortgage Indenture which do not adversely effect the rights or security granted thereunder for the benefit of the holders of the first mortgage bonds issued thereunder shall not be subject to the reporting requirement of this Section 6.02(e).

(f) Rating Agency Reports . Copies of all reports received from any Rating Agency promptly after such information is received from such Rating Agency.

(g) Hedging Contract Policies . Promptly after the adoption thereof, copies of any amendments of or supplements to the Hedging Contract Policies of the Borrower.

(h) Other Information . Such other information respecting the business, properties or the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower as the Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request, including without limitation, reports of any governmental audits and inspections, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law.

Section 6.03. Notices .

(a) Notice of Default . Promptly after any executive officer of the Borrower has learned of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, the Borrower shall provide to the Purchaser a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer of the Borrower setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.

(b) Notice of Material Adverse Change, Material Adverse Effect and Taxable Date . The Borrower shall provide to the Purchaser in writing, promptly upon

 

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any executive officer of the Borrower learning thereof, notice of any Material Adverse Change or Taxable Date and any event which constitutes or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or could reasonably be expected to cause a Taxable Date to occur.

(c) Litigation and Other Notices . The Borrower shall provide to the Purchaser in writing, promptly upon any executive officer of the Borrower learning thereof, notice of:

(i) any Material Litigation or any other actions, suits, proceedings, inquiry or investigation before any Governmental Authority against the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower which involve claims equal to or in excess of $30,000,000;

(ii) any criminal investigation or proceeding by a Governmental Authority involving the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any officer or managerial employee of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower relating to the job performance of such officer or managerial employee; and

(iii) any communication from any labor union of any intent to strike the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower at a future date with such notice to include a description of the action or actions that it proposes to take with respect thereto.

(d) Certain Related Document Notices . The Borrower shall furnish to the Purchaser a copy of any notice, certification, demand or other writing or communication given by the Issuer or the Trustee to the Borrower or by the Borrower to the Issuer or the Trustee under or in connection with any of the Related Documents, in each case promptly after the receipt or giving of the same. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower shall cause the Trustee to provide notice to the Purchaser upon any redemption, repayment, defeasance or other payment or deemed payment of the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture.

(e) Rating Agencies . Within five (5) Business Days after any Rating Agency shall have announced a change in an Obligor Rating, written notice of such rating change.

(f) Notice of Dispute . The Borrower shall promptly give written notice to the Purchaser of any material dispute which may exist between the Borrower and any of the Issuer or the Trustee or any material dispute in connection with any transaction contemplated under any Related Document.

(g) Notice of Sale of Assets . The Borrower shall give the Purchaser at least thirty (30) days prior thereto, written notice with respect to any proposed sale or transfer of assets where the consideration for such sale or transfer of assets is in excess of $30,000,000.00.

 

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(h) Notices Regarding Plans and Benefit Arrangements . The Borrower will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Purchaser:

(i) Promptly upon becoming aware of the occurrence thereof, notice (including the nature of the event and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC with respect thereto) of:

(A) any Reportable Event with respect to the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group (unless the obligation to report said Reportable Event to the PBGC has been waived) which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(B) any Prohibited Transaction which could subject the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group to a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code in connection with any Plan, any Benefit Arrangement or any trust created thereunder which penalty or tax could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(C) any assertion of withdrawal liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(D) any partial or complete withdrawal against the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group from a Multiemployer Plan by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group under Title IV of ERISA (or assertion thereof) which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(E) any cessation of operations (by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group) at a facility in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(F) withdrawal by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group from a Multiple Employer Plan, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(G) a failure by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group to make a payment to a Plan required to avoid imposition of a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change,

(H) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA, or

(I) any change in the actuarial assumptions or funding methods used for any Plan, where the effect of such change is to materially increase

 

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or materially reduce the unfunded benefit liability or obligation to make periodic contributions, except for any such change required under applicable law which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

(ii) Promptly after receipt thereof, copies of:

(A) all notices received by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group of the PBGC’s intent to terminate any Plan administered or maintained by the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group, or to have a trustee appointed to administer any such Plan; and

(B) at the request of the Purchaser each annual report (IRS Form 5500 series) and all accompanying schedules, the most recent actuarial reports, the most recent financial information concerning the financial status of each Plan administered or maintained by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group, and schedules showing the amounts contributed to each such Plan by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group in which any of their personnel participate or from which such personnel may derive a benefit, and each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report filed by the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each such Plan.

(iii) Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of any Form 5310, or any successor or equivalent form to Form 5310, filed with the PBGC in connection with the termination of any Plan.

Section 6.04. Further Assurances . The Borrower shall, upon the request of the Purchaser, from time to time, execute and deliver and, if necessary, file, register and record such further financing statements, amendments, continuation statements and other documents and instruments and take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to effect the provisions of this Agreement and the Related Documents. Except to the extent it is exempt therefrom, the Borrower will pay or cause to be paid all filing, registration and recording fees incident to such filing, registration and recording, and all expenses incident to the preparation, execution and acknowledgment of such instruments of further assurance, and all federal or state fees and other similar fees, duties, imposts, assessments and charges arising out of or in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Related Documents and such instruments of further assurance.

Section 6.05. Right of Entry . The Borrower shall permit the duly authorized agents or representatives of the Purchaser during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice to visit and inspect any of the premises of the Borrower, or any parts thereof, and to examine its financial and corporate books, records and accounts and to make copies thereof and extracts therefrom, and to discuss the Borrower’s affairs, finances, business and accounts with its officers, employees and agents. In the event the Purchaser desires to conduct an audit of the Borrower and/or any one or more of its Subsidiaries, the Purchaser shall make a reasonable effort

 

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to conduct such audit contemporaneously with any audit to be performed by the Purchaser, and except after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, any such audit shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Purchaser. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower to, maintain and keep proper, books of record and account which enable the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to issue financial statements in accordance with GAAP and as otherwise required by applicable Laws of any Official Body having jurisdiction over the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, and in which full, true and correct entries shall be made in all material respects of all its dealings and business and financial affairs.

Section 6.06. Payment of Obligations; Removal of Liens . The Borrower will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, (a) all of its Debts in accordance with the terms thereof, (b) all amounts payable by it hereunder and under the Related Documents according to the terms hereof and thereof and (c) all assessments or other governmental charges as the same respectively become due, all taxes, assessments (general or special) and governmental charges of any kind whatsoever that may be at any time lawfully assessed or levied against or with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Property or any interest thereon and promptly discharge or cause to be discharged all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), fees and charges on such Property; provided that the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable, may withhold payment of sums described under subpart (c) where (i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted by or on behalf of the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable, (ii) the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (iii) the failure to make payment pending such contest would not result in any additional liability which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.07. Reserved .

Section 6.08. Insurance . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, insure its properties and assets with reputable and financially sound insurers, including self-insurance to the extent customary, according to prudent business practice in the industry of the Borrower and such Subsidiaries, in amounts sufficient to insure the assets and risks of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries in accordance with prudent business practice in the industry of the Borrower and such Subsidiaries.

Section 6.09. Conversion . Subject to Section 3.04(d) hereof, the Borrower may exercise its option under Section 2.3 of the Indenture to cause the conversion of the Interest Rate Determination Method on any Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Initial Bank Purchase Date upon compliance with the provisions of the Indenture and this Agreement applicable thereto and upon providing for payment to the Purchaser of the Purchase Price on the Mandatory Purchase Date occurring as a result of such conversion in accordance with Section 8.5 of the Loan Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower shall not permit the conversion of the Interest Rate Determination Method on less than all of the Bonds to any other Interest Rate Determination Method without the prior written consent of the Purchaser.

Section 6.10. Employee Benefit Plan Compliance . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and each other member of the ERISA Group to, comply with

 

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ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws applicable to Plans and Benefit Arrangements except where such failure, alone or in conjunction with any other failure, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower shall cause all of its Plans and all Plans maintained by any of its Subsidiaries and any member of the ERISA Group to be funded in accordance with the minimum funding requirements of ERISA and shall make, and cause each member of the ERISA Group to make, in a timely manner, all contributions due to Plans, Benefit Arrangements and Multiemployer Plans, except where any such failure, alone or in conjunction with any other failure, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.11. Disclosure to Participants . Subject to Section 11.16, the Borrower agrees to permit the Purchaser to disclose any information received by the Purchaser in connection herewith, including without limitation the financial information described in Section 6.02, to any Transferees of the Purchaser without notice to or further consent from the Borrower.

Section 6.12. Proceeds of Bonds . The Bond Proceeds were used solely for the purposes described in the Indenture and the Loan Agreement. None of the Bond Proceeds were used to provide inventories, raw materials or working capital for the Borrower.

Section 6.13. Compliance with Related Documents . The Borrower shall perform and comply in all material respects with the terms and conditions of the Related Documents that are binding on it. The Borrower shall use its best efforts to cause the Trustee and the Paying Agent at all times to perform and comply in all material respects with the terms and conditions of the Related Documents to which they are a party.

Section 6.14. Reserved .

Section 6.15. Reserved .

Section 6.16. Maintenance of Properties . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) in accordance with the general practice of other businesses of similar character and size, all of those properties useful or necessary to its business, and from time to time, the Borrower will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals or replacements thereof if the failure to do so is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, it being understood that this covenant relates only to the working order and condition of such properties and shall not be construed as a covenant not to dispose of properties.

Section 6.17. Maintenance of Patents, Trademarks, Etc. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain in full force and effect all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, franchises, permits and other authorizations necessary for the ownership and operation of its properties and business if the failure so to maintain the same could constitute a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.18. Preservation of Existence, Etc . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain its legal existence as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company and its license or qualification and good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification

 

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necessary, except (a) where the lack of legal existence of any Subsidiary or the failure to be so licensed or qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change, or (b) as otherwise expressly permitted in this Agreement. The Borrower shall maintain all State of New Jersey, Board of Public Utilities licenses, permits, franchises and approvals necessary for the conduct of its business and for its entry into, and performance under, the Related Documents, except where the failure to have such licenses, permits, franchises and approvals could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.19. Hedge Agreements . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower shall comply with the Hedging Contract Policies if the failures to comply, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

Section 6.20. Lien on Trust Estate . The Borrower shall do and shall use its best efforts to cause the Trustee to do all things necessary (including, without limitation, the timely filing of continuation statements) to maintain the Trustee’s first priority perfected Lien on the Trust Estate.

Section 6.21. Most Favored Covenant . In the event the Borrower grants an MFL Covenant to another secured lender or secured credit provider under the First Mortgage Indenture, then the Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Purchaser of such occurrence and shall grant such MFL Covenant to the Purchaser. If requested by the Purchaser, the Borrower shall promptly enter into an amendment to this Agreement to include the MFL Covenant; provided that the Purchaser shall maintain the benefit of such MFL Covenant even if the Borrower fails to provide such amendment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section, each party hereto agrees that no provision described in this Section shall be deemed incorporated into this Agreement if such incorporation would cause the interest on any of the Bonds to be includable in the gross income of the Owners thereof for federal tax purposes.

Section 6.22. Filing of Agreement . In the event the Borrower delivers or permits, authorizes or consents to the delivery of this Agreement to any Person for delivery to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, prior to such delivery the Borrower agrees that it shall redact such information contained herein as may be requested by the Purchaser and which is consistent with MSRB Notice 2011-17 (February 23, 2011). Only such copy of this Agreement reflecting such redacted material shall be delivered to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.

Section 6.23. CUSIP Numbers . The Borrower shall at all times cause the Bonds to be assigned the applicable CUSIP Number.

 

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ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower covenants and agrees that it will comply, and will cause each Subsidiary of the Borrower to comply, with the following negative covenants until the date on which no amount is due or owing to the Purchaser under this Agreement, the Bonds or any other Related Document, unless the Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing:

Section 7.01. Amendments . The Borrower shall not amend, modify or supplement, nor agree to any amendment or modification of, deviation from, or supplement to, any of the Related Documents without the consent of the Purchaser, except to the extent that such amendment, modification, deviation or supplement without the consent of the Bondholders is permitted under the Related Documents; provided, however, that notwithstanding Section 9.1(B)(5) of the Indenture, the Borrower shall not consent to any amendment which permits one or more series of the Bonds to be held by the Purchaser after the proposed effective date of such amendment to be secured by a separate indenture without the prior written consent of the Purchaser.

Section 7.02. Reserved .

Section 7.03. Reserved .

Section 7.04. Business . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business (including without limitation any joint ventures) other than the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary substantially as conducted and operated by the Borrower or such Subsidiary during the present fiscal year, and any line of business or business activity related or complementary to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries conducted as of the Closing Date, including without limitation, the delivery, management and marketing of storage, capacity and transportation of gas and other forms of energy, the generation, transmission or storage of gas and other forms of energy, or the access to gas and energy transmission lines, and business initiatives for the conservation and efficiency of gas and energy, or constituting a Permitted Related Business Opportunity. The Borrower will at all times be and remain a Person that is subject under law to regulation by a public utility commission or other governmental regulatory body with oversight responsibilities for utilities.

Section 7.05. Certain Information . The Borrower shall not include in any offering document any information concerning the Purchaser that is not supplied in writing, or otherwise approved, by the Purchaser expressly for inclusion therein.

Section 7.06. Trustee; Paying Agent; Etc . The Borrower shall provide the Purchaser written notice of any change in the identity of the Trustee or the Paying Agent upon becoming aware of the same. Upon written notice from the Purchaser that the Trustee or the Paying Agent is failing to perform its respective duties in the manner contemplated by the Related Documents, the Borrower shall replace, or cause to be replaced, the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be. If the position of the Trustee or Paying Agent becomes vacant, the Borrower shall promptly appoint a successor.

Section 7.07. Accounting Methods and Fiscal Year . The Borrower will not adopt, permit or consent to any change in its Fiscal Year without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, which consent will not be unreasonably conditioned or withheld.

Section 7.08. Exempt Status . The Borrower shall not take any action or omit to take any action that, if taken or omitted, would adversely affect the excludability of interest on the Bonds from the gross income of the Owners thereof for purposes of federal income taxation under the Code.

 

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Section 7.09. Optional Redemption; Conversion; Defeasance . The Borrower shall not:

(a) optionally redeem any Bonds pursuant to the Indenture if, after giving effect to such redemption, there would be any unpaid Excess Bond Interest Amount owing under this Agreement;

(b) permit the optional redemption of any Bonds unless it pays to the Purchaser any Termination Fee that may be due hereunder;

(c) voluntarily change the Interest Rate Determination Method for the Bonds pursuant to the Indenture (i) prior to the Initial Bank Purchase Date, except as provided in Section 6.09 or (ii) if, after giving effect to such conversion, there would be any unpaid Excess Bond Interest Amount owing under this Agreement; or

(d) defease, nor allow the defeasance of, the Bonds without having contemporaneously satisfied all of its obligations hereunder.

Section 7.10. Limitation on Hedge Agreements . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not amend, modify, supplement, restate or rescind the Hedging Contract Policies in a manner which, compared with past practice of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, would render Hedging Transactions entered into pursuant to the Hedging Contract Policies (as so modified) materially more speculative, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser.

Section 7.11. Liens . The Borrower shall not permit any of its Property to be subject to any Liens or other encumbrances other than Permitted Liens.

Section 7.12. Reserved .

Section 7.13. Debt . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except:

(a) Debt under the Related Documents;

(b) Debt of the Borrower incurred pursuant to the First Mortgage Indenture and certain loan agreements and promissory notes identified on Exhibit D prior to or as of the Closing Date, so long as before and immediately after the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with Section 7.14 and no Event of Default would otherwise be caused thereby;

(c) Additional Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred after the Closing Date (including, without limitation, additional Debt under the First Mortgage Indenture or the loan agreements and promissory notes identified on Exhibit D), so long as before and immediately after the incurrence of such Debt, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with Section 7.14 and no Event of Default would otherwise be caused thereby;

 

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(d) Debt of the Borrower arising under any Hedging Transaction in accordance with Borrower’s Hedging Contract Policies covering a notional amount not to exceed the face amount of outstanding Debt;

(e) Guaranties of any Subsidiary of the Borrower of obligations of the Borrower arising under any Hedging Transaction;

(f) Guaranties by the Borrower of various obligations of any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction arising in connection with its ordinary course of business as conducted on the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted to be conducted pursuant to Section 7.04; and

(g) Guaranties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower of Debt permitted by clauses (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 7.13.

Section 7.14. Maximum Leverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not at any time permit the ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to Consolidated Total Capitalization to exceed 0.65 to 1.00.

Section 7.15. Creation of Subsidiaries; Loans and Transfers to Subsidiaries . Except for any Permitted Related Business Opportunities as previously disclosed to the Purchaser, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or carry out any transaction (including purchasing property or services from or selling property or services to any Subsidiary of the Borrower or other Person) unless such transaction is not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement, is entered into in the ordinary course of business upon fair and reasonable arm’s-length terms and conditions and is in accordance with all applicable Law.

Section 7.16. Reserved .

