form10k-89681_msex.htm
UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
DC 20549
FORM
10-K
(Mark
One)
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þ
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ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
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For
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
OR
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¨
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TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
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For
the
transition period from _________________ to______________________
Commission
File Number 0-422
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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New
Jersey
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22-1114430
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(State
of Incorporation)
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(IRS
employer identification no.)
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1500
Ronson Road, Iselin NJ 08830
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(732)
634-1500
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of Each Class:
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Name
of each exchange on which registered:
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None
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None
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Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common
Stock, No par
Value
(Title
of
Class)
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best
of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to
this
Form 10-K. þ
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting
company.
Large
accelerated filer ¨
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Accelerated
filer þ
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Non-accelerated
filer ¨
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Smaller
reporting company ¨
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Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act).
Yes ¨ No þ
The
aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant at June 30, 2007 was $244,022,786 based on the closing market price
of $19.21 per share.
The
number of shares outstanding for each of the registrant's classes of common
stock, as of March 3, 2008:
Common
Stock, No par Value 13,262,182
shares outstanding
Documents
Incorporated by
Reference
Proxy
Statement to be filed in connection with the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2008, which will be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission within 120 days, is incorporated as to Part
III.
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
FORM
10-K
INDEX
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PAGE
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Forward-Looking
Statements
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1
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PART
I
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Item
1.
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Business:
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Overview
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2
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Financial
Information
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4
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Water
Supplies and Contracts
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4
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Employees
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5
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Competition
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5
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Regulation
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6
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Management
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8
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Item
1A.
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Risk
Factors
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10
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Item
1B.
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Unresolved
Staff Comments
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14
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Item
2.
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Properties
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14
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Item
3.
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Legal
Proceedings
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16
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Item
4.
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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16
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PART
II
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Item
5.
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Market
for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters
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16
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Item
6.
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Selected
Financial Data
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18
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Item
7.
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Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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18
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Item
7A.
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Qualitative
and Quantitative Disclosure About Market Risk
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26
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Item
8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
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27
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Item
9.
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Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
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50
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Item
9A.
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Controls
and Procedures
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51
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Item
9B.
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Other
Information
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53
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PART
III
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Item
10.
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Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
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54
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Item
11.
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Executive
Compensation
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54
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Item
12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
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54
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Item
13.
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
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54
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Item
14.
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Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
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54
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PART
IV
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Item
15.
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Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules
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54
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Signatures
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56 |
Exhibit
Index
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57 |
Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain
statements contained in this annual report and in the documents incorporated
by
reference constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities
Act
of 1933. The Company intends that these statements be covered by the
safe harbors created under those laws. These statements include, but
are not limited to:
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-
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statements
as to expected financial condition, performance, prospects and earnings
of
the Company;
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-
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statements
regarding strategic plans for
growth;
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-
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statements
regarding the amount and timing of rate increases and other regulatory
matters;
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-
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statements
as to the Company’s expected liquidity needs during fiscal 2008 and beyond
and statements as to the sources and availability of funds to meet
its
liquidity needs;
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-
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statements
as to expected rates, consumption volumes, service fees, revenues,
margins, expenses and operating
results;
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-
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statements
as to the Company’s compliance with environmental laws and regulations and
estimations of the materiality of any related
costs;
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-
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statements
as to the safety and reliability of the Company’s equipment, facilities
and operations;
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-
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statements
as to financial projections;
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-
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statements
as to the ability of the Company to pay
dividends;
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-
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statements
as to the Company’s plans to renew municipal franchises and consents in
the territories it serves;
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-
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expectations
as to the amount of cash contributions to fund the Company’s retirement
benefit plans, including statements as to anticipated discount rates
and
rates of return on plan assets;
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-
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statements
as to trends; and
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-
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statements
regarding the availability and quality of our water
supply.
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These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated
results and outcomes include, but are not limited to:
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the
effects of general economic
conditions;
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increases
in competition in the markets served by the
Company;
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the
ability of the Company to control operating expenses and to achieve
efficiencies in its operations;
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the
availability of adequate supplies of
water;
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actions
taken by government regulators, including decisions on base rate
increase
requests;
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new
or additional water quality
standards;
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weather
variations and other natural
phenomena;
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the
existence of attractive acquisition candidates and the risks involved
in
pursuing those acquisitions;
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acts
of war or terrorism;
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significant
changes in the housing starts in
Delaware;
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the
availability and cost of capital resources;
and
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other
factors discussed elsewhere in this
prospectus.
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Many
of
these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or
predict. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which only speak to
the
Company’s understanding as of the date of this report. The Company does not
undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
of
this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except
as
may be required under applicable securities laws.
For
an
additional discussion of factors that may affect the Company’s business and
results of operations, see Item 1A - Risk Factors.
PART
I
Overview
Middlesex
Water Company (“Middlesex”) was incorporated as a water utility company in 1897
and owns and operates regulated water utility and wastewater systems
in New Jersey and Delaware. The Company also operates water and
wastewater systems under contract on behalf of municipal and private clients
in
New Jersey and Delaware.
The
terms
“the Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Middlesex Water Company and its
subsidiaries, including Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater) and Tidewater’s
wholly-owned subsidiaries, Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores)
and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh). The Company’s other
subsidiaries are Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands
Wastewater Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility
Service Affiliates, Inc. (USA), Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc.,
(USA-PA) and Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc. (TESI).
Middlesex
principal executive offices are located at 1500 Ronson Road, Iselin, New Jersey
08830. Our telephone number is (732) 634-1500. Our internet website address
is
http://www.middlesexwater.com. We make available, free of charge through our
internet website, reports and amendments filed or furnished pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, after such material
is
electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC).
Middlesex
System
The
Middlesex System in New Jersey provides water services to approximately 59,400
retail customers, primarily in eastern Middlesex County, New Jersey and provides
water under wholesale contracts to the City of Rahway, Township of Edison,
the
Boroughs of Highland Park and Sayreville and both the Old Bridge and the
Marlboro Township Municipal Utilities Authorities. The Middlesex System treats,
stores and distributes water for residential, commercial, industrial and fire
prevention purposes. The Middlesex System also provides water treatment and
pumping services to the Township of East Brunswick under contract. The Middlesex
System, through its retail and contract sales, produced approximately 64% of
2007 revenue.
The
Middlesex System’s retail customers are located in an area of approximately 55
square miles in Woodbridge Township, the City of South Amboy, the Boroughs
of
Metuchen and Carteret, portions of the Township of Edison and the Borough of
South Plainfield in Middlesex County and, to a minor extent, a portion of the
Township of Clark in Union County. Retail customers include a mix of residential
customers, large industrial concerns and commercial and light industrial
facilities. These customers are located in generally well-developed areas of
central New Jersey. The contract customers of the Middlesex System comprise
an
area of approximately 146 square miles with a population of approximately
303,000. Contract sales to Edison, Sayreville, Old Bridge, Marlboro and Rahway
are supplemental to the existing water systems of these customers. The State
of
New Jersey in the mid-1980’s approved plans to increase available surface water
supply to the South River Basin area of the state to facilitate a reduction
in
groundwater use in this area. The Middlesex System provides treated surface
water under long-term agreements to East Brunswick, Marlboro, Old Bridge and
Sayreville consistent with the state-approved plan.
Middlesex
provides water service to approximately 300 customers in Cumberland County,
New
Jersey. This system is referred to as Bayview and is not physically
interconnected with the Middlesex system. Bayview produced less than 1% of
our
total revenue in 2007.
Tidewater
System
Tidewater,
together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Southern Shores, provides water
services to approximately 31,600 retail customers for domestic, commercial
and
fire protection purposes in over 300 separate community water systems in New
Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware. An additional wholly-owned
subsidiary, White Marsh, operates water and wastewater systems under contract
for approximately 5,100 residential customers and also owns the office building
that Tidewater uses as its business office. White Marsh’s rates for water and
wastewater operations are not regulated by the Delaware Public Service
Commission (PSC). The Tidewater System produced approximately 23% of total
revenue in 2007.
Utility
Service Affiliates-Perth Amboy
USA-PA
operates the City of Perth Amboy, NJ’s water and wastewater systems under a
20-year agreement, which expires in 2018. USA-PA serves approximately
9,700 customers, most of whom are served by both systems. The agreement was
effected under New Jersey’s Water Supply Public-Private Contracting Act and the
New Jersey Wastewater Public/Private Contracting Act and requires USA-PA to
lease from Perth Amboy all of its employees who currently work on the Perth
Amboy water and wastewater systems. Under the agreement, USA-PA receives both
fixed and variable fees. The variable position is based on customer
billing. Fixed fee revenues were $7.8 million in 2007 and are to increase over
the term of the 20-year contract to $10.2 million based upon a schedule of
rates. USA-PA produced approximately 9% of total revenue in 2007.
In
connection with the agreement, Middlesex guaranteed a series of Perth Amboy’s
municipal bonds in the principal amount of approximately $26.3 million, of
which
approximately $22.6 million remains outstanding. In connection with the
agreement with Perth Amboy, USA-PA entered into a 20-year subcontract with
a
wastewater operating company for the operation and maintenance of the Perth
Amboy wastewater system. The subcontract provides for the sharing of certain
fixed and variable fees and operating expenses.
Pinelands
System
Pinelands
Water provides water services to approximately 2,500 residential customers
in
Burlington County, New Jersey. Pinelands Water produced less than 1% of total
revenue in 2007. Pinelands Water is not physically interconnected
with the Middlesex System.
Pinelands
Wastewater provides wastewater services to approximately 2,500 primarily
residential retail customers. Under contract, it also services one municipal
wastewater system in Burlington County, New Jersey with about 200 residential
customers. Pinelands Wastewater produced approximately 1% of total
revenue in 2007.
Utility
Service Affiliates, Inc.
USA
provides residential customers a service line maintenance program called
LineCareSM.
LineCareSM
is an
affordable maintenance program that covers all parts, material and labor
required to repair or replace specific elements of the customer’s water service
line and customer shut-off valve in the event of a failure. USA produced less
than 1% of total revenue in 2007.
TESI
System
TESI,
which was formed in 2005, provides wastewater services to approximately 1,400
residential retail customers in Delaware. TESI produced less than 1% of our
total revenue in 2007.
Financial
Information
Consolidated
operating revenues and operating income are as follows:
|
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(Thousands
of Dollars)
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|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
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|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
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2005
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|
Operating
Revenues
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|
$ |
86,114 |
|
|
$ |
81,061 |
|
|
$ |
74,613 |
|
Operating
Income
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|
$ |
22,671 |
|
|
$ |
21,318 |
|
|
$ |
17,218 |
|
Operating
revenues were earned from the following sources:
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|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Residential
|
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|
45.0 |
% |
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|
42.6 |
% |
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|
41.9 |
% |
Commercial
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|
|
9.7 |
|
|
|
10.0 |
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|
9.8 |
|
Industrial
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|
9.9 |
|
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|
10.7 |
|
|
|
11.0 |
|
Fire
Protection
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|
10.3 |
|
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|
10.7 |
|
|
|
10.4 |
|
Contract
Sales
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|
|
12.5 |
|
|
|
12.3 |
|
|
|
13.4 |
|
Contract
Operations
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
|
|
11.0 |
|
|
|
10.8 |
|
Other
|
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|
2.3 |
|
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|
2.7 |
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2.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
TOTAL
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
Water
Supplies and Contracts
Our
New
Jersey and Delaware water supply systems are physically separate and are not
interconnected. In New Jersey, the Pinelands System and Bayview System are
not
interconnected with the Middlesex System or each other. We believe that we
have
adequate sources of water supply to meet the current service requirements of
our
present customers in New Jersey and Delaware.
Middlesex
System
Our
Middlesex System, which produced approximately 16.8 billion gallons in 2007,
obtains water from surface sources and wells, or groundwater sources. In 2007,
surface sources of water provided approximately 70%
of the Middlesex System’s water supply, groundwater sources provided
approximately 23% from 31 wells and the balance was purchased from a
non-affiliated water utility. Middlesex System’s distribution storage facilities
are used to supply water to customers at times of peak demand, outages and
emergencies.
The
principal source of surface water for the Middlesex System is the Delaware
&
Raritan Canal, which is owned by the State of New Jersey and operated as a
water
resource by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority. Middlesex is under
contract with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, which expires November
30,
2023. The contract provides for average purchases of 27 million gallons per
day
(mgd) of untreated water from the Delaware & Raritan Canal, augmented by the
Round Valley/Spruce Run Reservoir System. Surface water is pumped to, and
treated, at the Middlesex Carl J. Olsen (CJO) Plant. Middlesex also has an
agreement with a non-affiliated regulated water utility for the purchase of
treated water. This long-term agreement, which expires February 27, 2011,
provides for minimum purchase of 3 mgd of treated water with provisions for
additional purchases.
Tidewater
System
Our
Tidewater System, which produced approximately 2.1 billion gallons in 2007,
obtains 100% of its groundwater sources from 193 wells. In 2007, 11 new wells
were placed into service. We deactivated, sealed and abandoned 20
wells for either water quality reasons or for the purpose of consolidating
production facilities for more cost-efficient operation. Tidewater continues
to
submit applications to Delaware regulatory authorities for the approval of
additional wells as growth, demand and water quality warrants. The Tidewater
System does not have a central treatment facility but has several regional
treatment plants. Several of its water systems in New Castle, Kent and Sussex
Counties, Delaware have interconnected transmission systems.
Pinelands
System
Water
supply to our Pinelands System is derived from groundwater sources from four
wells which provided overall system delivery of 206 million gallons in 2007.
The
pumping capacity of the four wells is 2.2 million gallons per day.
Bayview
System
Water
supply to Bayview customers is derived from groundwater water sources from
two
wells, which delivered approximately 11 million gallons in 2007.
Pinelands
Wastewater System
The
Pinelands Wastewater System discharges into the South Branch of the Rancocas
Creek through a tertiary treatment plant that provides clarification,
sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. The total capacity of the plant
is
0.5 mgd, and the system provided overall treatment to 109 million gallons in
2007.
TESI
System
The
TESI
System owns and operates six wastewater treatment systems in Southern Delaware.
The treatment plants provide clarification, sedimentation, and disinfection.
The
combined total treatment capacity of the plants is 0.6 mgd. Current average
flow
is approximately 0.2 mgd.
Employees
As
of
December 31, 2007, we had a total of 254 employees. In addition, we lease 19
full-time employees under the USA-PA contract with the City of Perth Amboy,
New
Jersey. No employees are represented by a union except the leased employees
who
are subject to a collective bargaining agreement with the City of Perth Amboy.
We believe our employee relations are good. Wages and benefits, other than
for
leased employees, are reviewed annually and are considered competitive within
both the industry and the regions where we operate.
Competition
Our
business in our franchised service area is substantially free from direct
competition with other public utilities, municipalities and other entities.
However, our ability to provide contract water supply and wastewater services
and operations and maintenance services is subject to competition from other
public utilities, municipalities and other entities. Although Tidewater has
been
granted an exclusive franchise for each of its existing community water systems,
its ability to expand service areas can be affected by the PSC awarding
franchises to other regulated water utilities with whom we compete for such
franchises and for projects.
Regulation
We
are
regulated as to rates charged to customers for water and wastewater services
in
New Jersey and Delaware, as to the quality of the services we provide and as
to
certain other matters. Our USA, USA-PA and White Marsh subsidiaries are not
regulated utilities. We are subject to environmental and water quality
regulation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and
the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with respect to
operations in New Jersey and by Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control (DNREC), the Delaware Department of Health and Social
Services-Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Delaware River Basin
Commission (DRBC) with respect to operations in Delaware. In addition, our
issuances of securities are subject to the prior approval of the SEC and the
New
Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) or the PSC.
Regulation
of Rates and Services
New
Jersey water and wastewater service operations (excluding the operations of
USA
and USA-PA) are subject to regulation by the BPU. Similarly, our Delaware water
and wastewater operations (excluding the operations of White Marsh) are subject
to regulation by the PSC. These regulatory authorities have jurisdiction with
respect to rates, service, the issuance of securities and other matters of
utility companies operating within the States of New Jersey and Delaware,
respectively. For ratemaking purposes, we account separately for operations
in
New Jersey and Delaware to facilitate independent ratemaking by the BPU for
New
Jersey operations and the PSC for Delaware operations.
In
determining our rates, the BPU and the PSC consider the income, expenses, rate
base of property used and useful in providing service to the public and a fair
rate of return on investments within their separate jurisdictions. Rate
determinations by the BPU do not guarantee particular rates of return to us
for
our New Jersey operations nor do rate determinations by the PSC guarantee
particular rates of return for our Delaware operations. Thus, we may
not achieve the rates of return permitted by the BPU or the PSC.
Effective
October 26, 2007, Middlesex
received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for a
9.1%, or $5.0 million increase in its base water rates. The increase
was predicated on a rate base of $164.4 million and an authorized return on
equity of 10.0%. Middlesex had originally filed for an $8.9 million
or 16.5% base rate increase with the BPU on April 18, 2007. The rate
increase is intended to recover increased costs of operations, maintenance,
labor and benefits, purchased power, purchased water and taxes, as well as
capital investment of approximately $23.0 million since June
2005.
On
April
28, 2006, Tidewater filed for a $5.5 million, or 38.6%, base rate increase
with
the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC). The request was intended to
recover increased costs of operations, maintenance and taxes, as well as capital
investment of approximately $23.8 million since rates were last established
in
March 2005. Since June 27, 2006, Tidewater had been billing and recognizing
additional revenues through a 15% interim rate increase subject to refund as
allowed under PSC regulations. A settlement was reached amongst the parties
which concluded that a 26.9% overall increase in base rates would be
implemented. The PSC approved the settlement and the remaining 11.9%
increase was put into effect on February 28, 2007. The combined
effect of the interim and final rate increases was $3.9 million in additional
annual operating revenues.
Effective
April 13, 2006, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater received approval
from
the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for base rate increases of 7.02%
and 0.98%, respectively. These increases represent a total base rate increase
of
approximately $0.1 million for Pinelands to offset increased costs associated
with capital improvements and the operation and maintenance of their
systems.
In
accordance with the tariff established for Southern Shores, an annual rate
increase of 3% was implemented on January 1, 2008. Under the terms of
a contract with Southern Shores Homeowners Association, the increase cannot
exceed the lesser of the regional Consumer Price Index or 3%.
There
can
be no assurance that any future rate increases will be granted or, if granted,
that they will be in the amounts requested.
Water
Quality and Environmental Regulations
Both
the
EPA and the DEP regulate our operations in New Jersey with respect to water
supply, treatment and distribution systems and the quality of the water, as
do
the EPA, DNREC, DPH and DRBC with respect to operations in
Delaware.
Federal,
New Jersey and Delaware regulations adopted relating to water quality require
us
to perform expanded types of testing to ensure that our water meets state and
federal water quality requirements. In addition, environmental regulatory
agencies are reviewing current regulations governing the limits of certain
organic compounds found in the water as byproducts of treatment. We participate
in industry-related research to identify the various types of technology that
might reduce the level of organic, inorganic and synthetic compounds found
in
the water. The cost to water companies of complying with the proposed water
quality standards depends in part on the limits set in the regulations and
on
the method selected to implement such reduction. We believe the CJO Plant
capabilities put us in a strong position to meet any such future standards
with
regard to our Middlesex System. We regularly test our water to
determine compliance with existing federal, New Jersey and Delaware primary
water quality standards.
Well
water treatment in our Tidewater System is by chlorination for disinfection
purposes and, in some cases, pH correction and filtration for nitrate and iron
removal.
Well
water treatment in the Pinelands and Bayview Systems (disinfection only) is
done
at individual well sites.
The
DEP
and the DPH monitor our activities and review the results of water quality
tests
that are performed for adherence to applicable regulations. Other regulations
applicable to us include the Lead and Copper Rule, the maximum contaminant
levels established for various volatile organic compounds, the Federal Surface
Water Treatment Rule and the Total Coliform Rule.
Management
This
table lists information concerning our executive management team:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Principal
Position(s)
|
Dennis
W. Doll
|
|
49
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
A.
Bruce O’Connor
|
|
49
|
|
Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Ronald
F. Williams
|
|
58
|
|
Vice
President-Operations and Chief Operating Officer
|
Kenneth
J. Quinn
|
|
60
|
|
Vice
President-General Counsel, Secretary and Treasurer
|
James
P. Garrett
|
|
61
|
|
Vice
President–Human Resources
|
Richard
M. Risoldi
|
|
51
|
|
Vice
President–Subsidiary Operations
|
Bernadette
M. Sohler
|
|
47
|
|
Vice
President-Corporate Affairs
|
Gerard
L. Esposito
|
|
56
|
|
President,
Tidewater Utilities, Inc.
|
Dennis
W. Doll– Mr. Doll
joined the Company in November 2004 as Executive Vice President. He was elected
President and Chief Executive Officer and became a Director of Middlesex
effective January 1, 2006. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Doll was employed
by Elizabethtown Water Company since 1985, serving most recently as a member
of
the senior leadership team of the Northeast Region of American Water, comprised
of various regulated utilities and other non-regulated subsidiaries in the
water
and wastewater fields. Mr. Doll is a director of the New Jersey Utilities
Association and the National Association of Water Companies.
A.
Bruce O’Connor– Mr.
O’Connor, a Certified Public Accountant, joined the Company in 1990 as Assistant
Controller and was elected Controller in 1992 and Vice President in 1995. He
was
elected Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1996. He is
responsible for financial reporting, customer service, rate cases, cash
management and financings. He is Treasurer and a Director of Tidewater
Utilities, Inc., Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc., Utility Service
Affiliates, Inc., and White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. He is
Vice President, Treasurer and a Director of Utility Service Affiliates (Perth
Amboy) Inc., Pinelands Water Company and Pinelands Wastewater
Company.
Ronald
F. Williams– Mr.
Williams joined the Company in 1995 as Assistant Vice President–Operations,
responsible for the Company’s Engineering and Distribution Departments. He was
elected Vice President–Operations in October 1995 and designated Chief Operating
Officer in 2004. Mr. Williams was elected to the additional posts of Assistant
Secretary and Assistant Treasurer for Middlesex in 2004. He was
formerly employed by Garden State Water Company as President and Chief Executive
Officer. He is a Director and President of Utility Service Affiliates (Perth
Amboy) Inc.
Kenneth
J. Quinn– Mr. Quinn
joined the Company in 2002 as General Counsel and was elected Assistant
Secretary in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Quinn was elected Vice President,
Secretary and Treasurer for Middlesex and Secretary and Assistant Treasurer
for
all subsidiaries of Middlesex. Prior to joining the Company he had
been employed in private law practice. Prior to that, Mr. Quinn spent 10 years
as in-house counsel to two major banking institutions located in New Jersey.
In
May 2003, he was elected Assistant Secretary of Tidewater Utilities, Inc.,
Pinelands Water Company, Pinelands Wastewater Company, Utility Service
Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc., Bayview Water Company and White Marsh
Environmental Systems, Inc. He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar
Association and is also a member of the Public Utility Law Section of the
Bar.
James
P. Garrett– Mr.
Garrett, a licensed attorney, joined the Company in 2003 as Assistant Vice
President–Human Resources. In May 2004, he was elected Vice President- Human
Resources and is responsible for all human resources and information technology
throughout the Company. Prior to his hire, Mr. Garrett was employed
by a national retail chain as Director of Organizational
Development.
Richard
M. Risoldi– Mr.
Risoldi joined the Company in 1989 as Director of Production, responsible for
the operation and maintenance of the Company’s treatment and pumping
facilities. He was appointed Assistant Vice President of Operations
in 2003. He was elected Vice President in May 2004-Subsidiary Operations,
responsible for regulated subsidiary operations and business development. He
is
a Director of Tidewater Utilities, Inc., Tidewater Environmental Services,
Inc.,
White Marsh Environmental Systems Inc and USA-PA. He also serves as
Director and President of Pinelands Water Company, Pinelands Wastewater Company
and Utility Service Affiliates, Inc.
Bernadette
M. Sohler – Ms.
Sohler joined the Company in 1994 and was named Director of Communications
in
2003 and promoted to Vice President-Corporate Affairs in March 2007 with
responsibilities for corporate, investor and employee communications, media
and
government relations, marketing, community affairs and corporate philanthropic
activities. She also serves as Vice President of Utilities Service
Affiliates, Inc.
Gerard
L. Esposito– Mr.
Esposito joined Tidewater Utilities, Inc. in 1998 as Executive Vice
President. He was elected President of Tidewater and White Marsh
Environmental Systems, Inc. in 2003 and elected President of Tidewater
Environmental Services, Inc. in January 2005. Prior to joining the Company
he
worked in various executive positions for Delaware environmental protection
and
water quality governmental agencies. He is a Director of Tidewater Utilities,
Inc., Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc., and White Marsh Environmental
Systems, Inc.
Our
revenue and earnings depend on the rates we charge our customers. We cannot
raise utility rates in our regulated businesses without filing a petition with
the appropriate governmental agency. If these agencies modify, delay, or deny
our petition, our revenues will not increase and our earnings will decline
unless we are able to reduce costs.
The
BPU
regulates our public utility companies in New Jersey with respect to rates
and
charges for service, classification of accounts, awards of new service
territory, acquisitions, financings and other matters. That means, for example,
that we cannot raise the utility rates we charge to our customers without first
filing a petition with the BPU and going through a lengthy administrative
process. In much the same way, the PSC regulates our public utility companies
in
Delaware. We cannot give assurance of when we will request approval for any
such
matter, nor can we predict whether the BPU or PSC will approve, deny or reduce
the amount of such requests.
Certain
costs of doing business are not completely within our control. The failure
to
obtain any rate increase would prevent us from increasing our revenues and,
unless we are able to reduce costs, would result in reduced
earnings.
We
are subject to environmental laws and regulations, including water quality
and
wastewater effluent quality regulations, as well as other state and local
regulations. Compliance with those laws and regulations requires us to incur
costs and we are subject to fines or other sanctions for
non-compliance
The
EPA
and DEP regulate our operations in New Jersey with respect to water supply,
treatment and distribution systems and the quality of the water. Our
operations in Delaware are regulated by the EPA, DNREC, DPH, and DRBC with
respect to water supply, treatment and distribution systems and the quality
of
water. Federal, New Jersey and Delaware regulations relating to water quality
require us to perform expanded types of testing to ensure that our water meets
state and federal water quality requirements. We are subject to EPA regulations
under the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, which include the Lead and Copper
Rule, the maximum contaminant levels established for various volatile organic
compounds, the Federal Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Total Coliform
Rule.
There are also similar state regulations by the DEP in New Jersey. The DEP
and
DPH monitor our activities and review the results of water quality tests that
we
perform for adherence to applicable regulations. In addition, environmental
regulatory agencies are continually reviewing regulations governing the limits
of certain organic compounds found in the water as byproducts of
treatment.
We
are
also subject to regulations related to fire protection services. In
Delaware, fire protection is regulated statewide by the Office of State Fire
Marshal. In New Jersey there is no state-wide fire protection
regulatory agency. However, state regulations exist as to the size of
piping required regarding the provision of fire protection
services.
The
cost
of compliance with the water and wastewater effluent quality standards depends
in part on the limits set in the regulations and on the method selected to
implement them. If new or more restrictive standards are imposed, the cost
of
compliance could be very high and have an adverse impact on our revenues and
results of operations if we cannot recover those costs through our rates that
we
charge our customers. The cost of compliance with fire protection
requirements could also be high and make us less profitable if we cannot recover
those costs through our rates charged to our customers.
In
addition, if we fail to comply with environmental or other laws and regulations
to which our business is subject, we could be fined or subject to other
sanctions, which could adversely impact our business or results of
operations.
We
depend upon our ability to raise money in the capital markets to finance some
of
the costs of complying with laws and regulations, including environmental laws
and regulations or to pay for some of the costs of improvements to or the
expansion of our utility system assets. Our regulated utility companies cannot
issue debt or equity securities without regulatory approval.
We
require financing to fund the ongoing capital program for the improvement of
our
utility system assets and for planned expansion of those systems. We expect
to
spend between $122 million and $159 million for capital projects through
2010. We must obtain regulatory approval to sell debt or equity
securities to raise money for these projects. If sufficient capital is not
available or the cost of capital is too high, or if the regulatory authorities
deny a petition of ours to sell debt or equity securities, we may not be able
to
meet the costs of complying with environmental laws and regulations or the
costs
of improving and expanding our utility system assets to the level we believe
necessary. This might result in the imposition of fines or
restrictions on our operations and may curtail our ability to improve upon
and
expand our utility system assets.
Weather
conditions and overuse of underground aquifers may interfere with our sources
of
water, demand for water services and our ability to supply water to
customers.
Our
ability to meet the existing and future water demands of our customers depends
on an adequate supply of water. Unexpected conditions may interfere with our
water supply sources. Drought and overuse of underground aquifers may limit
the
availability of ground and/or surface water. Freezing weather may also
contribute to water transmission interruptions caused by pipe and/or main
breakage. Any interruption in our water supply could cause a reduction in our
revenue and profitability. These factors might adversely affect our ability
to
supply water in sufficient quantities to our customers. Governmental drought
restrictions might result in decreased use of water services and can adversely
affect our revenue and earnings.
Our
business is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which could affect demand for
our
water service and our revenues.
Demand
for our water during the warmer months is generally greater than during cooler
months due primarily to additional consumption of water in connection with
irrigation systems, swimming pools, cooling systems and other outside water
use.
Throughout the year, and particularly during typically warmer months, demand
may
vary with temperature and rainfall levels. In the event that
temperatures during the typically warmer months are cooler than normal, or
if
there is more rainfall than normal, the demand for our water may decrease and
adversely affect our revenues.
Our
water sources may become contaminated by naturally-occurring or man-made
compounds and events. This may cause disruption in services and impose costs
to
restore the water to required levels of quality.
Our
sources of water may become contaminated by naturally-occurring or man-made
compounds and events. In the event that our water supply is contaminated, we
may
have to interrupt the use of that water supply until we are able to install
treatment equipment or substitute the flow of water from an uncontaminated
water
source through our transmission and distribution systems. We may also incur
significant costs in treating the contaminated water through the use of our
current treatment facilities, or development of new treatment methods. Our
inability to substitute water supply from an uncontaminated water source, or
to
adequately treat the contaminated water source in a cost-effective manner may
reduce our revenues and make us less profitable.
We
face competition from other water and wastewater utilities and service providers
which might hinder our growth and reduce our profitability.
We
face
risks of competition from other utilities authorized by federal, state or local
agencies. Once a state utility regulator grants a franchise to a utility to
serve a specific territory, that utility has an exclusive right to service
that
territory. Although a new franchise offers some protection against competitors,
the pursuit of franchises is competitive, especially in Delaware where new
franchises may be awarded to utilities based upon competitive negotiation.
Competing utilities have challenged, and may in the future challenge, our
applications for new franchises. Also, third parties entering into long-term
agreements to operate municipal systems might adversely affect us and our
long-term agreements to supply water on a contract basis to municipalities,
which adversely affect our operating results.
We
have a long-term contractual obligation for water and wastewater system
operation and maintenance under which we may incur costs in excess of payments
received.
Middlesex
Water Company and USA-PA operate and maintain the water and wastewater systems
of the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey under a 20-year contract expiring in
2018. This contract does not protect us against incurring costs in excess of
revenues we earn pursuant to the contract. There can be no absolute assurance
that we will not experience losses resulting from this contract. Losses under
this contract or our failure or inability to perform may have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Also, in connection
with the contract, Perth Amboy, through the Middlesex County Improvement
Authority, issued approximately $68.0 million in three series of
bonds. Middlesex guaranteed one of those series of bonds, designated
the Series C Serial Bonds, in the principal amount of approximately $26.3
million. As of December 31, 2007, approximately $22.6 million of the Series
C
Serial Bonds remain outstanding. If Perth Amboy defaults on its obligations
to
pay the bonds we have guaranteed, we would have to raise funds to meet our
obligations under that guarantee.
An
important element of our growth strategy is the acquisition of water and
wastewater assets, operations, contracts or companies. Any pending or future
acquisitions we decide to undertake may involve risks.
The
acquisition and/or operation of water and wastewater systems is an important
element in our growth strategy. This strategy depends on identifying suitable
opportunities and reaching mutually agreeable terms with acquisition candidates
or contract partners. These negotiations, as well as the integration of acquired
businesses, could require us to incur significant costs and cause diversion
of
our management’s time and resources. Further, acquisitions may result in
dilution of our equity securities, incurrence of debt and contingent
liabilities, fluctuations in quarterly results and other related expenses.
In
addition, the assets, operations, contracts or companies we acquire may not
achieve the sales and profitability expected.
The
current concentration of our business in central New Jersey and Delaware makes
us susceptible to any adverse development in local regulatory, economic,
demographic, competitive and weather conditions.
Our
New
Jersey water and wastewater businesses provide services to customers who are
located primarily in eastern Middlesex County, New Jersey. Water service is
provided under wholesale contracts to the Township of Edison, the Boroughs
of
Highland Park and Sayreville, both the Old Bridge and the Marlboro Township
Municipal Utilities Authorities, and the City of Rahway in Union County, New
Jersey. We also provide water and wastewater services to customers in
the State of Delaware. Our revenues and operating results are
therefore subject to local regulatory, economic, demographic, competitive and
weather conditions in a relatively concentrated geographic area. A
change in any of these conditions could make it more costly or difficult for
us
to conduct our business. In addition, any such change would have a
disproportionate effect on us, compared to water utility companies that do
not
have such a geographic concentration.
The
necessity for increased security has and may continue to result in increased
operating costs.
Since
the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the continuing threats to the health
and security of the United States of America, we have taken steps to increase
security measures at our facilities and heighten employee awareness of threats
to our water supply. We have tightened our security measures regarding the
delivery and handling of certain chemicals used in our business. We are at
risk
for terrorist attacks and have incurred, and will continue to incur costs for
security precautions to protect our facilities, operations and supplies from
such risks.
Our
ability to achieve growth is somewhat dependent on the residential building
market in the territories we serve. If housing starts decline
significantly, our rate of growth may not meet our expectations.
We
expect
our revenues to increase from customer growth for our regulated water and
wastewater operations as a result of the anticipated
construction and sale of new housing units in the territories we
serve. Although the residential building market in Delaware has
experienced growth in recent years, this growth may not continue in the
future. If housing starts in the territories we serve decline
significantly as a result of economic conditions or otherwise, our revenue
growth may not meet our expectations and our financial results could be
negatively impacted.
We
have restrictions on our dividends. There can also be no assurance that we
will
continue to pay dividends in the future or, if dividends are paid, that they
will be in amounts similar to past dividends.
Our
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Indenture of Mortgage dated as
of
April 1, 1927, as supplemented, impose conditions on our ability to pay
dividends. We have paid dividends on our common stock each year since 1912
and
have increased the amount of dividends paid each year since 1973.
Our
earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, applicable regulations
and
other factors, including the timeliness and adequacy of rate increases, will
determine both our ability to pay dividends on common stock and the amount
of
those dividends. There can be no assurance that we will continue to pay
dividends in the future or, if dividends are paid, that they will be in amounts
similar to past dividends.
If
we are unable to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness as it comes
due or we default under certain other provisions of our loan documents, our
indebtedness could be accelerated and our results of operations and financial
condition could be adversely affected.
Our
ability to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness as it comes due
will depend upon our current and future performance. Our performance
is affected by many factors, some of which are beyond our control. We
believe that our cash generated from operations, and, if necessary, borrowings
under our existing credit facilities, will be sufficient to enable us to make
our debt payments as they become due. If, however, we do not generate
sufficient cash, we may be required to refinance our obligations or sell
additional equity, which may be on terms that are not as favorable to
us.
No
assurance can be given that any refinancing or sale or equity will be possible
when needed or that we will be able to negotiate acceptable terms. In
addition, our failure to comply with certain provisions contained in our trust
indentures and loan agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness could
lead to a default under these documents, which could result in an acceleration
of our indebtedness.
We
depend significantly on the services of the members of our senior management
team, and the departure of any of those persons could cause our operating
results to suffer.
Our
success depends significantly on the continued individual and collective
contributions of our senior management team. If we lose the services
of any member of our senior management or are unable to hire and retain
experienced management personnel, it could affect our operating
results.
We
are subject to anti-takeover measures that may be used by existing management
to
discourage, delay or prevent changes of control that might benefit
non-management shareholders.
Subsection
10A of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, known as the New Jersey
Shareholders Protection Act, applies to us. The Shareholders Protection Act
deters merger proposals, tender offers or other attempts to effect changes
in
control that are not approved by our Board of Directors. In addition, we have
a
classified Board of Directors, which means only one-third of the Directors
are
elected each year. A classified Board can make it harder for an acquirer to
gain
control by voting its candidates onto the Board of Directors and may also deter
merger proposals and tender offers. Our Board of Directors also has the ability,
subject to obtaining BPU approval, to issue one or more series of preferred
stock having such number of shares, designation, preferences, voting rights,
limitations and other rights as the Board of Directors may fix. This could
be
used by the Board of Directors to discourage, delay or prevent an acquisition
that might benefit non-management shareholders.
Item
1B.
|
Unresolved
Staff Comments.
|
None.
Utility
Plant
The
water
utility plant in our systems consist of source of supply, pumping, water
treatment, transmission and distribution, general facilities and all
appurtenances, including all connecting pipes.
Middlesex
System
The
Middlesex System’s principal source of surface supply is the Delaware &
Raritan Canal owned by the State of New Jersey and operated as a water resource
by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority.
Water
is
withdrawn from the Delaware & Raritan Canal at New Brunswick, New Jersey
through our intake and pumping station, located on state-owned land bordering
the canal. Water is transported through two raw water pipelines for
treatment and distribution at our CJO Plant in Edison, New Jersey.
The
CJO
Plant includes chemical storage and chemical feed equipment, two dual rapid
mixing basins, four upflow clarifiers which are also called superpulsators,
four
underground reinforced chlorine contact tanks, twelve rapid filters containing
gravel, sand and anthracite for water treatment and a steel washwater tank.
The
CJO Plant also includes a computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisitions
system to monitor and control the CJO Plant and the water supply and
distribution system in the Middlesex System. There is an on-site
State certified laboratory capable of performing bacteriological, chemical,
process control and advanced instrumental chemical sampling and analysis. The
firm design capacity of the CJO Plant is 45 mgd (60 mgd maximum capacity).
The
main pumping station at the CJO Plant has a design capacity of 90 mgd. The
four
electric motor-driven, vertical turbine pumps presently installed have an
aggregate capacity of 72 mgd.
In
addition, there is a 15 mgd auxiliary pumping station located at the CJO Plant
location. It has a dedicated substation and emergency power supply provided
by a
diesel-driven generator. It pumps from the 10 million gallon distribution
storage reservoir directly into the distribution system.
The
transmission and distribution system is comprised of 732 miles of mains and
includes 23,200 feet of 48-inch reinforced concrete transmission main connecting
the CJO Plant to our distribution pipe network and related storage facilities.
Also included is a 58,600 foot transmission main and a 38,800 foot transmission
main, augmented with a long-term, non-exclusive agreement with the East
Brunswick system to transport water to several of our contract
customers.
Middlesex
System’s storage facilities consist of a 10 million gallon reservoir at the CJO
Plant, 5 million gallon and 2 million gallon reservoirs in Edison (Grandview),
a
5 million gallon reservoir in Carteret (Eborn) and a 2 million gallon reservoir
at the Park Avenue Well Field.
In
New
Jersey, we own the properties on which Middlesex System’s 31 wells are located,
the properties on which our storage tanks are located as well as the property
where the CJO Plant is located. We also own our headquarters complex
located at 1500 Ronson Road, Iselin, New Jersey, consisting of a 27,000 square
foot office building and an adjacent 16,500 square foot maintenance
facility.
Tidewater
System
The
Tidewater System is comprised of 91 production plants that vary in pumping
capacity from 26,000 gallons per day to 2.0 mgd. Water is transported to our
customers through 562 miles of transmission and distribution mains. Storage
facilities include 49 tanks, with an aggregate capacity of 6.0 million gallons.
Our Delaware operations are managed from Tidewater’s offices in Dover, Delaware
and Millsboro, Delaware. Tidewater’s Dover, Delaware office property, located on
property owned by White Marsh, consists of a 6,800 square foot office building
situated on an eleven-acre lot.
Pinelands
System
Pinelands
Water owns well site and storage properties in Southampton Township, New Jersey.
The Pinelands Water storage facility is a 1.2 million gallon standpipe. Water
is
transported to our customers through 18 miles of transmission and distribution
mains.
Pinelands
Wastewater System
Pinelands
Wastewater owns a 12 acre site on which its 0.5 million gallons per day capacity
tertiary treatment plant and connecting pipes are located. Its wastewater
collection system is comprised of approximately 25 miles of main.
Bayview
System
Bayview
owns two well sites, which are located in Downe Township, Cumberland County,
New
Jersey. Water is transported to its customers through our 4.2 mile distribution
system.
TESI
System
The
TESI
System owns and operates six wastewater treatment systems in Southern Delaware.
The treatment plants provide clarification, sedimentation, and disinfection.
The
combined total capacity of the plants is 0.6 mgd.
USA-PA,
USA and White Marsh
Our
non-regulated subsidiaries, namely USA-PA, USA and White Marsh, do not own
utility plant property.
Item
3.
|
Legal
Proceedings.
|
In
July
2005, Tidewater received a notice of violation and request for corrective action
issued by the Delaware State Fire Marshal regarding the alleged failure of
one
of the community water systems operated by Tidewater to meet Delaware fire
protection requirements. Tidewater appealed the Fire Marshal’s
decision with the Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission (the “SFPC”) and, in
November 2005, the SFPC denied Tidewater’s appeal. In October 2007,
Tidewater agreed to dismiss its appeal of the SFPC’s decision with the Sussex
County Superior Court in Delaware of the notice of violation and request for
corrective action issued by the Fire Marshal. In return for the
dismissal both parties have agreed that 15 of the original 67 community water
systems previously identified will require certain modifications over a ten-year
period in order to provide full fire protection. The expected capital investment
to comply with the settlement is $12.0 to $14.0 million and will be expended
ratably over the ten-year period. We will apply to the PSC to
increase base rates to recover the costs of any such modifications. Although
these types of modifications have routinely been included in previous rate
matters, the PSC may not approve a portion or all of the costs associated with
the fire protection upgrades.
The
Company is a defendant in lawsuits in the normal course of business. We believe
the resolution of pending claims and legal proceedings will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders.
|
None.
PART
II
Item
5.
|
Market
for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters.
|
The
Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, under the symbol
MSEX. The following table shows the range of high and low share prices per
share
for the common stock and the dividend paid to shareholders in such
quarter. As of December 31, 2007, there were 1,975 holders of
record.
