-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, DZZwOTM9T3oBVcSAkjzJ6T0d+Yl2UvYalpBsiTmfOQzNxxr18C1BI5cwf2/20k/G MfFw3pfAUADt0b+yMmNYeA== 0001193125-10-050262.txt : 20100308 0001193125-10-050262.hdr.sgml : 20100308 20100308164839 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-10-050262 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 8 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20100302 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20100308 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100308 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITIL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000755001 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931] IRS NUMBER: 020381573 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NH FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-08858 FILM NUMBER: 10664248 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6 LIBERTY LANE WEST CITY: HAMPTON STATE: NH ZIP: 03842 BUSINESS PHONE: 6037736504 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6 LIBERTY LANE WEST CITY: HAMPTON STATE: NH ZIP: 03842 8-K 1 d8k.htm FORM 8-K Form 8-K

 

 

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 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 2, 2010

 

 

UNITIL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New Hampshire   1-8858   02-0381573

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

6 Liberty Lane West, Hampton, New Hampshire   03842-1720
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (603) 772-0775

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On March 2, 2010, two of Unitil Corporation’s subsidiaries, Northern Utilities, Inc. (“Northern”) and Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. (“Unitil Energy”), completed private placements of notes and bonds, respectively, to institutional investors.

Northern issued and sold $25 million of its 5.29% senior unsecured notes due March 2, 2020 pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated March 2, 2010 among Northern and the purchasers of the notes. Northern is scheduled to redeem approximately one-third of the principal amount of the notes on March 2 in each year commencing March 2, 2018 and ending March 2, 2020. The other terms of the notes are set forth in the form of Note Purchase Agreement and the form of Note, which are attached as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Unitil Energy issued and sold $15 million of its 5.24% Series P First Mortgage Bonds due March 2, 2020 pursuant to the Bond Purchase Agreement dated March 2, 2010 among Unitil Energy and the purchasers of the bonds and in accordance with the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated March 2, 2010 between Unitil Energy and U.S. Bank National Association (as trustee). Unitil Energy is scheduled to redeem approximately one-third of the principal amount of the bonds on March 2 in each year commencing March 2, 2018 and ending March 2, 2020. The other terms of the bonds are set forth in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and form of bond, which are attached as Exhibit 4.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The net proceeds from both sales will be used to repay outstanding short-term indebtedness incurred for additions, extensions and betterments to utility property, plant and equipment.

Both sales were exempt from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The notes and bonds may or will become immediately due upon an event of default, as described in the Note Purchase Agreement and the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, respectively.

A press release announcing the sale of the notes and the bonds is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

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

The disclosure in Item 1.01 is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits


Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  4.1    Form of Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Northern and the several purchasers named therein.
  4.2    Form of Note issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Northern and the several purchasers named therein.
  4.3    Form of Bond Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Unitil Energy and the several purchasers named therein.
  4.4    Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated March 2, 2010 between Unitil Energy and U.S. Bank National Association (as trustee).
  4.5    Form of Bond issued pursuant to the Bond Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Unitil Energy and the several purchasers named therein.
99.1    Press Release dated March 4, 2010.


SIGNATURES

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

 

UNITIL CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/    MARK H. COLLIN        

 

Mark H. Collin

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date: March 8, 2010


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  4.1    Form of Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Northern and the several purchasers named therein.
  4.2    Form of Note issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Northern and the several purchasers named therein.
  4.3    Form of Bond Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Unitil Energy and the several purchasers named therein.
  4.4    Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated March 2, 2010 between Unitil Energy and U.S. Bank National Association (as trustee).
  4.5    Form of Bond issued pursuant to the Bond Purchase Agreement dated as of March 2, 2010 by and among Unitil Energy and the several purchasers named therein.
99.1    Press Release dated March 4, 2010.
EX-4.1 2 dex41.htm FORM OF NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT Form of Note Purchase Agreement

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

NORTHERN UTILITIES, INC.

$25,000,000 5.29% Senior Notes

due March 2, 2020

 

 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of March 2, 2010

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION

  

HEADING

   PAGE

SECTION 1.    AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES

   1

SECTION 2.    SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES

   1

SECTION 3.    CLOSING

   1

SECTION 4.    CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

   2

Section 4.1.

   Representations and Warranties    2

Section 4.2.

   Performance; No Default    2

Section 4.3.

   Compliance Certificates    2

Section 4.4.

   Opinions of Counsel    2

Section 4.5.

   Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, Etc    3

Section 4.6.

   Sale of Other Notes    3

Section 4.7.

   Payment of Special Counsel Fees    3

Section 4.8.

   Private Placement Number    3

Section 4.9.

   Changes in Corporate Structure    3

Section 4.10.

   Funding Instructions    3

Section 4.11.

   Proceedings and Documents    4

Section 4.12.

   Regulatory Approvals    4

SECTION 5.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

   4

Section 5.1.

   Organization; Power and Authority    4

Section 5.2.

   Authorization, Etc    4

Section 5.3.

   Disclosure    4

Section 5.4.

   Organization and Ownership of Shares of the Company and Subsidiaries; Affiliates    5

Section 5.5.

   Financial Statements; Material Liabilities    6

Section 5.6.

   Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc    6

Section 5.7.

   Governmental Authorizations, Etc    6

Section 5.8.

   Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders    6

Section 5.9.

   Taxes    7

Section 5.10.

   Title to Property; Leases    7

Section 5.11.

   Licenses, Permits, Etc    7

Section 5.12.

   Compliance with ERISA    8

Section 5.13.

   Private Offering by the Company    8

Section 5.14.

   Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations    9

Section 5.15.

   Existing Funded Indebtedness; Future Liens    9

Section 5.16.

   Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc    9

Section 5.17.

   Status under Certain Statutes    10

 

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Section 5.18.

   Environmental Matters    10

Section 5.19.

   Notes Rank Pari Passu    10

Section 5.20.

   Solvency and Consideration    10

SECTION 6.    REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS

   11

Section 6.1.

   Purchase for Investment    11

Section 6.2.

   Source of Funds    11

Section 6.3.

   Binding Effect    13

Section 6.4.

   Access to Information; Knowledge and Experience    13

SECTION 7.    INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY

   13

Section 7.1.

   Financial and Business Information    13

Section 7.2.

   Officer’s Certificate    16

Section 7.3.

   Visitation    16

SECTION 8.    PAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES

   16

Section 8.1.

   Required Prepayments    16

Section 8.2.

   Optional Prepayments    17

Section 8.3.

   Allocation of Partial Prepayments    17

Section 8.4.

   Maturity; Surrender, Etc    17

Section 8.5.

   Purchase of Notes    17

Section 8.6.

   Make-Whole Amount    18

SECTION 9.    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

   19

Section 9.1.

   Compliance with Law    19

Section 9.2.

   Insurance    19

Section 9.3.

   Maintenance of Properties    20

Section 9.4.

   Payment of Taxes and Claims    20

Section 9.5.

   Corporate Existence, Etc.; Ownership of Subsidiaries    20

Section 9.6.

   Books and Records    20

Section 9.7.

   Notes to Rank Pari Passu    20

Section 9.8.

   Guarantors    21

SECTION 10.    NEGATIVE COVENANTS

   22

Section 10.1.

   Limitation on Funded Indebtedness    22

Section 10.2.

   Limitation on Liens    23

Section 10.3.

   Transactions with Affiliates    26

Section 10.4.

   Merger or Consolidation; Sale or Transfer of Assets    26

Section 10.5.

   Restrictions on Dividends    27

Section 10.6.

   Line of Business    27

Section 10.7.

   Terrorism Sanctions Regulations    27

SECTION 11.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT

   28

 

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Section 12. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC

   29

Section 12.1.

   Acceleration    29

Section 12.2.

   Other Remedies    30

Section 12.3.

   Rescission    30

Section 12.4.

   No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, Etc    30

Section 13. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES

   31

Section 13.1.

   Registration of Notes    31

Section 13.2.

   Transfer and Exchange of Notes    31

Section 13.3.

   Replacement of Notes    31

Section 14. PAYMENTS ON NOTES

   32

Section 14.1.

   Place of Payment    32

Section 14.2.

   Home Office Payment    32

Section 15. EXPENSES, ETC

   33

Section 15.1.

   Transaction Expenses    33

Section 15.2.

   Survival    33

Section 16. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

   33

Section 17. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

   33

Section 17.1.

   Requirements    33

Section 17.2.

   Solicitation of Holders of Notes    34

Section 17.3.

   Binding Effect, Etc    34

Section 17.4.

   Notes Held by Company, Etc    35

Section 18. NOTICES

   35

Section 19. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

   35

Section 20. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

   36

Section 21. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER

   37

Section 22. MISCELLANEOUS

   37

Section 22.1.

   Successors and Assigns    37

Section 22.2.

   Payments Due on Non-Business Days    37

Section 22.3.

   Accounting Terms    38

Section 22.4.

   Severability    38

 

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Section 22.5.

   Construction, Etc    38

Section 22.6.

   Counterparts    38

Section 22.7.

   Governing Law    38

Section 22.8.

   Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial    38

Signature

   40

 

-iv-


SCHEDULE A

   —      Information Relating to Purchasers

SCHEDULE B

   —      Defined Terms

SCHEDULE 5.3

   —      Disclosure Materials

SCHEDULE 5.4

   —      Organization and Ownership of Shares and Subsidiaries

SCHEDULE 5.5

   —      Financial Statements

SCHEDULE 5.15

   —      Existing Indebtedness

EXHIBIT 1

   —      Form of 5.29% Senior Note due March 2, 2020

EXHIBIT 4.4(a)

   —      Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Company

EXHIBIT 4.4(b)

   —      Form of Opinion of Gary Epler, Chief Regulatory Counsel for Unitil Service Corp.

EXHIBIT 4.4(c)

   —      Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers

 

-v-


NORTHERN UTILITIES, INC.

6 Liberty Lane West

Hampton, New Hampshire 03842-1720

$25,000,000 5.29% Senior Notes

due March 2, 2020

Dated as of March 2, 2010

TO EACH OF THE PURCHASERS LISTED IN

SCHEDULE A HERETO:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Northern Utilities, Inc., a New Hampshire corporation (the “Company”), agrees with each of the purchasers whose names appear at the end hereof (each, a “Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Purchasers”) as follows:

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES.

The Company will authorize the issue and sale of $25,000,000 principal amount of its 5.29% Senior Notes due March 2, 2020 (the “Notes”, such term to include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13). The Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1, with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by each Purchaser and the Company. Certain capitalized and other terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B; and references to a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.

SECTION 2. SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will issue and sell to each Purchaser and each Purchaser will purchase from the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section 3, Notes in the principal amount specified opposite such Purchaser’s name in Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof. The Purchasers’ obligations hereunder are several and not joint obligations and no Purchaser shall have any liability to any Person for the performance or non-performance of any obligation by any other Purchaser hereunder.

SECTION 3. CLOSING.

The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by each Purchaser shall occur at the offices of Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 at 10:00 a.m., Central time, at a closing (the “Closing”) on March 2, 2010 or on such other


Business Day thereafter on or prior to March 31, 2010 as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Purchasers. At the Closing the Company will deliver to each Purchaser the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $100,000 as such Purchaser may request) dated the date of the Closing and registered in such Purchaser’s name (or in the name of its nominee), against delivery by such Purchaser to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds to account number 004622844048 at Bank of America, General Funds, ABA number 026 009 593, for the account of Northern Utilities, Inc. If at the Closing the Company shall fail to tender such Notes to any Purchaser as provided above in this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section 4 shall not have been fulfilled to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, such Purchaser shall, at its election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights such Purchaser may have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

SECTION 4. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

Each Purchaser’s obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to such Purchaser at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

Section 4.1. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

Section 4.2. Performance; No Default. The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated by Section 5.14) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited by Section 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 or 10.5 had such Sections applied since such date.

Section 4.3. Compliance Certificates.

(a) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.9 have been fulfilled.

(b) Secretary’s Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser a certificate of its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, dated the date of Closing, certifying as to the resolutions attached thereto and other corporate proceedings relating to the authorization, execution and delivery of the Notes and this Agreement.

Section 4.4. Opinions of Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received opinions in form and substance satisfactory to such Purchaser, dated the date of the Closing (a) from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, counsel for the Company, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(a) and

 

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covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated hereby as such Purchaser or its counsel may reasonably request (and the Company hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinion to the Purchasers), (b) from Gary Epler, Chief Regulatory Counsel for Unitil Service Corp., covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(b) and covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated hereby as such Purchaser or its counsel may reasonably request (and the Company hereby instructs Gary Epler to deliver such opinion to the Purchasers) and (c) from Chapman and Cutler LLP, the Purchasers’ special counsel in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.4(c) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as such Purchaser may reasonably request.

Section 4.5. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, Etc. On the date of the Closing such Purchaser’s purchase of Notes shall (a) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which such Purchaser is subject, without recourse to provisions (such as section 1405(a)(8) of the New York Insurance Law) permitting limited investments by insurance companies without restriction as to the character of the particular investment, (b) not violate any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and (c) not subject such Purchaser to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date hereof. If requested by such Purchaser, such Purchaser shall have received an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as such Purchaser may reasonably specify to enable such Purchaser to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

Section 4.6. Sale of Other Notes. Contemporaneously with the Closing the Company shall sell to each other Purchaser and each other Purchaser shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by it at the Closing as specified in Schedule A.

Section 4.7. Payment of Special Counsel Fees. Without limiting the provisions of Section 15.1, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of the Purchasers’ special counsel referred to in Section 4.4 to the extent reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the Closing.

Section 4.8. Private Placement Number. A Private Placement Number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the SVO) shall have been obtained for the Notes.

Section 4.9. Changes in Corporate Structure. The Company shall not have changed its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable, or been a party to any merger or consolidation or succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.5.

Section 4.10. Funding Instructions. At least three Business Days prior to the date of the Closing, each Purchaser shall have received written instructions signed by a Responsible Officer on letterhead of the Company confirming the information specified in Section 3 including (i) the name and address of the transferee bank, (ii) such transferee bank’s ABA number and (iii) the account name and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to be deposited.

 

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Section 4.11. Proceedings and Documents. All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to such Purchaser and its special counsel, and such Purchaser and its special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as such Purchaser or such special counsel may reasonably request.

Section 4.12. Regulatory Approvals. The issue and sale of the Notes shall have been duly authorized by order of the NHPUC, the MPUC and such other regulatory authorities as may have jurisdiction, such order(s) shall be in full force and effect at the time of the Closing and any appeal periods applicable thereto shall have expired with no appeals filed during such periods.

SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

The Company represents and warrants to each Purchaser that:

Section 5.1. Organization; Power and Authority. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Notes and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

Section 5.2. Authorization, Etc. This Agreement and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

Section 5.3. Disclosure. The Company, through its agent, Banc of America Securities LLC or RBC Capital Markets Corporation, has delivered to each Purchaser a copy of a confidential Private Placement Memorandum, dated December, 2009 (the “Memorandum”), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries. This Agreement, the Memorandum and the documents, certificates or other writings delivered to the Purchasers by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and identified in Schedule 5.3, and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5 (this Agreement, the Memorandum and such documents, certificates or

 

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other writings identified in Schedule 5.3 and such financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5 delivered to each Purchaser being referred to, collectively, as the “Disclosure Documents”), taken as a whole, do not, as of their respective dates, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, since December 31, 2008, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Company that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Disclosure Documents.

Section 5.4. Organization and Ownership of Shares of the Company and Subsidiaries; Affiliates. (a) Schedule 5.4 contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists (i) of the Company’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization, and the percentage of shares of each class of its capital stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary, (ii) of the Company’s Affiliates, other than Subsidiaries, and (iii) of the Company’s directors and senior officers.

(b) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of each Subsidiary shown in Schedule 5.4 as being owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of any Lien (except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.4).

(c) Each Subsidiary identified in Schedule 5.4 is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such Subsidiary has the corporate or other power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease and to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any legal, regulatory, contractual or other restriction (other than this Agreement, the agreements listed on Schedule 5.4 and customary limitations imposed by corporate or utility regulatory law or similar statutes) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary in an amount substantially inconsistent with the past practice of such Subsidiary.

(e) The Company is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Unitil.

 

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Section 5.5. Financial Statements; Material Liabilities. The Company has delivered to each Purchaser copies of the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.5. All of said financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and notes) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates specified in such Schedule and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments). The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any Material liabilities that are not disclosed on such financial statements or otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Documents except liabilities, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.6. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, or any other Material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.7. Governmental Authorizations, Etc. The Company is subject to regulation by the NHPUC and the MPUC with respect to retail rates, adequacy of service, issuance of securities, accounting and other matters and to regulation by FERC under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in regards to certain bookkeeping, accounting and reporting requirements. The issuance and sale of the Notes have been authorized by an order of the NHPUC and an order of the MPUC, which orders have each become final and the applicable waiting or appeal periods (including any extension thereof) have expired with no appeals filed during such periods. No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Notes other than the orders of the NHPUC and MPUC referenced above.

Section 5.8. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders. (a) Other than as described below and except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, there are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any property of the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this Agreement, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) is auditing Unitil and its subsidiaries (including the Company) in relation to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

 

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(b) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including without limitation Environmental Laws or the USA Patriot Act) of any Governmental Authority, which default or violation, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.9. Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount, applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of income taxes for all fiscal periods are recognized in accordance with GAAP, and, except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, the Company knows of no unpaid assessment for additional income taxes for any fiscal period or any basis therefore. The federal income tax liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been finally determined (whether by reason of completed audits or the statute of limitations having run) for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. As of the date of this Agreement, the IRS is auditing Unitil and its subsidiaries (including the Company) in relation to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Company does not believe the outcome of the foregoing IRS audit will have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.10. Title to Property; Leases. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 5.5 or purported to have been acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement, except for those defects in title and Liens that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects.