Section 7.17. Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities . The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not engage in any off-balance sheet transaction (i.e., the liabilities in respect of which do not appear on the liability side of the balance sheet, with such balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP) providing the functional equivalent of borrowed money (including asset securitizations, sale/leasebacks or Synthetic Leases (other than any sale/leaseback transaction or Synthetic Lease entered into, in either case, with respect to meter assets and which transaction is otherwise permitted by this Agreement)) if the liabilities thereunder could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. For purposes of this Section 7.17, (a) “Synthetic Lease” means any lease transaction under which the parties intend that (i) the lease will be treated as an “operating lease” by the lessee pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13, as amended, or appropriate successor thereto, and (ii) the lessee will be entitled to various tax benefits ordinarily available to owners (as opposed to lessees) of like property, and (b) the amount of any lease which is not a capital lease in accordance with GAAP is the aggregate amount of minimum lease payments due pursuant to such lease for any non-cancelable portion of its term.

 

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Section 7.18. Reserved .

Section 7.19. Reserved .

Section 7.20. Reserved .

Section 7.21. Anti-Terrorism Laws. (a) No Covered Entity will become a Sanctioned Person, (b) no Covered Entity, either in its own right or through any third party, will (i) have any of its assets in a Sanctioned Country or in the possession, custody or control of a Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; (ii) do business in or with, or derive any of its income from investments in or transactions with, any Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; (iii) engage in any dealings or transactions prohibited by any Anti-Terrorism Law or (iv) use the Bond Proceeds to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in, or, make any payments to, a Sanctioned Country or Sanctioned Person in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, (c) the funds used to repay the Obligations will not be derived from any unlawful activity, (d) each Covered Entity shall comply with all Anti- Terrorism Laws, and (e) the Borrower shall promptly notify the Purchaser in writing upon the occurrence of a Reportable Compliance Event.

Section 7.22. Loans and Investments . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, at any time make or suffer to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or purchase, acquire or own any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest (whether general or limited) or limited liability company interest in, or any other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other Person, or agree, become or remain liable to do any of the foregoing (any of the foregoing being an “Investment”), except:

(a) trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business;

(b) advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Investments in New Jersey Natural Gas Charity, Inc.;

(d) Permitted Investments; and

(e) any Investment which constitutes a Permitted Acquisition in accordance with Section 7.23.

Section 7.23. Liquidations, Mergers, Consolidations and Acquisitions . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs, or become a party to any merger or consolidation, or acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any other Person, provided that:

(a) any such Subsidiary may consolidate or merge into another such Subsidiary which is wholly owned by the Borrower or one or more of such other Subsidiaries,

 

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(b) any Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower may dissolve, liquidate or wind-up its affairs or any Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower may consolidate or merge into: (i) any other Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower, or (ii) any other Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not an Inactive Subsidiary so long as such Inactive Subsidiary has no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, other than Debt permitted by Section 7.13, and

(c) the Borrower may acquire, whether by purchase or by merger, (i) all of the ownership interests of another Person or (ii) substantially all of assets of another Person or of a business or division of another Person (each a “Permitted Acquisition”), provided that each of the following requirements is met:

(i) the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person shall have approved such Permitted Acquisition and, if the Borrower shall use any portion of the Loans to fund such Permitted Acquisition, the Borrower also shall have delivered to the Purchaser written evidence of the approval of the board of directors (or equivalent body) of such Person for such Permitted Acquisition;

(ii) the business acquired, or the business conducted by the Person whose ownership interests are being acquired, as applicable, shall be substantially the same as one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Borrower or otherwise be compliant with Section 7.04;

(iii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition;

(iv) the Borrower shall demonstrate that it shall be in compliance with the covenant contained in Section 7.14 after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition (including in such computation Debt or other liabilities assumed or incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition but excluding income earned or expenses incurred by the Person, business or assets to be acquired prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition) by delivering at least five (5) Business Days prior to such Permitted Acquisition a certificate in the form and substance satisfactory to the Purchaser evidencing such compliance; and

(v) the Borrower shall deliver to the Purchaser, as soon as available prior to, or in any event within five (5) Business Days after, the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition, such copies of any agreements entered into or proposed to be entered into by the Borrower in connection with such Permitted Acquisition, and shall deliver, as soon as available, to the Purchaser such other information about such Person or its assets as the Purchaser may reasonably require.

Section 7.24. Dispositions of Assets or Subsidiaries . The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, sell and leaseback, convey, assign, lease, abandon or otherwise transfer or dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily, any of its properties or assets, tangible or intangible (including sale, assignment, discount or other disposition of accounts,

 

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contract rights, chattel paper, equipment or general intangibles with or without recourse, or of capital stock, shares of beneficial interest, partnership interests or limited liability company interests of a Subsidiary of the Borrower), except:

(a) transactions involving the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(b) any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are no longer necessary or required in the conduct of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s business;

(c) any sale, transfer or lease of assets by any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower;

(d) any sale, transfer or lease of assets in the ordinary course of business which are replaced by substitute assets acquired or leased;

(e) any sale, transfer or lease of assets, other than those specifically excepted pursuant to clauses (a) through (d) above, provided that (i) at the time of any disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or shall result from such disposition, and (ii) the aggregate net book value of all assets so sold by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed in any fiscal year five (5%) of the consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;

(f) any sale, transfer or lease of assets permitted under the First Mortgage Indenture;

(g) any issuance of shares of the capital stock of the Borrower to the Parent;

(h) any sale, transfer or lease of assets of any Inactive Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

(i) gas meter sale and leaseback transactions under the Permitted Sale and Leaseback Program.

Section 7.25. Subsidiaries as Guarantors . Except as provided in Section 7.22 and Section 7.23, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the Purchaser’s consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) own or create, directly or indirectly, any Subsidiaries other than any Subsidiary formed after the Closing Date which joins this Agreement as a Guarantor and which executes and delivers to the Purchaser (i) a Guarantor Joinder in the form and substance acceptable to the Purchaser; and (ii) documents in the form and substance satisfactory to the Purchaser modified as appropriate to relate to such Subsidiary. The Borrower and the Guarantors shall deliver such Guarantor Joinder and related documents to the Purchaser within five (5) Business Days after the date of the filing of such Subsidiary’s articles of incorporation if the Subsidiary is a corporation, the date of the filing of its certificate of limited partnership if it is a limited partnership or the date of its organization if it is an entity other than a limited partnership or corporation. In connection with any such joinder, the Purchaser may request, in its reasonable discretion, an opinion letter from counsel to such new Guarantor in form and substance substantially consistent with the opinions of counsel to Borrower delivered on the Closing Date.

 

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Section 7.26. Restrictions on Payment of Dividends; Redemptions .

(a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower to, enter into or otherwise be bound by any agreement not to pay dividends or make distributions to the Borrower (in the case of any such Subsidiary) or to the Parent (in the case of the Borrower), except for the restrictions that are no more onerous than the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and the restrictions set forth in the First Mortgage Indenture, in each case as such restrictions exist as of the Closing Date.

(b) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make any dividend payment or other distribution of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or securities on account of any shares of any class of capital stock of the Borrower, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value (or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so) any shares of any class of capital stock or other securities of the Borrower or any warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares or other securities, now or hereafter outstanding, except that the Borrower may (a) declare and make any dividend payment or other distribution payable in common stock of the Borrower, (b) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its common stock or warrants, rights or options to acquire any such shares so long as no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, and (c) declare and make its dividends, so long as, after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing.

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 8.01. Events of Default . The occurrence of any of the following events (including the expiration of any specified time) shall constitute an “Event of Default,” unless waived by the Purchaser in writing:

(a) Payments . The Borrower shall fail to pay, or cause to be paid, when due (i) any payment of the principal of, interest on or the Purchase Price of the Bonds or (ii) any other amount owed by the Borrower to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Related Documents.

(b) Covenants . The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any covenant set forth in Sections 6.03(a), 6.03(b), 6.03(c), 6.05, 6.08, 6.12, 6.18, 6.19, 6.20, 6.23 or Article VII.

(c) Other Covenants . The Borrower shall fail to perform any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement or any of the Related Documents (other than as specified in any other subsection of this Section), which failure continues for thirty (30) days or more after any Authorized Officer (or other executive officer) of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure.

 

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(d) Representations . Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower in this Agreement, in any Related Document or in any certificate, financial statement or other statement furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Related Documents shall prove to have been inaccurate, misleading or incomplete in any material respect when made or deemed to have been made.

(e) Other Documents . The occurrence of an Event of Default under any of the Related Documents.

(f) Default on Parity and Senior Debt . The Borrower shall fail to pay, or cause to be paid, when due any Debt secured by the First Mortgage Indenture which as to priority of payment is on a parity with or senior to the Bonds; or the occurrence of any act or omission by the Borrower under any Contract under or pursuant to which such Debt is incurred or issued which results in any Debt secured by the First Mortgage Indenture which as to priority of payment is on a parity with or senior to the Bonds becoming immediately due and payable.

(g) Default on Other Material Debt .

(i) A default or event of default shall occur at any time under (i) the First Mortgage Indenture under which the Borrower may be obligated as a borrower or guarantor in excess of $30,000,000.00 in the aggregate, or (ii) the terms of any other agreement involving borrowed money or the extension of credit or any other Debt under which the Borrower may be obligated as a borrower or guarantor in excess of $30,000,000.00 in the aggregate, and in each such case such breach, default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any indebtedness when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) or if such breach or default permits or causes the acceleration of any indebtedness (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the termination of any commitment to lend; or

(ii) A default or event of default shall occur at any time under the terms of any agreement involving any off balance sheet transaction (including any asset securitization, sale/leaseback transaction, or Synthetic Lease, and, if they constitute off balance sheet transactions, the First Mortgage Indenture, under which the Borrower may be obligated as a borrower or guarantor in excess of $30,000,000.00 in the aggregate) with obligations in the aggregate thereunder for which the Borrower may be obligated in excess of $30,000,000.00, and such breach, default or event of default consists of the failure to pay (beyond any period of grace permitted with respect thereto, whether waived or not) any obligation when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) or if such breach or default permits or causes the acceleration of any obligation (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the termination of any such agreement.

 

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(h) Contest of Validity; Invalidity .

(i) The Borrower shall in writing claim, or repudiate its obligations under, or initiate any legal proceedings to seek an adjudication that, any of the provisions that provide for the payment of principal of or interest on the Bonds or that establish the pledge of the Trust Estate in this Agreement or the Related Documents is not valid or binding on the Borrower;

(ii) Any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority with jurisdiction to rule on the validity of this Agreement or the Related Documents shall find or rule in a final and nonappealable judgment of a duly constituted arbitration panel pursuant to Section 11.06 that any of the provisions that provide for the payment of principal of or interest on the Bonds or that establish the pledge of the Trust Estate in this Agreement or the Related Documents is not valid or binding on the Borrower; or

(iii) Except as provided in clauses (i) and (ii) above, any material provision of this Agreement or any of the Related Documents shall cease to be valid and binding or shall be declared null and void; or the Borrower or any Governmental Authority shall contest any such provision; or the Borrower or any agent or trustee on behalf of the Borrower shall deny that it has any further liability under any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Related Documents; or the Borrower shall (A) claim that this Agreement or any of the other Related Documents is not valid or binding on it, (B) repudiate its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Related Documents, and/or (C) initiate any legal proceedings to seek an adjudication that this Agreement or any of the other Related Documents or the Borrower’s obligation to repay any Material Debt is not valid or binding on it.

(i) Judgments . Any final judgments or orders for the payment of money pursuant to the First Mortgage Indenture or in excess of $30,000,000.00 in the aggregate, to the extent not covered by insurance, shall be entered against the Borrower by a court having jurisdiction in the premises, which judgment is not discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of entry.

(j) Event of Insolvency . An Event of Insolvency shall have occurred with respect to the Borrower.

(k) Validity and Perfection of Liens . Any Lien created by this Agreement or any of the Related Documents in favor of the Trustee or the Purchaser, at any time and for any reason (except as expressly permitted to be released by the terms of such governing document) shall not constitute a valid and perfected Lien or shall fail to have the priority required by this Agreement and the Related Documents, or the Borrower shall so assert in writing.

(l) Authorization of Default . The adoption of any resolution of the Borrower to authorize any action or event that would constitute an Event of Default.

 

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(m) Uninsured Losses; Proceedings Against Assets. The assets of the Borrower or the assets of any Subsidiary of the Borrower are attached, seized, levied upon or subjected to a writ or distress warrant; or such come within the possession of any receiver, trustee, custodian or assignee for the benefit of creditors and the same is not cured within thirty (30) days thereafter or otherwise fully bonded or covered by insurance (subject to reasonable and customary deductible amounts);

(n) Notice of Lien or Assessment. A notice of Lien or assessment in excess of $15,000,000.00 (which is not a Permitted Lien) or an Environmental Complaint in excess of $15,000,000.00 is filed of record with respect to all or any part of any of the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets by the United States, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, or by any state, county, municipal or other governmental agency, including the PBGC, or any taxes or debts owing at any time or times hereafter to any one of these becomes payable and the same is not paid within thirty (30) days after the same becomes payable except to the extent such non-payment is permitted by Section 6.06;

(o) Events Relating to Plans and Benefit Arrangements. Any of the following occurs: (i) any Reportable Event; (ii) proceedings shall have been instituted or other action taken to terminate any Plan in a distress termination; (iii) a trustee shall be appointed by the PBGC to administer or liquidate any Plan; (iv) the PBGC shall give notice of its intent to institute proceedings to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer or liquidate any Plan; and, in the case of the occurrence of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (v) the Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to make any contributions when due to a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; (vi) the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group shall withdraw completely or partially from a Multiemployer Plan; (vii) the Borrower or any other member of the ERISA Group shall withdraw (or shall be deemed under Section 4062(e) of ERISA to withdraw) from a Multiple Employer Plan; or (viii) any applicable Law is adopted, changed or interpreted by any Official Body with respect to or otherwise affecting one or more Plans, Multiple Employer Plans Multiemployer Plans or Benefit Arrangements and, with respect to any of the events specified in (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) such occurrence could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

(p) Cessation of Business. The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower ceases to conduct its business as contemplated, except as expressly permitted under Section 7.23, Section 7.24 or Section 7.04 or the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by court order from conducting all or any material part of its business and such injunction, restraint or other preventive order is not dismissed within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof;

(q) Change of Control. (i) Any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under said Act) 25% or more of the voting capital stock of the Parent (provided that, for purposes of calculating the acquisition of beneficial ownership,

 

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any transfer of voting stock of the Parent by any Person or group of Persons to a Permitted Transferee shall be deemed not to constitute a conveyance and acquisition of such stock); (ii) within a period of twelve (12) consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Parent on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Parent unless the individuals who were elected or appointed directors during such twelve (12) month period were elected or appointed by a majority of the individuals who were directors of the Parent on the first day of such period or by their duly appointed or elected successors; or (iii) the Parent shall cease to own 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the Borrower.

Section 8.02. Consequences of an Event of Default . If an Event of Default specified in Section 8.01 shall occur, then in addition to any other rights or remedies available to the Trustee or the Purchaser under any of the Related Documents or under Applicable Law, the Purchaser may exercise any one or more of the following rights and remedies:

(a) by notice to the Borrower, accelerate all of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Related Documents (other than the Bonds, which are subject to acceleration as provided in Section 8.02(c) and provided that acceleration of such obligations shall not be construed to mean termination of any Hedge Agreement entered into with respect to the Bonds, which shall be governed by the terms of such Hedge Agreement) whereupon such obligations shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand for payment, protest or notice of nonpayment or dishonor, or other notice of any kind or character, all of which are hereby expressly waived, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue; provided that, if any Event of Default described in Section 8.01(j) shall occur, all of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Related Documents (including the Bonds but excluding any Hedge Agreement entered into with respect to the Bonds) shall automatically mature and be due and payable on the date of the occurrence of such Event of Default without presentment, demand for payment, protest or notice of any kind to the Borrower or any other Person, all of which are hereby expressly waived;

(b) either personally or by attorney or agent and without bringing any action or proceeding, or by such a receiver, take whatever action at law or in equity may appear necessary or desirable to collect the amounts due and payable under this Agreement or the Related Documents or to enforce performance or observance of any of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the Related Documents, whether for specific performance of any agreement or covenant of the Borrower or in aid of the execution of any power granted to the Purchaser in this Agreement or the Related Documents or as otherwise available at law or in equity;

(c) deliver a notice to the Trustee and the Borrower that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and directing the Trustee to take such other remedial action as is provided for in the Indenture;

(d) cure any Default, Event of Default or event of nonperformance under this Agreement or the Related Documents; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall have no obligation to effect such a cure;

(e) exercise, or cause to be exercised, any and all remedies as it may have under this Agreement or the Related Documents (other than as provided in subsection (b) above) and as otherwise available at law and at equity;

 

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Section 8.03. Special Acceleration Terms for Certain Events of Default . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.02(a),

(a) solely in the case of an Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a)(i), (e), (f), (g), (h)(i), (h)(ii), or (k), an acceleration pursuant to Section 8.02(a) shall not be declared or directed by the Purchaser until seven (7) days after the occurrence of such Event of Default; and

(b) solely in the case of an Event of Default under any other subsection of Sections 8.01(a) other than those specifically enumerated in Section 8.03(a) above, an acceleration pursuant to Section 8.02(a) shall require thirty (30) days’ prior written notice from the Purchaser to the Borrower.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any other holder, credit enhancer or insurer of Debt or any counterparty to any Hedge Agreement related thereto causes any such Debt or other obligations of the Borrower to become immediately due and payable, the Purchaser may immediately, without notice, avail itself of the remedies set forth in Sections 8.02(a) or 8.02(c) above and accelerate all of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, the Bonds and the other Related Documents.