2007
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Dividend
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
$ |
19.25 |
|
|
$ |
18.10 |
|
|
$ |
0.1750 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
20.24 |
|
|
|
18.05 |
|
|
|
0.1725 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
|
19.48 |
|
|
|
18.12 |
|
|
|
0.1725 |
|
First
Quarter
|
|
|
19.07 |
|
|
|
17.75 |
|
|
|
0.1725 |
|
2006
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Dividend
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
$ |
19.50 |
|
|
$ |
17.96 |
|
|
$ |
0.1725 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
20.50 |
|
|
|
17.58 |
|
|
|
0.1700 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
|
19.34 |
|
|
|
16.50 |
|
|
|
0.1700 |
|
First
Quarter
|
|
|
19.72 |
|
|
|
17.03 |
|
|
|
0.1700 |
|
The
Company has paid dividends on its common stock each year since 1912. Although
it
is the present intention of the Board of Directors of the Company to continue
to
pay regular quarterly cash dividends on its common stock, the payment of future
dividends is contingent upon the future earnings of the Company, its financial
condition and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors at its
discretion.
If
four
or more quarterly dividends are in arrears, the preferred shareholders, as
a
class, are entitled to elect two members to the Board of Directors in addition
to Directors elected by holders of the common stock. In the event dividends
on
the preferred stock are in arrears, no dividends may be declared or paid on
the
common stock of the Company. Substantially all of the Utility Plant of the
Company is subject to the lien of its mortgage, which also includes certain
restrictions as to cash dividend payments and other distributions on common
stock.
The
Company maintains an escrow account for 71,253 shares of the Company's common
stock which were awarded under the 1997 Restricted Stock Plan, which has
expired. Such stock is subject to an agreement requiring forfeiture by the
employee in the event of termination of employment within five years of the
award other than as a result of retirement, death, disability or change in
control. The Company filed a petition with the BPU requesting approval of
stock-based compensation plan called the 2008 Restricted Stock
Plan. The Company intends to seek shareholder approval for the new
plan at its May 21, 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. The maximum
number of shares authorized for grant under the proposed plan is 300,000
shares.
Set
forth
below is a line graph comparing the yearly change in the cumulative total return
(which includes reinvestment of dividends) of a $100 investment for the
Company’s common stock, a peer group of investor-owned water utilities, and the
Dow Jones Wilshire 5000 Stock Index for the period of five years commencing
December 31, 2002. The current peer group includes American States
Water Company, Aqua America Inc., Artesian Resources Corp., California Water
Service Company, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., Pennichuck Corp., SJW Corp.,
Southwest Water Company, York Water Company and the Company. The Dow
Jones Wilshire 5000 Stock Index measures the performance of all U.S.
headquartered equity securities with readily available price
data.
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Middlesex
Water Company
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
133.47 |
|
|
|
128.85 |
|
|
|
122.12 |
|
|
|
136.78 |
|
|
|
143.58 |
|
Dow
Jones Wilshire 5000
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
131.64 |
|
|
|
148.26 |
|
|
|
157.64 |
|
|
|
182.66 |
|
|
|
193.13 |
|
Peer
Group
|
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
|
127.98 |
|
|
|
147.66 |
|
|
|
193.41 |
|
|
|
193.90 |
|
|
|
186.27 |
|
Item
6.
|
Selected
Financial Data.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
SELECTED FINANCIAL
DATA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In
Thousands except per Share
Amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
Operating
Revenues
|
|
$ |
86,114 |
|
|
$ |
81,061 |
|
|
$ |
74,613 |
|
|
$ |
70,991 |
|
|
$ |
64,111 |
|
Operating
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operations
and
Maintenance
|
|
|
46,240 |
|
|
|
43,345 |
|
|
|
42,156 |
|
|
|
39,984 |
|
|
|
36,195 |
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
7,539 |
|
|
|
7,060 |
|
|
|
6,460 |
|
|
|
5,846 |
|
|
|
5,363 |
|
Other
Taxes
|
|
|
9,664 |
|
|
|
9,338 |
|
|
|
8,779 |
|
|
|
8,228 |
|
|
|
7,816 |
|
Total
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
63,443 |
|
|
|
59,743 |
|
|
|
57,395 |
|
|
|
54,058 |
|
|
|
49,374 |
|
Operating
Income
|
|
|
22,671 |
|
|
|
21,318 |
|
|
|
17,218 |
|
|
|
16,933 |
|
|
|
14,737 |
|
Other
Income,
Net
|
|
|
1,527 |
|
|
|
774 |
|
|
|
740 |
|
|
|
795 |
|
|
|
358 |
|
Interest
Charges
|
|
|
6,619 |
|
|
|
7,012 |
|
|
|
6,245 |
|
|
|
5,468 |
|
|
|
5,227 |
|
Income
Taxes
|
|
|
5,736 |
|
|
|
5,041 |
|
|
|
3,237 |
|
|
|
3,814 |
|
|
|
3,237 |
|
Net
Income |
|
|
11,843 |
|
|
|
10,039 |
|
|
|
8,476 |
|
|
|
8,446 |
|
|
|
6,631 |
|
Preferred
Stock
Dividend
|
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
251 |
|
|
|
255 |
|
|
|
255 |
|
Earnings
Applicable to Common
Stock
|
|
$ |
11,595 |
|
|
$ |
9,791 |
|
|
$ |
8,225 |
|
|
$ |
8,191 |
|
|
$ |
6,376 |
|
Earnings
per
Share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
0.88 |
|
|
$ |
0.83 |
|
|
$ |
0.72 |
|
|
$ |
0.74 |
|
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.87 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
|
$ |
0.71 |
|
|
$ |
0.73 |
|
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
Average
Shares
Outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
13,203 |
|
|
|
11,844 |
|
|
|
11,445 |
|
|
|
11,080 |
|
|
|
10,475 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
13,534 |
|
|
|
12,175 |
|
|
|
11,784 |
|
|
|
11,423 |
|
|
|
10,818 |
|
Dividends
Declared and
Paid
|
|
$ |
0.693 |
|
|
$ |
0.683 |
|
|
$ |
0.673 |
|
|
$ |
0.663 |
|
|
$ |
0.649 |
|
Total
Assets
|
|
$ |
392,675 |
|
|
$ |
370,267 |
|
|
$ |
324,383 |
|
|
$ |
305,634 |
|
|
$ |
267,956 |
|
Convertible
Preferred
Stock
|
|
$ |
2,856 |
|
|
$ |
2,856 |
|
|
$ |
2,856 |
|
|
$ |
2,961 |
|
|
$ |
2,961 |
|
Long-term
Debt
|
|
$ |
131,615 |
|
|
$ |
130,706 |
|
|
$ |
128,175 |
|
|
$ |
115,281 |
|
|
$ |
97,377 |
|
Item
7.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation.
|
The
following discussion of the Company’s historical results of operations and
financial condition should be read in conjunction with the Company’s
consolidated financial statements and related notes.
Overview
Middlesex
Water Company has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897, and
in
Delaware, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater, since
1992. We are in the business of collecting, treating, distributing
and selling water for domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire
protection purposes. We also operate a New Jersey municipal water and wastewater
system under contract and provide wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware
through our subsidiaries. We are regulated as to rates charged to
customers for water and wastewater services, as to the quality of water service
we provide and as to certain other matters in New Jersey and in Delaware. Only
our USA, USA-PA and White Marsh subsidiaries are not regulated
utilities.
Our
New
Jersey water utility system (the Middlesex System) provides water services
to
approximately 59,400 retail customers, primarily in central New Jersey. The
Middlesex System also provides water service under contract to municipalities
in
central New Jersey with a total population of approximately 303,000. In
partnership with our subsidiary, USA-PA, we operate the water supply system
and
wastewater system for the City of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Our other New Jersey
subsidiaries, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater, provide water and
wastewater services to residents in Southampton Township, New
Jersey.
Our
Delaware subsidiaries, Tidewater and Southern Shores, provide water services
to
approximately 31,600 retail customers in New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties,
Delaware. Our TESI subsidiary provides wastewater services to approximately
1,400 residential retail customers. Our other Delaware subsidiary, White Marsh,
services an additional 5,100 customers in Kent and Sussex Counties through
62
operations and maintenance contracts.
The
majority of our revenue is generated from retail and contract water services
to
customers in our service areas. We record water service revenue as
such service is rendered and include estimates for amounts unbilled at the
end
of the period for services provided after the last billing cycle. Fixed service
charges are billed in advance by our subsidiary, Tidewater, and are recognized
in revenue as the service is provided.
We
expect
the growth of our regulated wastewater business in Delaware will eventually
become a more significant component of our operations.
Our
ability to increase operating income and net income is based significantly
on
four factors: weather, adequate and timely rate relief, effective cost
management, and customer growth. These factors are evident in the discussions
below which compare our results of operations from prior years.
Operating
Results by Segment
The
Company has two operating segments, Regulated and Non-Regulated. Our Regulated
segment contributed 90%, 89% and 89% of total revenues, and 94%, 94% and 95%
of
net income for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
The discussion of the Company’s results of operations is on a consolidated
basis, and includes significant factors by subsidiary. The segments in the
tables included below are comprised of the following companies: Regulated-
Middlesex, Tidewater, Pinelands, Southern Shores, and TESI; Non-Regulated-
USA,
USA-PA, and White Marsh.
Results
of Operations in 2007 Compared to 2006
|
|
(Millions
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Years
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
|
Non-Regulated
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
|
Non-Regulated
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
77.1 |
|
|
$ |
9.0 |
|
|
$ |
86.1 |
|
|
$ |
71.9 |
|
|
$ |
9.2 |
|
|
$ |
81.1 |
|
Operations
and maintenance
|
|
|
38.8 |
|
|
|
7.4 |
|
|
|
46.2 |
|
|
|
35.7 |
|
|
|
7.7 |
|
|
|
43.4 |
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
7.4 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
7.5 |
|
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
7.1 |
|
Other
taxes
|
|
|
9.5 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
9.7 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
9.3 |
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
21.4 |
|
|
|
1.3 |
|
|
|
22.7 |
|
|
|
20.1 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
21.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense)
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
0.8 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
6.6 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6.6 |
|
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
7.0 |
|
Income
taxes
|
|
|
5.2 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
5.8 |
|
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
11.1 |
|
|
$ |
0.7 |
|
|
$ |
11.8 |
|
|
$ |
9.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.6 |
|
|
$ |
10.0 |
|
Operating
revenues for the year rose $5.0 million, or 6.2% over the same period in 2006.
Revenues improved by $3.7 million in our Tidewater System, of which $2.4 million
was a result of a base rate increase that was granted to
Tidewater. The rate increase was implemented in two parts; a 15%
interim rate increase in June 2006 and an additional 12% final increase on
February 28, 2007. Customer growth and higher consumption contributed
$1.9 million of increased revenues. Our Tidewater System experienced record
water production and consumption billed due to extended favorable weather during
the spring and summer. Fees charged to new customers for initial
connection to our Delaware water systems were lower by $0.6 million as new
residential and commercial development has slowed in our Delaware service
territories. Revenues in our Middlesex system increased by $0.7
million as a result of a 9.1% base rate increase implemented on October 26,
2007. Middlesex revenues also increased by $0.3 million due to
increased sales to our contract customers. TESI revenues increased by
$0.3 million, as we connected new customers to our existing and new wastewater
systems in Delaware.
While
we
anticipate continued organic customer and consumption growth among our Delaware
systems, such growth and increased consumption cannot be guaranteed. Our water
systems are highly dependent on the effects of weather, which may adversely
impact future consumption despite customer growth. Appreciable organic customer
and consumption growth is less likely in our New Jersey systems due to the
extent to which our service territory is developed. The Company
expects its 2008 operating revenues to reflect the full effect of the October
2007 Middlesex $5.0 million rate increase.
Operation
and maintenance expenses increased $2.8 million, or 6.5%. Labor costs were
$1.3
million higher due to wage increases and increased headcount to meet the needs
of the growing Delaware customer base, risk management, training and
safety. As expected, electric generation costs for our Middlesex
system increased due to the renewal in late 2006 of our contract with the power
purveyor. That factor accounted for most of the $0.6 million in
additional power costs. Pumping and water treatment costs increased a
combined $0.2 million due to higher costs for chemicals and disposal of
residuals. Costs for water main breaks in our New Jersey system and
transportation fuel were $0.2 million higher than the same period in 2006 due
to
the number and size of the breaks and higher gasoline prices. The cost to
operate our TESI regulated wastewater facilities in Delaware increased by $0.2
million as we acquired the Milton, Delaware wastewater system during the
year. All other operating costs increased by $0.3
million.
Electric
generation costs for our Middlesex system are expected to increase in 2008
due
to the renewal in late 2007 of our power contract that reflects an 18%
increase. Payroll and related employee benefit costs are expected to
be higher in 2007 due to headcount increase. However, the unit cost for our
employee’s health benefits will not increase until December 2008.
Depreciation
expense for 2007 increased by $0.4 million, or 5.6%, due to a higher level
of
utility plant in service. As our investments in utility plant and operating
expenses increase, we continue to seek timely rate relief through base rate
filings as discussed above.
Other
taxes increased by $0.4 million generally reflecting additional taxes on higher
taxable gross revenues, payroll and real estate.
Other
income increased $0.7 million, primarily due to a gain of $0.2 million on the
sale of non-utility real property in New Jersey and a gain of $0.4 million
on
the sale of certain water service rights in Delaware.
Interest
expense decreased by $0.4 million, or 5.7%, as a result of a lower level of
average short-term debt outstanding when compared to 2006.
Income
tax expense based on our current year operating results was $0.9 million higher
than 2006 and reflects the increased revenues due to higher water rates in
New
Jersey and Delaware, the record customer usage in Delaware and the sale of
non-essential assets. This was partially offset by $0.2 million of
solar tax credits recorded during 2007.
Net
income increased to $11.8 million from $10.0 million in the prior year, and
basic earnings per share increased from $0.83 to $0.88. Diluted earnings per
share increased from $0.82 to $0.87.
Results
of Operations in 2006 Compared to 2005
|
|
(Millions
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Years
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
|
Non-Regulated
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
|
Non-Regulated
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
71.9 |
|
|
$ |
9.2 |
|
|
$ |
81.1 |
|
|
$ |
66.3 |
|
|
$ |
8.3 |
|
|
$ |
74.6 |
|
Operations
and maintenance
|
|
|
35.7 |
|
|
|
7.7 |
|
|
|
43.4 |
|
|
|
35.0 |
|
|
|
7.2 |
|
|
|
42.2 |
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
7.1 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
6.4 |
|
Other
taxes
|
|
|
9.1 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
9.3 |
|
|
|
8.6 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
8.8 |
|
Operating
income
|
|
|
20.1 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
21.3 |
|
|
|
16.4 |
|
|
|
0.8 |
|
|
|
17.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense)
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
0.8 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
7.0 |
|
|
|
6.2 |
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
6.2 |
|
Income
taxes
|
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
|
|
|
2.9 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
9.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.6 |
|
|
$ |
10.0 |
|
|
$ |
8.0 |
|
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
$ |
8.5 |
|
Operating
revenues for the year rose $6.5 million, or 8.7% over the same period in 2005.
Water sales improved by $2.8 million in our Middlesex System, of which $4.1
million was a result of base rate increase that was granted to Middlesex on
December 8, 2005. This increase was somewhat offset by lower
consumption revenues of $1.3 million due to unfavorable weather from mid-July
through the late fall of 2006 as compared to the prior year. Customer growth
of
7.07% in Delaware provided additional water consumption sales, facility charges
and connection fees of $0.9 million, higher base rates provided $1.0 million
and
increased consumption for existing customers provided an additional $0.6
million. New unregulated wastewater contracts in Delaware provided $0.4 million
in additional revenues. Revenues from our operations and maintenance contract
with the City of Perth Amboy increased by $0.4 million due to scheduled fixed
fee adjustments under the agreement. USA had increased revenues for its
LineCareSM
maintenance
program of $0.1 million. TESI revenues increased by $0.1
million, as we connected new customers to our wastewater systems in
Delaware. All other operations contributed $0.2 million of additional
revenues.
Operation
and maintenance expenses increased $1.2 million or 2.8% as compared to the
same
period in 2005. Continued growth of our Delaware water and wastewater operations
led to higher costs of $1.1 million. Despite lower water production volume
of
3.2% for our Middlesex System, costs increased by $0.3 million due to increased
unit costs for electricity, chemicals and residuals removal. Costs for providing
services under our contract with the City of Perth Amboy increased by $0.1
million and costs for providing services under our
contracts
in Delaware increased by $0.2 million. Audit fees declined by $0.3 million
as
the Company changed independent accounting firms beginning with the 2006 audit
period. Labor and benefits expenses fell by $0.3 million due to
vacant positions and improved performance on investments. All other operating
costs increased by $0.1 million.
Depreciation
expense for 2006 increased by $0.7 million, or 10.9%, due to a higher level
of
utility plant in service. As our investments in utility plant and operating
expenses increase, we continue to seek timely rate relief through base rate
filings as discussed above.
Other
taxes increased by $0.5 million generally reflecting additional taxes on higher
taxable gross revenues, payroll and real estate.
Other
income decreased $0.1 million, primarily due to higher Allowance for Funds
Used
During Construction (AFUDC) as capital spending increased compared to the prior
year.
Interest
expense increased by $0.8 million, or 12.9%, as a result of a higher level
of
long-term debt, and higher average interest rates and increased weighted average
short-term borrowings as compared to the prior year period.
Income
tax expense based on the 2006 operating results was $1.9 million higher than
2005 and reflects the increased revenues due to higher water rates in New Jersey
and Delaware and increased water consumption in Delaware.
Net
income increased to $10.0 million from $8.5 million in the prior year, and
basic
earnings per share increased from $0.72 to $0.83. Diluted earnings per share
increased from $0.71 to $0.82.
Outlook
In
addition to factors previously discussed under “Results of Operations in 2007
Compared to 2006,” our revenues are expected to increase in 2008 from
anticipated customer growth in Delaware for our regulated water operations
and,
to a lesser degree, from growth in our regulated wastewater operations in
Delaware. We also expect revenues to increase as a result of
the settlement of our 2007 Middlesex rate case effective October 26,
2007. The approved increase of 9.1% is expected to generate $5.0
million of revenues on an annual basis assuming actual market conditions are
consistent with our projections.
Revenues
and earnings will also be influenced by weather. Changes in these factors,
as
well as increases in capital expenditures and operating costs are the primary
factors that determine the need for rate increase filings.
We
continue to explore viable plans to streamline operations and reduce costs
in
all aspects of our business.
We
expect
our interest expense to increase during 2008 as a result of higher expected
average borrowings against the short-term credit facilities in order to finance
a portion of our capital expenditures during the coming year (see Liquidity
and
Capital Resources).
Our
strategy includes continued revenue growth through acquisitions, internal
expansion, contract operations and when necessary, rate relief. We will continue
to pursue opportunities in both the regulated and non-regulated sectors that
are
financially sound, complement existing operations and increase shareholder
value.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Cash
flows from operations are largely based on three factors: weather, adequate
and
timely rate increases, and customer growth. The effect of those factors on
net
income is discussed in results of operations. For 2007, cash flows from
operating activities increased $2.7 million to $18.8 million, as compared to
the
prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to higher net income and
depreciation. The $18.8 million of net cash flow from operations enabled us
to
fund approximately 86% of our utility plant expenditures for the period
internally, with the remainder funded with proceeds from equity issued under
our
Dividend Reinvestment Plan, long-term borrowings and short-term
borrowings.
For
2006,
cash flows from operating activities increased $2.6 million to $16.1 million,
as
compared to the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to higher
net income, depreciation and the timing of collection of customer billings.
These decreases in cash flows were partially offset by receipts of advance
service fees and the timing of payments for interest and employee benefit plans.
The $16.1 million of net cash flow from operations allowed us to fund
approximately 52% of our utility plant expenditures for the period internally,
with the remainder funded with proceeds from equity issued under a formal
offering in November 2006 and our Dividend Reinvestment Plan and both short-term
and long-term borrowings.
Increases
in certain operating costs will impact our liquidity and capital resources.
As
described in our results of operations discussion, during 2007 we received
rate
relief for Tidewater and Middlesex. We continually monitor the need for timely
rate filing to minimize any regulatory lag between increasing operating and
capital costs and appropriate rate relief. There is no certainty,
however, that the BPU or PSC will approve any or all future requested
increases.
Sources
of Liquidity
Short-term
Debt. The Company has established lines of credit aggregating $40.0
million. At December 31, 2007, the outstanding borrowings under these credit
lines was $6.3 million at a weighted average interest rate of
5.79%.
The
weighted average daily amounts of borrowings outstanding under the Company’s
credit lines and the weighted average interest rates on those amounts were
$2.6
million and $9.5 million at 6.36% and 6.13% for the years ended December 31,
2007 and 2006, respectively.
Long-term
Debt.
Subject to regulatory approval, the Company periodically finances capital
projects under State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan programs in New Jersey and
Delaware. These government programs provide financing at interest rates that
are
typically below rates available in the financial markets. A portion of the
borrowings under the New Jersey SRF is interest free. We participated in the
Delaware and New Jersey SRF loan programs during 2007 and expect to participate
in the 2008 New Jersey SRF program for up to $3.5 million.
During
2007, Middlesex closed on $3.5 million of first mortgage bonds through the
New
Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT) under the New Jersey SRF
loan
program in order to finance our 2008 RENEW program. The proceeds of these bonds
and any interest earned are held by a trustee, and are classified as Restricted
Cash on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
During
2007, Tidewater closed on a $1.1 million loan with the Delaware
SRF. The proceeds will be used to fund two specific projects of the
2007 capital program in Delaware.
Substantially
all of the Utility Plant of the Company is subject to the lien of its mortgage,
which also includes debt service and capital ratio covenants, certain
restrictions as to cash dividend payments and other distributions on common
stock. The Company is in compliance with all of its mortgage covenants and
restrictions.
Common
Stock. The Company periodically issues shares of common stock in
connection with its Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan (the
Plan). The Company raised $1.1 million through the issuance of shares under
the
Plan during 2007. Periodically, the Company may issue additional equity to
reduce short-term indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes.
The last public offering of its common stock closed in November
2006. The majority of the net proceeds of approximately $26.2 million
from that common stock offering of 1,495,000 shares were used to repay all
of
the Company’s short-term borrowings outstanding at that time.
Capital
Expenditures and Commitments
Under
our
capital program for 2008, we plan to expend $14.3 million for additions and
improvements for our Delaware water systems, which include the construction
of
several storage tanks and the creation of new wells and interconnections. We
expect to spend approximately $3.8 million for construction of wastewater
systems in Delaware. We expect to spend $2.9 million as we begin to implement
a
Company-wide information system upgrade. We expect to spend $3.5 million for
our
RENEW program, which is our program to clean and cement line unlined mains
in
the Middlesex System. There remains a total of approximately 112 miles of
unlined mains in the 730-mile Middlesex System. In 2007, eight miles
of unlined mains were cleaned and cement lined. The capital program also
includes $12.4 million for scheduled upgrades to our existing systems in New
Jersey. The scheduled upgrades consist of $4.3 million for improvements to
existing plant, $5.2 million for mains, $0.6 million for service lines, $0.4
million for meters, $0.3 million for hydrants, and $1.6 million for other
infrastructure needs.
To
pay
for our capital program in 2008, we will utilize internally generated funds
and
funds available and held in trust under existing NJEIT loans (currently, $3.7
million) and Delaware SRF loans (currently, $3.1 million). The SRF programs
provide low cost financing for projects that meet certain water quality and
system improvement benchmarks. If necessary, we will also utilize short-term
borrowings through $40.0 million of available lines of credit with several
financial institutions. As of December 31, 2007, we had $6.3 million
outstanding against the lines of credit.
Going
forward into 2009 through 2010, we currently project that we may be required
to
expend between $88.4 million and $121.8 million for capital projects. The exact
amount is dependent on customer growth, residential housing sales and project
scheduling. In particular, Middlesex has filed a prudency review application
with the BPU for a proposed major transmission pipeline designed to strengthen
its existing transmission network and provide system
redundancy. Initial estimates to construct the pipeline are $26.2
million. The duration and outcome of the BPU review process may
affect the construction schedule as well as the project viability.
To
the
extent possible and because of favorable interest rates available to regulated
water utilities, we expect to finance our capital expenditures under the SRF
loan programs. We also expect to use internally generated funds and proceeds
from the sale of common stock through the Dividend Reinvestment and Common
Stock
Purchase Plan. It may also be necessary to sell shares of our Common
Stock through a public offering.
Contractual
Obligations
In
the
course of normal business activities, the Company enters into a variety of
contractual obligations and commercial commitments. Some of these items result
in direct obligations on the Company’s balance sheet while others are
commitments, some firm and some based on uncertainties, which are disclosed
in
the Company’s other underlying consolidated financial statements.
The
table
below presents our known contractual obligations for the periods specified
as of
December 31, 2007.
|
|
(Millions
of Dollars)
Payment
Due by Period
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Less
than
1
Year
|
|
|
1-3
Years
|
|
|
4-5
Years
|
|
|
More
than
5
Years
|
|
Long-term
Debt
|
|
$ |
134.3 |
|
|
$ |
2.7 |
|
|
$ |
21.3 |
|
|
$ |
6.5 |
|
|
$ |
103.8 |
|
Notes
Payable
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
--- |
|
|
|
--- |
|
|
|
--- |
|
Interest
on Long-term Debt
|
|
|
98.1 |
|
|
|
6.5 |
|
|
|
11.0 |
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
|
|
70.3 |
|
Purchased
Water Contracts
|
|
|
44.2 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
8.4 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
|
|
|
26.5 |
|
Wastewater
Operations
|
|
|
51.7 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
|
|
8.5 |
|
|
|
9.0 |
|
|
|
30.1 |
|
Employee
Retirement Plans (1)
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
--- |
|
|
|
--- |
|
|
|
--- |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
338.2 |
|
|
$ |
27.4 |
|
|
$ |
49.2 |
|
|
$ |
30.9 |
|
|
$ |
230.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Amount
not determinable after one year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantees
USA-PA
operates the City of Perth Amboy’s (Perth Amboy) water and wastewater systems
under a service contract agreement through June 30, 2018. The agreement was
effected under New Jersey’s Water Supply Public/Private Contracting Act and the
New Jersey Wastewater Public/Private Contracting Act. Under the agreement,
USA-PA receives a fixed fee and a variable fee based on increased system
billing. Scheduled fixed fee payments were $7.8 million in 2007 and will
increase over the term of the contract to $10.2 million by the end of the
contract.
In
connection with the agreement, Perth Amboy, through the Middlesex County
Improvement Authority, issued approximately $68.0 million in three series of
bonds. Middlesex guaranteed one of those series of bonds, designated the Series
C Serial Bonds, in the principal amount of approximately $26.3 million. Perth
Amboy guaranteed the two other series of bonds. The Series C Serial Bonds have
various maturity dates with the final maturity date on September 1, 2015. As
of
December 31, 2007, approximately $22.6 million of the Series C Serial Bonds
remained outstanding.
We
are
obligated to perform under the guarantee in the event notice is received from
the Series C Serial Bonds trustee of an impending debt service deficiency.
If
Middlesex funds any debt service obligations as guarantor, there is a provision
in the agreement that requires Perth Amboy to reimburse us. There are other
provisions in the agreement that we believe make it unlikely that we will be
required to perform under the guarantee, such as scheduled annual rate increases
for the water and wastewater services as well as rate increases due to
unforeseen circumstances. In the event revenues from customers could not satisfy
the reimbursement requirements, Perth Amboy has Ad Valorem taxing powers, which
could be used to raise the needed amount.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
application of accounting policies and standards often requires the use of
estimates, assumptions and judgments. Changes in these variables may lead to
significantly different financial statement results. Our critical accounting
policies are set forth below.
Regulatory
Accounting
We
maintain our books and records in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. Middlesex and
certain of its subsidiaries, which account for 90% of Operating Revenues and
98%
of Total Assets, are subject to regulation in the states in which they operate.
Those companies are required to maintain their accounts in accordance with
regulatory authorities’ rules and guidelines, which may differ from other
authoritative accounting pronouncements. In those instances, the Company follows
the
guidance
provided in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71, “Accounting For the Effects of
Certain Types of Regulation” (SFAS 71).
In
accordance with SFAS No. 71, costs and obligations are deferred if it is
probable that these items will be recognized for rate-making purposes in future
rates. Accordingly, we have recorded costs and obligations, which will be
amortized over various future periods. Any change in the assessment of the
probability of rate-making treatment will require us to change the accounting
treatment of the deferred item. We have no reason to believe any of the deferred
items that are recorded would be treated differently by the regulators in the
future.
Revenues
Revenues
from metered customers include amounts billed on a cycle basis and unbilled
amounts estimated from the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting
period. The estimated unbilled amounts are determined by utilizing factors
which
include historical consumption usage and current climate conditions. Differences
between estimated revenues and actual billings are recorded in a subsequent
period.
Revenues
from unmetered customers are billed at a fixed tariff rate in advance at the
beginning of each service period and are recognized in revenue ratably over
the
service period.
Revenues
from the Perth Amboy management contract are comprised of fixed and variable
fees. Fixed fees, which have been set for the life of the contract, are billed
monthly and recorded as earned. Variable fees, which are based on billings
and
other factors and are not significant, are recorded upon approval of the amount
by Perth Amboy.
Pension
Plan
We
maintain a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan which covers
substantially all employees with more than 1,000 hours of service and who were
hired prior to March 31, 2007.
The
discount rate utilized for determining future pension obligations has increased
from 5.52% at December 31, 2005 to 5.89% at December 31, 2006 and increased
to
6.59% at December 31, 2007. Lowering the discount rate by 0.5% would have
increased the net periodic pension cost by $1.3 million in 2007. Lowering the
expected long-term rate of return on the pension plans by 0.5% (from 8.0% to
7.5%) would have increased the net periodic pension cost in 2007 by
approximately $1.1 million.
The
discount rate for determining future pension obligations is determined based
on
market rates for long-term, high-quality corporate bonds at our December 31
measurement date. The expected long-term rate of return for pension assets
is
determined based on historical returns and our asset allocation.
Future
pension expense will depend on future investment performance, changes in future
discount rates and various other demographic factors related to the population
participating in the pension plan.
Recent
Accounting Standards
See
Note
1(m) of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of
recent accounting pronouncements.
Item
7A.
|
Qualitative
and Quantitative Disclosures About Market
Risk.
|
The
Company is subject to the risk of fluctuating interest rates in the normal
course of business. Our policy is to manage interest rates through
the use of fixed rate long-term debt and, to a lesser extent, short-term
debt. The Company’s interest rate risk related to existing fixed
rate, long-term debt is not material due to the term of the majority of our
First Mortgage Bonds, which have final maturity dates ranging from 2009 to
2038. Over the next twelve months, approximately $2.7 million of the
current portion of 18 existing long-term debt instruments will mature. Applying
a hypothetical change in the rate of interest charged by 10% on those
borrowings, would not have a material effect on our earnings.
Item
8.
|
Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data.
|
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the
Board of Directors and Stockholders of Middlesex Water Company
We
have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements
of capital stock and long-term debt of Middlesex Water Company and subsidiaries
(the Company) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and
cash
flows for the years then ended. The Company's management is
responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on
our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement.
An
audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts
and
disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December
31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for
the
years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in
the United States of America.
As
discussed in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company
changed its method of accounting for defined benefit pension and other
postretirement plans in 2006.
We
also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), Middlesex Water Company’s internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on
criteria established in Internal Control – Integral
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 10, 2008 expressed
an
unqualified opinion.
/s/
Beard
Miller Company LLP
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the
Board of Directors and Stockholders of Middlesex Water Company:
We
have
audited the consolidated statements of income, common stockholders' equity
and
comprehensive income, and cash flows of Middlesex Water Company and subsidiaries
(the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2005. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and
financial statement schedules based on our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that
we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures
in
the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year
ended December 31, 2005 of the Company, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Parsippany,
New Jersey
March
16,
2006
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEETS
(In
thousands)
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
UTILITY
PLANT:
|
Water
Production
|
|
$ |
98,942 |
|
|
$ |
95,324 |
|
|
Transmission
and Distribution
|
|
|
264,939 |
|
|
|
243,959 |
|
|
General
|
|
|
24,874 |
|
|
|
25,153 |
|
|
Construction
Work in Progress
|
|
|
9,833 |
|
|
|
6,131 |
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
|
398,588 |
|
|
|
370,567 |
|
|
Less
Accumulated Depreciation
|
|
|
64,736 |
|
|
|
59,694 |
|
|
UTILITY
PLANT - NET
|
|
|
333,852 |
|
|
|
310,873 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
2,029 |
|
|
|
5,826 |
|
|
Accounts
Receivable, net
|
|
|
8,227 |
|
|
|
8,538 |
|
|
Unbilled
Revenues
|
|
|
4,609 |
|
|
|
4,013 |
|
|
Materials
and Supplies (at average cost)
|
|
|
1,205 |
|
|
|
1,306 |
|
|
Prepayments
|
|
|
1,363 |
|
|
|
1,229 |
|
|
TOTAL
CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
17,433 |
|
|
|
20,912 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFERRED
CHARGES
|
Unamortized
Debt Expense
|
|
|
2,884 |
|
|
|
3,014 |
|
AND
OTHER ASSETS:
|
Preliminary
Survey and Investigation Charges
|
|
|
5,283 |
|
|
|
3,436 |
|
|
Regulatory
Assets
|
|
|
16,090 |
|
|
|
18,342 |
|
|
Operations
Contracts Fees Receivable
|
|
|
4,184 |
|
|
|
607 |
|
|
Restricted
Cash
|
|
|
6,418 |
|
|
|
6,850 |
|
|
Non-utility
Assets - Net
|
|
|
6,183 |
|
|
|
5,648 |
|
|
Other
|
|
|
348 |
|
|
|
585 |
|
|
TOTAL
DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER ASSETS
|
|
|
41,390 |
|
|
|
38,482 |
|
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
|
$ |
392,675 |
|
|
$ |
370,267 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITALIZATION
AND LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAPITALIZATION:
|
Common
Stock, No Par Value
|
|
$ |
105,668 |
|
|
$ |
104,248 |
|
|
Retained
Earnings
|
|
|
27,441 |
|
|
|
25,001 |
|
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
|
TOTAL
COMMON EQUITY
|
|
|
133,178 |
|
|
|
129,343 |
|
|
Preferred
Stock
|
|
|
3,958 |
|
|
|
3,958 |
|
|
Long-term
Debt
|
|
|
131,615 |
|
|
|
130,706 |
|
|
TOTAL
CAPITALIZATION
|
|
|
268,751 |
|
|
|
264,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
|
Current
Portion of Long-term Debt
|
|
|
2,723 |
|
|
|
2,501 |
|
LIABILITIES:
|
Notes
Payable
|
|
|
6,250 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Accounts
Payable
|
|
|
6,477 |
|
|
|
5,491 |
|
|
Accrued
Taxes
|
|
|
7,611 |
|
|
|
6,684 |
|
|
Accrued
Interest
|
|
|
1,916 |
|
|
|
1,880 |
|
|
Unearned
Revenues and Advanced Service Fees
|
|
|
758 |
|
|
|
601 |
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,274 |
|
|
|
984 |
|
|
TOTAL
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
27,009 |
|
|
|
18,141 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Note 4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFERRED
CREDITS
|
Customer
Advances for Construction
|
|
|
21,758 |
|
|
|
19,246 |
|
AND
OTHER LIABILITIES:
|
Accumulated
Deferred Investment Tax Credits
|
|
|
1,461 |
|
|
|
1,813 |
|
|
Accumulated
Deferred Income Taxes
|
|
|
17,940 |
|
|
|
15,779 |
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
|
|
13,333 |
|
|
|
16,388 |
|
|
Regulatory
Liability - Cost of Utility Plant Removal
|
|
|
5,726 |
|
|
|
6,200 |
|
|
Other
|
|
|
459 |
|
|
|
527 |
|
|
TOTAL
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES
|
|
|
60,677 |
|
|
|
59,953 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONTRIBUTIONS
IN AID OF CONSTRUCTION
|
|
|
|
36,238 |
|
|
|
28,166 |
|
|
TOTAL
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES
|
|
$ |
392,675 |
|
|
$ |
370,267 |
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In
thousands except per share amounts)
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Revenues
|
|
$ |
86,114 |
|
|
$ |
81,061 |
|
|
$ |
74,613 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operations
|
|
|
42,117 |
|
|
|
39,799 |
|
|
|
38,636 |
|
Maintenance
|
|
|
4,123 |
|
|
|
3,546 |
|
|
|
3,520 |
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
7,539 |
|
|
|
7,060 |
|
|
|
6,460 |
|
Other
Taxes
|
|
|
9,664 |
|
|
|
9,338 |
|
|
|
8,779 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
63,443 |
|
|
|
59,743 |
|
|
|
57,395 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Income
|
|
|
22,671 |
|
|
|
21,318 |
|
|
|
17,218 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Income (Expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allowance
for Funds Used During Construction
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
632 |
|
|
|
548 |
|
Other
Income
|
|
|
1,153 |
|
|
|
160 |
|
|
|
220 |
|
Other
Expense
|
|
|
(163 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
) |
|
|
(28 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Other Income, net
|
|
|
1,527 |
|
|
|
774 |
|
|
|
740 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Charges
|
|
|
6,619 |
|
|
|
7,012 |
|
|
|
6,245 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
before Income Taxes
|
|
|
17,579 |
|
|
|
15,080 |
|
|
|
11,713 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
Taxes
|
|
|
5,736 |
|
|
|
5,041 |
|
|
|
3,237 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
|
11,843 |
|
|
|
10,039 |
|
|
|
8,476 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
Stock Dividend Requirements
|
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
251 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
|
$ |
11,595 |
|
|
$ |
9,791 |
|
|
$ |
8,225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
per share of Common Stock:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
0.88 |
|
|
$ |
0.83 |
|
|
$ |
0.72 |
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.87 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
|
$ |
0.71 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Shares Outstanding :
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
13,203 |
|
|
|
11,844 |
|
|
|
11,445 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
13,534 |
|
|
|
12,175 |
|
|
|
11,784 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Dividends Paid per Common Share
|
|
$ |
0.693 |
|
|
$ |
0.683 |
|
|
$ |
0.673 |
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In
thousands)
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
$ |
11,843 |
|
|
$ |
10,039 |
|
|
$ |
8,476 |
|
Adjustments
to Reconcile Net Income to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and Amortization
|
|
|
8,176 |
|
|
|
7,761 |
|
|
|
7,160 |
|
Provision
for Deferred Income Taxes and ITC
|
|
|
399 |
|
|
|
897 |
|
|
|
165 |
|
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(548 |
) |
Equity
Portion of AFUDC
|
|
|
(255 |
) |
|
|
(259 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Cash
Surrender Value of Life Insurance
|
|
|
(271 |
) |
|
|
(155 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Gain
on Sale of Real Estate
|
|
|
(267 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Changes
in Assets and Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
|
|
(2,752 |
) |
|
|
(463 |
) |
|
|
(1,758 |
) |
Unbilled
Revenues
|
|
|
(596 |
) |
|
|
(276 |
) |
|
|
(165 |
) |
Materials
and Supplies
|
|
|
101 |
|
|
|
(46 |
) |
|
|
(56 |
) |
Prepayments
|
|
|
(134 |
) |
|
|
(301 |
) |
|
|
(103 |
) |
Other
Assets
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
(485 |
) |
|
|
(151 |
) |
Accounts
Payable
|
|
|
986 |
|
|
|
(538 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
) |
Accrued
Taxes
|
|
|
941 |
|
|
|
197 |
|
|
|
(323 |
) |
Accrued
Interest
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
166 |
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
(84 |
) |
|
|
710 |
|
Unearned
Revenue and Advanced Service Fees
|
|
|
157 |
|
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
86 |
|
Other
Liabilities
|
|
|
224 |
|
|
|
(299 |
) |
|
|
(144 |
) |
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
18,818 |
|
|
|
16,126 |
|
|
|
13,497 |
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
Plant Expenditures, Including AFUDC of $ 282 in 2007, $373 in 2006,
and
$0 in 2005
|
|
|
(21,930 |
) |
|
|
(30,734 |
) |
|
|
(25,288 |
) |
Cash
Surrender Value & Other Investments
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(294 |
) |
Restricted
Cash
|
|
|
444 |
|
|
|
(1,036 |
) |
|
|
7,637 |
|
Proceeds
from Real Estate Dispositions
|
|
|
273 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Preliminary
Survey and Investigation Charges
|
|
|
(1,847 |
) |
|
|
(1,661 |
) |
|
|
(743 |
) |
NET
CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
(23,060 |
) |
|
|
(33,431 |
) |
|
|
(18,688 |
) |
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption
of Long-term Debt
|
|
|
(2,501 |
) |
|
|
(1,915 |
) |
|
|
(1,215 |
) |
Proceeds
from Issuance of Long-term Debt
|
|
|
3,632 |
|
|
|
5,016 |
|
|
|
14,948 |
|
Net
Short-term Bank Borrowings
|
|
|
6,250 |
|
|
|
(4,000 |
) |
|
|
(7,000 |
) |
Deferred
Debt Issuance Expenses
|
|
|
(50 |
) |
|
|
(28 |
) |
|
|
(166 |
) |
Common
Stock Issuance Expense
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
(238 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Restricted
Cash
|
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
(32 |
) |
|
|
(163 |
) |
Proceeds
from Issuance of Common Stock
|
|
|
1,420 |
|
|
|
28,088 |
|
|
|
4,076 |
|
Payment
of Common Dividends
|
|
|
(9,141 |
) |
|
|
(8,190 |
) |
|
|
(7,690 |
) |
Payment
of Preferred Dividends
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
(251 |
) |
Construction
Advances and Contributions-Net
|
|
|
1,110 |
|
|
|
1,694 |
|
|
|
1,601 |
|
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
445 |
|
|
|
20,147 |
|
|
|
4,140 |
|
NET
CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|
|
(3,797 |
) |
|
|
2,842 |
|
|
|
(1,051 |
) |
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
|
|
5,826 |
|
|
|
2,984 |
|
|
|
4,035 |
|
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
|
|
$ |
2,029 |
|
|
$ |
5,826 |
|
|
$ |
2,984 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITY:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
Plant received as Construction Advances and Contributions
|
|
$ |
8,960 |
|
|
$ |
3,543 |
|
|
$ |
5,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Paid During the Year for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
$ |
6,542 |
|
|
$ |
6,937 |
|
|
$ |
5,990 |
|
Interest
Capitalized
|
|
$ |
(282 |
) |
|
$ |
(373 |
) |
|
$ |
(548 |
) |
Income
Taxes
|
|
$ |
4,534 |
|
|
$ |
4,352 |
|
|
$ |
3,792 |
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL STOCK
AND
LONG-TERM DEBT
(In
thousands)
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Common
Stock, No Par Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Authorized - 40,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Outstanding - 2007
- 13,246
|
|
$ |
105,668 |
|
|
$ |
104,248 |
|
2006
- 13,168
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained
Earnings
|
|
|
27,441 |
|
|
|
25,001 |
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
TOTAL
COMMON EQUITY
|
|
$ |
133,178 |
|
|
$ |
129,343 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative
Preference Stock, No Par Value:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Authorized -100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Outstanding - None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative
Preferred Stock, No Par Value:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Authorized -139
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Outstanding -37
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Outstanding, $7.00 Series - 14
|
|
|
1,457 |
|
|
|
1,457 |
|
Shares
Outstanding, $8.00 Series - 12
|
|
|
1,399 |
|
|
|
1,399 |
|
Nonredeemable:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
Outstanding, $7.00 Series - 1
|
|
|
102 |
|
|
|
102 |
|
Shares
Outstanding, $4.75 Series - 10
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
TOTAL
PREFERRED STOCK
|
|
$ |
3,958 |
|
|
$ |
3,958 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.05%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due December 20, 2021
|
|
$ |
2,800 |
|
|
$ |
2,896 |
|
6.25%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due May 22, 2028
|
|
|
8,575 |
|
|
|
8,995 |
|
6.44%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due August 25, 2030
|
|
|
6,347 |
|
|
|
6,627 |
|
6.46%,
Amortizing Secured Note, due September 19, 2031
|
|
|
6,627 |
|
|
|
6,907 |
|
4.22%,
State Revolving Trust Note, due December 31, 2022
|
|
|
691 |
|
|
|
739 |
|
3.30%
to 3.60%, State Revolving Trust Note, due May 1, 2025
|
|
|
3,168 |
|
|
|
3,100 |
|
3.49%,
State Revolving Trust Note, due January 25, 2027
|
|
|
603 |
|
|
|
598 |
|
4.03%,
State Revolving Trust Note, due December 1, 2026
|
|
|
974 |
|
|
|
914 |
|
4.00%
to 5.00%, State Revolving Trust Bond, due September 1,
2021
|
|
|
695 |
|
|
|
730 |
|
0.00%,
State Revolving Fund Bond, due September 1, 2021
|
|
|
538 |
|
|
|
577 |
|
First
Mortgage Bonds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.20%,
Series S, due October 1, 2022
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
5.25%,
Series T, due October 1, 2023
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
6.40%,
Series U, due February 1, 2009
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
5.25%,
Series V, due February 1, 2029
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
5.35%,
Series W, due February 1, 2038
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
|
|
23,000 |
|
0.00%,
Series X, due September 1, 2018
|
|
|
591 |
|
|
|
647 |
|
4.25%
to 4.63%, Series Y, due September 1, 2018
|
|
|
765 |
|
|
|
820 |
|
0.00%,
Series Z, due September 1, 2019
|
|
|
1,342 |
|
|
|
1,455 |
|
5.25%
to 5.75%, Series AA, due September 1, 2019
|
|
|
1,785 |
|
|
|
1,890 |
|
0.00%,
Series BB, due September 1, 2021
|
|
|
1,685 |
|
|
|
1,805 |
|
4.00%
to 5.00%, Series CC, due September 1, 2021
|
|
|
1,995 |
|
|
|
2,090 |
|
5.10%,
Series DD, due January 1, 2032
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
|
|
6,000 |
|
0.00%,
Series EE, due September 1, 2024
|
|
|
7,112 |
|
|
|
7,482 |
|
3.00%
to 5.50%, Series FF, due September 1, 2024
|
|
|
8,385 |
|
|
|
8,735 |
|
0.00%,
Series GG, due August 1, 2026
|
|
|
1,710 |
|
|
|
1,750 |
|
4.00%
to 5.00%, Series HH, due August 1, 2026
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
0.00%,
Series II, due August 1, 2027
|
|
|
1,750 |
|
|
|
- |
|
3.40%
to 5.00%, Series JJ, due August 1, 2027
|
|
|
1,750 |
|
|
|
- |
|
SUBTOTAL
LONG-TERM DEBT
|
|
|
134,338 |
|
|
|
133,207 |
|
Less:
Current Portion of Long-term Debt
|
|
|
(2,723 |
) |
|
|
(2,501 |
) |
TOTAL
LONG-TERM DEBT
|
|
$ |
131,615 |
|
|
$ |
130,706 |
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Retained
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
Income
(Loss)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at January 1, 2005
|
|
|
11,358 |
|
|
$ |
71,980 |
|
|
$ |
23,103 |
|
|
$ |
45 |
|
|
$ |
95,128 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,476 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,476 |
|
Minimum
Pension Liability, Net of $135 Income Tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(262 |
) |
|
|
(262 |
) |
Change
in Value of Equity Investments, Net of $5 Income Tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,224 |
|
Dividend
Reinvestment & Common Stock Purchase Plan
|
|
|
195 |
|
|
|
3,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,640 |
|
Restricted
Stock Award - Net
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
436 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
436 |
|
Preferred
Stock Conversion
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105 |
|
Cash
Dividends on Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,690 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,690 |
) |
Cash
Dividends on Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(251 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(251 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
11,584 |
|
|
|
76,161 |
|
|
|
23,638 |
|
|
|
(207 |
) |
|
|
99,592 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,039 |
|
Minimum
Pension Liability, Net of $135 Income Tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
262 |
|
|
|
262 |
|
Change
in Value of Equity Investments, Net of $20 Income Tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
39 |
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,340 |
|
Dividend
Reinvestment & Common Stock Purchase Plan
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
1,321 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,321 |
|
Restricted
Stock Award - Net
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
275 |
|
Issuance
of Common Stock
|
|
|
1,495 |
|
|
|
26,491 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,491 |
|
Cash
Dividends on Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,190 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,190 |
) |
Cash
Dividends on Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
Common
Stock Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(238 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(238 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
13,168 |
|
|
|
104,248 |
|
|
|
25,001 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
|
|
129,343 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,843 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,843 |
|
Change
in Value of Equity Investments, Net of $13 Income Tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(25 |
) |
|
|
(25 |
) |
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,818 |
|
Dividend
Reinvestment & Common Stock Purchase Plan
|
|
|
61 |
|
|
|
1,147 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,147 |
|
Restricted
Stock Award - Net
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
273 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
273 |
|
Cash
Dividends on Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,141 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,141 |
) |
Cash
Dividends on Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
Common
Stock Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
13,246 |
|
|
$ |
105,668 |
|
|
$ |
27,441 |
|
|
$ |
69 |
|
|
$ |
133,178 |
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Middlesex
Water Company
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note
1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a)
Organization - Middlesex
Water Company (Middlesex) is the parent company and sole shareholder of
Tidewater Utilities, Inc. (Tidewater), Tidewater Environmental Services, Inc.