Section 5.11. Licenses, Permits, Etc. (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, proprietary software, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others, except for those conflicts that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) To the knowledge of the Company, there is no Material violation by any Person of any right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any patent, copyright, proprietary software, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.12. Compliance with ERISA. (a) The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions, or to Code section 401(a)(29) or 412, as augmented by Code sections 436 and 430, respectively, effective January 1, 2008, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.

(b) None of the Plans that are subject to the minimum funding requirements of section 412 of the Code or section 302 of ERISA, nor any trust established thereunder, have incurred any “accumulated funding deficiency” or “liquidity shortfall” (as those terms are defined in section 302 of ERISA or section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived.

(c) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

(d) The postretirement benefit obligations (determined as of the last day of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by section 4980B of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been determined in accordance with GAAP and are reflected in footnote 8 of the Company’s audited financial statements for its most recently ended fiscal year.

(e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes hereunder will not involve any transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975(c)(1)(A)–(D) of the Code. The representation by the Company to each Purchaser in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of such Purchaser’s representation in Section 6.2 as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser.

Section 5.13. Private Offering by the Company. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Notes or any similar securities for sale to, solicited any offer to buy

 

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any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other than the Purchasers and not more than thirty (30) other Institutional Investors, each of which has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of section 5 of the Securities Act or to the registration requirements of any securities or blue sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

Section 5.14. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. The Company will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Notes as set forth in Section I(B) of the Memorandum. No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220). The Company does not own or carry any margin stock. As used in this Section, the terms “margin stock” and “purpose of buying or carrying” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

Section 5.15. Existing Funded Indebtedness; Future Liens. (a) Except as described therein, Schedule 5.15 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 (including a description of the obligors and obligees, principal amount outstanding and collateral therefor, if any, and Guaranty thereof, if any), since which date there has been no Material change in the amounts, interest rates, sinking funds, installment payments or maturities of the Indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by Section 10.2.

(c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Funded Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary, any agreement relating thereto or any other agreement (including, but not limited to, its charter or other organizational document) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, Funded Indebtedness of the Company.

Section 5.16. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc. (a) Neither the sale of the Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto.

 

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(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is a Person named on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or with whom people of the United States are restricted from doing business with under section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) engages in any dealings or transactions with any such Person. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA Patriot Act.

(c) No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

Section 5.17. Status under Certain Statutes. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the ICC Termination Act of 1995, as amended, or the Federal Power Act, as amended. The Company is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, as amended, and the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as amended.

Section 5.18. Environmental Matters. (a) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any claim or has received any notice of any claim, and no proceeding has been instituted raising any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or other assets, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any Environmental Laws, except, in each case, such as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, all buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.19. Notes Rank Pari Passu. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement and the Notes rank pari passu in right of payment with all other senior unsecured Funded Indebtedness (actual or contingent) of the Company.

Section 5.20. Solvency and Consideration. On the date of Closing, after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds as contemplated by Section 5.14 hereof, the Company is solvent, has capital not unreasonably small in relation to its business or any contemplated or undertaken transaction and has assets having a value both at fair valuation and a present fair salable value greater than the amount required to pay its debts as they become due and greater than the amount that will be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts as they become due and matured. The Company does not intend to incur, nor does it believe, nor should it believe that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due. The Company will not be rendered insolvent by the execution, delivery and performance of its obligations under or in respect of the Notes or this Agreement. The Company does not intend to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors by or through the execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under or in respect of the Notes or this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 6. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

Section 6.1. Purchase for Investment.

(a) Each Purchaser severally represents that it (i) is an institutional “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act, (ii) is not an “underwriter” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and (iii) is purchasing the Notes for its own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by such Purchaser or for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of such Purchaser’s or their property shall at all times be within such Purchaser’s or their control.

(b) Each Purchaser understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to and does not intend to register the Notes.

(c) Each Purchaser understands that the Notes will bear a legend, prominently stamped or printed thereon, reading substantially as follows:

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO DISTRIBUTION OR RESALE, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, MORTGAGED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR THE AVAILABILITY OF AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

Section 6.2. Source of Funds. Each Purchaser severally represents that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “Source”) to be used by such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser hereunder:

(a) the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption (“PTE”) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the NAIC (the “NAIC Annual Statement”)) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained

 

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by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile; or

(b) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

(c) the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1 or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or

(d) the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (within the meaning of Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”)) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (within the meaning of Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, as of the last day of its most recent calendar quarter, the QPAM does not own a 10% or more interest in the Company and no person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 20% or more interest in the Company (or less than 20% but greater than 10%, if such person exercises control over the management or policies of the Company by reason of its ownership interest) and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (d); or

(e) the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption”)) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in section IV(d) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (e); or

 

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(f) the Source is a governmental plan; or

(g) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (g); or

(h) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

As used in this Section 6.2, the terms “employee benefit plan,” “governmental plan,” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in section 3 of ERISA.

Section 6.3. Binding Effect. Each Purchaser severally represents that this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and this Agreement constitutes its valid and legally binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

Section 6.4. Access to Information; Knowledge and Experience. Each Purchaser severally represents that it (i) has been furnished with or has had access to the information requested from the Company, (ii) has had an opportunity to discuss with management of the Company the business and financial affairs of the Company and (iii) has such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters and with respect to investments in securities similar to the Notes that it is capable of evaluating the risks and merits of this investment.

SECTION 7. INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY.

Section 7.1. Financial and Business Information. So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

(a) Quarterly Statements —

(i) within 90 days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

(A) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(B) consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

(ii) within 90 days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of Unitil (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

 

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(A) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Unitil and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and

(B) consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of Unitil and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, provided that delivery within the time period specified above of copies of Unitil’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Form 10-Q”) prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the SEC shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of Section 7.1(a)(ii), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10-Q if Unitil shall have timely made such Form 10-Q available on “EDGAR” or on its home page on the worldwide web (at the date of this Agreement located at, respectively, http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml and http://www.unitil.com) (such availability being referred to as “Electronic Delivery”);

(b) Annual Statements —

(i) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, duplicate copies of

(A) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year, and

(B) consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year,

(ii) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of Unitil, duplicate copies of

(A) a consolidated balance sheet of Unitil and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year, and

(B) consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of Unitil and its Subsidiaries for such year,

(C) setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by a report thereon of independent public accountants of

 

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recognized national standing, which report shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their results of operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such report in the circumstances

provided that the delivery within the time period specified above of Unitil’s Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) for such fiscal year (together with Unitil’s annual report to shareholders, if any, prepared pursuant to Rule 14a-3 under the Exchange Act) prepared in accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the SEC, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of Section 7.1(b)(ii), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10-K if Unitil shall have timely made Electronic Delivery thereof;

(c) SEC and Other Reports — promptly upon their becoming available, one copy of (i) each proxy statement, financial statement, or report sent by the Company, Unitil or any Subsidiary to its public securities holders generally, and (ii) each regular or periodic report, each registration statement (without exhibits, and each prospectus and all amendments thereto filed by the Company, Unitil or any Subsidiary with the SEC; provided that copies of any such documents required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (c) may be delivered by Electronic Delivery;

(d) Notice of Default or Event of Default — promptly, and in any event within five days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in Section 11(e), a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(e) Material Adverse Events — promptly upon the occurrence thereof, notice of any event, circumstance or condition which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes; and

(f) Requested Information — with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company, Unitil or any of their respective Subsidiaries (including, but without limitation, actual copies of Unitil’s Form 10-Q and Form 10-K) or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Notes as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.

 

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Section 7.2. Officer’s Certificate. Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(i) or Section 7.1(b)(i) shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth:

(a) Covenant Compliance — the information (including detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 10.1 (to the extent Funded Indebtedness is incurred during the period covered by such certificate) and 10.5, during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and

(b) Event of Default — a statement that such Senior Financial Officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof 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.

Section 7.3. Visitation. The Company shall permit the representatives of each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor, at such Institutional Investor’s expense, to visit and inspect any of the principal executive offices of the Company or any Subsidiary, including its books of account, to request copies and extracts therefrom and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) independent public accountants, all at such reasonable times during customary business hours and as often as may reasonably be requested. Each holder of the Notes agrees to keep confidential any Confidential Information received as a result of the rights granted in this Section 7 in the manner provided in Section 20.

SECTION 8. PAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

Section 8.1. Required Prepayments. The Company agrees that on March 2 in each year commencing March 2, 2018 and ending March 2, 2020, it will redeem and there shall become due and payable on the principal indebtedness evidenced by the Notes an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $8,400,000 or (ii) the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

In the event that the Company shall prepay less than all of the Notes pursuant to any optional sinking fund payment or Section 8.2, or shall purchase less than all of the Notes pursuant to Section 8.5, the amounts of the prepayments in respect of the Notes required by this Section 8.1 shall be deemed to be applied first, to the amount of principal scheduled to be paid on the maturity date, and then to the remaining scheduled required sinking payments in inverse chronological order.

 

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Section 8.2. Optional Prepayments. The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes (but if in part then in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $100,000), at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of such prepayment, plus the Make-Whole Amount determined for the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount.

The Company will give each holder of Notes written notice of each optional prepayment under this Section 8.2 not less than 15 days and not more than 45 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such 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 8.3), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount, if any, as of the specified prepayment date.

Section 8.3. Allocation of Partial Prepayments. In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes pursuant to Section 8.2, the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated pro rata among all of the holders of the Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

Section 8.4. Maturity; Surrender, Etc. In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section 8, the principal amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment (which shall be a Business Day), together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note.

Section 8.5. Purchase of Notes. The Company will not and will not permit any Affiliate to purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except (a) upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes or (b) pursuant to an offer to purchase any outstanding Notes made by the Company or an Affiliate pro rata to the holders of all Notes at the time outstanding upon the same terms and conditions; provided that any such offer pursuant to this clause (b) shall provide each holder with reasonably sufficient information to enable it to make an informed decision and shall remain open for at least ten Business Days. The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment or prepayment of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

 

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Section 8.6. Make-Whole Amount.

“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

“Called Principal” means, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.

“Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

“Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” (or such other display as may replace Page PX1) on Bloomberg Financial Markets for the most recently issued actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date.

In the case of each determination under clause (i) or clause (ii), as the case may be, of the preceding paragraph, such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the applicable U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the applicable U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life. The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the interest rate of the applicable Note.

 

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“Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Notes, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 12.1.

“Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.

SECTION 9. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

Section 9.1. Compliance with Law. Without limiting Section 10.7, the Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, ERISA, the USA Patriot Act and Environmental Laws, and will obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or the failure to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 9.2. Insurance. The Company will insure and keep insured, and will cause every Subsidiary to insure and keep insured, to a reasonable amount with reputable insurance companies, so much of their respective properties as companies engaged in a similar business and to the extent such companies in accordance with good business practice customarily insure properties of a similar character against loss by fire and from other causes or, in lieu thereof, in the case of itself or its Subsidiaries, the Company will maintain or cause to be maintained a system or systems of self-insurance which will accord with the approved practices of companies owning or operating properties of a similar character and maintaining such systems, and of a size similar to that of the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

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Section 9.3. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this Section shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Company has concluded that such discontinuance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 9.4. Payment of Taxes and Claims. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, file all tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent the same have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Company or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Company or a Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the Company or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies and claims in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 9.5. Corporate Existence, Etc.; Ownership of Subsidiaries. (a) Subject to Section 10.4(ii) the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. Subject to Section 10.4, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the legal existence of each of its Subsidiaries (unless merged into the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) and all rights and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such legal existence, right or franchise would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except pursuant to an action or order by a Governmental Authority, the Company shall at all times be and remain a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Unitil.

Section 9.6. Books and Records. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account in conformity with GAAP and all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having legal or regulatory jurisdiction over the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

Section 9.7. Notes to Rank Pari Passu. The Company will ensure that its payment obligations under this Agreement and the Notes will at all times rank at least pari passu, without preference or priority, with all other senior unsecured Funded Indebtedness of the Company.

 

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Section 9.8. Guarantors. (a) If, at any time, any Person (other than the Company) (a “Bank Guarantor”) is required by the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement to become a borrower or obligor under, or to otherwise guarantee Indebtedness outstanding under, the Bank Credit Agreement, then (x) the Company shall, not less than 10 Business Days prior to the effectiveness thereof, give written notice (a “Section 9.8 Notice”) of such fact to the holders of the Notes, and (y) the Required Holders shall have the right to require the Company to cause such Bank Guarantor to concurrently (or, with the consent of the Required Holders, thereafter) deliver to each of the holders of the Notes a Guaranty Agreement or joinder agreement in respect of an existing Guaranty Agreement, as appropriate, together with each of the following items:

(i) an executed counterpart of such Guaranty Agreement or joinder agreement in respect of an existing Guaranty Agreement, as appropriate;

(ii) a certificate signed by the President, a Vice President or another authorized Responsible Officer of such Person making representations and warranties to the effect of those contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.6 and 5.7, but with respect to such Person and such Guaranty Agreement, as applicable;

(iii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying that at such time and after giving effect to the execution and delivery of such Guaranty Agreement or joinder agreement, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) such documents and evidence with respect to such Person as the Required Holders may reasonably request in order to establish the existence and good standing of such Person and the authorization of the transactions contemplated by such Guaranty Agreement; and

(v) an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Required Holders to the effect that such Guaranty Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding contract and agreement of such Person enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as an enforcement of such terms may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

In addition to the foregoing, if the Bank Credit Agreement shall contain (or be amended to contain) covenants, reporting obligations or events of default related to such Bank Guarantor, then the Company shall deliver an amendment to this Agreement to add similar covenants, reporting obligations and events of default related to such Bank Guarantor for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, and until such time as such amendment is delivered, this Agreement shall be deemed, without any action on the part of the parties hereto, to be amended to include such additional covenants, reporting obligations and events of default as if set forth herein in full. If the Bank Credit Agreement shall cease to contain such covenants, reporting obligations or events of default related to such Bank Guarantor, then the Company and the holders of the Notes shall deliver an amendment to this Agreement to remove such similar covenants, reporting obligations and events of default related to such Bank Guarantor, and until such time as such amendment is

 

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delivered, this Agreement shall be deemed, without any action on the part of the parties hereto, to be amended to exclude such covenants, reporting obligations and events of default as if set forth herein in full.

The Section 9.8 Notice shall describe the guaranty or other obligation being provided under the Bank Credit Agreement and refer to this Section 9.8 and the right of the Required Holders to require the Company to cause such Person to concurrently deliver a Guaranty Agreement hereunder. The Required Holders shall, as soon as practicable after receiving the Section 9.8 Notice, deliver to the Company a written notice (a “Notice of Election”) of their election, if any, to require a Guaranty Agreement hereunder; provided, that failure of the Required Holders to deliver a Notice of Election prior to the delivery of the guaranty or other obligation under the Bank Credit Agreement shall not preclude the Required Holders from thereafter delivering a Notice of Election and requiring the delivery of a Guaranty Agreement hereunder.

(b) The holders of the Notes agree to release any Guarantor from the Guaranty Agreement upon the written request of the Company or such Guarantor; provided that (i) such Guarantor has been released and discharged (or will be released and discharged concurrently with the release of the Guarantor) under and in respect of the Bank Credit Agreement and (ii) at the time of such release and discharge and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall exist, and the Company shall deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer to the holders of the Notes to the effect of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii). If the Company shall pay any fee or other form of consideration (other than customary fees paid in connection with an amendment, restatement or refinancing of the Bank Credit Agreement in the ordinary course of business) to any holder of Indebtedness of the Company expressly for the purpose of obtaining such release, then the Company shall pay an equivalent fee or other consideration to the holders of the Notes.

SECTION 10. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

Section 10.1. Limitation on Funded Indebtedness. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Funded Indebtedness other than:

(i) Funded Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes;

(ii) additional Funded Indebtedness, so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Funded Indebtedness, after giving effect to the application of the proceeds thereof (subject to the proviso set forth hereafter) and when added to all other Funded Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis) then outstanding, does not exceed 65% of the Total Capitalization; provided, that in giving effect to the application of such proceeds, only applications which are substantially contemporaneous with the incurrence of such additional Funded Indebtedness shall be given such effect, except that if the application of such proceeds involves the redemption of other securities of the Company, and such redemption cannot

 

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be made substantially contemporaneously with the incurrence of such additional Funded Indebtedness, then such intended redemption shall nevertheless be given effect for purposes hereof if either (1) the Company shall have given irrevocable written notice of redemption of such other securities to the holders thereof at or prior to the time of the incurrence of such additional Funded Indebtedness and such redemption is thereafter made in accordance with the terms of such notice, or (2) if such notice was not permitted to be given at or prior to the time of the incurrence of such additional Funded Indebtedness and the redemption will occur within 180 days after such incurrence, then (A) the proceeds of such Funded Indebtedness to be used for such redemption shall have been set aside in an escrow or trust account with a United States bank or other financial institution having capital and surplus of at least $35,000,000, together with written instructions to the escrow agent or trustee to send notice of redemption of such securities provided by the Company to the holders thereof in accordance with the terms of such securities and thereafter to use such proceeds for such redemption in accordance with the terms of such notice, such escrow or trust account to also provide (x) that the funds set aside therein are not to be released to or for the benefit of the Company except for the purpose of accomplishing the redemption contemplated thereby, or with the prior written consent of all holders of Notes then outstanding, and (y) that if the funds set aside therein are invested in securities by such bank or financial institution, they shall be invested only in direct obligations of the United States of America maturing in not more than 180 days, and (B) unless otherwise agreed to in writing by all of the holders of Notes then outstanding, the redemption to be funded from such escrow or trust account is actually made in accordance with the terms under which such escrow or trust account is established.

(b) In addition to the limitations contained in Section 10.1(a), no Subsidiary shall create, incur, assume or become liable for or have outstanding, or permit its property to be subject to a Lien securing any Funded Indebtedness if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent transaction, the aggregate amount of all Funded Indebtedness of all Subsidiaries would exceed 20% of Total Shareholders’ Equity.

(c) For the purposes of this Section 10.1, any Person becoming a Subsidiary after the date hereof shall be deemed, at the time it becomes a Subsidiary, to have incurred all of its then outstanding Indebtedness, and any Person extending, renewing or refunding any Indebtedness shall be deemed to have incurred such Indebtedness at the time of such extension, renewal or refunding.