Section 8.04. No Waiver; Remedies . No failure on the part of the Purchaser to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of such right, power or privilege; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under this Agreement preclude any other further exercise of such right, power or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law or which the Purchaser would otherwise have. The rights and remedies of the Purchaser are for the sole and exclusive benefit, use and protection of the Purchaser, and the Purchaser is entitled, but shall have no duty or obligation to the Issuer, the Borrower, the Trustee or any other Person or otherwise, (i) to exercise or to refrain from exercising any right or remedy reserved to the Purchaser hereunder or under any Related Document, or (ii) to cause the Trustee or any other Person to exercise or to refrain from exercising any right or remedy available to it under any of the Related Documents.

Section 8.05. Injunctive Relief . The Borrower recognizes that in the event an Event of Default occurs, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Purchaser; therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Purchaser, if the Purchaser so requests, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent relief in any such case.

 

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ARTICLE IX

NATURE OF OBLIGATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION

Section 9.01. Obligations Absolute . The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall not be subject to any right of setoff or counterclaim against the Purchaser or any Owner or any Participant and shall be paid and performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, under all circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation, the following circumstances:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any of the Related Documents or any other agreement or instrument delivered in connection herewith or therewith;

(b) any amendment or waiver of any provision of all or any of the Related Documents;

(c) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other rights which the Borrower may have at any time against the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Issuer, the Purchaser (other than the defense of payment to the Purchaser in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), any Owner, any Participant or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the Related Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby or any unrelated transaction;

(d) any certificate or any other document presented under this Agreement or the Related Documents proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; or

(e) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding this Section, the Purchaser acknowledges the Borrower may have the right to bring a collateral action with respect to one or more of the foregoing circumstances. The Borrower’s payment obligations shall remain in full force and effect pending the final disposition of any such action.

Section 9.02. Liability of the Purchaser . With respect to the Purchaser, the Borrower assumes any and all risks with respect to the acts or omissions of each of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Paying Agent in connection with this Agreement or any amounts made available by the Purchaser hereunder. Neither the Purchaser nor any of the officers, directors, employees or agents thereof shall be liable or responsible for any of the following: (i) the use that may be made of the Bond Proceeds or any amounts made available by the Purchaser hereunder or for any acts or omissions of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Borrower in connection therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement(s) thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (iii) payment by the Purchaser against presentation of documents which do not comply with the terms of this Agreement, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to this Agreement; (iv) the solvency of any other Person; or (v) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make

 

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payment under this Agreement or any Related Document, except only that the Borrower shall have a claim against the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential, special, indirect or punitive damages (the right to receive consequential, special, indirect or punitive damages being hereby waived by the Borrower), suffered by the Borrower which are determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a duly constituted arbitration panel pursuant to Section 11.06 to be caused by the Purchaser’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with the administration of this Agreement. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Purchaser may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.

Section 9.03. Indemnification .

(a) In addition to any and all other rights of reimbursement, indemnification, subrogation and other similar rights pursuant to the Related Documents or under law or equity, the Borrower hereby covenants and agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser and each Owner or Participant and their respective Affiliates and the officers, directors, employees and agents of the Purchaser and each Owner or Participant and their respective Affiliates (each, an “Indemnitee”) from and against any and all claims, causes of action, judgments, fines, penalties, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) which may be incurred by an Indemnitee or which may be claimed against an Indemnitee by any Person whatsoever (collectively, the “Liabilities”) by reason of or directly or indirectly in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents including, without limitation, (a) the execution, delivery or performance or transfer of, or payment or failure to pay under this Agreement or any Related Document; (b) the issuance, offering, purchase, sale, remarketing or resale of the Bonds; (c) the use of the Bond Proceeds; or (d) the untruth or material inaccuracy of any warranty or representation made by the Borrower in this Agreement or any Related Document or in any certificate furnished thereunder or the breach or nonperformance by the Borrower of any covenant contained in this Agreement or any Related Document or any other Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or any of the Related Documents; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify an Indemnitee for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee as determined in a final, non-appealable determination by a duly constituted arbitral panel pursuant to Section 11.06. If any proceeding shall be brought or threatened against an Indemnitee, as a condition of indemnity hereunder such Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Borrower in writing and the Borrower shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel satisfactory to such Indemnitee and the payment of all reasonable costs of litigation. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, each Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own counsel and to determine its own defense of such action in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnitee unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Borrower, or (ii) the Borrower, after due notice of the action, shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to such Indemnitee to have charge of such defense, in either of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for such Indemnitee shall be borne by the Borrower. Nothing under this Section is intended to limit the Borrower’s payment obligations hereunder or under any Related Documents.

(b) The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Bonds and the obligations of the Borrower thereunder and hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE X

CONVERSION OF INTEREST RATE DETERMINATION METHOD

Section 10.01. Conversion . So long as the Purchaser is the Owner of all the Outstanding Bonds, the Borrower may provide written notice to the Purchaser in the form of Exhibit B of its desire to change the Interest Rate Determination Method of the Bonds (including conversion to a new Bank Index Rate Period) and requesting that the Purchaser purchase such Bonds subject to such new Rate Period. By making any such request, the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) no Material Litigation is pending, (c) no Material Adverse Change has occurred and (d) all representations and warranties of the Borrower made in this Agreement are true and correct and are deemed to be made as of the date of such request. The Purchaser may agree to such purchase of the Bonds subject to such new Rate Period in its sole discretion. If the Purchaser and the Borrower agree to the terms for the Bonds following the proposed conversion and the interest rate that the Bonds shall bear following the proposed conversion meets the requirements of Section 2.3(E)(4) of the Indenture, the Borrower and the Purchaser may cause the conversion of the Bonds by the process described in Section 2.3(E)(4), (5) and (6), as applicable, of the Indenture.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01. Reserved .

Section 11.02. Amendments and Waivers . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower from any such provision shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Purchaser. Any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. In the event any agreement contained in this Agreement should be breached by the Borrower and thereafter waived by the Purchaser, such waiver shall be limited to the particular breach so waived for the specific period set out in such waiver and such waiver shall not constitute a waiver of such breach for any other period and shall not waive any other or similar breach hereunder.

Section 11.03. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterpart copies (and by different parties on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original but all such copies shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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Section 11.04. Notices . All notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications (collectively “notices”) under the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing (including facsimile and electronic mail communication), unless otherwise expressly permitted hereunder, and shall be properly addressed and sent by registered or certified mail or by express courier for next Business Day delivery and shall be deemed received as follows: (a) if by registered or certified mail, five (5) days after mailing; (b) if by express courier, on the next Business Day; (c) if by facsimile, when confirmation of transmission is obtained if prior to 5:00 p.m. local time on a Business Day, and otherwise, on the next Business Day and (d) if by electronic mail, on the date such electronic mail is sent or if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately succeeding Business Day; provided that service of a notice prescribed by any Applicable Law shall be considered complete when the requirements of such Applicable Law are met. Notices by electronic mail (e mail) shall not constitute notice under this Agreement without the confirmation of receipt thereof and are only to be used in addition to notice given as prescribed under subsections (a), (b) or (c) of this Section. All notices shall be sent to the applicable party at the following address or in accordance with the last unrevoked written direction from such party to the other party hereto and the Trustee:

if to the Borrower, addressed to it at:

 

New Jersey Natural Gas Company
1415 Wyckoff Road
P.O. Box 1464
Wall, New Jersey 07719
Attention:    Treasurer
   (with a concurrent copy to the General Counsel)
Telephone:    (732) 938-1114
Facsimile:    (732) 938-3154
E-Mail:    PMigliaccio@njresources.com

or if to the Purchaser, addressed to it at:

 

Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC
c/o Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
375 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10152
Attention:    Frederick W. Price
Telephone:    (704) 374-4062
Facsimile:    (704) 715-1486
E-Mail:    rick.w.price@wellsfargo.com

 

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or if to the Trustee, addressed to it at:

 

U.S. Bank National Association
21 South Street, 3 rd Floor
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Attention:    Christopher Golabek
Telephone:    (973) 898-7169
Facsimile:    (973) 682-4531
E-Mail:    christopher.golabek@usbank.com

The Purchaser may in its sole discretion rely on any notice (including telephone communication or e mail communication) purportedly made by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Trustee, but it shall have no duty to accept any notice not given as prescribed in this Section and shall have no duty to verify the identity or authority of the Person giving such notice, unless such actions or omissions would amount to gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Section 11.05. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited, unenforceable or not authorized in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition, unenforceability or nonauthorization without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 11.06. Arbitration .

(a) Binding Arbitration . The parties hereto agree, upon demand by any party, to submit to binding arbitration all claims, disputes and controversies between or among them (and their respective employees, officers, directors, attorneys and other agents), whether in tort, contract or otherwise in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement including, without limitation, (i) any credit subject hereto, or any of the Related Documents (other than any Hedge Agreement), and their negotiation, execution, collateralization, administration, repayment, modification, extension, substitution, formation, inducement, enforcement, default or termination; and (ii) requests for additional credit.

(b) Governing Rules . Any arbitration proceeding will (i) proceed in a location in the State selected by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”); (ii) be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code), notwithstanding any conflicting choice of law provision in any of the documents between the parties; and (iii) be conducted by the AAA, or such other administrator as the parties shall mutually agree upon, in accordance with the AAA’s commercial dispute resolution procedures, unless the claim or counterclaim is at least $1,000,000.00 exclusive of claimed interest, arbitration fees and costs in which case the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the AAA’s optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes (the commercial dispute resolution procedures or the optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes to be referred to herein, as applicable, as the “Rules”). If there is any inconsistency between the terms hereof and the Rules, the terms and procedures set forth herein shall control. Any party who fails or refuses to

 

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submit to arbitration following a demand by any other party shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by such other party in compelling arbitration of any dispute. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party that is a bank of the protections afforded to it under 12 U.S.C. §91 or any similar applicable state law.

(c) No Waiver of Provisional Remedies, Self-Help and Foreclosure . The arbitration requirement does not limit the right of any party to (i) foreclose against real or personal property collateral; (ii) exercise self-help remedies relating to collateral or proceeds of collateral such as setoff or repossession; or (iii) obtain provisional or ancillary remedies such as replevin, injunctive relief, attachment or the appointment of a receiver, before, during or after the pendency of any arbitration proceeding. This exclusion does not constitute a waiver of the right or obligation of any party to submit any dispute to arbitration or reference hereunder, including those arising from the exercise of the actions detailed in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this subsection.

(d) Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers . Any arbitration proceeding in which the amount in controversy is $5,000,000.00 or less will be decided by a single arbitrator selected according to the Rules, and who shall not render an award of greater than $5,000,000.00. Any dispute in which the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000.00 shall be decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and deliberations. Any arbitrator appointed to serve in the arbitration shall be a neutral practicing attorney licensed in the State or a neutral retired member of the State or federal judiciary, in either case with a minimum of ten years’ experience in the substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the dispute to be arbitrated. The arbitrator(s) will determine whether or not an issue is arbitrable and will give effect to the statutes of limitation in determining any claim. In any arbitration proceeding the arbitrator will decide (by documents only or with a hearing at the arbitrator’s discretion) any pre-hearing motions which are similar to motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or motions for summary adjudication. The arbitrator(s) shall resolve all disputes in accordance with the substantive law of the State and may grant any remedy or relief that a court of such state could order or grant within the scope hereof together with such ancillary relief as the arbitrator(s) deem necessary to make effective any award. The arbitrator(s) shall also have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees, including attorneys’ fees, to impose sanctions and to take such other action as the arbitrator deems necessary to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the applicable State rules of civil procedure, the Rules or other Applicable Law. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial relief.

(e) Discovery . In any arbitration proceeding, discovery will be permitted in accordance with the Rules. All discovery shall be expressly limited to matters directly relevant to the dispute being arbitrated and must be completed no later than 20 days before the hearing date. Any requests for an extension of the discovery periods, or any

 

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discovery disputes, will be subject to final determination by the arbitrator(s) upon a showing that the request for discovery is essential for the party’s presentation and that no alternative means for obtaining information is available.

(f) Class Proceedings and Consolidations . No party hereto shall be entitled to join or consolidate disputes by or against others in any arbitration, except parties who have executed any Related Document, or to include in any arbitration any dispute as a representative or member of a class, or to act in any arbitration in the interest of the general public or in a private attorney general capacity.

(g) Payment of Arbitration Costs And Fees . The arbitrator shall award all costs and expenses of the arbitration proceeding.

(h) Miscellaneous . To the maximum extent practicable, the AAA, the arbitrator(s) and the parties shall take all action required to conclude any arbitration proceeding within 180 days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA. No arbitrator or other party to an arbitration proceeding may disclose the existence, content or results thereof, except for disclosures required in the ordinary course of its business or by Applicable Law. If more than one agreement for arbitration by or between the parties potentially applies to a dispute, the arbitration provision most directly related to this Agreement or the subject matter of the dispute shall control. This arbitration provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of this Agreement or any of the Related Documents or any relationship between the parties.

Section 11.07. Governing Law; Consent To Jurisdiction; Waiver Of Jury Trial .

(a) Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER, AND TOGETHER WITH ANY DISPUTES OR CONTROVERSIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW, WITHOUT REGARD TO CHOICE OF LAW RULES.

(b) Consent to Jurisdiction . IN THE EVENT THAT A DISPUTE IS NOT SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 11.06 FOR ANY REASON, BUT BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF A JUDICIAL ACTION, EACH PARTY HERETO CONSENTS TO AND SUBMITS TO IN PERSONAM JURISDICTION AND VENUE IN THE STATE AND IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE STATE. EACH PARTY ASSERTS THAT IT HAS PURPOSEFULLY AVAILED ITSELF OF THE BENEFITS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE AND WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO IN PERSONAM JURISDICTION ON THE GROUNDS OF MINIMUM CONTACTS, WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE, AND WAIVES ANY PLEA OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS. THIS CONSENT TO AND SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION IS WITH REGARD TO ANY ACTION RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PARTY’S ACTIONS TOOK PLACE IN THE STATE OR ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THIS

 

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SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION IS NONEXCLUSIVE, AND DOES NOT PRECLUDE EITHER PARTY FROM OBTAINING JURISDICTION OVER THE OTHER IN ANY COURT OTHERWISE HAVING JURISDICTION.

(c) Waiver of Jury Trial . IN THE EVENT THAT A DISPUTE IS NOT SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 11.06 FOR ANY REASON, BUT BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF A JUDICIAL ACTION, EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RELATED DOCUMENTS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. IT IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE WAIVER OF A JURY TRIAL IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PURCHASER TO PURCHASE THE BONDS AND THAT THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT BY THE BORROWER AND THE PURCHASER IS MADE IN RELIANCE UPON SUCH WAIVER. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH WAIVER HAS BEEN KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY MADE FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH ITS RESPECTIVE LEGAL COUNSEL.

(d) The covenants and waivers made pursuant to this Section shall be applicable to any subsequent amendments, renewals, supplements or modifications of this Agreement.

Nothing in this Section shall affect the right of the Purchaser to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law or affect the right of the Purchaser to bring any suit, action or proceeding against the Borrower or its Property in the courts of any other jurisdiction.

Section 11.08. Successors and Assigns .

(a) Generally . This Agreement is a continuing obligation and shall be binding upon the Borrower, its successors, transferees and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Purchaser and each Transferee and their respective permitted successors, transferees and assigns. The Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Purchaser. The Purchaser and each Transferee may, in its sole discretion and in accordance with Applicable Law, from time to time assign, sell or transfer in whole or in part, this Agreement, its interest in the Bonds and the other Related Documents in accordance with the provisions of subsections (c) or (d) below. The Purchaser and each Transferee may at any time and from time to time pledge or assign a certain security interest in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e) below and enter into participation agreements in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f) below.

(b) Designation of Purchaser . Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC shall be the Purchaser hereunder until such time as the Majority Bondholder designates an alternate Person to serve as the Purchaser hereunder by delivery of written notice to the Borrower and the Trustee and such Person accepts and agrees to act as the Purchaser hereunder and under the Related Documents. The Majority Bondholder may

 

67


so designate an alternate Person to act as the Purchaser from time to time. Upon acceptance and notification thereof to the Borrower and the Trustee, the successor to the Purchaser for such purposes shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and responsibilities of the Purchaser, and Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC or any other Person being replaced as the Purchaser shall be discharged from its duties and obligations as the Purchaser hereunder.

(c) Sales and Transfers to a Bank Transferee . Without limitation of the foregoing generality, the Purchaser may at any time sell or otherwise transfer to one or more transferees all or a portion of the Bonds to a Person that is (i) an Affiliate of the Purchaser or (ii) a trust or other custodial arrangement established by the Purchaser or an Affiliate of the Purchaser, the owners of any beneficial interest in which are limited to Qualified Institutional Buyers (each, a “Bank Transferee”). From and after the date of such sale or transfer, Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC (and its successors) shall continue to have all of the rights of the Purchaser hereunder and under the Related Documents as if no such transfer or sale had occurred; provided, however, that (A) no such sale or transfer referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this subsection shall in any way affect the obligations of the Purchaser hereunder, (B) the Borrower and the Trustee shall be required to deal only with the Purchaser with respect to any matters under this Agreement and (C) in the case of a sale or transfer referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of this subsection, only the Purchaser shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Agreement against the Borrower.