(TESI), Pinelands Water Company (Pinelands Water) and Pinelands Wastewater
Company (Pinelands Wastewater) (collectively, Pinelands), Utility Service
Affiliates, Inc. (USA) and Utility Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc.
(USA-PA). Southern Shores Water Company, LLC (Southern Shores) and
White Marsh Environmental Systems, Inc. (White Marsh), are wholly-owned
subsidiaries of Tidewater. The financial statements for Middlesex and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries (the Company) are reported on a consolidated basis.
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated.
Middlesex
Water Company has operated as a water utility in New Jersey since 1897, and
in
Delaware, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Tidewater, since
1992. We are in the business of collecting, treating, distributing
and selling water for domestic, commercial, municipal, industrial and fire
protection purposes. We also operate a New Jersey municipal water and wastewater
system under contract and provide wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware
through our subsidiaries. We are regulated as to rates charged to customers
for
water and wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware, as to the quality
of
services we provide and as to certain other matters. Only our USA, USA-PA and
White Marsh subsidiaries are not regulated utilities.
Certain
reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial
statements to conform with current period presentation.
(b)
System of Accounts -
Middlesex, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater maintain their accounts
in
accordance with the Uniform System of Accounts prescribed by the Board of Public
Utilities of the State of New Jersey (BPU). Tidewater, TESI and Southern Shores
maintain their accounts in accordance with the Public Service Commission of
Delaware (PSC) requirements.
(c)
Utility Plant is stated at
original cost as defined for regulatory purposes. Property accounts are charged
with the cost of betterments and major replacements of property. Cost includes
direct material, labor and indirect charges for pension benefits and payroll
taxes. The cost of labor, materials, supervision and other expenses incurred
in
making repairs and minor replacements and in maintaining the properties is
charged to the appropriate expense accounts. At December 31, 2007, there was
no
event or change in circumstance that would indicate that the carrying amount
of
any long-lived asset was not recoverable.
(d)
Depreciation is computed
by each regulated member of the Company utilizing a rate approved by the
applicable regulatory authority. The Accumulated Provision for Depreciation
is
charged with the cost of property retired, less salvage. The
following table sets forth the range of depreciation rates for the major utility
plant categories used to calculate depreciation for the years ended December
31,
2007, 2006 and 2005. These rates have been approved by either the BPU or
PSC:
Source
of Supply
|
1.15%
- 3.44%
|
Transmission
and Distribution (T&D):
|
Pumping
|
2.87%
- 5.04%
|
T&D
– Mains
|
1.10%
- 3.13%
|
Water
Treatment
|
2.71%
- 7.64%
|
T&D
– Services
|
2.12%
- 2.81%
|
General
Plant
|
2.08%
- 17.84%
|
T&D
– Other
|
1.61%
- 4.63%
|
Non-regulated
fixed assets consist primarily of an office building, furniture and fixtures,
and transportation equipment. These assets are recorded at original cost and
depreciation is calculated based on the estimated useful lives, ranging from
3
to 40 years.
(e) Customers’
Advances
for
Construction– Water
utility plant and/or cash advances are contributed to the Company by customers,
real estate developers and builders in order to extend water service to their
properties. These contributions are recorded as Customers’
Advances for Construction. Refunds on these advances are made by the Company
in
accordance with agreements with the contributing party and are based on either
additional operating revenues related to the utility plant or as new customers
are connected to and take service from the utility plant. After all
refunds are made, any remaining balance is transferred to Contributions in
Aid
of Construction.
Contributions
in Aid of Construction – Contributions in Aid of Construction include direct
non-refundable contributions of water utility plant and/or cash and the portion
of Customers’ Advances for Construction that become non-refundable.
Advances
and Contributions are not depreciated in accordance with BPU and PSC
requirements. In addition, these amounts reduce the investment base
for purposes of setting rates.
(f)
Allowance for Funds Used
During Construction (AFUDC) - Middlesex and its regulated subsidiaries
capitalize AFUDC, which represents the cost of financing projects during
construction. AFUDC is added to the construction costs of individual projects
exceeding specific cost and construction period thresholds established for
each
company and then depreciated along with the rest of the utility plant’s costs
over its estimated useful life. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006
and
2005 approximately $0.5 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively
of
AFUDC was added to the cost of construction projects. AFUDC is
calculated using each company’s weighted cost of debt and equity as approved in
their most recent respective regulatory rate order. The average AFUDC rate
for
the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 for Middlesex and Tidewater
were 7.45% and 7.94%, respectively.
(g)
Accounts Receivable – We
record bad debt expense based on historical write-offs. The allowance for
doubtful accounts was $0.3 million at December 31, 2007, $0.3 million at
December 31, 2006, and $0.2 million at December 31, 2005. The corresponding
expense for the year ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $0.1 million,
$0.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
(h)
Revenues - General metered
customer’s bills for regulated water service are typically comprised of two
components; a fixed service charge and a volumetric or consumption charge.
Revenues from general metered service water customers, except Tidewater, include
amounts billed in arrears on a cycle basis and unbilled amounts estimated from
the last meter reading date to the end of the accounting period. The estimated
unbilled amounts are determined by utilizing factors which include historical
consumption usage and current climate conditions. Actual billings may differ
from our estimates. Revenues are adjusted in the period that the difference
is
identified. Tidewater customers are billed in advance for their fixed service
charge and these revenues are recognized as the service is provided to the
customer.
Southern
Shores is an unmetered system. Customers are billed a fixed service charge
in
advance at the beginning of each month and revenues are recognized as
earned. Revenues from the City of Perth Amboy management contract are
comprised of fixed and variable fees. Fixed fees, which have been set for the
life of the contract, are billed monthly and recorded as earned. Variable fees,
which are not significant, are recorded upon approval of the amount by the
City
of Perth Amboy.
USA
bills
customers on a quarterly or annual basis for its LineCareSM
service
line maintenance program. Quarterly amounts billed are recognized as earned.
Amounts that are billed on an annual basis are deferred and recognized as
revenue ratably over the year.
(i)
Deferred Charges and Other
Assets - Unamortized Debt Expense is amortized over the lives of the related
issues. Restricted Cash represents proceeds from loans entered into through
state financing programs and is held in trusts. The proceeds are restricted
for
specific capital expenditures and debt service requirements.
(j)
Income Taxes - Middlesex
files a consolidated federal income tax return for the Company and income taxes
are allocated based on the separate return method. Investment tax
credits have been deferred and are amortized over the estimated useful life
of
the related property.
(k)
Statements of Cash Flows -
For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid
investments with original maturity dates of three months or less to be cash
equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents represent bank balances and money market
funds with investments maturing in less than 90 days.
(l)
Use of Estimates -
Conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of
America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
(m)
Recent Accounting
Pronouncements – In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) issued SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, which establishes a framework
for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. In February
2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-2, Effective Date of FASB
Statement No. 157, which deferred the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal
years
beginning after November 15, 2008 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial
liabilities. The Company does not expect that the adoption of SFAS
157 will have a material impact on its financial
statements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued FSP FAS 158-1, “Conforming Amendments
to the Illustrations in FASB Statements No. 87, No. 88, and No 106 and
to the Related Staff Implementation Guides.” This FSP makes conforming
amendments to other FASB statements and staff implementation guides and provides
technical corrections to SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined
Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” The conforming amendments in
this FSP did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial statements or disclosures.
FASB
statement No. 141 (R) “Business Combinations” was issued in December of 2007.
This Statement establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer
of a
business recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable
assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in
the
acquiree. The Statement also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring
the
goodwill acquired in the business combination and determines what information
to
disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature
and
financial effects of the business combination. The guidance will become
effective as of the beginning of a company’s fiscal year beginning after
December 15, 2008. This new pronouncement will impact the Company’s accounting
for business combinations completed beginning January 1, 2009.
In
May
2007, the FASB issued FSP FIN 48-1 “Definition of Settlement in FASB
Interpretation No. 48” (FSP FIN 48-1). FSP FIN 48-1 provides guidance on how to
determine whether a tax position is effectively settled for the purpose of
recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits. FSP FIN 48-1 is effective
retroactively to January 1, 2007. The implementation of this standard did not
have a material impact on our consolidated financial position or results of
operations.
In
July
2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48) “Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,”
to clarify certain aspects of accounting for uncertain tax
positions,
including recognition and measurement of those tax positions. This
interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2006. The adoption of this interpretation did not materially impact the
Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
(n)
Other Comprehensive Income
– Total comprehensive income includes changes in equity that are excluded from
the consolidated statements of income and are recorded into a separate section
of capitalization on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s accumulated
other comprehensive income shown on the consolidated balance sheets consists
of
unrealized gains on investment holdings.
(o)
Regulatory Accounting - We
maintain our books and records in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. Middlesex and
certain of its subsidiaries, which account for 90% of Operating Revenues and
98%
of Total Assets, are subject to regulation in the state in which they operate.
Those companies are required to maintain their accounts in accordance with
regulatory authorities’ rules and guidelines, which may differ from other
authoritative accounting pronouncements. In those instances, the
Company follows the guidance provided in SFAS No. 71, “Accounting for the
Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.”
(p)
Pension Plan - We maintain
a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan which covers substantially all
employees with more than 1,000 hours of service, and who were hired as of March
31, 2007. The discount rate utilized for determining pension costs decreased
from 5.88% for the year ended December 31, 2005 to 5.52% for the year ended
December 31, 2006 and increased to 5.89% for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Future
actual
pension expense will depend on future investment performance, changes in future
discount rates and various other factors related to the population participating
in the pension plans.
Note
2 - Rate and Regulatory Matters
Effective
October 26, 2007, Middlesex received approval from the New Jersey Board of
Public Utilities (BPU) for a 9.1%, or $5.0 million increase in its base water
rates. The increase was predicated on a rate base of $164.4 million
and an authorized return on equity of 10.0%. Middlesex had originally
filed for an $8.9 million or 16.5% base rate increase with the BPU on April
18,
2007. The rate increase is intended to recover increased costs of
operations, maintenance, labor and benefits, purchased power, purchased water
and taxes, as well as capital investment of approximately $23.0 million since
June 2005.
On
April
28, 2006, Tidewater filed for a $5.5 million, or 38.6%, base rate increase
with
the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC). The request is intended to recover
increased costs of operations, maintenance and taxes, as well as capital
investment of approximately $23.8 million since rates were last established
in
March 2005. Since June 27, 2006, Tidewater has been billing and recognizing
additional revenues through a 15% interim rate increase subject to refund as
allowed under PSC regulations. A settlement was reached amongst the parties
which concluded that a 26.9% overall increase in base rates would be
implemented. The PSC approved the settlement and the remaining 11.9%
increase was put into effect on February 28, 2007.
Effective
April 13, 2006, Pinelands Water and Pinelands Wastewater received approval
from
the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for base rate increases of 7.02%
and 0.98%, respectively. These increases represent a total base rate increase
of
approximately $0.1 million for Pinelands to offset increased costs associated
with capital improvements, and the operation and maintenance of their
systems.
In
accordance with the tariff established for Southern Shores, an annual rate
increase of 3% was implemented on January 1, 2008. Under the terms of
a contract with Southern Shores Homeowners Association, the increase cannot
exceed the lesser of the regional Consumer Price Index or 3%.
We
have
recorded certain costs as regulatory assets because we expect full recovery
of,
or are currently recovering, these costs in the rates we charge customers.
These
deferred costs have been excluded from rate base and, therefore, we are not
earning a return on the unamortized balances. These items are
detailed as follows:
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
Regulatory
Assets
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Remaining
Recovery
Periods
|
Postretirement
Benefits
|
|
$ |
7,279 |
|
|
$ |
11,130 |
|
Various
|
Income
Taxes
|
|
|
8,222 |
|
|
|
6,813 |
|
Various
|
Tank
Painting
|
|
|
225 |
|
|
|
275 |
|
3-8
years
|
Rate
Cases and Other
|
|
|
364 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
Up
to 2 years
|
Total
|
|
$ |
16,090 |
|
|
$ |
18,342 |
|
|
Postretirement
benefits include pension and other postretirement benefits that have been
recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet upon adoption of SFAS 158. These
amounts represent obligations in excess of current funding, which the Company
believes will be fully recovered in rates set by the regulatory
authorities.
The
recovery period for income taxes is dependent upon when the temporary
differences between the tax and book treatment of various items
reverse.
The
Company uses composite depreciation rates for its regulated utility assets,
which is currently an acceptable method under generally accepted accounting
principles and is widely used in the utility industry. Historically, under
the
composite depreciation method, the anticipated costs of removing assets upon
retirement are provided for over the life of those assets as a component of
depreciation expense. The Company recovers certain asset retirement costs
through rates charged to customers as an approved component of depreciation
expense. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company has approximately $5.7
million and $6.2 million, respectively, of expected costs of removal recovered
currently in rates in excess of actual costs incurred. These amounts are
recorded as regulatory liabilities.
The
Company is recovering in current rates acquisition premiums totaling $0.8
million over the remaining lives of the underlying Utility Plant. These deferred
costs have been included in rate base as utility plant and a return is being
earned on the unamortized balances during the recovery periods.
Note
3 - Income Taxes
Income
tax expense differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory rate
on
book income subject to tax for the following reasons:
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Income
Tax at Statutory Rate
|
|
$ |
6,021 |
|
|
$ |
5,155 |
|
|
$ |
3,982 |
|
Tax
Effect of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utility
Plant Related
|
|
|
(595 |
) |
|
|
(338 |
) |
|
|
(899 |
) |
State
Income Taxes – Net
|
|
|
350 |
|
|
|
257 |
|
|
|
176 |
|
Employee
Benefits
|
|
|
(49 |
) |
|
|
(48 |
) |
|
|
(25 |
) |
Other
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Total
Income Tax Expense
|
|
$ |
5,736 |
|
|
$ |
5,041 |
|
|
$ |
3,237 |
|
Income
tax expense is comprised of the following:
Current:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
$ |
4,894 |
|
|
$ |
3,846 |
|
|
$ |
2,889 |
|
State
|
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
298 |
|
|
|
183 |
|
Deferred:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
|
634 |
|
|
|
884 |
|
|
|
160 |
|
State
|
|
|
117 |
|
|
|
92 |
|
|
|
84 |
|
Investment
Tax Credits
|
|
|
(322 |
) |
|
|
(79 |
) |
|
|
(79 |
) |
Total
Income Tax Expense
|
|
$ |
5,736 |
|
|
$ |
5,041 |
|
|
$ |
3,237 |
|
The
statutory review period for income tax returns for the years prior to 2004
has
been closed. Federal income tax returns for 2005 and 2006 are
currently under review by the Internal Revenue Service. Although the
review is still in process, no material adjustments have been proposed by the
examiner. In the event that there are interest and penalties
associated with income tax adjustments, these amounts would be reported under
interest expense and other expense, respectively.
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial purposes and the
amounts used for income tax purposes. The components of the net
deferred tax liability are as follows:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Utility
Plant Related
|
|
$ |
24,892 |
|
|
$ |
23,656 |
|
Customer
Advances
|
|
|
(4,117 |
) |
|
|
(4,189 |
) |
Employee
Benefits
|
|
|
(2,544 |
) |
|
|
(3,515 |
) |
Other
|
|
|
(291 |
) |
|
|
(173 |
) |
Total
Deferred Tax Liability
|
|
$ |
17,940 |
|
|
$ |
15,779 |
|
Note
4 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
Guarantees
- USA-PA operates
the City of Perth Amboy’s (Perth Amboy) water and wastewater systems under a
service contract agreement through June 30, 2018. The agreement was effected
under New Jersey’s Water Supply Public/Private Contracting Act and the New
Jersey Wastewater Public/Private Contracting Act. Under the
agreement, USA-PA receives a fixed fee and a variable fee based on increased
system billing. Scheduled fixed fee payments for 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $7.8
million, $7.6 million and $7.4 million, respectively. The fixed fees
will increase over the term of the contract to $10.2 million.
In
connection with the agreement, Perth Amboy, through the Middlesex County
Improvement Authority, issued approximately $68.0 million in three series of
bonds. Middlesex guaranteed one of those series of bonds, designated the Series
C Serial Bonds, in the principal amount of approximately $26.3 million. Perth
Amboy guaranteed the two other series of bonds. The Series C Serial Bonds have
various maturity dates with the final maturity date on September 1, 2015. As
of
December 31, 2007, approximately $22.6 million of the Series C Serial Bonds
remained outstanding.
We
are
obligated to perform under the guarantee in the event notice is received from
the Series C Serial Bonds trustee of an impending debt service deficiency.
If
Middlesex funds any debt service obligations as guarantor, there is a provision
in the agreement that requires Perth Amboy to reimburse us. There are other
provisions in the agreement that we believe make it unlikely that we will be
required to perform under the guarantee, such as scheduled annual rate increases
for water and wastewater services as well as rate increases due to unforeseen
circumstances. In the event revenues from customers could not satisfy the
reimbursement requirements, Perth Amboy has Ad Valorem taxing powers, which
could be used to raise the needed amount.
Water
Supply - Middlesex has
an agreement with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) for the purchase
of untreated water through November 30, 2023, which provides for an average
purchase of 27 million gallons a day (mgd). Pricing is set annually by the
NJWSA
through a public rate making process. The agreement has provisions for
additional pricing in the event Middlesex overdrafts or exceeds certain monthly
and annual thresholds.
Middlesex
also has an agreement with a non-affiliated regulated water utility for the
purchase of treated water. This agreement, which expires February 27, 2011,
provides for the minimum purchase of 3 mgd of treated water with provisions
for
additional purchases.
Purchased
water costs are shown below:
|
|
(Millions
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
Purchased
Water
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Untreated
|
|
$ |
2.4 |
|
|
$ |
2.3 |
|
|
$ |
2.3 |
|
Treated
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
Total
Costs
|
|
$ |
4.5 |
|
|
$ |
4.2 |
|
|
$ |
4.2 |
|
Construction–The
Company may
spend up to $36.9 million in 2008, $76.9 million in 2009 and $44.9 million
in
2010 on its construction program. The
development of these estimates is based in part upon projected housing
development and sales in Delaware.
Litigation–
In
July 2005,
Tidewater received a notice of violation and request for corrective action
issued by the Delaware State Fire Marshal regarding the alleged failure of
one
of the community water systems operated by Tidewater to meet Delaware fire
protection requirements. Tidewater appealed the Fire Marshal’s
decision with the Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission (the “SFPC”) and, in
November 2005, the SFPC denied Tidewater’s appeal. In October 2007,
Tidewater agreed to dismiss its appeal of the SFPC’s decision with the Sussex
County Superior Court in Delaware of the notice of violation and request for
corrective action issued by the Fire Marshal. In return for the
dismissal both parties have agreed that 15 of the original 67 community water
systems previously identified will require certain modifications over a ten-year
period in order to provide full fire protection. The expected capital investment
to comply with the settlement is $12.0 to $14.0 million and will be expended
ratably over the ten-year period. We will apply to the PSC to
increase base rates to recover the costs of any such modifications. Although
these types of modifications have routinely been included in previous rate
matters, the PSC may not approve a portion or all of the costs associated with
the fire protection upgrades.
Change
in Control Agreements–
The Company has Change in Control Agreements with certain of its officers
that
provide compensation and benefits in the event of termination of employment
in
connection with a change in control of the Company.
Note
5 – Short-term Borrowings
Information
regarding the Company’s short-term borrowings for the years ended December 31,
2007 and 2006 is summarized below:
|
|
(Millions
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Established
Lines at Year-End
|
|
$ |
40.0 |
|
|
$ |
37.0 |
|
Maximum
Amount Outstanding
|
|
|
6.6 |
|
|
|
18.2 |
|
Average
Outstanding
|
|
|
2.6 |
|
|
|
9.5 |
|
Notes
Payable at Year-End
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
None
|
|
Weighted
Average Interest Rate
|
|
|
6.36 |
% |
|
|
6.13 |
% |
Weighted
Average Interest Rate at Year-End
|
|
|
5.79 |
% |
|
None
|
|
The
maturity date for the $6.3 million borrowing, with an interest rate of 5.79%,
outstanding as of December 31, 2007 was January 7, 2008.
Interest
rates for short-term borrowings are below the prime rate with no requirement
for
compensating balances.
Note
6 - Capitalization
All
the
transactions discussed below related to the issuance of securities were approved
by either the BPU or PSC, except where otherwise noted.
Common
Stock
In
June
2007, the number of shares authorized under the Dividend Reinvestment and Common
Stock Purchase Plan (DRP) increased from 1,700,000 shares to 2,300,000
shares. The cumulative number of shares issued under the DRP at
December 31, 2007, is 1,642,877. The Company also has shares authorized and
outstanding under a restricted stock plan, which is described in Note 7 –
Employee Benefit Plans.
In
November 2006, the Company sold and issued 1,495,000 shares of its common stock
in a public offering that was priced at $18.46. The majority of the net proceeds
of approximately $26.2 million were used to repay all of the Company’s
short-term borrowings outstanding at that time. Remaining proceeds
from the public offering were used to fund a portion of the 2007 capital
program.
In
the
event dividends on the preferred stock are in arrears, no dividends may be
declared or paid on the common stock of the Company. At December 31,
2007, no preferred stock dividends were in arrears.
Preferred
Stock
If
four
or more quarterly dividends are in arrears, the preferred shareholders, as
a
class, are entitled to elect two members to the Board of Directors in addition
to Directors elected by holders of the common stock. At December 31, 2007 and
2006, 36,898 shares of preferred stock presently authorized were outstanding
and
there were no dividends in arrears.
The
conversion feature of the no par $7.00 Series Cumulative and Convertible
Preferred Stock allows the security holders to exchange one convertible
preferred share for twelve shares of the Company's common stock. In
addition, the Company may redeem up to 10% of the outstanding convertible stock
in any calendar year at a price equal to the fair market value of twelve shares
of the Company's common stock for each share of convertible stock redeemed.
During September 2005, 1,000 shares of the no par $7.00 Series Cumulative and
Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 12,000 of common
stock.
The
conversion feature of the no par $8.00 Series Cumulative and Convertible
Preferred Stock allows the security holders to exchange one convertible
preferred share for 13.714 shares of the Company's common stock. The
preferred shares are convertible into common stock at the election of the
security holder or Middlesex.
Long-term
Debt
In
December 2007, Tidewater closed on a $1.1 million loan with the Delaware State
Revolving Fund (SRF). This loan allows, but does not obligate,
Tidewater to draw down against a General Obligation Note for two specific
projects no later than July 31, 2008. The interest rate on any draw-down will
be
set at 3.64% with a final maturity of July 1, 2028 on the amount actually
borrowed.
In
November 2007, Middlesex issued $3.5 million of first mortgage bonds through
the
New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust under the New Jersey SRF program.
The Company closed on the first mortgage bonds designated as Series II and
JJ on
November 8, 2007.
In
November 2006, Middlesex issued $3.7 million of first mortgage bonds through
the
New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust under the New Jersey SRF program.
The Company closed on the first mortgage bonds designated as Series GG and
HH on
November 4, 2006.
In
May
2006, Tidewater closed on a $1.0 million loan with the Delaware State Revolving
Fund (SRF). The proceeds were used to fund capital improvements for
one specific community water system in Delaware. The interest rate on
the loan is 4.03% and will have a final maturity on December 1,
2026.
First
Mortgage Bonds Series S through W and Series DD are term bonds with single
maturity dates. With the exception of $15.0 million for repayment for the First
Mortgage Bond Series U due in 2009, principal repayments for the First Mortgage
Bonds extend beyond 2012. The aggregate annual principal repayment
obligations for all other long-term debt are shown below:
(Millions
of Dollars)
|
Year
|
Annual
Maturities
|
2008
|
$2.7
|
2009
|
$3.1
|
2010
|
$3.2
|
2011
|
$3.2
|
2012
|
$3.3
|
The
weighted average interest rate on all long-term debt at December 31, 2007 and
2006 was 5.20% and 5.28%, respectively. Except for the Amortizing Secured Notes
and Series U First Mortgage Bonds, all of the Company’s outstanding debt has
been issued through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ($57.5
million), the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust program ($32.1
million) and the SRF program ($5.4 million).
Restricted
cash includes proceeds from the Series Y, AA, BB, CC, EE, FF, GG, HH, II and
JJ
First Mortgage Bonds and State Revolving Trust Bonds issuances. These funds
are
held in trusts and restricted for specific capital expenditures and debt service
requirements. Series GG and HH proceeds can only be used for the 2007 main
cleaning and cement lining program. Series II and JJ proceeds can only be used
for the 2008 main cleaning and cement lining program. All other bond
issuance balances in restricted cash are for debt service
requirements.
Substantially
all of the Utility Plant of the Company is subject to the lien of its mortgage,
which also includes debt service and capital ratio covenants, certain
restrictions as to cash dividend payments and other distributions on common
stock. The Company is in compliance with all of its mortgage covenants and
restrictions.
Earnings
Per Share
The
following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per
share
(EPS) for the three years ended December 31, 2007. Basic EPS is
computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares
outstanding. Diluted EPS assumes the conversion of both the
Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series and $8.00 Series.
|
|
(In
Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Basic:
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
$ |
11,843 |
|
|
|
13,203 |
|
|
$ |
10,039 |
|
|
|
11,844 |
|
|
$ |
8,476 |
|
|
|
11,445 |
|
Preferred
Dividend
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(248 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(251 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
|
$ |
11,595 |
|
|
|
13,203 |
|
|
$ |
9,791 |
|
|
|
11,844 |
|
|
$ |
8,225 |
|
|
|
11,445 |
|
Basic
EPS
|
|
$ |
0.88 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.83 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.72 |
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
Applicable to Common Stock
|
|
$ |
11,595 |
|
|
|
13,203 |
|
|
$ |
9,791 |
|
|
|
11,844 |
|
|
$ |
8,225 |
|
|
|
11,445 |
|
$7.00
Series Dividend
|
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
167 |
|
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
167 |
|
|
|
101 |
|
|
|
175 |
|
$8.00
Series Dividend
|
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
96 |
|
|
|
164 |
|
Adjusted
Earnings Applicable to Common Stock
|
|
$ |
11,788 |
|
|
|
13,534 |
|
|
$ |
9,984 |
|
|
|
12,175 |
|
|
$ |
8,422 |
|
|
|
11,784 |
|
Diluted
EPS
|
|
$ |
0.87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.71 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its
fair value disclosure for financial instruments for which it is practicable
to
estimate that value. The carrying amounts reflected in the consolidated balance
sheets for cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, and trade
receivables and payables approximate their respective fair values due to the
short-term maturities of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s
long-term debt relating to first mortgage bonds is based on quoted market prices
for similar issues. The carrying amount and fair market value of the
Company’s bonds were as follows:
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
At
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
Carrying
|
|
|
Fair
|
|
|
Carrying
|
|
|
Fair
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Value
|
|
First
Mortgage Bonds
|
|
$ |
103,322 |
|
|
$ |
104,681 |
|
|
$ |
101,124 |
|
|
$ |
103,083 |
|
State
Revolving Bonds
|
|
$ |
1,233 |
|
|
$ |
1,272 |
|
|
$ |
1,307 |
|
|
$ |
1,340 |
|
For
other
long-term debt for which there was no quoted market price, it was not
practicable to estimate their fair value. The carrying amount of these
instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $29.8 million and $30.8 million,
respectively. Customer advances for construction have a carrying amount of
$21.8
million and $19.2 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Their
relative fair values cannot be accurately estimated since future refund payments
depend on several variables, including new customer connections, customer
consumption levels and future rate increases.
Note
7 - Employee Benefit Plans
Pension
The
Company has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which covers
substantially all employees with more than 1,000 hours of service. Employees
hired after March 31, 2007 are not eligible to participate in this plan, but
do
participate in a defined contribution plan that provides an annual contribution
at the discretion of the Company based upon a percentage of the participants’
compensation. In order to be eligible for an annual contribution, the eligible
employee must be employed by the Company on December 31st
of the
year the award pertains to. In addition, the Company maintains an unfunded
supplemental pension plan for its executive officers. The Accumulated
Benefit Obligation for all pension plans at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was
$21.6
million and $22.1 million, respectively.
Postretirement
Benefits Other Than Pensions
The
Company has a postretirement benefit plan other than pensions for substantially
all of its retired employees. Employees hired after March 31, 2007 are not
eligible to participate in this plan. Coverage includes healthcare and life
insurance. Retiree contributions are dependent on credited years of
service. Accrued retirement benefit costs are recorded each
year.
The
Company has recognized a deferred regulatory asset relating to the difference
between the accrued retirement benefit costs and actual cash paid for plan
premiums in years prior to 1998. Included in the regulatory asset is a
transition obligation from adopting SFAS No.106, “Employers’ Accounting for
Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions,” on January 1, 1993. In addition to
the recognition of annual accrued retirement benefit costs in rates, Middlesex
is also recovering the transition obligation over 15 years. The regulatory
assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $0.4 million and $0.5 million,
respectively.
The
Company adopted SFAS 158 on December 31, 2006. Because the Company is
subject to regulation in the states in which it operates, it is required to
maintain its accounts in accordance with the regulatory authority’s rules and
guidelines, which may differ from other authoritative accounting pronouncements.
In those instances, the Company follows the guidance of SFAS No. 71, “Accounting
for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation,” (SFAS 71). Based on prior
regulatory practice, and in accordance with the guidance provided by SFAS 71,
the Company records underfunded pension and postretirement obligations, which
otherwise would be recognized as Other Comprehensive Income as of under
SFAS 158, as a Regulatory Asset, and expects to recover those costs in rates
charged to customers. The adoption of this standard had no impact on results
of
operations or cash flows.
The
Company uses a December 31 measurement date for all of its employee benefit
plans. The table below sets forth information relating to the Company’s pension
plans and other postretirement benefits for 2007 and 2006.
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
Pension
Benefits
|
|
|
Other
Benefits
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Reconciliation
of Projected Benefit Obligation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
Balance
|
|
$ |
31,728 |
|
|
$ |
29,666 |
|
|
$ |
14,698 |
|
|
$ |
15,247 |
|
Service
Cost
|
|
|
1,296 |
|
|
|
1,311 |
|
|
|
821 |
|
|
|
756 |
|
Interest
Cost
|
|
|
1,807 |
|
|
|
1,703 |
|
|
|
895 |
|
|
|
804 |
|
Actuarial
(Gain)/Loss
|
|
|
(3,081 |
) |
|
|
544 |
|
|
|
(852 |
) |
|
|
(1,655 |
) |
Benefits
Paid
|
|
|
(1,583 |
) |
|
|
(1,496 |
) |
|
|
(495 |
) |
|
|
(454 |
) |
Ending
Balance
|
|
$ |
30,167 |
|
|
$ |
31,728 |
|
|
$ |
15,067 |
|
|
$ |
14,698 |
|
Reconciliation
of Plan Assets at Fair Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
Balance
|
|
$ |
23,028 |
|
|
$ |
20,338 |
|
|
$ |
6,701 |
|
|
$ |
4,666 |
|
Actual
Return on Plan Assets
|
|
|
1,315 |
|
|
|
2,578 |
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
1,045 |
|
Employer
Contributions
|
|
|
1,808 |
|
|
|
1,608 |
|
|
|
495 |
|
|
|
1,444 |
|
Benefits
Paid
|
|
|
(1,583 |
) |
|
|
(1,496 |
) |
|
|
(495 |
) |
|
|
(454 |
) |
Ending
Balance
|
|
$ |
24,568 |
|
|
$ |
23,028 |
|
|
$ |
7,025 |
|
|
$ |
6,701 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funded
Status
|
|
$ |
(5,599 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,700 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,042 |
) |
|
$ |
(
7,997 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts
Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Liability
|
|
|
(308 |
) |
|
|
(308 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Noncurrent
Liability
|
|
|
(5,291 |
) |
|
|
(8,392 |
) |
|
|
(8,042 |
) |
|
|
(7,997 |
) |
Net
Liability Recognized
|
|
$ |
(5,599 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,700 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,042 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,997 |
) |
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
Pension
Benefits
|
|
|
Other
Benefits
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Components
of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
Cost
|
|
$ |
1,296 |
|
|
$ |
1,311 |
|
|
$ |
1,126 |
|
|
$ |
821 |
|
|
$ |
756 |
|
|
$ |
622 |
|
Interest
Cost
|
|
|
1,807 |
|
|
|
1,703 |
|
|
|
1,559 |
|
|
|
895 |
|
|
|
804 |
|
|
|
771 |
|
Expected
Return on Plan Assets
|
|
|
(1,819 |
) |
|
|
(1,608 |
) |
|
|
(1,547 |
) |
|
|
(481 |
) |
|
|
(330 |
) |
|
|
(275 |
) |
Amortization
of Net Transition Obligation
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
135 |
|
|
|
135 |
|
|
|
135 |
|
Amortization
of Net Actuarial (Gain)/Loss
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
258 |
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
337 |
|
|
|
443 |
|
|
|
482 |
|
Amortization
of Prior Service Cost
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
92 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
Periodic Benefit Cost
|
|
$ |
1,369 |
|
|
$ |
1,675 |
|
|
$ |
1,279 |
|
|
$ |
1,707 |
|
|
$ |
1,808 |
|
|
$ |
1,735 |
|
Amounts
that are expected to be amortized from Regulatory Assets into Net Periodic
Benefit Cost in 2008 are as follows:
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Pension
Benefits
|
|
|
Other
Benefits
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
Actuarial
(Gain)/Loss
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
232 |
|
Prior
Service Cost
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Transition
Obligation
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
135 |
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
Average Assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected
Return on Plan Assets
|
|
|
8.00 |
% |
|
|
8.00 |
% |
|
|
8.00 |
% |
|
|
7.50 |
% |
|
|
7.50 |
% |
|
|
7.50 |
% |
Discount
Rate for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit
Obligation
|
|
|
6.59 |
% |
|
|
5.89 |
% |
|
|
5.52 |
% |
|
|
6.59 |
% |
|
|
5.89 |
% |
|
|
5.52 |
% |
Benefit
Cost
|
|
|
5.89 |
% |
|
|
5.52 |
% |
|
|
5.88 |
% |
|
|
5.89 |
% |
|
|
5.52 |
% |
|
|
5.88 |
% |
Compensation
Increase for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benefit
Obligation
|
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
Benefit
Cost
|
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
|
|
3.50 |
% |
The
compensation increase assumption for Other Benefits is attributable to life
insurance provided to qualifying employees upon their retirement. The
insurance coverage will be determined based on the employee’s base compensation
as of their retirement date.
A
9.0%
annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered healthcare benefits
was assumed for 2007 and assumed to decline by 1.0% per year through 2010 and
by
0.5% per year to 5% by year 2013. A one-percentage point change in assumed
healthcare cost trend rates would have the following effects:
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
1
Percentage Point
|
|
|
|
Increase
|
|
|
Decrease
|
|
Effect
on Current Year’s Service and Benefit Cost
|
|
$ |
399 |
|
|
$ |
(301 |
) |
Effect
on Benefit Obligation
|
|
|
2,767 |
|
|
|
(2,159 |
) |
The
following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected
to be paid:
Year
|
|
|
Pension
Benefits
|
|
|
Other
Benefits
|
|
2008
|
|
|
$ |
1,606 |
|
|
$ |
565 |
|
2009
|
|
|
|
1,577 |
|
|
|
582 |
|
2010
|
|
|
|
1,586 |
|
|
|
606 |
|
2011
|
|
|
|
1,652 |
|
|
|
656 |
|
2012
|
|
|
|
1,655 |
|
|
|
694 |
|
2013-2017 |
|
|
|
9,784 |
|
|
|
4,146 |
|
Totals
|
|
|
$ |
17,860 |
|
|
$ |
7,249 |
|
Benefit
Plans Assets
The
allocation of plan assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006 by asset category is
as
follows:
|
|
Pension
Plan
|
|
|
Other
Benefits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset
Category
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Range
|
|
Equity
Securities
|
|
|
59.7 |
% |
|
|
60.0 |
% |
|
|
47.0 |
% |
|
|
48.5 |
% |
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
30-65 |
% |
Debt
Securities
|
|
|
37.8 |
|
|
|
36.9 |
|
|
|
50.6 |
|
|
|
33.0 |
|
|
|
38 |
% |
|
|
25-70 |
% |
Cash
|
|
|
2.5 |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
|
|
2.4 |
|
|
|
18.5 |
|
|
|
2 |
% |
|
|
0-10 |
% |
Total
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Two
outside investment firms each manage a portion of the pension plan asset
portfolio. One of those investment firms also manages the other postretirement
benefits assets. Quarterly meetings are held between the Company’s Pension
Committee of the Board of Directors and the investment managers to review their
performance and asset allocation. If the actual asset allocation is outside
the
targeted range, the Pension Committee reviews current market conditions and
advice provided by the investment managers to determine the appropriateness
of
rebalancing the portfolio.
The
objective of the Company is to maximize the long-term return on benefit plan
assets, relative to a reasonable level of risk, maintain a diversified
investment portfolio and maintain compliance with the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974. The expected long-term rate of return is based on the
various asset categories in which plan assets are invested and the current
expectations and historical performance for these categories.
Equity
securities include Middlesex common stock in the amounts of $0.7 million (3.0%
of total plan assets) and $0.7 million (3.2 % of total plan assets) at December
31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
For
the
pension plan, Middlesex made total cash contributions of $1.8 million in 2007
and expects to make cash contributions of approximately $2.0 million in
2008.