Section 10.2. Limitation on Liens. Except as hereinafter in this Section expressly permitted, the Company will not at any time, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, assume or suffer to exist, except in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary, any Lien upon any of its properties or assets, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or of or upon any income or profits therefrom, without making effective provision, and the Company covenants that in any such case it will make or cause to be made effective provision, whereby the Notes then outstanding shall be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with any and all other Indebtedness to be secured thereby, so long as any such other Indebtedness shall be so secured.

 

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Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent the Company or a Subsidiary from creating, assuming or suffering to exist, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are hereby expressly permitted to create, assume or suffer to exist, without securing the Notes as hereinabove provided, Liens of the following character:

(a) any purchase money mortgage or other Lien existing on any property of the Company or a Subsidiary at the time of acquisition, whether or not assumed, or created contemporaneously with the acquisition or construction of property, to secure or provide for the payment of the purchase or construction price of such property, and any conditional sales agreement or other title retention agreement with respect to any property hereafter acquired; provided, however, that (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by all such mortgages and other Liens on a particular parcel of property shall not exceed 100% of the lesser of the total cost or fair market value at the time of the acquisition or construction of such property, including the improvements thereon (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company or the relevant Subsidiary) and (ii) all such Indebtedness shall have been incurred within the applicable limitations provided in Section 10.1;

(b) refundings or extensions of any Lien permitted by this Section 10.2 for amounts not exceeding the principal amount of the Indebtedness so refunded or extended at the time of the refunding or extension thereof, and covering only the same property theretofore securing the same;

(c) deposits, Liens or pledges to enable the Company or a Subsidiary to exercise any privilege or license, or to secure payment of worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions or other social security, or to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts or leases to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party, or to secure public or statutory obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary, or to secure surety, stay or appeal bonds to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party; or other similar deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course of business;

(d) mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, materialmen’s or carrier’s liens or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business; or deposits or pledges to obtain the release of any such Liens;

(e) Liens arising out of judgments or awards against the Company or a Subsidiary (i) which judgments or awards are discharged by the Company within 30 days after entry thereof; (ii) with respect to which the Company or a Subsidiary shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured; or (iii) Liens incurred by the Company or a Subsidiary for the purpose of obtaining a stay or discharge in the course of any legal proceeding to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party;

(f) Liens for taxes (i) not yet subject to penalties for non-payment or (ii) being contested, provided, payment thereof is not required by Section 9.4;

 

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(g) Minor survey exceptions, or minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties, which encumbrances, easements, reservations, rights and restrictions do not in the aggregate Materially detract from the value of said properties or Materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company or a Subsidiary;

(h) Liens incurred in connection with the lease of conversion burners and water heaters to customers;

(i) Liens on property acquired through the merger or consolidation of another utility company with or into, or the purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of another utility company by, the Company or a Subsidiary, provided that such Lien does not extend to other property of the Company or a Subsidiary;

(j) pledges, assignments and other security devices entered into in connection with the financing or refinancing of customers’ conditional sales contracts;

(k) Liens securing short-term Indebtedness incurred in connection with the purchase and sale of gas and/or energy supply (including transportation charges) or Guaranties in respect of obligations under such contracts; provided that, such Liens attach solely to such gas or energy supply;

(l) unsecured contractual rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with funds contributed and borrowed under the Cash Pooling and Loan Agreement, to the extent advances from the Cash Pool (as defined in the Cash Pooling and Loan Agreement) are used for the purpose of purchasing gas and/or energy supply; provided that, if at any time any Liens are granted to secure such contractual rights, such Liens shall attach solely to such gas or energy supply; and

(m) Liens created or incurred after the date of Closing, in addition to those otherwise permitted by this Section 10.2, securing Indebtedness (other than the principal credit facilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries) which does not exceed in the aggregate $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding; provided that all such Indebtedness shall have been incurred within the applicable limitations provided in Section 10.1.

If at any time the Company or a Subsidiary shall create or assume any Lien not permitted by this Section, to which the covenant to secure the Notes in the first paragraph of this Section 10.2 is applicable, the Company will promptly deliver to each holder of record of the Notes then outstanding:

(x) an Officers’ Certificate stating that the covenant of the Company contained in the first paragraph of this Section 10.2 has been complied with; and

 

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(y) an opinion of counsel addressed to such holders to the effect that such covenant has been complied with, and that any instruments executed by the Company in the performance of such covenant comply with the requirements of such covenant.

Section 10.3. Transactions with Affiliates. The Company will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to enter into directly or indirectly any transaction or group of related transactions (including without limitation the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (other than the Company or another Subsidiary), except in the ordinary course and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate, except as may be necessary in order for the Company to comply with requirements of any applicable state or federal statute or regulation; provided, however, that if it is not possible to identify what terms would apply to a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate, such transaction shall be upon such terms as shall be fair and reasonable under the circumstances.

Section 10.4. Merger or Consolidation; Sale or Transfer of Assets. The Company will not (a) consolidate with or be a party to a merger with any other corporation or (b) sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company may consolidate, merge or otherwise combine with any other corporation (including, without limitation, Granite), or sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if

(i) the corporation which results from such consolidation, merger or combination or the corporation to which the Company sells, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its and its Subsidiaries’ assets (in either case, the “surviving corporation”) is either the Company (in the case of a merger, consolidation or combination), or, if not, is organized under the laws of any State of the United States or the District of Columbia,

(ii) in the event that the surviving corporation is not the Company, the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and the Notes are expressly assumed in writing by the surviving corporation and the surviving corporation shall furnish the holders of the Notes an opinion of counsel satisfactory to such holders to the effect that the instrument of assumption has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding contract and agreement of the surviving corporation enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement of such terms may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles, and

(iii) at the time of such consolidation, merger or combination or sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets, and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Company or the surviving corporation, as the case may be, could incur at least $1.00 of additional Funded Indebtedness pursuant to Section 10.1.

 

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Section 10.5. Restrictions on Dividends. (a) The Company will not except as hereinafter provided:

(i) declare or pay any dividend (other than dividends payable solely in shares of its own common stock); or

(ii) make any other distribution of cash, property or assets on any shares of any class of its capital stock or apply any of its cash, property or assets (other than amounts equal to net proceeds received from the sale of common stock of the Company subsequent to the date of this Agreement) to the purchase or retirement of, or make any other distribution, through reduction of capital or otherwise, in respect of any shares of its capital stock;

(which dividends, distributions, purchases and retirements are hereinafter referred to as “distributions”) if, after giving effect to such distribution, the aggregate amount of (1) all such distributions declared, paid, made or applied subsequent to January 1, 2009, plus (2) all regular dividends declared on any class of Preferred Stock of the Company subsequent to January 1, 2009 and all amounts charged to retained earnings after January 1, 2009 in connection with the purchase or retirement of any shares of Preferred Stock of the Company, would exceed an amount equal to the sum of (x) 100% of the Company’s Adjusted Net Income (Deficit) accumulated subsequent to January 1, 2009, plus (y) 100% of the net proceeds from any common or preferred equity issuances by the Company subsequent to January 1, 2009, plus (z) $10,000,000.

(b) For the purposes of this Section 10.5, the amount of any distribution declared, paid or distributed in property shall be deemed to be the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) of such property at the time of the making of the distribution in question.

Section 10.6. Line of Business. The Company will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to engage in any business if, as a result, the general nature of the business, taken on a consolidated basis, which would then be engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries would be substantially changed from the general nature of the business engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of this Agreement provided, however, the an expansion of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s service territory shall be deemed not to be a change from the general nature of the business engaged in by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Section 10.7. Terrorism Sanctions Regulations. The Company will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to (a) become a Person named on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or with whom the people of the United States are restricted from doing business with under section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (b) engage in any dealings or transactions with any such Person.

 

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SECTION 11. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

An “Event of Default” shall exist if any of the following conditions or events shall occur and be continuing:

(a) the Company defaults in the payment of any principal or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise; or

(b) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than five Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in any of Sections 7.1(d) or Section 10 or, if a Guaranty Agreement is in effect, any Guarantor defaults in the performance of or compliance with any Material term of the Guaranty Agreement; or

(d) the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein (other than those referred to in Sections 11(a), (b) and (c)) and such default is not remedied within 30 days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer obtaining actual knowledge of such default and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such default from any holder of a Note (any such written notice to be identified as a “notice of default” and to refer specifically to this Section 11(d)); or

(e) any representation or warranty made in writing by the Company or a Guarantor, if any, or by any officer of the Company or such Guarantor in this Agreement or in the Guaranty Agreement, as applicable, 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

(f)(i) the Company or any Subsidiary is in default (as principal or as guarantor or other surety) in the payment of any principal of or premium or make-whole amount or interest on any Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of at least $5,000,000 beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary is in default in the performance of or compliance with any term of any evidence of any Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of at least $5,000,000 or of any mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating thereto or any other condition exists, and as a consequence of such default or condition such Indebtedness has become, or has been declared (or one or more Persons are entitled to declare such Indebtedness to be), due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment, or (iii) as a consequence of the occurrence or continuation of any event or condition (other than the passage of time or the right of the holder of Indebtedness to convert such Indebtedness into equity interests), (x) the Company or any Subsidiary has become obligated to purchase or repay Indebtedness before its regular maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of at least $5,000,000, or (y) one or more Persons have the right to require the Company or any Subsidiary so to purchase or repay such Indebtedness; or

 

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(g) the Company or any Subsidiary (i) is generally not paying, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iv) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, (v) is adjudicated as insolvent or to be liquidated, or (vi) takes corporate action for the purpose of any of the foregoing; or

(h) a court or other Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization or any other petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any such petition shall be filed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and such petition shall not be dismissed within 60 days; or

(i) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $10,000,000 (in excess of insurance available therefor) are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within 60 days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within 60 days after the expiration of such stay; or

(j) if the Guaranty Agreement is in effect, the Guaranty Agreement ceases to be a legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation or contract of any Guarantor, or any Guarantor or any party by, through or on account of any such Guarantor, challenges the validity, binding nature or enforceability of the Guaranty Agreement.

SECTION 12. REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

Section 12.1. Acceleration. (a) If an Event of Default with respect to the Company described in Section 11(g) or (h) (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) of Section 11(g) or described in clause (vi) of Section 11(g) by virtue of the fact that such clause encompasses clause (i) of Section 11(g)) has occurred, all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable.

(b) If any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of at least 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may at any time at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.

 

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(c) If any Event of Default described in Section 11(a) or (b) has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of Notes at the time outstanding affected by such Event of Default may at any time, at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes held by it or them to be immediately due and payable.

Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under this Section 12.1, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, but not limited to, interest accrued thereon at the Default Rate) and (y) the Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived. The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Company in the event that the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default, is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.

Section 12.2. Other Remedies. If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared immediately due and payable under Section 12.1, the holder of any Note at the time outstanding may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

Section 12.3. Rescission. At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1(b) or (c), the holders of not less than 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid all overdue interest on the Notes, all principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Notes that are due and payable and are unpaid other than by reason of such declaration, and all interest on such overdue principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any overdue interest in respect of the Notes, at the Default Rate, (b) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section 17, and (c) no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes. No rescission and annulment under this Section 12.3 will extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 12.4. No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, Etc. No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies. No

 

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right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. Without limiting the obligations of the Company under Section 15, the Company will pay to the holder of each Note on demand such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all costs and expenses of such holder incurred in any enforcement or collection under this Section 12, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses and disbursements.

SECTION 13. REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

Section 13.1. Registration of Notes. The Company shall keep at its principal executive office, or at such other office the address of which the Company may hereafter notify the holders of the Notes from time to time, a register for the registration and registration of transfers of Notes. The name and address of each holder of one or more Notes, each transfer thereof and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such register. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Company shall give to any holder of a Note that is an Institutional Investor promptly upon request therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.

Section 13.2. Transfer and Exchange of Notes. Upon surrender of any Note to the Company at the address and to the attention of the designated officer (all as specified in Section 18(iii)), for registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered holder of such Note or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the relevant name, address and other information for notices of each transferee of such Note or part thereof), within ten Business Days thereafter, the Company shall execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder thereof) in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may request and shall be substantially in the form of the Note originally issued hereunder. Each such new Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such transfer of Notes. Notes shall not be transferred in denominations of less than $100,000, provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes, one Note may be in a denomination of less than $100,000. Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have made the representation set forth in Section 6.2.

Section 13.3. Replacement of Notes. Upon receipt by the Company at the address and to the attention of the designated officer (all as specified in Section 18(iii)) of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which evidence shall be, in the case of an Institutional Investor, notice from such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation), and

 

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(a) in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (provided that if the holder of such Note is, or is a nominee for, an original Purchaser or another Institutional Investor that is a holder of a Note with a minimum net worth of at least $5,000,000 or a Qualified Institutional Buyer, such Person’s own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be satisfactory), or

(b) in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation thereof,

within ten Business Days thereafter, the Company at its own expense shall execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Note, dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

SECTION 14. PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

Section 14.1. Place of Payment. Subject to Section 14.2, payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in Hampton, New Hampshire, at the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction. The Company may at any time, by notice to each holder of a Note, change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment shall be either the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction or the principal office of a bank or trust company in such jurisdiction.

Section 14.2. Home Office Payment. So long as any Purchaser or its nominee shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in Section 14.1 or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below such Purchaser’s name in Schedule A, or by such other method or at such other address as such Purchaser shall have from time to time specified to the Company in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of any Note, such Purchaser shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal executive office or at the place of payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to Section 14.1. Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by a Purchaser or its nominee, such Purchaser will, at its election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to Section 13.2. The Company will afford the benefits of this Section 14.2 to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by a Purchaser under this Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as the Purchasers have made in this Section 14.2.

 

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SECTION 15. EXPENSES, ETC.

Section 15.1. Transaction Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company will pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees of a special counsel and, if reasonably required by the Required Holders, local or other counsel) incurred by the Purchasers and each 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 or the Notes (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 or the Notes or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or the Notes, or by reason of being a holder of any Note; (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 and by the Notes; and (c) the costs and expenses incurred in connection with the initial filing of this Agreement and all related documents and financial information with the SVO provided, that such costs and expenses under this clause (c) shall not exceed $3,000. The Company will pay, and will save each Purchaser 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, if any, retained by a Purchaser or other holder).

Section 15.2. Survival. The obligations of the Company under this Section 15 will survive the payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, and the termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 16. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the purchase or transfer by any Purchaser of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of such Purchaser or any other holder of a Note. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between each Purchaser and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

Section 17.1. Requirements. This Agreement and the Notes may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof or of the Notes may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 21 hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be effective as to any Purchaser

 

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unless consented to by such Purchaser in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to acceleration or rescission, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of interest or of the Make-Whole Amount on, the Notes, (ii) change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (iii) amend any of Sections 8, 11(a), 11(b), 12, 17 or 20.

Section 17.2. Solicitation of Holders of Notes.

(a) Solicitation. The Company will provide each holder of the Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section 17 to each holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

(b) Payment. The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security or provide other credit support, to any holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes of any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted or other credit support concurrently provided, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.

(c) Consent in Contemplation of Transfer. Any consent made pursuant to this Section 17 by a holder of Notes that has transferred or has agreed to transfer its Notes to the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the Company and has provided or has agreed to provide such written consent as a condition to such transfer shall be void and of no force or effect except solely as to such holder, and any amendments effected or waivers granted or to be effected or granted that would not have been or would not be so effected or granted but for such consent (and the consents of all other holders of Notes that were acquired under the same or similar conditions) shall be void and of no force or effect except solely as to such holder.

Section 17.3. Binding Effect, Etc. Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section 17 applies equally to all holders of Notes and is binding upon them and upon each future holder of any Note and upon the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein, the term “this Agreement” and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

 

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Section 17.4. Notes Held by Company, Etc. Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

SECTION 18. NOTICES.

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or (c) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

(i) if to any Purchaser or its nominee, to such Purchaser or nominee at the address specified for such communications in Schedule A, or at such other address as such Purchaser or nominee shall have specified to the Company in writing,

(ii) if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or

(iii) if to the Company, to the Company at its address set forth at the beginning hereof to the attention of Treasurer, or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.

Notices under this Section 18 will be deemed given only when actually received.

SECTION 19. REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by any Purchaser at the Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to any Purchaser, may be reproduced by such Purchaser by any photographic, photostatic, electronic, digital, or other similar process and such Purchaser 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 such Purchaser 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.

 

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SECTION 20. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

For the purposes of this Section 20, “Confidential Information” means information delivered to any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that was marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by such Purchaser as being confidential information of the Company, such Subsidiary, Unitil or Unitil’s Affiliates, provided that such term does not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to such Purchaser prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by such Purchaser or any Person acting on such Purchaser’s behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to such Purchaser other than through disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to such Purchaser under Section 7.1 that are otherwise publicly available.

Each Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by such Purchaser in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Purchaser, provided that such Purchaser may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, trustees and Affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the investment represented by its Notes), (ii) its financial advisors and other professional advisors who agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section 20, (iii) any other holder of any Note, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which it sells or offers to sell such Note or any part thereof or any participation therein (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (v) any Person from which it offers to purchase any security of the Company (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Purchaser, (vii) the NAIC or the SVO or, in each case, any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about such Purchaser’s investment portfolio, or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Purchaser, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which such Purchaser is a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent such Purchaser may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under such Purchaser’s Notes and this Agreement after prior written notice provided to the Company.

Any holder of a Note (and any employee, representative or other agent of such holder) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the taxpayer relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. The authorization in the immediately preceding sentence is not intended to permit, and does not

 

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permit, disclosure of any information not related to the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction, including, for example, the identities of participants or potential participants and any Confidential Information regarding the operations or finances of the Company, its Subsidiaries, Unitil, and Unitil’s Affiliates. Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section 20 as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section 20.