(d) Sales and Transfers to a Non-Bank Transferee . (i) Without limitation of the foregoing generality, with the prior written consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and shall only be required so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Purchaser or any Owner may at any time sell or otherwise transfer to one or more transferees which are not Bank Transferees but each of which constitutes a Qualified Institutional Buyer that is a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or any country which is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or a political subdivision of any such country, and, in any such case, having a combined capital and surplus, determined as of the date of any transfer pursuant to this subsection (d), of not less than $5,000,000,000 (each a “Non-Bank Transferee”) all or a portion of the Bonds if (A) written notice of such sale or transfer, including that such sale or transfer is to a Non-Bank Transferee, together with addresses and related information with respect to the Non-Bank Transferee, shall have been given to the Borrower, the Trustee and the Purchaser (if the Purchaser is not the Owner) by such selling Owner and Non-Bank Transferee, and (B) the Non-Bank Transferee shall have delivered to the Borrower, the Trustee and the selling Owner, an investment letter in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B to the Indenture (the “Investor Letter”).

(ii) From and after the date the Borrower has provided its written consent, if such consent is required, and the Borrower, the Trustee and the selling Owner have received written notice and an executed Investor Letter, (A) the Non-Bank Transferee thereunder shall be a party hereto and shall have the rights and obligations of an Owner hereunder and under the Related Documents, and

 

68


this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary to effect the addition of the Non-Bank Transferee, and any reference to the assigning Owner hereunder and under the Related Documents shall thereafter refer to such transferring Owner and to the Non-Bank Transferee to the extent of their respective interests, and (B) if the transferring Owner no longer owns any Bonds, then it shall relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations hereunder and under the Related Documents.

(e) Certain Pledges . The Purchaser may at any time pledge or grant a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement, the Bonds and the other Related Documents to secure obligations of the Purchaser, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release the Purchaser from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for the Purchaser as a party hereto.

(f) Participations . The Purchaser shall have the right to grant participations in all or a portion of the Purchaser’s interest in this Agreement, the Bonds and the other Related Documents to one or more other banking institutions, and such participants shall, except as set forth in the clause (ii) of this subsection, be entitled to the benefits of the this Agreement and the Related Documents to the same extent as if they were a direct party to this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) no such participation by any such Participant shall in any way affect the obligations of the Purchaser hereunder and (ii) the Issuer, the Trustee and the Borrower shall be required to deal only with the Purchaser with respect to any matters under this Agreement and the Related Documents and no such Participant shall be entitled to enforce against the Borrower any provision hereunder.

Section 11.09. Complete and Controlling Agreement . This Agreement and the Related Documents completely set forth the agreements between the Purchaser and the Borrower and fully supersede all prior agreements, both written and oral, between the Purchaser and the Borrower relating to all matters set forth herein.

Section 11.10. Patriot Act . The Purchaser hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow the Purchaser to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act. The Borrower hereby agrees that it shall promptly provide such information upon request by the Purchaser.

Section 11.11. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement or of any Related Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (a)(i) any arranging, structuring and other services regarding this Agreement and the Related Documents provided by the Purchaser or any Affiliate of the Purchaser are arm’s length commercial transactions between the Borrower on the one hand, and the Purchaser and any Affiliate of the Purchaser on the other hand, (ii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (iii) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands

 

69


and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents; (b)(i) the Purchaser and each Affiliate of the Purchaser is and has been acting solely as a principal and has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any other Person and (ii) neither the Purchaser nor any Affiliate of the Purchaser has any obligation to the Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents, except those obligations expressly set forth herein; and (c) the Purchaser and each Affiliate of the Purchaser may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, and neither the Purchaser nor any Affiliate of the Purchaser has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Purchaser and each Affiliate of the Purchaser with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Documents.

Section 11.12. Payment Set Aside . To the extent that the Purchaser or any Owner receives any payment from or on behalf of the Borrower, or the Purchaser exercises its right of setoff, which payment or setoff amount or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to constitute a fraudulent conveyance or preferential transfer, set aside, or required to be repaid (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Purchaser or any Owner in its discretion) to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause (collectively, “Set Aside”); then, to the extent of any such Set Aside, the obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continue in full force and effect, as if such payment or setoff amount had not been received by the Purchaser or such Owner.

Section 11.13. Contractual Interpretation . The parties acknowledge that they have read and fully understand the terms of this Agreement, have consulted with such attorneys, accountants, advisors, or other professionals as they have deemed appropriate prior to executing this Agreement with adequate opportunity and time for review thereof, and are fully aware of its contents and of its legal effect. Accordingly, neither this Agreement nor any ambiguity herein shall be construed against any party on the grounds that such party drafted this Agreement and instead, this Agreement shall be interpreted as though drafted equally by all parties.

Section 11.14. Electronic Signatures . The parties agree that the electronic signature of a party to this Agreement shall be as valid as an original signature of such party and shall be effective to bind such party to this Agreement. The parties agree that any electronically signed document (including this Agreement) shall be deemed (i) to be “written” or “in writing,” (ii) to have been signed and (iii) to constitute a record established and maintained in the ordinary course of business and an original written record when printed from electronic files. Such paper copies or “printouts”, if introduced as evidence in any judicial, arbitral, mediation or administrative proceeding, will be admissible as between the parties to the same extent and under the same conditions as other original business records created and maintained in documentary form. Neither party shall contest the admissibility of true and accurate copies of electronically signed documents on the basis of the best evidence rule or as not satisfying the business records exception to the hearsay rule. For purposes hereof, “electronic signature” means a manually signed original signature that is then transmitted by electronic means; “transmitted by electronic

 

70


means” means sent in the form of a facsimile or sent via the internet as a “pdf” (portable document format) or other replicating image attached to an e mail message; and, “electronically signed document” means a document transmitted by electronic means and containing, or to which there is affixed, an electronic signature. Each party hereto agrees, promptly after its manual execution of this Agreement and any amendments thereto, to provide the other a manually signed original signature hereto or thereto, as the case may be.

Section 11.15. Confidentiality.

(a) The Purchaser agrees to keep confidential all information obtained from the Borrower or its Subsidiaries which is nonpublic or otherwise confidential or proprietary in nature (including any information the Borrower specifically designates as confidential), except as provided below, and to use such information only in connection with this Agreement and for the purposes contemplated hereby. The Purchaser shall be permitted to disclose such information (i) to outside legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors who need to know such information in connection with the administration and enforcement of this Agreement, subject to agreement of such Persons to maintain the confidentiality, (ii) to Transferees as contemplated by Section 11.08, and prospective Transferees, provided that prior to such disclosure, such parties agree in writing to be bound by this undertaking of confidentiality set forth in this Section 11.16 and (iii) to the extent requested by any bank regulatory authority or, with notice to the Borrower, as otherwise required by Applicable Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process, or in connection with any investigation or proceeding arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, if it becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement or becomes available and is not reasonably known to be subject to confidentiality restrictions, or if the Borrower shall have consented to such disclosure.

(b) The Borrower acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by the Purchaser or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of the Purchaser and the Borrower hereby authorizes the Purchaser to share any information delivered to the Purchaser by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the decision of the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement, to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Purchaser, it being understood that any such Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Purchaser receiving such information shall be bound by the provisions of this Section 11.16 as if it were the initial Purchaser hereunder. Such authorization shall survive the repayment of the Bonds and the other obligations owed hereunder and the termination of this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

71


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Continuing Covenant Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

 

NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By  

/s/ Kathleen T. Ellis

Name:   Kathleen T. Ellis
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief
  Operating Officer

[Signatures continued on following page]

 

S-1


[Signature page to Continuing Covenant Agreement]

 

WELLS FARGO MUNICIPAL CAPITAL STRATEGIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Kristina Eng

Name:   Kristina Eng
Title:   Vice President

 

S-2


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, a principal financial officer of the New Jersey Natural Gas Company (the “Borrower”), hereby certifies as follows to Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC (the “Purchaser”), with reference to that certain Continuing Covenant Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014 (the “Agreement”), between the Borrower and the Purchaser (any capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have its respective meaning as set forth in the Agreement):

1. The undersigned has made a review of all activities of the Borrower during the preceding fiscal year of the Borrower ended                      for the purpose of determining whether or not the Borrower has complied with all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Agreement and the Related Documents.

2. [Borrower to select one]:

[To the best of the undersigned’s knowledge, the Borrower has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant, provision and condition in the Agreement (including, without limitation, those financial covenants set forth in Section 7.14 of the as calculated below) and in the Related Documents on its part to be performed and no Event of Default or Default has occurred.]

OR

[An Event of Default or Default has occurred under [Section          of the Agreement][Section          of the [Insert name of applicable Related Document]. (If selected, the Borrower must specify the specific event or condition, the nature and status thereof and any remedial steps taken or proposed to correct such event or condition.)]

3. Calculation of Maximum Leverage Ratio.

 

Consolidated Total Indebtedness:

  

divided by

  

Consolidated Total Capitalization:

  

Actual Leverage Ratio:

           to 1.00

Covenant Requirement:

   0.65 to 1.00

Compliance? (circle one):    YES    NO

  

 

A-1


All amounts and calculations set forth in this Certificate are accurate and complete in all respects and are made in accordance with the Agreement.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has executed and delivered this Certificate as of the      day of             ,         .

 

NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By  

 

Name  

 

Title  

 

 

A-3


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF

REQUEST FOR CONVERSION OF BANK INDEX RATE PERIOD

[DATE]

Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC

375 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10152

Attention:

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

$9,545,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds,

Series 2011A (Non-AMT)

(New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

$41,000,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds,

Series 2011B (AMT)

(New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

$46,500,000 Natural Gas Facilities Refunding Revenue Bonds,

Series 2011C (AMT)

(New Jersey Natural Gas Company Project)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2014 (the “Indenture”), between New Jersey Electric Development Authority and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee and that certain Continuing Covenant Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014 (the “Continuing Covenant Agreement”), between the New Jersey Natural Gas Company (the “Borrower”) and Wells Fargo Municipal Capital Strategies, LLC, as Purchaser (the “Purchaser”). All capitalized terms contained herein which are not specifically defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

The Borrower hereby requests, pursuant to Section 10.01 of the Continuing Covenant Agreement, a conversion of the Interest Rate Determination Method for the Bonds to the [Index Interest Rate][Term Interest Rate][Daily Interest Rate][Weekly Interest Rate][Bank Index Rate] on [DATE] (the “Conversion Date”). The Borrower further requests that the Bank Index Rate Period Purchase Date for the Bonds be extended to [DATE] (the “Extended Direct Purchaser Period Purchase Date”). The Bonds shall bear interest at the [Index Interest Rate][Term Interest Rate][Daily Interest Rate][Weekly Interest Rate][Bank Index Rate] from the Conversion Date to the Extended Bank Index Rate Period Purchase Date and the Bonds shall be subject to mandatory purchase at the Purchase Price thereof on such date as provided in the Indenture.

 

B-1


In connection with such request, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants that:

(a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Continuing Covenant Agreement;

(b) no Material Litigation (as defined in the Continuing Covenant Agreement) is pending;

(c) no Material Adverse Change (as defined in the Continuing Covenant Agreement) has occurred; and

(d) all representations and warranties of the Borrower in the Continuing Covenant Agreement are true and correct and are deemed to be made on the date hereof.

We have enclosed along with this request the following information:

 

1. The outstanding principal amount of the Bonds;

 

2. The nature of any and all Defaults and Events of Default; and

 

3. Any other pertinent information previously requested by the Purchaser.

Please advise if the foregoing terms are acceptable.

 

Very truly yours,
NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY
By  

 

Name  

 

Title  

 

 

B-2


EXHIBIT C

PERMITTED LIENS

PART A

 

 

I. Jurisdiction: New Jersey Department of Treasury

 

Secured Party

  

Filing Date

  

Filing Number

  

Filing
Type 1

  

Collateral Summary

BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee    5/31/2007    2418782-4    I    Transmitting Utility filing – covers property under Indenture and Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated April 1, 1952 (as supplemented and amended from time to time)
   4/24/2012    24187824    C    Continuation

II. Liens consisting of the First Mortgage Bonds issued under the First Mortgage Indenture which secure (i) the loan agreements identified on Exhibit D (with a net principal Debt under the Series II, JJ, KK, MM, NN and OO First Mortgage Bonds and the related loan agreements of $132,845,000), (ii) the promissory note or promissory notes in the original aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 issued under a note purchase agreement (with a net principal Debt under both the Series LL First Mortgage Bonds and related promissory note(s) of $125,000,000 as described on Exhibit D ), (iii) the promissory note or promissory notes in the original aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 issued under a note purchase agreement (with a net principal Debt under both the Series PP First Mortgage Bonds and related promissory note or promissory note(s) of $50,000,000 as described on Exhibit D ) and (iv) the promissory note or promissory notes in the original aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 issued under a note purchase agreement (with a net principal Debt of $125,000,000 under both the Series QQ First Mortgage Bonds and Series RR First Mortgage Bonds and related promissory note(s) of $125,000,000, as described on Exhibit D ), including any amendments, extensions, renewals or refinances of any or all of the foregoing so long as such net principal Debt is permitted under Section 7.13(c). 2

 

1   Filing Types: I: Initial Filing; A: Amendment; C: Continuation.
2   Capitalized terms used in Part A, Item II but not defined therein have the meanings assigned to those terms in the Credit Agreement dated May 15, 2014 (the “NJNG Credit Agreement”), by and among New Jersey Natural Gas Company, the Lenders Party Thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, TD Bank, N.A. and Santander Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agents and PNC Capital Markets LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers.

 

C-1


PART B

Jurisdiction: New Jersey Department of Treasury

 

Secured Party

  

Filing Date

  

Filing Number

  

Filing
Type

  

Collateral Summary

Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    11/23/2009    2544901-3    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    11/23/2009    2544924-2    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    12/26/2008    2508293-7    I    Leased equipment
   11/15/2013    25082937    C    Continued
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    2/11/2010    2554011-6    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    12/17/2007    2450743-1    I    Leased equipment
   1/16/2008    2450743-1    A    Assignment to: Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation
   11/26/2012    24507431    C    Continuation
IBM Credit LLC   

12/8/2008

(Lapsed)

   25052435    I    IBM equipment – precautionary filing
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    1/6/2006    2337501-7    I    Leased equipment
   1/5/2011    2337501-7    C    Continuation
Forsythe McArthur Associates, Inc.    4/3/2001    2034417    I    Leased computer equipment – informational purposes only
   1/19/2006    2034417    C    Continuation
   1/26/2011    2034417    C    Continuation
   5/18/2011    2034417    A    Amend Secured Party address
Assignor: Hannon Armstrong NJ Funding LLC Secured Party: Hannon Armstrong Multi-Asset Infrastructure Trust    5/29/2009    2524135-8    I    All right, title and interest of Debtor in and to all moneys due and to become due in respect of Task Force Order No. JN-08, dated March 19, 2009 issued by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command pursuant to Area Wide Contract No. GS-OOP-99-BSD-0115
   1/23/2014    25241358    C    Continuation
Fleet Capital Corporation    12/27/2004    2275156-0    I    Leased goods generally described as gas meters and related equipment
   12/7/2009    22751560    C    Continuation

 

C-2


CIT Communications Finance Corporation    8/17/1009    2533081-6    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    12/31/2009    25219640-6    I    Leased equipment
IBM Credit LLC   

6/9/2008

(Lapsed)

   24773331    I    Leased equipment – precautionary filing

Secured Party: State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association as Owner Trustee

Assignee: Fleet National Bank of Connecticut as Indenture Trustee

   1/10/1996    1676447    I    Precautionary filing in connection with leasing transaction – not to be construed as indicating that the transaction is other than a true lease
   1/9/2001    1676447    A    Amend Secured Party address
   1/9/2001    1676447    C    Continuation
   10/24/2005    1676447    A    Assignment to: U.S. Bank National Association as Indenture Trustee
   11/4/2005    1676447    C    Continuation
   7/15/2010    1676447    C    Continuation
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    10/1/2009    25385373    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    1/12/2007    2399117-0    I    Leased equipment
   1/10/2012    2399117-0    C    Continuation
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    8/19/2009    2533223-0    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    12/28/2012    50411942    I    Leased equipment

Assignor: Hannon Armstrong NJ Funding LLC

Secured Party: Hannon Armstrong Multi-Asset Infrastructure Trust

   8/20/2009    25333619    I    All right, title and interest of Debtor in and to all moneys due and to become due in respect of Task Force Order No. JN-09, dated July 31, 2009 issued by the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic dated August 16, 1999
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    12/27/2013    50709494    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC    2/7/2011    2593338-3    I    Leased equipment
Banc of America Leasing & Capital LLC    7/3/2010    2565672-5    I    Leased equipment
Assignor: Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC Secured Party: The Fifth Third Leasing Company    12/21/2011    26124148    I    Leased equipment

 

C-3


CIT Communications Finance Corporation    12/21/2010    2587437-2    I    Leased equipment
Assignor: Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC Secured Party: The Fifth Third Leasing Company    12/21/2011    26124148    I    Leased equipment
CIT Finance LLC    3/6/2014    50763362    I    Leased equipment
CIT Communications Finance Corporation    4/1/2009    2518096-1    I    Leased equipment
   5/11/2011    2518096-1    A    Amendment - Disclaimer of Interest Letter

Assignor: Banc of America Leasing & Capital, LLC

Secured Party: The Fifth Third Leasing Company

   12/24/2009    2548926-2    I    Leased equipment
Canon Financial Services, Inc.    2/25/2013    504543231    I    Equipment subject to a lease, rental agreement or other instrument between Debtor and Secured Party and all attachments, replacements, etc; all insurance, warranty and claims against third parties with respect to the Equipment; all software and other intellectual property rights used in connection therewith; all proceeds of the foregoing; and all books and records regarding the foregoing

Jurisdiction: Monmouth County, New Jersey

 

Secured Party

  

Filing Date

  

Filing Number

  

Filing
Type

  

Collateral Summary

State Street Bank and Trust Company as Indenture Trustee    1/10/1996    77677    I    Precautionary Filing – True Lease, dated as of December 21, 1995, relating to a certain Wyckoff Road property and covering the right, title and interest in and to the building, land, fixtures, certain listed personalty and any proceeds thereof
   11/16/2005    2005194252    A    Assignment to U. S. Bank National Association, as Indenture Trustee
   12/22/2005    2005224411    C    Continuation
   9/16/2010    2010085619    C    Continuation

 

C-4


EXHIBIT D

EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS 1

1. First Mortgage Bonds (Secured) 2

 

Series

   Rate     Maturity Date    Principal Amt.  