For
the
postretirement health benefit plan, Middlesex made total cash contributions
of
$0.5 million in 2007 and expects to make contributions of approximately
$2.4 million in 2008.
401(k)
Plan
The
Company has a 401(k) defined contribution plan, which covers substantially
all
employees with more than 1,000 hours of service. Under the terms of the Plan,
the Company matches 100% of a participant’s contributions, which do not exceed
1% of a participant’s compensation, plus 50% of a participant’s contributions
exceeding 1%, but not more than 6%. The Company’s matching
contributions were $0.4 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005.
For
those employees hired after March 31, 2007 and still employed on December 31,
2007, the Company approved a discretionary contribution that was based on 5%
of
eligible compensation. The Company expects to fund the contribution of less
than
$0.1 million in March 2008.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company maintains an escrow account for 71,253 shares of the Company's common
stock which were awarded under the 1997 Restricted Stock Plan, which has
expired. Such stock is subject to an agreement requiring forfeiture by the
employee in the event of termination of employment within five years of the
award other than as a result of retirement, death, disability or change in
control. The Company filed a petition with the
BPU
requesting approval of stock-based compensation plan called the 2008 Restricted
Stock Plan. The Company intends to seek shareholder approval for the
new plan at its May 21, 2008 annual meeting of shareholders. The
maximum number of shares authorized for grant under the proposed plan is 300,000
shares.
The
Company recognizes compensation expense at fair value for the restricted stock
awards in accordance with SFAS No.123(R), “Share-Based Payment.”
Compensation expense is determined by the market value of the stock on the
date
of the award and is being amortized over a five-year period.
The
following table presents information on the Restricted Stock Plan:
|
|
(In
Thousands Except Grant Price)
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Unearned
Compensation
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Grant
Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
January 1, 2005
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
$ |
606 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
436 |
|
|
$ |
22.95 |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(28 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization
of Compensation Expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(342 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
$ |
700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
405 |
|
|
$ |
19.24 |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(38 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Amortization
of Compensation Expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(271 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
$ |
796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
344 |
|
|
$ |
19.10 |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Amortization
of Compensation Expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(276 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
$ |
861 |
|
|
|
|
|
Note
8 – Business Segment Data
The
Company has identified two reportable segments. One is the regulated business
of
collecting, treating and distributing water on a retail and wholesale basis
to
residential, commercial, industrial and fire protection customers in parts
of
New Jersey and Delaware. This segment also includes regulated wastewater systems
in New Jersey and Delaware. The Company is subject to regulations as to its
rates, services and other matters by the states of New Jersey and Delaware
with
respect to utility service within these states. The other segment is primarily
comprised of non-regulated contract services for the operation and maintenance
of municipal and private water and wastewater systems in New Jersey and
Delaware. Inter-segment transactions relating to operational costs are treated
as pass-through expenses. Finance charges on inter-segment loan activities
are
based on interest rates that are below what would normally be charged by a
third
party lender.
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
Operations
by Segments:
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
$ |
77,113 |
|
|
$ |
71,948 |
|
|
$ |
66,317 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
9,392 |
|
|
|
9,317 |
|
|
|
8,416 |
|
Inter-segment
Elimination
|
|
|
(391 |
) |
|
|
(204 |
) |
|
|
(120 |
) |
Consolidated
Revenues
|
|
$ |
86,114 |
|
|
$ |
81,061 |
|
|
$ |
74,613 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
$ |
21,351 |
|
|
$ |
20,062 |
|
|
$ |
16,390 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
1,320 |
|
|
|
1,256 |
|
|
|
828 |
|
Consolidated
Operating Income
|
|
$ |
22,671 |
|
|
$ |
21,318 |
|
|
$ |
17,218 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
$ |
7,408 |
|
|
$ |
6,936 |
|
|
$ |
6,357 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
131 |
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
|
103 |
|
Consolidated
Depreciation
|
|
$ |
7,539 |
|
|
$ |
7,060 |
|
|
$ |
6,460 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Income, Net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
$ |
1,643 |
|
|
$ |
951 |
|
|
$ |
836 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
--- |
|
|
|
(78 |
) |
|
|
--- |
|
Inter-segment
Elimination
|
|
|
(116 |
) |
|
|
(99 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
Consolidated
Other Income, Net
|
|
$ |
1,527 |
|
|
$ |
774 |
|
|
$ |
740 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
$ |
6,619 |
|
|
$ |
7,012 |
|
|
$ |
6,245 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
116 |
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
96 |
|
Inter-segment
Elimination
|
|
|
(116 |
) |
|
|
(99 |
) |
|
|
(96 |
) |
Consolidated
Interest Charges
|
|
$ |
6,619 |
|
|
$ |
7,012 |
|
|
$ |
6,245 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
$ |
11,120 |
|
|
$ |
9,417 |
|
|
$ |
8,037 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
723 |
|
|
|
622 |
|
|
|
439 |
|
Consolidated
Net Income
|
|
$ |
11,843 |
|
|
$ |
10,039 |
|
|
$ |
8,476 |
|
Capital
Expenditures:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
$ |
21,586 |
|
|
$ |
30,492 |
|
|
$ |
25,016 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
344 |
|
|
|
242 |
|
|
|
272 |
|
Total
Capital Expenditures
|
|
$ |
21,930 |
|
|
$ |
30,734 |
|
|
$ |
25,288 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
of
December 31,
|
|
|
As
of
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
387,931 |
|
|
$ |
366,149 |
|
Non
– Regulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,157 |
|
|
|
6,808 |
|
Inter-segment
Elimination
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,413 |
) |
|
|
(2,690 |
) |
Consolidated
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
392,675 |
|
|
$ |
370,267 |
|
Note
9 - Quarterly Operating Results - Unaudited
Operating
results for each quarter of 2007 and 2006 are as follows:
|
|
(Thousands
of Dollars, Except per Share Data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st
|
|
|
2nd
|
|
|
3rd
|
|
|
4th
|
|
|
Total
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Revenues
|
|
$ |
18,988 |
|
|
$ |
21,745 |
|
|
$ |
24,135 |
|
|
$ |
21,246 |
|
|
$ |
86,114 |
|
Operating
Income
|
|
|
3,722 |
|
|
|
6,279 |
|
|
|
7,729 |
|
|
|
4,941 |
|
|
|
22,671 |
|
Net
Income
|
|
|
1,769 |
|
|
|
3,313 |
|
|
|
4,158 |
|
|
|
2,603 |
|
|
|
11,843 |
|
Basic
Earnings per Share
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
$ |
0.31 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.88 |
|
Diluted
Earnings per Share
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
0.24 |
|
|
$ |
0.31 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
|
$ |
0.87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Revenues
|
|
$ |
18,230 |
|
|
$ |
21,037 |
|
|
$ |
22,632 |
|
|
$ |
19,162 |
|
|
$ |
81,061 |
|
Operating
Income
|
|
|
3,973 |
|
|
|
6,149 |
|
|
|
6,858 |
|
|
|
4,338 |
|
|
|
21,318 |
|
Net
Income
|
|
|
1,812 |
|
|
|
2,968 |
|
|
|
3,377 |
|
|
|
1,882 |
|
|
|
10,039 |
|
Basic
Earnings per Share
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
$ |
0.29 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
$ |
0.83 |
|
Diluted
Earnings per Share
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
$ |
0.28 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
The
information above, in the opinion of the Company, includes all adjustments
consisting only of normal recurring accruals necessary for a fair presentation
of such amounts. The business of the Company is subject to seasonal fluctuation
with the peak period usually occurring during the summer months.
Item
9.
|
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure.
|
Deloitte
& Touche LLP (D&T) was previously the independent registered public
accounting firm for Middlesex Water Company (the Company). On March 31, 2006,
the Audit Committee of the Registrant’s Board of Directors agreed to engage
Beard Miller Company LLP (BMC) as its independent registered public accounting
firm to replace D&T, effective for fiscal year 2006, including the Company’s
audit for the year ended December 31, 2006. The change was made after
the Audit Committee reviewed proposals from three independent accounting firms,
including D&T.
D&T’s
audit reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for each of
the
two fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 did not contain
any adverse opinions or disclaimers of opinion, nor were such reports qualified
or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The audit
report
of
D&T on management's assessment of internal control over financial reporting
and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2005 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion,
and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles.
During
the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, and through
April 5, 2006, there were no disagreements with D&T on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to D&T’s
satisfaction would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter
of
the disagreement in connection with the audit reports of the financial
statements for such years. During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2005
and 2004, and through April 5, 2006, there was one reportable
event. On November 9, 2005, the Company informed D&T of an
identified material weakness in internal controls related to recording and
reporting construction advances and contributions for utility
plant. Subsequent to the notification, the Company filed an amended
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and Form 10-Q’s for the quarters
ended March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2005. The material weakness
identified is discussed in Item 9A of the Company’s Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 31, 2004.
We
provided D&T with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested from
them a letter indicating whether they agree with these disclosures. A
copy of their letter dated April 5, 2006 is included as Exhibit 16 to this
Form
10-K.
During
the Company’s two fiscal years
ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, and through March 31, 2006, the Company did
not consult with BMC regarding either (1) the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the
type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements,
or (2) any matter that was either the subject of disagreement or reportable
events.
Item
9A.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
(1)
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports
filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and
reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include,
without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is
accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as appropriate, to allow timely
decisions regarding disclosure.
As
required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls
and procedures was conducted by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer along with
the Company’s Chief Financial Officer for the quarter ended December 31, 2007.
Based upon that evaluation the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the
Company’s Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered
by
this report. Accordingly, management believes the consolidated financial
statements included in this report fairly present in all material respects
our
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods
presented.
(2)
Management’s Report on Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting
The
management of Middlesex Water Company (Middlesex or the Company) is responsible
for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial
reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13A-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Middlesex’s
internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the
Company’s
management
and Board of Directors of adequate preparation and fair presentation of the
published financial statements.
All
internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent
limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can
provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the adequacy of financial
statement preparation and presentation. Middlesex’s management assessed the
effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2007. In making this assessment, management used the criteria
set
forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO) in Internal Control-
Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, we believe that as of
December 31, 2007, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is
operating as designed and is effective based on those criteria.
Middlesex’s
independent registered public accounting firm has audited the effectiveness
of
our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 as stated
in their report which is included herein.
|
/s/
Dennis W. Doll
|
|
/s/
A. Bruce O’Connor
|
|
|
Dennis
W. Doll
|
|
A.
Bruce O’Connor
|
|
|
President
and Chief
|
|
Vice
President and Chief
|
|
|
Executive
Officer
|
|
Financial
Officer
|
|
Iselin,
New Jersey
March
10,
2008
(3)
Report
of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To
the
Board of Directors and
Stockholders
of Middlesex Water Company
We
have
audited Middlesex Water Company’s (the Company) internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible
for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for
its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over
Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our
audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all
material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting
included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial
reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing
and
evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based
on
the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that
our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A
company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed
to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(1)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately
and
fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary
to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company
are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors
of
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or
timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's
assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may
not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may
become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In
our
opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria
established in Internal
Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We
have
also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets and
consolidated statements of capital stock and long-term debt of the Company
as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the related consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and
cash
flows for the years then ended. Our report dated March 10, 2008
expressed an unqualified opinion on these consolidated financial
statements.
/s/
Beard
Miller Company LLP
Beard
Miller Company LLP
Reading,
Pennsylvania
March
10,
2008
Item
9B.
|
Other
Information.
|
PART
III
Item
10.
|
Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate
Governance.
|
Information
with respect to Directors of Middlesex Water Company is included in Middlesex
Water Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and
is incorporated herein by reference.
Information
regarding the Executive Officers of Middlesex Water Company is included under
Item 1. in Part I of this Annual Report.
Item
11.
|
Executive
Compensation.
|
This
Information for Middlesex Water Company is included in Middlesex Water Company’s
Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated
herein by reference.
Item
12.
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters.
|
This
information for Middlesex Water Company is included in Middlesex Water Company’s
Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated
herein by reference.
Item
13.
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
|
This
information for Middlesex Water Company is included in Middlesex Water Company’s
Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated
herein by reference.
Item
14.
|
Principal
Accounting Fees and Services.
|
This
information for Middlesex Water Company is included in Middlesex Water Company’s
Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated
herein by reference.
PART
IV
Item
15.
|
Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules.
|
|
10.
|
The
following Financial Statements and Supplementary Data are included
in Part
II- Item 8. of this annual report:
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006.
Consolidated
Statements of Income for each of the three years in the period
ended
December
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period
ended
December
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.
Consolidated
Statements of Capital Stock and Long-term Debt at December 31, 2007
and
2006.
Consolidated
Statements of Common Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Income
for
each
of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005.
Notes
to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
2.
|
Financial
Statement
Schedules
|
All
Schedules are omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which
they
are required or because the required information is shown in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
See
Exhibit listing immediately
following the signature page.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act
of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
By:
|
|
/s/
Dennis W. Doll
|
|
|
|
Dennis
W. Doll
|
|
|
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
Date:
|
|
March
10, 2008
|
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has
been signed below by the following persons, on behalf of the registrant and
in
the capacities on March 13, 2007.
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
A. Bruce O’Connor
|
|
|
|
A.Bruce
O’Connor
|
|
|
|
Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
Dennis W. Doll
|
|
|
|
Dennis
W. Doll
|
|
|
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
J. Richard Tompkins
|
|
|
|
J.
Richard Tompkins
|
|
|
|
Chairman
of the Board and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
Annette Catino
|
|
|
|
Annette
Catino
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
John C. Cutting
|
|
|
|
John
C. Cutting
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
John R. Middleton
|
|
|
|
John
R. Middleton
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
John P. Mulkerin
|
|
|
|
John
P. Mulkerin
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
Walter G. Reinhard
|
|
|
|
Walter
G. Reinhard
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/
Jeffries Shein
|
|
|
|
Jeffries
Shein
|
|
|
|
Director
|
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibits
designated with an asterisk (*) are filed herewith. The exhibits not so
designated have heretofore been filed with the Commission and are incorporated
herein by reference to the documents indicated in the previous filing columns
following the description of such exhibits. Exhibits designated with a dagger
(t) are management contracts or compensatory plans.
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Document
Description
|
|
Previous
Registration
No.
|
|
Filing’s
Exhibit
No.
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate
of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.1
of 1998
Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Bylaws
of the Company, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.2 of 2005 Form
10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Certificate
of Correction of Middlesex Water Company filed with the State of
New
Jersey on April 30, 1999, filed as Exhibit 3.3 of 2003 Form
10-K/A-2.
|
|
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
Certificate
of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation Middlesex
Water
Company, filed with the State of New Jersey on February 17, 2000,
filed as
Exhibit 3.4 of 2003 Form 10-K/A-2.
|
|
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
Certificate
of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation Middlesex
Water
Company, filed with the State of New Jersey on June 5, 2002, filed
as
Exhibit 3.5 of 2003 Form 10-K/A-2.
|
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Form
of Common Stock Certificate.
|
|
2-55058
|
|
2(a)
|
4.2
|
|
Registration
Statement, Form S-3, under Securities Act of 1933 filed February
3, 1987,
relating to the Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase
Plan.
|
|
33-11717
|
|
|
4.3
|
|
Revised
Prospectus relating to the Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock
Purchase
Plan, Submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, January
20,
2000.
|
|
33-11717
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
Post
Effective Amendments No. 7, Form S-3, under Securities Act of 1933
filed
February 1, 2002, relating to the Dividend Reinvestment and Common
Stock
Purchase Plan.
|
|
33-11717
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Copy
of Purchased Water Agreement between the Company and Elizabethtown
Water
Company, filed as Exhibit 10 of 2006 First Quarter Form
10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Copy
of Mortgage, dated April 1, 1927, between the Company and Union County
Trust Company, as Trustee, as supplemented by Supplemental Indentures,
dated as of October 1, 1939 and April 1, 1949.
|
|
2-15795
|
|
4(a)-4(f)
|
10.3
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 1964 and June 15,
1991,
between the Company and Union County Trust Company, as
Trustee.
|
|
33-54922
|
|
10.4-10.9
|
10.4
|
|
Copy
of Supply Agreement, dated as of November 17, 1986, between the Company
and the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority.
|
|
33-31476
|
|
10.12
|
10.5
|
|
Copy
of Supply Agreement, dated as of July 14, 1987, between the Company
and
the Marlboro Township Municipal Utilities Authority, as
amended.
|
|
33-31476
|
|
10.13
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Document
Description
|
|
Previous
Registration
No.
|
|
Filing’s
Exhibit
No.
|
10.6
|
|
Copy
of Supply Agreement, dated as of February 11, 1988, with modifications
dated February 25, 1992, and April 20, 1994, between the Company
and the
Borough of Sayreville filed as Exhibit No. 10.11 of 1994 First Quarter
Form 10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
Copy
of Water Purchase Contract, dated as of
September
25, 2003, between the Company and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority,
filed as Exhibit No. 10.7 of 2003 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.8
|
|
Copy
of Treating and Pumping Agreement, dated April 9, 1984, between the
Company and the Township of East Brunswick.
|
|
33-31476
|
|
10.17
|
10.9
|
|
Copy
of Supply Agreement, dated June 4, 1990, between the Company and
Edison
Township.
|
|
33-54922
|
|
10.24
|
10.10
|
|
Copy
of amended Supply Agreement, between the Company and the Borough
of
Highland Park, filed as Exhibit No. 10.1 of 2006 First Quarter Form
10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.11
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.13
of 1999
Third Quarter Form 10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.12
|
|
Copy
of 1989 Restricted Stock Plan, filed as Appendix B to the Company’s
Definitive Proxy Statement, dated and filed
April
25, 1997.
|
|
33-31476
|
|
10.22
|
(t)10.13(a)
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and Dennis W. Doll, filed
as
Exhibit 10.13(i) of 2004 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.13(b)
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and A. Bruce O’Connor, filed as
Exhibit 10.15© of 1999 Third Quarter Form 10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.13©
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and Ronald F. Williams,
as filed
as Exhibit 10.15(g) of 1999 Third Quarter Form 10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.13(d)
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and Richard M. Risoldi,
filed as
Exhibit 10.13(d) of 2003 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.13(e)
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and Kenneth J. Quinn, filed
as
Exhibit 10.13(e) of 2003 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.13(f)
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and James P. Garrett, filed
as
Exhibit 10.13(f) of 2003 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.13(g)
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Tidewater Utilities, Inc. and Gerard L. Esposito,
filed
as Exhibit 10.13(g) of 2003 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
(t)10.13(h)
|
|
Consulting
Agreement between Middlesex Water Company and J. Richard Tompkins,
filed
as Exhibit 10.13(h) of 2005 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Document
Description
|
|
Previous
Registration
No.
|
|
Filing’s
Exhibit
No.
|
10.14
|
|
Copy
of Transmission Agreement, dated October 16, 1992, between the Company
and
the Township of East Brunswick.
|
|
33-54922
|
|
10.23
|
10.15
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indentures, dated September 1, 1993, (Series S & T)
and January 1, 1994, (Series U & V), between the Company and United
Counties Trust Company, as Trustee, filed as Exhibit No. 10.22 of
1993
Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.16
|
|
Copy
of Trust Indentures, dated September 1, 1993, (Series S & T) and
January 1, 1994, (Series V), between the New Jersey Economic Development
Authority and First Fidelity Bank (Series S & T), as Trustee, and
Midlantic National Bank (Series V), as Trustee, filed as Exhibit
No. 10.23
of 1993 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.17
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 1998 between Middlesex
Water
Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee. Copy of Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 1998 between the New Jersey and Middlesex
Water Company (Series X), filed as Exhibit No. 10.22 of the 1998
Third
Quarter Form 10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
10.18
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 1998 between Middlesex
Water
Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee. Copy of Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 1998 between the State of New Jersey
Environmental Infrastructure Trust and Middlesex Water Company (Series
Y),
filed as Exhibit No. 10.23 of the 1998 Third Quarter Form
10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
10.19
|
|
Copy
of Operation, Maintenance and Management Services Agreement dated
January
1, 1999 between the Company City of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County
Improvement Authority and Utility Service Affiliates, Inc.
|
|
333-66727
|
|
10.24
|
10.20
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 1999 between
Middlesex Water Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee
and copy
of Loan Agreement dated November 1, 1999 between the State of New
Jersey
and Middlesex Water Company (Series Z), filed as Exhibit No. 10.25
of the
1999 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.21
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 1999 between Middlesex
Water
Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee and copy of Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 1999 between the New Jersey Environmental
Infrastructure Trust and Middlesex Water Company (Series AA), filed
as
Exhibit No. 10.26 of the 1999 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Document
Description
|
|
Previous
Registration
No.
|
|
Filing’s
Exhibit
No.
|
10.22
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 2001 between Middlesex
Water
Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee and copy of Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 2001 between the State of New Jersey
and
Middlesex Water Company (Series BB). Filed as Exhibit No. 10.22
of the 2001 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.23
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 2001 between Middlesex
Water
Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee and copy of Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 2001 between the New Jersey Environmental
Infrastructure Trust and Middlesex Water Company (Series
CC). Filed as Exhibit No. 10.22 of the 2001 Form
10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.24
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated January 15, 2002 between Middlesex
Water
Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee and copy of Loan
Agreement dated January 1, 2002 between the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority and Middlesex Water Company (Series DD), filed
as
Exhibit No. 10.24 of the 2001 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.25
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated March 1, 1998 between Middlesex Water
Company and First Union National Bank, as Trustee. Copy of
Trust Indenture dated March 1, 1998 between the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority and PNC Bank, National Association, as Trustee
(Series W), filed as Exhibit No. 10.21 of the 1998 Third Quarter
Form
10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
10.26
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 2004 between Middlesex
Water
Company and Wachovia Bank, as Trustee and copy of Loan Agreement
dated
November 1, 2004 between the State of New Jersey and Middlesex Water
Company (Series EE), filed as Exhibit No. 10.26 of the 2004 Form
10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.27
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 2004 between Middlesex
Water
Company and Wachovia Bank, as Trustee and copy of Loan Agreement
dated
November 1, 2004 between the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure
Trust
and Middlesex Water Company (Series FF), filed as Exhibit No. 10.27
of the
2004 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.29
|
|
Copy
of Supply Agreement, between the Company and the City of Rahway,
filed as
Exhibit No. 10.2 of 2006 First Quarter Form 10-Q.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Document
Description
|
|
Previous
Registration
No.
|
|
Filing’s
Exhibit
No.
|
10.30
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 2006 between Middlesex
Water
Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee and copy of
Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 2006 between the State of New Jersey
and
Middlesex Water Company (Series GG), filed as Exhibit No. 10.30of
the 2006
Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
10.31
|
|
Copy
of Supplemental Indenture dated October 15, 2006 between Middlesex
Water
Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee and copy of
Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 2006 between the New Jersey Environmental
Infrastructure Trust and Middlesex Water Company (Series HH), filed
as
Exhibit No. 10.31 of the 2006 Form 10-K.
|
|
|
|
|
*10.32
|
|
Copy
of Loan Agreement By and Between New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure
Trust and Middlesex Water Company dated as of November 1, 2007 (Series
II).
|
|
|
|
|
*10.33
|
|
Copy
of Loan Agreement By and Between The State of New Jersey, Acting
By and
Through The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and
Middlesex Water Company dated as of November 1, 2007 (Series
JJ).
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
Letter
of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding change in certifying accountant
filed as Exhibit No. 16 of Form 8-K filed on April 5,
2006.
|
|
|
|
|
*21
|
|
Middlesex
Water Company Subsidiaries.
|
|
|
|
|
*23.1
|
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Beard Miller Company
LLP.
|
|
|
|
|
*23.2
|
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Deloitte & Touche,
LLP.
|
|
|
|
|
*31
|
|
Section
302 Certification by Dennis W. Doll pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and
15d-14 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
|
|
|
|
*31.1
|
|
Section
302 Certification by A. Bruce O’Connor pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
|
|
|
|
*32
|
|
Section
906 Certification by Dennis W. Doll pursuant to 18
U.S.C.§1350.
|
|
|
|
|
*32.1
|
|
Section
906 Certification by A. Bruce O’Connor pursuant to 18
U.S.C.§1350.
|
|
|
|
|
Unassociated Document
Exhibit 10.32
LOAN
AGREEMENT
BY
AND BETWEEN
NEW
JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST
AND
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
DATED
AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
I
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
1.01.
|
|
Definitions
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
|
|
|
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND COVENANTS OF BORROWER
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
2.01.
|
|
Representations
of Borrower
|
|
6
|
SECTION
2.02.
|
|
Particular
Covenants of Borrower
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
III
|
|
|
|
|
|
LOAN
TO BORROWER; AMOUNTS PAYABLE; GENERAL AGREEMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
3.01.
|
|
Loan;
Loan Term
|
|
18
|
SECTION
3.02.
|
|
Disbursement
of Loan Proceeds
|
|
18
|
SECTION
3.03.
|
|
Amounts
Payable
|
|
19
|
SECTION
3.03A.
|
|
Amounts on Deposit in Project Loan
Account after Completion of Draw Schedule
|
|
20
|
SECTION
3.04.
|
|
Unconditional
Obligations
|
|
21
|
SECTION
3.05.
|
|
Loan
Agreement to Survive Bond Resolution and Trust Bonds
|
|
22
|
SECTION
3.06.
|
|
Disclaimer
of Warranties and Indemnification
|
|
22
|
SECTION
3.07.
|
|
Option
to Prepay Loan Repayments
|
|
23
|
SECTION
3.08.
|
|
Priority
of Loan and Fund Loan
|
|
24
|
SECTION
3.09.
|
|
Approval
of the New Jersey State Treasurer
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSIGNMENT
OF LOAN AGREEMENT AND BORROWER BOND
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
4.01.
|
|
Assignment
and Transfer by Trust
|
|
25
|
SECTION
4.02.
|
|
Assignment
by Borrower
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
V
|
|
|
|
|
|
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
5.01.
|
|
Events
of Default
|
|
26
|
SECTION
5.02.
|
|
Notice
of Default
|
|
27
|
SECTION
5.03.
|
|
Remedies
on Default
|
|
27
|
SECTION
5.04.
|
|
Attorneys'
Fees and Other Expenses
|
|
27
|
SECTION
5.05.
|
|
Application
of Moneys
|
|
27
|
SECTION
5.06.
|
|
No
Remedy Exclusive; Waiver; Notice
|
|
28
|
SECTION
5.07.
|
|
Retention
of Trust's Rights
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
|
|
|
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION
6.01.
|
|
Notices
|
|
29
|
SECTION
6.02.
|
|
Binding
Effect
|
|
29
|
SECTION
6.03.
|
|
Severability
|
|
29
|
SECTION
6.04.
|
|
Amendments,
Supplements and Modifications
|
|
29
|
SECTION
6.05.
|
|
Execution
in Counterparts
|
|
30
|
SECTION
6.06.
|
|
Applicable
Law and Regulations
|
|
30
|
SECTION
6.07.
|
|
Consents
and Approvals
|
|
30
|
SECTION
6.08.
|
|
Captions
|
|
30
|
SECTION
6.09.
|
|
Benefit
of Loan Agreement; Compliance with Bond Resolution
|
|
30
|
SECTION
6.10.
|
|
Further
Assurances
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE
A
|
|
Certain
Additional Loan Agreement Provisions
|
|
S-1 |
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
A
|
|
(1)
Description of Project and Environmental Infrastructure
System
|
|
A-1-1
|
|
|
(2)
Description of Loan
|
|
A-2-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
B
|
|
Basis
for Determination of Allowable Project Costs
|
|
B-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
C
|
|
Estimated
Disbursement Schedule
|
|
C-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
D
|
|
Specimen
Borrower Bond
|
|
D-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
E
|
|
Opinions
of Borrower's Bond and General Counsels
|
|
E-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
F
|
|
Additional
Covenants and Requirements
|
|
F-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
G
|
|
General
Administrative Requirements for the State
|
|
|
|
|
Environmental
Infrastructure Financing Program
|
|
G-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT
H
|
|
Form
of Continuing Disclosure Agreement
|
|
H-1
|
NEW
JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AGREEMENT, made and
entered into as of this November 1, 2007, by and between the NEW JERSEY
ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST, a public body corporate and politic with
corporate succession, and the Borrower (capitalized terms used in this Loan
Agreement shall have, unless the context otherwise requires, the meanings set
forth in said Section 1.01);
WITNESSETH
THAT:
WHEREAS, the Trust, in
accordance with the Act, the Bond Resolution and a financial plan approved by
the State Legislature in accordance with Sections 22 and 22.1 of the Act, will
issue its Trust Bonds on or prior to the Loan Closing for the purpose of making
the Loan to the Borrower and the Loans to the Borrowers from the proceeds of the
Trust Bonds to finance a portion of the Costs of Environmental Infrastructure
Facilities;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has, in
accordance with the Act and the Regulations, made timely application to the
Trust for a Loan to finance a portion of the Costs of the Project;
WHEREAS, the State
Legislature, in accordance with Sections 20 and 20.1 of the Act, has in the form
of an appropriations act approved a project priority list that includes the
Project and that authorizes an expenditure of proceeds of the Trust Bonds to
finance a portion of the Costs of the Project;
WHEREAS, the Trust has
approved the Borrower's application for a Loan from available proceeds of the
Trust Bonds to finance a portion of the Costs of the Project;
WHEREAS, in accordance with
the applicable Bond Act (as defined in the Fund Loan Agreement), and the
Regulations, the Borrower has been awarded a Fund Loan for a portion of the
Costs of the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Borrower, in
accordance with the Act, the Regulations, the Business Corporation Law and all
other applicable law, will issue a Borrower Bond to the Trust evidencing said
Loan at the Loan Closing.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in
consideration of the award of the Loan by the Trust, the Borrower agrees to
complete the Project and to perform under this Loan Agreement in accordance with
the conditions, covenants and procedures set forth herein and attached hereto as
part hereof, as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Definitions. (a) The following terms as used
in this Loan Agreement shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
have the following meanings:
"Act" means the "New Jersey
Environmental Infrastructure Trust Act", constituting Chapter 334 of the
Pamphlet Laws of 1985 of the State (codified at N.J.S.A. 58:11B-1 et seq.), as the same may
from time to time be amended and supplemented.
"Administrative Fee" means
that portion of Interest on the Loan or Interest on the Borrower Bond payable
hereunder as an annual fee of up to four-tenths of one percent (.40%) of the
initial principal amount of the Loan or such lesser amount, if any, as may be
authorized by any act of the State Legislature and as the Trust may approve from
time to time.
"Authorized Officer" means, in
the case of the Borrower, any person or persons authorized pursuant to a
resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower to perform any act or
execute any document relating to the Loan, the Borrower Bond or this Loan
Agreement.
"Bond Counsel" means a law
firm appointed or approved by the Trust, as the case may be, having a reputation
in the field of municipal law whose opinions are generally acceptable by
purchasers of municipal bonds.
"Borrower" means the
corporation that is a party to and is described in Schedule A to this Loan
Agreement, and its successors and assigns.
"Borrower Bond" means the
general obligation bond, note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness
authorized, executed, attested and delivered by the Borrower to the Trust and,
if applicable, authenticated on behalf of the Borrower to evidence the Loan, a
specimen of which is attached hereto as Exhibit D and made a part
hereof.
"Borrowers" means any other
Local Government Unit or Private Entity (as such terms are defined in the
Regulations) authorized to construct, operate and maintain Environmental
Infrastructure Facilities that have entered into Loan Agreements with the Trust
pursuant to which the Trust will make Loans to such recipients from moneys on
deposit in the Project Fund, excluding the Project Loan Account.
"Business Corporation Law"
means the "New Jersey Business Corporation Act", constituting Chapter 263 of the
Pamphlet Laws of 1968 of the State (codified at N.J.S.A. 14A:1-1 et seq.), as the same may
from time to time be amended and supplemented.
"Code" means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may from time to time be amended and
supplemented, including any regulations promulgated thereunder, any successor
code thereto and any administrative or judicial interpretations
thereof.
"Cost" means those costs that
are eligible, reasonable, necessary, allocable to the Project and permitted by
generally accepted accounting principles, including Allowances and Building
Costs (as defined in the Regulations), as shall be determined on a
project-specific basis in accordance with the Regulations as set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, as the same may be amended by subsequent eligible costs as
evidenced by a certificate of an authorized officer of the Trust.
"Debt Service Reserve Fund"
means the Debt Service Reserve Fund, if any, as defined in the Bond
Resolution.
“Department” means the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
"Environmental Infrastructure
Facilities" means Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Stormwater Management
Facilities or Water Supply Facilities (as such terms are defined in the
Regulations).
"Environmental Infrastructure
System" means the Environmental Infrastructure Facilities of the
Borrower, including the Project, described in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and
made a part hereof for which the Borrower is borrowing the Loan under this Loan
Agreement.
"Event of Default" means any
occurrence or event specified in Section 5.01 hereof.
“Excess Project Funds” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03A hereof.
"Fund Loan" means the loan
made to the Borrower by the State, acting by and through the Department,
pursuant to the Fund Loan Agreement dated as of November 1, 2007 by and between
the Borrower and the State, acting by and through the Department, to finance or
refinance a portion of the Costs of the Project.
"Fund Loan Agreement" means
the loan agreement dated as of November 1, 2007 by and between the Borrower and
the State, acting by and through the Department, regarding the terms and
conditions of the Fund Loan.
"Interest on the Loan" or
"Interest on the Borrower
Bond" means the sum of (i) the Interest Portion, (ii) the Administrative
Fee, and (iii) any late charges incurred hereunder.
"Interest Portion" means that
portion of Interest on the Loan or Interest on the Borrower Bond payable
hereunder that is necessary to pay the Borrower's proportionate share of
interest on the Trust Bonds (i) as set forth in Exhibit A-2 hereof under the
column heading entitled "Interest", or (ii) with respect to any prepayment of
Trust Bond Loan Repayments in accordance with Section 3.07 or 5.03 hereof, to
accrue on any principal amount of Trust Bond Loan Repayments to the date of the
optional redemption or acceleration, as the case may be, of the Trust Bonds
allocable to such prepaid or accelerated Trust Bond Loan Repayment.
"Loan" means the loan made by
the Trust to the Borrower to finance or refinance a portion of the Costs of the
Project pursuant to this Loan Agreement.
"Loan Agreement" means this
Loan Agreement, including the Exhibits attached hereto, as it may be
supplemented, modified or amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof and of the Bond Resolution.
"Loan Agreements" means any
other loan agreements entered into by and between the Trust and one or more of
the Borrowers pursuant to which the Trust will make Loans to such Borrowers from
moneys on deposit in the Project Fund, excluding the Project Loan Account,
financed with the proceeds of the Trust Bonds.
"Loan Closing" means the date
upon which the Trust shall issue and deliver the Trust Bonds and the Borrower
shall deliver its Borrower Bond, as previously authorized, executed, attested
and, if applicable, authenticated, to the Trust.
"Loan Repayments" means the
sum of (i) Trust Bond Loan Repayments, (ii) the Administrative Fee, and (iii)
any late charges incurred hereunder.
"Loan Term" means the term of
this Loan Agreement provided in Sections 3.01 and 3.03 hereof and in Exhibit A-2
attached hereto and made a part hereof.
"Loans" means the loans made
by the Trust to the Borrowers under the Loan Agreements from moneys on deposit
in the Project Fund, excluding the Project Loan Account.
"Master Program Trust
Agreement" means that certain Master Program Trust Agreement, dated as of
November 1, 1995, by and among the Trust, the State, United States Trust Company
of New York, as Master Program Trustee thereunder, The Bank of New York (NJ), in
several capacities thereunder, and First Fidelity Bank, N.A. (predecessor to
Wachovia Bank, National Association), in several capacities thereunder, as
supplemented by that certain Agreement of Resignation of Outgoing Master Program
Trustee, Appointment of Successor Master Program Trustee and Acceptance
Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2001, by and among United States Trust
Company of New York, as Outgoing Master Program Trustee, State Street Bank and
Trust Company, N.A. (predecessor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association), as
Successor Master Program Trustee, and the Trust, as the same may be amended and
supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
"Official Statement" means the
Official Statement relating to the issuance of the Trust Bonds.
"Preliminary Official
Statement" means the Preliminary Official Statement relating to the
issuance of the Trust Bonds.
"Prime Rate" means the
prevailing commercial interest rate announced by the Trustee from time to time
in the State as its prime lending rate.
"Project" means the
Environmental Infrastructure Facilities of the Borrower described in Exhibit A-1
attached hereto and made a part hereof, which constitutes a project for which
the Trust is permitted to make a loan to the Borrower pursuant to the Act, the
Regulations and the Bond Resolution, all or a portion of the Costs of which is
financed or refinanced by the Trust through the making of the Loan under this
Loan Agreement and which may be identified under either the Drinking Water or
Clean Water Project Lists with the Project Number specified in Exhibit A-1
attached hereto.
"Project Fund" means the
Project Fund as defined in the Bond Resolution.
"Project Loan Account" means
the project loan account established on behalf of the Borrower in the Project
Fund in accordance with the Bond Resolution to finance all or a portion of the
Costs of the Project.
"Regulations" means the rules
and regulations, as applicable, now or hereafter promulgated under N.J.A.C.
7:22-3 et seq., 7:22-4
et seq., 7:22-5 et seq., 7:22-6 et seq., 7:22-7 et seq., 7:22-8 et seq., 7:22-9 et seq. and 7:22-10 et seq., as the same may from
time to time be amended and supplemented.
"State" means the State of New
Jersey.
"Trust" means the New Jersey
Environmental Infrastructure Trust, a public body corporate and politic with
corporate succession duly created and validly existing under and by virtue of
the Act.
"Trust Bond Loan Repayments"
means the repayments of the principal amount of the Loan plus the payment of any
premium associated with prepaying the principal amount of the Loan in accordance
with Section 3.07 hereof plus the Interest Portion.
"Trust Bonds" means bonds
authorized by Section 2.03 of the Bond Resolution, together with any refunding
bonds authenticated, if applicable, and delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of
the Bond Resolution, in each case issued in order to finance (i) the portion of
the Loan deposited in the Project Loan Account, (ii) the portion of the Loans
deposited in the balance of the Project Fund, (iii) any capitalized interest
related to such bonds, (iv) a portion of the costs of issuance related to such
bonds, and (v) that portion of the Debt Service Reserve Fund (to the extent the
Trust establishes a Debt Service Reserve Fund pursuant to the Bond Resolution),
if any, allocable to the Loan or Loans, as the case may be, a portion of which
includes the funding of reserve capacity, if applicable, for the Environmental
Infrastructure Facilities of the Borrower or Borrowers, as the case may be, or
to refinance any or all of the above.
"Trustee" means, initially,
U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee appointed by the Trust and its
successors as Trustee under the Bond Resolution, as provided in Article X of the
Bond Resolution.
(b) In
addition to the capitalized terms defined in subsection (a) of this Section
1.01, certain additional capitalized terms used in this Loan Agreement shall,
unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the meanings ascribed to
such additional capitalized terms in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
(c) Except
as otherwise defined herein or where the context otherwise requires, words
importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa,
and words importing persons shall include firms, associations, corporations,
agencies and districts. Words importing one gender shall include the
other gender.
ARTICLE
II
REPRESENTATIONS
AND COVENANTS OF BORROWER
SECTION
2.01. Representations of Borrower. The Borrower
represents for the benefit of the Trust, the Trustee and the holders of the
Trust Bonds as follows:
(a) Organization and
Authority.
(i) The
Borrower is a corporation duly created and validly existing under and pursuant
to the Constitution and statutes of the State, including the Business
Corporation Law.
(ii) The
acting officers of the Borrower who are contemporaneously herewith performing or
have previously performed any action contemplated in this Loan Agreement either
are or, at the time any such action was performed, were the duly appointed or
elected officers of such Borrower empowered by applicable State law and, if
applicable, authorized by resolution of the Borrower to perform such
actions. To the extent any such action was performed by an officer no
longer the duly acting officer of such Borrower, all such actions previously
taken by such officer are still in full force and effect.
(iii) The
Borrower has full legal right and authority and all necessary licenses and
permits required as of the date hereof to own, operate and maintain its
Environmental Infrastructure System, to carry on its activities relating
thereto, to execute, attest and deliver this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond, to authorize the authentication of the Borrower Bond, to sell the Borrower
Bond to the Trust, to undertake and complete the Project and to carry out and
consummate all transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement.
(iv) The
proceedings of the Borrower's board of directors approving this Loan Agreement
and the Borrower Bond, authorizing the execution, attestation and delivery of
this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, authorizing the sale of the Borrower
Bond to the Trust, authorizing the authentication of the Borrower Bond on behalf
of the Borrower and authorizing the Borrower to undertake and complete the
Project, including, without limitation, the Borrower Bond Resolution
(collectively, the "Proceedings"), have been duly and lawfully adopted in
accordance with the Business Corporation Law and other applicable State law at a
meeting or meetings that were duly called and held in accordance with the
Borrower By-Laws and at which quorums were present and acting
throughout.
(v) By
official action of the Borrower taken prior to or concurrent with the execution
and delivery hereof, including, without limitation, the Proceedings, the
Borrower has duly authorized, approved and consented to all necessary action to
be taken by the Borrower for: (A) the execution, attestation,
delivery and performance of this Loan Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby; (B) the issuance of the
Borrower
Bond and the sale thereof to the Trust upon the terms set forth herein; (C) the
approval of the inclusion, if such inclusion is deemed necessary in the sole
discretion of the Trust, in the Preliminary Official Statement and the Official
Statement of all statements and information relating to the Borrower set forth
in "APPENDIX B" thereto (the "Borrower Appendices") and any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto; and (D) the execution, delivery and due performance of any
and all other certificates, agreements and instruments that may be required to
be executed, delivered and performed by the Borrower in order to carry out, give
effect to and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement,
including, without limitation, the designation of the Borrower Appendices
portion of the Preliminary Official Statement, if any, as "deemed final" for the
purposes and within the meaning of Rule 15c2-12 ("Rule 15c2-12") of the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or supplemented, including any successor
regulation or statute thereto.
(vi) This
Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond have each been duly authorized by the
Borrower and duly executed, attested and delivered by Authorized Officers of the
Borrower, and the Borrower Bond has been duly sold by the Borrower to the Trust,
duly authenticated by the trustee or paying agent, if applicable, under the
Borrower Bond Resolution and duly issued by the Borrower in accordance with the
terms of the Borrower Bond Resolution; and assuming that the Trust has all the
requisite power and authority to authorize, execute, attest and deliver, and has
duly authorized, executed, attested and delivered, this Loan Agreement, and
assuming further that this Loan Agreement is the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance with its
terms, each of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower
in accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may
be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws or the application by a
court of legal or equitable principles affecting creditors' rights; and the
information contained under "Description of Loan" in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto
and made a part hereof is true and accurate in all respects.
(b) Full
Disclosure. There is no fact that the Borrower has not
disclosed to the Trust in writing on the Borrower's application for the Loan or
otherwise that materially adversely affects or (so far as the Borrower can now
foresee) that will materially adversely affect the properties, activities,
prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its
Environmental Infrastructure System, or the ability of the Borrower to make all
Loan Repayments and any other payments required under this Loan Agreement or
otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations and
agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.