SECTION 21. SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

Each Purchaser shall have the right to substitute any one of its Affiliates as the purchaser of the Notes that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall be signed by both such Purchaser and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s agreement to be bound by this Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by such Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations set forth in Section 6. Upon receipt of such notice, any reference to such Purchaser in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of such original Purchaser. In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a Purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to such original Purchaser all of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice of such transfer, any reference to such Affiliate as a “Purchaser” in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), shall no longer be deemed to refer to such Affiliate, but shall refer to such original Purchaser, and such original Purchaser shall again have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.

SECTION 22. MISCELLANEOUS.

Section 22.1. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

Section 22.2. Payments Due on Non-Business Days. Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding (but without limiting the requirement in Section 8.4 that the notice of any optional prepayment specify a Business Day as the date fixed for such prepayment), any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day; provided that if the maturity date of any Note is a date other than a Business Day, the payment otherwise due on such maturity date shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and shall include the additional days elapsed in the computation of interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

 

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Section 22.3. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms used herein which are not expressly defined in this Agreement have the meanings respectively given to them in accordance with GAAP. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, (i) all computations made pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) all financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness and financial liabilities shall be calculated at not less than one hundred percent of the principal amount thereof for financial covenant purposes regardless of any election by the Company under FASB 159 regarding fair value accounting.

Section 22.4. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 22.5. Construction, Etc. Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant. Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

For the avoidance of doubt, all Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part hereof.

Section 22.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

SECTION 22.7. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCLUDING CHOICE-OF-LAW PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW OF SUCH STATE THAT WOULD PERMIT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN SUCH STATE.

SECTION 22.8. JURISDICTION AND PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. (A) THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, THE CITY OF NEW YORK, OVER ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NOTES. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT, BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

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(B) THE COMPANY CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY HOLDER OF NOTES IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF THE NATURE REFERRED TO IN SECTION 22.8(A) BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL), POSTAGE PREPAID, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 18 OR AT SUCH OTHER ADDRESS OF WHICH SUCH HOLDER SHALL THEN HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE UPON RECEIPT (ISHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON IT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND (IISHALL, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BE TAKEN AND HELD TO BE VALID PERSONAL SERVICE UPON AND PERSONAL DELIVERY TO IT. NOTICES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONCLUSIVELY PRESUMED RECEIVED AS EVIDENCED BY A DELIVERY RECEIPT FURNISHED BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE OR ANY REPUTABLE COMMERCIAL DELIVERY SERVICE.

(C) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 22.8 SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY HOLDER OF A NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW, OR LIMIT ANY RIGHT THAT THE HOLDERS OF ANY OF THE NOTES MAY HAVE TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE COMPANY IN THE COURTS OF ANY APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION OR TO ENFORCE IN ANY LAWFUL MANNER A JUDGMENT OBTAINED IN ONE JURISDICTION IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

(D) THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

-39-


If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of agreement on a counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon this Agreement shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company.

 

Very truly yours,
NORTHERN UTILITIES, INC.
By    
  Mark H. Collin
  Treasurer


This Agreement is hereby

accepted and agreed to as

of the date thereof.

 

[VARIATION]
By    
Name:  
Title:  


DEFINED TERMS

As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Section hereof following such term:

“Adjusted Net Income (Deficit)” means the amount of net income (or if such net income is a deficit, the amount of such deficit) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period in question (taken as a cumulative whole) transferred to the retained earnings account on the books and records of the Company on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding any extraordinary non-cash gains and losses.

“Affiliate” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person, and, with respect to the Company, shall include any Person beneficially owning or holding, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of any class of voting or equity interests of the Company or any Subsidiary or any Person of which the Company and its Subsidiaries beneficially own or hold, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of any class of voting or equity interests. As used in this definition, “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company.

“Anti-Terrorism Order” means Executive Order No. 13,224 of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism, 66 U.S. Fed. Reg. 49, 079 (2001), as amended.

“Bank Credit Agreement” means any existing or future bank credit facility or combination of bank credit facilities of greater than $10,000,000 entered into by the Company.

“Business Day” means (a) for the purposes of Section 8.6 only, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed, and (b) for the purposes of any other provision of this Agreement, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or Manchester, New Hampshire are required or authorized to be closed.

“Capital Lease” means, at any time, a lease with respect to which the lessee is required concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Pooling and Loan Agreement” means the cash pooling and loan agreement, as amended and restated, dated December 1, 2008, between Unitil and certain of its Subsidiaries, including the Company, as further amended from time to time.

“Closing” is defined in Section 3.

SCHEDULE B

(to Note Purchase Agreement)


“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

“Company” means Northern Utilities, Inc., a New Hampshire corporation, or any successor that becomes such in the manner prescribed in Section 10.4.

“Confidential Information” is defined in Section 20.

“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

“Default Rate” means that rate of interest that is the greater of (i) 2% per annum above the rate of interest stated in clause (a) of the first paragraph of the Notes or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by Bank of America, N.A. in Charlotte, North Carolina as its “base” or “prime” rate.

“Electronic Delivery” is defined in Section 7.1(a)(ii).

“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to those related to Hazardous Material.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Company under section 414 of the Code.

“Event of Default” is defined in Section 11.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

“FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and any successor Governmental Authority thereto.

“Form 10-K” is defined in Section 7.1(b)(ii).

“Form 10-Q” is defined in Section 7.1(a)(ii).

“Funded Indebtedness” of any Person as of any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, means (i) all Indebtedness of such Person required to be paid more than one year from the date as of which Funded Indebtedness is being determined pursuant to the terms of the

 

B-2


agreement or instrument under which such Indebtedness was incurred, but there shall be excluded sinking fund, serial maturity, periodic installment and amortization payments on account of Indebtedness which are required to be made within one year from the date of such determination and (ii) all Guaranties of Funded Indebtedness of others described in clause (i) of this definition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Funded Indebtedness shall not include: (a) obligations under contracts for the purchase of gas and energy supply, including transportation charges or Guaranties in respect of such obligations; (b) pension and benefit obligations, whether or not absolute or contingent or included, in accordance with GAAP, in determining total liabilities on the balance sheet; (c) amounts owed to or by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Cash Pooling and Loan Agreement; and (d) all obligations under operating leases.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America.

“Governmental Authority” means

(a) the government of

(i) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or

(ii) any other jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or

(b) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

“Granite” means Granite State Gas Transmission, Inc., a New Hampshire corporation.

“Guarantor” means each Person who is a party to the Guaranty Agreement and is otherwise required to comply with the requirements of Section 9.8.

“Guaranty” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation (except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including (without limitation) obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such Person:

(a) to purchase such indebtedness or obligation or any property constituting security therefor;

(b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or other balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any other Person or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation;

 

B-3


(c) to lease properties or to purchase properties or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the ability of any other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation; or

(d) otherwise to assure the owner of such indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof.

In any computation of the indebtedness or other liabilities of the obligor under any Guaranty, the indebtedness or other obligations that are the subject of such Guaranty shall be assumed to be direct obligations of such obligor.

“Guaranty Agreement” means the Guaranty Agreement delivered pursuant to Section 9.8 the terms of which are substantially similar to the applicable guaranty or other obligation being provided under the Bank Credit Agreement and otherwise in a form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders.

“Hazardous Material” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.

“holder” means, with respect to any Note the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 13.1.

“Indebtedness” with respect to any Person means, at any time, without duplication,

(a) its liabilities for borrowed money;

(b) all liabilities which would appear on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP in respect of Synthetic Leases if such Synthetic Leases were accounted for as Capital Leases;

(c) obligations due in respect of Capital Leases;

(d) its liabilities for the deferred purchase price of property acquired by such Person (excluding accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business but including all liabilities created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to any such property); and

(e) any Guaranty of such Person with respect to liabilities of a type described in any of clauses (a) through (d) above.

 

B-4


“Institutional Investor” means (a) any Purchaser of a Note, (b) any holder of a Note holding (together with one or more of its affiliates) more than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, (c) any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form, and (d) any Related Fund of any holder of any Note.

“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge, adverse claim, charge, security interest or other encumbrance in or on, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements).

“Make-Whole Amount” is defined in Section 8.6.

“Material” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes.

“Memorandum” is defined in Section 5.3.

“MPUC” means the Maine Public Utilities Commission and any successor Governmental Authority.

“Multiemployer Plan” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

“NAIC” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto.

“Notes” is defined in Section 1.

“NHPUC” means the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission and any successor Governmental Authority.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other officer of the Company whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.

 

B-5


“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, business entity or Governmental Authority.

“Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title I of ERISA that is or, within the preceding five years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five years, have been made or required to be made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.

“Preferred Stock” means any class of capital stock of a Person that is preferred over any other class of capital stock (or similar equity interests) of such Person as to the payment of dividends or the payment of any amount upon liquidation or dissolution of such Person.

“property” or “properties” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal property of any kind, tangible or intangible, choate or inchoate.

“PTE” is defined in Section 6.2(a).

“Purchaser” is defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

“Qualified Institutional Buyer” means any Person who is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of such term as set forth in Rule 144A(a)(1) under the Securities Act.

“Related Fund” means, with respect to any holder of any Note, any fund or entity that (i) invests in Securities or bank loans, and (ii) is advised or managed by such holder, the same investment advisor as such holder or by an affiliate of such holder or such investment advisor.

“Required Holders” means, at any time, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates).

“Responsible Officer” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Company with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this Agreement.

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any successor thereto.

“Securities” or “securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or comptroller of the Company or of Unitil, as applicable.

 

B-6


“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any other Person in which such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting interests 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 second Person, and any partnership or joint venture if more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such first 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.

“SVO” means the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC or any successor to such Office.

“Synthetic Lease” means, at any time, any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (a) that is accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP and (b) in respect of which the lessee retains or obtains ownership of the property so leased for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than any such lease under which such Person is the lessor.

“Total Capitalization” at any date means the sum of (x) Funded Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (y) Total Shareholders’ Equity as of such date. Such Total Capitalization shall be exclusive of Accumulated and Other Comprehensive Income (within the meaning of GAAP) derived from pension and benefit obligations.

“Total Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount for total common stock equity, preference stock and Preferred Stock as presented in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of such date.

“Unitil” means Unitil Corporation, a New Hampshire corporation.

“USA Patriot Act” means United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

“Voting Stock” means Securities of any class or classes, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to elect a majority of the corporate directors (or Persons performing similar functions).

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary one hundred percent of all of the equity interests (except directors’ qualifying shares) and voting interests of which are owned by any one or more of the Company and the Company’s other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries at such time.

 

B-7

EX-4.2 3 dex42.htm FORM OF NOTE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT Form of Note issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement

Exhibit 4.2

[Form of Note]

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO DISTRIBUTION OR RESALE, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, MORTGAGED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR THE AVAILABILITY OF AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

NORTHERN UTILITIES, INC.

5.29% SENIOR NOTE DUE MARCH 2, 2020

 

No. [            ]   [Date]
$[            ]   PPN 665876 B#4

For Value Received, the undersigned, Northern Utilities, Inc. (herein called the “Company”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Hampshire, hereby promises to pay to [                    ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [                    ] Dollars (or so much thereof as shall not have been prepaid) on March 2, 2020, with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) (a) on the unpaid balance hereof at the rate of 5.29% per annum from the date hereof, payable semiannually, on the 2nd day of March and September in each year, commencing with the March or September next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law, on any overdue payment of interest and, during the continuance of an Event of Default, on such unpaid balance and on any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount, at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 7.29% or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by Bank of America, N.A. from time to time in Charlotte, North Carolina as its “base” or “prime” rate, payable semiannually as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand).

Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at the principal office of the Company in Hampton, New Hampshire, or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement referred to below.


This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to, and subject to, the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2010 (as from time to time amended, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, to have (i) agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 20 of the Note Purchase Agreement and (ii) made the representation set forth in Section 6.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement.

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

This Note is subject to optional prepayment in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, but not otherwise.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreement.

This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the Company and the holder of this Note shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would permit the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

 

NORTHERN UTILITIES, INC.
By    
Name:  
Title:  
EX-4.3 4 dex43.htm FORM OF BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT Form of Bond Purchase Agreement

Exhibit 4.3

 

 

 

 

UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

$15,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS, SERIES P,

DUE MARCH 2, 2020

BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF MARCH 2, 2010

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION

 

HEADING

   PAGE
SECTION 1.   AUTHORIZATION OF BONDS    1
SECTION 2.   SALE AND PURCHASE OF BONDS    1
SECTION 3.   CLOSING    1
SECTION 4.   CONDITIONS TO CLOSING    2

Section 4.1.

 

Representations and Warranties

   2

Section 4.2.

 

Performance; No Default

   2

Section 4.3.

 

Compliance Certificate

   2

Section 4.4.

 

Regulatory Approvals

   2

Section 4.5.

 

Legal Opinions

   2

Section 4.6.

 

Compliance with the Indenture

   2

Section 4.7.

 

Equity Contribution

   3

Section 4.8.

 

Proceedings and Documents

   3

Section 4.9.

 

Private Placement Number

   3
SECTION 5.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY    3

Section 5.1.

 

Organization, Standing, Due Authorization

   3

Section 5.2.

 

Capitalization

   4

Section 5.3.

 

Subsidiaries

   4

Section 5.4.

 

Qualification

   4

Section 5.5.

 

Franchises; Etc

   4

Section 5.6.

 

Financial Statements

   4

Section 5.7.

 

Changes; Etc

   5

Section 5.8.

 

Tax Returns and Payments

   5

Section 5.9.

 

Title to Properties

   5

Section 5.10.

 

Litigation; Etc

   6

Section 5.11.

 

Compliance with Other Instruments, Etc

   6

Section 5.12.

 

ERISA

   6

Section 5.13.

 

Regulatory Jurisdiction and Approvals

   7

Section 5.14.

 

Patents; Trademarks; Etc

   8

Section 5.15.

 

Offer of Bonds

   8

Section 5.16.

 

Investment Company Act Status

   8

Section 5.17.

 

Federal Reserve Regulations

   8

Section 5.18.

 

Foreign Credit Restraints

   8

Section 5.19.

 

Disclosure

   8

Section 5.20.

 

Sale Is Legal and Authorized

   9

Section 5.21.

 

No Defaults

   9

Section 5.22.

 

Compliance with Environmental Laws

   9

 

-i-


Section 5.23.

 

Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc

   10
SECTION 6.   USE OF PROCEEDS    10
SECTION 7.   PURCHASERS’ REPRESENTATIONS AND WAIVER    10

Section 7.1.

 

Purchasers’ Representations

   10

Section 7.2.

 

Waiver

   13
SECTION 8.   COVENANTS    13

Section 8.1.

 

Punctual Payment

   13

Section 8.2.

 

Delivery Expenses

   13

Section 8.3.

 

Issue Taxes

   13

Section 8.4.

 

Interest Coverage Fee

   14
SECTION 9.   INFORMATION AS TO THE COMPANY    15

Section 9.1.

 

Accounting; Financial Statements and Other Information

   15

Section 9.2.

 

Inspection

   16

Section 9.3.

 

Confidential Information

   17
SECTION 10.   HOME OFFICE PAYMENT    18
SECTION 11.   DEFINITIONS; ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES    19

Section 11.1.

 

Definitions

   19

Section 11.2.

 

Accounting Principles

   21
SECTION 12.   EXPENSES; ETC    22
SECTION 13.   SURVIVAL OF AGREEMENTS; ETC    22
SECTION 14.   AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS    23
SECTION 15.   NOTICES; ETC    23
SECTION 16.   FURTHER ASSURANCES    23
SECTION 17.   MISCELLANEOUS    23
SECTION 18.   SEVERABILITY    23

 

-ii-


SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS:

 

Schedule I       Name and Address of Purchasers
Exhibit A       Form of Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture
Exhibit B       Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers
Exhibit C       Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company
Exhibit D       Form of Opinion of Gary Epler, Chief Regulatory Counsel for Unitil Service Corp.

 

-iii-


UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

6 Liberty Lane West

Hampton, New Hampshire 03842-1720

Dated as of March 2, 2010

To the Purchasers named in Schedule I

    attached hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. (the “Company”), a New Hampshire corporation, agrees with the Purchasers named on Schedule I of this Agreement (the “Purchasers”) as follows:

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF BONDS.

The Company has authorized the issue and sale of $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its First Mortgage Bonds, Series P, due March 2, 2020 (the “Bonds”), such Bonds to be substantially in the form attached as Schedule B to the form of Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, attached hereto as Exhibit A, to the Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of July 15, 1958 (the “Original Indenture”) from the Company to Old Colony Trust Company, which has been succeeded by U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, having an office and place of business in Boston, Massachusetts (the “Trustee”). The Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (with such changes to such form as you and the Company may agree to prior to the Closing Date), is herein referred to as the “Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture”. The Original Indenture, as supplemented by eleven Supplemental Indentures thereto, as amended and restated by the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, and as further supplemented by the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and as may be further supplemented from time to time, is referred to as the “Indenture”. Capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 11 hereof.

The Bonds will be issued under and secured by the Indenture and the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 2. SALE AND PURCHASE OF BONDS.

The Company will issue and sell to the Purchasers and, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Purchasers will purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof, on the Closing Date, Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000).

SECTION 3. CLOSING.

The closing of the sale and purchase of the Bonds (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, 260 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 at 10:00


a.m., Boston time on March 2, 2010 or on such other business day not later than March 31, 2010 as may be mutually agreed upon by the Purchasers and the Company (the “Closing Date”). At the Closing the Company will deliver to each Purchaser the Bonds in the form of a single registered Bond (unless different denominations are specified by such Purchaser) dated the Closing Date for the full amount of the purchase price and registered in such Purchaser’s name or in the name of such Purchaser’s nominee, all as such Purchaser may specify at any time prior to the date fixed for delivery, against receipt of the purchase price payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as the Company shall notify each Purchaser in writing at least two days prior to the Closing Date. If at the Closing the Company shall fail to tender such Bond as provided herein, or if at the Closing any of the conditions specified in Section 4 shall not have been fulfilled, each Purchaser shall, at its election, be relieved of all further obligations to purchase Bonds under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any other rights it may have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

SECTION 4. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

The obligation of each Purchaser to purchase the Bonds to be sold to it at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

Section 4.1. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 5 shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

Section 4.2. Performance; No Default. The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained herein required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing, and at the time of the Closing no condition or event shall exist which constitutes or which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Section 4.3. Compliance Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to each Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof have been fulfilled.