Series II 3

     4.5   8/1/23    $ 10,300   

Series JJ 3

     4.6   8/1/24    $ 10,500   

Series KK 3

     4.9   10/1/40    $ 15,000   

Series LL 4

     5.6   5/15/18    $ 125,000   

Series MM 3

     Var.      9/1/27    $ 9,545   

Series NN 3

     Var.      8/1/35    $ 41,000   

Series OO 3

     Var.      8/1/41    $ 46,500   

Series PP 5

     3.15   4/15/28    $ 50,000   

Series QQ 6

     3.58   3/13/24    $ 70,000   

Series RR 6

     4.61   3/13/44    $ 55,000   
       

 

 

 

Total First Mortgage Bonds

        $ 432,845   
       

 

1   Except as noted in below, all amounts are as of June 30, 2014, and are in thousands ($000).
2   These bonds are issued pursuant to the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated April 1, 1952, as amended (the “ Indenture ”), of the Borrower to BNY Midwest Trust Company (as successor trustee to Harris Trust and Savings Bank), as trustee, which has been amended and restated by that certain Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2014 (the “ Amended and Restated Indenture ”), between the Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
3   Each of the Series II, JJ, KK, MM, NN and OO First Mortgage Bonds was issued in conjunction with the Borrower entering into a related Loan Agreement with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (the “ Authority ”). The Borrower is obligated under each Loan Agreement to pay amounts sufficient to pay amounts due on certain tax-exempt bonds issued by the Authority under the Loan Agreements (the “ Authority Bonds ”). The Loan Agreements are described below. These Authority Bonds (and the Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Agreements) match the respective principal amounts, interest rates and maturity dates of the related Series II, JJ, KK, MM, NN and OO First Mortgage Bonds. Each of the aforementioned First Mortgage Bonds was issued to serve as security for the repayment of the Authority Bonds under the terms of the related Loan Agreement and the related supplement to the Indenture, which has been amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Indenture.
4   The LL First Mortgage Bonds were issued in conjunction with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes of the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 under that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2008 (the “ LL Secured Note Purchase Agreement ”) by and among the Borrower and the purchasers named therein. These Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 5.60%, and have a maturity date of 5/15/18, which match the rate and maturity date of the LL First Mortgage Bonds. The LL First Mortgage Bonds were issued to serve as security for the repayment of the Senior Secured Notes under the terms of the LL Secured Note Purchase Agreement and the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2008 to the Indenture, which has been amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Indenture.
5   The PP First Mortgage Bonds were issued in conjunction with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes of the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 under that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 8, 2013 (the “ PP Secured Note Purchase Agreement ”) by and among the Borrower and the purchasers named therein. These Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 3.15%, and have a maturity date of 4/15/28, which match the rate and maturity date of the PP First Mortgage Bonds. The PP First Mortgage Bonds were issued to serve as security for the repayment of the Senior Secured Notes under the terms of the PP Secured Note Purchase Agreement and the Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 1, 2013 to the Indenture, which has been amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Indenture.
6   The QQ and RR First Mortgage Bonds were issued in conjunction with the issuance of the Series A and Series B Senior Secured Notes of the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of $125,000,000 under that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 7, 2014 (the “ QQ and RR Secured Note Purchase Agreement ”) by and among the Borrower and the purchasers named therein. $70 million Series A Senior Secured Notes issued thereunder bear interest at 3.58%, and have a maturity date of 3/13/24, which match the rate and maturity date of the QQ First Mortgage Bonds, while the $55 million Series B Senior Secured Notes issued thereunder bear interest at 4.61% and have a maturity date of 3/13/44, which match the rate and maturity date of the RR First Mortgage Bonds. The QQ and RR First Mortgage Bonds were issued to serve as security for the repayment of the Senior Secured Notes under the terms of the QQ and RR Secured Note Purchase Agreement and the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2014 to the Indenture, which has been amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Indenture.

 

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2. Capitalized Lease Obligations : As of June 30, 2014, the Borrower had outstanding the following obligations under Capital Leases:

 

     Maturity Date    Principal Amt.  

Capital Lease Obligations—Building

   6/1/21    $ 19,570   

Capital Lease Obligations—Meters

   Various    $ 33,836   

3. Hedging Transactions : (as of June 30, 2014)

 

     Amount  

Derivatives, at fair value

   $ 5,754   

4. Loan Agreements :

a. Loan Agreement dated as of October 1, 2005 by and between the Authority and the Borrower (Secured by II, JJ and KK Bonds), as supplemented and amended by the Supplement and Amendment Agreement dated as of September 24, 2014.

b. Loan Agreement dated as of August 1, 2011, by and between the Authority and the Borrower (Secured by MM, NN and OO Bonds).

c. Credit Agreement dated as of August 29, 2011 by and between the Borrower, the Lenders Party Thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. 7

d. Credit Agreement dated May 15, 2014, by and among New Jersey Natural Gas Company, the Lenders Party Thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Syndication Agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, TD Bank, N.A. and Santander Bank, N.A., as Documentation Agents and PNC Capital Markets LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers.

 

7   This is an EDA bond liquidity facility with a total commitment of $100,000,000, which is presently held by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. No amounts were outstanding as of June 30, 2014 or are outstanding as of the date hereof.

 

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EXHIBIT E

CONSENTS AND APPROVALS

 

1. Order of the Board Public Utilities dated October 4, 2012, in Docket No. GF12060491

 

2. Recordation of the Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 1, 2014, between New Jersey Natural Gas Company (the “Company” ) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Mortgage Trustee” ), with the following counties in the State of New Jersey: Sussex, Monmouth, Burlington, Morris, Ocean, Middlesex, Somerset and Passaic.

 

3. Filing of the Amended and Restated Indenture of Mortgage, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2014, by and between the Company and the Mortgage Trustee with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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EXHIBIT F

SUBSIDIARIES

NONE.

 

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EXHIBIT G

HEDGING CONTRACT POLICIES

New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

Table of Contents

Risk Management Policy

Part 1 : Overview of Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Committee (RMC)

 

I.

    

Objectives of the Risk Management Policy

  
II.      Operating Guidelines for the Risk Management Committee and Roles and Responsibilities   
III.      “Three Office” structure   
IV.      Affiliate Transactions   
V.      Risk Management Policy Updates   
VI.      Risk Management Reports and Updates to Audit Committee and RMC   
VII.      RMC -Required Notifications   
VIII.      Disciplinary Actions for Violations of the RMC’s Risk Management Policy   
IX.      Contracting/Confirmations   
X.      New Trader Approval Criteria   
Part 2 : Wholesale Natural Gas Policy   
I.     

Overview of NJRES and NJNG’s Natural Gas Business Activities

  
II.     

Overview of NJRES’ Wholesale Natural Gas Business Activities

  
III.     

Overview of NJNG’s Wholesale Natural Gas Business Activities and Incentive Programs

  
IV.     

Business Risks for NJRES and NJNG

  


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Part 3 – Addendums for Products other than Wholesale Natural Gas

Addendum I – NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV) – Electricity and related renewable energy

Addendum II – Foreign Currency Risk Policy

Addendum III - NJNG Retail. Third Party Supplier Program (TPS)

EXHIBITS

Exhibit 1 - Definitions used throughout this Policy and Guidelines.

Exhibit 2 – Wholesale Natural Gas

 

    Approved Financial Instruments

 

    Approved Futures Commission Merchants (FCM)

 

    Approved Exchanges

Exhibit 3 – NJRES and NJNG Transaction Trading Limits for Wholesale Natural Gas. Includes commodity, transportation, storage, and capacity release (with DAF approval).

Exhibit 3A - NJRES and NJNG Wholesale Natural Gas Portfolio Limits

Exhibit 3B - NJRES and NJNG Wholesale Natural Gas Exposure Limits

Exhibit 4A – Contract Approvals - Officer Approval and Signatures required for Non-Tariff Based Wholesale Natural Gas Transactions (CCR’s)

Exhibit 4B – Signature of Tariff Based Storage and Transportation contracts and transactions (DAF’s)

Exhibit 5- Positions Required to sign an acknowledgement of RMC Policy

Exhibit 6 – Summary of reports to be provided at RMC meetings

Exhibit 7 – Hyperlinks to Procedure/Guideline documents that support the RMC Policy but do not require direct RMC approval

Exhibit 8 – History of Revisions to the RMC Policy

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Part 1

Overview of Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Committee (RMC)

 

I. Objectives of the Risk Management Policy

The Board of Directors of New Jersey Resources Corporation (“NJR”) has delegated responsibility for the quality or integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the Company’s independent auditors, and the performance of the internal audit function to the Audit Committee of NJR’s Board of Directors (“Audit Committee”). The Audit Committee has established and authorized the Risk Management Committee (“RMC”) to develop, implement, and enforce risk management procedures for NJR Energy Services Company (NJRES), New Jersey Natural Gas Company (NJNG) and NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV) consistent with NJR’s Risk Management Policy.

 

LOGO

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

The following NJR Risk Management Policy has been developed in order to fulfill the responsibilities delegated to the RMC by the Audit Committee.

 

II. Operating Guidelines for the Risk Management Committee and Roles and Responsibilities

The RMC is comprised of at least five senior management representatives as appointed by NJR’s President and CEO and approved by the Audit Committee.

Currently, the RMC is comprised of six representatives:

 

  1. EVP & CFO of NJR (RMC Chairperson)

 

  2. Assistant General Counsel

 

  3. Director – Treasury Services

 

  4. Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG

 

  5. Senior Vice President and General Counsel of NJR

 

  6. Treasurer & Corporate Controller

Additionally, other parties may be invited to attend all meetings of the RMC as non-voting but participating members. Internal Audit attends all RMC meetings as a matter of practice.

The RMC will meet at least twice each month. Any member of the RMC may request that a meeting be held. A quorum (consisting of three voting members of the RMC) must be present to conduct an RMC meeting. Under the rare circumstance that a quorum cannot be achieved for a meeting, then the materials for that meeting will be distributed to the RMC members through electronic format and RMC members will be required to acknowledge that they have read and understood all of the materials. All official actions of the RMC will require the affirmative vote of three members of the RMC. The affirmative vote may occur during RMC meetings, or alternatively the RMC may vote through electronic format. Meeting minutes will be prepared for each meeting and will be provided to the Audit Committee, regularly.

RMC roles and responsibilities include:

 

Roles

  

Responsibilities

Review and approve each Business Unit’s risk related to trading and/or wholesale credit    To determine if an individual business unit is within senior management’s risk tolerance.
Review reports at each meeting, including potential approval when limits as listed herein are exceeded.    To ensure that business activities are in compliance with the RMC’s policies and if not, are acceptable to RMC.
Discuss new or changing regulatory requirements    Example: Dodd Frank regulations & requirements
At least every two years, approve updated RMC Policy    To ensure RMC policy is updated on a regular basis.
Discuss any RMC Required Notifications    To make sure that all notifications that should be reported to other parties have been reported.
Approve Policy Changes to a business unit    Such as adding wind to NJRCEV
New Product Approval    To evaluate new products or regions of risk that may also have back office, accounting or tax implications

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

RMC has the authority to modify this policy and the exhibits, including trading limits and sign-offs required, at any time.

 

III. “Three Office” structure

For oversight, assessment and control of risk, NJR’s organizational structure generally conforms with standard industry definitions of front, middle and back offices. Each of these offices has distinct roles and responsibilities and, since middle and back office provide a significant level of control and policing of the front office’s activities, it reports up through a separate organizational chain of command than the front office.

The front office executes the company’s risk taking and risk mitigation strategies. Front office functions include deal execution, initial capturing and logging of a transaction’s specific terms and conditions, scheduling and nominations. The Front Office reports through the SVP.

The middle office is responsible for maintaining the overall control environment and assessing compliance with the Risk Management Policy. Since front office transactions have the potential to expose NJR to significant market, credit, liquidity and operational risk, the middle office functions include assuring data integrity. This is done primarily through deal validation, confirmations, market and credit risk monitoring and reporting risk data to management, in compliance with this Risk Management Policy.

The back office functions include processes in support of the front office such as settlements and accounting. The back office expands the control environment through reconciliations and financial reporting. The middle and back office reports through the Treasurer and Corporate Controller.

 

IV. State of NJ/BPU Affiliate Transactions

The NJR “Code of Conduct” and “Trader Code of Conduct” referenced in Exhibit 7 contain restrictions and prohibitions on certain Affiliate transactions with respect to NJNG. One of the RMC’s responsibilities is to monitor compliance with those restrictions and prohibitions. Of particular note is the prohibition in the Trader Code of Conduct on NJNG entering into any transaction for the purchase or sale of natural gas, transportation, storage or related products or services with any Affiliate without the express prior written consent of the NJR’s Chief Executive Officer (“Affiliate Transactions-NJNG”). On a monthly basis, the RMC is provided with an internal control addendum that includes reports of Affiliate Wholesale Transactions, including any Affiliate Transactions-NJNG.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

V. Risk Management Policy Updates

The RMC’s Risk Management Policy is intended to be a working document and will be reviewed and updated as needed to reflect the changing business environment encountered by the Business Units related to trading, positions, limits, wholesale credit risk, NJNG incentive programs and other topics specifically addressed by the RMC. However at a minimum, the Risk Management Policy will be reviewed every two years to determine if any substantive changes are required. Any changes to the Risk Management Policy, other than administrative items such as title or personnel changes, will require an affirmative vote of the RMC. Any changes to the policy will be documented as part of Exhibit 8 “History of Revisions,” and if deemed significant enough, communicated to RMC. On an annual basis, the Risk Management Policy will be distributed to all Business Units electronically. Additionally, the departments and positions identified in Exhibit 5 will be required to sign an acknowledgement that they have read and understood the Risk Management Policy annually.

 

VI. Risk Management Reports and Updates to Audit Committee and RMC

To provide NJR management with timely and meaningful information to assess the risk exposure of the business units and to ensure that business activities are in compliance with the RMC’s policies, the middle office function will provide various standard reports to the RMC. Exhibit 6 lists the summary of reports that are required to be provided to the RMC at each meeting. The Middle Office may alter the structure, format, etc. of the reports so long as the required information is provided to the RMC. However, eliminating a report will require an affirmative vote by the RMC.

The Chairperson of the RMC or designee will provide a verbal report at each meeting of the Audit Committee summarizing any of the business unit’s activities that affect its risk management profile or risk exposure. Additionally, minutes of all RMC meetings will be provided to the Audit Committee regularly.

The RMC designates the Treasurer & Corporate Controller or designee with the first-line responsibility for monitoring and reporting on the established procedures and trading limits for each Business Unit. As evidence of adherence to these procedures, the reports listed in Exhibit 6 will be provided at RMC meetings.

The individual Business Units operating management has the first-line delegated authority to ensure that the Business Units risks are properly identified, measured, controlled and reported on using these approved reports.