(c) Pending
Litigation. There are no proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower in any
court or before any governmental authority or arbitration board or tribunal
that, if adversely determined, would materially adversely affect (i) the
undertaking or completion of the Project, (ii) the properties, activities,
prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its
Environmental
Infrastructure
System, (iii) the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments or any
other payments required under this Loan Agreement, (iv) the authorization,
execution, attestation or delivery of this Loan Agreement or the Borrower Bond,
(v) the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale thereof to the Trust, (vi)
the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution, or (vii) the Borrower's ability
otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations and
agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, which proceedings
have not been previously disclosed in writing to the Trust either in the
Borrower's application for the Loan or otherwise.
(d) Compliance with Existing
Laws and Agreements. (i) The authorization, execution,
attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond by the
Borrower, (ii) the authentication of the Borrower Bond by the trustee or paying
agent under the Borrower Bond Resolution, as the case may be, and the sale of
the Borrower Bond to the Trust, (iii) the adoption of the Borrower Bond
Resolution, (iv) the observation and performance by the Borrower of its duties,
covenants, obligations and agreements hereunder and thereunder, (v) the
consummation of the transactions provided for in this Loan Agreement, the
Borrower Bond Resolution and the Borrower Bond, and (vi) the undertaking and
completion of the Project will not (A) other than the lien, charge or
encumbrance created hereby, by the Borrower Bond, by the Borrower Bond
Resolution and by any other outstanding debt obligations of the Borrower that
are at parity with the Borrower Bond as to lien on, and source and security for
payment thereon from, the revenues of the Borrower's Environmental
Infrastructure System, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Borrower pursuant to, (B)
result in any breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or (C)
constitute a default under, any existing resolution, outstanding debt or lease
obligation, trust agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement
or other instrument to which the Borrower is a party or by which the Borrower,
its Environmental Infrastructure System or any of its properties or assets may
be bound, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
charter or other document pursuant to which the Borrower was established or any
laws, ordinances, injunctions, judgments, decrees, rules, regulations or
existing orders of any court or governmental or administrative agency, authority
or person to which the Borrower, its Environmental Infrastructure System or its
properties or operations is subject.
(e) No
Defaults. No event has occurred and no condition exists that,
upon the authorization, execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond, the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale
thereof to the Trust, the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution or the
receipt of the amount of the Loan, would constitute an Event of Default
hereunder. The Borrower is not in violation of, and has not received
notice of any claimed violation of, any term of any agreement or other
instrument to which it is a party or by which it, its Environmental
Infrastructure System or its properties may be bound, which violation would
materially adversely affect the properties, activities, prospects or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System or the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments, to pay all
other amounts due hereunder or otherwise to observe and perform its duties,
covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond.
(f) Governmental
Consent. The Borrower has obtained all permits and approvals
required to date by any governmental body or officer for the authorization,
execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond, for the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale thereof to the Trust,
for the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution, for the making, observance and
performance by the Borrower of its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements
under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond and for the undertaking or
completion of the Project and the financing or refinancing thereof, including,
but not limited to, if required, the approval by the New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities (the "BPU") of the issuance by the Borrower of the Borrower Bond to
the Trust, as required by Section 9a of the Act, and any other approvals
required therefor by the BPU; and the Borrower has complied with all applicable
provisions of law requiring any notification, declaration, filing or
registration with any governmental body or officer in connection with the
making, observance and performance by the Borrower of its duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond or
with the undertaking or completion of the Project and the financing or
refinancing thereof. No consent, approval or authorization of, or
filing, registration or qualification with, any governmental body or officer
that has not been obtained is required on the part of the Borrower as a
condition to the authorization, execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond, the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale
thereof to the Trust, the undertaking or completion of the Project or the
consummation of any transaction herein contemplated.
(g) Compliance with
Law. The Borrower:
(i) is
in compliance with all laws, ordinances, governmental rules and regulations to
which it is subject, the failure to comply with which would materially adversely
affect (A) the ability of the Borrower to conduct its activities or to undertake
or complete the Project, (B) the ability of the Borrower to make the Loan
Repayments and to pay all other amounts due hereunder, or (C) the condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System; and
(ii) has
obtained all licenses, permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations
presently necessary for the ownership of its properties or for the conduct of
its activities that, if not obtained, would materially adversely affect (A) the
ability of the Borrower to conduct its activities or to undertake or complete
the Project, (B) the ability of the Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and to
pay all other amounts due hereunder, or (C) the condition (financial or
otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System.
(h) Use of
Proceeds. The Borrower will apply the proceeds of the Loan
from the Trust as described in Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof
(i) to finance or refinance a portion of the Costs of the Borrower's Project;
and (ii) where applicable, to reimburse the Borrower for a portion of the Costs
of the Borrower's Project, which portion was paid or incurred in anticipation of
reimbursement by the Trust and is eligible for such reimbursement under and
pursuant to the Regulations, the Code and any other applicable
law. All of such costs constitute Costs for which the Trust is
authorized to make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to the Act and the
Regulations.
(i) Official
Statement. The descriptions and information set forth in the
Borrower Appendices, if any, contained in the Official Statement relating to the
Borrower, its operations and the transactions contemplated hereby, as of the
date of the Official Statement, were and, as of the date of delivery hereof, are
true and correct in all material respects, and did not and do not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact that is
necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(j) Preliminary Official
Statement. As of the date of the Preliminary Official
Statement, the descriptions and information set forth in the Borrower
Appendices, if any, contained in the Preliminary Official Statement relating to
the Borrower, its operations and the transactions contemplated hereby (i) were
"deemed final" by the Borrower for the purposes and within the meaning of Rule
15c2-12 and (ii) were true and correct in all material respects, and did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
SECTION
2.02. Particular Covenants of Borrower.
(a) Promise to
Pay. The Borrower unconditionally and irrevocably promises, in
accordance with the terms of and to the extent provided in the Borrower Bond
Resolution, to make punctual payment of the principal and redemption premium, if
any, of the Loan and the Borrower Bond, the Interest on the Loan, the Interest
on the Borrower Bond and all other amounts due under this Loan Agreement and the
Borrower Bond according to their respective terms.
(b) Performance Under Loan
Agreement; Rates. The Borrower covenants and agrees (i) to
comply with all applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations in the
performance of this Loan Agreement; (ii) to maintain its Environmental
Infrastructure System in good repair and operating condition; (iii) to cooperate
with the Trust in the observance and performance of the respective duties,
covenants, obligations and agreements of the Borrower and the Trust under this
Loan Agreement; and (iv) to establish, levy and collect rents, rates and other
charges for the products and services provided by its Environmental
Infrastructure System, which rents, rates and other charges shall be at least
sufficient to comply with all covenants pertaining thereto contained in, and all
other provisions of, any bond resolution, trust indenture or other security
agreement, if any, relating to any bonds, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued or to be issued by the Borrower, including without
limitation rents, rates and other charges, together with other available moneys,
sufficient to pay the principal of and Interest on the Borrower Bond, plus all
other amounts due hereunder.
(c) Borrower Bond; No Prior
Liens. Except for (i) the Borrower Bond, (ii) any bonds or notes at
parity with the Borrower Bond and currently outstanding or issued on the date
hereof, (iii) any future bonds or notes of the Borrower issued under the
Borrower Bond Resolution at parity with the Borrower Bond, and (iv) any
Permitted Encumbrances (as defined in the Borrower Bond Resolution), the assets
of the Borrower that are subject to the Borrower Bond
Resolution
are and will be free and clear of any pledge, lien, charge or encumbrance
thereon or with respect thereto prior to, or of equal rank with, the Borrower
Bond, and all corporate or other action on the part of the Borrower to that end
has been and will be duly and validly taken.
(d) Completion of Project and
Provision of Moneys Therefor. The Borrower covenants and
agrees (i) to exercise its best efforts in accordance with prudent environmental
infrastructure utility practice to complete the Project and to accomplish such
completion on or before the estimated Project completion date set forth in
Exhibit G hereto and made a part hereof; (ii) to comply with the terms and
provisions contained in Exhibit G hereto; and (iii) to provide from its own
fiscal resources all moneys, in excess of the total amount of loan proceeds it
receives under the Loan and Fund Loan, required to complete the
Project.
(e) See
Section 2.02(e) as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto, made a part hereof
and incorporated in this Section 2.02(e) by reference as if set forth in full
herein.
(f) Exclusion of Interest from
Federal Gross Income and Compliance with Code.
(i)
The Borrower covenants and agrees that it shall not take any action
or omit to take any action that would result in the loss of the exclusion of the
interest on any Trust Bonds now or hereafter issued from gross income for
purposes of federal income taxation as that status is governed by Section 103(a)
of the Code.
(ii)
The Borrower shall not directly or indirectly use or permit the use of any
proceeds of the Trust Bonds (or amounts replaced with such proceeds) or any
other funds or take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the
Trust Bonds (assuming solely for this purpose that the proceeds of the Trust
Bonds loaned to the Borrower represent all of the proceeds of the Trust Bonds)
to be "arbitrage bonds" within the meaning of Section 148(a) of the
Code.
(iii) The
Borrower shall not directly or indirectly use or permit the use of any proceeds
of the Trust Bonds to pay the principal of or the interest or redemption premium
on or any other amount in connection with the retirement or redemption of any
issue of state or local governmental obligations ("refinancing of
indebtedness"), unless the Borrower shall (A) establish to the satisfaction of
the Trust, prior to the issuance of the Trust Bonds, that such refinancing of
indebtedness will not adversely affect the exclusion from gross income for
federal income tax purposes of the interest on the Trust Bonds, and (B) provide
to the Trust an opinion of Bond Counsel to that effect in form and substance
satisfactory to the Trust.
(iv) The
Borrower shall not directly or indirectly use or permit the use of any proceeds
of the Trust Bonds to reimburse the Borrower for an expenditure with respect to
Costs of the Borrower's Project paid by the Borrower prior to the issuance of
the Trust Bonds, unless (A) the allocation by the Borrower of the proceeds of
the Trust Bonds to reimburse such expenditure complies with the requirements of
Treasury Regulations §1.150-2 necessary to enable the reimbursement allocation
to be treated as an expenditure of the proceeds of the Trust Bonds for purposes
of applying Sections 103 and 141-150,
inclusive,
of the Code, or (B) such proceeds of the Trust Bonds will be used for
refinancing of indebtedness that was used to pay Costs of the Borrower's Project
or to reimburse the Borrower for expenditures with respect to Costs of the
Borrower's Project paid by the Borrower prior to the issuance of such
indebtedness in accordance with a reimbursement allocation for such expenditures
that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulations
§1.150-2.
(v)
The Borrower shall not directly or indirectly use or permit the use of any
proceeds of the Trust Bonds to pay any Costs of the Borrower's Project that does
not constitute a "capital expenditure" within the meaning of Treasury
Regulations §1.150-1.
(vi) The
Borrower shall not use the proceeds of the Trust Bonds (assuming solely for this
purpose that the proceeds of the Trust Bonds loaned to the Borrower represent
all of the proceeds of the Trust Bonds) in any manner that would cause the Trust
Bonds to be considered "federally guaranteed" within the meaning of Section
149(b) of the Code or "hedge bonds" within the meaning of Section 149(g) of the
Code.
(vii) The
Borrower shall not issue any debt obligations that (A) are sold at substantially
the same time as the Trust Bonds and finance or refinance the Loan made to the
Borrower, (B) are sold pursuant to the same plan of financing as the Trust Bonds
and finance or refinance the Loan made to the Borrower, and (C) are reasonably
expected to be paid out of substantially the same source of funds as the Trust
Bonds and finance or refinance the Loan made to the Borrower.
(viii) Neither
the Borrower nor any "related party" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations
§1.150-1) shall purchase Trust Bonds in an amount related to the amount of the
Loan.
(ix) The
Borrower will not issue or permit to be issued obligations that will constitute
an "advance refunding" of the Borrower Bond within the meaning of Section
149(d)(5) of the Code without the express written consent of the Trust, which
consent may only be delivered by the Trust after the Trust has received notice
from the Borrower of such contemplated action no later than sixty (60) days
prior to any such contemplated action, and which consent is in the sole
discretion of the Trust.
(x)
See Section 2.02(f)(x) as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto,
made a part hereof and incorporated in this Section 2.02(f)(x) by reference as
if set forth in full herein.
(xi)
No "gross proceeds" of the Trust Bonds held by the Borrower (other
than amounts in a "bona fide debt service fund") will be held in a "commingled
fund" (as such terms are defined in Treasury Regulations
§1.148-1(b)).
(xii) Based
upon all of the objective facts and circumstances in existence on the date of
issuance of the Trust Bonds used to finance the Project, (A) within six months
of the date of issuance of the Trust Bonds used to finance the Project, the
Borrower will
incur a
substantial binding obligation to a third party to expend on the Project at
least five percent (5%) of the "net sale proceeds" (within the meaning of
Treasury Regulations §1.148-1) of the Loan used to finance the Project (treating
an obligation as not being binding if it is subject to contingencies within the
control of the Borrower, the Trust or a "related party" (within the meaning of
Treasury Regulations §1.150-1)), (B) completion of the Project and the
allocation to expenditures of the "net sale proceeds" of the Loan used to
finance the Project will proceed with due diligence, and (C) all of the proceeds
of the Loan used to finance the Project (other than amounts deposited into the
Debt Service Reserve Fund (to the
extent the Trust establishes a Debt Service Reserve Fund pursuant to the Bond
Resolution) allocable to that portion of the Loan used to finance reserve
capacity, if any) and investment earnings thereon will be spent prior to the
period ending three (3) years subsequent to the date of issuance of the Trust
Bonds used to finance the Project. Accordingly, the proceeds of the
Loan deposited in the Project Loan Account used to finance the Project will be
eligible for the 3-year arbitrage temporary period since the expenditure test,
time test and due diligence test, as set forth in Treasury Regulations
§1.148-2(e)(2), will be satisfied.
(xiii)
The weighted average maturity of the Loan does not exceed 120%
of the average reasonably expected economic life of the Project financed or
refinanced with the Loan, determined in the same manner as under Section 147(b)
of the Code. Accordingly, the term of the Loan will not be longer
than is reasonably necessary for the governmental purposes of the Loan within
the meaning of Treasury Regulations §1.148-1(c)(4).
For
purposes of this subsection and subsection (h) of this Section 2.02, quoted
terms shall have the meanings given thereto by Section 148 of the Code,
including, particularly, Treasury Regulations §§1.148-1 through 1.148-11,
inclusive, as supplemented or amended, to the extent applicable to the Trust
Bonds, and any successor Treasury Regulations applicable to the Trust
Bonds.
(g) Operation and Maintenance of
Environmental Infrastructure System. The Borrower covenants
and agrees that it shall, in accordance with prudent environmental
infrastructure utility practice, (i) at all times operate the properties of its
Environmental Infrastructure System and any business in connection therewith in
an efficient manner, (ii) maintain its Environmental Infrastructure System in
good repair, working order and operating condition, and (iii) from time to time
make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, additions,
betterments and improvements with respect to its Environmental Infrastructure
System so that at all times the business carried on in connection therewith
shall be properly and advantageously conducted.
(h) Records and
Accounts.
(i)
The Borrower shall keep accurate records and accounts for its Environmental
Infrastructure System (the "System Records") separate and distinct from its
other records and accounts (the "General Records"). Such System
Records shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant,
which may be part of the annual audit of the General Records of the
Borrower. Such System Records and General
Records
shall be made available for inspection by the Trust at any reasonable time upon
prior written notice, and a copy of such annual audit(s) therefor, including all
written comments and recommendations of such accountant, shall be furnished to
the Trust within 150 days of the close of the fiscal year being so audited or,
with the consent of the Trust, such additional period as may be provided by
law.
(ii) Unless
otherwise advised in writing by the Trust, in furtherance of the covenant of the
Borrower contained in subsection (f) of this Section 2.02 not to cause the Trust
Bonds to be arbitrage bonds, the Borrower shall keep, or cause to be kept,
accurate records of each investment it makes in any "nonpurpose investment"
acquired with, or otherwise allocated to, "gross proceeds" of the Trust Bonds
not held by the Trustee and each "expenditure" it makes allocated to "gross
proceeds" of the Trust Bonds. Such records shall include the purchase
price, including any constructive "payments" (or in the case of a "payment"
constituting a deemed acquisition of a "nonpurpose investment" (e.g., a
"nonpurpose investment" first allocated to "gross proceeds" of the Trust Bonds
after it is actually acquired because it is deposited in a sinking fund for the
Trust Bonds)), the "fair market value" of the "nonpurpose investment" on the
date first allocated to the "gross proceeds" of the Trust Bonds, nominal
interest rate, dated date, maturity date, type of property, frequency of
periodic payments, period of compounding, yield to maturity, amount actually or
constructively received on disposition (or in the case of a "receipt"
constituting a deemed disposition of a "nonpurpose investment" (e.g., a
"nonpurpose investment" that ceases to be allocated to the "gross proceeds" of
the Trust Bonds because it is removed from a sinking fund for the Trust Bonds)),
the "fair market value" of the "nonpurpose investment" on the date it ceases to
be allocated to the "gross proceeds" of the Trust Bonds, the purchase date and
disposition date of the "nonpurpose investment" and evidence of the "fair market
value" of such property on the purchase date and disposition date (or deemed
purchase or disposition date) for each such "nonpurpose
investment". The purchase date, disposition date and the date of
determination of "fair market value" shall be the date on which a contract to
purchase or sell the "nonpurpose investment" becomes binding, i.e., the trade
date rather than the settlement date. For purposes of the calculation
of purchase price and disposition price, brokerage or selling commissions,
administrative expenses or similar expenses shall not increase the purchase
price of an item and shall not reduce the amount actually or constructively
received upon disposition of an item, except to the extent such costs constitute
"qualified administrative costs".
(iii) Within
thirty (30) days of the last day of the fifth and each succeeding fifth "bond
year" (which, unless otherwise advised by the Trust, shall be the five-year
period ending on the date five years subsequent to the date immediately
preceding the date of issuance of the Trust Bonds and each succeeding fifth
"bond year") and within thirty (30) days of the date the last bond that is part
of the Trust Bonds is discharged (or on any other periodic basis requested in
writing by the Trust), the Borrower shall (A) calculate, or cause to be
calculated, the "rebate amount" as of the "computation date" or "final
computation date" attributable to any "nonpurpose investment" made by the
Borrower and (B) remit the following to the Trust: (1) an amount of
money that when added to the "future value" as of the "computation date" of any
previous payments made
to the
Trust on account of rebate equals the "rebate amount", (2) the calculations
supporting the "rebate amount" attributable to any "nonpurpose investment" made
by the Borrower allocated to "gross proceeds" of the Trust Bonds, and (3) any
other information requested by the Trust relating to compliance with Section 148
of the Code (e.g., information related to any "nonpurpose investment" of the
Borrower for purposes of application of the "universal cap").
(iv) The
Borrower covenants and agrees that it will account for "gross proceeds" of the
Trust Bonds, investments allocable to the Trust Bonds and expenditures of "gross
proceeds" of the Trust Bonds in accordance with Treasury Regulations
§1.148-6. All allocations of "gross proceeds" of the Trust Bonds to
expenditures will be recorded on the books of the Borrower kept in connection
with the Trust Bonds no later than 18 months after the later of the date the
particular Costs of the Borrower's Project is paid or the date the portion of
the project financed by the Trust Bonds is placed in service. All
allocations of proceeds of the Trust Bonds to expenditures will be made no later
than the date that is 60 days after the fifth anniversary of the date the Trust
Bonds are issued or the date 60 days after the retirement of the Trust Bonds, if
earlier. Such records and accounts will include the particular Cost
paid, the date of the payment and the party to whom the payment was
made.
(v)
From time to time as directed by the Trust, the Borrower
shall provide to the Trust a written report demonstrating compliance by the
Borrower with the provisions of Section 2.02(f) of this Loan Agreement, each
such written report to be submitted by the Borrower to the Trust in the form of
a full and complete written response to a questionnaire provided by the Trust to
the Borrower. Each such questionnaire shall be provided by the Trust
to the Borrower not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date established
by the Trust for receipt from the Borrower of the full and complete written
response to the questionnaire.
(i) Inspections;
Information. The Borrower shall permit the Trust and the
Trustee and any party designated by any of such parties, at any and all
reasonable times during construction of the Project and thereafter upon prior
written notice, to examine, visit and inspect the property, if any, constituting
the Project and to inspect and make copies of any accounts, books and records,
including (without limitation) its records regarding receipts, disbursements,
contracts, investments and any other matters relating thereto and to its
financial standing, and shall supply such reports and information as the Trust
and the Trustee may reasonably require in connection therewith.
(j) Insurance. The
Borrower shall maintain or cause to be maintained, in force, insurance policies
with responsible insurers or self-insurance programs providing against risk of
direct physical loss, damage or destruction of its Environmental Infrastructure
System at least to the extent that similar insurance is usually carried by
utilities constructing, operating and maintaining Environmental Infrastructure
Facilities of the nature of the Borrower's Environmental Infrastructure System,
including liability coverage, all to the extent available at reasonable cost but
in no case less than will satisfy all applicable regulatory
requirements.
(k) Costs of
Project. The Borrower certifies that the building cost of the
Project, as listed in Exhibit B hereto and made a part hereof, is a reasonable
and accurate estimation thereof, and it will supply to the Trust a certificate
from a licensed professional engineer authorized to practice in the State
stating that such building cost is a reasonable and accurate estimation and that
the useful life of the Project exceeds the maturity date of the Borrower
Bond.
(l) Delivery of
Documents. Concurrently with the delivery of this Loan
Agreement (as previously authorized, executed and attested) at the Loan Closing,
the Borrower will cause to be delivered to the Trust and the Trustee each of the
following items:
(i)
an opinion of the Borrower's bond counsel substantially in the form of
Exhibit E hereto; provided, however, that the Trust may permit portions of such
opinion to be rendered by general counsel to the Borrower and may permit
variances in such opinion from the form set forth in Exhibit E if, in the
opinion of the Trust, such variances are not to the material detriment of the
interests of the holders of the Trust Bonds;
(ii)
counterparts of this Loan Agreement as previously executed and attested by
the parties hereto;
(iii) copies
of those resolutions finally adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower
and requested by the Trust, including, without limitation, (A) the resolution of
the Borrower authorizing the execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan
Agreement, (B) the Borrower Bond Resolution, as amended and supplemented as of
the date of the Loan Closing, authorizing the execution, attestation,
authentication, sale and delivery of the Borrower Bond to the Trust, (C) the
resolution of the Borrower, if any, confirming the details of the sale of the
Borrower Bond to the Trust, (D) the resolution of the Borrower, if any,
declaring its official intent to reimburse expenditures for the Costs of the
Project from the proceeds of the Trust Bonds, each of said resolutions of the
Borrower being certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as of the date
of the Loan Closing, (E) the resolution of the BPU approving the issuance by the
Borrower of the Borrower Bond to the Trust and setting forth any other approvals
required therefor by the BPU, if applicable, and (F) any other
Proceedings;
(iv) if
the Loan is being made to reimburse the Borrower for all or a portion of the
Costs of the Borrower's Project or to refinance indebtedness or reimburse the
Borrower for the repayment of indebtedness previously incurred by the Borrower
to finance all or a portion of the Costs of the Borrower's Project, an opinion
of Bond Counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the Trust, to the effect
that such reimbursement or refinancing will not adversely affect the exclusion
from gross income for federal income tax purposes of the interest on the Trust
Bonds; and
(v)
the certificates of insurance coverage as required pursuant to
the terms of Section 3.06(d) hereof and such other certificates, documents,
opinions and information as the Trust may require in Exhibit F hereto, if
any.
(m) Execution and Delivery of
Borrower Bond. Concurrently with the delivery of this Loan
Agreement at the Loan Closing, the Borrower shall also deliver to the Trust the
Borrower Bond, as previously executed, attested and, if applicable,
authenticated, upon the receipt of a written certification of the Trust that a
portion of the net proceeds of the Trust Bonds shall be deposited in the Project
Loan Account simultaneously with the delivery of the Borrower Bond.
(n) Notice of Material Adverse
Change. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Trust of any
material adverse change in the properties, activities, prospects or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System, or in the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments and
otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations and
agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.
(o) Continuing
Representations. The representations of the Borrower contained
herein shall be true at the time of the execution of this Loan Agreement and at
all times during the term of this Loan Agreement.
(p) Continuing Disclosure
Covenant. To the extent that the Trust, in its sole
discretion, determines, at any time prior to the termination of the Loan Term,
that the Borrower is a material "obligated person", as the term "obligated
person" is defined in Rule 15c2-12, with materiality being determined by the
Trust pursuant to criteria established, from time to time, by the Trust in its
sole discretion and set forth in a bond resolution or official statement of the
Trust, the Borrower hereby covenants that it will authorize and provide to the
Trust, for inclusion in any preliminary official statement or official statement
of the Trust, all statements and information relating to the Borrower deemed
material by the Trust for the purpose of satisfying Rule 15c2-12 as well as Rule
10b-5 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or
supplemented, including any successor regulation or statute thereto ("Rule
10b-5"), including certificates and written representations of the Borrower
evidencing its compliance with Rule 15c2-12 and Rule 10b-5; and the Borrower
hereby further covenants that the Borrower shall execute and deliver the
Continuing Disclosure Agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit H, with such revisions thereto prior to execution and delivery thereof
as the Trust shall determine to be necessary, desirable or convenient, in its
sole discretion, for the purpose of satisfying Rule 15c2-12 and the purposes and
intent thereof, as Rule 15c2-12, its purposes and intent may hereafter be
interpreted from time to time by the SEC or any court of competent jurisdiction;
and pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Continuing Disclosure Agreement,
the Borrower shall thereafter provide on-going disclosure with respect to all
statements and information relating to the Borrower in satisfaction of the
requirements set forth in Rule 15c2-12 and Rule 10b-5, including, without
limitation, the provision of certificates and written representations of the
Borrower evidencing its compliance with Rule 15c2-12 and Rule
10b-5.
(q) Additional Covenants and
Requirements. (i) No later than the Loan Closing and, if
necessary, in connection with the Trust's issuance of the Trust Bonds or the
making of the Loan, additional covenants and requirements have been included in
Exhibit F hereto and made a part hereof. Such covenants and
requirements may include, but need not be limited to, the maintenance of
specified levels of Environmental Infrastructure System rates, the issuance of
additional
debt of the Borrower, the use by or on behalf of the Borrower of certain
proceeds of the Trust Bonds as such use relates to the exclusion from gross
income for federal income tax purposes of the interest on any Trust Bonds, the
transfer of revenues and receipts from the Borrower's Environmental
Infrastructure System, compliance with Rule 15c2-12, Rule 10b-5 and any other
applicable federal or State securities laws, and matters in connection with the
appointment of the Trustee under the Bond Resolution and any successors
thereto. The Borrower hereby agrees to observe and comply with each
such additional covenant and requirement, if any, included in Exhibit F
hereto. (ii) Additional defined terms, covenants, representations and
requirements have been included in Schedule A attached
hereto and made a part hereof. Such additional defined terms,
covenants, representations and requirements are incorporated in this Loan
Agreement by reference thereto as if set forth in full herein and the Borrower
hereby agrees to observe and comply with each such additional term, covenant,
representation and requirement included in Schedule A as if the
same were set forth in its entirety where reference thereto is made in this Loan
Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
LOAN
TO BORROWER; AMOUNTS PAYABLE; GENERAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 3.01. Loan; Loan
Term. The Trust hereby agrees to make the Loan as described in
Exhibit A-2 hereof and to disburse proceeds of the Loan to the Borrower in
accordance with Section 3.02 and Exhibit C hereof, and the Borrower hereby
agrees to borrow and accept the Loan from the Trust upon the terms set forth in
Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof; provided, however, that the
Trust shall be under no obligation to make the Loan if (a) at the Loan Closing,
the Borrower does not deliver to the Trust a Borrower Bond and such other
documents required under Section 2.02(l) hereof, or (b) an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing under the Bond Resolution or this Loan
Agreement. Although the Trust intends to disburse proceeds of the
Loan to the Borrower at the times and up to the amounts set forth in Exhibit C
to pay a portion of the Costs of the Project, due to unforeseen circumstances
there may not be a sufficient amount on deposit in the Project Fund on any date
to make the disbursement in such amount. Nevertheless, the Borrower
agrees that the amount actually deposited in the Project Loan Account at the
Loan Closing plus the Borrower's allocable share of (i) certain costs of
issuance and underwriter's discount for all Trust Bonds issued to finance the
Loan; (ii) capitalized interest during the Project construction period, if
applicable; and (iii) that portion of the Debt Service Reserve Fund (to the
extent the Trust establishes a Debt Service Reserve Fund pursuant to the Bond
Resolution) attributable to the cost of funding reserve capacity for the
Project, if applicable, shall constitute the initial principal amount of the
Loan (as the same may be adjusted downward in accordance with the definition
thereof), and neither the Trust nor the Trustee shall have any obligation
thereafter to loan any additional amounts to the Borrower.
The
Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loan strictly in accordance with Section
2.01(h) hereof.
The
payment obligations created under this Loan Agreement and the obligations to pay
the principal of the Borrower Bond, Interest on the Borrower Bond and other
amounts due under the Borrower Bond are each direct, general, irrevocable and
unconditional obligations of the Borrower payable from any source legally
available to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of and to the extent
provided in the Borrower Bond Resolution.
SECTION 3.02. Disbursement
of Loan Proceeds. (a) The Trustee, as the agent of the Trust,
shall disburse the amounts on deposit in the Project Loan Account to the
Borrower upon receipt of a requisition executed by an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower, and approved by the Trust, in a form meeting the requirements of
Section 5.02(3) of the Bond Resolution.
(b) The
Trust and Trustee shall not be required to disburse any Loan proceeds to the
Borrower under this Loan Agreement, unless:
(i)
the proceeds of the Trust Bonds shall be available for disbursement, as
determined solely by the Trust;
(ii)
in accordance with the Bond Act, and the Regulations, the Borrower shall
have timely applied for, shall have been awarded and, prior to or simultaneously
with the Loan Closing, shall have closed a Fund Loan for a portion of the
Allowable Costs (as defined in such Regulations) of the Project in an amount not
in excess of the amount of Allowable Costs of the Project financed by the Loan
from the Trust;
(iii) the
Borrower shall have on hand moneys to pay for the greater of (A) that portion of
the total Costs of the Project that is not eligible to be funded from the Fund
Loan or the Loan, or (B) that portion of the total Costs of the Project that
exceeds the actual amounts of the loan commitments made by the State and the
Trust, respectively, for the Fund Loan and the Loan; and
(iv) no
Event of Default nor any event that, with the passage of time or service of
notice or both, would constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing hereunder.
SECTION 3.03. Amounts
Payable. (a) The Borrower shall repay the Loan in installments
payable to the Trustee as follows:
(i)
the principal of the Loan shall be repaid annually on the Principal
Payment Dates, in accordance with the schedule set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached
hereto and made a part hereof, as the same may be amended or modified by any
credits applicable to the Borrower as set forth in the Bond
Resolution;
(ii)
the Interest Portion described in clause (i) of the definition thereof
shall be paid semiannually on the Interest Payment Dates, in accordance with the
schedule set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof, as the
same may be amended or modified by any credits applicable to the Borrower as set
forth in the Bond Resolution; and
(iii) the
Interest Portion described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof shall be
paid upon the date of optional redemption or acceleration, as the case may be,
of the Trust Bonds allocable to any prepaid or accelerated Trust Bond Loan
Repayment.
The
obligations of the Borrower under the Borrower Bond shall be deemed to be
amounts payable under this Section 3.03. Each Loan Repayment, whether
satisfied through a direct payment by the Borrower to the Trustee or (with
respect to the Interest Portion) through the use of Trust Bond proceeds and
income thereon on deposit in the Interest Account (as defined in the Bond
Resolution) to pay interest on the Trust Bonds, shall be deemed to be a credit
against the corresponding obligation of the Borrower under this Section 3.03 and
shall fulfill the Borrower's obligation to pay such amount hereunder and under
the Borrower Bond. Each payment made to the Trustee pursuant to this
Section 3.03 shall be applied first to the Interest Portion
then due and payable, second to the principal of
the Loan then due and payable, third to the payment of the
Administrative Fee, and finally to the payment of any
late charges hereunder.
(b) The
Interest on the Loan described in clause (iii) of the definition thereof shall
(i) consist of a late charge for any Trust Bond Loan Repayment that is received
by the Trustee later than the tenth (10th) day following its due date and (ii)
be payable immediately thereafter in an amount equal to the greater of twelve
percent (12%) per annum or the Prime Rate plus one half of one percent per annum
on such late payment from its due date to the date it is actually paid;
provided, however, that the rate of Interest on the Loan, including, without
limitation, any late payment charges incurred hereunder, shall not exceed the
maximum interest rate permitted by law.
(c) The
Borrower shall receive, as a credit against its semiannual payment obligations
of the Interest Portion, the amounts certified by the Trust pursuant to Section
5.10 of the Bond Resolution. Such amounts shall represent the
Borrower's allocable share of the interest earnings on certain funds and
accounts established under the Bond Resolution, calculated in accordance with
Section 5.10 of the Bond Resolution.
(d) In
accordance with the provisions of the Bond Resolution, the Borrower shall
receive, as a credit against its Trust Bond Loan Repayments, the amounts set
forth in the certificate of the Trust filed with the Trustee pursuant to Section
5.02(4) of the Bond Resolution.
(e) The
Interest on the Loan described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof shall be
paid by the Borrower in the amount of one-half of the Administrative Fee, if
any, to the Trustee on each Interest Payment Date, commencing with the first
Interest Payment Date subsequent to the Loan Closing.
(f) The
Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Trust at the Loan Closing a “Security
Review Fee” in the amount necessary to reimburse the Trust for all of its costs
and expenses incurred in connection with reviewing the additional security
securing the Trust Loan as set forth in Exhibit F hereto, if any, including
without limitation the fees and expenses of any professional advisers hired by
the Trust in connection therewith.
SECTION 3.03A. Amounts on
Deposit in Project Loan Account after Completion of Draw
Schedule. (a) If, on the date which is one hundred eighty
(180) days following the final date for which a disbursement of Loan proceeds is
scheduled to be made pursuant to Exhibit C hereto, any amounts remain on deposit
in the Borrower’s Project Loan Account, the Borrower must provide to the Trust
and the Department a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower (i)
stating that the Borrower has not yet completed the Project, (ii) stating that
the Borrower intends to complete the Project, (iii) setting forth the amount of
remaining Loan Proceeds required to complete the Project, and (iv) providing a
revised draw schedule, in a form similar to Exhibit C hereto and approved by the
Department.
(b) If,
on the date which is one hundred eighty (180) days following the final date for
which a disbursement of Loan proceeds is scheduled to be made pursuant to a
revised draw schedule certified to the Trust and the Department in accordance
with Section 3.03A(a) hereof, any amounts remain on deposit in the Borrower’s
Project Loan Account, the Borrower must provide to the Trust and the Department
a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower (i) stating that the
Borrower has not yet completed the Project, (ii) stating that the Borrower
intends
to
complete the Project, (iii) setting forth the amount of remaining Loan Proceeds
required to complete the Project, and (iv) providing a revised draw schedule, in
a form similar to Exhibit C hereto and approved by the Department.
(c) If
the Borrower fails to provide the certificate described in paragraphs (a) or (b)
of this Section 3.03A, when due, or if such certificate states that the Borrower
does not require all or any portion of the amount on deposit in the Project Loan
Account to complete the Project, such amounts on deposit in the Project Loan
Account which are not certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as
being required to complete the Project (“Excess Project Funds”) shall be applied
as follows:
(i)
If the Excess Project Funds are less than or equal to the greater of
(A) $250,000 or (B) the amount of Loan Repayments due from the Borrower to the
Trust in the next succeeding calendar year, the Excess Project Funds shall be
applied by the Trust toward the Borrower’s obligation to make the Loan
Repayments next coming due; or
(ii)
If the Excess Project Funds are greater than the greater
of (A) $250,000 or (B) the amount of Loan Repayments due from the Borrower to
the Trust in the next succeeding calendar year, the Excess Project Funds shall
be applied by the Trust as a prepayment of the Borrower’s Loan Repayments, and
shall be applied to the principal payments (including premium, if any) on the
Loan in inverse order of their maturity.
SECTION
3.04. Unconditional Obligations. The obligation of
the Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and all other payments required
hereunder and the obligation to perform and observe the other duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements on its part contained herein shall be absolute and
unconditional, and shall not be abated, rebated, set-off, reduced, abrogated,
terminated, waived, diminished, postponed or otherwise modified in any manner or
to any extent whatsoever while any Trust Bonds remain outstanding or any Loan
Repayments remain unpaid, for any reason, regardless of any contingency, act of
God, event or cause whatsoever, including (without limitation) any acts or
circumstances that may constitute failure of consideration, eviction or
constructive eviction, the taking by eminent domain or destruction of or damage
to the Project or Environmental Infrastructure System, commercial frustration of
the purpose, any change in the laws of the United States of America or of the
State or any political subdivision of either or in the rules or regulations of
any governmental authority, any failure of the Trust or the Trustee to perform
and observe any agreement, whether express or implied, or any duty, liability or
obligation arising out of or connected with the Project, this Loan Agreement or
the Bond Resolution, or any rights of set-off, recoupment, abatement or
counterclaim that the Borrower might otherwise have against the Trust, the
Trustee or any other party or parties; provided, however, that payments
hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any such rights. The
Borrower shall not be obligated to make any payments required to be made by any
other Borrowers under separate Loan Agreements or the Bond
Resolution.
The
Borrower acknowledges that payment of the Trust Bonds by the Trust, including
payment from moneys drawn by the Trustee from the Debt Service Reserve Fund (to
the extent the Trust establishes a Debt Service Reserve Fund pursuant to the
Bond Resolution), does not constitute payment of the amounts due under this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond. If at
any time
the amount in the Debt Service Reserve Fund shall be less than the Debt Service
Reserve Requirement as the result of any transfer of moneys from the Debt
Service Reserve Fund to the Debt Service Fund (as all such terms are defined in
the Bond Resolution) as the result of a failure by the Borrower to make any
Trust Bond Loan Repayments required hereunder, the Borrower agrees to replenish
(i) such moneys so transferred and (ii) any deficiency arising from losses
incurred in making such transfer as the result of the liquidation by the Trust
of Investment Securities (as defined in the Bond Resolution) acquired as an
investment of moneys in the Debt Service Reserve Fund, by making payments to the
Trust in equal monthly installments for the lesser of six (6) months or the
remaining term of the Loan at an interest rate to be determined by the Trust
necessary to make up any loss caused by such deficiency.
The
Borrower acknowledges that payment of the Trust Bonds from moneys that were
originally received by the Trustee from repayments by the Borrowers of loans
made to the Borrowers by the State, acting by and through the Department,
pursuant to loan agreements dated as of November 1, 2007 by and between the
Borrowers and the State, acting by and through the Department, to finance or
refinance a portion of the Costs of the Environmental Infrastructure Facilities
of the Borrowers, and which moneys were upon such receipt by the Trustee
deposited in the Trust Bonds Security Account (as defined in the Bond
Resolution), does not constitute payment of the amounts due under this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond.
SECTION 3.05. Loan
Agreement to Survive Bond Resolution and Trust Bonds. The
Borrower acknowledges that its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements
hereunder shall survive the discharge of the Bond Resolution applicable to the
Trust Bonds and shall survive the payment of the principal and redemption
premium, if any, of and the interest on the Trust Bonds until the Borrower can
take no action or fail to take any action that could adversely affect the
exclusion from gross income of the interest on the Trust Bonds for purposes of
federal income taxation, at which time such duties, covenants, obligations and
agreements hereunder shall, except for those set forth in Sections 3.06(a) and
(b) hereof, terminate.
SECTION 3.06. Disclaimer
of Warranties and Indemnification. (a) The Borrower
acknowledges and agrees that (i) neither the Trust nor the Trustee makes any
warranty or representation, either express or implied, as to the value, design,
condition, merchantability or fitness for particular purpose or fitness for any
use of the Environmental Infrastructure System or the Project or any portions
thereof or any other warranty or representation with respect thereto; (ii) in no
event shall the Trust or the Trustee or their respective agents be liable or
responsible for any incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages in
connection with or arising out of this Loan Agreement or the Project or the
existence, furnishing, functioning or use of the Environmental Infrastructure
System or the Project or any item or products or services provided for in this
Loan Agreement; and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower
shall indemnify and hold the Trust and the Trustee harmless against, and the
Borrower shall pay any and all, liability, loss, cost, damage, claim, judgment
or expense of any and all kinds or nature and however arising and imposed by
law, which the Trust and the Trustee may sustain, be subject to or be caused to
incur by reason of any claim, suit or action based upon personal injury, death
or damage to property, whether real, personal or mixed, or upon or arising out
of contracts entered into by the Borrower, the Borrower's ownership of the
Environmental Infrastructure System or the Project, or the acquisition,
construction or installation of the Project.
(b) It
is mutually agreed by the Borrower, the Trust and the Trustee that the Trust and
its officers, agents, servants or employees shall not be liable for, and shall
be indemnified and saved harmless by the Borrower in any event from, any action
performed under this Loan Agreement and any claim or suit of whatsoever nature,
except in the event of loss or damage resulting from their own negligence or
willful misconduct. It is further agreed that the Trustee and its
directors, officers, agents, servants or employees shall not be liable for, and
shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Borrower in any event from, any
action performed pursuant to this Loan Agreement, except in the event of loss or
damage resulting from their own negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) The
Borrower and the Trust agree that all claims shall be subject to and governed by
the provisions of the New Jersey Contractual Liability Act, N.J.S.A. 59:13-1
et seq. (except for
N.J.S.A. 59:13-9 thereof), although such Act by its express terms does not apply
to claims arising under contract with the Trust.
(d) In
connection with its obligation to provide the insurance required under Section
2.02(j) hereof: (i) the Borrower shall include, or cause to be
included, the Trust and its directors, employees and officers as additional
"named insureds" on (A) any certificate of liability insurance procured by the
Borrower (or other similar document evidencing the liability insurance coverage
procured by the Borrower) and (B) any certificate of liability insurance
procured by any contractor or subcontractor for the Project, and from the later
of the date of the Loan Closing or the date of the initiation of construction of
the Project until the date the Borrower receives the written certificate of
Project completion from the Trust, the Borrower shall maintain said liability
insurance covering the Trust and said directors, employees and officers in good
standing; and (ii) the Borrower shall include the Trust as an additional "named
insured" on any certificate of insurance providing against risk of direct
physical loss, damage or destruction of the Environmental Infrastructure System,
and during the Loan Term the Borrower shall maintain said insurance covering the
Trust in good standing.
The
Borrower shall provide the Trust with a copy of each of any such original,
supplemental, amendatory or reissued certificates of insurance (or other similar
documents evidencing the insurance coverage) required pursuant to this Section
3.06(d).