Section 4.4. Regulatory Approvals. The issue and sale of the Bonds shall have been duly authorized by order of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (the “NHPUC”), such order shall be in full force and effect at the time of the Closing and all appeal periods applicable to such order shall have expired.

Section 4.5. Legal Opinions. Each Purchaser shall have received from Chapman and Cutler LLP, who is acting as special counsel to the Purchasers in this transaction, from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, counsel for the Company, and from Gary Epler, Chief Regulatory Counsel for Unitil Service Corp., their respective opinions, dated the Closing Date, substantially in the forms of Exhibits B, C and D attached hereto.

Section 4.6. Compliance with the Indenture. The Company shall have obtained from the requisite percentage of holders of Bonds Outstanding (as defined under the Indenture) a written waiver of the Earnings Available for Interest Charges test required under Section 4.04 of the

 

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Indenture for the issuance of the subject Bonds (the “EAIC Test”), in form satisfactory to the Purchasers. Except as expressly provided in the waiver referred to in the preceding sentence, the Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in the Indenture which are required to be performed or complied with by the Company for the issuance of the Bonds.

Section 4.7. Equity Contribution. After January 1, 2010 and prior to the Closing Date, Unitil (as defined below) shall have made an equity contribution of $5,000,000 to the Company (the “Equity Contribution”).

Section 4.8. Proceedings and Documents. All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory in substance and form to each Purchaser and its special counsel, and each Purchaser and its special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.

Section 4.9. Private Placement Number. The Company shall have obtained from Standard & Poor’s Corporation and provided to you a Private Placement Number for the Bonds.

SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

The Company represents and warrants that:

Section 5.1. Organization, Standing, Due Authorization. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Hampshire and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into this Agreement, to issue and sell the Bonds and to carry out the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors, and no approval of the stockholders of the Company is required in connection therewith.

 

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Section 5.2. Capitalization. The Company’s authorized and outstanding capital stock is as follows:

 

TITLE OF CLASS

   SHARES AUTHORIZED    SHARES OUTSTANDING

Common Stock, no par value

   250,000    131,746

Non-Redeemable, Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, $100 par value, 6.00% Series

   2,250    2,250

All of the Company’s outstanding capital stock is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Section 5.3. Subsidiaries. Other than holdings of capital stock which, individually and in the aggregate, are immaterial to the business and financial condition of the Company, the Company does not own any shares of capital stock or shares of beneficial interest of any corporation or other entity.

Section 5.4. Qualification. In all jurisdictions where the Company owns real property or maintains any place of business, it is either qualified to do business and in good standing or such qualification can readily be obtained without substantial penalty and the failure to qualify in jurisdictions where the Company has not done so will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.5. Franchises; Etc. The Company has all franchises, certificates of convenience and necessity, operating rights, licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations and orders of governmental bodies, political subdivisions and regulatory authorities, free from unduly burdensome restrictions, as are reasonably necessary for the ownership of the properties now owned and operated by it, the maintenance and operation of the properties now operated by it and the conduct of the business now conducted by it.

Section 5.6. Financial Statements. (a) The Company has furnished to each Purchaser (i) the Company’s financial statements for each of its fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (the “Annual Reports”), containing balance sheets as at the end of such fiscal years and the related statements of earnings, retained earnings and cash flows of the Company for such fiscal years, as certified by Caturano and Company, P.C., independent certified public accountants; and (ii) unaudited financial statements of the Company for the nine months ending September 30, 2009, including a balance sheet as at such date and statements of earnings and retained earnings for such period (together with the Annual Reports, the “Company Reports”).

(b) Subject to any qualifications set forth in the accompanying reports of independent certified public accountants, all such financial statements are complete and correct (subject, in the case of such unaudited financial statements, to year-end and audit adjustments) and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a

 

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consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby. Such balance sheets (together with the pertinent notes thereto) fairly present the financial condition of the Company as at the respective dates indicated, and in each case reflect all known liabilities, contingent or otherwise, at such dates, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and such statements of earnings, retained earnings and cash flows fairly present the results of the operations of the Company for the respective periods indicated.

Section 5.7. Changes; Etc. Since December 31, 2008: (a) except as disclosed in the reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed since such date by Unitil Corporation (“Unitil”), owner of all of the outstanding common stock of the Company, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act Reports”) or the Company Reports, there has been no material adverse change in the assets, liabilities or financial condition of the Company from that reflected in the balance sheet as at December 31, 2008 referred to in Section 5.6 or otherwise previously disclosed in writing, other than changes in the ordinary course of business; (b) neither the business, operations or affairs of the Company nor any of its properties or assets have been materially adversely affected by any occurrence or development (whether or not insured against) except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Reports or the Company Reports or otherwise previously disclosed in writing; and (c) except as otherwise disclosed in writing, the Company has not, prior to the Closing Date, directly or indirectly, declared, paid or made any dividend or distribution on or on account of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any shares of capital stock of the Company, or agreed to do so, except for the payment of regular cash dividends on its Common Stock and its Non-Redeemable, Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock.

Section 5.8. Tax Returns and Payments. All tax returns of the Company required by law to be filed have been duly filed, and all taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon the Company shown to be due on such returns have been paid. The federal income tax liability of the Company has been finally determined by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and satisfied through the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of income taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate in the opinion of the Company and, except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Reports or the Company Reports, the Company knows of no unpaid assessment for additional income taxes for any fiscal period or of any basis therefor. As of the date of this Agreement, the IRS is auditing Unitil and its subsidiaries (including the Company) in relation to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Company does not believe the outcome of the foregoing IRS audit will have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.9. Title to Properties. (a) The Company has good and marketable title to all the real property and a good and valid ownership interest in all the other assets reflected in the most recent balance sheet referred to in Section 5.6 or subsequently acquired, other than real property and other assets subsequently sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business, subject in each case to no Liens except (i) the Lien created by the Indenture and (ii) other Liens permitted by the Indenture which do not materially detract from the value of the respective properties subject thereto or materially impair the operations of the Company.

 

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(b) The Properties specifically to be included as mortgaged as set forth in the granting clauses of the Indenture (including the granting clauses included in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture), other than properties released from the lien thereof pursuant to the terms thereof, are owned by the Company, located in New Hampshire and constitute substantially all of the Property of the Company except certain Property which is not “Public Utility Property” (as defined in Section 10.04A of the Indenture), which Property has heretofore been duly released from the lien of the Indenture pursuant to Section 10.04A thereof (the “Excepted Property”). All of the real estate and other Property which is reflected in the balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2008 referred to in Section 5.6, and all of the rights of way, easements, grants, permits, privileges, franchises and other rights necessary to the operation of said Property, are subject to the Indenture as a first lien thereon (subject only to Liens permitted by the Indenture) except properties expressly excluded from said lien of the Indenture by the provisions thereof (including the Excepted Property). The Company has not agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by the Indenture.

(c) None of the Properties or assets reflected in the balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2008 referred to in Section 5.6 is held by the Company as lessee under any lease (other than certain leasehold improvements which are being written off over the life of the lease) or as conditional vendee under any conditional sales contract or other title retention agreement.

Section 5.10. Litigation; Etc. There is no action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (or any basis therefor known to the Company) which questions the validity of this Agreement or the Bonds or any action taken or to be taken pursuant hereto or thereto, nor, other than as described below and except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Reports or the Company Reports, is there any action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (or any basis therefor known to the Company) which might result, either in any case or in the aggregate, in any material adverse change in the business, operations, affairs or condition of the Company or its Properties and assets or in any material liability on the part of the Company. As of the date of this Agreement, the IRS is auditing Unitil and its subsidiaries (including the Company) in relation to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Section 5.11. Compliance with Other Instruments, Etc. The Company is not in violation of any term of its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, or, to the Company’s knowledge, in violation of any term of any franchise, license, permit, agreement, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, or governmental rule or regulation applicable to it so as to materially and adversely affect, either individually or in the aggregate, its financial condition; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Bonds will not result in any such violation or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any term of any of the foregoing and will not result in the creation of any mortgage, lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the Properties or assets of the Company pursuant to any such term.

Section 5.12. ERISA. (a) The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws. There have been no instances of

 

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noncompliance which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions, or to Code Sections 401(a)(29) or 412, replaced by Code Sections 436 and 430, respectively, effective January 1, 2008, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.

(b) As of December 31, 2008, the present value of all projected benefit obligations under each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not exceed by more than $31.3 million the fair market value of the assets of such Plans allocable to such accrued benefits.

(c) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

(d) As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s expected post-retirement benefit obligation (determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106 without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by section 4980B of the Code) was approximately $15.2 million. The Company reasonably expects to recover this amount in utility rates as more fully described in the notes to the Company’s September 30, 2009 financial statements (which refer to the notes in the Company’s December 31, 2008 financial statements). Accordingly, the Company does not believe that this post–retirement benefit obligation will have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Series P Bonds hereunder will not involve any transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The representation by the Company in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of the Purchaser’s representation in Section 7(b) as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Bonds.

Section 5.13. Regulatory Jurisdiction and Approvals. The Company is subject to regulation by the NHPUC with respect to retail rates, adequacy of service, issuance of securities, accounting and other matters; and to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in regards to certain bookkeeping, accounting and reporting requirements. The issuance and sale of the Bonds has been authorized by order of the NHPUC, which has become final and all applicable appeal periods with respect to the NHPUC order have expired. No order, consent, approval or authorization of, or any declaration or filing with, any other Governmental Authority is required as a condition precedent to the valid offering, issue, sale and delivery of the Bonds by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Section 5.14. Patents; Trademarks; Etc. The Company owns or possesses all of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights, and all rights of use with respect to the foregoing, necessary for the conduct of its business as now conducted, without any known conflict with the rights of others.

Section 5.15. Offer of Bonds. Neither the Company nor anyone authorized to act on its behalf has directly or indirectly offered or will offer the Bonds or any part thereof or any similar securities for issue or sale to, or solicited or will solicit any offer to acquire any of the same from, or has otherwise approached or negotiated or will approach or negotiate in respect thereof with anyone other than the Purchasers and not more than seventeen (17) other institutional investors. Neither the Company nor anyone authorized to act on its behalf has taken or will take any action which will subject the issuance and sale of the Bonds to the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Section 5.16. Investment Company Act Status. The Company is not an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Section 5.17. Federal Reserve Regulations. The proceeds of the sale of the Bonds will be applied as provided in Section 6. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U (12 CFR Part 221) of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (herein called a “margin stock”) or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry a margin security or for any other purpose which might constitute the transactions contemplated hereby a “purpose credit” within the meaning of said Regulation U, or cause this Agreement to violate Regulation U, Regulation X, or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), each now in effect.

Section 5.18. Foreign Credit Restraints. Neither the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement nor the use of the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds will violate any provision of any applicable statute, regulation or order of, or any restriction imposed by, the United States of America or any authorized official, board, department, instrumentality or agency thereof relating to the control of foreign or overseas lending or investment.

Section 5.19. Disclosure. Neither this Agreement, the financial statements referred to in Section 5.6, the Exchange Act Reports or the Company Reports, nor any other document, certificate or written statement furnished to each Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the negotiation of the sale of the Bonds, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein and therein not misleading. There is no fact known to the Company which materially adversely affects or in the future may (so far as the Company can now reasonably foresee) materially adversely affect the business, operations, affairs or condition of the Company or its

 

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Properties or assets, which has not been set forth in this Agreement or in the other documents, certificates, the Exchange Act Reports or the Company Reports and written statements furnished to each Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company prior to the date of this Agreement in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 5.20. Sale Is Legal and Authorized. The sale of the Bonds and compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the Bonds —

(a) are within the corporate powers of the Company; and

(b) have been duly authorized by proper corporate action on the part of the Company (no action by the stockholders of the Company being required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or otherwise); this Agreement and, when executed and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Bonds, have been or will have been, as the case may be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company by duly authorized officers thereof, and this Agreement and, when executed and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Bonds constitute or will constitute, as the case may be, the legal, valid and binding obligations, contracts and agreements of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

Section 5.21. No Defaults. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. The Company is not in default in the payment of principal or interest on any Indebtedness and is not in default under any instrument or instruments or agreements under and subject to which any Indebtedness has been issued and no event has occurred and is continuing under the provisions of any such instrument or agreement which with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute an event of default thereunder.

Section 5.22. Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Reports or the Company Reports, to the best of the Company’s knowledge it is not in violation of any applicable Federal, state, or local laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances relating to public health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, relating to releases, discharges, emissions or disposals to air, water, land or ground water, to the withdrawal or use of ground water, to the use, handling or disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos or urea formaldehyde, to the treatment, storage, disposal or management of hazardous substances (including, without limitation, petroleum, crude oil or any fraction thereof, or other hydrocarbons), pollutants or contaminants, to exposure to toxic, hazardous or other controlled, prohibited or regulated substances which violation could have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, profits, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company. Except as disclosed in the Exchange Act Reports or the Company Reports, the Company does not know of any liability or class of liability of the Company under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.), or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.).

 

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Section 5.23. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc. (a) Neither the sale of the Bonds by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto.

(b) Neither the Company nor any subsidiary (A) is a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (B) engages in any dealings or transactions with any such Person. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA Patriot Act.

(c) No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Company.

As used herein, the term “Anti-Terrorism Order” means Executive Order No. 13,224 of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism, 66 U.S. Fed. Reg. 49,079 (2001), as amended; the term “USA Patriot Act” means United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

SECTION 6. USE OF PROCEEDS.

The net proceeds of the sale of the Bonds will be applied by the Company (i) to repay outstanding short-term indebtedness incurred for additions, extensions and betterments to the Company’s property, plant and equipment; (ii) to finance future expenditures for additions, extensions and betterments to the Company’s property, plant and equipment; and (iii) to defray the costs and expenses of the financing of the Bonds or for other lawful corporate purposes.

SECTION 7. PURCHASERS’ REPRESENTATIONS AND WAIVER.

Section 7.1. Purchasers’ Representations. (a) Each Purchaser represents that such Purchaser is purchasing the Bonds for its own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof and has no present intention of selling, negotiating, or otherwise disposing of the Bonds, provided that the disposition of such Purchaser’s Property shall at all times be within its control. The acquisition of any of the Bonds by such Purchaser shall constitute such Purchaser’s reaffirmation of such representation, and it is understood that in making the representations contained in Sections 5.12(e) and 5.15, the Company is relying, to the extent applicable, on such Purchaser’s representation in this Section 7.

 

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(b) Each Purchaser represents that such Purchaser (i) is an institutional accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and (ii) is not an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act.

(c) Each Purchaser represents that such Purchaser has knowledge that the Bonds have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable states securities laws and, therefore, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law or if an exemption from such registration is available.

(d) Each Purchaser represents that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “Source”) to be used by such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Series P Bonds to be purchased by such Purchaser hereunder:

(i) the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption (“PTE”) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the NAIC (the “NAIC Annual Statement”)) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile; or

(ii) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

(iii) the Source is either (A) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1 or (B) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (d)(iii), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or

(iv) the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (within the meaning of Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”)) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (within the meaning of Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM

 

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Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, as of the last day of its most recent calendar quarter the QPAM does not own a 10% or more interest in the Company and no Person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 20% or more interest in the Company (or less than 20% but greater than 10%, if such Person exercises control over the management or policies of the Company by reason of its ownership interest) and (A) the identity of such QPAM and (B) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (d)(iv); or

(v) the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption”)) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(d) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (d)(v); or

(vi) the Source is a governmental plan; or

(vii) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA; or

(viii) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (d)(viii).

As used in this paragraph (d), the terms “employee benefit plan,” “governmental plan,” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

(e) Each Purchaser understands that the Bonds will bear a legend, prominently stamped or printed thereon, reading substantially as follows:

THIS BOND HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS BOND HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO DISTRIBUTION OR RESALE, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, MORTGAGED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR THE AVAILABILITY OF AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

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Upon the request of any holder of any Bond, the Company shall, and shall direct the Trustee to, remove the legend from such Bond or issue to such holder a new Bond therefor free of any transfer legend, if: (A)(i) such holder is not an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act) of the Company at the time thereof and has not been an affiliate during the preceding three months and (ii) a period of one year has elapsed since the later of the date the Bond was acquired from the Company or from an affiliate of the Company (calculated as set forth in Rule 144 of the Securities Act); or (B) the Company shall have received a written opinion of counsel to such holder (which may be internal counsel to such holder) that, in the opinion of such counsel, such legend is not, or is no longer, necessary or required.

Section 7.2. Waiver. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, and in reliance upon the agreements, representations and warranties of the Company made herein, each Purchaser hereby waives compliance by the Company with the EAIC Test (and any Default or Event of Default related thereto which may occur under the Indenture) solely in connection with the Company’s issuance of the Bonds; provided that: (a) the Equity Contribution is made concurrently with or prior to the issuance of the Bonds; (b) the Company complies with all other conditions required under the Indenture in connection with the issuance of the Bonds; and (c) the ratio of Earnings Available for Interest Charges to Annual Interest Requirements (as defined in the Indenture), calculated after giving pro forma effect to the Equity Contribution and the issuance of the Bonds (and as set forth in the Earnings Available for Interest Charges Certificate delivered in connection with the issuance of the Bonds), is not less than 1.5 to 1. If any of the foregoing agreements or conditions is not complied with, the waiver under this Section 7.2 shall automatically terminate and be null and void and of no further force or effect, without notice or demand or further act on the part of any party.

SECTION 8. COVENANTS.

The Company covenants that, from and after the date of this Agreement and until none of the Bonds shall be outstanding:

Section 8.1. Punctual Payment. The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Bonds.