NJR Internal Audit shall perform periodic non-scheduled audits at the discretion of the Vice President of Internal Audit. The results of these audits will be provided to the RMC and the Audit Committee after the individual Business Unit’s management has had the opportunity to review the findings and respond appropriately.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

VII. RMC -Required Notifications.

Required notifications, which are not necessarily breaches or violations of the RMC Policy, to the RMC and the Audit Committee include but are not limited to the following events:

 

Issue
#

  

Event

  

Required Notification from:

  

Required Notification to

  

Method of Communication

1    BPU/NJ affiliate and related party transactions    Director Gas Supply    RMC    At RMC meetings
2    Significant market or business environment changes that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur that would adversely affect a Business Unit’s risk profile.    Business Unit management:    RMC, President and CEO    At RMC meeting and/or email communication to President and CEO
3    There is a $50,000 or greater financial nonperformance of a counterparty or clearing broker.    Credit Dept    RMC (RMC to determine further communication)    Email to RMC members upon observation of non-performance with follow up discussion at RMC meeting
4    There is a change in the fundamental strategy with respect to any of a Business Unit’s business activities, including new commodities, non-US/Canada markets, deal structures.    Business Unit management    RMC, President and CEO    At RMC meetings or via email to RMC members
5    Value of the NJRES forward portfolio.    Front Office    RMC, President and CEO    Regular distribution by email, at least 3X/month
6    NJRES within the month P&L    Front Office    RMC, President and CEO    Regular distribution by email, at least 5X/month
7    There is any incident of trader misconduct    Business Unit management and Mid-Office    RMC (RMC to determine further communication)    Email to RMC members upon observation of incident with follow up discussion at RMC meeting
8    There is a change in any non-public pricing methodology or valuation assumption    Business Unit management and Mid-Office    RMC    At RMC meetings

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

9    Trading occurs on an exchange or of a new product or instrument that is not listed in Exhibit 2.    Business Unit management    RMC (RMC to determine further communication)    Email to RMC members upon observation of incident with follow up discussion at RMC meeting
10    Any identified material failure to comply with the RMC’s Risk Management Policy.    Business Unit management    RMC (RMC to determine further communication)    Email to RMC members upon observation of incident with follow up discussion at RMC meeting
11    NJNG’s FRM Program dollar limitation exceeds the approved limit of $6,400,000.    Director of Gas Supply or Mid Office    RMC (RMC to determine further communication)    Email to RMC members upon observation of incident with follow up discussion at RMC meeting
12    Any change to the limits referenced in the Exhibits    Business Unit management    RMC    At RMC meetings or via email to RMC members

 

VIII. Failure to comply with the RMC’s Risk Management Policy

The RMC maintains broad oversight over administration of the RMC Risk Management Policy, including monitoring of compliance by traders with all authorized trading limits established by RMC from time-to-time. In the event a trader fails to comply with the applicable authorized trading limits, the RMC shall review the facts and circumstances of the violation and in its discretion may recommend disciplinary action be taken against the trader, particularly in the event of repeated violations by an individual trader (whether material or not). Recommendation for disciplinary action by the RMC may take the form of directing the trader’s supervisor or business head to verbally warn the trader of the violation or document a formal written warning to be included in the trader’s personnel file.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all material violations of the RMC Risk Management Policy by any NJR employee shall be reported by the RMC to NJR’s Chief Compliance Officer (Senior Vice President & General Counsel), CFO and CEO.

Irrespective of the actions described above, the RMC retains the right to take any disciplinary action it deems appropriate under the circumstances, whether more or less severe than the disciplinary actions specified in this Section.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

IX. Contracting/Confirmations

A link to the Contracting guidelines and Confirmations guidelines are referenced in Exhibit 7 and these guidelines are not subject to RMC approval.

 

X. New Trader Approval Criteria

In order for a trader to be added to the Approved Trader List, the following criteria must be met. Once documentation has been provided that these criteria have been met, the trader will be added to the Approved Trader List and RMC will be notified. Some of these procedures are in addition to existing HR policies applicable to all employees.

 

  1. Back ground check both criminal and civil (includes inquiries on SEC/Stock Exchange/FERC judgments) pursuant to “NJR Human Resources Policy and Procedure, Background Checks – Represented and Non-Represented Employees”

 

  2. Trader Code of Conduct Training

 

  a. Assistant General Counsel provides to all new traders. This is mandatory before a new trader can be added to Approved Trader List.

 

  3. Review and acknowledgement of the RMC Policy

Individual Trader Limits shall be at the discretion of the senior management of the Business Unit, but will not equal or exceed the Senior Vice President limits unless RMC gives prior approval. For example, if a Senior Vice President is out of the office for a period of time, they can not delegate their approval authority to someone below a Senior Vice President level without the prior approval of RMC.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Part 2

Wholesale Natural Gas Policy

 

I. Overview of NJRES and NJNG’s Natural Gas Business Activities

NJRES is a wholly owned subsidiary of NJR and is engaged in non-regulated marketing and distribution of wholesale energy services and products. NJRES’ business focuses on the optimization and arbitrage of contractual assets, including storage and pipeline capacity, by executing location-spread and time-spread transactions in the physical and financial natural gas markets.

NJNG is a wholly owned subsidiary of NJR and is engaged in providing regulated natural gas energy services to customers located in central and northern New Jersey, as well as, providing other energy-related services throughout various geographic regions in which NJNG has gas transportation and/or storage capacity rights.

As such, both NJRES and NJNG may enter into a variety of physical and financial derivative instruments.

Controls and Risk Parameters for Natural Gas

The establishment of NJR’s risk tolerance is a critical factor in the formulation and execution of the corporate and business unit strategy. Responsibility for determining risk appetite begins with the Board of Directors and is refined and implemented by the actions of the RMC. Once business strategies and risk tolerances are determined, the controls and limitations that support the corporate and subsidiary risk appetites must be designed. NJR’s approach to risk management utilizes multiple control limits that support an integrated methodology.

Approved Instruments – All instruments and products (physical and/or financial) must be approved for use prior to transacting business. New specific instruments and products must be reviewed by Middle Office and approved by the RMC. The currently approved instruments are listed in Exhibit 2.

Delegation of Authority - NJNG and NJRES’ traders have been granted authority to operate within the specific guidelines contained in Exhibit 3 of this policy. However, in order to transact, the relevant contract (such as transport, storage, NAESB, ISDA etc) must be in place prior to executing a transaction.

 

II. Overview of NJRES’ Wholesale Natural Gas Business Activities

 

  a. Commodity - NJRES by design takes minimal fixed price commodity risk. There are certain exceptions related to hedging odd sized lots that may result in minor volumetric differences between the underlying physical position and the hedged transaction. Additionally, NJRES may at times enter into some financial speculative positions. There are a variety of reports used to monitor this open exposure to ensure it does not exceed certain volumetric thresholds identified in Exhibit 3B.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

b. Transportation and Storage

NJRES may enter into storage and transportation capacity contracts with interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage operators and LDCs. Capacity contracts grant the right but not the obligation to utilize the pipeline or storage capacity for a set volume and a set period of time in exchange for a defined monthly demand charge. NJRES may elect to hedge this capacity through a combination of physical and financial trades. In addition, NJRES may enter into financial basis positions for the express purpose of speculation.

The volumes associated with these capacity contracts and any physical or financial trades designed to either hedge the capacity or used for speculation are all included in the total position calculations and are subject to the limits identified in Exhibit 3 A&B. Any net volumetric difference would be an “open position”.

The volume limits in Exhibit 3A are differentiated between those that require notification to RMC if exceeded, and those that are violations if exceeded.

Also, when obtaining storage capacity, the working capital required for hedging the related commodity must be considered, and approved by the SVP as specified in Exhibit 3.

 

III. Overview of NJNG’s Wholesale Natural Gas Trading Activities and Incentive Programs

NJNG has various incentive programs as approved by the BPU. For a description of these programs, see links contained in Exhibit 7.

 

IV. Business Risks for NJRES and NJNG

NJRES and NJNG are subject to a number of ongoing business risks. These risks and the RMC’s approved strategies to mitigate these risks are identified below.

 

  A. Financial Risk

Documentation for all transactions will be in the appropriate risk management systems.

Use of Financial Instruments - The use of approved financial instruments will be limited to hedging risks in the physical and financial market, except as provided below. For NJNG, these derivative instruments can be used to hedge BGSS or system requirement supply, as well as, for the incentive programs as referenced above. The use of financial instruments for speculative purposes is expressly prohibited at NJNG.

Approved Financial Instruments - Approved financial instruments and exchanges are listed on Exhibit 2.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

  B. Market Risk

Market risk represents the potential change in value that can be caused by unfavorable changes in market variables. These variables include adverse changes in commodity prices and market liquidity and may occur as a result of positions taken by NJRES or NJNG in the market or as a result of market forces outside the control of NJRES or NJNG. For NJNG, Market risk is currently mitigated through the BGSS process; in other words, reasonably incurred gas costs are reflected in the company’s rates. For NJRES, Market risk is mitigated through the trading guidelines below.

General Trading and Exchange Position Guidelines - The RMC has established trading limits set out in Exhibit 3 to mitigate NJRES’ and NJNG’s exposure to risks of adverse changes in commodity prices. At its discretion, management may establish more restrictive limits than those outlined therein. In addition, the RMC may, in its discretion, or at the discretion of the Audit Committee, direct management to reduce any exposure deemed not in the best interest of NJRES or NJNG. The following guidelines apply to all commodity and capacity transactions for NJRES’ and NJNG’s operations.

NJNG Market Exposure - Under the Company’s Off System Sales program, NJNG will make commitments to purchase or sell natural gas via fixed-price or indexed-price, or a combination thereof, or sell transport or storage capacity via fixed price, financial transport basis or physical transport basis.

NJRES Market Exposure - From time-to-time NJRES will make commitments to purchase or sell commodity, storage capacity or transport basis using fixed-price or indexed-price products, and can be either physical of financial in nature, or a combination thereof.

The intent is to match physical delivery and price commitments, while taking into consideration the status of the overall portfolio and allowable risk tolerances.

Margin Limits - The total outstanding margin posted for exchange-traded contracts shall be consistent with the exchange requirements. The outstanding margin balance on each exchange will be monitored daily by the Treasurer & Corporate Controller or designee, who will request additional margin or return margin as required. Margin call requests will be verified by the Front Office or Treasurer & Corporate Controller (or designee). Approval to satisfy margin calls shall be obtained from an officer of the company, consistent with existing wire approval policy. In the event a margin call is made, and an officer of the company is not available, the Treasurer & Corporate Controller or the Credit Department in his absence is responsible for the sending of margin to prevent the forced liquidation of open positions. Approval will be obtained as soon as practical.

 

  C. Liquidity Risk

Managing Liquidity Risk Market liquidity may limit NJNG’s and NJRES’ ability to execute transactions rapidly at a reasonable price. The lack of market liquidity may make it difficult for

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

NJNG and NJRES to unwind or offset a particular position at or near a previous market price if there is inadequate market depth or a disruption in the market. Because of this risk, the liquidity of certain types of instruments may make them unsuitable in achieving NJNG’s and NJRES’ business objectives. Therefore, the RMC is to consider this risk when approving the suitability of specific financial instruments for use by NJNG and NJRES.

 

  D. Operational Risk

Operational risk is the exposure to loss due to human error or fraud, or from a system of internal controls that fails to adequately record, monitor and properly account for transactions or positions. In addition to the system of controls and reporting obligations described herein, the Company has implemented the following personnel and system controls to mitigate operational risks.

 

  1. Personnel - The following protocols have been established to safeguards that RMC Policy is followed:

 

  a. The SVP, for NJRES, or Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG will have authority for hiring and approving personnel and their individual trading limits.

 

  b. Personnel involved in risk measurement, validation, and monitoring have clear independence and autonomy from the trading function. This is accomplished by those individuals reporting directly to the Financial Department.

 

  c. A control environment exists that ensures the accurate monitoring and reporting of the risks, positions, and profit and loss associated with trading strategies.

 

  d. All trades that are transacted in the office will be recorded (in the case of telephonic) or retained (in the case of instant messages) to ensure that conversations or instant messages, as applicable, are recorded or kept for evidentiary purposes in the event of discrepancies. Trades that are performed outside of the office will be handled in the same fashion as above when the trader returns to the office. Only specific transaction-related information will be recorded. Tapes or instant messages containing this information will be kept for a period consistent with FERC record retention policy . See Exhibit 7 for NJR’s records retention policy.

 

  e. To ensure that positions are accurately captured, all transactions must be entered into the appropriate risk capture system on a timely basis. A trade will be considered timely if it is entered on the same business day that it is executed, or for weekend or holiday trades, the next business day.

 

  f. Each employee is required to sign an annual compliance statement indicating that they have read, understood, and complied with NJR’s Employee Code of Conduct and Risk Management policy. Also, traders will undergo “Trader Code of Conduct” training every year to discuss antitrust, index reporting, FERC compliance and other related issues.

 

  g. Company representatives directly involved in the trading of natural gas shall not enter into any natural gas transactions for their personal accounts.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

  2. Information System Controls - To minimize operational risk, information systems controls have been established and implemented with the following design feature requirements:

 

  a. Information systems will be developed and implemented to adequately document, record and measure all of the Company’s business transactions and forward commitments.

 

  b. Data access will be controlled and security procedures will be implemented to properly control data access and update capabilities.

 

  c. Information systems will have defined security roles such that only authorized personnel will be allowed to input and modify trades.

 

  d. Contingency plans will be established with detailed procedures for backup (timely, adequate, off- site rotation to secure location, etc.) of mission-critical applications. Currently the contingency plan is for personnel to operate from their home or the Houston office.

 

  E. Legal Risk

Legal risk is the risk of loss that results when a contract cannot be enforced or when a counterparty fails to fulfill its contractual obligations. This includes risks arising from insufficient documentation, insufficient authority, uncertain legality, and unenforceability due to bankruptcy or insolvency.

Transaction Documentation - All transactions must be supported by a contract executed by both parties that set-out general terms and confirmations that set up deal specific terms (price, volume, etc). Physical transactions are commonly documented by a NAESB (North American Energy Standards Board) base contract for sale and purchase of natural gas. Financial transactions are commonly documented by an ISDA (International Standards and Derivatives Association) contract. Before new contracts are signed, it must be documented that Legal has reviewed and approved the terms.

 

G-14


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

  F. Tax Risk

Tax risk is the financial risk arising from possible misinterpretations or changes in the federal or state tax laws. To minimize this risk, NJR’s tax department monitors federal and state and municipal tax laws affecting NJRES’ and NJNG’s business operations. In addition, NJRES/NJNG Front Office is required to notify NJR’s tax department prior to conducting business in a new tax jurisdiction (i.e., country, federal, state or city).

 

  G. Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of loss as a result of nonperformance by NJNG’s or NJRES’ counterparties pursuant to the terms of their contractual obligations. The loss is the cost of replacing the contract with a new one with identical or similar terms (replacement value) or the amount of money due for physical or financial transaction settlement that was not paid.

The Credit Department is responsible for the credit risk management function and will have clear independence and authority separate from the trading function. The Credit Department’s responsibilities include first-line evaluation of new counterparties, monitoring and reporting credit exposure, reviewing the creditworthiness of counter parties, monitoring the concentrations of credit risk and reviewing and monitoring risk reduction arrangements.

See Exhibit 7 for a link to the Credit Policy for NJRES and NJNG Wholesale Natural Gas for further details on mitigating credit risk.

 

G-15


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Addendum I

NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV) and its subsidiaries – Electricity and related renewable energy

Objectives of the Risk Management Committee’s Guidelines and Procedures

The Board of Directors of New Jersey Resources Corporation (“Company”) has delegated responsibility for risk management to the Audit Committee of NJR’s Board of Directors (“Audit Committee”). The Audit Committee has established and authorized the Risk Management Committee to develop, implement, and enforce risk management procedures for the Company.

The following policy is intended to supplement the Risk Management Policies presently in place for NJR Energy Services (“NJRES”) to include the Company’s participation in and associated risk management guidelines for electricity and related renewable energy attributes associated with investments in solar and other renewable energy projects. This policy is a working document and will be updated on a periodic basis as conditions warrant.

Responsibility (Overall): It is the responsibility of NJR Clean Energy Ventures (“NJRCEV”) and its subsidiaries (for purposes of the RMC procedure, references to CEV hereinafter include CEV and its subsidiaries) to manage the operational risks associated with the Company’s participation in the renewable energy market as well as engage in any physical electricity transactions to mitigate the market risks associated with electricity generated by NJRCEV assets. It is the responsibility of NJRES to manage the market risks associated with the Company’s participation in the Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC), Renewable Energy Credit (REC) markets, and engage in financial electricity transactions to mitigate the market risks associated with electricity and capacity generated by NJRCEV assets. It is the responsibility of the Treasurer and Corporate Controller to ensure compliance with the risk management guidelines, and it is the responsibility of the Risk Management Committee to provide governance and oversight of same.

Overview of Business Activities:

The Company’s current focus is on investing in solar projects in the state of New Jersey but may review solar and other renewable energy investments outside of the state. These projects will include a variety of arrangements which could include but are not limited to the following:

 

    The Company may purchase and subsequently operate renewable energy installations in New Jersey or other states.

 

    The Company may enter into joint-ventures to construct and subsequently own and operate renewable energy installations in New Jersey or other states.

 

    The Company may enter into agreements to construct and subsequently own and operate renewable energy installations for residential customers.

 

G-16


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

As a result of these renewable energy projects, the Company may enter into the following types of transactions:

 

    Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”) – NJRCEV may enter into PPAs with retail end-users of electricity for sale of electricity.

 

    Wholesale Physical Electricity Transactions – NJRCEV may enter into wholesale transactions to sell electricity produced by solar installations with a variety of counterparties participating in the PJM Interconnection L.L.C. (“PJM”) market, the regional transmission organization (“RTO”) that administers the wholesale electricity market in New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic region.