SECTION 3.07. Option to
Prepay Loan Repayments. The Borrower may prepay the Trust Bond
Loan Repayments, in whole or in part (but if in part, in the amount of $100,000
or any integral multiple thereof), upon prior written notice to the Trust and
the Trustee not less than ninety (90) days in addition to the number of days'
advance notice to the Trustee required for any optional redemption of the Trust
Bonds, and upon payment by the Borrower to the Trustee of amounts that, together
with investment earnings thereon, will be sufficient to pay the principal amount
of the Trust Bond Loan Repayments to be prepaid plus the Interest Portion
described in clause (ii) of the definition thereof on any such date of
redemption; provided, however, that, with respect to any prepayment other than
those required by Section 3.03A hereof, any such full or partial prepayment may
only be made (i) if the Borrower is not then in arrears on its Fund Loan, (ii)
if the Borrower is contemporaneously making a full or partial prepayment of the
Fund Loan such that, after the prepayment of the Loan and the Fund Loan, the
Trust, in its sole discretion,
determines
that the interests of the owners of the Trust Bonds are not adversely affected
by such prepayments, and (iii) upon the prior written approval of the
Trust. In addition, if at the time of such prepayment the Trust Bonds
may only be redeemed at the option of the Trust upon payment of a premium, the
Borrower shall add to its prepayment of Trust Bond Loan Repayments an amount, as
determined by the Trust, equal to such premium allocable to the Trust Bonds to
be redeemed as a result of the Borrower's prepayment. Prepayments
shall be applied first to the Interest Portion that accrues on the portion of
the Loan to be prepaid until such prepayment date as described in clause (ii) of
the definition thereof and then to principal payments (including premium, if
any) on the Loan in inverse order of their maturity.
SECTION 3.08. Priority of
Loan and Fund Loan. (a) The Borrower hereby agrees that, to
the extent allowed by law or the Borrower Bond Resolution, any Loan Repayments
then due and payable on the Loan shall be satisfied by the Trustee before any
loan repayments on the Borrower's Fund Loan shall be satisfied by the
Trustee. The Borrower agrees not to interfere with any such action by
the Trustee.
(b) The
Borrower hereby acknowledges that in the event the Borrower fails or is unable
to pay promptly to the Trust in full any Trust Bond Loan Repayments under this
Loan Agreement when due, then any (i) Administrative Fee paid hereunder, (ii)
late charges paid hereunder, and (iii) loan repayments paid by the Borrower on
its Fund Loan under the related loan agreement therefor, any of which payments
shall be received by the Trustee during the time of any such Trust Bond Loan
Repayment deficiency, shall be applied by the Trustee first to satisfy such Trust
Bond Loan Repayment deficiency as a credit against the obligations of the
Borrower to make payments of the Interest Portion under the Loan and the
Borrower Bond, second,
to the extent available, to make Trust Bond Loan Repayments of principal
hereunder and payments of principal under the Borrower Bond, third, to the extent
available, to pay the Administrative Fee, fourth, to the extent
available, to pay any late charges hereunder, fifth, to the extent
available, to satisfy the repayment of the Borrower's Fund Loan under its
related loan agreement therefor, and finally, to the extent
available, to satisfy the repayment of the administrative fee under any such
related loan agreement.
(c) The
Borrower hereby further acknowledges that any loan repayments paid by the
Borrower on its Fund Loan under the related loan agreement therefor shall be
applied according to the provisions of the Master Program Trust
Agreement.
SECTION 3.09. Approval of
the New Jersey State Treasurer. The Borrower and the Trust
hereby acknowledge that prior to or simultaneously with the Loan Closing the New
Jersey State Treasurer, in satisfaction of the requirements of Section 9a of the
Act, issued the “Certificate of the New Jersey State Treasurer Regarding the
Approval of the Trust Loan and the Fund Loan” (the “Treasurer’s
Certificate”). Pursuant to the terms of the Treasurer’s Certificate,
the New Jersey State Treasurer approved the Loan and the terms and conditions
thereof as established by the provisions of this Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE
IV
ASSIGNMENT
OF LOAN AGREEMENT AND BORROWER BOND
SECTION 4.01. Assignment
and Transfer by Trust. (a) The Borrower hereby expressly
acknowledges that, other than the provisions of Section 2.02(d)(ii) hereof, the
Trust's right, title and interest in, to and under this Loan Agreement and the
Borrower Bond have been assigned to the Trustee as security for the Trust Bonds
as provided in the Bond Resolution, and that if any Event of Default shall
occur, the Trustee or any Bond Insurer (as such term may be defined in the Bond
Resolution), if applicable, pursuant to the Bond Resolution, shall be entitled
to act hereunder in the place and stead of the Trust. The Borrower
hereby acknowledges the requirements of the Bond Resolution applicable to the
Trust Bonds and consents to such assignment and appointment. This
Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, including, without limitation, the right
to receive payments required to be made by the Borrower hereunder and to compel
or otherwise enforce observance and performance by the Borrower of its other
duties, covenants, obligations and agreements hereunder, may be further
transferred, assigned and reassigned in whole or in part to one or more
assignees or subassignees by the Trustee at any time subsequent to their
execution without the necessity of obtaining the consent of, but after giving
prior written notice to, the Borrower.
The Trust
shall retain the right to compel or otherwise enforce observance and performance
by the Borrower of its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under
Section 2.02(d)(ii) hereof; provided, however, that in no event shall the Trust
have the right to accelerate the Borrower Bond in connection with the
enforcement of Section 2.02(d)(ii) hereof.
(b) The
Borrower hereby approves and consents to any assignment or transfer of this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond that the Trust deems to be necessary in
connection with any refunding of the Trust Bonds or the issuance of additional
bonds under the Bond Resolution or otherwise, all in connection with the pooled
loan program of the Trust.
SECTION 4.02. Assignment
by Borrower. Neither this Loan Agreement nor the Borrower Bond
may be assigned by the Borrower for any reason, unless the following conditions
shall be satisfied: (i) the Trust and the Trustee shall have approved
said assignment in writing; (ii) the assignee shall have expressly assumed in
writing the full and faithful observance and performance of the Borrower's
duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and, to
the extent permitted under applicable law, the Borrower Bond; (iii) immediately
after such assignment, the assignee shall not be in default in the observance or
performance of any duties, covenants, obligations or agreements of the Borrower
under this Loan Agreement or the Borrower Bond; and (iv) the Trust shall have
received an opinion of Bond Counsel to the effect that such assignment will not
adversely affect the security of the holders of the Trust Bonds or the exclusion
of the interest on the Trust Bonds from gross income for purposes of federal
income taxation under Section 103(a) of the Code.
ARTICLE
V
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 5.01. Events of
Default. If any of the following events occur, it is hereby
defined as and declared to be and to constitute an "Event of
Default":
(a) failure
by the Borrower to pay, or cause to be paid, any Trust Bond Loan Repayment
required to be paid hereunder when due, which failure shall continue for a
period of fifteen (15) days;
(b) failure
by the Borrower to make, or cause to be made, any required payments of
principal, redemption premium, if any, and interest on any bonds, notes or other
obligations of the Borrower issued under the Borrower Bond Resolution (other
than the Loan and the Borrower Bond) or otherwise secured by all or a portion of
the property pledged under the Borrower Bond Resolution, after giving effect to
the applicable grace period;
(c) failure
by the Borrower to pay, or cause to be paid, the Administrative Fee or any late
charges incurred hereunder or any portion thereof when due or to observe and
perform any duty, covenant, obligation or agreement on its part to be observed
or performed under this Loan Agreement, other than as referred to in subsection
(a) of this Section 5.01 or other than the obligations of the Borrower contained
in Section 2.02(d)(ii) hereof and in Exhibit F hereto, which failure shall
continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice, specifying such
failure and requesting that it be remedied, is given to the Borrower by the
Trustee, unless the Trustee shall agree in writing to an extension of such time
prior to its expiration; provided, however, that if the failure stated in such
notice is correctable but cannot be corrected within the applicable period, the
Trustee may not unreasonably withhold its consent to an extension of such time
up to 120 days from the delivery of the written notice referred to above if
corrective action is instituted by the Borrower within the applicable period and
diligently pursued until the Event of Default is corrected;
(d) any
representation made by or on behalf of the Borrower contained in this Loan
Agreement, or in any instrument furnished in compliance with or with reference
to this Loan Agreement or the Loan, is false or misleading in any material
respect;
(e) a
petition is filed by or against the Borrower under any federal or state
bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law in effect on the date of this
Loan Agreement or thereafter enacted, unless in the case of any such petition
filed against the Borrower such petition shall be dismissed within thirty (30)
days after such filing and such dismissal shall be final and not subject to
appeal; or the Borrower shall become insolvent or bankrupt or shall make an
assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or a custodian (including, without
limitation, a receiver, liquidator or trustee) of the Borrower or any of its
property shall be appointed by court order or take possession of the Borrower or
its property or assets if such order remains in effect or such possession
continues for more than thirty (30) days;
(f) the
Borrower shall generally fail to pay its debts as such debts become due;
and
(g) failure
of the Borrower to observe or perform such additional duties, covenants,
obligations, agreements or conditions as are required by the Trust and specified
in Exhibit F attached hereto and made a part hereof.
SECTION 5.02. Notice of
Default. The Borrower shall give the Trustee and the Trust
prompt telephonic notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default referred to
in Section 5.01(d) or (e) hereof and of the occurrence of any other event or
condition that constitutes an Event of Default at such time as any senior
administrative or financial officer of the Borrower becomes aware of the
existence thereof.
SECTION 5.03. Remedies on
Default. Whenever an Event of Default referred to in Section
5.01 hereof shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower acknowledges the
rights of the Trustee and of any Bond Insurer to direct any and all remedies in
accordance with the terms of the Bond Resolution, and the Borrower also
acknowledges that the Trust shall have the right to take, or to direct the
Trustee to take, any action permitted or required pursuant to the Bond
Resolution and to take whatever other action at law or in equity may appear
necessary or desirable to collect the amounts then due and thereafter to become
due hereunder or to enforce the observance and performance of any duty,
covenant, obligation or agreement of the Borrower hereunder.
In
addition, if an Event of Default referred to in Section 5.01(a) hereof shall
have occurred and be continuing, the Trust shall, to the extent allowed by
applicable law and to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Bond
Resolution, have the right to declare, or to direct the Trustee to declare, all
Loan Repayments and all other amounts due hereunder (including, without
limitation, payments under the Borrower Bond) together with the prepayment
premium, if any, calculated pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof to be immediately
due and payable, and upon notice to the Borrower the same shall become due and
payable without further notice or demand.
SECTION 5.04. Attorneys'
Fees and Other Expenses. The Borrower shall on demand pay to
the Trust or the Trustee the reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and other
reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonably allocated
costs of in-house counsel and legal staff) incurred by either of them in the
collection of Trust Bond Loan Repayments or any other sum due hereunder or in
the enforcement of the observation or performance of any other duties,
covenants, obligations or agreements of the Borrower upon an Event of
Default.
SECTION 5.05. Application
of Moneys. Any moneys collected by the Trust or the Trustee
pursuant to Section 5.03 hereof shall be applied (a) first to pay any attorneys'
fees or other fees and expenses owed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.04
hereof, (b) second, to
the extent available, to pay the Interest Portion then due and payable, (c)
third, to the extent
available, to pay the principal due and payable on the Loan, (d) fourth, to the extent
available, to pay the Administrative Fee, any late charges incurred hereunder or
any other amounts due and payable under this Loan Agreement, and (e) fifth, to the extent
available, to pay the Interest Portion and the principal on the Loan and other
amounts payable hereunder as such amounts become due and payable.
SECTION 5.06. No Remedy
Exclusive; Waiver; Notice. No remedy herein conferred upon or
reserved to the Trust or the Trustee is intended to be exclusive, and every such
remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given
under this Loan Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in
equity. No delay or omission to exercise any right, remedy or power
accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right, remedy or power
or shall be construed to be a waiver thereof, but any such right, remedy or
power may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed
expedient. In order to entitle the Trust or the Trustee to exercise
any remedy reserved to it in this Article V, it shall not be necessary to give
any notice other than such notice as may be required in this Article
V.
SECTION 5.07. Retention of
Trust's Rights. Notwithstanding any assignment or transfer of this Loan
Agreement pursuant to the provisions hereof or of the Bond Resolution, or
anything else to the contrary contained herein, the Trust shall have the right
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default to take any action, including
(without limitation) bringing an action against the Borrower at law or in
equity, as the Trust may, in its discretion, deem necessary to enforce the
obligations of the Borrower to the Trust pursuant to Section 5.03
hereof.
ARTICLE
VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
6.01. Notices. All notices, certificates or other
communications hereunder shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given
when hand delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
to the Borrower at the address specified in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and made
a part hereof and to the Trust and the Trustee at the following
addresses:
(a) Trust:
New
Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust
P.O. Box
440
Trenton,
New Jersey 08625
Attention: Executive
Director
U.S. Bank
National Association
21 South
Street, 3rd
Floor
Morristown,
New Jersey 07960
Attention: Corporate
Trust Department
Any of
the foregoing parties may designate any further or different addresses to which
subsequent notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent by notice
in writing given to the others.
SECTION 6.02. Binding
Effect. This Loan Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
shall be binding upon the Trust and the Borrower and their respective successors
and assigns.
SECTION
6.03. Severability. In the event any provision of
this Loan Agreement shall be held illegal, invalid or unenforceable by any court
of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate, render
unenforceable or otherwise affect any other provision hereof.
SECTION 6.04. Amendments,
Supplements and Modifications. Except as otherwise provided in
this Section 6.04, this Loan Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or
modified without the prior written consent of the Trust and the Borrower and
without the satisfaction of all conditions set forth in Section 11.12 of the
Bond Resolution. Notwithstanding the conditions set forth in Section
11.12 of the Bond Resolution, (i) Section 2.02(p) hereof may be amended,
supplemented or modified upon the written consent of the Trust and the Borrower
and without the consent of the Trustee, any Bond Insurer or any holders of the
Trust Bonds, and (ii) Exhibit H hereto may be amended, supplemented or modified
prior to the execution and delivery thereof as the Trust, in its sole
discretion, shall determine to be necessary, desirable or convenient for the
purpose of satisfying Rule 15c2-12 and the purpose and intent thereof as Rule
15c2-12, its purpose and intent may hereafter be interpreted from time to time
by the SEC or any
court of
competent jurisdiction, and such amendment, supplement or modification shall not
require the consent of the Borrower, the Trustee, any Bond Insurer or any
holders of the Trust Bonds.
SECTION 6.05. Execution in
Counterparts. This Loan Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 6.06. Applicable
Law and Regulations. This Loan Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State, including the Act and
the Regulations, which Regulations are, by this reference thereto, incorporated
herein as part of this Loan Agreement.
SECTION 6.07. Consents and
Approvals. Whenever the written consent or approval of the
Trust shall be required under the provisions of this Loan Agreement, such
consent or approval may only be given by the Trust unless otherwise provided by
law or by rules, regulations or resolutions of the Trust or unless expressly
delegated to the Trustee and except as otherwise provided in Section 6.09
hereof.
SECTION
6.08. Captions. The captions or headings in this
Loan Agreement are for convenience only and shall not in any way define, limit
or describe the scope or intent of any provisions or sections of this Loan
Agreement.
SECTION 6.09. Benefit of
Loan Agreement; Compliance with Bond Resolution. This Loan
Agreement is executed, among other reasons, to induce the purchase of the Trust
Bonds. Accordingly, all duties, covenants, obligations and agreements
of the Borrower herein contained are hereby declared to be for the benefit of
and are enforceable by the Trust, the holders of the Trust Bonds and the
Trustee. The Borrower covenants and agrees to observe and comply
with, and to enable the Trust to observe and comply with, all duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements contained in the Bond Resolution.
SECTION 6.10. Further
Assurances. The Borrower shall, at the request of the Trust,
authorize, execute, attest, acknowledge and deliver such further resolutions,
conveyances, transfers, assurances, financing statements and other instruments
as may be necessary or desirable for better assuring, conveying, granting,
assigning and confirming the rights, security interests and agreements granted
or intended to be granted by this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust
and the Borrower have caused this Loan Agreement to be executed, sealed and
delivered as of the date first above written.
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NEW
JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST |
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[SEAL]
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By:
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/s/ Robert A. Briant, Sr.
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ATTEST:
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Robert A. Briant, Sr.
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Chairman
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/s/ Gerald T. Keenan
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Gerald
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Secretary
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MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
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[SEAL]
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By:
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/s/ Dennis W. Doll
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ATTEST:
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Dennis W. Doll
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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/s/ Kenneth J. Quinn
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Kenneth
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Vice
President, General Counsel
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Secretary
and Treasurer
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[Signature Page]
SCHEDULE
A
Certain Additional Loan
Agreement Provisions
In
addition to the terms defined in subsection (a) of Section 1.01 of this Loan
Agreement, certain additional capitalized terms used in this Loan Agreement
shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the meanings ascribed
to such additional capitalized terms in this Schedule A.
Additional
Definitions:
“Borrower” means Middlesex
Water Company, a corporation duly created and validly existing under the laws of
the State of New Jersey.
“Bond Resolution” means the
“Environmental Infrastructure Trust Bond Resolution, Series 2007A”, as adopted
by the Board of Directors of the Trust on or about September 18, 2007,
authorizing the issuance of the Trust Bonds, and all further amendments and
supplements thereto adopted in accordance with the provisions
thereof.
“Borrower Bond Resolution”
means the indenture of the Borrower entitled “INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE” dated as of
April 1, 1927, as amended and supplemented from time to time, in particular by a
supplemental indenture detailing the terms of the Borrower Bond dated as of
October 15, 2007 and entitled “THIRTY-FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE”, pursuant to
which the Borrower Bond has been issued.
“Interest Payment Dates” means
February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing on August 1, 2008.
“Loan” means the loan made by
the Trust to the Borrower to finance or refinance a portion of the Cost of the
Project pursuant to this Loan Agreement. For all purposes of this
Loan Agreement, the amount of the Loan at any time shall be the initial
aggregate principal amount of the Borrower Bond (which amount equals the amount
actually deposited in the Project Loan Account at the Loan Closing plus the
Borrower's allocable share of certain costs of issuance and underwriter's
discount for all Trust Bonds issued to finance the Loan, less any amount of such
principal amount that has been repaid by the Borrower under this Loan Agreement
and less any adjustment made pursuant to the provisions of the Bond Resolution,
including, without limitation, Section 5.02(4) thereof, N.J.A.C. 7:22-4.26 and
the appropriations act of the State Legislature authorizing the expenditure of
Trust Bond proceeds to finance a portion of the Cost of the
Project.
“Principal Payment Dates”
means August 1 of each year, commencing on August 1, 2009.
SECTION
2.02(e)
Disposition of Environmental
Infrastructure System. The Borrower shall not permit the
disposition of all or substantially all of its Environmental Infrastructure
System, directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, by means of sale,
lease, abandonment, sale of stock, statutory merger or otherwise (collectively,
a "Disposition"), except on ninety (90) days' prior written notice to the Trust,
and, in any event, shall not permit a Disposition unless the following
conditions are met: (i) the Borrower shall, in accordance with
Section 4.02 hereof, assign this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond and its
rights and interests hereunder and thereunder to the purchaser or lessee of the
Environmental Infrastructure System, and such purchaser or lessee shall assume
all duties, covenants, obligations and agreements of the Borrower under this
Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond; and (ii) the Trust shall by appropriate
action determine, in its sole discretion, that such sale, lease, abandonment or
other disposition will not adversely affect (A) the Trust's ability to meet its
duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under the Bond Resolution, (B) the
value of this Loan Agreement or the Borrower Bond as security for the payment of
Trust Bonds and the interest thereon, or (C) the excludability from gross income
for federal income tax purposes of the interest on Trust Bonds then outstanding
or that could be issued in the future.
SECTION
2.02(f)(x)
The
Borrower will not have a reserve or replacement fund (within the meaning of
Section 148(d)(1) of the Code) allocable to the Borrower Bond evidencing the
Loan.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
EXHIBIT
A-1
Description of Project and
Environmental Infrastructure System
1)
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Name
and Address of Local Unit:
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Middlesex
Water Company
1500
Ronson Road
Iselin,
New Jersey 08830-0452
Attention:
Ronald F. Williams P.E. Vice President - Operations
2)
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Description
of the Project:
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The
proposed project will involve cleaning/relining and spot replacement of water
mains, hydrants, service lines, and valves. Approximately forty five
thousand feet of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12-inch diameter water mains will be
relined. The project will occur in the City of South Amboy, and
Woodbridge Townships.
3)
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Description
of the Water Supply System:
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The
Middlesex Water Company is an investor-owned water utility that provides water
service to retail customers primarily in eastern Middlesex
County. Water services are now furnished to approximately 58,000
retail customers located in an area of approximately 55 square miles of New
Jersey in Woodbridge Township, the Boroughs of Metuchen and Carteret, portions
of Edison Township and the Borough of South Plainfield and the City of South
Amboy in Middlesex County, and a portion of the Township of Clark in Union
County.
The
Middlesex Water Company obtains water from both surface and groundwater sources;
however, the principal source of supply is the Delaware and Raritan Canal, owned
by the State of New Jersey and operated as a water resource by the New Jersey
Water Supply Authority.
EXHIBIT
A-2
Description of
Loan
See
Schedule A-2 to Specimen Borrower Bond (Exhibit D hereto)
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
EXHIBIT
B
Basis for Determination of
Allowable Project Costs
The
determination of the costs allowable for assistance from the New Jersey
Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program is presented below.
Cost
Classification
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Application
Amount
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Allowable
Costs
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1. Administrative
Expenses
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$ |
89,100 |
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$ |
89,100 |
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2. Other
Costs
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0 |
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0 |
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3. Engineering
Fees
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160,000 |
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160,000 |
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4. Building
Costs
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2,970,000 |
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2,970,000 |
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5. Contingencies
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148,500 |
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148,500 |
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6. Allowance
for Planning and design
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132,400 |
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132,400 |
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7. Sub-total
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3,500,000 |
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3,500,000 |
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8. DEP
Fee
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70,000 |
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9. Total
Project Costs
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$ |
3,570,000 |
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As a
result of the review by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
various line items may have been revised resulting in a change of the allowable
costs for this project. The basis for the determination of the allowable costs
is as follows:
1.
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Administrative
Expenses
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The total
amount requested on the application was $89,100. The amount requested
is for water main cleaning/relining. The allowable administrative
expenses are authorized to be three percent of the allowable building costs.
Therefore, the total amount for this line item is $2,970,000 x 0.03 =
$89,100.
Allowable
Administrative Expenses are $89,100.
The
amount requested for this line item on the application was
$160,000.
This
amount is for engineering services for this project and the full amount
is
allowable.
Allowable
Engineering Fees are $160,000.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
The total
amount requested for this line item was $2,970,000. The allowable cost analysis
(as per N.J.A.C. 7:22-5.8) has determined that the entire amount requested for
this line item is allowable. Therefore, the Allowable Cost Ratio (ACR) is one
(1.0). In addition the project does not provide any reserve capacity. Therefore,
the Reserve Capacity Cost Ratio (RCCR) is one (1.0). Thus, the entire requested
amount is allowable.
Allowable Building Costs
are $2,970,000.
The total
amount requested on the application was $148,500. The allowable amount for this
line item is five percent of the allowable building costs. Therefore, the total
allowable cost for this line item is $2,970,000 x 0.05 = $148,500 .
Allowable
Contingencies are $148,500.
6.
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Allowance
for Planning and Design
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The total
amount requested for this line item was $132,400 . The allowable
amount for this line item based on an allowable building cost
is: $250,000+($2,970,000 - $1,000,000) x 0.12= $486,400. However, the
applicant has requested $132,400 for this line item.
Allowance
for Planning and Design for this project is $132,400.
The
subtotal for project costs applied for is 3,500,000. The actual cost was
adjusted to $3,500,000.
Therefore, the Sub-total
is $3,500,000.
DEP Fee = $3,500,000 x
2%
= $70,000
This item
represents the DEP Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee imposed by DEP as a
portion of the cost of the project of the borrower. This DEP Loan
Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee is a portion of the cost of the project that
has been incurred for engineering and environmental services provided by DEP
for
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
the
borrower in connection with, and as a condition precedent to, the inclusion
of
the
project of the borrower in the 2007 Financing Program of the
Trust. As a portion of the cost of the borrower’s project that
represents a condition precedent to the inclusion of the borrower’s project in
the 2007 Financing Program of the
Trust,
the DEP Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee represents a program expense of
the 2007 Financing Program of the Trust and will be financed for the borrower as
part of the Trust loan made by the Trust to the borrower from the proceeds of
the Trust bonds, the Trust shall direct the trustee for the Trust bonds to
transfer to DEP from the Project Fund the DEP Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination
Fee allocable to the borrower. The DEP’s authority to assess
a Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee was established pursuant to
P.L. 2002, c.34 approved on July 1, 2002.
The total
project costs are $3,570,000
I. Disbursement
to Borrower is: $3,500,000.
Fund Share is $1,750,000.
Trust Share is $1,750,000.
II. Disbursement
to DEP is $70,000.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
EXHIBIT
C
Estimated Disbursement
Schedule
The
following is a schedule of the estimated disbursements for this loan.
Disbursements to the project sponsor for any given month shall not exceed the
amounts indicated below plus any undisbursed amount from the previous
months.
Year
|
Month
|
|
Fund
Share
Borrower
Disbursement
|
|
|
Trust
Share
Borrower
Disbursement
|
|
|
Trust
Share
DEP
Disbursement
|
|
|
Total
|
|
2007
|
November
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
*70,000 |
|
|
$ |
*70,000 |
|
|
November
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
January
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
February
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
March
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
April
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
May
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
550,000 |
|
|
June
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
550,000 |
|
|
July
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
August
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
September
|
|
|
187,500 |
|
|
|
187,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
$ |
1,750,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,750,000 |
|
|
$ |
*70,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,570,000 |
|
*This is
the DEP loan origination fee. No action is required on the part of
the borrower.
The trust
will make a single transfer to DEP, through the Trust’s Trustee, on behalf of
all of the Borrowers in 2007 Financing Program.
EXHIBIT
D
Specimen Borrower
Bond
EXHIBIT
E
Opinions of Borrower's Bond
and General Counsels
EXHIBIT
F
Additional Covenants and
Requirements
None.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
EXHIBIT
G
General
Administrative Requirements for the
State Environmental
Infrastructure Financing Program
General Administrative and
Special Requirements
The
following General Administrative Requirements are applicable to this Loan. These
requirements do not limit, or otherwise alter, the project sponsor’s obligations
under the Safe Drinking Water Act and its amendments, the New Jersey Water
Pollution Control Act, the State rules under N.J.A.C. 7:22, the
Fund and Trust Loan Agreements, or the Special Requirements. The
Special Requirements specific to this project are found in this Exhibit after
the listing of General Administrative Requirements.
1.
|
Operation and
Maintenance Manual (O&M
Manual):
|
During
construction (i.e., prior to initiation of operation), the project sponsor shall
certify to the Trust, in the case of a Trust Loan, and to the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection (Department), in the case of a Fund Loan,
that a final Plan of Operation, and an O&M Manual have been developed for
the project.
The
project sponsor shall comply with the project performance provisions of N.J.A.C. 7:22-3.30
and 7:22-4.30. As a minimum, unless further specified, the project
performance standards shall consist of the effluent discharge standards in the
NJPDES permit (if applicable) and the design criteria in the Department approved
Engineer’s Technical Design Report for the project.
The
project sponsor shall acquire or have the construction contractor acquire, as
appropriate flood insurance made available under the National Flood
Insurance
Act of
1968, as amended. Insurance coverage shall begin with the period
of
construction
and continue for the entire useful life of the facility. The
insurance shall be in an amount at least equal to the allowable improvements or
the maximum limit of coverage made available to the project sponsor under the
National Flood Insurance Act, whichever is less. The project sponsor
must comply with this requirement prior to the release of the initial payment
for construction work.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
The
project sponsor shall have an annual financial audit performed if the project
sponsor expended $500,000 or more in State and/or Federal financial assistance
during the project sponsor’s fiscal year. The audit shall be performed in
accordance with the Single Audit Act, Federal OMB Circular No. A-133, and State
Policy OMB Circular 04-04-OMB. Copies of all audit reports must be submitted to
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Audit, P.O. Box
402, Trenton, New Jersey 08625.
If the
project sponsor expended less than $500,000 in State and/or Federal financial
assistance within their fiscal year, but expend $100,000 or more in State and/or
Federal financial assistance within their fiscal year, the project sponsor shall
have either a financial statement audit performed in accordance with Government
Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) or a program-specific audit performed in
accordance with the Act, Amendments, OMB Circular No. A-133 Revised and State
policy.
Program-specific
audits in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133 Revised can be elected when a
project sponsor expends Federal or State financial assistance under only one
Federal or State program and the Federal or State program's laws, regulations,
or grant agreements do not require a financial statement audit of the
grantee.
5.
|
Socially and
Economically Disadvantaged Individuals Utilization
Plan:
|
The
project sponsor shall ensure that the contractor provides a Socially and
Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SED) Utilization Plan in accordance with
N.J.A.C.
7:22-9.1 et seq. which outlines the entire contract work, each significant
segment of the contract on which SEDs will or may participate and a description
of how SEDs will be contracted. This plan shall be submitted no later
than 30 days after the contract award.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
SPECIAL
REQUIREMENTS
Project
Schedule:
The
project sponsor unit shall expeditiously initiate and complete the project in
accordance with the project schedule, which was submitted as part of the loan
application and is repeated below. Failure to promptly initiate and
complete the project may result in the imposition of sanctions under N.J.A.C. 7:22-3.40
through 3.44 and N.J.A.C. 7:22-4.40 through 4.44. In
addition, failure to promptly award all sub agreement(s) for building the
project within 12 months of the date of this loan may result in limitation of
allowable costs as provided by N.J.A.C.
7:22-5.4(d) 5.This limitation on allowable costs incurred under contracts
awarded after 12 months from the date of this loan are unallowable unless a
special extension has been granted by the Department, in the case of a Fund
Loan, and the Trust, in the case of a Trust Loan.
EVENT
|
DATE
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
December
19, 2007
|
|
|
BID
RECEIPT:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
January
19, 2008
|
|
|
AWARD:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
February
19, 2008
|
|
|
ISSUANCE
OF NOTICE TO PROCCED:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
March
27, 2008
|
|
|
COMPLETION
OF CONSTRUCTION:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
September
27, 2008
|
|
|
INITATION
OF OPERATION:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
September
27, 2008
|
|
|
CERTIFICATION
OF PROJECT:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
September
27, 2009
|
EXHIBIT
H
Form of Continuing
Disclosure Agreement
CONTINUING DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
BY
AND AMONG
[NAME
OF BORROWER]
AND
[NAME
OF TRUSTEE], as Trustee
AND
NEW
JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST
CONTINUING
DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
THIS CONTINUING DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made and entered into as of [DATE], by and
among [NAME OF BORROWER] (the "Borrower"), a corporation duly created and
validly existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey (the "State"), [NAME
OF TRUSTEE] (the "Trustee"), a [national] [state] banking association duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of the [United States of America]
[State], and NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST (the "Trust"), a
public body corporate and politic with corporate succession duly created and
validly existing under the laws of the State.
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trust, duly
created and validly existing under and by virtue of the "New Jersey
Environmental Infrastructure Trust Act", constituting Chapter 334 of the
Pamphlet Laws of 1985 of the State (codified at N.J.S.A. 58:11B-1 et seq.), as the same may
from time to time be amended and supplemented (the "Act"), in accordance with
and pursuant to (i) the Act, (ii) the "Environmental Infrastructure Bond
Resolution, Series ____", as adopted by the Board of Directors of the Trust on
[DATE] (the "Resolution"), and (iii) a financial plan approved by the State
Legislature in accordance with Section 23 of the Act, will issue its
Environmental Infrastructure Bonds, Series ____ (together with certain
additional series of bonds to be issued by the Trust for future programs in
which the Borrower participates (as set forth in Schedule A to be attached
hereto by the Trustee (or any other fiduciary acting in such capacity) in the
year of such issuance), the "Bonds") for the purpose of, inter alia, making a loan to
the Borrower from the proceeds of the Bonds to finance a portion of the cost of
an environmental infrastructure system project (the "Loan"), pursuant to the
terms and provisions of that certain Loan Agreement by and between the Trust and
the Borrower dated as of [DATE] (the "Trust Loan Agreement") (all capitalized
terms used in this Agreement but not defined herein shall, unless the context
otherwise requires, have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Trust Loan
Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Borrower has, in
accordance with the Act and the Regulations, made timely application to the
Trust for the Loan to finance a portion of the Cost of the Project;
WHEREAS, the State Legislature
has, in accordance with Section 20 of the Act and in the form of an
appropriations act, approved a project priority list that includes the Project
and that authorizes an expenditure of proceeds of the Bonds to finance a portion
of the Cost of the Project;
WHEREAS, the Trust has
approved the Borrower's application for the Loan from available proceeds of the
Bonds to finance a portion of the Cost of the Project;
WHEREAS, in accordance with
the Wastewater Treatment Bond Act of 1985, P.L. 1985, c. 329, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, the Borrower has been awarded a Fund Loan
for a portion of the Cost of the Project;
WHEREAS, the Borrower, in
accordance with, as applicable, the Act, the Regulations and the "New Jersey
Business Corporation Act", constituting Chapter 263 of the Pamphlet Laws of 1968
of the State (codified at N.J.S.A. 14A:1-1 et seq.), as the same may
from time to time be amended and supplemented, will issue a borrower bond to the
Trust evidencing the Loan (together with certain additional series of bonds to
be issued by the Borrower for future programs in which the Borrower participates
(as set forth in Schedule B to be attached hereto by the Trustee (or any other
fiduciary acting in such capacity) in the year of such issuance), the "Borrower
Bond") on the date of issuance of the Bonds;
WHEREAS, the Trustee has duly
accepted, as Trustee for the Holders from time to time of the Bonds, the trusts
imposed upon it by the Resolution in connection with the issuance of the
Bonds;
WHEREAS, the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended and supplemented (codified as of the date hereof at 15 U.S.C.
77 et seq.) (the
"Securities Exchange Act"), has adopted amendments effective July 3, 1995 to its
Rule 15c2-12 (codified at 17 C.F.R. §240.15c2-12), as the same may be further
amended, supplemented and officially interpreted from time to time or any
successor provision thereto ("Rule 15c2-12"), generally prohibiting a broker,
dealer or municipal securities dealer from purchasing or selling municipal
securities, such as the Bonds, unless such broker, dealer or municipal
securities dealer has reasonably determined that an issuer of municipal
securities or an obligated person has undertaken in a written agreement or
contract for the benefit of holders of such securities to provide certain annual
financial information and operating data and notices of the occurrence of
certain material events to various information repositories;
WHEREAS, the Trust has
determined, in its sole discretion, pursuant to criteria set forth in the
Resolution, the Notice of Sale dated [DATE] (the "Notice of Sale"), the
Preliminary Official Statement dated [DATE] (the "Preliminary Official
Statement") and the Final Official Statement dated [DATE] (the "Final Official
Statement"), that the Borrower is a material "obligated person" with respect to
the Bonds within the meaning and for the purposes of Rule 15c2-12 and, in order
to enable a "participating underwriter" (as such term is defined in Rule
15c2-12) to purchase the Bonds, is therefore required to cause the delivery of
the information described in this Agreement to the municipal securities
marketplace for the period of time specified in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, on [DATE], the Trust
accepted the bid of [NAME OF PURCHASER], on behalf of itself and each of the
original underwriters for the Bonds (each a "Participating Underwriter"), for
the purchase of the Bonds;
WHEREAS, the execution and
delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Borrower, the
Trustee and the Trust, respectively, and all conditions, acts and things
necessary and required to exist, to have happened or to have been performed
precedent to and in the execution and delivery of this Agreement do exist, have
happened and have been performed in regular form, time and manner;
and
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the
Trustee and the Trust are entering into this Agreement for the benefit of the
Holders of the Bonds.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in
consideration of the premises and of the mutual representations, covenants and
agreements herein set forth, the Borrower, the Trustee and the Trust, each
binding itself, its successors and its assigns, do mutually promise, covenant
and agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Terms Defined in
Recitals. All of the terms defined in the preambles hereof
shall have the respective meanings set forth therein for all purposes of this
Agreement.
Section 1.2. Additional
Definitions. The following additional terms shall have the
meanings specified below:
"Annual
Report" means Financial Statements and Operating Data provided at least annually
with respect to the Borrower.
"Bond
Disclosure Event" means any event described in Section 2.6(a) of this
Agreement.
"Bond
Disclosure Event Notice" means the notice to each National Repository or to the
MSRB and the State Depository, if any, as provided in Section 2.6(b) of this
Agreement.
"Bondholder"
or "Holder" or any similar term, when used with reference to the Bonds, means
any person who shall be the registered owner of any outstanding Bonds, including
holders of beneficial interests in the Bonds.
"Borrower
Bond Disclosure Event" means any event described in Section 2.1(c) of this
Agreement.
"Borrower
Bond Disclosure Event Notice" means the notice to the Trust as provided in
Section 2.4(c) of this Agreement.
"Dissemination
Agent" means an entity acting in its capacity as Dissemination Agent under this
Agreement or any successor Dissemination Agent designated in writing by the
Borrower that has filed a written acceptance of such designation.
"Financial
Statements" means the audited financial statements of the Borrower for each
Fiscal Year, including, without limitation, balance sheets, statements of
changes in fund balances and statements of current funds, revenues, expenditures
and other charges or statements that convey similar information.
"Fiscal
Year" means the fiscal year of the Borrower as determined by the Borrower from
time to time pursuant to State law. As of the date of this Agreement,
the Fiscal Year of the Borrower begins on [MONTH] of each calendar year and
closes on the following [MONTH].
"GAAP"
means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in
the United States of America, consistently applied.
"GAAS"
means generally accepted auditing standards as in effect from time to time in
the United States of America, consistently applied.
"MSRB"
means the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. The address of the
MSRB as of the date of this Agreement is 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 400,
Washington, DC 20036.
"National
Repository" means a "nationally recognized municipal securities information
repository" within the meaning of Rule 15c2-12. As of the date of
this Agreement, the National Repositories designated by the SEC in accordance
with Rule 15c2-12 are:
Bloomberg
Municipal Repository
100
Business Park Drive
Skillman,
NJ 08558
Phone:
(609) 279-3225
Fax:
(609) 279-5962
http://www.bloomberg.com/markets/municontacts.html
Email: Munis@Bloomberg.com
DPC Data
Inc.
One
Executive Drive
Fort Lee,
NJ 07024
Phone:
(201) 346-0701
Fax:
(201) 947-0107
http://www.dpcdata.com
Email: nrmsir@dpcdata.com
FT
Interactive Data
Attn:
NRMSIR
100
William Street, 15th
Floor
New York,
NY 10038
Phone:
(212) 771-6999; (800) 689-8466
Fax:
(212) 771-7390
http://www.ftid.com
Email: NRMSIR@interactivedata.com
Standard
& Poor’s Securities Evaluations, Inc.
55 Water
Street
45th
Floor
New York,
NY 10041
Phone:
(212) 438-4595
Fax:
(212) 438-3975
http://www.jjkenny.com/jjkenny/pser_descrip_data_rep.html
Email: nrmsir_repository@sandp.com
"Operating
Data" means certain financial and statistical information of the Borrower, which
for purposes of this Agreement shall include the financial and statistical
information under the headings [TITLES] in Appendix B of the Final Official
Statement, a copy of which Appendix B is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"Repository"
means each National Repository and each State Depository, if any.
"State
Depository" means any public or private repository or entity designated by the
State as a state information depository for purposes of Rule
15c2-12. [As of the date of this Agreement, there is no State
Depository.]
Section 1.3. Interpretation. Words
of masculine gender include correlative words of the feminine and neuter
genders. Unless the context shall otherwise indicate, words importing
the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words importing persons
include corporations, associations, partnerships (including limited
partnerships), trusts, firms and other legal entities, including public bodies,
as well as natural persons. Articles and Sections referred to by
number mean the corresponding Articles and Sections of this
Agreement. The terms "hereby", "hereof", "hereto", "herein",
"hereunder" and any similar terms as used in this Agreement refer to this
Agreement as a whole unless otherwise expressly stated. The headings
of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not define or limit the
provisions hereof.
ARTICLE
2
CONTINUING
DISCLOSURE COVENANTS AND REPRESENTATIONS
Section 2.1. Continuing Disclosure Covenants of
Borrower. The Borrower agrees that it will provide or, if the
Borrower has appointed or engaged a Dissemination Agent, shall cause the
Dissemination Agent to provide:
(b) Not
later than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of each Fiscal Year specified in
Section 2.1(a) hereof, a copy of the Annual Report, complete to the extent
required in Section 2.1(a) hereof, to the Trustee and the Dissemination Agent
(if the Borrower has appointed or engaged a Dissemination Agent).
(c) In
a timely manner, to the Trust, notice of any of the following events with
respect to the Borrower Bond (each a "Borrower Bond Disclosure Event"), if
material:
|
(i)
|
Principal
and interest payment delinquencies;
|
|
(ii)
|
Non-payment
related defaults;
|
|
(iii)
|
Unscheduled
draws on debt service reserves reflecting financial
difficulties;
|
|
(iv)
|
Unscheduled
draws on credit enhancements reflecting financial
difficulties;
|
|
(v)
|
Substitution
of credit or liquidity providers or their failure to
perform;
|
|
(vi)
|
Adverse
tax opinions or events affecting the tax-exempt status of the Borrower
Bond;
|
|
(vii)
|
Modifications
to the rights of the holders of the Borrower
Bond;
|
|
(viii)
|
Borrower
Bond calls (other than regularly scheduled mandatory sinking fund
redemptions for which notice of redemption has been given to the holders
of the Borrower Bond as required pursuant to the provisions of the
resolution, ordinance or agreement of the Borrower pursuant to which the
Borrower Bond was issued);
|
|
(x)
|
Release,
substitution or sale of property securing repayment of the Borrower Bond;
and
|
Section 2.2. Continuing Disclosure Representations
of Borrower. The Borrower represents and warrants
that:
(a) Financial
Statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(b) Financial
Statements shall be audited by an independent certified public accountant in
accordance with GAAS.
Section 2.3. Form of Annual
Report. (a) The Annual Report may be submitted by the
Borrower, or on behalf thereof, as a single document or as separate documents
comprising a package.
(b) Any
or all of the items that must be included in the Annual Report may be
incorporated by reference from other documents, including official statements
delivered in connection with other financings issued on behalf of the Borrower
or related public entities thereof, that have been submitted to each of the
Repositories or filed with the SEC. If the document incorporated by
reference is a final official statement, it must be available from the
MSRB. The Borrower shall clearly identify each such other document so
incorporated by reference.
(c) The
Annual Report for any Fiscal Year containing any modified operating data or
financial information (as contemplated by Sections 4.9 and 4.10 hereof) for such
Fiscal Year shall explain, in narrative form, the reasons for such modification
and the effect of such modification on the Annual Report being provided for such
Fiscal Year.