Section 8.2. Delivery Expenses. If any Purchaser surrenders any Bond to the Company or the Trustee pursuant to this Agreement or the Indenture, the Company will pay the cost of transmitting between such Purchaser’s home office and the Company or the Trustee, insured to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, the surrendered Bond or Bonds and any Bond or Bonds issued in full or partial substitution or replacement for the surrendered Bond or Bonds.

Section 8.3. Issue Taxes. The Company will pay all taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Bonds to you and in connection with any modification of the Bonds (other than income and similar taxes) and will save you harmless without limitation as to time

 

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against any and all liabilities with respect to all such taxes. The obligations of the Company under this Section 8.3 shall survive the payment or redemption of the Bonds and the termination of this Agreement.

Section 8.4. Interest Coverage Fee. (a) If, on the Fee Test Date (hereinafter defined), the ratio of (x) Earnings Available for Interest Charges to (y) Annual Interest Requirements (the “Interest Coverage Ratio”) is less than 2.0 to 1.0, then from and including the Fee Commencement Date (hereinafter defined) through the Fee End Date (hereinafter defined), the Company shall pay a fee (the “Interest Coverage Fee”) to each holder of Bonds in an amount equal to 1.0% per annum of the principal amount of Bonds held by such holder.

As used above:

“Fee Commencement Date” means the date of the interim rate order issued by the State of New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (the “Commission”) in the Company’s 2010 rate distribution case (the “2010 Rate Case”).

“Fee Test Date” means the date of the final rate order (the “Final Order”) issued by the Commission in the 2010 Rate Case, calculating the Interest Coverage Ratio after giving pro forma effect to the rate relief, if any, granted in such Final Order.

“Fee End Date” means the earlier to occur of:

(i) the later of (A) the last day of the fourth complete fiscal quarter ending after the date of the Final Order, or (B) the date on which the Company restores compliance with the Earnings Available for Interest Charges test under Section 4.04 (Additional Bonds Against Property Additions Issuance Tests) of the Indenture; or

(ii) the date the Company obtains an Investment Grade Rating of the Bonds from any of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch/BCA Duff & Phelps Ltd. (“Fitch”) or DBRS, Inc. (“DBRS”) (or any of their respective successors).

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating of the Bonds of (i) in the case of S&P, “BBB-” or better, (ii) in the case of Moody’s, “Baa3” or better, (iii) in the case of Fitch, “BBB-” or better, or (iv) in the case of DBRS, “BBB low” or better.

(b) The Interest Coverage Fee payable with respect to each Bond shall be fully earned on the date paid, shall accrue and be computed on the basis of a thirty (30) day month and a three hundred sixty (360) day year and shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds on each periodic interest payment date applicable to such Bond in the same manner and, unless otherwise specified in writing by the holder of such Bond, to the same account as the concurrent periodic interest payment on such Bond is made to such holder. Further to the foregoing, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in immediately available funds, the Interest Coverage Fee for

 

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each holder of Bonds required hereby, and the Company hereby directs the Trustee to promptly, upon receipt thereof, pay each such Interest Coverage Fee to the respective holder in accordance with the preceding sentence. Failure to pay the Interest Coverage Fee required hereby shall constitute a Default under Section 14.01(c) of the Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may assume that no Interest Coverage Fee is due on any interest payment date unless it has received at least ten (10) business days’ notice from the Company that such Interest Coverage Fee is due and the amount thereof.

SECTION 9. INFORMATION AS TO THE COMPANY.

Section 9.1. Accounting; Financial Statements and Other Information. The Company will deliver (in duplicate), or, with respect to any company public reporting entity, timely file the Company’s report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K with the SEC, and make such Forms available on “EDGAR” and on its home page on the worldwide web (at the date of this Agreement located at: http//www.unitil.com) and shall have given each Purchaser prior notice of such availability on EDGAR and on its home page in connection with each delivery, to each Purchaser, so long as it is the holder of any Bonds, and to each Institutional Holder of at least 5% in principal amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding:

(a) as soon as available but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each of the first three quarterly fiscal periods in each year of the Company, a balance sheet of the Company at the end of such period, and a statement of earnings and retained earnings of the Company for such period and for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such period, together with a statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such period, in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the corresponding period of the previous year, all in reasonable detail and certified, subject to changes resulting from year-end and audit adjustments, by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or any Vice President of the Company;

(b) as soon as available but in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a balance sheet of the Company as at the end of such year, and a consolidated statement of earnings and retained earnings and cash flows of the Company, in each case setting forth in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by a report thereon of Caturano & Company, P.C. or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Company to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with the prior fiscal year (except for such changes, if any, as may be specified in such opinion) and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of the end of such year and the results of operations for such year, and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;

(c) as soon as available but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each of the first three quarterly fiscal periods in each year of Unitil, a consolidated

 

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balance sheet of Unitil and its consolidated subsidiaries at the end of such period, and a consolidated statement of earnings and retained earnings of Unitil and its consolidated subsidiaries for such period and for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such period, together with a consolidated statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such period, in each case setting forth in comparative form figures for the corresponding period of the previous year, all in reasonable detail and certified, subject to changes resulting from year-end and audit adjustments, by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer or any Vice President of Unitil;

(d) as soon as available but in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of Unitil, an audited consolidated balance sheet of Unitil and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the end of such year, and an audited consolidated statement of earnings and retained earnings and cash flows of Unitil and its consolidated subsidiaries, in each case setting forth in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and accompanied by a report thereon of Caturano & Company, P.C. or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by Unitil to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with the prior fiscal year (except for such changes, if any, as may be specified in such opinion) and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position of Unitil and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of such year and the results of operations for such year, and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;

(e) concurrently with delivery of the documents provided for in Sections 9.1(a) and (b), an Officer’s Certificate, stating that the officer providing the certificate has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement and setting forth whether there existed as of the date of such financial statements and whether, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, there exists on the date of the certificate or existed at any time during the period covered by such financial statements any Default or Event of Default and, if any such condition or event exists on the date of the certificate, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and the action the Company is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;

(f) promptly after the same are available, copies of all proxy statements, financial statements and reports as the Company or its parent shall send to its public stockholders, and copies of all reports which the Company or its parent may file with the SEC or any governmental authority at any time substituted therefor; and

(g) such other information relating to the affairs of the Company as any Purchaser or any such holder reasonably may request from time to time.

Section 9.2. Inspection. The Company will permit any authorized representatives designated by any Purchaser, so long as such Purchaser is the holder of any Bonds, or by each Institutional Holder which holds at least 5% in principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding,

 

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at such Purchaser’s or such Institutional Holder’s expense, to visit and inspect any of the Properties of the Company, including its books of account, to make copies and take extracts therefrom and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes such accountants to discuss with such Purchaser or any such other Institutional Holder the finances and affairs of the Company in the presence of an officer of the Company), all at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be requested; provided, that (i) the Company may restrict the foregoing access to the extent that any applicable law requires the Company to restrict or prohibit access to such information or disclosure of such information that could result in the loss of a legal privilege and (ii) such Purchaser agrees and any such Institutional Holder by its acquisition of any Bonds shall be deemed to agree to keep confidential any nonpublic information received as a result of the rights granted in this Section 9.2, except that each such holder of the Bonds reserves the right to disclose such information (i) as may be necessary in connection with enforcing compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (ii) as may be required to governmental agencies, courts or other agencies to whose regulation such holder may be subject but only to the extent that such agencies or courts are authorized by or have apparent authority under applicable law, regulation, court order or other regulatory authority to request such information and (iii) as may be necessary to furnish to a prospective bona fide purchaser of any Bonds, any of such information which, in the reasonable opinion of the holder of such Bonds, is a material fact regarding the Company, provided, that disclosure of any such information may be made to no more than two such prospective purchasers in any thirty day period, each such prospective purchaser must be eligible to be an Institutional Holder should it purchase Bonds, and the amount of Bonds which would be involved in a sale to any such prospective purchaser is at least 5% of the then-outstanding Bonds.

Section 9.3. Confidential Information. For the purposes of this Section 9.3, “Confidential Information” means information delivered to any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that was marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by such Purchaser as being confidential information of the Company, such Subsidiary, Unitil or Unitil’s Affiliates, provided that such term does not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to such Purchaser prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by such Purchaser or any Person acting on such Purchaser’s behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to such Purchaser other than through disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to such Purchaser under Section 9.1 that are otherwise publicly available.

Each Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by such Purchaser in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Purchaser, provided that such Purchaser may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, trustees and Affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the investment represented by its Bonds), (ii) its financial advisors and other professional advisors who agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section 9.3, (iii) any other holder of any Bond, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which it sells or offers to sell such Bond or any part thereof or any

 

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participation therein (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 9.3), (v) any Person from which it offers to purchase any security of the Company (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 9.3), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Purchaser, (vii) the NAIC or the SVO or, in each case, any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about such Purchaser’s investment portfolio, or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Purchaser, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which such Purchaser is a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent such Purchaser may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under such Purchaser’s Bonds and this Agreement after prior written notice provided to the Company.

Any holder of a Bond (and any employee, representative or other agent of such holder) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the taxpayer relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. The authorization in the immediately preceding sentence is not intended to permit, and does not permit, disclosure of any information not related to the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction, including, for example, the identities of participants or potential participants and any Confidential Information regarding the operations or finances of the Company, its Subsidiaries, Unitil, and Unitil’s Affiliates. Each holder of a Bond, by its acceptance of a Bond, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section 9.3 as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Bond of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section 9.3.

SECTION 10. HOME OFFICE PAYMENT.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.01 of the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and notwithstanding anything in the Indenture or the Bonds to the contrary, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all sums becoming due on any Bond owned by you or your nominee in the manner specified in Schedule I hereto or as you may otherwise designate by written notice to the Company with a copy to the Trustee and all such payments shall be made without presentation or surrender of such Bond to the Trustee; provided, that you agree that you will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any such Bond unless, prior to the delivery thereof, either (i) you shall have made a clear and accurate notation of the amount of the principal redeemed on the Bond to be transferred, or (ii) such Bond shall have been presented to the Trustee for appropriate notation thereon of the portion of the principal redeemed on the Bond or (iii) the Bond shall have been surrendered in exchange for a new Bond for the unredeemed balance of the principal amount thereof. You agree that prior to receiving any final payment of the entire remaining unpaid principal amount of any Bond pursuant to this Section 10, you shall be required to deliver such

 

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Bond to the Trustee. Your rights under this Section 10 and Section 1.01 of the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture may be exercised by any subsequent Institutional Holder who shall enter into an agreement in writing with the Company containing the terms set forth in this Section 10 and deliver a copy thereof to the Trustee.

SECTION 11. DEFINITIONS; ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.

Section 11.1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement the following terms have the following respective meanings:

Affiliate: Any director, officer or employee of the Company and any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of any Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Code: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

Default: Any event or condition the occurrence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, constitute an Event of Default.

EAIC Test: Defined in Section 4.6 hereof.

Equity Contribution: Defined in Section 4.7 hereof.

ERISA: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute of similar import, together with the regulations thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed to also refer to any successor sections.

ERISA Affiliate: Any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Company under Section 414 of the Code.

Event of Default: An “Event of Default” as defined in the Indenture.

Governmental Authority:

(a) the government of

(i) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or

(ii) any jurisdiction in which the Company conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company, or

(b) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

 

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Indebtedness: Of any Person as of any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, shall mean all (i) obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) obligations secured by any Lien upon Property or assets owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligations, and (iii) obligations created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to Property acquired by such Person, notwithstanding the fact that the rights and remedies of the seller, lender or lessor under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of Property; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Indebtedness of the Company shall not include (A) its obligations under contracts for the purchase by it of electric energy or capacity, including transmission charges, (B) Lease obligations of the Company and (C) pension and other obligations of the Company with respect to benefits provided to employees of the Company, regardless of whether such obligations are absolute or contingent or included, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, in determining total liabilities as shown on the liability side of a balance sheet of the Company.

Institutional Holder: Any insurance company, bank, savings and loan association, trust company, investment company, charitable foundation, employee benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) or other institutional investor or financial institution.

Leases: As applied to any Person shall mean any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which would, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, be required to be accounted for as a capital lease or an operating lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

Lien: (i) Any interest in Property (whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible) which secures an obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of such Property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, including, without limitation, any such interest arising from a mortgage, charge, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt, or arising from a lease, consignment or bailment given for security purposes, (ii) any encumbrance upon such Property which does not secure an obligation and (iii) any exception to or defect in the title to or ownership interest in such Property, including, without limitation, reservations, rights of entry, possibilities of reverter, encroachments, easements, rights of way, restrictive covenants, leases, licenses and profits à prendre. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall be deemed to be the owner of any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sales agreement or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes.

Material: Material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Material Adverse Effect: A material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a

 

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whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Bonds, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Indenture or the Bonds against the Company.

Multiemployer Plan: Any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

NAIC: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor thereto.

NHPUC: Defined in Section 4.4 hereof.

Officer’s Certificate: A certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

PBGC: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any successor thereto.

Person: An individual, an association, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a limited liability partnership, a trust or estate, a government, foreign or domestic, and any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity, including the Company.

Plan: An “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is or, within the preceding five years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five years, have been made or required to be made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.

Property: Any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

SVO: The Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC or any successor to such Office.

Unitil: Defined in Section 5.7 hereof.

Section 11.2. Accounting Principles. Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made for the purposes of this Agreement, the same shall be done in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles then in effect, to the extent applicable, except where such principles are inconsistent with the requirements of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 12. EXPENSES; ETC.

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, the Company will pay all reasonable expenses in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments or waivers (whether or not the same become effective) under or in respect of this Agreement or the Bonds, including, without limitation: (a) the cost and expenses of reproducing this Agreement, of the reproducing and issue of the Bonds, of furnishing all opinions of counsel for the Company and all certificates on behalf of the Company, and of the enforcement of the Company’s performance of and compliance with all agreements and conditions contained herein on its part to be performed or complied with; (b) the cost of delivering to the principal office of each Purchaser, insured to its satisfaction, any Bonds delivered to it upon any substitution of Bonds pursuant to the Indenture and of each Purchaser’s delivering any Bonds, insured to its satisfaction, upon any such substitution; (c) the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of Chapman and Cutler LLP, special counsel for the Purchasers, in connection with such transactions and any such amendments or waivers; (d) the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Purchaser or a holder of any Bonds (in its capacity as such) in connection with such transactions and any such amendments, waivers or consents pursuant to the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, any amendments, waivers or consents resulting from any work-out, renegotiation or restructuring relating to the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, a Supplement or the Bonds, whether or not any Bonds are then outstanding; and (e) the outlays, counsel fees and other expenses reasonably made or incurred by the Trustee in and about the execution of the trusts hereby created and any expenses paid and to pay the cost and expense incurred in defending against any liability in the premises of any character whatsoever, unless such liability is adjudicated to have resulted from the negligence or willful default of the Trustee. The Company will indemnify and hold each Purchaser harmless from and against all claims in respect of the fees, if any, of brokers and finders payable in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the carrying out of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company will also pay, and will save each Purchaser and each holder of any Bonds harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to any taxes (including interest and penalties) which may be payable in respect of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the issue of the Bonds and any amendment or waiver under or in respect of this Agreement or the Bonds.

SECTION 13. SURVIVAL OF AGREEMENTS; ETC.

All agreements contained herein and all representations and warranties made in writing by or on behalf of the Company herein or pursuant hereto shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation at any time made by any Purchaser or on such Purchaser’s behalf, the purchase of the Bonds by any Purchaser hereunder, and any disposition or payment of the Bonds. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed representations and warranties made by the Company hereunder.

 

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SECTION 14. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.

Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of at least 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 14 shall be binding upon each holder of any Bond at the time outstanding, each future holder of any Bond and the Company. Bonds directly or indirectly held by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for purposes of determining whether any amendment or waiver has been effected in accordance with this Section 14.

SECTION 15. NOTICES; ETC.

All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested or overnight courier, (a) if to a Purchaser, addressed to the address of such Purchaser designated as the Purchaser’s address on Schedule I attached hereto, or at such other address as such Purchaser shall have furnished to the Company for such purpose, or (b) if to the Company, to 6 Liberty Lane West, Hampton, New Hampshire 03842-1720, Attention: Treasurer, or at such other address as the Company shall have furnished to each Purchaser and each such other holder in writing.

SECTION 16. FURTHER ASSURANCES.

The Company will execute and deliver all such instruments and take all such action as the Purchasers from time to time may reasonably request in order to further effectuate the purposes and carry out the terms of this Agreement and the Bonds.

SECTION 17. MISCELLANEOUS.

This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or not, and, in particular, shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by any holder or holders at the time of the Bonds or any part thereof. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between each Purchaser and the Company and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement and the Bonds shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York. The headings in this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

SECTION 18. SEVERABILITY.

Should any part of this Agreement for any reason be declared invalid or unenforceable, such decision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any remaining portion, which

 

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remaining portion shall remain in force and effect as if this Agreement had been executed with the invalid or unenforceable portion thereof eliminated and it is hereby declared the intention of the parties hereto that they would have executed the remaining portion of this Agreement without including therein any such part, parts or portion which may, for any reason, be hereafter declared invalid or unenforceable.

 

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If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the accompanying counterparts of this Agreement and return one of the same to the Company, whereupon this Agreement shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company.

 

Very truly yours,
UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

By:

 

 

  Mark H. Collin
  Treasurer

 

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The foregoing Agreement is hereby agreed to as of March 2, 2010.

 

[VARIATION]
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND AGREEMENT

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of an executed copy of the foregoing Bond Purchase Agreement and agrees to the provisions of Section 10 thereof.