 

    Solar Renewable Energy Credits (“SRECs”) or Renewable Energy Credits (“RECs”) – Pursuant to a SREC Services Agreement, NJRCEV has authorized NJRES to create and trade on its behalf all SRECs associated with its solar generating systems, and in the future may authorize NJRES to create and trade RECs on its behalf, and consistent with the performance of those obligations NJRES may enter into transactions to sell SRECs or RECs in the spot or forward markets. These forward transactions may be structured as follows:

 

    Unit contingent forward sales of SRECs or RECs wherein the Buyer agrees to purchase all output produced from the solar or other renewable generating facilities without a minimum commitment

 

    Unit firm forward sales of SRECs or RECs wherein the Seller must guarantee the amount that will be produced from the solar or other renewable generation facilities

 

    Capacity – NJRCEV may enter into transactions for the sale of capacity; either bilaterally or to PJM directly.

 

    Financial Hedging – NJRES may enter into exchange-traded or over-the-counter (“OTC”) transactions to economically hedge NJRCEV’s exposure associated with SRECs.

A more complete listing of the approved products and trade types is included as part of Appendix A to this Policy.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, NJRES IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE OR SELL PHYSICAL ELECTRICITY OR PHYSICAL ELECTRIC CAPACITY IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

 

G-17


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

NJRCEV SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL OF ITS GENERATORS MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A QUALIFYING FACILITY (QF) AS ESTABLISHED BY THE FERC’s RULES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN TITLE 18, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 292, SUBPART B, SECTION 292 ET SEQ. AND THAT ITS GENERATORS ARE CERTIFIED AND MAINTAINED AS SUCH. ALL ENERGY SALES OF ELECTRICITY AND CAPACITY GENERATED BY NJRCEV GENERATORS MUST BE TRANSACTED BY NJRCEV IN ITS OWN NAME.

Systems:

There are several systems used in the tracking of inventory, exposure, and valuation of electricity and related renewable energy attributes. A brief description of these systems is as follows:

Generation Attribute Tracking System (“GATS”): The GATS system is maintained by PJM Environmental Information Services (“PJM EIS”) and is used to track the production, inventory amounts, and transfers of SRECs and RECs associated with the production of solar and other renewable electricity, respectively.

Trade Execution Platforms:

There are several trade execution platforms that exist to facilitate the sale of SRECs and RECs. These platforms will be evaluated on a case by case basis, and added to the list of approved platforms. The Treasurer and Corporate Controller will be responsible for approving trade execution platforms.

Hedge Objectives:

One of the Company’s principal objectives is to enter into forward sales of SRECs and RECs, particularly to eliminate the market risk associated with projected declining value of SRECs in relation to the SREC values used at the time of the investment evaluation. However, since the market for SRECs is illiquid past the last NJ Basic Generation Service (“BGS”) auction the Company’s ability to transact into future time periods will be limited. As such, there may be future periods where there is exposure to market price risk.

Prior to execution of any SREC or REC deal, NJRES will need to seek approval of the pricing points from the Vice President, NJRCEV.

 

G-18


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Approved products and Authority Limits:

A key component of any risk policy is maintaining a list of the products that are approved by RMC for trading and the transaction level authority limits. The RMC is responsible for approving products (e.g., SRECs, RECs electricity, etc.) and trade types (e.g., forwards, swaps, options, etc.). The approved product listing will also include transaction level authority limits that will specify the following for each:

 

    The transaction limits shall be defined by title(s).

 

    Volumetric limits

 

    Notional amount (Dollar limits)

 

    Term limits (defined by the length of the contract)

 

    Duration limits (defined by the length of the contract including the start date)

 

    Below is a complete list of the approved products, trade types, and associated limits: TBD

Portfolio Limit

For purposes of this policy, the portion of expected SREC (and REC) output for all operating commercial and residential systems that is hedged shall not be less than 60% of the total for the current and following two full energy years. However, this portfolio guideline can be altered, either temporarily or permanently, by the express written consent of the CEO or CFO of New Jersey Resources.

Risk Monitoring and Reporting Responsibilities:

The following guidelines and reporting requirements have been established to provide the RMC with timely and meaningful information to assess the risk exposure of the Company in the area of renewable electricity and to ensure compliance with the guidelines.

Independent Monitoring:

Management is to ensure that there is adequate segregation of duties between the functions of Front, Middle, and Back offices. Personnel involved in risk measurement, validation, monitoring and reporting are to have the appropriate competencies in understanding the monitored activity and clear independence and autonomy from the trading function. The roles and responsibilities of the various functions are further defined as follows:

Front Office – The Front Office is responsible for transaction execution and as such will be accountable for structuring retail and wholesale power purchase agreements, the sale of renewable electricity attributes and other commercial activities. The NJRCEV business development team will have responsibility for negotiating and entering into these electricity sales agreements, as well as reporting generation information to PJM EIS.

Mid-Office – The Mid-Office will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the risk policy, validating positions, providing exposure reports.

 

G-19


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Back Office – In addition to the settlement and accounting activities normally performed by the Back Office, the group will be responsible for the following activities related specifically relating to the electricity business:

 

    Establishing generation facilities in the GATS system

 

    Validation of generation information reported to PJM EIS

 

    Reconciliation of the SREC and REC inventory on a monthly basis

 

    Transfer/scheduling of SRECs and RECs in the GATS system

As a requirement of this Policy, specific procedural documentation will be maintained separate from this document.

Internal Audit is to perform periodic non-scheduled audits. The results of these audits will be provided to the RMC and the Audit Committee after Management has had the opportunity to review the findings and respond appropriately.

Required Reporting:

The following reports will be provided to the Risk Management Committee:

Electricity Exposure: If any, a report that details the Company’s future expected electricity generation, hedges against that electricity (physical or financial), the resulting exposure and percent hedged.

SREC and REC Exposure: If any, a report that details the Company’s current inventory and future expected SRECs and RECs, hedges against the SRECs and RECs (physical or financial), the resulting exposure, and percent hedged.

SREC and REC Inventory: If any, a report that details the Company’s inventory of SRECs and RECs, commitments against that inventory (committed transfers), and any unsold inventory.

In addition to the reports above, the effects of electricity and renewable energy attributes will be separately identified in other Risk Management Reporting including credit, VAR, and other such items as may be necessary.

 

G-20


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Addendum II

Foreign Currency Risk Policy

Objectives of the Risk Management Committee’s Guidelines and Procedures

The Board of Directors of New Jersey Resources Corporation (“Company”) has delegated responsibility for risk management to the Audit Committee of NJR’s Board of Directors (“Audit Committee”). The Audit Committee has established and authorized the Risk Management Committee to develop, implement, and enforce risk management procedures for the Company.

The following policy is intended to supplement the Risk Management Policies presently in place for New Jersey Natural Gas (“NJNG)” and NJR Energy Services (“NJRES”). This policy is a working document and will be updated on a periodic basis as conditions warrant.

Foreign Currency Risk: The risk of an unanticipated movement in the value of foreign currencies relative to the value of the US dollar that could have a material adverse impact on the financial results of the Company.

Responsibility: It is the responsibility of the Treasurer & Corporate Controller to manage the foreign currency risks of the Company. It is the responsibility of the Treasurer and Corporate Controller to ensure compliance with the Risk Management guidelines.

Overview of Business: The Company’s principal wholesale marketing subsidiary, NJRES, engages in the purchase and sale of natural gas, storage, and transportation services in the United States and Canada.

The Company may be exposed to foreign currency risk as a result of the following:

NJRES may enter into transportation or storage service agreements that obligate the Company to future payments or receipts of demand charges that are denominated in a currency other than US dollar. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in the exchange rates from the date of contract execution to the dates of the respective demand payments.

NJRES may enter into forward transactions, either financial or physical, that settle in a currency other that the US dollar. The Company is exposed to the fluctuations in the rate of exchange from the date of trade execution to the date of trade settlement.

NJRES may enter into spot purchases or sales of physical natural gas that settle in a currency other than the US dollar. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in the rate of exchange from the date of trade execution to the date of trade settlement.

NJRES may purchase gas for injection into a natural gas storage facility. The purchase of natural gas may be in the same foreign currency. To the extent that the inventory is not hedged with a sale in the foreign currency, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in the rate of exchange of the value of the inventory.

 

G-21


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Modifications to this Policy may be made by the Treasurer and SVP at any time, and presented to the Risk Management Committee for approval.

Systems:

A brief description of the systems that will support the hedging program as follows:

GMS: The GMS system is used by NJRES and NJNG in the tracking, monitoring, settlement, and other core functions in their gas portfolio. This system will be used to supply the transactional data that will support some of the risk reporting.

Bloomberg Terminal: This system may be used in the independent valuation of the foreign currency derivatives that the Company utilizes.

Aligne: Used as NJRES’ and NJNG’s risk measurement system.

Exposure Limits: As it is the objective of the Company to minimize the risks of foreign currency fluctuations in a cost effective manner, hedging on a forward basis will be performed based on the tenor and notional value of the commitment as follows:

Spot/Next Month Purchase/Sales of natural gas and associated GST – These items are monitored daily and will be discussed with the Treasurer & Corporate Controller and whether to hedge the exposure or not.

Storage/Pipeline demand charges and associated GST – These items are monitored daily and will be discussed with the Treasurer and SVP and whether to hedge the exposure or not.

The Company’s foreign currency hedging program will minimize, but not eliminate potential gains and losses associated with transacting in foreign currencies. The reasons for this include, but are not limited to:

 

    Transactions may exist that are not large enough to qualify for hedging as it would be inefficient from a cost perspective to do so

 

    Fluctuations in the exchange rate between when the Company executes transactions that qualify for hedging and the timing of the Company’s hedging transactions

 

    The inability to exactly match the notional value of the hedge items with the hedging transactions

Cumulative results of the hedging program are reflected in monthly and year to date financial statements.

 

G-22


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Approved Instruments: The Treasurer & Corporate Controller is authorized to use the following instruments to hedge the risks associated with foreign currency, consistent with any restrictions and requirements on the use of those instruments found elsewhere in this Policy:

Spot purchases / sales

Short term deposits

Forward purchase/sales

Options

While an approved instrument under this policy, any hedging strategy that uses options must be presented to the Risk Management Committee for approval prior to execution.

Approved Institutions: The Treasurer & Corporate Controller is authorized to use the following institutions for hedging foreign currency risk:

Bank of Nova Scotia

TD Bank

PNC Bank

JP Morgan

Delegation of authority:

For purposes of executing the transactions authorized under this policy, the following limits apply to each individual transaction used in hedging foreign currency:

 

Term

        Notional Value      Approval

<3 years

   and    <$ 5,000,000       Treasurer & Corporate Controller

3 - 5 years

   and    $ 10,000,000       CFO

5 - 10 years

   and    $ 15,000,000       RMC

>10 years

   and    >$ 15,000,000       CEO

Required Reporting:

The following reports will be provided to the Risk Management Committee:

Foreign Currency Exposure: If any, a report that details the Company’s future known foreign currency denominated inflows and outflows, foreign currency hedges, and the resulting net exposure.

 

G-23


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Addendum III

NJNG Retail

Third Party Supplier Program (TPS)

Overview:

As a result of deregulation, third parties are able to supply natural gas commodity to NJNG’s customers. This change presents some potential credit and operational risks.

Responsibility (Overall): It is the responsibility of the NJR Credit/Treasury group to monitor the credit risk associated with third-party suppliers. It is the responsibility of the Supplier Relations group to track the collection of funds from the suppliers and it is the responsibility of NJNG’s scheduling group to monitor balancing of natural gas for each supplier.

In order for a Supplier to be approved on NJNG’s system, several requirements need to be met. First, they must have provided all appropriate documents as per NJNG’s tariff. Second, after all required documents are in place the credit department will provide a credit analysis/evaluation to determine creditworthiness of a supplier. If the Supplier is not deemed worthy of receiving unsecured credit they are required to post collateral. Acceptable forms of collateral include cash, letter of credit or a parental guaranty acceptable to NJNG. After these two requirements have been met, the Supplier is approved to conduct business.

The credit department will also perform a quarterly review of all suppliers to make sure the appropriate collateral is in place and confirm the credit status of the supplier is still within guidelines.

The supplier relations group sets up suppliers in all the appropriate company systems. This group is also responsible for collection of funds from the suppliers and provides updates through e-mail when a supplier is in arrears. If a supplier is in arrears, that Supplier’s credit and/or collateral amounts will be reviewed. If NJNG’s exposure exceeds the credit/collateral, an increase in collateral is requested. If the third party supplier objects to this request, NJNG can request that they deliver more gas to the citygate.

The NJNG scheduling group is responsible for the balancing of natural gas in the NJNG system for each supplier. This group runs monthly reports to determine if there are any volumetric or dollar balancing differences by supplier. Shortages can be created by several factors including colder weather (and therefore higher-than-expected customer usage), under-deliveries by the Supplier and price changes used to measure dollar exposure. Any deficiencies are addressed by either requesting the suppliers to provide more gas to NJNG’s system or requesting additional collateral.

 

G-24


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Exhibit 1

Definitions

These definitions are applicable to the entire document.

“Affiliate” means in relation to any person, any entity controlled, directly or indirectly, by the person, any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, the person or any entity, directly or indirectly, under common control with the person. For this purpose, “control” of any entity or person means ownership of a majority of the voting power of the entity or person. For this purpose, “person” means all corporations, business trusts, associations, companies, partnerships, joint ventures and any other entities.

“Affiliate Transactions-NJNG” means, for the purposes of this RMC policy, any transactions between NJNG and any NJR Affiliate.

“Assistant General Counsel” means Bill Scharfenberg who is Assistant General Counsel in the Legal Department with primary responsibility for reviewing Wholesale Transactions

“Audit Committee” – NJR’s Board of Directors.

“Business Unit” - A subsidiary of NJR that is covered under the RMC’s Risk Management Policy. This includes NJRES wholesale gas, NJNG wholesale gas, and NJRCEV.

“CCR” means the Counterparty Change Request Form included on Exhibit 7.

“Company” means NJR and its affiliates, including, but not limited to NJNG and NJRES

“Credit Department” means Manager-Treasury and Risk and Credit Analyst

“Credit Analyst” means Kevin O’Dea who is the Credit Analyst in Treasury

“Credit Support Annex” means the Credit Support Annex published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.

“Credit Policy” means the Credit Policy for Regulated and Unregulated Transactions contained in Part 2 Section IV.

“Deal Approval Form” means the Deal Approval Form as shown on Exhibit 7.

 

G-25


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

“Debtor(s)” means any Trading Partner making a request for credit or approved for credit by NJR.

“Director Gas Supply” means Jayana Shah who is the Director of Gas Supply for NJNG

“Director – Treasury Services” means William Foley who is Director of Treasury Services of NJR.

“EVP & CFO” means Glenn Lockwood who is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NJR

“EVP & COO NJNG” means Kathy Ellis who is the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of NJNG

“FCM” – Futures Commission Merchants as defined in Exhibit 2.

“GISB Contract” means the Base Contract for the Short-Term Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas published by the Gas Industry Standards Board

“GMS” means the Gas Management System

“IAD” means the Internal Audit Department

“ISDA” means the Master Agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.

“Manager, Derivative Accounting” is Chris Bray who is the Manager, Derivative Accounting in WMOS

“Manager – Training T&E & Systems NJNG” means Kathy Ferreira who is the Manager of Training Transportation & Exchange Analyst and Systems for NJNG

“Manager-Treasury and Risk” means Dennis Veltre.

“Managing Director-Financial Trading” means Sean Annitto who is Managing Director-Financial Trading in NJRES.

“Managing Director-Energy Trading” means Tim Shea who is Managing Director of Energy Trading in NJRES.

 

G-26


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investor Service, or an equivalent rating by any successor rating agency.

“NAESB Contract” means the Base Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas published by the North American Energy Standards Board, Inc.

“Net Exposure” means at any point in time, the total dollar amount owed to Company by Debtor for Company services or products, less the total dollar amount owed by Company to Debtor for Debtor products or services whether under the same or different agreements.

“NJNG Tariff” means the natural gas tariff of NJNG approved and on file with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

“NJR” means New Jersey Resources Corporation.

“Prompt month” means upcoming month.

“President and CEO” means Larry Downes of NJR

“Repetitive Contracts” (See Exhibit 4B) are entered into with certain pipelines/storage counterparties that require a new contract to be signed each time a transaction is entered into instead of just a transaction confirmation.

“Reporting Party Agreements” means the Dodd-Frank Act Representations and Reporting Amending Agreement that provides information required under Dodd Frank including which party reports for swap transactions.

“Risk Control” means Treasurer & Corporate Controller or designee

“RMC” - New Jersey Resources Corporations’ Risk Management Committee comprised of five members appointed by the President and CEO as further defined in this Risk Management Policy.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, or an equivalent rating by any successor rating agency.

“Seasonal” means in relation to a deal term the periods Apr-Oct (Summer) period or Nov-Mar (Winter) period.

“Security” means security given to Company in support of a Debtor’s Credit Limit as provided under the Credit Policy.

“Senior Officers of a Business Unit” include V.P. or above for a Business Unit.