Section 2.4. Responsibilities and Duties of
Borrower, Dissemination Agent and Trustee. (a) If fifteen (15)
days prior to the date specified in Section 2.1(a) hereof the Trustee has not
received a copy of the Annual Report, complete to the extent required in Section
2.1(a) hereof, the Trustee shall contact the Borrower to provide notice of the
Borrower's obligations pursuant to Sections 2.1(a), 2.1(b) and 2.4(d)(ii)
hereof.
(b) If
the Trustee, by the date specified in Section 2.1(a) hereof, has not received a
written report from the Borrower, as required by Section 2.4(d)(ii) hereof,
indicating that an Annual Report, complete to the extent required in Section
2.1(a) hereof, has been provided to the Repositories and the Trust by the date
specified in Section 2.1(a) hereof, the Trustee shall send a notice to each
National Repository or to the MSRB and the State Depository, if any, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B together with any
standard forms or cover sheets that may be required by the MSRB as of the date
thereof, with a copy thereof to the Trust and the Borrower.
(c) If
the Borrower has determined that the occurrence of a Borrower Bond Disclosure
Event would be material, the Borrower or the Dissemination Agent (if one has
been appointed or engaged by the Borrower) shall file promptly a notice of such
occurrence with the Trust (the "Borrower Bond Disclosure Event Notice") in a
form determined by the Borrower; provided, that the Borrower
Bond Disclosure Event Notice pertaining to the occurrence of a Borrower Bond
Disclosure Event described in Section 2.1(c)(viii) (Borrower Bond calls) or
2.1(c)(ix) (defeasances) hereof need not be given under this Section 2.4(c) any
earlier than the time when the notice (if any) of such Borrower Bond Disclosure
Event shall otherwise be required to be given to the holder of the Borrower Bond
as provided in any resolution, ordinance or agreement of the
Borrower.
(d) The
Borrower shall or, if the Borrower has appointed or engaged a Dissemination
Agent, shall cause the Dissemination Agent to:
(i) determine
each year, prior to the date for providing the Annual Report, the name and
address of each National Repository and each State Depository, if any;
and
(ii) by
the date specified in Section 2.1(a) hereof, provide a written report to the
Trustee and the Trust (and, if a Dissemination Agent has been appointed, to the
Borrower), upon which said parties may rely, certifying that the Annual Report,
complete to the extent required in Section 2.1(a) hereof, has been provided
pursuant to this Agreement, stating the date it was provided and listing all of
the Repositories to which it was provided.
Section 2.5. Appointment, Removal and Resignation
of Dissemination Agent. (a) The Borrower may, from time to
time, appoint or engage a Dissemination Agent to assist it in carrying out its
obligations under this Agreement, and shall provide notice of such appointment
to the Trustee and the Trust. Thereafter, the Borrower may discharge
any such Dissemination Agent and satisfy its obligations under this Agreement
without the assistance of a Dissemination Agent, or the Borrower may discharge a
Dissemination Agent and appoint a successor Dissemination Agent, such discharge
to be effective on the date of the appointment of a successor Dissemination
Agent. The Borrower shall provide notice of the discharge of a
Dissemination Agent to the Trustee and the Trust and shall further indicate
either the decision of the Borrower to satisfy its obligations under this
Agreement without the assistance of a Dissemination Agent or the identity of the
new Dissemination Agent.
(b) The
Dissemination Agent shall have only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Agreement.
(c) The
Dissemination Agent, or any successor thereto, may at any time resign and be
discharged of its duties and obligations under this Agreement by giving not less
than thirty (30) days' written notice to the Borrower. Such
resignation shall take effect on the date specified in such notice.
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Principal
and interest payment delinquencies;
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(ii)
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Non-payment
related defaults;
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(iii)
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Unscheduled
draws on debt service reserves reflecting financial
difficulties;
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(iv)
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Unscheduled
draws on credit enhancements reflecting financial
difficulties;
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(v)
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Substitution
of credit or liquidity providers or their failure to
perform;
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Adverse
tax opinions or events affecting the tax-exempt status of the
Bonds;
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(vii)
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Modifications
to the rights of the Holders of the
Bonds;
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Bond
calls (other than regularly scheduled mandatory sinking fund redemptions
for which notice of redemption has been given to the Bondholders as
required pursuant to the provisions of the
Resolution);
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(x)
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Release,
substitution or sale of property securing repayment of the Bonds;
and
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each Bond
Disclosure Event Notice with the Trustee and the Borrower (for informational
purposes only).
Section 2.7. Immunities and Liabilities of
Trustee. Article X of the Resolution, as it relates to the
immunities and liabilities of the Trustee, is hereby made applicable to the
Trustee's responsibilities under this Agreement.
ARTICLE
3
REMEDIES
Section
3.1. Remedies. (a) The Trustee may, in reliance upon the advice of counsel (and at the
request of the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Bonds, after the provision of indemnity in
accordance with Section 10.05 of the Resolution, shall), or any Bondholder may,
for the equal benefit and protection of all Bondholders similarly situated, take
whatever action at law or in equity against the Borrower or the Trust or any of
their respective officers, agents and employees necessary or desirable to
enforce the specific performance and observance of any obligation, agreement or
covenant of the Borrower and the Trust under this Agreement, and may compel the
Borrower or the Trust or any of their respective officers, agents or employees
(except for the Dissemination Agent with respect to the obligations, agreements
and covenants of the Borrower) to perform and carry out their duties under this
Agreement; provided,
that no person or entity shall be entitled to recover monetary damages hereunder
under any circumstances; and provided, further, that any Bondholder,
acting for the equal benefit and protection of all Bondholders similarly
situated, may pursue specific performance only with respect to the failure to
file Annual Reports, Borrower Bond Disclosure Event Notices and Bond Disclosure
Event Notices required by this Agreement and may not pursue specific performance
in challenging the adequacy of Annual Reports that have been filed pursuant to
the provisions hereof.
(b) In
case the Trustee or any Bondholder shall have proceeded to enforce its rights
under this Agreement and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or
abandoned for any reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee
or any Bondholder, as the case may be, then and in every such case the Borrower,
the Trust, the Trustee and any Bondholder, as the case may be, shall be restored
respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights,
remedies and powers of the Borrower, the Trust, the Trustee and any Bondholder
shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
(c) Any
failure by the Trust or the Borrower to perform its respective obligations under
this Agreement shall not be deemed an event of default under either the
Resolution or the Trust Loan Agreement, as the case may be, and the sole remedy
under this Agreement in the event of any failure by the Trust or the Borrower to
comply with this Agreement shall be as set forth in Section 3.1(a)
hereof.
ARTICLE
4
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 4.1. Purposes of
Agreement. This Agreement is being executed and delivered by
the Borrower, the Trustee and the Trust for the benefit of the Bondholders and
in order to assist the Participating Underwriter in complying with clause (b)(5)
of Rule 15c2-12.
Section 4.2. Trust and
Bondholders. (a) The Trust may enforce any such right, remedy
or claim conferred, given or granted hereunder in favor of the Trustee or the
Holders of the Bonds.
(b) Each
Bondholder is hereby recognized as being a third-party beneficiary hereunder,
and each may enforce, for the equal benefit and protection of all Bondholders
similarly situated, any such right, remedy or claim conferred, given or granted
hereunder in favor of the Trustee to the extent permitted in Section 3.1(a)
hereof.
Section 4.3. Obligations of Trust Hereunder;
Indemnified Parties. Neither the Trust or any member, officer,
employee, counsel, consultant or agent thereof nor any person executing the
Bonds shall bear any obligation for the performance of any duty, agreement or
covenant of the Borrower or the Trustee under this Agreement. The
obligations of the Trust under this Agreement are expressly limited to the
duties set forth in Sections 2.6, 4.9(c), 4.10 and 4.12 hereof.
The
Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and any member,
officer, employee, counsel, consultant or agent thereof, including the Trustee
and any of its members, officers, employees or agents (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties"), against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses whatsoever caused by the Borrower's failure, or a Dissemination
Agent's failure, to perform or observe any of the Borrower's obligations,
agreements or covenants under the terms of this Agreement, but only if and
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are caused
directly or indirectly by any such failure of the Borrower or the Dissemination
Agent to perform. In case any action shall be brought against the
Indemnified Parties based upon this Agreement and in respect of which indemnity
may be sought against the Borrower, the Indemnified Parties shall promptly
notify the Borrower in writing. Upon receipt of such notification,
the Borrower shall promptly assume the defense of such action, including the
retention of counsel, the payment of all expenses in connection with such action
and the right to negotiate and settle any such action on behalf of such party to
the extent allowed by law. Any Indemnified Party shall have the right
to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such Indemnified Party, unless the employment of such counsel has been
specifically authorized by the Borrower or unless by reason of conflict of
interest (determined by the written opinion of counsel to any Indemnified Party)
it is advisable for such Indemnified Party to be represented by separate counsel
to be retained by the Borrower, in which case the fees and expenses of such
separate counsel shall be borne by the Borrower. The Borrower shall
not be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written
consent, but if settled with the written consent of the Borrower or if
there be
a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action with or without written
consent, the Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified
Parties from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. Nothing in this Section 4.3 shall require or obligate the
Borrower to indemnify or hold harmless the Indemnified Parties from or against
any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense caused by any negligence,
recklessness or intentional misconduct of the Indemnified Parties in connection
with the Borrower's performance of its obligations, agreements and covenants
under this Agreement.
Section 4.4. Additional
Information. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
prevent the Borrower or the Trust from (a) disseminating any other information
using the means of dissemination set forth in this Agreement or any other means
of communication, or (b) including, in addition to that which is required by
this Agreement, in the case of the Borrower, any other information in any Annual
Report or any Borrower Bond Disclosure Event Notice and, in the case of the
Trust, any other information in any Bond Disclosure Event Notice. If
the Borrower chooses to include any information in any Annual Report or any
Borrower Bond Disclosure Event Notice, or if the Trust chooses to include any
information in any Bond Disclosure Event Notice, in addition to that which is
specifically required by this Agreement, neither the Borrower nor the Trust
shall have any obligation under this Agreement to update such information or to
include it in any future Annual Report, Borrower Bond Disclosure Event Notice or
Bond Disclosure Event Notice, as the case may be.
Section 4.5. Notices. All
notices required to be given or authorized to be given by each party pursuant to
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by registered or certified
mail (as well as by facsimile, in the case of the Trustee) addressed to, in the
case of the Borrower, [Borrower Address] (Attention: [Title]); in the
case of the Trustee, its principal corporate trust office at [Trustee Address]
(facsimile: [Number]); and in the case of the Trust, P.O. Box 440,
Trenton, New Jersey 08625 (Attention: Executive
Director).
Section 4.6. Assignments. This
Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto without the written consent of
the others and, as a condition to any such assignment, only upon the assumption
in writing of all of the obligations imposed upon such party by this
Agreement.
Section 4.7. Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement shall be held or deemed to be or shall, in fact,
be illegal, inoperative or unenforceable, the same shall not affect any other
provision or provisions herein contained or render the same invalid, inoperative
or unenforceable to any extent whatsoever.
Section 4.8. Execution in
Counterparts. This Agreement 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. Each party hereto may
sign the same or a separate counterpart.
Section 4.9. Amendments, Changes and
Modifications. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, subsequent to the initial issuance of the Bonds and prior to their
payment in full (or provision for payment thereof having been made in accordance
with the provisions of the Resolution), this Agreement may not be effectively
amended, changed, modified, altered or terminated without the written consent of
the parties hereto.
(b) Without
the consent of any Bondholders, the Borrower, the Trustee and the Trust at any
time and from time to time may enter into any amendments or modifications to
this Agreement for any of the following purposes:
(i)
to add to the covenants and agreements of the Borrower or the Trust hereunder
for the benefit of the Bondholders or to surrender any right or power conferred
upon the Borrower or the Trust by this Agreement;
(ii) to
modify the contents, presentation and format of the Annual Report from time to
time to conform to changes in accounting or disclosure principles or practices
or legal requirements followed by or applicable to the Borrower, to reflect
changes in the identity, nature or status of the Borrower or in the business,
structure or operations of the Borrower or to reflect any mergers,
consolidations, acquisitions or dispositions made by or affecting the Borrower;
provided, that any such
modification shall not be in contravention of Rule 15c2-12 as then in effect at
the time of such modification; or
(iii) to
cure any ambiguity herein, to correct or supplement any provision hereof that
may be inconsistent with any other provision hereof or to include any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement,
any of which, in each case, would have complied with the requirements of Rule
15c2-12 at the time of the primary offering, after taking into account any
amendments or interpretations of Rule 15c2-12 as well as any changes in
circumstances;
provided, that prior to
approving any such amendment or modification, the Trustee determines, in
reliance upon an opinion of Bond Counsel (as defined in the Resolution) to the
Trust, that such amendment or modification does not adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of the Bonds in any material respect.
(d) The
Borrower, the Trustee and the Trust shall be entitled to rely exclusively upon
an opinion of Bond Counsel to the Trust to the effect that such amendments or
modifications comply with the conditions and provisions of this Section
4.9.
Section 4.10. Amendments Required by Rule
15c2-12. The Borrower, the Trustee and the Trust each
recognize that the provisions of this Agreement are intended to enable
compliance with Rule 15c2-12. If, as a result of a change in Rule
15c2-12 or in the interpretation thereof or the promulgation of a successor
rule, statute or regulation thereto, a change in this
Agreement
shall be permitted or necessary to assure continued compliance with Rule
15c2-12, upon delivery of an opinion of Bond Counsel to the Trust to the effect
that such amendments shall be permitted or necessary to assure continued
compliance with Rule 15c2-12 as so amended or interpreted, then the Borrower,
the Trustee and the Trust shall amend this Agreement to comply with and be bound
by any such amendment to the extent necessary or desirable to assure compliance
with the provisions of Rule 15c2-12, and shall provide written notice of such
amendment as required by Section 4.9(c) hereof.
Section 4.11. Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State and the laws of the United States of America, as
applicable.
Section 4.12. Termination of Continuing Disclosure
Obligations. (a) The obligations of the Borrower hereunder
shall be in full force and effect from the date of issuance of the Bonds, and
shall continue in effect until the date either (i) the Borrower Bond is no
longer outstanding in accordance with the terms of the documents under which it
was issued, or (ii) the Borrower no longer remains a material "obligated person"
(as the term "obligated person" is defined in Rule 15c2-12, with materiality
being determined by the Trust in its sole discretion pursuant to criteria set
forth in the Resolution, the Notice of Sale, the Preliminary Official Statement
and the Final Official Statement) with respect to the Bonds, and, in either
event, only after the Trust delivers written notice to such effect to each
National Repository or to the MSRB and the State Depository, if
any.
(b) The
obligations of the Trust hereunder shall be in full force and effect from the
date hereof and shall continue in effect until the date the Bonds are no longer
outstanding in accordance with the terms of the Resolution, and only after the
Trust delivers written notice to such effect to each National Repository or to
the MSRB and the State Depository, if any.
Section 4.13. Prior
Undertakings. The Borrower has not failed to comply in any
material respect with any prior continuing disclosure undertaking made by the
Borrower in accordance with Rule 15c2-12.
Section 4.14. Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall
be binding upon the Borrower, the Trustee and the Trust and their respective
successors and assigns.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [NAME OF
BORROWER], [NAME OF TRUSTEE] and NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST
have caused this Agreement to be executed in their respective names and their
corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested by their duly authorized
officers, all as of the date first above written.
[SEAL]
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ATTEST:
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[NAME
OF BORROWER]
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By:
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Name:
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Name:
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Title:
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Title:
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[SEAL]
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ATTEST:
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[NAME
OF TRUSTEE],
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as
Trustee
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By:
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Name:
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Name:
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Title:
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Title:
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[SEAL]
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ATTEST:
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NEW
JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST
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By:
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Name:
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Name:
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Title:
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Title:
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[Signature Page]
EXHIBIT
A
EXCERPT
OF FINAL OFFICIAL STATEMENT
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF NOTICE TO REPOSITORIES OF
FAILURE
TO FILE ANNUAL REPORT
Name
of Obligated Person:
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[NAME
OF BORROWER]
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Name
of Bond Issue:
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New
Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust
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Environmental
Infrastructure Bonds, Series ____,
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dated
[DATE]
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Date
of Issuance:
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[DATE]
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CUSIP
Numbers:
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NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that [Name of Borrower] (the "Borrower") has not provided an Annual
Report with respect to the above-named bonds (the "Bonds") as required by the
Continuing Disclosure Agreement relating to the Bonds dated [DATE] by and among
the Borrower, [Name of Trustee], as Trustee, and New Jersey Environmental
Infrastructure Trust. [The Borrower anticipates that the Annual
Report will be filed by ___________.]
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[NAME
OF TRUSTEE], |
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as
Trustee |
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Dated:
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B-1
Unassociated Document
Exhibit 10.33
LOAN
AGREEMENT
BY
AND BETWEEN
THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
ACTING
BY AND THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY
DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
AND
MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
DATED
AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I
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DEFINITIONS
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SECTION
1.01.
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Definitions
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2
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ARTICLE
II
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND COVENANTS OF BORROWER
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SECTION
2.01.
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Representations
of Borrower
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6
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SECTION
2.02.
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Particular
Covenants of Borrower
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9
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ARTICLE
III
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LOAN
TO BORROWER; AMOUNTS PAYABLE; GENERAL AGREEMENTS
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SECTION
3.01.
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Loan;
Loan Term
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13
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SECTION
3.02.
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Disbursement
of Loan Proceeds
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13
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SECTION
3.03.
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Amounts
Payable
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14
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SECTION
3.03A.
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Amounts on Deposit in Project Loan
Account after Completion of Draw Schedule
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15
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SECTION
3.04.
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Unconditional
Obligations
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15
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SECTION
3.05.
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Loan
Agreement to Survive Loan
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16
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SECTION
3.06.
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Disclaimer
of Warranties and Indemnification
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16
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SECTION
3.07.
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Option
to Prepay Loan Repayments
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17
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SECTION
3.08.
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Priority
of Loan and Trust Loan
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17
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SECTION
3.09.
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Approval
of the New Jersey State Treasurer
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18
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ARTICLE
IV
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ASSIGNMENT
OF LOAN AGREEMENT AND BORROWER BOND
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SECTION
4.01.
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Assignment
and Transfer by State
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19
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SECTION
4.02.
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Assignment
by Borrower
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19
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ARTICLE
V
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EVENTS
OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
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SECTION
5.01.
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Events
of Default
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20
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SECTION
5.02.
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Notice
of Default
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21
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SECTION
5.03.
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Remedies
on Default
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21
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SECTION
5.04.
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Attorneys'
Fees and Other Expenses
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21
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SECTION
5.05.
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Application
of Moneys
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21
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SECTION
5.06.
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No
Remedy Exclusive; Waiver; Notice
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21
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SECTION
5.07.
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Retention
of State's Rights
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23
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ARTICLE
VI
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MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION
6.01.
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Notices
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23
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SECTION
6.02.
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Binding
Effect
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23
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SECTION
6.03.
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Severability
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23
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SECTION
6.04.
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Amendments,
Supplements and Modifications
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23
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SECTION
6.05.
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Execution
in Counterparts
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25
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SECTION
6.06.
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Applicable
Law and Regulations
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25
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SECTION
6.07.
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Consents
and Approvals
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25
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SECTION
6.08.
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Captions
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25
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SECTION
6.09.
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Further
Assurances
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25
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SCHEDULE
A
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Certain
Additional Loan Agreement Provisions
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S-1
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EXHIBIT
A
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(1)
Description of Project and Environmental Infrastructure
System
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A-1-1
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(2)
Description of Loan
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A-2-1
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EXHIBIT
B
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Basis
for Determination of Allowable Project Costs
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B-1
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EXHIBIT
C
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Estimated
Disbursement Schedule
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C-1
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EXHIBIT
D
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Specimen
Borrower Bond
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D-1
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EXHIBIT
E
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Opinions
of Borrower's Bond and General Counsels
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E-1
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EXHIBIT
F
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Additional
Covenants and Requirements
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F-1
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EXHIBIT
G
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General
Administrative Requirements for the State
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Environmental
Infrastructure Financing Program
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G-1
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NEW
JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AGREEMENT, made and
entered into as of November 1, 2007, by and between THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
acting by and through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and
the Borrower (capitalized terms used in this Loan Agreement shall have, unless
the context otherwise requires, the meanings ascribed thereto in Section 1.01
hereof);
WITNESSETH
THAT:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has, in
accordance with the Regulations, made timely application to the State for a Loan
to finance a portion of the Cost of the Project;
WHEREAS, the State has
approved the Borrower's application for a Loan from Federal Funds, if and when
received by and available to the State, and moneys from repayments of loans
previously made from such Federal Funds, in the amount of the loan commitment
set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof to finance a
portion of the Cost of the Project;
WHEREAS, the New Jersey State
Legislature has approved an appropriations act that authorizes an expenditure of
said proceeds, Federal Funds or related moneys to finance a portion of the Cost
of the Project;
WHEREAS, the Borrower, in
accordance with the Business Corporation Law and all other applicable law, will
issue a Borrower Bond to the State evidencing said Loan at the Loan Closing;
and
WHEREAS, in accordance with
the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Act, P.L. 1985, c. 334, as
amended, and the Regulations, the Borrower has been awarded a Trust Loan for a
portion of the Cost of the Project plus, if applicable to the Borrower,
capitalized interest on the Trust Loan, certain costs of issuance and bond
insurance premium related thereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in
consideration of the award of the Loan by the State, the Borrower agrees to
complete the Project and to perform under this Loan Agreement in accordance with
the conditions, covenants and procedures set forth herein and attached hereto as
part hereof, as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.01. Definitions. The following terms as used in
this Loan Agreement shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have
the following meanings:
"Administrative Fee" means an
annual fee of up to one percent (1.0%) of the initial principal amount of the
Loan or such lesser amount, if any, as may be authorized by any act of the New
Jersey State Legislature and as the State may approve from time to
time.
"Authorized Officer" means, in
the case of the Borrower, any person or persons authorized pursuant to a
resolution of the board of directors of the Borrower to perform any act or
execute any document relating to the Loan, the Borrower Bond or this Loan
Agreement.
"Borrower" means the
corporation that is a party to and is described in Schedule A to this Loan
Agreement, and its successors and assigns.
"Borrower Bond" means the
general obligation bond, note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness
authorized, executed, attested and delivered by the Borrower to the State and
authenticated, if applicable, on behalf of the Borrower to evidence the Loan, a
specimen of which is attached hereto as Exhibit D and made a part
hereof.
"Borrowers" means any other
Local Government Unit or Private Entity (as such terms are defined in the
Regulations) authorized to construct, operate and maintain Environmental
Infrastructure Facilities that have entered into Loan Agreements with the State
pursuant to which the State will make Loans to such recipients from Federal
Funds.
"Business Corporation Law"
means the "New Jersey Business Corporation Act", constituting Chapter 263 of the
Pamphlet Laws of 1968 of the State (codified at N.J.S.A. 14A:1-1 et seq.), as the same may
from time to time be amended and supplemented.
"Code" means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may from time to time be amended and
supplemented, including any regulations promulgated thereunder, any successor
code thereto and any administrative or judicial interpretations
thereof.
"Cost" means those costs that
are eligible, reasonable, necessary, allocable to the Project and permitted by
generally accepted accounting principles, including Allowances and Building
Costs (as defined in the Regulations), as shall be determined on a
project-specific basis in accordance with the Regulations as set forth in
Exhibit B hereto, as the same may be amended by subsequent eligible costs as
evidenced by a certificate of an authorized officer of the State.
“Department” means the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
"Environmental Infrastructure
Facilities" means Water Supply Facilities (as such term is defined in the
Regulations).
"Environmental Infrastructure
System" means the Environmental Infrastructure Facilities of the
Borrower, including the Project, described in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and
made a part hereof for which the Borrower is borrowing the Loan under this Loan
Agreement.
"Event of Default" means any
occurrence or event specified in Section 5.01 hereof.
“Excess Project Funds” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03A hereof.
"Federal Funds" means those
funds awarded to the State pursuant to the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1251
et seq.) or the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. §300f et seq.), as the same may
from time to time be amended and supplemented.
"Loan" means the loan made by
the State to the Borrower to finance or refinance a portion of the Cost of the
Project pursuant to this Loan Agreement. For all purposes of this
Loan Agreement, the principal amount of the Loan at any time shall be the amount
of the loan commitment set forth in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part
hereof (such amount being also specified as the initial aggregate principal
amount of the Borrower Bond) less any amount of such principal amount that has
been repaid by the Borrower under this Loan Agreement and less any adjustment
made for low bid or final building costs pursuant to the provisions of N.J.A.C.
7:22-3.26 and the appropriations act of the New Jersey State Legislature
authorizing the expenditure of moneys to finance a portion of the Cost of the
Project.
"Loan Agreement" means this
Loan Agreement, including the Exhibits attached hereto, as it may be
supplemented, modified or amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.
"Loan Agreements" means any
other loan agreements entered into by and between the State and one or more of
the Borrowers pursuant to which the State will make Loans to such Borrowers from
Federal Funds.
"Loan Closing" means the date
upon which the Borrower shall deliver its Borrower Bond, as previously
authorized, executed, attested and, if applicable, authenticated, to the
State.
"Loan Repayments" means the
sum of (i) the repayments of the principal amount of the Loan payable by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 3.03(a) of this Loan Agreement and (ii) any late
charges incurred hereunder, but shall not include the Administrative
Fee.
"Loan Term" means the term of
this Loan Agreement provided in Sections 3.01 and 3.03 hereof and in Exhibit A-2
attached hereto and made a part hereof.
"Loans" means the loans made
by the State to the Borrowers under the Loan Agreements from Federal
Funds.
"Master Program Trust
Agreement" means that certain Master Program Trust Agreement, dated as of
November 1, 1995, by and among the Trust, the State, United States
Trust
Company of New York, as Master Program Trustee thereunder, The Bank of New York
(NJ), in several capacities thereunder, and First Fidelity Bank, N.A.
(predecessor to Wachovia Bank, National Association), in several capacities
thereunder, as supplemented by that certain Agreement of Resignation of Outgoing
Master Program Trustee, Appointment of Successor Master Program Trustee and
Acceptance Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2001, by and among United States
Trust Company of New York, as Outgoing Master Program Trustee, State Street Bank
and Trust Company, N.A. (predecessor to U.S. Bank Trust National Association),
as Successor Master Program Trustee, and the Trust, as the same may be amended
and supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
"Prime Rate" means the
prevailing commercial interest rate announced by the Trustee from time to time
in the State as its prime lending rate.
"Project" means the
Environmental Infrastructure Facilities of the Borrower described in Exhibit A-1
attached hereto and made a part hereof, which constitutes a project for which
the State is permitted to make a loan to the Borrower pursuant to the
Regulations, all or a portion of the Cost of which is financed or refinanced by
the State through the making of the Loan under this Loan Agreement and which may
be identified under either the Drinking Water or Clean Water Project Lists with
the Project Number specified in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto.
"Regulations" means the rules
and regulations, as applicable, now or hereafter promulgated under N.J.A.C.
7:22-3 et seq., 7:22-4
et seq., 7:22-5 et seq., 7:22-9 et seq. and 7:22-10 et seq., as the same may from
time to time be amended and supplemented.
"State" means the State of New
Jersey, acting, unless otherwise specifically indicated, by and through the
Department, and its successors and assigns.
"Trust" means the New Jersey
Environmental Infrastructure Trust, a public body corporate and politic with
corporate succession duly created and validly existing under and by virtue of
P.L. 1985, c. 334, as amended (N.J.S.A. 58:11B-1 et seq.).
"Trust Loan" means the loan
made to the Borrower by the Trust pursuant to the Trust Loan
Agreement.
"Trust Loan Agreement" means
the loan agreement by and between the Borrower and the Trust dated as of
November 1, 2007 to finance or refinance a portion of the Cost of the
Project.
"Trustee" means, initially,
U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee appointed by the Trust and its
successors as Trustee under the Bond Resolution, as provided in Article X of the
Bond Resolution.
(b) In
addition to the capitalized terms defined in subsection (a) of this Section
1.01, certain additional capitalized terms used in this Loan Agreement shall,
unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the meanings ascribed to
such additional capitalized terms in Schedule A attached
hereto and made a part hereof.
(c) Except
as otherwise defined herein or where the context otherwise requires, words
importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice versa,
and words importing persons shall include firms, associations, corporations,
agencies and districts. Words importing one gender shall include the
other gender.
ARTICLE
II
REPRESENTATIONS
AND COVENANTS OF BORROWER
SECTION
2.01. Representations of Borrower. The Borrower
represents for the benefit of the State as follows:
(a) Organization and
Authority.
(i)
The Borrower is a corporation duly created and validly existing under and
pursuant to the Constitution and statutes of the State, including the Business
Corporation Law.
(ii)
The acting officers of the Borrower who are contemporaneously herewith
performing or have previously performed any action contemplated in this Loan
Agreement either are or, at the time any such action was performed, were the
duly appointed or elected officers of such Borrower empowered by applicable New
Jersey law and, if applicable, authorized by resolution of the Borrower to
perform such actions. To the extent any such action was performed by
an officer no longer the duly acting officer of such Borrower, all such actions
previously taken by such officer are still in full force and
effect.
(iii) The
Borrower has full legal right and authority and all necessary licenses and
permits required as of the date hereof to own, operate and maintain its
Environmental Infrastructure System, to carry on its activities relating
thereto, to execute, attest and deliver this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond, to authorize the authentication of the Borrower Bond, to sell the Borrower
Bond to the State, to undertake and complete the Project and to carry out and
consummate all transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement.
(iv) The
proceedings of the Borrower's board of directors approving this Loan Agreement
and the Borrower Bond, authorizing the execution, attestation and delivery of
this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond, authorizing the sale of the Borrower
Bond to the State, authorizing the authentication of the Borrower Bond on behalf
of the Borrower and authorizing the Borrower to undertake and complete the
Project, including, without limitation, the Borrower Bond Resolution
(collectively, the "Proceedings"), have been duly and lawfully adopted in
accordance with the Business Corporation Law and other applicable New Jersey law
at a meeting or meetings that were duly called and held in accordance with the
Borrower By-Laws and at which quorums were present and acting
throughout.
(v) By
official action of the Borrower taken prior to or concurrent with the execution
and delivery hereof, including, without limitation, the Proceedings, the
Borrower has duly authorized, approved and consented to all necessary action to
be taken by the Borrower for: (A) the execution, attestation,
delivery and performance of this Loan Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby; (B) the issuance of the
Borrower
Bond and the sale thereof to the State upon the terms set forth herein; and (C)
the execution, delivery and due performance of any and all other certificates,
agreements and instruments that may be required to be executed, delivered and
performed by the Borrower in order to carry out, give effect to and consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Loan Agreement.
(vi) This
Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond have each been duly authorized by the
Borrower and duly executed, attested and delivered by Authorized Officers of the
Borrower, and the Borrower Bond has been duly sold by the Borrower to the State,
duly authenticated by the trustee or paying agent, if applicable, under the
Borrower Bond Resolution and duly issued by the Borrower in accordance with the
terms of the Borrower Bond Resolution; and assuming that the State has all the
requisite power and authority to authorize, execute, attest and deliver, and has
duly authorized, executed, attested and delivered, this Loan Agreement, and
assuming further that this Loan Agreement is the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the State, enforceable against the State in accordance with its
terms, each of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower
in accordance with its respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may
be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws or the application by a
court of legal or equitable principles affecting creditors' rights; and the
information contained under "Description of Loan" in Exhibit A-2 attached hereto
and made a part hereof is true and accurate in all respects.
(b) Full
Disclosure. There is no fact that the Borrower has not
disclosed to the State in writing on the Borrower's application for the Loan or
otherwise that materially adversely affects or (so far as the Borrower can now
foresee) that will materially adversely affect the properties, activities,
prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its
Environmental Infrastructure System, or the ability of the Borrower to make all
Loan Repayments or otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond.
(c) Pending
Litigation. There are no proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower in any
court or before any governmental authority or arbitration board or tribunal
that, if adversely determined, would materially adversely affect (i) the
undertaking or completion of the Project, (ii) the properties, activities,
prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its
Environmental Infrastructure System, (iii) the ability of the Borrower to make
all Loan Repayments, (iv) the authorization, execution, attestation or delivery
of this Loan Agreement or the Borrower Bond, (v) the issuance of the Borrower
Bond and the sale thereof to the State, (vi) the adoption of the Borrower Bond
Resolution, or (vii) the Borrower's ability otherwise to observe and perform its
duties, covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the
Borrower Bond, which proceedings have not been previously disclosed in writing
to the State either in the Borrower's application for the Loan or
otherwise.
(d) Compliance with Existing
Laws and Agreements. (i) The authorization, execution,
attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond by the
Borrower,
(ii) the authentication of the Borrower Bond by the trustee or paying agent
under the Borrower Bond Resolution, as the case may be, and the sale of the
Borrower Bond to the State, (iii) the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution,
(iv) the observation and performance by the Borrower of its duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements hereunder and thereunder, (v) the consummation of the
transactions provided for in this Loan Agreement, the Borrower Bond Resolution
and the Borrower Bond, and (vi) the undertaking and completion of the Project
will not (A) other than the lien, charge or encumbrance created hereby, by the
Borrower Bond, by the Borrower Bond Resolution and by any other outstanding debt
obligations of the Borrower that are at parity with the Borrower Bond as to lien
on, and source and security for payment thereon from, the revenues of the
Borrower's Environmental Infrastructure System, result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of
the Borrower pursuant to, (B) result in any breach of any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of, or (C) constitute a default under, any existing
resolution, outstanding debt or lease obligation, trust agreement, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other instrument to which the
Borrower is a party or by which the Borrower, its Environmental Infrastructure
System or any of its properties or assets may be bound, nor will such action
result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or other document
pursuant to which the Borrower was established or any laws, ordinances,
injunctions, judgments, decrees, rules, regulations or existing orders of any
court or governmental or administrative agency, authority or person to which the
Borrower, its Environmental Infrastructure System or its properties or
operations is subject.
(e) No
Defaults. No event has occurred and no condition exists that,
upon the authorization, execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond, the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale
thereof to the State, the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution or the
receipt of the amount of the Loan, would constitute an Event of Default
hereunder. The Borrower is not in violation of, and has not received
notice of any claimed violation of, any term of any agreement or other
instrument to which it is a party or by which it, its Environmental
Infrastructure System or its properties may be bound, which violation would
materially adversely affect the properties, activities, prospects or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System or the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments, to pay all
other amounts due hereunder or otherwise to observe and perform its duties,
covenants, obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond.
(f) Governmental
Consent. The Borrower has obtained all permits and approvals
required to date by any governmental body or officer for the authorization,
execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond, for the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale thereof to the State,
for the adoption of the Borrower Bond Resolution, for the making, observance and
performance by the Borrower of its duties, covenants, obligations and agreements
under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond and for the undertaking or
completion of the Project and the financing or refinancing thereof, including,
but not limited to, if required, the approval by the New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities (the "BPU") of the issuance by the Borrower of the Borrower Bond to
the State and any other approvals required therefor by the BPU; and the Borrower
has complied with all applicable provisions of law requiring any notification,
declaration, filing or registration with any governmental body or officer in
connection with the making, observance and performance by the Borrower of its
duties,
covenants,
obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond or
with the undertaking or completion of the Project and the financing or
refinancing thereof. No consent, approval or authorization of, or
filing, registration or qualification with, any governmental body or officer
that has not been obtained is required on the part of the Borrower as a
condition to the authorization, execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond, the issuance of the Borrower Bond and the sale
thereof to the State, the undertaking or completion of the Project or the
consummation of any transaction herein contemplated.
(g) Compliance with
Law. The Borrower:
(i)
is in compliance with all laws,
ordinances, governmental rules and regulations to which it is subject, the
failure to comply with which would materially adversely affect (A) the ability
of the Borrower to conduct its activities or to undertake or complete the
Project, (B) the ability of the Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and to pay
all other amounts due hereunder, or (C) the condition (financial or otherwise)
of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure System; and
(ii)
has obtained all licenses, permits, franchises or
other governmental authorizations presently necessary for the ownership of its
properties or for the conduct of its activities that, if not obtained, would
materially adversely affect (A) the ability of the Borrower to conduct its
activities or to undertake or complete the Project, (B) the ability of the
Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and to pay all other amounts due hereunder,
or (C) the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its
Environmental Infrastructure System.
(h) Use of
Proceeds. The Borrower will apply the proceeds of the Loan
from the State as described in Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof
(i) to finance or refinance a portion of the Cost of the Borrower's Project; and
(ii) where applicable, to reimburse the Borrower for a portion of the Cost of
the Borrower's Project, which portion was paid or incurred in anticipation of
reimbursement by the State and is eligible for such reimbursement under and
pursuant to the Regulations, the Code and any other applicable
law. All of such costs constitute Costs for which the State is
authorized to make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to the
Regulations.
SECTION 2.02. Particular
Covenants of Borrower.
(a) Promise to
Pay. The Borrower unconditionally promises, in accordance with
the terms of and to the extent provided in the Borrower Bond Resolution, to make
punctual payment of the principal of the Loan and the Borrower Bond and all
other amounts due under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond according to
their respective terms.
(b) Performance Under Loan
Agreement; Rates. The Borrower covenants and agrees (i) to
comply with all applicable State and federal laws, rules and regulations in the
performance of this Loan Agreement; (ii) to maintain its Environmental
Infrastructure System in good repair and operating condition; (iii) to cooperate
with the State in the observance and performance of
the
respective duties, covenants, obligations and agreements of the Borrower and the
State under this Loan Agreement; and (iv) to establish, levy and collect rents,
rates and other charges for the products and services provided by its
Environmental Infrastructure System, which rents, rates and other charges shall
be at least sufficient to comply with all covenants pertaining thereto contained
in, and all other provisions of, any bond resolution, trust indenture or other
security agreement, if any, relating to any bonds, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness issued or to be issued by the Borrower, including without
limitation rents, rates and other charges, together with other available moneys,
sufficient to pay the principal of and Interest on the Borrower Bond, plus all
other amounts due hereunder.
(c) Revenue Obligation; No Prior
Pledges. The Borrower shall not be required to make payments
under this Loan Agreement except from the revenues of its Environmental
Infrastructure System and from such other funds of such Environmental
Infrastructure System legally available therefor and from any other sources
pledged to such payment pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section
2.02. In no event shall the Borrower be required to make payments
under this Loan Agreement from any revenues or receipts not derived from its
Environmental Infrastructure System or pledged pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 2.02. Except for (i) loan repayments required with
respect to the Trust Loan, (ii) the debt service on any future bonds or notes of
the Borrower issued at parity with the Borrower Bond under the Borrower Bond
Resolution, and (iii) the debt service on any bonds, notes or evidences of
indebtedness of the Borrower at parity with the Borrower Bond under the Borrower
Bond Resolution and currently outstanding or issued on the date hereof, the
revenues derived by the Borrower from its Environmental Infrastructure System,
after the payment of all costs of operating and maintaining the Environmental
Infrastructure System, are and will be free and clear of any pledge, lien,
charge or encumbrance thereon or with respect thereto prior to, or of equal rank
with, the obligation of the Borrower to make Loan Repayments under this Loan
Agreement and the Borrower Bond, and all corporate or other action on the part
of the Borrower to that end has been and will be duly and validly
taken.
(d) Completion of Project and
Provision of Moneys Therefor. The Borrower covenants and
agrees (i) to exercise its best efforts in accordance with prudent environmental
infrastructure utility practice to complete the Project and to accomplish such
completion on or before the estimated Project completion date set forth in
Exhibit G hereto and made a part hereof; (ii) to comply with the terms and
provisions contained in Exhibit G hereto; and (iii) to provide from its own
fiscal resources all moneys, in excess of the total amount of loan proceeds it
receives under the Loan and Trust Loan, required to complete the
Project.
(e) See
Section 2.02(e) as set forth in Schedule A attached hereto, made a part hereof
and incorporated in this Section 2.02(e) by reference as if set forth in full
herein.
(f) Reserved.
(g) Operation and Maintenance of
Environmental Infrastructure System. The Borrower covenants
and agrees that it shall, in accordance with prudent environmental
infrastructure utility practice, (i) at all times operate the properties of its
Environmental Infrastructure System and any business in connection therewith in
an efficient manner, (ii)
maintain
its Environmental Infrastructure System in good repair, working order and
operating condition, and (iii) from time to time make all necessary and proper
repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, betterments and improvements with
respect to its Environmental Infrastructure System so that at all times the
business carried on in connection therewith shall be properly and advantageously
conducted.
(h) Records and
Accounts. The Borrower shall keep accurate records and
accounts for its Environmental Infrastructure System (the "System Records")
separate and distinct from its other records and accounts (the "General
Records"). Such System Records shall be audited annually by an
independent certified public accountant, which may be part of the annual audit
of the General Records of the Borrower. Such System Records and
General Records shall be made available for inspection by the State at any
reasonable time upon prior written notice, and a copy of such annual audit(s)
therefor, including all written comments and recommendations of such accountant,
shall be furnished to the State within 150 days of the close of the fiscal year
being so audited or, with the consent of the State, such additional period as
may be provided by law.
(i) Inspections;
Information. The Borrower shall permit the State and any party
designated by the State, at any and all reasonable times during construction of
the Project and thereafter upon prior written notice, to examine, visit and
inspect the property, if any, constituting the Project and to inspect and make
copies of any accounts, books and records, including (without limitation) its
records regarding receipts, disbursements, contracts, investments and any other
matters relating thereto and to its financial standing, and shall supply such
reports and information as the State may reasonably require in connection
therewith.
(j) Insurance. The
Borrower shall maintain or cause to be maintained, in force, insurance policies
with responsible insurers or self-insurance programs providing against risk of
direct physical loss, damage or destruction of its Environmental Infrastructure
System at least to the extent that similar insurance is usually carried by
utilities constructing, operating and maintaining Environmental Infrastructure
Facilities of the nature of the Borrower's Environmental Infrastructure System,
including liability coverage, all to the extent available at reasonable cost but
in no case less than will satisfy all applicable regulatory
requirements.
(k) Cost of
Project. The Borrower certifies that the building cost of the
Project, as listed in Exhibit B hereto and made a part hereof, is a reasonable
and accurate estimation thereof, and it will supply to the State a certificate
from a licensed professional engineer authorized to practice in the State
stating that such building cost is a reasonable and accurate estimation and that
the useful life of the Project exceeds the maturity date of the Borrower
Bond.