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By  

 

Its  

 

 

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EX-4.4 5 dex44.htm FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture

Exhibit 4.4

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

 

UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

TO

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TRUSTEE

 

 

FOURTEENTH

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of March 2, 2010

 

 

Additional Issue of Bonds

(Series P, 5.24%, due March 2, 2020)

$15,000,000

 

 

 


THIS FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is dated as of March 2, 2010 and entered into by and between UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New Hampshire, having its principal office and place of business in Hampton, County of Rockingham in the State of New Hampshire (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Company”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (successor to Old Colony Trust Company), having an office and place of business in Boston, Massachusetts, as Trustee (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Trustee”), with reference to the following Recitals:

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company heretofore duly executed and delivered to the Trustee its Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust (hereinafter generally referred to as the “Original Indenture” and referred to, with each and every other instrument, including the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, which amended and restated the Original Indenture in its entirety, and each subsequent instrument which the Company may execute with the Trustee and which is therein stated to be supplemental to the Original Indenture, as the “Indenture”), dated as of July 15, 1958, but actually executed on September 18, 1958, and recorded, among other places, in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, Registry of Deeds, Volume 832, Page 96, and in the Office of the City Clerk of the City of Concord, New Hampshire, Volume 188, Page 156 and duly recorded First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Supplemental Indentures thereto dated as of January 15, 1968, as of November 15, 1971, as of July 1, 1975, as of March 28, 1984, as of June 1, 1984, as of October 29, 1987, as of August 29, 1991, as of October 14, 1994, as of September 1, 1998, as of January 15, 2001, as of April 20, 2001, as of December 2, 2002 and as of September 26, 2006, respectively, to which this instrument is supplemental and in modification and confirmation thereof, whereby substantially all the properties of the Company used by it in its electric business, whether then owned or thereafter acquired, with certain exceptions and reservations fully set forth in the Indenture were given, granted, bargained, sold, warranted, pledged, assigned, transferred, mortgaged and conveyed to the Trustee, its successors and assigns, in trust upon the terms and conditions set forth therein to secure bonds of the Company issued and to be issued thereunder, and for other purposes more particularly specified therein; and

WHEREAS, on January 4, 1971 Old Colony Trust Company was merged into The First National Bank of Boston, which thereupon succeeded to the trusts under the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, effective May 1, 1996 The First National Bank of Boston resigned as trustee under the Indenture and the Company appointed State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) as successor trustee, which accepted such appointment and thereupon succeeded to the trusts under the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, effective January 1, 2003 U.S. Bank National Association purchased substantially all of the corporate trust business of State Street including the trust herein and thereupon succeeded State Street as Trustee hereunder; and


WHEREAS, on December 2, 2002 (the “Merger Date”), Unitil Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Hampshire (“Unitil”), combined all of the operations of the Company and Exeter & Hampton Electric Company (“Exeter”) through the merger of Exeter into the Company pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 26, 2002 between the Company and Exeter. On the Merger Date the Company assumed all of the obligations of Exeter under (a) Exeter’s Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of December 1, 1952 (hereinafter referred to as the “Original Exeter Indenture”) as supplemented by the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Supplemental Indentures thereto dated as of January 16, 1956, as of January 15, 1960, as of June 1, 1964, as of January 15, 1968, as of November 15, 1971, as of April 1, 1974, as of December 15, 1977, as of October 28, l987, as of August 29, 1991, as of October 14, 1994, as of September 1, 1998 and as of April 20, 2001, respectively (the Original Exeter Indenture and such supplemental indentures being sometimes collectively referred to as the “Exeter Indenture”), and (b) the bonds then outstanding under the Exeter Indenture (the “Exeter Bonds”) pursuant to a Consent and Agreement dated as of November 26, 2002 among Exeter, the Company and the holders of the Exeter Bonds and the Bonds outstanding under the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, on January 24, 2003 (i) each holder of an Exeter Bond exchanged such Exeter Bond for a bond issued by the Company under the Indenture containing substantially the same terms and provisions as such Exeter Bond, (ii) the Exeter Indenture was cancelled and discharged and (iii) the Exeter Bonds were cancelled; and

WHEREAS, there are now outstanding under the Indenture $6,000,000 in principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series I, $10,000,000 in principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series J, $7,500,000 in principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series K, $9,000,000 in principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series L, $10,000,000 in principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series M, $7,500,000 in principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series N, and $15,000,000 in principal amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series O and the Company proposes to issue $15,000,000 in principal amount of additional First Mortgage Bonds of a new series designated as First Mortgage Bonds, Series P (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Series P Bonds” or “bonds of Series P”); and

WHEREAS, all things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Series P Bonds, when authenticated by the Trustee and issued as in the Indenture and herein provided, and to make this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the acceptance and purchase of the Series P Bonds by the holder thereof, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in confirmation of and supplementing the Indenture and in performance of and compliance with the provisions thereof, the Company, by these presents, does give, grant, bargain, sell, warrant, pledge, assign, transfer, mortgage and convey unto the Trustee, as provided in the Indenture, and its successor or successors in the trust thereby and hereby created, and its and their assigns, all and singular, the property, and rights and interests in property, described in the Indenture and thereby conveyed, pledged, assigned,

 

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transferred and mortgaged, or intended or required so to be (said descriptions in the Indenture being hereby made a part hereof to the same extent as if set forth herein at length), whether then or now owned or thereafter or hereafter acquired, except such of said properties or interests therein as may have been released by the Trustee or sold or disposed of in whole or in part as permitted by the provisions of the Indenture and also, but without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, all the rights, titles, interests, easements and properties described as acquired by the Company in Schedule A hereto attached and hereby made a part hereof as fully as if set forth herein at length, and all proceeds of any of the foregoing at any time conveyed, pledged, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, paid or delivered to and from time to time held by the Trustee upon the trusts of the Indenture.

SUBJECT, HOWEVER, insofar as affected hereby, to any Permitted Encumbrances as defined in Section 1.01 of the Indenture, and, as to the property specifically described in Schedule A of the Indenture and in Schedule A hereof, to the liens, encumbrances, reservations, restrictions, conditions, limitations, covenants, interests and exceptions, if any, set forth or referred to in the descriptions thereof contained in said Schedules, none of which substantially interferes with the free use and enjoyment by the Company of the property and rights hereinabove described for the general purposes and uses of the Company’s electric business;

AND SUBJECT FURTHER, as to all hereafter-acquired property, insofar as affected thereby, to any mortgages, encumbrances or liens on such after-acquired property existing at the time of such acquisition or contemporaneously created, conforming to the provisions of Section 8.07 of the Original Indenture;

BUT SPECIFICALLY RESERVING, EXCEPTING AND EXCLUDING from this instrument, and from the grant, conveyance, mortgage, transfer and assignment herein contained, all right, title and interest of the Company, now owned or hereafter acquired in and to properties and rights of the kind specified in subclauses (a) to (d), both inclusive, of the paragraph beginning “But Specifically Reserving, Excepting and Excluding from this Indenture” of the granting clauses of the Indenture.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the trust estate, with all of the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the Trustee, its successors in the trusts of the Indenture, and its and their assigns, to its and their own use, forever;

BUT IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS, upon the terms and trusts set forth in the Indenture, for the equal pro rata benefit, security and protection (except as provided in Section 8.14 of the Indenture and except insofar as a sinking, improvement and analogous fund or funds, established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, or any indenture supplemental thereto, may afford particular security for bonds of one or more series) of the bearers and the registered owners of the bonds from time to time authenticated, issued and outstanding under the Indenture, and the bearers of the coupons appertaining thereto, without (except as aforesaid) any preference, priority or distinction whatever of any one bond over any other bond by reason of priority in the issue, sale or negotiation thereof, or otherwise;

 

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PROVIDED, HOWEVER, and these presents are upon the condition, that, if the Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the bonds at the times and in the manner therein and in the Indenture provided, and shall keep, perform and observe all and singular the covenants, agreements and provisions in the bonds and in the Indenture expressed to be kept, performed and observed by or on the part of the Company, then this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the estate and rights hereby granted shall, pursuant to the provisions of Article XIII of the Indenture, cease, determine and be void, but otherwise shall be and remain in full force and effect.

AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED, DECLARED AND AGREED, upon the trusts and for the purposes aforesaid, as set forth in the following covenants, agreements, conditions and provisions, viz.:

ARTICLE ONE

SERIES P BONDS

Section 1.01. There shall be and is hereby created an additional series of bonds designated as and entitled “First Mortgage Bonds, Series P.” Series P Bonds shall be fully registered bonds without coupons, of the denomination of $1,000 and multiples thereof. The bonds of Series P originally issued shall be dated the date of such issue and any bonds of Series P subsequently issued shall be dated as provided in Section 2.03 of the Indenture. All Series P Bonds shall mature on March 2, 2020, and shall bear interest at the rate of five and twenty-four hundredths percent (5.24%) per annum from their respective dates, such interest to be payable semi-annually in arrears on the second day of March and September and in each year commencing the second day of September, 2010, and shall bear interest on any overdue principal (including any overdue prepayment of principal) and premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) on any overdue payment of interest, at the rate of 7.24% per annum. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on bonds of Series P shall be payable at the corporate trust office of U.S. Bank National Association, in Boston, Massachusetts, St. Paul, Minnesota, or at the corporate trust office designated by the Trustee or by its successors as Trustee hereunder, in lawful money of the United States of America, provided that the Company may enter into a written agreement with any registered Institutional Holder of the bonds of Series P providing that payment of interest thereon and of the redemption price of any portion of the principal amount thereof (including premium, if any) which may be redeemed shall be made directly to such holder or to its nominee, as the case may be, at a duly designated place of payment within the United States, without surrender or presentation of such bonds of Series P to the Trustee, provided that (A) there shall have been filed with the Trustee a copy of such agreement, (B) pursuant to such agreement such holder shall agree that it will not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any such bond of Series P in respect of which any such payment or redemption shall have been made unless, prior to the delivery thereof by it, either (i) it shall have made a clear and accurate notation of the amount of principal so redeemed upon any such bond to be transferred, or (ii) such bond of Series P shall have been presented to the Trustee for appropriate notation thereon of the portion of the principal amount thereof redeemed, or (iii) such bond or bonds of Series P shall have been surrendered in exchange for a new bond or bonds

 

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of Series P for the unredeemed balance of the principal amount thereof in accordance with the other terms of the Indenture and (C) in such agreement such holder shall agree that prior to receiving any final payment of the entire remaining unpaid principal amount of any Series P Bond, the holder thereof shall be required to deliver such bond to the Trustee. For purposes of this Section 1.01, the term “Institutional Holder” shall mean any insurance company, bank, savings and loan association, trust company, investment company, charitable foundation, employee benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) or other institutional investor or financial institution. The text of the Series P Bonds and of the Trustee’s Certificate with respect thereto shall be respectively substantially of the tenor and purport set forth in Schedule B hereto. The Series P Bonds shall be numbered in such manner or by such method as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.

The issue of bonds of Series P hereunder is hereby limited to the $15,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Series P Bonds initially issued as provided in Section 1.08 hereof and to Series P Bonds issued in exchange or substitution for outstanding Series P Bonds under the provisions of Sections 2.08, 2.10, 2.11 and 7.05 of the Indenture and Section 1.07 hereof.

Section 1.02. As a required sinking fund for the benefit of the Series P Bonds, the Company covenants that it will, on or prior to March 2 in each year, beginning with March 2, 2018, and continuing to and including March 2, 2020, pay to the Trustee immediately available funds sufficient to redeem, at par, Series P Bonds then outstanding, in the principal amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) (or the remaining principal amount if less than $5,000,000 principal amount of Series P Bonds at the time remains outstanding). The payments required for the sinking fund as above provided are in this Section 1.02 and elsewhere in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture referred to as “required sinking fund payments” and the day following the latest date on which each such payment is required to be made is herein and therein referred to as a “required sinking fund redemption date.” Each required sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Series P Bonds on the applicable required sinking fund redemption date.

No redemption under Section 1.04, 1.05 or 1.06 hereof shall affect or reduce the obligation of the Company to provide for required sinking fund redemptions under this Section 1.02 until all Series P Bonds shall have been paid in full.

Section 1.03. The Company will give notice, by registered mail, postage prepaid, or by a reputable overnight carrier to the Trustee and to each registered owner of a bond of Series P of any required or optional payment to be made pursuant to Section 1.02, Section 1.04 or Section 1.05 hereof not more than 60, nor less than 30, days prior to the required sinking fund redemption date (or other designated date of redemption in the case of a redemption pursuant to Section 1.04 or Section 1.05).

Section 1.04. In addition to the required sinking fund provided by Section 1.02 hereof, all of the bonds of Series P, or any part of the principal amount thereof constituting One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) or any integral multiple thereof, shall be subject to redemption, at the option of the Company, on not less than 15 days’ notice, pursuant to the provisions of Article VII of the Indenture, and by payment of an amount equal to the Make Whole Amount, as defined below in this Section 1.04 determined five Business Days prior to such redemption.

 

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For purposes of this Section 1.04, the Make Whole Amount shall mean the greater of (i) the outstanding principal amount of the bonds to be redeemed, plus interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for such redemption, and (ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate present value as of the date of such redemption of each dollar of principal being redeemed (taking into account each redemption required by Section 1.02 above) and the amount of interest (exclusive of interest accrued to the date fixed for such redemption) that would have been payable in respect of each such dollar if such redemption had not been made, determined by discounting such amounts at the Reinvestment Rate (as hereinafter defined) from the respective dates on which they would have been payable to the date of such redemption, plus (B) interest accrued on the bonds to be redeemed to the date fixed for such redemption.

For purposes of any determination of the Make Whole Amount:

“Reinvestment Rate” shall mean (1) the sum of 0.50%, plus the yield reported on page “USD” of the Bloomberg Financial Markets Services Screen (or, if not available, any other nationally recognized trading screen reporting on-line intraday trading in the United States government Securities) at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the fifth Business Day preceding the date the Make Whole Amount becomes due and payable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.04 for the United States government Securities having a maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the principal of the bonds being redeemed (taking into account the application of each redemption required by Section 1.02) or (2) in the event that no nationally recognized trading screen reporting on-line intraday trading in the United States government Securities is available, Reinvestment Rate shall mean the sum of 0.50%, plus the arithmetic mean of the yields for the two columns under the heading “Week Ending” published on the fifth Business Day preceding the date the Make Whole Amount becomes due and payable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.04 in the Statistical Release under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities” for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the principal amount of the bonds being redeemed (taking into account each redemption required by Section 1.02). If no maturity exactly corresponds to such Weighted Average Life to Maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such Weighted Average Life to Maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, and the Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straightline basis, rounding in each of such relevant periods to the nearest month. For the purposes of calculating the Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the date of determination of the Make Whole Amount shall be used.

“Statistical Release” shall mean the then most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Government Securities adjusted to constant maturities or, if such statistical release is not published at the time of any determination hereunder, then such other reasonably comparable index which shall be designated by the holders of 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Series P Bonds.

 

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“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” of the principal amount of the bonds being redeemed shall mean, as of the time of any determination thereof, the number of years obtained by dividing the then Remaining Dollar-Years of such principal by the aggregate amount of such principal. The term “Remaining Dollar-Years” of such principal shall mean the amount obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the remainder of (1) the amount of principal that would have been payable on each scheduled redemption date under Section 1.02 hereof if the redemption pursuant to this Section 1.04 had not been made, less (2) the amount of principal on the bonds scheduled to become payable on each such redemption date under Section 1.02 after giving effect to the redemption pursuant to this Section 1.04, by (y) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) which will elapse between the date of determination and each such scheduled redemption date under Section 1.02, and (ii) totaling the products obtained in (i).

Section 1.05. Series P Bonds may be redeemed pursuant to Article XI of the Indenture (i) out of Trust Moneys required by Section 8.12 of the Indenture to be deposited with the Trustee, on any date and shall be redeemed for an amount equal to the principal amount of the bonds to be redeemed, plus interest accrued to the date of redemption; or (ii) out of Trust Moneys required by Sections 8.10, 10.03, 10.04 or 10.04A of the Indenture to be deposited with the Trustee, on any date and shall be redeemed for an amount equal to the Make Whole Amount, as defined above in Section 1.04.

Section 1.06. In the event that all or any part of the bonds of Series P shall be redeemed or otherwise discharged prior to their maturity pursuant to or in accordance with the order of any governmental commission or regulatory authority upon the reorganization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or otherwise, the registered owners of such bonds of Series P shall be entitled to be paid thereafter an amount equal to the Make Whole Amount.

Section 1.07. Bonds of Series P, upon surrender thereof at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in Boston, Massachusetts, St. Paul, Minnesota, or other such office designated by the Trustee, may be exchanged for the same aggregate principal amount of other fully registered bonds of this Series.

Within a reasonable time after the receipt of a request for such an exchange, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver all bonds required in connection therewith, and the Trustee shall make such exchange upon payment to it of such charge, if any, as is required by the following paragraph.

For any exchange of bonds of Series P, the Company, at its option, may require the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any stamp or other tax or governmental charge required to be paid by the Company or the Trustee.

Section 1.08. Upon the execution of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and subject to the provisions of Article III of the Indenture and upon compliance with the applicable provisions of Articles IV of the Indenture (or waiver thereof duly obtained), the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the order of the Company, bonds of Series P in the form set forth in Schedule B hereto in the aggregate principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000).

 

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ARTICLE TWO

REDEMPTION

Section 2.01. In the case of any required sinking fund redemption pursuant to Section 1.02 hereof, forthwith after the February 2 preceding each required sinking fund redemption date, and in the case of any proposed redemption pursuant to Sections 1.04 or 1.05, forthwith after the Trustee’s receipt of proper notice from the Company of any such proposed redemption, the Trustee shall act in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of the Indenture.

The Company covenants that it will pay to the Trustee:

(i) on or before the day prior to each required sinking fund redemption date, the sum required by Section 1.02 hereof,

(ii) on or before the day prior to the date proposed by the Company in a notice (which notice shall conform to the requirements of Article VII of the Indenture) of any redemption pursuant to Section 1.04 or 1.05 hereof, the amount payable in accordance with such notice, and

(iii) at the time of each required sinking fund redemption or other redemption the Company shall pay to the Trustee the amount of the charges which shall be due the Trustee and the amount of expenses which the Trustee advises the Company it has incurred or will incur in connection with such redemption.