 

G-27


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

“Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG” means Mark Sperduto who is the Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG

“Spot month” means current month.

“SREC” means Solar Renewable Energy Credit. See Addendum I

“SVP” means Steve Westhoven who is the Senior Vice President of NJRES

“SVP & General Counsel” means Mariellen Dugan who is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of NJR

“Tax Manager” means Bob Walsh who is Tax Manager of NJR

“T&E” means the Transportation and Exchange analysts.

“TPS” means Third Party Supplier for NJNG retail

“Trader(s)” means the NJNG and NJRES employees included on the List of Approved Traders and their trading limits, which has a hyperlink from Exhibit 7

“Trading Partner(s)” or “Counterparty” means any vendor(s) and/or customer(s) selling or buying natural gas or related products or services, including financial risk management products or services, to or from the Company in the wholesale market under a GISB or NAESB Contract, ISDA or other agreement

“Transaction Confirmation” (see Exhibit 4B) is a confirmation of the specific transaction once an umbrella contract has been signed. An entire contract does not need to be signed each time a specific deal is done. For tariff contracts, these could be Exhibit A, Request Order, PALS Request Order Form etc. For non –tariff NAESB’s, these are generally called Transaction Confirmations.

“Treasurer & Corporate Controller” means Patrick Migliaccio who is Treasurer as well as Corporate Controller of NJR.

“Vice President of Internal Auditing” means George Smith who is the Vice President of Internal Auditing of NJR Service Corporation

“VP NJRES” means Ginger Richman who is the Vice President, Energy Services for NJRES

“Wholesale Transaction” includes:

 

  1. contracts for the wholesale purchase and sale of natural gas including, but not limited to, physical and financial transactions typically entered into under industry standard contract forms such as the North American Energy Standards Board, Inc. Base Contract for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas or the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement, respectively;

 

G-28


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

  2. tariff-based agreements for the purchase of gas transportation or storage services and related non-tariff based precedent agreements;

 

  3. credit agreements such as guaranties and letters of credit provided or received in support of agreements entered into under 1 and 2, above;

 

  4. confidentiality agreements related to agreements entered into under 1 and 2, above; and

 

  5. other arrangements related to the unregulated wholesale energy businesses of the “Company” (defined to include NJR and its affiliates).

“WMOS” means the Wholesale Midstream Operations Support department in NJR Service Company

 

G-29


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

EXHIBIT 2

APPROVED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, FUTURES COMMISSION MERCHANTS (FCM)

AND EXCHANGES for Wholesale Natural Gas

 

1. Approved Financial Instruments

NJRES

Approved Financial Instruments for NJRES include all natural gas financial derivative contracts that can be transacted. These types of derivatives include, but are not limited to:

 

    Futures Contract - Price for a commodity contract to buy or sell in the future. As it relates to natural gas, one Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) futures contract is 10,000 dt/day at Henry Hub. InterContinental Exchange (ICE) also has futures contracts for various products at various volume levels. NJRES and NJNG buy/sell (or “clear”) futures contracts through a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM). Futures contracts close out on the last three business days prior to the end of the previous month. When closing out, you may either close out financially or take physical possession of the gas.

 

    Options - a transaction in which one party grants to the other party (for a premium payment) the right, but not the obligation, to purchase (call) or sell (put) at a specified strike price

 

    Commodity Option - to put or call a specified quantity of a commodity futures contract at a specified strike price

 

    Weather Option - to put or call a specified quantity of a commodity for a specified price based on agreed upon factors (such as temperature).

 

    Basis Swap - A transaction in which one party pays periodic amounts of a given currency based on a floating rate (usually NYMEX +/- basis rate) and the other party pays periodic amounts of the same currency based on another floating rate (usually an index such as Inside FERC), with both rates reset periodically.

 

    Commodity (Fixed) Swap - A transaction in which one party pays periodic amounts of a given currency based on a fixed price and the other party pays periodic amounts of the same currency based on a floating price of a commodity, such as natural gas, based on an index price.

 

    Swing Swap – A transaction whereby one party pays a fixed price, usually based on the settlement of an index price for a period, usually a month, and the other party pays a floating price for each day of the transaction.

NJNG

Approved Financial Instruments allowed to trade are limited to:

 

    Futures Contract

 

    Options

 

    Commodity Option

 

    Weather Option

 

    Basis Swaps

 

    Commodity (Fixed) Swaps

 

    Swing Swaps

No Currency Swaps are authorized for NJNG.

For FRM, only options are approved. No naked options, futures contracts or swaps are authorized.

 

G-30


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

2. Approved Futures Commission Merchants (FCM):

NJRES

JP Morgan Securities LLC

Macquarie Futures USA Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

NJNG

JP Morgan Securities LLC

Macquarie Futures USA Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

Newedge Financial Inc.

 

3. Approved Exchanges:

New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX owned by CME) – via an FCM

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) - via an FCM

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) - Direct trade

Natural Gas Exchange (NGX) - Direct trade

 

G-31


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Exhibit 3

NJRES and NJNG Transaction Trading Limits for Wholesale Natural Gas

NOTE: For all of these trading approval limits, RMC must approve any changes to approval levels noted here. There are additional approval levels below the SVP and Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG levels that will be administered by Energy Services. A link to this document titled “Individual Transaction Trading Limits for Wholesale Natural Gas for NJRES & NJNG” is in Exhibit 7

Commodity Deal Limits (Term/Duration AND Total Volume apply):

 

Term / Duration

  

Total Volume

  

NJRES Approval

  

NJNG Approval

Up to and including 3 Years *

   Up to  1 2 of volume in Exhibit 3A*    SVP or designee    Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG or designee

>3 up to and including 5 Years

   >  1 2 of volume in Exhibit 3A*    Treasurer & Corporate Controller/EVP & CFO    Treasurer & Corporate Controller/EVP & CFO

> 5 Years

      President and CEO    President and CEO

 

* If less than 1 month, no matter the volume, no approval is needed per this RMC policy, but see note above for Individual Transaction Trading Limits.

Term = length of transaction

Duration = period between trade date to end of transaction

NOTE: All paper confirmations (not generated through GMS), must have Deal Approval Form and sign-off as per the following table.

Deals involving demand fees related to Transport, Capacity Release, Storage, PAL and Producer Services – approved on Deal Approval Form

 

Term- (evergreen does not count
towards term approval)

  

Demand
$

  

Approval

NJRES

  

Approval NJNG

> Seasonal up to and including 5 years

   Over $1MM & up to & including $5MM    SVP    Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG

>5 up to and including 10 years

   > $5.0 MM    Treasurer & Corporate Controller/EVP & CFO    Treasurer & Corporate Controller/EVP & CFO

>10 years and/or All Affiliate Transactions-NJNG regardless of $ amount

   > $ 15.0 MM    President and CEO    EVP & COO NJNG, President and CEO

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Exhibit 3 A

NJRES and NJNG Wholesale Natural Gas Portfolio Limits

NJRES open basis positions are subject to the following volumetric limits:

 

     Notification
Limit
     Violation
Limit
      

Region

   +/- Dths/
per day
     +/- Dths/
per day
     Months

Northeast Market Area

     80,000         96,000       All

Appalachia/Storage

     200,000         240,000       All

Mid-Continent

     200,000         240,000       All
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total App/Mid-Con

     400,000         480,000       All
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Gulf

     250,000         300,000       All

STX, ETX, WTX

     125,000         150,000       All

West

     100,000         120,000       All
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total Gulf/Texas/West

     425,000         510,000       All
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

NJNG has established a target range of gas available through storage as of October 31 each year. Of that quantity, a certain portion will be included in the Storage Incentive Program. Note that this does not include fuel volumes. The total volumes to be hedged as part of the Storage Incentive Program will be purchased in a pro rata fashion. The Storage Incentive program does not specify a starting date to begin hedging. NJNG has the ability to increase the volume for any new incremental storage capacity that is added to the portfolio.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Exhibit 3 B

NJRES Wholesale Natural Gas Exposure Limits

NJRES manages net fixed price commodity price exposure at the enterprise level. RMC notification if the aggregate of unhedged storage inventory (gas in storage), daily net cash spot month positions, net unallocated futures and swaps, short fixed price commodity options and any other unhedged fixed price natural gas commodity position exceeds (+/-) 3% of the total size of the storage and park and loan portfolio. The portfolio will be defined as the highest monthly total volume over a rolling future 12 month period.

Long commodity option volumes are not considered fixed price commodity exposure.

RMC notification if the total aggregate profit and loss dollars from closed positions, total net option premiums and mark to market of existing positions exceeds 3% of NJRES projected Financial Margin for any fiscal year.

The maximum amount of firm storage and park & loan potential capacity will not exceed 75 Bcf without prior approval from RMC.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Exhibit 4A

Approval and Signatures of Non-Tariff Based Wholesale Transactions- approved on CCR

 

Description

  

Document

  

NJRES Approved Signatures/Back-
up Signatures

  

NJNG Approved Signatures/Back-
up Signatures

Non-tariff based Other than NJR-Issued Guarantees    Contract signature (NAESB, ISDA, SREC, Confidentiality Agreements etc)    SVP or VP NJRES    Senior Vice President,
Regulatory Affairs of NJNG
or EVP & COO NJNG
Non-tariff based Other than NJR-Issued Guarantees, Confidentiality Agreements or Reporting Party Agreements    CCR sign-off for NAESB’s, SREC’s & ISDA’s (not Confidentiality or Reporting Party Agreements). SREC’s only also require Managing Director Financial Trading    Assistant General
Counsel then

Manager-Treasury and Risk

then SVP or VP
NJRES* then

Treasurer & Corporate
Controller

   Assistant General Counsel
then Manager-Treasury and
Risk then Senior Vice
President, Regulatory
Affairs of NJNG or EVP &
COO NJNG* then Treasurer
& Corporate Controller
Confidentiality Agreements and Reporting Party Agreements    CCR sign-off    Assistant General Counsel

then SVP or VP NJRES *

   Assistant General Counsel
then Senior Vice President,
Regulatory Affairs of NJNG
or EVP & COO NJNG *
Non-tariff based Other than NJR-Issued Guarantees    Deal Confirmation for NAESB/GISB/ISDA    Trader    Trader
Guarantees issued by NJR    NJR Guaranty    EVP & CFO or Treasurer &
Corporate Controller
   Usually not applicable but if
required EVP & CFO or
Treasurer & Corporate
Controller
Guarantees issued by NJR    CCR    Assistant General Counsel,
Manager-Treasury and
Risk then

EVP & CFO*

   Usually not applicable but if
required Assistant General
Counsel, Manager-Treasury
and Risk Then EVP &
CFO*
Guarantees issued by Counterparty    Counterparty Guarantees requiring NJR signature    SVP or VP NJRES    Senior Vice President,
Regulatory Affairs of NJNG
or EVP & COO NJNG
Guarantees issued by Counterparty    CCR for Counterparty Guarantees requiring NJR signature    Assistant General Counsel,
Manager-Treasury and Risk
   Assistant General Counsel,
Manager-Treasury and Risk
Guarantees issued by Counterparty    CCR for Counterparty Guarantees not requiring NJR signature    Assistant General Counsel,
Manager-Treasury and Risk
   Assistant General Counsel,
Manager-Treasury and Risk
Confidentiality Agreements    CCR    Assistant General Counsel
then SVP or VP NJRES
   Assistant General Counsel
then Senior Vice President,
Regulatory Affairs of NJNG
or EVP & COO NJNG

 

* Note that CCR does not need to be signed by signatory party in addition to signing the document itself. A note on CCR will refer to the signature on the document.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

EXHIBIT 4B

Signature of Tariff Based Storage and Transportation contracts and transactions

The majority of pipeline/storage counterparties require electronic signatures on their contracts and transaction confirmations; however some counterparties require hard copy original signatures. Some pipelines/storage counterparties require a new service agreement contract to be signed each time a transaction is entered into (“Repetitive Contracts”) Others only require a confirmation of the specific transaction once an umbrella contract has been signed (Exhibit A, Request Order, PALS Request Order Form etc.) which are referenced below as Transaction Confirmations.

 

Description

  

Document

  

NJRES Approved
Signatures

  

NJNG Approved Signatures

Counterparty requires electronic signature    Tariff based Transportation or Storage type contracts – Umbrella contracts that may have no specific transaction under it when signed)    NJRES T&E*    NJNG T&E*
Counterparty requires electronic signature    Repetitive Contracts and Transaction Confirmations, as defined above    NJRES T&E*    NJNG T&E*
Counterparty requires hard copy original signatures    Tariff based Transportation or Storage type contracts – Umbrella contracts that may have no specific transaction under it when signed)    VP NJRES/SVP    Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG or EVP & COO NJNG
Counterparty requires hard copy original signatures    Repetitive Contracts and Transaction Confirmations, as defined above    Managing Director-Energy Trading**, Managing Director Financial Trading**, VP NJRES or SVP    Director Gas Supply** or Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of NJNG

 

* May electronically sign contracts but must have a DAF showing approval through the level required if it had been an original hard copy signature.
** May only sign contracts up to their deal approval limit on the “List of Approved Traders with Trading Limits”. See Exhibit 7 for this limit.

 

G-36


New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Exhibit 5

Positions Required to sign an acknowledgement of RMC Policy

The departments and positions identified in this Exhibit 5 will be required to sign an acknowledgement that they have read and understood the RMC Policy.

 

Department

  

Position

Energy Services    NJRES & NJNG Traders, T&E and analysts.

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

EXHIBIT 6

Reports to be provided at each RMC Meeting

 

  NJRES - Current P&L value of storage and basis books by fiscal year

 

  NJRES - Summary of basis positions (volumes) and compliance with volumetric limits

 

  NJRES - Current month P&L value

 

  NJRES - Compliance with storage, cash trading and futures/options volumetric limits summary

 

  NJRES and NJNG - Storage and basis financial hedges (dollar and volumes)

 

  NJNG - BGSS status

 

  NJNG – Hedging status

 

  NJNG – Incentive programs

 

  NJRES and NJNG – Credit compliance and exposure

 

  CEV – SREC exposure and hedging status

 

  Foreign exchange exposure summary

 

  Prior rolling 12-month option summary

 

  Internal control deal compare report

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

Exhibit 7

Procedure/Guideline documents that support the RMC Policy but do not require direct RMC approval

 

Document

  

Location/hyperlink

Code of Conduct - New Jersey Resources Corporation Code of Conduct for all Business Unit employees.    Copies distributed periodically in hardcopy and through training to all Business Unit employees. Available online at: http://investor.njresources.com/documentdisplay.cfm?DocumentID=5724
Code of Conduct – Wholesale Natural Gas - Governing Wholesale Natural Gas Buying and Selling and the Reporting of Trade Data for Index Development Purposes   

Copies distributed periodically in hardcopy and through training to Energy Services employees. Available online at:

http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/NJR/2761815903x0x295011/32631021-6cbc-413d-a21e-47a397381ea3/NJR_WebDoc_5726.pdf

Confirmation Policy & Procedures    G:\GASWHOLE\Procedures\RMC\Confirmation Policy and Procedures - Final.docx
Contract Procedures for Wholesale Transactions    G:\GASSALES\Contract\Contract Masters\RMC Policies and Procedures\Contracts Policy Draft.docx
Counterparty Change Request Form (CCR)    G:\GASSALES\Contract\Contract Masters\CCR - Counterparty Change Request Form std 7-22-11.xls
Credit Policy for NJRES and NJNG Wholesale Natural Gas    Credit Policy for NJRES and NJNG Wholesale Natural Gas.docx
Deal Approval Form (DAF) NJRES    G:\GASSALES\Contract\Contract Masters\NJRES Deal Approval Form 4-14-11.doc
Deal Approval Form (DAF) NJNG    G:\GASSALES\Contract\Contract Masters\NJNG Deal Approval Form 4-14-11.doc
IM and Phone Recording Procedures for Energy Services – T&E    G:\GASWHOLE\Procedures\Nominations\Current Procedures\IM & Phone Recording Policy T&E.docx
IM and Phone Recording Procedures for Energy Services – Traders    G:\GASWHOLE\Procedures\Trading\IM & Phone Recording Policy Traders.docx
List of Approved Traders with Trading Limits (Does not require RMC approval as long as all criteria has been met)    G:\GASWHOLE\Procedures\RMC\List of Approved Traders with Trader Limits(no RMC approval needed).doc

 

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New Jersey Resources Corporation

Risk Management Committee

Risk Management Policy

Last updated 2-6-14

 

NJNG Incentive Programs - Description of NJNG’s Off System sales, Capacity release, and Storage Incentive programs that NJNG administers and are subject to NJ Public Utilities Commission review and approval    NJNG Incentive Programs 1-26-13.doc; NJNG OSS cap release incentive programs 5-6-13.docx
NJNG Financial Risk Management (FRM) Program    FRM-Financial Risk Management Program.doc
Records Retention Policy from Legal    http://wall-moss-01/policyprocedure/All%20Companies/Records%20Management%20Admin%2029%20-%20NJ%20Resources%20RRS.pdf

Exhibit 8

History of Revisions to the RMC Policy

 

Version

  

Date

  

Revision

           
           
           
           
           

[TO BE PROVIDED]

 

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EXHIBIT H

PERMITTED RELATED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

NONE.

 

H-1