(l) Delivery of
Documents. Concurrently with the delivery of this Loan
Agreement (as previously authorized, executed and attested) at the Loan Closing,
the Borrower will cause to be delivered to the State each of the following
items:
(i) an
opinion of the Borrower's bond counsel substantially in the form of Exhibit E
hereto; provided, however, that the State may permit portions of such opinion to
be rendered by general counsel to the Borrower and may permit variances in such
opinion from the form set forth in Exhibit E if such variances are acceptable to
the State;
(ii)
counterparts of this Loan Agreement as previously executed and
attested by the parties hereto;
(iii) copies
of those resolutions finally adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower
and requested by the State, including, without limitation, (A) the resolution of
the Borrower authorizing the execution, attestation and delivery of this Loan
Agreement, (B) the Borrower Bond Resolution, as amended and supplemented as of
the date of the Loan Closing, authorizing the execution, attestation,
authentication, sale and delivery of the Borrower Bond to the State, (C) the
resolution of the Borrower confirming the details of the sale of the Borrower
Bond to the State, each of said resolutions of the Borrower being certified by
an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as of the date of the Loan Closing, (D)
the resolution of the BPU approving the issuance by the Borrower of the Borrower
Bond to the State and setting forth any other approvals required therefor by the
BPU, if applicable, and (E) any other Proceedings; and
(iv) the
certificates of insurance coverage as required pursuant to the terms of Section
3.06(c) hereof and such other certificates, documents, opinions and information
as the State may require in Exhibit F hereto, if any.
(m) Execution and Delivery of
Borrower Bond. Concurrently with the delivery of this Loan
Agreement at the Loan Closing, the Borrower shall also deliver to the State the
Borrower Bond, as previously executed, attested and, if applicable,
authenticated.
(n) Notice of Material Adverse
Change. The Borrower shall promptly notify the State of any
material adverse change in the properties, activities, prospects or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Environmental Infrastructure
System, or in the ability of the Borrower to make all Loan Repayments and
otherwise to observe and perform its duties, covenants, obligations and
agreements under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.
(o) Continuing
Representations. The representations of the Borrower contained
herein shall be true at the time of the execution of this Loan Agreement and at
all times during the term of this Loan Agreement.
(p) Additional Covenants and
Requirements. (i) No later than the Loan Closing and, if
necessary, in connection with the making of the Loan, additional covenants and
requirements have been included in Exhibit F hereto and made a part
hereof. Such covenants and requirements may include, but need not be
limited to, the maintenance of specified levels of Environmental Infrastructure
System rates, the issuance of additional debt of the Borrower and the transfer
of revenues and receipts from the Borrower's Environmental Infrastructure
System. The Borrower agrees to observe and comply with each such
additional covenant and requirement, if any, included in Exhibit F
hereto. (ii) Additional defined terms, covenants, representations and
requirements have been included in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part
hereof. Such additional defined terms, covenants, representations and
requirements are incorporated in this Loan Agreement by reference thereto as if
set forth in full herein and the
Borrower
hereby agrees to observe and comply with each such additional term, covenant,
representation and requirement included in Schedule A as if the same were set
forth in its entirety where reference thereto is made in this Loan
Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
LOAN
TO BORROWER; AMOUNTS PAYABLE; GENERAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 3.01. Loan; Loan
Term. The State hereby agrees to make the Loan as described in
Exhibit A-2 hereof and to disburse proceeds of the Loan to the Borrower in
accordance with Section 3.02 and Exhibit C hereof, and the Borrower hereby
agrees to borrow and accept the Loan from the State upon the terms set forth in
Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof; provided, however, that the
State shall be under no obligation to make the Loan if (a) at the Loan Closing,
the Borrower does not deliver to the State a Borrower Bond and such other
documents required under Section 2.02(l) hereof, or (b) an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing under this Loan Agreement. Although the
State intends to disburse proceeds of the Loan to the Borrower at the times and
up to the amounts set forth in Exhibit C to pay a portion of the Cost of the
Project, due to unforeseen circumstances there may not be sufficient Federal
Funds on deposit on any date to make the disbursement in such
amount. Nevertheless, the Borrower agrees that the aggregate
principal amount set forth in Exhibit A-2 hereto shall constitute the initial
principal amount of the Loan (as the same may be adjusted downward in accordance
with the definition thereof), and the State shall have no obligation thereafter
to loan any additional amounts to the Borrower.
The
Borrower shall have no legal or equitable interest in the Federal Funds received
by and available to the State or in moneys from repayments of loans previously
made from Federal Funds by the State.
The
Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loan strictly in accordance with Section
2.01(h) hereof.
The
payment obligations created under this Loan Agreement and the obligations to pay
the principal of and other amounts due under the Borrower Bond are each direct,
general, irrevocable and unconditional obligations of the Borrower payable from
any source legally available to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of and
to the extent provided in the Borrower Bond Resolution.
SECTION 3.02. Disbursement
of Loan Proceeds. (a) The State shall disburse Federal Funds
earmarked for the Loan to the Borrower in accordance with the terms
hereof. Before each and every disbursement of the proceeds of the
Loan by the State to the Borrower, the Borrower shall in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Regulations submit to the State a requisition
executed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower.
(b) The
State shall not be under any obligation to disburse any Loan proceeds to the
Borrower under this Loan Agreement, unless:
(i)
the Loan Closing shall have occurred on the date established
therefor by the State;
(ii)
there shall be Federal Funds available from
time to time to fund the Loan, as determined solely by the State;
(iii) in
accordance with the "New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Act", P.L.
1985, c. 334, as amended (N.J.S.A. 58:11B-1 et seq.), and the
Regulations, the Borrower shall have timely applied for, shall have been awarded
and, prior to or simultaneously with the Loan Closing, shall have closed a Trust
Loan for a portion of the Allowable Costs (as defined in such Regulations) of
the Project in an amount not in excess of the amount of Allowable Costs of the
Project financed by the Loan from the State, plus the amount of: (i)
capitalized interest during the Project construction period, if any, (ii) the
cost of funding reserve capacity for the Project, if any, as well as that
portion of the Debt Service Reserve Fund (as defined in the Trust Loan
Agreement) (to the extent the Trust establishes a Debt Service Reserve Fund
pursuant to the Bond Resolution) attributable to the cost of funding such
reserve capacity for the Project, and (iii) certain issuance expenses related
thereto, including, if applicable, a municipal bond insurance policy
premium;
(iv) the
Borrower shall have on hand moneys to pay for the greater of (A) that portion of
the total cost of the Project that is not eligible to be funded from the Loan or
the Trust Loan, or (B) that portion of the total cost of the Project that
exceeds the actual amounts of the loan commitments made by the State and the
Trust, respectively, for the Loan and the Trust Loan; and
(v)
no Event of Default nor any event that, with the passage of time or
service of notice or both, would constitute an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing hereunder.
SECTION 3.03. Amounts
Payable. (a) The Borrower shall repay the Loan at
zero-interest in principal installments payable to the Trustee semiannually on
the Principal Payment Dates, in accordance with the schedule set forth in
Exhibit A-2 attached hereto and made a part hereof, as the same may be amended
or modified by the State, in particular, without limitation, to make any
adjustments to the amount of the Loan in accordance with the definition thereof;
provided, however, that the amount of any reduction in the principal amount of
the Loan pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:22-3.26 shall be credited to the principal
payments set forth in Exhibit A-2 in inverse order of their
maturity. The obligations of the Borrower under the Borrower Bond
shall be deemed to be amounts payable under this Section 3.03. Each
payment made to the Trustee pursuant to the Borrower Bond shall be deemed to be
a credit against the corresponding obligation of the Borrower under this Section
3.03, and any such payment made to the Trustee shall fulfill the Borrower's
obligation to pay such amount hereunder and under the Borrower
Bond. Each payment made to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.03
shall be applied to the principal of the Loan.
(b) In
addition to the principal payments on the Loan required by subsection (a) of
this Section 3.03, the Borrower shall pay a late charge for any such payment
that is received by the Trustee later than the tenth (10th) day following its
due date in an amount equal to the greater of twelve percent (12%) per annum or
the Prime Rate plus one half of one percent per annum on
such late
payment from its due date to the date actually paid; provided, however, that
such late charge payable on the Loan shall not be in excess of the maximum
interest rate permitted by law.
(c) In
addition to the Loan Repayments payable under subsections (a) and (b) of this
Section 3.03, the Borrower shall pay one-half of the Administrative Fee, if any,
to the Trustee semiannually on each Principal Payment Date, commencing with the
first Principal Payment Date subsequent to the Loan Closing.
SECTION 3.03A. Amounts on
Deposit in Project Loan Account after Completion of Draw
Schedule. (a) If, on the date which is one hundred eighty
(180) days following the final date for which a disbursement of Loan proceeds is
scheduled to be made pursuant to Exhibit C hereto, any amounts remain on deposit
in the Borrower’s Project Loan Account, the Borrower must provide to the Trust
and the Department a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower (i)
stating that the Borrower has not yet completed the Project, (ii) stating that
the Borrower intends to complete the Project, (iii) setting forth the amount of
remaining Loan Proceeds required to complete the Project, and (iv) providing a
revised draw schedule, in a form similar to Exhibit C hereto and approved by the
Department.
(b) If,
on the date which is one hundred eighty (180) days following the final date for
which a disbursement of Loan proceeds is scheduled to be made pursuant to a
revised draw schedule certified to the Trust and the Department in accordance
with Section 3.03A(a) hereof, any amounts remain on deposit in the Borrower’s
Project Loan Account, the Borrower must provide to the Trust and the Department
a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower (i) stating that the
Borrower has not yet completed the Project, (ii) stating that the Borrower
intends to complete the Project, (iii) setting forth the amount of remaining
Loan Proceeds required to complete the Project, and (iv) providing a revised
draw schedule, in a form similar to Exhibit C hereto and approved by the
Department.
(c) If
the Borrower fails to provide the certificate described in paragraphs (a) or (b)
of this Section 3.03A, when due, or if such certificate states that the Borrower
does not require all or any portion of the amount on deposit in the Project Loan
Account to complete the Project, such amounts on deposit in the Project Loan
Account which are not certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower as
being required to complete the Project (“Excess Project Funds”) shall be applied
by the State as a prepayment of the Borrower’s Loan Repayments, and shall be
applied to the principal payments (including premium, if any) on the Loan in
inverse order of their maturity.
SECTION
3.04. Unconditional Obligations. The obligation of
the Borrower to make the Loan Repayments and all other payments required
hereunder and the obligation to perform and observe the other duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements on its part contained herein shall be absolute and
unconditional, and shall not be abated, rebated, set-off, reduced, abrogated,
terminated, waived, diminished, postponed or otherwise modified in any manner or
to any extent whatsoever while any Loan Repayments remain unpaid, for any
reason, regardless of any contingency, act of God, event or cause whatsoever,
including (without limitation) any acts or circumstances that may constitute
failure of consideration, eviction or constructive eviction, the taking by
eminent domain or destruction of or damage to the Project or Environmental
Infrastructure
System, commercial frustration of the purpose, any change in the laws of the
United States of America or of the State or any political subdivision of either
or in the rules or regulations of any governmental authority, any failure of the
State to perform and observe any agreement, whether express or implied, or any
duty, liability or obligation arising out of or connected with the Project or
this Loan Agreement, or any rights of set-off, recoupment, abatement or
counterclaim that the Borrower might otherwise have against the State, the
Trustee or any other party or parties; provided, however, that payments
hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any such rights. The
Borrower shall not be obligated to make any payments required to be made by any
other Borrowers under separate Loan Agreements.
SECTION 3.05. Loan
Agreement to Survive Loan. The Borrower acknowledges that its
duties, covenants, obligations and agreements set forth in Sections 3.06(a) and
(b) hereof shall survive the payment in full of the Loan.
SECTION 3.06. Disclaimer
of Warranties and Indemnification. (a) The Borrower
acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the State does not make any
warranty or representation, either express or implied, as to the value, design,
condition, merchantability or fitness for particular purpose or fitness for any
use of the Environmental Infrastructure System or the Project or any portions
thereof or any other warranty or representation with respect thereto; (ii) in no
event shall the State or its agents be liable or responsible for any incidental,
indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of
this Loan Agreement or the Project or the existence, furnishing, functioning or
use of the Environmental Infrastructure System or the Project or any item or
products or services provided for in this Loan Agreement; and (iii) to the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold the State
harmless against, and the Borrower shall pay any and all, liability, loss, cost,
damage, claim, judgment or expense of any and all kinds or nature and however
arising and imposed by law, which the State may sustain, be subject to or be
caused to incur by reason of any claim, suit or action based upon personal
injury, death or damage to property, whether real, personal or mixed, or upon or
arising out of contracts entered into by the Borrower, the Borrower's ownership
of the Environmental Infrastructure System or the Project, or the acquisition,
construction or installation of the Project.
(b) It
is mutually agreed by the Borrower and the State that the State and its
commissioners, officers, agents, servants or employees shall not be liable for,
and shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Borrower in any event from,
any action performed under this Loan Agreement and any claim or suit of
whatsoever nature, except in the event of loss or damage resulting from their
own negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) In
connection with its obligation to provide the insurance required under Section
2.02(j) hereof: (i) the Borrower shall include, or cause to be
included, the State and its employees and officers as additional "named
insureds" on (A) any certificate of liability insurance procured by the Borrower
(or other similar document evidencing the liability insurance coverage procured
by the Borrower) and (B) any certificate of liability insurance procured by any
contractor or subcontractor for the Project, and from the later of the date of
the Loan Closing or the date of the initiation of construction of the Project
until the date the Borrower receives the written certificate of Project
completion from the State, the Borrower shall maintain said liability insurance
covering the State and said employees and officers in good standing; and (ii)
the
Borrower
shall include the State as an additional "named insured" on any certificate of
insurance providing against risk of direct physical loss, damage or destruction
of the Environmental Infrastructure System, and during the Loan Term the
Borrower shall maintain said insurance covering the State in good
standing.
The
Borrower shall provide the State with a copy of each of any such original,
supplemental, amendatory or reissued certificates of insurance (or other similar
documents evidencing the insurance coverage) required pursuant to this Section
3.06(c).
SECTION 3.07. Option to
Prepay Loan Repayments. The Borrower may prepay the Loan
Repayments, in whole or in part, upon not less than ninety (90) days' prior
written notice to the State; provided, however, that, with respect to any
prepayment other than those required by Section 3.03A hereof, any such full or
partial prepayment may only be made (i) if the Borrower is not then in arrears
on its Trust Loan, (ii) if the Borrower is contemporaneously making a full or
partial prepayment of the Trust Loan such that, after the prepayment of the Loan
and the Trust Loan, the Trust gives its consent required under Section 3.07(iii)
of the Trust Loan Agreement, and (iii) upon the prior written approval of the
State. Prepayments shall be applied to the principal payments on the
portion of the Loan to be prepaid in inverse order of their
maturity.
SECTION 3.08. Priority of
Loan and Trust Loan. (a) The Borrower hereby agrees that, to
the extent allowed by law, including, without limitation, the appropriations act
of the New Jersey State Legislature authorizing the expenditure of Trust bond
proceeds to finance a portion of the Cost of the Project, or the Borrower Bond
Resolution, any loan repayments then due and payable on the Borrower's Trust
Loan, including, without limitation, any administrative fees and any late
payment charges then due and payable under the Trust Loan Agreement, shall be
satisfied by the Trustee before any Loan Repayments then due and payable
hereunder on the Loan shall be satisfied by the Trustee. The Borrower
agrees not to interfere with any such action by the Trustee.
(b) The
Borrower hereby acknowledges that in the event the Borrower fails or is unable
to pay promptly to the Trust in full any loan repayments on the Trust Loan, then
any Loan Repayments paid by the Borrower on the Loan under this Loan Agreement
and received by the Trustee during the time of any such loan repayment
deficiency under the Trust Loan Agreement shall be applied by the Trustee first to satisfy such Trust
Loan Agreement loan repayment deficiency as a credit against the obligations of
the Borrower to make loan repayments of that portion of interest under the Trust
Loan Agreement that is allocable to the interest payable on the Trust Bonds (as
defined in the Trust Loan Agreement) and to make payments of that portion of
interest under the bond or note issued by the Borrower to the Trust that is
allocable to the interest payable on the Trust Bonds, second, to the extent
available, to make loan repayments of principal under the Trust Loan Agreement
and payments of principal on the bond or note issued by the Borrower to the
Trust pursuant to the Trust Loan Agreement, third, to the extent
available, to the payment of the administrative fee payable under the Trust Loan
Agreement and to make payments of that portion of interest under the bond or
note issued by the Borrower to the
Trust
that is allocable to the administrative fee payable under the Trust Loan
Agreement, fourth, to
the extent available, to the payment of late charges payable under the Trust
Loan Agreement and to make payments of that portion of interest under the bond
or note issued by the Borrower to the Trust that is allocable to the late
charges payable under the Trust Loan Agreement, and finally, to the extent
available, to make Loan Repayments on the Loan.
(c) The
Borrower hereby further acknowledges that any Loan Repayments paid by the
Borrower on the Loan under this Loan Agreement shall be applied according to the
provisions of the Master Program Trust Agreement.
SECTION 3.09. Approval of
the New Jersey State Treasurer. The Borrower and the State
hereby acknowledge that prior to or simultaneously with the Loan Closing the New
Jersey State Treasurer, in satisfaction of the requirements of Section 9a of the
Act, issued the “Certificate of the New Jersey State Treasurer Regarding the
Approval of the Trust Loan and the Fund Loan” (the “Treasurer’s
Certificate”). Pursuant to the terms of the Treasurer’s Certificate,
the New Jersey State Treasurer approved the Loan and the terms and conditions
thereof as established by the provisions of this Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE
IV
ASSIGNMENT
OF LOAN AGREEMENT AND BORROWER BOND
SECTION 4.01. Assignment
and Transfer by State. The Borrower hereby approves and
consents to any assignment or transfer of this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond that the State deems to be necessary in connection with the environmental
infrastructure loan program of the State under the Regulations.
SECTION 4.02. Assignment
by Borrower. Neither this Loan Agreement nor the Borrower Bond
may be assigned by the Borrower for any reason, unless the following conditions
shall be satisfied: (i) the State shall have approved said assignment
in writing; (ii) the assignee shall have expressly assumed in writing the full
and faithful observance and performance of the Borrower's duties, covenants,
obligations and agreements under this Loan Agreement and, to the extent
permitted under applicable law, the Borrower Bond; and (iii) immediately after
such assignment, the assignee shall not be in default in the observance or
performance of any duties, covenants, obligations or agreements of the Borrower
under this Loan Agreement or the Borrower Bond.
ARTICLE
V
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 5.01. Events of
Default. If any of the following events occur, it is hereby
defined as and declared to be and to constitute an "Event of
Default":
(a) failure
by the Borrower to pay, or cause to be paid, any Loan Repayment required to be
paid hereunder when due, which failure shall continue for a period of fifteen
(15) days;
(b) failure
by the Borrower to make, or cause to be made, any required payments of
principal, redemption premium, if any, and interest on any bonds, notes or other
obligations of the Borrower issued under the Borrower Bond Resolution (other
than the Loan and the Borrower Bond) or otherwise secured by all or a portion of
the property pledged under the Borrower Bond Resolution, after giving effect to
the applicable grace period;
(c) failure
by the Borrower to pay, or cause to be paid, any late charges incurred hereunder
or any portion thereof when due or to observe and perform any duty, covenant,
obligation or agreement on its part to be observed or performed under this Loan
Agreement, other than as referred to in subsection (a) of this Section 5.01 or
other than the obligations of the Borrower contained in Section 2.02(d)(ii)
hereof and in Exhibit F hereto, which failure shall continue for a period of
thirty (30) days after written notice, specifying such failure and requesting
that it be remedied, is given to the Borrower by the State, unless the State
shall agree in writing to an extension of such time prior to its expiration;
provided, however, that if the failure stated in such notice is correctable but
cannot be corrected within the applicable period, the State may not unreasonably
withhold its consent to an extension of such time up to 120 days from the
delivery of the written notice referred to above if corrective action is
instituted by the Borrower within the applicable period and diligently pursued
until the Event of Default is corrected;
(d) any
representation made by or on behalf of the Borrower contained in this Loan
Agreement, or in any instrument furnished in compliance with or with reference
to this Loan Agreement or the Loan, is false or misleading in any material
respect;
(e) a
petition is filed by or against the Borrower under any federal or state
bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law in effect on the date of this
Loan Agreement or thereafter enacted, unless in the case of any such petition
filed against the Borrower such petition shall be dismissed within thirty (30)
days after such filing and such dismissal shall be final and not subject to
appeal; or the Borrower shall become insolvent or bankrupt or shall make an
assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or a custodian (including, without
limitation, a receiver, liquidator or trustee) of the Borrower or any of its
property shall be appointed by court order or take possession of the Borrower or
its property or assets if such order remains in effect or such possession
continues for more than thirty (30) days;
(f) the
Borrower shall generally fail to pay its debts as such debts become due;
and
(g) failure
of the Borrower to observe or perform such additional duties, covenants,
obligations, agreements or conditions as are required by the State and specified
in Exhibit F attached hereto and made a part hereof.
SECTION 5.02. Notice of
Default. The Borrower shall give the State prompt telephonic
notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default referred to in Section 5.01(d)
or (e) hereof and of the occurrence of any other event or condition that
constitutes an Event of Default at such time as any senior administrative or
financial officer of the Borrower becomes aware of the existence
thereof.
SECTION 5.03. Remedies on
Default. Whenever an Event of Default referred to in Section
5.01 hereof shall have occurred and be continuing, the State shall have the
right to take whatever action at law or in equity may appear necessary or
desirable to collect the amounts then due and thereafter to become due hereunder
or to enforce the observance and performance of any duty, covenant, obligation
or agreement of the Borrower hereunder.
In
addition, if an Event of Default referred to in Section 5.01(a) hereof shall
have occurred and be continuing, the State shall, to the extent allowed by
applicable law, have the right to declare all Loan Repayments and all other
amounts due hereunder (including, without limitation, payments under the
Borrower Bond) to be immediately due and payable, and upon notice to the
Borrower the same shall become due and payable without further notice or
demand.
SECTION 5.04. Attorneys'
Fees and Other Expenses. The Borrower shall on demand pay to
the State the reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and other reasonable
expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonably allocated costs of
in-house counsel and legal staff) incurred by the State in the collection of
Loan Repayments or any other sum due hereunder or in the enforcement of the
observation or performance of any other duties, covenants, obligations or
agreements of the Borrower upon an Event of Default.
SECTION 5.05. Application
of Moneys. Any moneys collected by the State pursuant to
Section 5.03 hereof shall be applied (a) first to pay any attorneys'
fees or other fees and expenses owed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.04
hereof, (b) second, to
the extent available, to pay principal due and payable on the Loan (to the
extent permitted by Section 3.08(b) hereof, (c) third, to the extent
available, to pay any other amounts due and payable hereunder, and (d) fourth, to the extent
available, to pay principal on the Loan and other amounts payable hereunder as
such amounts become due and payable.
SECTION 5.06. No Remedy
Exclusive; Waiver; Notice. No remedy herein conferred upon or
reserved to the State is intended to be exclusive, and every such remedy shall
be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given under this
Loan Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity. No
delay or omission to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event
of Default shall impair any such right, remedy or power or shall be construed to
be a waiver thereof, but any such right, remedy or power may be exercised from
time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient. In order to
entitle the State to exercise any remedy reserved to it in this Article V, it
shall not be necessary to give any notice other than such notice as may be
required in this Article V.
SECTION 5.07. Retention of
State's Rights. Notwithstanding any assignment or transfer of
this Loan Agreement pursuant to the provisions hereof, or anything else to the
contrary contained herein, the State shall have the right upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default to take any action, including (without limitation) bringing
an action against the Borrower at law or in equity, as the State may, in its
discretion, deem necessary to enforce the obligations of the Borrower to the
State pursuant to Section 5.03 hereof.
ARTICLE
VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
6.01. Notices. All notices, certificates or other
communications hereunder shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given
when hand delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
to the Borrower at the address specified in Exhibit A-1 attached hereto and made
a part hereof and to the State and the Trustee at the following
addresses:
(a) State:
New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Municipal
Finance and Construction Element
401 East
State Street – 3rd Floor
Trenton,
New Jersey 08625-0425
Attention: Assistant
Director
New
Jersey Department of the Treasury
Office of
Public Finance
State
Street Square – 5th Floor
Trenton,
New Jersey 08625-0002
Attention: Director
(b) Trustee:
U.S. Bank
National Association
21 South
Street, 3rd
Floor
Morristown,
New Jersey 07960
Attention: Corporate
Trust Department
Any of
the foregoing parties may designate any further or different addresses to which
subsequent notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent by notice
in writing given to the others.
SECTION 6.02. Binding
Effect. This Loan Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
shall be binding upon the State and the Borrower and their respective successors
and assigns.
SECTION
6.03. Severability. In the event any provision of
this Loan Agreement shall be held illegal, invalid or unenforceable by any court
of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate, render
unenforceable or otherwise affect any other provision hereof.
SECTION 6.04. Amendments,
Supplements and Modifications. This Loan Agreement may not be
amended, supplemented or modified without the prior written consent of the State
and the Borrower.
SECTION 6.05. Execution in
Counterparts. This Loan Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 6.06. Applicable
Law and Regulations. This Loan Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State, including the
Regulations, which Regulations are, by this reference thereto, incorporated
herein as part of this Loan Agreement.
SECTION 6.07. Consents and
Approvals. Whenever the written consent or approval of the
State shall be required under the provisions of this Loan Agreement, such
consent or approval may only be given by the State.
SECTION
6.08. Captions. The captions or headings in this
Loan Agreement are for convenience only and shall not in any way define, limit
or describe the scope or intent of any provisions or sections of this Loan
Agreement.
SECTION 6.09. Further
Assurances. The Borrower shall, at the request of the State,
authorize, execute, attest, acknowledge and deliver such further resolutions,
conveyances, transfers, assurances, financing statements and other instruments
as may be necessary or desirable for better assuring, conveying, granting,
assigning and confirming the rights, security interests and agreements granted
or intended to be granted by this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the State
and the Borrower have caused this Loan Agreement to be executed, sealed and
delivered as of the date first above written.
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THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
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ACTING
BY AND THROUGH THE
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NEW
JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF
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ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
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[SEAL]
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By:
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/s/ Lisa P. Jackson
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ATTEST:
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Lisa
P. Jackson
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Commissioner,
Department of
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Environmental
Protection
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/s/ Stanley V. Cach
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Stanley
V. Cach, Jr. P.E., P.P.
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Assistant
Director,
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Municipal
Finance and Construction Element,
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Department
of Environmental Protection
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MIDDLESEX
WATER COMPANY
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[SEAL]
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By:
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/s/ Dennis W. Doll
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Dennis
W. Doll
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ATTEST:
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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/s/ Kenneth J. Quinn
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Kenneth
J. Quinn
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Vice
President, General Counsel
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Secretary
and Treasurer
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[Signature
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SCHEDULE
A
Certain Additional Loan
Agreement Provisions
In addition to the terms defined in
subsection (a) of Section 1.01 of this Loan Agreement, certain additional
capitalized terms used in this Loan Agreement shall, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, have the meanings ascribed to such additional capitalized
terms in this Schedule A.
Additional
Definitions:
“Borrower” means Middlesex
Water Company, a corporation duly created and validly existing under the laws of
the State of New Jersey.
“Borrower Bond Resolution”
means the indenture of the Borrower entitled “INDENTURE OF MORTGAGE” dated as of
April 1, 1927, as amended and supplemented from time to time, in particular by a
supplemental indenture detailing the terms of the Borrower Bond dated as of
October 15, 2007 and entitled “THIRTY-FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE”, pursuant
to which the Borrower Bond has been issued.
“Principal Payment Dates”
means February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing on August 1,
2008.
SECTION
2.02(e):
Disposition of Environmental
Infrastructure System. The Borrower shall not permit the
disposition of all or substantially all of its Environmental Infrastructure
System, directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, by means of sale,
lease, abandonment, sale of stock, statutory merger or otherwise (collectively,
a "Disposition"), except on ninety (90) days' prior written notice to the State,
and, in any event, shall not permit a Disposition unless the Borrower shall, in
accordance with Section 4.02 hereof, assign this Loan Agreement and the Borrower
Bond and its rights and interests hereunder and thereunder to the purchaser or
lessee of the Environmental Infrastructure System, and such purchaser or lessee
shall assume all duties, covenants, obligations and agreements of the Borrower
under this Loan Agreement and the Borrower Bond.
In addition to the terms defined in
subsection (a) of Section 1.01 of this Loan Agreement, certain additional
capitalized terms used in this Loan Agreement shall, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, have the meanings ascribed to such additional capitalized
terms in this Schedule A.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
EXHIBIT
A-1
Description of Project and
Environmental Infrastructure System
1)
|
Name
and Address of Local Unit:
|
Middlesex
Water Company
1500
Ronson Road
Iselin,
New Jersey 08830-0452
Attention:
Ronald F. Williams P.E. Vice President - Operations
2)
|
Description of the
Project:
|
The
proposed project will involve cleaning/relining and spot replacement of water
mains, hydrants, service lines, and valves. Approximately forty five
thousand feet of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12-inch diameter water mains will be
relined. The project will occur in the City of South Amboy, and
Woodbridge Townships.
3)
|
Description
of the Water Supply System:
|
The
Middlesex Water Company is an investor-owned water utility that provides water
service to retail customers primarily in eastern Middlesex
County. Water services are now furnished to approximately 58,000
retail customers located in an area of approximately 55 square miles of New
Jersey in Woodbridge Township, the Boroughs of Metuchen and Carteret, portions
of Edison Township and the Borough of South Plainfield and the City of South
Amboy in Middlesex County, and a portion of the Township of Clark in Union
County.
The
Middlesex Water Company obtains water from both surface and groundwater sources;
however, the principal source of supply is the Delaware and Raritan Canal, owned
by the State of New Jersey and operated as a water resource by the New Jersey
Water Supply Authority.
EXHIBIT
A-2
Description of
Loan
See
Schedule to Specimen Borrower Bond (Exhibit D hereto)
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
EXHIBIT
B
Basis for Determination of
Allowable Project Costs
The
determination of the costs allowable for assistance from the New Jersey
Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program is presented below.
Cost
Classification
|
|
Application
Amount
|
|
|
Allowable
Costs
|
|
1. Administrative
Expenses
|
|
$ |
89,100 |
|
|
$ |
89,100 |
|
2. Other
Costs
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
3. Engineering
Fees
|
|
|
160,000 |
|
|
|
160,000 |
|
4. Building
Costs
|
|
|
2,970,000 |
|
|
|
2,970,000 |
|
5. Contingencies
|
|
|
148,500 |
|
|
|
148,500 |
|
6. Allowance
for Planning and design
|
|
|
132,400 |
|
|
|
132,400 |
|
7. Sub-total
|
|
|
3,500,000 |
|
|
|
3,500,000 |
|
8. DEP
Fee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
70,000 |
|
9. Total
Project Costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
3,570,000 |
|
As a
result of the review by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
various line items may have been revised resulting in a change of the allowable
costs for this project. The basis for the determination of the allowable costs
is as follows:
1.
|
Administrative
Expenses
|
The total
amount requested on the application was $89,100. The amount requested
is for water main cleaning/relining. The allowable administrative
expenses are authorized to be three percent of the allowable building costs.
Therefore, the total amount for this line item is $2,970,000 x 0.03 =
$89,100.
Allowable
Administrative Expenses are $89,100.
The
amount requested for this line item on the application was
$160,000.
This
amount is for engineering services for this project and the full amount
is
allowable.
Allowable
Engineering Fees are $160,000.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
The total
amount requested for this line item was $2,970,000. The allowable cost analysis
(as per N.J.A.C. 7:22-5.8) has determined that the entire amount requested for
this line item is allowable. Therefore, the Allowable Cost Ratio (ACR) is one
(1.0). In addition the project does not provide any reserve capacity. Therefore,
the Reserve Capacity Cost Ratio (RCCR) is one (1.0). Thus, the entire requested
amount is allowable.
Allowable
Building Costs are $2,970,000.
The total
amount requested on the application was $148,500. The allowable amount for this
line item is five percent of the allowable building costs. Therefore, the total
allowable cost for this line item is $2,970,000 x 0.05 = $148,500 .
Allowable
Contingencies are $148,500.
6. Allowance
for Planning and Design
The total
amount requested for this line item was $132,400 . The allowable
amount for this line item based on an allowable building cost
is: $250,000+($2,970,000 - $1,000,000) x 0.12= $486,400. However, the
applicant has requested $132,400 for this line item.
Allowance
for Planning and Design for this project is $132,400.
The
subtotal for project costs applied for is 3,500,000. The actual cost was
adjusted to $3,500,000.
Therefore,
the Sub-total is $3,500,000.
DEP Fee =
$3,500,000 x 2% = $70,000
This item
represents the DEP Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee imposed by DEP as a
portion of the cost of the project of the borrower. This DEP Loan
Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee is a portion of the cost of the project that
has been incurred for engineering and environmental services provided by DEP
for
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
the
borrower in connection with, and as a condition precedent to, the inclusion
of
the
project of the borrower in the 2007 Financing Program of the
Trust. As a portion of the cost of the borrower’s project that
represents a condition precedent to the inclusion of the borrower’s project in
the 2007 Financing Program of the
Trust,
the DEP Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee represents a program expense of
the 2007 Financing Program of the Trust and will be financed for the borrower as
part of the Trust loan made by the Trust to the borrower from the proceeds of
the Trust bonds, the Trust shall direct the trustee for the Trust bonds to
transfer to DEP from the Project Fund the DEP Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination
Fee allocable to the borrower. The DEP’s authority to assess
a Loan Surcharge or Loan Origination Fee was established pursuant to
P.L. 2002, c.34 approved on July 1, 2002.
The total
project costs are $3,570,000
I. Disbursement
to Borrower is: $3,500,000.
Fund
Share is $1,750,000.
Trust
Share is $1,750,000.
II.
Disbursement to DEP is $70,000.
Middlesex
Water Company
1225001-010
EXHIBIT
C
Estimated Disbursement
Schedule
The
following is a schedule of the estimated disbursements for this loan.
Disbursements to the project sponsor for any given month shall not exceed the
amounts indicated below plus any undisbursed amount from the previous
months.
Year
|
Month
|
|
Fund
Share Borrower Disbursement
|
|
|
Trust
Share Borrower Disbursement
|
|
|
Trust
Share DEP Disbursement
|
|
|
Total
|
|
2007
|
November
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
*70,000 |
|
|
$ |
*70,000 |
|
|
November
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
January
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
February
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
March
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
262,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
525,000 |
|
|
April
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
May
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
550,000 |
|
|
June
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
275,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
550,000 |
|
|
July
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
225,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
450,000 |
|
|
August
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
September
|
|
|
187,500 |
|
|
|
187,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
375,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
$ |
1,750,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,750,000 |
|
|
$ |
*70,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,570,000 |
|
*This is
the DEP loan origination fee. No action is required on the part of
the borrower.
The trust
will make a single transfer to DEP, through the Trust’s Trustee, on behalf of
all of the Borrowers in 2007 Financing Program.
EXHIBIT
D
Specimen Borrower
Bond
EXHIBIT
E
Opinions of Borrower's Bond
and General Counsels
EXHIBIT
F
Additional Covenants and
Requirements
None.
EXHIBIT
G
General
Administrative Requirements for the
State Environmental
Infrastructure Financing Program
General Administrative and
Special Requirements
The
following General Administrative Requirements are applicable to this Loan. These
requirements do not limit, or otherwise alter, the project sponsor’s obligations
under the Safe Drinking Water Act and its amendments, the New Jersey Water
Pollution Control Act, the State rules under N.J.A.C. 7:22, the
Fund and Trust Loan Agreements, or the Special Requirements. The
Special Requirements specific to this project are found in this Exhibit after
the listing of General Administrative Requirements.
1.
|
Operation and
Maintenance Manual (O&M
Manual):
|
During
construction (i.e., prior to initiation of operation), the project sponsor shall
certify to the Trust, in the case of a Trust Loan, and to the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection (Department), in the case of a Fund Loan,
that a final Plan of Operation, and an O&M Manual have been developed for
the project.
The
project sponsor shall comply with the project performance provisions of N.J.A.C. 7:22-3.30
and 7:22-4.30. As a minimum, unless further specified, the project
performance standards shall consist of the effluent discharge standards in the
NJPDES permit (if applicable) and the design criteria in the Department approved
Engineer’s Technical Design Report for the project.
The
project sponsor shall acquire or have the construction contractor acquire, as
appropriate flood insurance made available under the National Flood
Insurance
Act of
1968, as amended. Insurance coverage shall begin with the period
of
construction
and continue for the entire useful life of the facility. The
insurance shall be in an amount at least equal to the allowable improvements or
the maximum limit of coverage made available to the project sponsor under the
National Flood Insurance Act, whichever is less. The project sponsor
must comply with this requirement prior to the release of the initial payment
for construction work.
The
project sponsor shall have an annual financial audit performed if the project
sponsor expended $500,000 or more in State and/or Federal financial assistance
during the project sponsor’s fiscal year. The audit shall be performed in
accordance with the Single Audit Act, Federal OMB Circular No. A-133, and State
Policy OMB Circular 04-04-OMB. Copies of all audit reports must be submitted to
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Audit, P.O. Box
402, Trenton, New Jersey 08625.
If the
project sponsor expended less than $500,000 in State and/or Federal financial
assistance within their fiscal year, but expend $100,000 or more in State and/or
Federal financial assistance within their fiscal year, the project sponsor shall
have either a financial statement audit performed in accordance with Government
Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) or a program-specific audit performed in
accordance with the Act, Amendments, OMB Circular No. A-133 Revised and State
policy.
Program-specific
audits in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133 Revised can be elected when a
project sponsor expends Federal or State financial assistance under only one
Federal or State program and the Federal or State program's laws, regulations,
or grant agreements do not require a financial statement audit of the
grantee.
5.
|
Socially and
Economically Disadvantaged Individuals Utilization
Plan:
|
The
project sponsor shall ensure that the contractor provides a Socially and
Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SED) Utilization Plan in accordance with
N.J.A.C.
7:22-9.1 et seq. which outlines the entire contract work, each significant
segment of the contract on which SEDs will or may participate and a description
of how SEDs will be contracted. This plan shall be submitted no later
than 30 days after the contract award.
SPECIAL
REQUIREMENTS
Project
Schedule:
The
project sponsor unit shall expeditiously initiate and complete the project in
accordance with the project schedule, which was submitted as part of the loan
application and is repeated below. Failure to promptly initiate and
complete the project may result in the imposition of sanctions under N.J.A.C. 7:22-3.40
through 3.44 and N.J.A.C. 7:22-4.40 through 4.44. In
addition, failure to promptly award all sub agreement(s) for building the
project within 12 months of the date of this loan may result in limitation of
allowable costs as provided by N.J.A.C. 7:22-5.4(d)
5.This limitation on allowable costs incurred under contracts awarded after 12
months from the date of this loan are unallowable unless a special extension has
been granted by the Department, in the case of a Fund Loan, and the Trust, in
the case of a Trust Loan.
EVENT
|
DATE
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
December
19, 2007
|
|
|
BID
RECEIPT:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
January
19, 2008
|
|
|
AWARD:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
February
19, 2008
|
|
|
ISSUANCE OF NOTICE TO
PROCCED:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
March
27, 2008
|
|
|
COMPLETION OF
CONSTRUCTION:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
September
27, 2008
|
|
|
INITATION OF
OPERATION:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
September
27, 2008
|
|
|
CERTIFICATION OF
PROJECT:
|
|
|
|
Clean
and Line Water Mains
|
September
27, 2009
|
G-3
Unassociated Document
Exhibit
21
Middlesex
Water Company
Subsidiaries
|
|
Jurisdiction
of
Organization
|
|
|
|
Tidewater
Utilities, Inc.
|
|
Delaware
|
Tidewater
Environmental Services, Inc.
|
|
Delaware
|
Pinelands
Water Company
|
|
New
Jersey
|
Pinelands
Wastewater Company
|
|
New
Jersey
|
Utility
Service Affiliates (Perth Amboy) Inc.
|
|
New
Jersey
|
Utility
Service Affiliates, Inc.
|
|
New
Jersey
|
ex23_1.htm
Exhibit
23.1
CONSENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We
hereby
consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form
S-3 (No. 33-11717) of Middlesex Water Company of our reports dated March
10, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appear
in this
Form 10-K.
/s/
Beard
Miller Company LLP
Beard
Miller Company LLP
Reading,
Pennsylvania
March
10,
2008
ex23_2.htm
Exhibit
23.2
CONSENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We
consent to the incorporation by
reference in Registration Statement No. 33-11717 on
Form S-3 of our report dated March
16,
2006,
relating to the consolidated statements
of
income, common stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash
flows of Middlesex
Water Company, appearing in this
Annual Report on
Form 10-K of Middlesex
Water Company
for the year ended December
31, 2007.
/s/
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Parsippany,
New Jersey
March
10,
2008
ex31.htm
Exhibit
31
SECTION
302 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14
AND
15d-14 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
I,
Dennis
W. Doll, certify that:
1.
|
I
have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Middlesex
Water
Company;
|
2.
|
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered
by this
report;
|
3.
|
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
|
4.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange At
Rules
13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and
have;
|
|
a)
|
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,
to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including
its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report
is being
prepared;
|
|
b)
|
Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal
control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision,
to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
|
|
c)
|
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness
of
the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the
period
covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
|
|
d)
|
Disclosed
in this report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely
to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
|
5.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting,
to
the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function):
|
|
a)
|
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design
or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which
are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information;
and
|
|
b)
|
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
|
/s/
Dennis W.
Doll
|
|
Dennis W. Doll
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
Date: March
10, 2008
ex31_1.htm
Exhibit
31.1
SECTION
302 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14
AND
15d-14 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
I,
A.
Bruce O’Connor, certify that:
1.
|
I
have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Middlesex Water
Company;
|
2.
|
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement
of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
this
report;
|
3.
|
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects
the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
|
4.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal
control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange At Rules
13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))for the registrant and
have;
|
|
a.
|
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including
its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being
prepared;
|
|
b.
|
Designed
such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal
control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision,
to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
|
|
c.
|
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness
of
the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period
covered by this report based on such evaluation;
and
|
|
d.
|
Disclosed
in this report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth quarter in the case of an annual
report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
|
5.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting,
to
the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function):
|
|
a.
|
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design
or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information;
and
|
|
b.
|
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
|
/s/
A. Bruce
O’Connor
|
|
A. Bruce O’Connor
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Date: March
10, 2008
ex32.htm
Exhibit
32
SECTION
906 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. §1350
I,
Dennis
W. Doll, hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the periodic report
being filed herewith containing financial statements fully complies with
the
requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
(15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)) and that information contained in said periodic
report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
and
results of operations of Middlesex Water Company for the period covered by
said
periodic report.
|
/s/
Dennis W.
Doll
|
|
Dennis W. Doll
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
Date: March
10, 2008
A
signed
original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided
to
Middlesex Water Company and will be retained by Middlesex Water Company and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon
request.
ex32_1.htm
Exhibit
32.1
SECTION
906 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. §1350
I,
A.
Bruce O’Connor, hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the periodic
report being filed herewith containing financial statements fully complies
with
the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)) and that information contained in said
periodic report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial
condition and results of operations of Middlesex Water Company for the period
covered by said periodic report.
|
/s/
A. Bruce
O’Connor
|
|
A. Bruce O’Connor
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Date: March
10, 2008
A
signed
original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided
to
Middlesex Water Company and will be retained by Middlesex Water Company and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon
request.