ARTICLE THREE

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 3.01. The Company covenants that it will not declare or pay dividends (other than in its own common stock) or make any other distribution on shares of its common stock or apply any of its property or assets (other than amounts equal to any proceeds received from the sale of common stock of the Company) to the purchase or retirement of, or make any other distribution through reduction of capital or otherwise, in respect of, any shares of its common stock if, after giving effect to such distribution, the aggregate of all such distributions declared, paid, made or applied subsequent to December 31, 2008, plus the amount of all dividends declared or accrued on any class of preferred stock of the Company subsequent to December 31, 2008, and any amounts charged to net income after December 31, 2008 in connection with the purchase or retirement of any shares of preferred stock of the Company would exceed an amount equal to net income of the Company available for dividends after December 31, 2008, plus the sum of $26,300,000.

The term “net income”, as applied to any period shall mean the net income (or deficit) of the Company for such period properly transferable to its earned surplus, all computed, if a

 

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uniform system of accounts is prescribed by any commission or other governmental body having jurisdiction in the premises, in accordance with such uniform system; otherwise in accordance with accepted accounting practice, and in any event by deducting from the aggregate gross revenues of the Company for such period all expenses required to be deducted in computing earnings available for interest charges for such period in accordance with Section 4.02B of the Indenture, and also by deducting all interest requirements, taxes, amortization of debt discount and expense and other deferred charges, and all other non-operating expenses for such period.

ARTICLE FOUR

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 4.01. The Company covenants that, except as to that part of the trust estate which may hereafter be acquired by it, it is now well seized of the physical properties by it hereby mortgaged or intended so to be and has good right, full power, and lawful authority to make this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and to subject such physical properties to the lien of the Indenture as hereby supplemented; and that, subject to the provisions of the Indenture as hereby supplemented, it has and will preserve good and indefeasible title to all such physical properties and will warrant and forever defend the same to the Trustee against the claims of all persons whomsoever.

Section 4.02. The use of terms and the construction of the provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the definitions, uses and constructions contained in the Indenture as hereby supplemented.

Section 4.03. The Trustee shall be entitled to, may exercise and shall be protected by, where and to the full extent that the same are applicable, with respect to the Series P Bonds herein provided for, all the rights, powers, privileges, immunities and exemptions provided in the Indenture as if the provisions concerning the same were incorporated herein at length. The recitals and statements in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and in the Series P Bonds (other than the Trustee’s Certificate attached thereto) shall be taken as statements by the Company alone, and shall not be considered as made by or as imposing any obligation or liability upon the Trustee, nor shall the Trustee be held responsible for the legality or validity of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture or of the Series P Bonds, and the Trustee makes no covenant or representation, and shall not be responsible, as to and for the effect, authorization, execution, delivery or recording of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture. The Trustee shall not be taken impliedly to waive by this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture any right it would otherwise have. As provided in the Indenture, this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall hereafter form a part of the Indenture.

The remedies and provisions of the Indenture applicable in case of any default by the Company thereunder are hereby adopted and made applicable in case of any default with respect to the properties included herein and, without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, there are hereby conferred upon the Trustee the same powers of sale and other powers over the properties described herein as are expressly to be conferred by the Indenture.

 

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Section 4.04. The Series P Bonds issued under this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture are subject to the terms of the Indenture.

Section 4.05. This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall become void when the Indenture shall be void.

Section 4.06. This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 4.07. The cover of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and all article and descriptive headings herein are inserted for convenience only, and shall not effect any construction or interpretation hereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. has caused this instrument to be executed in its corporate name by its President, one of its Vice Presidents, its Treasurer or its Assistant Treasurer and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and to be attested by the Secretary of the Board of Directors or its Secretary, and U.S. Bank National Association, to evidence its acceptance of the trust hereby created, has caused this instrument to be executed in its corporate name, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

Attest:      

UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

/s/ Sandra L. Whitney

      By:   

/s/ Mark H. Collin

Secretary       Name:    Mark H. Collin
      Title:    Treasurer

Signed, sealed and delivered by

    Unitil Energy Systems, Inc.

    in the presence of us:

     

/s/ Patricia Farrell

     

/s/ Richard H. Provencher

     
               (Corporate Seal)
     

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TRUSTEE

      By:   

/s/ Karen Beard

         Authorized Officer

Signed and delivered by

    U.S. Bank National Association

    in the presence of us:

              

/s/ Todd R. DiNezza

        

/s/ Carolina D. Altomos

        

 

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STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE    )           
   ) SS   
COUNTY OF    )         

On this 2nd day of March, 2010, before me personally appeared                     , to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that he is the                      of Unitil Energy Systems, Inc., that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument was signed and sealed by him on behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors; and the said                      acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

 

/s/ Chad R. Dixon

Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
(Notarial Seal)

 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS    )           
   ) SS   
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK    )         

On this 2nd day of March, 2010, before me personally appeared                     , to me personally known, who being by me duly sworn, did say that he is an authorized officer of U.S. Bank National Association, and that the foregoing instrument was signed by him on behalf of said Bank by authority of its Board of Directors; and the said                      acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said Bank.

 

/s/ Maria I. Arguello

Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
(Notarial Seal)

 

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ENDORSEMENT

U.S. Bank National Association, Trustee, being the trustee under the foregoing Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, hereby consents to the cutting of any timber standing upon any of the lands conveyed by the said Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and to the sale of any such timber so cut as well as any personal property conveyed by said Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture to the extent, but only to the extent, that such cutting and sale is permitted under the provisions of the Indenture referred to in said Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

Dated: Boston, Massachusetts, March 2, 2010.

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

  Trustee

By:

 

/s/ Karen Beard

  Authorized Officer

 

Signed and delivered by

    U.S. Bank National Association

    in the presence of us:

/s/ Todd R. DiNezza

/s/ Carolina D. Altomos

 

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UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SCHEDULE A

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN LAND AND EASEMENTS

ACQUIRED BY THE COMPANY SINCE SEPTEMBER 26, 2006

AND SUPPLEMENT TO SCHEDULE A OF THIRTEENTH

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

1. PARCELS ACQUIRED:

 

  a. Land off Curtisville Road, Concord, NH from City of Concord to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated December 31, 2008 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on March 31, 2009 at Book 3119, Page 774.

 

  b. Land from Hodges Properties, Inc. to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated February 28, 2007 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on September 10, 2007 at Book 3017, Page 869.

 

2. EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS ACQUIRED FOR TRANSMISSION LINES:

 

  a. Twenty foot by twenty foot Easement conveyed by deed of Karjen, L.L.C. to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated August 10, 2007 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on August 22, 2007 at Book 3013, Page 683.

 

  b. Easement conveyed by deed of Hodges Development Corporation to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated February 28, 2007 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on September 10, 2007 at Book 3017, Page 873.

 

  c. Utility Access Easement conveyed by deed of City of Concord to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated December 31, 2008 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on March 31, 2009 at Book 3119, Page 746.

 

  d. Utility Easement conveyed by deed of City of Concord to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated December 31, 2008 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on March 31, 2009 at Book 3119, Page 779.

 

  e. Utility Easement Deed conveyed by John J. Cunningham Sr., Patricia Cunningham and John J. Cunningham Jr. to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated September 14, 2006 and recorded with the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds on October 23, 2006 at Book 4723, Page 883.


  f. Utility Easement Deed from DDR Seabrook LLC to UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. dated January 29, 2007 and recorded with the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds on March 16, 2007 at Book 4776, Page 2749.

 

3. EASEMENT ACQUIRED FOR TRANSMISSION LINE NOT INCLUDED ON SCHEDULE A FOR THIRTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE:

 

  a. Utility Easement Deed from Dennis Sweeney, Robert Sweeney and Wanda Price to UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC. dated July 24, 2006 and recorded with the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds on September 1, 2006 at Book 4702, Page 2097.


DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN LAND AND EASEMENTS

CONVEYED BY THE COMPANY SINCE SEPTEMBER 26, 2006

 

1. PARCELS CONVEYED:

 

  a. UNITIL Energy Systems Inc. to City of Concord dated December 30, 2008 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on March 31, 2009 at Book 3119, Page 762.

 

  b. Conservation Easement from UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. to Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests dated December 30, 2008 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on March 31, 2009 at Book 3119, Page 724.

 

  c. Conservation Easement from UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. to City of Concord dated December 30, 2008 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on March 31, 2009 at Book 3119, Page 784.

 

2. EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS CONVEYED CONCERNING TRANSMISSION LINES:

 

  a. Easement conveyed by deed of UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. to City of Concord dated October 24, 2006 and recorded with the Merrimack County Registry of Deeds on November 22, 2006 at Book 2946, Page 812.

 

  b. Quitclaim Deed and Release of Utility Easement conveyed by deed of UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. to FPL Energy Seabrook, LLC dated December 17, 2007 and recorded with the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds on January 25, 2008 at Book 4880, Page 2317.

 

  c. Quitclaim Deed and Release of Utility Easement conveyed by deed of UNITIL Energy Systems, Inc. to DDR Seabrook, LLC dated December 20, 2006 and recorded with the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds on April 18, 2007 at Book 4788, Page 2597.
EX-4.5 6 dex45.htm FORM OF BOND ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT Form of Bond issued pursuant to the Bond Purchase Agreement

Exhibit 4.5

(Form of Series P Fully Registered Bond without Coupons)

THIS BOND HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS BOND HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO DISTRIBUTION OR RESALE, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, MORTGAGED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR THE AVAILABILITY OF AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

No. PR–    $_____________

UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.

First Mortgage Bond, Series P, 5.24%

Due March 2, 2020

PPN: 913260 B@3

Unitil Energy Systems, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New Hampshire (hereinafter called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                      or registered assigns, on the second day of March, 2020, the principal sum of                      Dollars ($            ) and to pay interest thereon from the date hereof at the rate of five and twenty-four hundredths per centum (5.24%) per annum (computed on the basis of a thirty (30) day month and a three hundred sixty (360) day year) payable semi-annually in arrears on the second day of March and September in each year, commencing with the second day of September, 2010, until said principal sum is paid; and to pay interest on any overdue principal (including any overdue prepayment of principal) and premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) on any overdue payment of interest at the rate of 7.24% per annum. The principal of, premium, if any, and the interest on this bond shall be payable at the corporate trust office of U.S. Bank National Association, in Boston, Massachusetts, St. Paul, Minnesota, or at the corporate trust office designated by the Trustee or by its successor trustee of the trust hereinafter referred to, or at the option of certain holders in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.01 of the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture hereinafter referred to, in lawful money of the United States of America.

This bond is one of a duly authorized issue of First Mortgage Bonds of the Company limited as to aggregate principal amount as set forth in the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, issuable in series, and is one of a series known as First Mortgage Bonds, Series P, all bonds of all series being issued and to be issued under and pursuant to and all equally secured (except as any sinking or other 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 Indenture

SCHEDULE B

(to Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture)


of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of July 15, 1958 (herein called the “Original Indenture”) duly executed and delivered by the Company to Old Colony Trust Company (The First National Bank of Boston, and State Street Bank and Trust Company being the initial successor Trustees and U.S. Bank National Association being the current successor Trustee, the “Trustee”), to which Original Indenture, as amended and restated by the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, and supplemented by a Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 26, 2006, and a Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture (the “Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of March 2, 2010 (herein together called the “Indenture”) reference is hereby made for a description of the property transferred, assigned and mortgaged thereunder, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the bonds are secured and additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the rights of the holders or registered owners of said bonds, of the Trustee and of the Company in respect of such security. Neither the foregoing reference to the Indenture, nor any provision of this bond or of the Indenture, shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute, unconditional and unalterable, to pay, at the stated or accelerated maturities herein provided, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this bond as herein provided.

Bonds of this Series P are entitled to the benefit of a required sinking fund provided for in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and shall become subject to redemption for the purposes of such sinking fund at the principal amount thereof without premium, plus interest accrued thereon to the date of such redemption, all on the conditions and in the manner provided in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

Bonds of this Series P are also redeemable, in whole or in part, in integral multiples of one hundred thousand dollars, at the option of the Company on any date on at least 15 days’ notice, in the manner, with the effect, subject to the limitations and for the amounts specified in Section 1.04 of the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

On the conditions and in the manner provided in Section 1.05 of the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, Series P Bonds may also become subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at any time on at least 15 days’ notice, in the manner, with the effect and for the amounts specified in said Section 1.05, by the use of moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee as the proceeds of the sale or condemnation of property of the Company or as the proceeds of insurance policies deposited with or paid to the Trustee because of damage to or destruction of property of the Company.

In the event that all or any part of the bonds of this Series P shall be redeemed or otherwise discharged prior to their maturity pursuant to or in accordance with the order of any governmental commission or regulatory authority upon the reorganization, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or otherwise, the registered owners of such Series P Bonds shall be entitled to be paid therefor an amount specified in Section 1.06 of the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

The Indenture provides that, if notice of redemption of any bond issued pursuant to its terms, including the Series P Bonds, or of any portion of the principal amount of any such bond selected for redemption has been duly given, then such bond or such portion thereof shall

 

B-2


become due and payable on the redemption date, and, if the redemption price shall have been duly deposited with the Trustee, interest thereon shall cease to accrue from and after the redemption date, and that whenever the redemption price thereof shall have been duly deposited with the Trustee and notice of redemption shall have been duly given, or provision thereof made as provided in the Indenture, such bond or such portion thereof shall no longer be entitled to any lien or benefit of the Indenture.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, occurs, the principal of this bond may become or may be declared due and payable prior to the stated maturity hereof in the manner and with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

This bond is transferable by the registered owner hereof, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon books of the Company to be kept for that purpose at the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Indenture, upon surrender thereof at said office for cancellation and upon presentation of a written instrument of transfer duly executed, and thereupon the Company shall issue in the name of the transferee or transferees, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new registered bond or bonds, of like form and in an authorized denomination or in authorized denominations and of the same series, for the same aggregate principal amount. Bonds of Series P upon surrender thereof at said office may be exchanged for the same aggregate principal amount of fully registered bonds of Series P of another authorized denomination or other authorized denominations, all upon payment of the charges, if any, and subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Indenture.

The Company and the Trustee may treat the registered owner of this bond as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes.

With the consent of the Company and to the extent permitted by and as provided in the Indenture, any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any instrument supplemental thereto may be modified by the assent or authority of the holders of at least seventy-five per centum (75%) in principal amount of the bonds then outstanding thereunder, provided, however, that no such modification shall (i) extend the time or times or payment of the principal of, or the interest or premium, if any, on any bond, (ii) reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest or premium thereon, (iii) authorize the creation of any lien prior or equal to the lien of the Indenture upon any property subject to the lien thereof, or deprive any bondholder of the benefit of the lien of the Indenture, (iv) affect the rights under the Indenture of the holders of one or more, but less than all, of the series of bonds outstanding thereunder unless assented to by the holders of seventy-five per centum (75%) in aggregate principal amount of bonds outstanding thereunder of each of the series so affected, (v) reduce the percentage of bonds, the holders of which are required to assent to any such modification, or (vi) in any manner affect the rights or obligations of the Trustee without its written consent thereto.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this bond or of any claim based hereon or in respect hereof or of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director of the Company, or of any successor company, whether by virtue of any statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment of penalty or otherwise, all such liability being by the acceptance hereof expressly waived and released and being also waived and released by the terms of the Indenture.

 

B-3


This bond shall not be valid nor become obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been authenticated by the execution of the certificate hereon endorsed by the Trustee under the Indenture.

 

B-4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. 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 hereunto affixed and attested by its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers, and this bond to be dated the      day of March, 2010.

 

UNITIL ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
By  
Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

ATTEST:  

 

 

(Corporate Seal)

 

B-5


(Form of Trustee’s Certificate for all Bonds of Series P)

TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the First Mortgage Bonds, Series P, referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
        Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer


(Form of Notation of Payments on Account of Principal)

Payments on Account of Principal

 

 

Date

   Amount Paid    Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-2-


(Form of Endorsement)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto              the within bond, and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                      attorney to transfer said bond on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:                     

Signature of Registered Owner                                                                              

In the presence of                                                                              

NOTICE: The signature of this assignment must correspond with the name of the payee as it appears upon the face of the within bond in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

-3-

EX-99.1 7 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

Unitil Completes Debt Financings

Hampton, NH – March 4, 2010: Unitil Corporation (NYSE: UTL) (www.unitil.com) announced that two of its wholly owned utility subsidiaries completed long-term debt financings totaling $40,000,000 on March 2, 2010.

Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. d/b/a Unitil, which provides electric service in the seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire, issued and sold $15,000,000 of 5.24% First Mortgage Bonds, due March 2020, to institutional investors in the form of a private placement. The net proceeds from the offering will be used to repay short-term indebtedness. Bank of America Merrill Lynch served as the placement agent for this issuance.

Northern Utilities, Inc. d/b/a Unitil, which provides natural gas service in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine, issued and sold $25,000,000 of 5.29% Senior Unsecured Notes, due March 2020, to institutional investors in the form of a private placement. The net proceeds from the offering will be used to repay short-term indebtedness. Bank of America Merrill Lynch and RBC Capital Markets served as the placement agents for this issuance.

Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP provided legal representation for both offerings. Both offerings have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering would be unlawful.

About Unitil

Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire. Unitil’s principal business is the local distribution of electricity and natural gas in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. Unitil is the parent company of three distribution utilities: Unitil Energy Systems, Inc., which provides electric service in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire; Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company, which provides both electric and natural gas service in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts; and Northern Utilities, Inc., which provides natural gas service in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine. In addition, Unitil is the parent company of Granite State Gas Transmission, Inc., an interstate natural gas transmission pipeline in New Hampshire and Maine. Together, Unitil’s operating utilities serve approximately 100,500 electric customers and 70,000 natural gas customers. Unitil’s non-regulated business, Usource™, also provides energy brokering and advisory services to large commercial and industrial customers in the northeastern United States.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Certain factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the following: variations in weather; changes in the regulatory environment; customers’ preferences on energy sources; general economic conditions; increased competition; fluctuations in supply, demand, transmission capacity and prices for energy commodities; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict, and many of which are beyond the control of Unitil Corporation.

For more information, visit Unitil at www.unitil.com or call Mark Collin at 603-773-6612.

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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----